Equus (comics)

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Equus
Scott Williams
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceSuperman (vol. 2) #206 (August 2004)
Created byBrian Azzarello
Jim Lee
In-story information
SpeciesHuman Cyborg
AbilitiesVia cybernetics:
  • Superhuman strength, stamina, and durability
  • Regenerative healing
  • Razor-sharp retractable claws

Equus is a

For Tomorrow
" storyline.

Publication history

Equus first appears in the third issue of the year-long "

OMAC Project, he comes into conflict with Superman when the superhero discovers that "The Vanishing", an event in which one million people completely disappeared from the face of the Earth (including his wife, Lois Lane), is traced to an unspecified country in the Middle East. Investigating, Superman intervenes in a civil war by using his speed to snatch all the guns from a group of men fighting one another. The fighting continues however, and in his continued quest to put an end to it, Superman confronts Equus, a large, monstrous, cybernetically enhanced humanoid creature whose claws are capable of piercing Superman's skin. General Nox, the leader of the rebels, puts an end to the fight between the two beings, telling Superman that his side has won the war, and showing him that the people outside the palace where Superman and Equus had fought were now cheering Nox's name.[2]

Although Superman initially stands down, he later appears before Nox, who has captured an advanced-looking device from the deposed regime, which his lieutenant informed him was, according to the confession of a minister of that regime, the weapon that was responsible for The Vanishing. Although still operational, it lacks any accuracy, functioning like a shotgun. Superman then appears, demanding to know of the weapon's origins, and when Nox informs him that the former king had intended to use it against Nox, and that the King is to be executed, along with more than a dozen other members of the king's regime, Superman intervenes, feeling that the condemned men deserve a trial, again coming to blows with Equus, who carries out the execution. During the fight, Superman rips the claws right out of Equus' right arm, and seemingly defeats him. Superman then returns to Nox's palace, confronting him with the question of what he intends to do with the weapon, but Equus also appears, and ignores Nox's orders to stand down, saying that he is not being paid by Nox. Nox reminds him that Equus is there to aid him, but Equus brushes Nox aside, and attacks Superman. Superman is less forgiving in this rematch, using his

amygdalae to which the OMAC candidates were subjected.[6]

Equus III later appears in

Wildebeest
, who had been captured in the same story.

Equus reappeared under Mr. Orr's command in

Buddy Blank
's tracks.

In the 2008

Wildebeest to prevent them from helping Victor Stone battle Mr. Orr's "Cyborg Revenge Squad".[7]

Powers and abilities

Equus is a human being

One Man Army Corps (OMAC) project, which selected cancer patients as its subjects. Equus was the project's third version (or V3), immediately preceding his successor, Father Daniel Leone. Cancer was the platform on which the enhancements were based, as the cellular mutation responsible for the disease provided a stable environment for "massive intrusion and acceleration".[6]

Equus stands approximately twice as tall as other humans, and possesses massive musculature on his upper torso.

fuel cells controlling seven different senses, and his nervous system is powered by enough electricity to power a city block.[3]

He is capable of extending five razor-sharp claws from the knuckles of both of his hands, in a manner similar to the character of Wolverine. The claws corresponding to his fingers are approximately a foot long (with those corresponding to his thumbs considerably smaller), and while their composition is unknown, they are capable, given the physical strength Equus is capable of exerting with them, of piercing Superman's skin.[2][3]

Equus, the third version of the One Man Army Corps project, along with his predecessor, the second version, had their

amygdalae enlarged as part of their genetic modifications, though this was scaled back for the subsequent versions, according to Mr. Orr, because this made the subjects psychotic. Specimens from the project that produced Equus were also said to have the wingbones of a fallen angel within their forearms.[6]

Equus has a wide face with two small eyes (alternately depicted as yellow[3] or red[5]), a small, snout-like nose, a row of large, shark-like teeth, and no hair. Where his ears would be are two ports into which several cables from his cybernetics connect. Exterior enhancements include two spectacle-like devices on his eyes.[2][3] He is capable of quickly regenerating entire limbs that are severed from his body.[8]

Beginning with vol. 4 The OMAC project, in addition to reducing the subjects' amygdalae enlargement, added

vasculature system, in order to give the subjects the ability to continue functioning after death.[3]

In other media

A hologram of Equus appeared in the April 25, 2023 Superman & Lois episode "Of Sound Mind", which aired as part of that series' third season.

References

  1. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0
    .
  2. ^ a b c d Brian Azzarello (w), Jim Lee (p), Scott Williams (i). "For Tomorrow Part 3" Superman, vol. 2, no. 206 (August 2004). DC Comics.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Brian Azzarello (w), Jim Lee (p), Scott Williams (i). "For Tomorrow Part 4" Superman, vol. 2, no. 207 (September 2004). DC Comics.
  4. ^ Brian Azzarello (w), Jim Lee (p), Scott Williams (i). "For Tomorrow Part 5" Superman, vol. 2, no. 208 (October 2004). DC Comics.
  5. ^ a b Brian Azzarello (w), Jim Lee (p), Scott Williams (i). "For Tomorrow Parts 9-12" Superman, vol. 2, no. 212-215 (February-May 2005). DC Comics.
  6. ^ a b c Brian Azzarello (w), Jim Lee (p), Scott Williams (i). "For Tomorrow Part 12" Superman, vol. 2, no. 215, p. 5-7 (May 2005). DC Comics.
  7. ^ DC Comics Special: Cyborg #1-6
  8. Sean Kelley McKeever (w), Manuel Garcia (p), Mark McKenna (i). "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" Countdown to Final Crisis
    , no. 35 (August 29, 2007). DC Comics.

External links
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