Highfather

Highfather
Highfather as depicted in Who’s Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #10 (December 1985).
Art by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceThe New Gods #1 (February/March 1971)
Created byJack Kirby
In-story information
Alter egoIzaya the Inheritor
SpeciesNew God
Place of originNew Genesis
Team affiliationsNew Gods
Notable aliasesThe All-Father
Lightseid
God of Good
Master of Light
Light God
Ixaya
Abilities

Highfather (Izaya) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. An integral part of Jack Kirby's Fourth World mythos, Highfather is a New God, the leader of the planet New Genesis, and the good counterpart of Darkseid.[1][2]

Highfather has been adapted into various media outside comics, primarily in association with the New Gods. Mitchell Ryan, Mark Rolston, and Richard Chamberlain have voiced the character in animation.

Publication history

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Highfather was created by Jack Kirby and first appeared in The New Gods #1 (March 1971).[3]

The character played a significant role in The Great Darkness Saga, a 1982 storyline in Legion of Super-Heroes. In the story, he is reborn in the 31st century and helps the Legion battle Darkseid.[4]

Fictional character history

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Izaya is a warrior and the leader of New Genesis. After Steppenwolf murders his wife Avia, Izaya participates in the war against Apokolips before enacting a peace treaty with them. To this end, he trades his son Scott Free to Apokolips and adopts Darkseid's son Orion.[5][6] Scott later escapes Apokolips, breaking the treaty.

Highfather often consults the Source when making his decisions. Though never stated explicitly in the New Gods series, the Source is implied to be some form of higher power (perhaps even God), making Izaya a spiritual as well as the political leader of his people. As ruler of New Genesis, he is kind, compassionate, and caring but ready to defend it from any threat.

In Genesis, Highfather is killed in battle with Ares and succeeded by Takion.[7] His spirit joins the Quintessence, a council of cosmic entities.

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Izaya is resurrected and depicted as the founder of New Genesis. Additionally, he is morally ambiguous rather than purely good, and Infinity-Man is the embodiment of his conscience.[1][8]

Powers and abilities

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As a New God, Highfather is nigh-immortal and possesses superhuman physical abilities. He can channel the Source via his staff and once wielded the Life Equation, which enabled him to manipulate reality.

Other versions

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An alternate universe variant of Highfather appears in JLA: The Nail.

In other media

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Television

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Film

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An alternate universe variant of Highfather appears in Justice League: Gods and Monsters, voiced by Richard Chamberlain.[9] This version wed Bekka to Orion to bring Apokolips and New Genesis together, subsequently betraying Darkseid and killing him and his elite, including Orion. This action causes Bekka to leave for Earth.

Video games

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Highfather appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[10]

Miscellaneous

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Highfather appears in the Injustice: Gods Among Us prequel comic.

References

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  1. ^ a b The Multiversity Guidebook #1 (Mar. 2015)
  2. ^ Sacks, Jason; Dallas, Keith (2014). American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1970s. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 39. ISBN 978-1605490564.
  3. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 144. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  4. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Manning, Matthew K.; McAvennie, Michael; Wallace, Daniel (2019). DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle. DK Publishing. p. 188. ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6.
  5. ^ New Gods #7 (March 1972)
  6. ^ Who's Who in the DC Universe #12 (September 1991)
  7. ^ Genesis #3 (December 1997)
  8. ^
    • Wonder Woman (vol. 4) #14 (January 2013)
    • Justice League (vol. 2) #23.1 (November 2013)
    • Green Lantern Corps (vol. 3) #35 - 37 (December 2014 - February 2015)
    • Green Lantern: New Guardians #35 - #37 (December 2014 - February 2015)
    • Green Lantern (vol. 5) #35 (December 2014)
    • Red Lanterns #36 (January 2015)
    • Infinity Man and the Forever People #5 (January 2015)
    • Sinestro #7 - #8 (February 2015)
    • Infinity Man and the Forever People #9 (May 2015)
    • Justice League (vol. 2) #41 (August 2015)
  9. ^ a b c "Highfather Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved November 5, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  10. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
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