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Bloodwynd

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Bloodwynd
Bloodwynd as depicted in Showcase '94 #5 (May 1994); art by Max Douglas.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceJustice League America #61 (April 1992)
Created byDan Jurgens (writer & artist)
In-story information
Alter egoRaphael Arce
Quintus Arce
SpeciesMetahuman (Raphael)
Place of originMetropolis (Raphael)
Team affiliationsJustice League
Justice League International
Sentinels of Magic
Notable aliasesSuperman of Hell
Martian Manhunter
Man of Mystery
AbilitiesMystic blood gem grants various magical abilities including flight, superhuman strength, superhuman durability, resurrecting others, controlling the dead, absorbing necrotic energy, reading minds, conjuring objects, casting spells, and illusion casting.

Bloodwynd is a codename used by multiple superheroes who have appeared in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character initially debuted in Justice League America #61 (April 1992) and was created by Dan Jurgens. While the character's origins were initially portrayed as an alter-ego of Martian Manhunter, subsequent portrayals of Bloodwynd depicted them as distinct and independent characters.

The first Bloodwynd is a necromancer who is revealed to be a descendant of African American slaves seeking retribution against their slave owner. Through a dark ritual involving a blood gem created as a sacrifice, they gained the ability to wield its powers, which facilitated their freedom. This version of Bloodwynd, initially unnamed, is later identified as Quintus Arce. While Martian Manhunter temporarily assumed his identity, Bloodwynd remained an ally of the Justice League and a superhero with sorcerous abilities until his disappearance after the team disbanded. It is revealed he was condemned to hell after an encounter with the sorcerer Felix Faust.[1]

The second Bloodwynd is Quintus' nephew Raphael Arce, an empath whose abilities was awakened by the Lazarus rain during Lazarus Planet. He later absorbs portions of Doomsday and Martian Manhunter's souls, giving him several unique eldritch abilities.[1]

Fictional character biographies

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Quintus Arce

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Bloodwynd is the descendant of a group of African-American slaves owned by a brutal, sadistic planter named Jacob Whitney. These slaves performed an ancient ritual to create a mystical Blood Gem, with which they killed Whitney. The Blood Gem was passed down among the slaves' descendants. The Gem bestowed great physical powers on its wearer; unbeknownst to them, it also contained a microscopic world, where Jacob Whitney's spirit had become incarnate as the demon Rott. Over the years, Rott grew stronger as the Gem absorbed the dark side of each wearer's soul.

In recent times, Rott sucked Bloodwynd into the Gem and held him captive, while mind controlling the Martian Manhunter, compelling him to wear the Gem and impersonate Bloodwynd. Using Bloodwynd's identity, the Manhunter rejoined the Justice League, seeking a power source which would enable Rott to escape from his micro-world. While the JLA fought Doomsday alongside Superman, Blue Beetle realized Bloodwynd's identity when his cryptic teammate was incapacitated by fire (to which the Martian Manhunter was especially vulnerable). Once the truth was exposed, the Justice League battled Rott and freed the real Bloodwynd.

Bloodwynd remained with the Justice League after they rescued him from imprisonment within the Gem. Later, he withheld information from the League about an offer of alliance from the mystical villain Dreamslayer. Bloodwynd did not join Dreamslayer. Sensing a strange kinship with him, however, he would not oppose him either.

During the Overmaster storyline, Bloodwynd was also strangely inactive, refusing to take action against what he perceived to be a natural course of events. These two incidents caused Bloodwynd to question his membership in the League. He voluntarily put himself on reserve status. He later appeared in Showcase '94 #5 (May 1994), written by Ruben Diaz and illustrated by Max Douglas. In this story, Bloodwynd reveals more about the nature of his morality and powers, and punishes a drug dealer by forcing him to experience the pain of his victims.

In JLA #27 (March 1999), Bloodwynd officially joins an emergency expansion of the Justice League in order to battle a rampaging Amazo. The battle, which takes place in the Florida Everglades, goes badly as most of the JLA are defeated and their powers copied. Amazo loses his powers when Superman officially disbands the league.

Day of Judgment

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Main article: Day of Judgment (comics)

He appeared during the Day of Judgement storyline and in JLA Black Baptism serving as a member of the Sentinels of Magic. In the latter storyline, he was badly injured by the Diablos, a group of Mafia-styled demons who wished to gain revenge for demons slain during the Day of Judgement.

He was seen in a cameo during a bar brawl in the Oblivion Bar in Superman/Batman.

Post-Flashpoint

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In the revised continuity, Bloodwynd's history closely mirrors his pre-Flashpoint incarnation. In DC Power 2024, it is revealed that Quintus, a descendant, becomes the superhero Bloodwynd after inheriting the bloodgem. Following a confrontation with Felix Faust, Bloodwynd is condemned to Hell, where he relives his past failures. Saved by his nephew, Raphael, Bloodwynd learns that holding the bloodgem upon death leads to damnation. Raphael takes on the mantle, freeing Bloodwynd from Hell. Before vanishing, Bloodwynd urges his nephew to carry the legacy responsibly.[1]

Raphael Arce

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During the Lazarus Planet crossover, Raphael, a native of Metropolis affected by the Lazarus rains, discovers that he has gained empathic powers. Utilizing his abilities to alleviate the pain of others, he encounters a living memory of Doomsday and traps him in a psychic blood gem.[2][3]

Other versions

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Alternate universe versions

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  • A version of Bloodwynd is part of Earth 16 which is free of crime due to Superman's robots. Bloodwynd manages to break free of the ennui surrounding the heroes as he recalls his heroic past; he realizes there is more to life than letting the robots handle everything.[4]

Powers and abilities

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Quintus is a proficient necromancer, adept at summoning and utilizing the life energy and enhanced power of deceased spirits. He also possesses the ability to sense death locations and can impose the torment of victims upon murderers, similar to Ghost Rider's "Penance Stare".[5]

The Raphael Arce incarnation of Bloodwynd is a metahuman with empathy that enables him to heal emotional and physical pain.[2] Both iterations of the character are equipped with a "blood gem", a potent arcane object that bestows a range of magical abilities. These abilities include flight, enhanced strength, telepathy, and the ability to cast illusions.[6]

In other media

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Jemisin, N. K.; Thomas, Brandon; Eaton, Cheryl Lynn; Giles, Lamar (2024-01-30). DC Power 2024 (2024) #1. DC Comics.
  2. ^ a b Waid, Mark (2023). Lazarus Planet. DC Comics. ISBN 978-1-77952-333-4.
  3. ^ Whitaker, Piper (August 29, 2023). "Action Comics: Doomsday Special #1 review". AIPT Comics. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  4. ^ Multiversity: The Just #1 (October 2014)
  5. ^ Showcase '94 #5
  6. ^ Who's Who 1993 Update #2. DC Comics. December 22, 1992.
  7. ^ AdjacentTV (February 8, 2012). The Death and Return of Superman CREDITS. Retrieved May 28, 2024 – via YouTube.
  8. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 4, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
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