Author's Notes:
Jack Kirby's Fourth World 101
There are many who consider Jack Kirby's magnum opus to be the New Gods saga, a project which he created, wrote and penciled, an astounding amount of creative control in comics back in those days. Many comic scholars have surmised that Kirby's previous work on The Mighty Thor at Marvel may have been the preceding world, that Apokolips and New Genesis were two halves of the realm of the gods - Asgard of Norse mythology - split into two after Ragnarok…
"There came a time when the old gods died! The brave died with the cunning! The noble perished, locked in battle with unleashed evil! It was the last day for them! An ancient era was passing in fiery holocaust!"
Kirby himself tells us that:
"On each of the two new worlds, their races had sprung from a survivor of the old! The living atoms of Balduur gave nobility and strength to one! -– And the shadow planet was saturated with the cunning and evil which was once a Sorceress!"
Fans of Kirby's work with Marvel comics would have been familiar with Balder the Brave and the evil Goddess of Seduction, Amora the Enchantress - both of whom were co-created by Kirby. Unquestionably, similarities are apparent between Izaya the Highfather and the All-Father Odin. Elements of scheming Loki manifest themselves through the nefarious Darkseid.
In the Asgard of Marvel comics, Loki is the son of Laufey, the defeated King of the Frost Giants who is taken and raised by Odin as one of his own. Son-swapping among the gods was apparently widely practiced. Indeed, Izaya's adopted hot-blooded son Orion would seem a more traditional representation of the god of thunder – Thor - who also struggled to control his warrior's spirit in noble Asgard.
However similar, the two mythologies are also unique. Kirby's Fourth World is filled with technological wonders. Gone are the artifacts of magic. Good and Evil in the Fourth World seems to be a choice (however difficult), and not simply a fact. Apokolips has become an industrial Hell ruled by a merciless despot while New Genesis is the gods' Eden. Of course, conflict was inevitable…
As a survivor of World War 2, Kirby had witnessed first-hand the horrors of war which haunted him for the rest of his life. The technical advances, the machinations of death… science and technology had replaced mythology in the world. What need was there of gods when men could end all life on Earth with nuclear weapons or explore the heavens above in space ships?
But Jack Kirby knew that beyond the myths of creation, the gods had always been a parable for the human heart. What is evil and must it exist? Are we eternally predisposed to violence or may we rise above it?... "Are we MADE for war, Izaya?" This is the first question Avia, the loving wife of Izaya, asks the Inheritor on the first page of The Pact.
It is a question that is soon answered as she is slain by a raiding party from Apokolips. Long after the murder of Avia and countless other tragedies in the following war, the bloodied ruler of New Genesis, Izaya the Inheritor finally bore witness to the high cost of his vengeance. Stumbling upon the Source, he realizes that to continue this war of the Gods will only bring about the destruction of the Universe itself and willingly pledges himself to Peace. Meanwhile, the scheming Darkseid has seized control of Apokolips and now has larger plans than just a meaningless war. He too seeks an end to open hostilities but for much different reasons… The slavery of all sentient beings in the cosmos to his dark designs.
"The Pact" first appeared in The New Gods #7 in 1972. It tells of the creation of the bitter truce between the two god-worlds; New Genesis and Apokolips. In Kirby's "The Pact", Izaya, the newly proclaimed Highfather, gives his infant son (Scott Free) to the mercies of Darkseid's command while the ruler of Apokolips gives his second son, the tormented Orion, to the wisdom and care of Izaya.
So long as the two princes remain in the adopted care of the other world, neither planet will attack. This is the Pact. Darkseid had (of course) attempted to manipulate Orion to murder Izaya upon arrival, but his evil plan did not come to pass. Instead, young Orion seeks to understand the peaceful ways of New Genesis and temper his innate war-like nature. There is none on New Genesis who faces a greater internal struggle than the tempestuous Orion.
As you know, my story also involves a Pact. But this is a Pact written into Fate itself, so that neither Apokolips nor New Genesis will attack or interfere with the destiny of the other so long as Scott Free and Orion live and do not return to their world of birth.
This Pact is written by the Norns into the very threads of fate. It is impossible for Darkseid (or any other citizen of Apokolips) to attack or alter the inherent destiny of New Genesis and visa versa. Fate has forbidden it. However, if Orion were to set foot on Apokolips or Scott Free were to set foot upon New Genesis, the Pact is unwound. Likewise, if either prince were to perish, the Pact is also dissolved.
Life on Apokolips was a living Hell for Scott Free. He was immediately turned over to the orphanages of Granny Goodness, the tyrannical matron of all lost children upon Apokolips. Her sole mission in life was to bend all in her care to blind obedience of their supreme master, Darkseid. Scott Free, the master escapologist, was the only person to escape from one of Granny's orphanages, where he found and fell in love with his future wife Barda, leader of Darkseid's Female Furies.
Although brought up in a paradise compared to Scott Free, early life for Orion was also not easy. "The Dog of War" as he was to be called is the mightiest warrior on either world, his soul an atomic furnace of rage and battle lust. It took many years for Orion to tame the passions of chaos that ravaged his soul to live amongst the peace-loving gods of New Genesis. The Mother Box the warrior-god wears devotes itself continually to keeping the conflicted warrior calm.
For although Apokolips may not attack New Genesis, others have not been so inclined… only to find Orion a very willing adversary. The scars of battle and the inner battle Orion wages have disfigured his countenance, a grizzled veteran among the gentiles of New Genesis.
We now return to Raven and Barda who have been guided by the Fates themselves to the hallowed halls of New Genesis…
XCVII
Orion Fights For Earth!
Barda marveled at how the boundaries of the rainbow tunnel she traversed through space, alongside the mortal woman Raven, reminded her of a Boom Tube. Spectrums of color swirled around them as they finally stepped into the gilded halls of what she assumed must be New Genesis… so different from her own home world of burned Apokolips.
She felt the cold steel comfort of Apokoliptian Armor suddenly embracing her. Gazing upon herself, she saw the blue, yellow and red of her familiar scale mail… Of course! In New Genesis the gods did not wear clothing, but rather a reflection of their very essence. And Barda was a warrior…
"My clothes have changed as well..."
Barda gazed upon Raven to find that her clothing had indeed changed. Gone were the sorrowful clothes that she had worn to the funeral, replaced now by an even darker outfit - closer to the one she had donned when they had first met. A deep-blue, hooded cloak secured by two round, golden clasps of polished red sapphire, flowed over a revealing dress of the same blue as the cloak. A belt of circular, red sapphires held by settings of gold also hung upon her lean waist. Long, thigh-high boots shaped to her legs and slender blue arm-mitts which left her fingers bare completed the outfit. Upon those fingers, she wore the same two rings she had worn before, but they seemed almost luminescent in this place. Truly, there was a magic about her…
"Aye, in New Genesis the gods wear their very essence, not the cloth of men. But I did not think this was true for mortals as well."
"Still… I am happy to be in the garb of my native Azarath. A gift of the Norns, perhaps?"
"Perhaps, girl. Let us find Izaya quickly…"
"He has found you…" The bass voice spoke to them only in their minds.
The palatial surroundings seemed to swirl around them, only to spin back into cohesion revealing a different, more opulent room than the one they had been standing in. It was like nothing had ever seen before! Jade statues of Gods levitated high above them, arms raised in the acknowledgement of the greatness of being. A massive tree that could only be an homage to Yggdrasil grew in the center of the open-sky courtyard. Raven could swear that the dark water surrounding it was of the Great Sea itself.
Seated before them on a splendid gilded throne of blue light was a man of regal bearing, his white hair and beard seemed to form a lion's mane around a wise face. He held a shepherd's staff and wore robes of white and blue with sad eyes gazing upon them. Standing by his side were various men, ladies and children in strange, alien outfits who seemed fascinated by the sudden appearance of these two strangers. Children rushed to greet them. Barda dropped to her knees instantly before the older man.
"Glorious Highfather… I have come to beg your divine assistance… Your son lies dying, the Black Racer only strides away from claiming his most tragic soul. Please, to save our worlds and the life of the one I love… I beg of you… save him!"
The Highfather drew a heavy sigh and replied...
"Barda of Apokolips. I am aware of my son's plight… Our hearts beat as one as they bear a heavy burden this day. But you beg assistance of the wrong father. As Orion is now my son and a son of New Genesis, the one you call Scott Free is now the son of Darkseid and belongs to the war-world. I still hold a father's love in my heart for my first-born, the greatest gift of Avia, but it is written by the Fates themselves that I can not interfere with the lives of those of Apokolips! And nor can you interfere with the fates of those of New Genesis, Barda…"
"Curse the damned Fates! He will die, Izaya!"
"Then beg of your lord Darkseid for assistance."
"…This rebel would sooner die, Izaya. She would welcome a return to war."
It was a deep, calm voice who interrupted Barda's unspoken reply. All eyes in the room suddenly beheld the dark figure that had materialized alongside the two strangers, a monstrous form of stone with clothes the hue of Raven's blue. His eyes burned red with the Omega fires, illuminating the divine evil in his stone countenance. All children that had rushed to meet them now ran back to their parents in fear of their lives. Panic gripped the room.
"Darkseid! You dare!…"
"…Highfather, please forgive this holographic intrusion. I would never dare to even dream to soil the halls of New Genesis with the charred dirt of my boots… I came only as a concerned father… to hear the pleas of this traitorous seductress whose feminine guiles stole my most precious charge from me..."
"Stole?! How dare you Darkseid! Scott escaped your evil designs and saved me from a life of mindless slavery!"
"I would dare less if I were you, girl… Do not forget that my Omega beams can find you wherever you run, Barda of Apokolips. Respect your master… But I do not seek to reignite our war, Izaya. Loving Darkseid will personally tend to my wayward son and bring him back to the tender mercies of Granny Goodness…"
"NOOO!"
Barda's anguished cry echoed throughout the great chamber as tears began to roll down her eyes. This one, agonizing word prophesized a lifetime of horrors should Darkseid ever claim Scott Free for Apokolips once more…
"My Lords Izaya and Darkseid…" It was Raven who calmly stepped forward, a gentle hand upon Barda's fallen shoulder extending comfort and compassion. "I also come to solicit your assistance. My father, the mighty Trigon, Ravager of Worlds, Scourge of Life, has brought his eternal campaign of death to the shores of my adopted home world, Earth…"
"Interesting…This one shines more of the Source than even you, Izaya…" Darkseid studied her carefully.
"What is your name, child?"
"Raven, my Lord. Raven Wayne… It was the Fates themselves who sent us here."
The Highfather stood as he addressed the room of his decree…
"Though we may not interfere with the lives of those of Apokolips, the Gods are not above the pleas of men… or women. Raven Wayne… if the Fates themselves have sent you before me, then the gods of New Genesis will rally to your cause…"
"And of Apokolips, Lord Darkseid?" Raven felt the shock of horror from Barda and every other God in the room as she turned to ask this question of the holographic image of terror beside her. The ice in the warrior's glare spread through the hand she still held carefully on Barda's tensely muscled shoulder…
"I too shall attend this matter personally, child…" His calculated grin was chillingly evil to her. There was no compassion in the emotions of those eyes, only the gleeful opportunity to sway Fate in his favor as a viper measures its prey.
"Then the Dog of War shall attend as well, Darkseid." A muscular man dressed in red and blue stepped forward from the crowd to stare down the dread lord of Apokolips… the only God who even dared to face the eyes of the holographic image. A large silver helmet with a sun insignia stamped into the dome concealed most of this God's face, but his stern mouth was visible and nothing could conceal the death that shone like the noon sun in his eyes. The hologram of Darkseid did not even bother to look at the intrepid New God, disgust his only expression.
"The Fates prevent my retribution for your insolence, Orion… but there shall come a day when the Pact is no more."
"I long for it deeply." Now the holographic image of Darkseid did lock eyes with Orion, as father and son engaged in a battle of hatred and murderous wills.
"Please my Lords, our time may be limited." Raven stepped to restrain a very angry Orion. His raging emotional output almost overwhelmed her when she stepped too close to him. He was an inferno of wrath. Darkseid broke the stare.
"Of course, Messenger of the Fates… I shall await your departure, Raven Wayne." With that, the hologram of Darkseid disappeared from the room. There was a collective gasp from the others in the room as the God of Evil departed. So even the Gods themselves knew fear.
"We are kindred…"
Orion spoke to Raven as he now approached her, removing his helmet to yet another gasp from the crowd. She instantly saw the scars upon his face which whispered of untold battles and wild hair the color of Barbara Gordon's. The sun from the sky above caught his disheveled locks to make it appear as though the fire from his soul now danced upon his head.
Among the serenity and beauty of the other gods, Orion cared nothing of his disfigurements. He regarded her with a familiarity she found strange. He gently reached across and pulled back the hood to reveal her face, staring deeply into indigo eyes.
"You hide the anger much better than I, little one … but I sense the rage inside of you. The same madness of war. Shall I name you little sister?"
"My father is Trigon and my mother Arella. But our challenges are similar, great Orion... Including my struggle with the demon-half inside of me…" Another voice suddenly broke the exchange.
"Ho! Ravaged Orion now seeks the comfort of girls to sooth his savage heart?..."
Raven could normally sense the approach of another by their emotions, but she had no prior warning of the instantaneous appearance of the white-garbed stranger who now stood next to them. Had he arrived so fast? A barrage of emotions now confronted Raven from the stranger, including… jealousy?
Orion turned to smile at the comely God with long hair only a shade lighter his own.
"Only battle may quiet the mighty war drums of this savage heart, friend Lightray. Do not let her pretty face fool you though, the fires of Apokolips burn through her veins."
"Then we may not interfere with her, Orion. It is the will of The Pact."
"But she is not of Apokolips, Lightray. And her world faces a powerful threat that intrigues even unmovable Darkseid."
"If Scott is not saved, there will be no Pact!" Barda had remained quiet long enough and now stood to her full impressive height.
"Ho, so this is the taste of the Crown Prince of New Genesis…" Lightray looked the intimating Barda slowly up and down, taking in every inch of her feminine form scarcely concealed by the Apokoliptian Armor. "In the dark shores of Apokolips, the gentle soul takes harbor in such strange ports…"
"Why you!" Barda lurched for Lightray who had suddenly disappeared inches away from her grasp only to materialize behind Orion, hands tight upon the God's shoulders.
"Protect me from this savage Valkyrie, brave Orion!" Lightray was clearly enjoying himself.
"Enough!" The Highfather's voice stopped all motion in the Great Hall so that only the leaves falling from the Great Tree at the center of the courtyard moved.
"Noble Raven… I too sense the fires of Apokolips deep within you, but you have done much to tame these flames. You could teach us very much. I fear we have relied far too long upon the mercies of Fate, and upon our Pact… New Genesis has unwisely turned its back upon the conflict and the pain of war, and now we seemed doomed to repeat the lesson. Though it is very little, I fear only bright Orion and his fool-headed lover seem equal to this task…
… As for passionate Barda, I fear there is little I may do to aid her most tragic cause. However, it may be that the Fates wish to see the gentle and noble son of New Genesis see another day… But for now, approach Barda of Apokolips."
Tentatively, Barda began to approach the Highfather… fearing that her outbursts had offended the mighty King of Peace, the God who had fathered the end of the war between their two worlds. She had not shown him proper respect in his High Court, in front of all who were in his charge… She feel to one knee before him.
"Rise, Barda Free."
Izaya, the Highfather reached out powerful arms to embrace Barda. Mighty hands held her until she reluctantly returned his embrace as the tears once more wetted her eyes. Izaya looked into those eyes with great compassion…
"Is it so wrong for a father to greet his new daughter so?"
She shuddered and buried her head into his chest… It was more than she could have ever hoped for. The tears would not stop now. She had dared so much, the bright, brilliance of love had blinded her to all else in the Universe when Scott had asked her to be his wife… Scott, the Prince of New Genesis, the God of Free Will, sworn enemy to Darkseid... had chosen her. Without a care of his heritage or the will of his father, Scott had chosen her. Izaya held her head as he spoke.
"I proclaim that you are my daughter, Barda Free. You are a Princess of New Genesis. Let none dispute this and the Fates themselves weave it well. The passion in your heart for battle is exceeded by one thing alone… your love. Please, allow a forgetful father to bestow upon you your Wedding gift…"
Barda stood stunned as Izaya reached behind him to retrieve a thing she had only heard of in legend. The mega rod! A mighty weapon of the Great Clash, a mother box designed to be used as a weapon, powerful beyond reckoning. The King of New Genesis presented it to her.
"My Lord… It is too much. You have given me so much already…"
"This is but a token of the joy and love you have given my son, brave Barda. It was your powerful love that gave him the means to escape Apokolips. Use the mega rod well… not in hate, but to protect the ones you love."
"I shall… Father." Tears flowed from her eyes as she spoke the words and accepted the legendary weapon. The mother box united with her essence upon touch, accepting her as its new ally and master.
"Then depart and go with the prayers of New Genesis. Make reckless haste as Darkseid will carefully weigh all options before he embarks. Time is our only advantage. Take heed Orion and Lightray, you face an enemy like none other…"
The scarlet-haired Orion once again placed his strong hand upon Raven's shoulder smiling to his adopted father, and roared a war cry to the humble Gods of the chamber…
"Orion Fights For Earth!"
He then turned his ravaged features and slyly grinned at Raven, "…little sister."
Another Note:
Orion and Lightray are not lovers in the comics. They're just good friends. Honest.