Dawn (comics)

Dawn
Publication information
Publisher	Cry for Dawn Productions Sirius Entertainment Image Comics
First appearance	Cry for Dawn #1 (December 1989)
Created by	Joseph Michael Linsner
In-story information
Full name	Dawn
Partnerships	Darrian Ashoka
Notable aliases	Aurora, Gaia, Goddess of Birth and Rebirth, Isis, Kali, Mary, The Goddess/The Triple Goddess
Abilities	Immortal, immune to gunfire, inter-planar travel

Dawn is an American comic book series created by artist Joseph Michael Linsner. The title character first appeared on the cover of Cry for Dawn #1 (December 1989) before being featured in her own one-shot drama from new publisher Sirius Entertainment, and then the mini-series Dawn: Lucifer's Halo, Dawn: Return of the Goddess, and Dawn: Three Tiers.

Characters

Dawn

Dawn is the goddess of birth and rebirth. While her appearance depends on who is viewing her, she is generally depicted as a young, red-haired woman with three "tears" running from her left eye (and two running from her right eye, on the few occasions that it has been shown); during the witch hunt, witches were discovered to only cry from their left eyes. She also has a rose on one wrist and a chain on the other. The rose represents Hell, and although it has beauty, it only pricks and hurts a person; the chain represents Heaven because a person can only go so far before they are stopped short by its restrictions. Dawn is the guardian of all the witches on Earth, and the goddess to whom they pray.

Dawn is shown in many different facets, shapes, sizes, and colors. She is generally depicted as a woman; Joseph Michael Linsner stresses that all women are goddesses. Dawn takes many shapes since all shapes are beautiful, and so are all women.

Darrian Ashoka/Cernunnos

Dawn's lover is Cernunnos (sometimes also known as the Horned God), the god of death, who has incarnated himself in the mortal form of Darrian Ashoka. Darrian, unaware of his true origins, lives in a post-apocalyptic New York City when he first meets Dawn. She leads him on his path of true identity and self-discovery.

Collected editions

• Cry for Dawn (1989-1992): nine issue anthology where Dawn only appears on the covers.
• Dawn: Lucifer's Halo (1995-1997): six issue mini-series.
• Crypt of Dawn (1996–1999): six issue anthology.
• Dawn: Return of the Goddess (1999–2000): four issue mini-series.
• Dawn: Three Tiers (2003–2005): six issue mini-series.

In other media

• Dawn is featured on the Gary Numan CD album Dawn (Released in the UK as Sacrifice). For the last ten years, a Dawn look-alike contest has been held at Dragon Con. Recently she appeared in the comic Witchblade, talking to Sara and asking her if she wanted the power of the Witchblade.
• In the fall of 2010, in conjunction with the Hero Initiative and Joseph Michael Linsner, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab released four Dawn inspired perfume oils. Proceeds from the sale of those oils go to the Hero Initiative.

External links

• Linsner.com – Official news and gallery
• Everything2: Dawn: Lucifer's Halo Dawn: The Return of the Goddess