Mordru

History

Mordru exists primarily as a formless Lord of Chaos. He existed before the universe had fully formed and he will continue long after the last star has burnt out. He attacked the Justice League and the Justice Society several times prior to Crisis on Infinite Earths. He existed in Gemworld as Wrynn and fought Amethyst on several occasions, finally being trapped within stone there for an extended period. This led to Mordru developing Taphephobia (a phobia of being buried alive).

After the Crisis, he reappeared during the last days of the 20th century responding to a prophesy that said the world’s most powerful wizard would soon be reborn and claim his mantle. Mordru sought to find this child and kill it to claim its power. He clashed with the newly reformed Justice Society several times attempting to find the child, finally defeating the team. He held the infant boy marked by fate high as he prepared to sacrifice it, but the new Star-Spangled Kid intervened and touched the Scarabus to the child.

In a bright flash of light the child grew to adulthood and was clad in the raiment of Dr. Fate. After a protracted battle Mordru was imprisoned in the Amulet of Fate for several months as Hector Hall began to adapt to his new position as mystical guardian.

Eventually having fed Hector much disinformation and cast several spell in preparation, Mordru managed to switch places with Hector, taking the mantle of Fate as Hector was trapped in the Amulet. Eventually Hector freed himself with the help of Nabu and defeated Mordru, trapping him in the Rock of Eternity.

It was learned during this conflict that Mordru was responsible for the corruption of Hank (Hawk) Hall. Hector is the child of Hawk and Dove. Mordru corrupted Hawk into raping Dove; controlling Hawk to become Monarch (in effect bringing him to the side of chaos, succeeding where M’Shulla and Gorrum failed.), and that the killing of Dove II was an illusion cast by Mordru. All simply so that he could kill the child and usurp its power.

During Infinite Crisis, Mordu was freed from the Rock of Eternity, along the Sins when it exploded over Gotham. He immediately attacked Dr. Fate and the JSA once again. The battle raged through various other timelines, where Fate mocked Mordru for not existing in so many other timelines. He was finally defeated by Jakeem Thunder.

The 30th Century

By the 30th century he has created a vast interstellar empire where only the Legion of Superheroes and the United Planets oppose him. He was apparently defeated and placed within an airtight vault, but was freed by a battle between Sensor, Umbra and Magno, and the Legion of Super Rejects. He promptly absorbed the magical power from his descendants and collecting his favorite artifacts, notably the Emerald Eye of Ekron.

When the Legion of Superheroes engaged him in combat in an attempt to return him to his prison, he easily defeats them, sending them forth as his heralds. He destroyed the planet Sklar as a demonstration of his might. He was finally defeated by a reformed Legion, Workforce, and the Amazers; sealed within an airtight sphere. (this is presumably the same battle that Dr. Fate showed Mordru during their second encounter.)

Powers

Mordru's magical abilities are amongst the most formidable in the DC universe.

• Flight

• Control of matter on a molecular level

• Eldritch bolts

• Formation of solid objects from magical energy

• Regeneration

• Invulnerability

During ‘Princes of Darkness’ he augmented his already considerable might with the Starheart, Fate’s artifacts, was in possession of Arion, Atlantis’ greatest sorcerer.

Hourman III attempted at one point to de-age Mordru to a point in his history when he was less powerful; instead found that his timeline had no beginning, nor an end. Making Mordru truly immortal.