Earth Prime
Earth Prime (or Earth-Prime) is a term sometimes used in works of speculative fiction, most notably in DC Comics, involving parallel universes or a multiverse, and refers either to the universe containing "our" Earth, or to a parallel world with a bare minimum of divergence points from Earth as we know it-often the absence or near-absence of metahumans, or with their existence confined to fictional narratives like comics. The "Earth Prime" of a given fictional setting may or may not have an intrinsic value to or vital connection to the other Earths it exists alongside (although it appears to be the case that such Prime Earths -and sometimes the 'central universes' in which those Prime Earths exist as well -are portrayed in fiction to be vital to the existence of the other Earths).
DC Comics
 | |
| Notable characters |
Superboy-Prime Legion of Super-Heroes (2004 team), Ultra |
|---|---|
| First appearance | The Flash #179 (May, 1968) |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
In the DC Multiverse, Earth-Prime is the true Earth from which all the other worlds within the multiverse originate, the actual reality where the readers live, DC Comics operates as a publisher, and all superheroes are fictional. However, Earth Prime became an alternate reality in its first appearance in The Flash #179 (May, 1968), when the Flash accidentally travels there from Earth-One by being pushed by a creature called The Nok. The Flash, stranded, contacts DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz,[1] who helps him construct a cosmic treadmill to return to Earth-One. Eventually it was stated that the writers of DC Comics of Earth Prime subconsciously base their stories on the adventures of the heroes on Earth-One and Earth-Two.
In The Flash #228 (July/Aug 1974),[2] Earth Prime's Cary Bates travels to Earth-One, where he discovers that the stories he writes are not only based on events on Earth-One, but can actually influence these events as well. This power turns for the worse in Justice League of America #123 (October 1975),[3] when Bates is accidentally transported to Earth-Two. The interdimensional trip temporarily turns Bates into a supervillain, and he quickly kills the Justice Society of America. Luckily fellow DC writer Elliot S. Maggin, with the help of the Justice League and the Spectre, is able to restore matters on both Earths in Justice League of America #124 (November 1975).[4]
Ultraa
The first Ultraa was introduced in Justice League of America #153. Like Superman, Ultraa was the sole survivor of a destroyed alien world, rocketed to Earth-Prime as a baby. After his first encounter with the Justice League, Ultraa decided Earth-Prime was not ready for superheroes and relocated to Earth-One. Post-Crisis, when there was no longer an Earth-Prime or greater multiverse, Ultraa was retconned into being from the planet Almerac, homeworld of Maxima. In Multiversity: Ultraa Comics, a version similar to the original is set to be introduced on Earth-33 of the New 52 DC Multiverse.
Superboy-Prime
The second superhero (later villain) is Superboy-Prime, the true Superman from which all the other Supermen originate. He first appeared in DC Comics Presents #87 (Nov. 1985). This Superboy's powers first manifested around the time of the passage of Halley's Comet in 1985. Just after manifesting his powers, Superboy-Prime met Earth-One's Superman. Very soon thereafter Earth-Prime was destroyed in Crisis on Infinite Earths #10. Superboy-Prime escaped his universe's destruction, and later joined Earth-Two's Superman, Earth-Two's Lois Lane-Kent, and Earth-Three's Alexander Luthor in a "paradise dimension".
Superboy Prime possesses powers far exceeding those of the modern "New-Earth" Superman (Kal-El).
In issue #6 of the Infinite Crisis mini-series, a now anti-heroic Superboy-Prime convinced Alexander Luthor that Earth-Prime was the ideal world and urged him to draw his inspiration for making a new Earth from Earth-Prime. Luthor began searching through the myriad Earths for Earth-Prime and, in a metatextual nod to Earth Prime's original status as the keystone Earth, looks directly at the readers and reaches out towards them to grab our reality.
In 2004, DC revisited the Earth-Prime concept in the miniseries Superman: Secret Identity. Writer Kurt Busiek states in the introduction to the collected volume of the series that the original appearance of Superboy-Prime was the inspiration for his graphic novel.
Legion of Super-Heroes
In 2008 the Final Crisis tie in series Legion of Three Worlds, makes various references to Earth-Prime, while Superboy-Prime is still looking to make his "Perfect Earth". He starts by rebuilding the Legion of Super-Villains to fight Superman and the three versions of the Legion of Super-Heroes. During the battle, the 2004 team's Element Lad created Kryptonite that unexpectedly affected Superboy-Prime. The Kryptonite of New Earth had no effect on Superman (Kal-L) and Prime during Infinite Crisis.
At the end of the mini series, it's revealed that Earth-Prime has been reborn and Superboy-Prime was returned there. It was also revealed that the Threeboot Legion are from Earth-Prime's future. The current status of Superboy-Prime after the events of Flashpoint remains unclear, but he has not reappeared since 2011. The character may have been obliterated by the continuity change and shifts within the multiverse that occurred after that core DC event.
The Multiversity: Ultra Comics and Earth-33
In Grant Morrison's The Multiversity series, Earth-Prime is given the additional designation of Earth-33. On that world, the minds of readers have empowered a superhero named Ultra Comics. Ultra is the only metahuman on that world, fighting the encroachment of the "Gentry" (the series lead villains) through confining their presence on 'our' world to the pages of an 'entrapment' comic book based around the title character.
Marvel Comics
In the fictional Marvel Universe, the 'Earth Prime' of that setting is designated by extradimensional cartographers as Earth-1218,[5] where real-life readers buy Marvel Comics. On some occasions, various characters of the Marvel Universe, looking for their version of God, encounter 'real world' figures such as Jack Kirby and Stan Lee. Yet other characters are capable of breaking the fourth wall and addressing the readers directly, such as the She-Hulk and Deadpool; and still others, such as the Earth's Watcher, Uatu, is possessed of the ability to see all alternate Earths in the Marvel Universe setting at will, including the real one in which he and all other beings are nothing more than fictional characters (in some early issues of What If?, the Watcher actually addressed the reader by showing him which issues of which comics the past exploits of a given character could be found in). Having a similar name, "Prime Earth" is the new designation of "Earth-616".[6]
Sliders
Earth Prime, as used in the television show Sliders, is the name of the alternate Earth where the four original sliders (Quinn Mallory, Wade Welles, Rembrandt Brown, and Maximillian Arturo) started their journey. This Earth was the same as ours until 1997 or 1998, when the Kromaggs slid onto Earth Prime and conquered it.
The Dark Tower
Much of the action in the last few books of Stephen King's Dark Tower series takes place in "the keystone world", essentially the Earth Prime concept under a different name, complete with appearances by King himself as a character.
The Chronicles of Amber
Though not using the term "Earth Prime", Roger Zelazny's The Chronicles of Amber fantasy series features a similar concept. In the Amber stories, Amber is the only true world; all others, including our Earth, are but "shadows" of the tension between it and Chaos.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
In the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles made-for-TV film, Turtles Forever, Ch'rell (or 2003 series's version of The Shredder), took the technodrome from his 1987 series counterpart and Krang and upgraded it with Utrom technology. He later decided to destroy Turtle-Prime to destroy the multiverse. He was stopped by the three teams of turtles from the Prime, 1987, and 2003 universes. Although the true "Earth Prime" of the movie would be that inhabited by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in the closing shot, shown putting the finishing touches on the first issue of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic book.
In other media
- In the DC animated feature Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths, the villainous Owlman's ultimate goal is to locate a universe that he designates as Earth Prime, the so-called "original" universe that all other universes stem from, and destroy it, thus leading to the destruction of all reality as well, due to believing that the existence of a multiverse meant nothing truly matters. Earth Prime is shown to be a desolate barren wasteland of a planet which has been ripped out of orbit, with ruins as far as the eye can see. It is unknown what exactly caused its desolation, though Owlman reasons that mankind was destroyed by itself.
- In the final episode of Spider-Man: The Animated Series, after saving the multiverse from Spider-Carnage, an evil version of himself from an alternate Earth, Spider-Man briefly visits Earth Prime and meets his own creator, Stan Lee.
References
- ↑ McAvennie, Michael; Dolan, Hannah, ed. (2010). "1960s". DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 130. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9.
Trapped on 'Earth-Prime', the Flash knew only one man could possibly help him: DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz.
- ↑ Bates, Cary (w), Novick, Irv (p), Blaisdell, Tex (i). "The Day I Saved the Life of the Flash" The Flash 228 (July–August 1974), DC Comics
- ↑ Bates, Cary; Maggin, Elliot S. (w), Dillin, Dick (p), McLaughlin, Frank (i). "Where on Earth Am I?" Justice League of America 123 (October 1975), DC Comics
- ↑ Bates, Cary; Maggin, Elliot S. (w), Dillin, Dick (p), McLaughlin, Frank (i). "Avenging Ghosts of the Justice Society!" Justice League of America 124 (November 1975), DC Comics
- ↑ Chris Claremont (w), Tom Grummett (p), Scott Hanna (i). "The Panther's Vengeance!" New Exiles 3 (April, 2008), Marvel Comics
- ↑ Secret Wars #9