PROMETHOS

Real Name: Promethos

Class: Extraterrestrial (Kherubim)

Occupation: Would-be world conqueror, former warrior, senator

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: German Alps, formerly Khera, Mount Olympus, Greece, Japan, Earth-50

First Appearance: Zealot (Wildstorm) #1 (August, 1995)

PowersAs a Kherubim Promethos was extremely long-lived and possessed superhuman strength, durability, senses and regenerative abilities. Promethos was a skilled warrior.

History(Zealot (Wildstorm) #1-3 (fb)) - Promethos was a Kherubim senator sent to Earth alongside several Kherubim warriors during the intergalactic Kherubim / Daemonite war. Zealot, Promethos’ ex-lover who Promethos trained in the art of war, was also aboard the ship. Promethos tried to take command of the ship and betray the Kherubim’s mission because he had no interest in war, but wanted to carve out his own empire on Earth. Promethos was defeated and put into the brig, but after a Daemonite attack the Kherubim ship was about to crashland on Earth. Promethos begged Zealot to free him from captivity so he’d have a chance to survive. She reminded him of why he was in the brig, but he pleaded that he didn’t deserve to die and played on their past relationship. Majestic told her to ignore him, and went to find her sister Savant, but Zealot reluctantly freed him. Zealot said honor demanded he remain her prisoner, but Promethos took Savant hostage, threatening to snap her neck if Zealot didn’t give him complete freedom. Zealot launched an escape pod that took her, Promethos and Savant to safety. Promethos said they could rule Earth, and Zealot responded that she was but a child when she first met Promethos and he trained her, but as an adult she realized he was a creature of pure ambition while she was a woman of honor. Zealot freed Savant, breaking Promethos’ thumb. Promethos promised they’d cross paths again.

(Zealot (Wildstorm) #1 (fb)) - Promethos built his own kingdom atop Mount Olympus, and the local Greeks worshipped him as the god Prometheus. Promethos brought up female worshippers to serve his every need, and enjoyed being treated as a god, choosing to forget the Kherubim / Daemonite conflict. Zealot had a falling out with her Coda sisterhood when they went from warriors to mercenaries, and they pursued her endlessly. Zealot fought the coda at a temple of Artemis, and although she fought bravely she was outnumbered and severely injured. Promethos saved her, but she was none too happy to see him. Zealot recovered from her injuries on Mount Olympus, and when Zealot asked him why people were worshipping him Promethos said neither of them could return to Khera, and he’d simply made the most of the situation. Promethos said she could rule Earth at his side, but Zealot said he was shirking his duty in the Kherubim / Daemonite war. She’d betrayed her own duty once by freeing him from captivity, and said she’d never make the same mistake again. Promethos said she owed him for what they used to mean to each other, and she stabbed him in his hand with her honor blade, saying that whatever they used to have was long gone. Zealot said she wasn’t going to kill him, but warned him that they should never cross paths again. Promethos was in a rage, saying he’d offered her the world, but she’d forsaken him for honor so he’d henceforth be her mortal enemy.

(Zealot (Wildstorm) #2) - Promethos won and lost kingdoms over the centuries and ended up in Japan, taking control of Honshu Island as the Masked Warlord. He heard stories of the White Ghost training with Lord Chochin, and knew she must be Zealot. He believed fate had brought her to him again. Savant tried to steal a valuable statue from Honshu, and Promethos’ soldiers captured her. He sent an emissary to inform Zealot that Savant was his hostage, and the warlord demanded her presence on Honshu Island. Zealot knew she was being led into a trap, but had no choice with Savant’s life at stake. Promethos promised to spare Savant’s life if Zealot would pledge to be his servant. She refused and they fought, with Promethos getting the advantage and stabbing her with the honor blade she once pierced him with. Zealot’s lover Taiso came to her rescue, but Promethos killed him. Taisho had given Zealot enough time to free her sister, and she promised Promethos one day she’d have her revenge against him.

(Zealot (Wildstorm) #3 (fb)) - Promethos rose in the ranks of the Third Reich, and at a base in the German Alps he offered the Nazis the secrets of atomic energy. Zealot arrived, slaughtering the Nazis present. Promethos mused about all the times they’d recently crossed paths, from North Dakota in 1848 to Vienna in 1916. Zealot told him mankind was not ready for atomic weapons, especially a murderous empire. Promethos thought it fitting that he be the one to gift mankind with a new “fire” and said he was banking on Nazi Germany to take over the world. He planned to one day kill Hitler and finally achieve his ambition of ruling Earth. They engaged in combat, and Zealot prevailed, beheading Promethos. She blew up the facility, hoping nuclear weapons would never fall into mankind’s hands.

Comments: Created by Ron Marz & Terry Shoemaker.

Promethos was originally published by Wildstorm Comics, an imprint of Image Comics, which DC acquired the rights to in January, 1999.

Promethos' appearance in Zealot (Wildstorm #1-3) was republished by DC Comics in a digital format.

All characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © DC Comics, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Please visit The Official DC Comics Site at: http://www.batman.com.