Draaga
| Draaga | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Adventures of Superman #454 (May 1989) |
| Created by |
Jerry Ordway Roger Stern George Pérez |
| In-story information | |
| Abilities | Enhanced strength |
Draaga is a fictional alien character in the DC Comics universe. He first appeared in Adventures of Superman #454 during the 1989 Superman In Exile storyline.
Fictional character history
In the "Exile" storyline, Superman has exiled himself from Earth due to psychological problems he was suffering from at the time. He is forced by the space villain Mongul to participate in his gladiatorial games. Draaga is the champion of the games, but Superman defeats him, then refuses to kill him. This baffles Draaga, whose code of honour demands a rematch against Superman, though he later comes to respect the hero. After Mongul is deposed by Superman, the aliens who control the artificial planet Warworld choose Draaga to be their new puppet ruler.
Draaga eventually abandons the position to look for Superman, even finding the remains of Superman's costume (torn apart during his stay) and wearing them, in a sort of homage to the warrior who defeated him.[1] After taking a "space taxi" he arrives on Earth and challenges Superman to a fight to the death.[2] Superman, at the time under the mental influence of the Eradicator (a Kryptonian artifact), fights Draaga in New York and on Earth's moon, and is on the verge of killing him when he is transported away from the fight by Professor Hamilton. Draaga is dragged away, unconscious, by the "space taxi" driver, who is worried about collecting his fare.[3]
Draaga returns in the "Panic in the Sky" storyline where he is employed by Maxima to destroy Superman. The Superman he encounters here is actually the android Supergirl Matrix wearing Superman's form, who loses to Draaga on an asteroid. The second time Draaga loses on Warworld is in a contest held by Brainiac. Later Draaga joins Superman in the fight against Brainiac to regain his honor. He is killed while jumping into an organic anti-matter doomsday device created by Brainiac and is buried beside The Cleric, on the asteroid on which he first encountered Supergirl. The shapeshifting Matrix honours Draaga for the rest of the battle against Brainiac by adopting his form.
Powers and abilities
Draaga is superhumanly strong and resistant to injury. His strength level is almost in the same class as Superman.
In other media
Draaga appears in the animated Justice League episode, "War World", an adaptation of the "Gladiator" comics storyline. He is voiced by William Smith.
Draaga appears in issue 20 of the Young Justice comics based off the show. Superman mentions he came to Metropolis to challenge him to a fight, but was defeated by him and Superboy. He is later found in stasis by Superman and Captain Atom aboard a ship controlled by Kylstar, an operative for The Collector of Worlds.[4]
Draaga appears in Season 2 Episode 4 of Supergirl as a combatant in Roulette's underground fight club in National City. He is seen fighting Supergirl, who after losing to him in the first battle came back to defeat him upon learning from Mon-El (who mentioned that he crossed paths with his race on several occasions) that he has a weak spot in his leg.
References
- ↑ Stern, Roger (w), Ordway, Jerry, Curt Swan, George Pérez et al. (p), Breeding, Brett, Bob McLeod, Kerry Gammill et al. (i). "Reflections" Action Comics 650 (February 1990), New York: DC Comics
- ↑ Ordway, Jerry (w), Ordway, Jerry (p), Janke, Dennis (i). "Krypton Man" Superman v2, 42 (April 1990), New York: DC Comics
- ↑ Jurgens, Dan (w), Jurgens, Dan (p), Thibert, Art (i). "The Last Son of Krypton" Adventures of Superman 465 (April 1990), New York: DC Comics
- ↑ Young Justice #20