Imperiex


Imperiex is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. He was initially introduced as an adversary to the superhero Superman before becoming a main antagonist for the crossover "Our Worlds at War".
Imperiex has made limited appearances in media outside comics, with Phil Morris voicing him in the animated series Legion of Super Heroes.

Publication history

Imperiex first appeared in Superman vol. 2 #153, and was created by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness.

Fictional character biography

The embodiment of entropy, Imperiex takes the form of pure energy contained in humanoid armor. Since the dawn of time, he has repeatedly destroyed the universe to create a new one from the ashes of the old. He is first mentioned when Mongul and Superman encounter a probe of Imperiex who had arrived on Earth. Imperiex intends to destroy and recreate the universe, believing it to be imperfect.
Before arriving on Earth, Imperiex obliterates countless planets, including Kalanor, Karna, Daxam, and Almerac, as well as a number of entire galaxies. The survivors of the dead worlds, along with Earth, Apokolips, and Brainiac 13, form a coalition, with Darkseid as its commander, to combat Imperiex. After arriving in the Milky Way Galaxy, Imperiex sends out probes that dig into several spots on Earth’s surface as a prelude to Imperiex's demolition.
Image:ImperiexBOOM.PNG|175px|thumb|left|Imperiex and Brainiac 13 are killed at the moment of the Big Bang. Artwork from Action Comics #782.Through great effort and a few sacrifices, Earth's combined forces manage to crack Imperiex's armor, only for Brainiac 13 to betray the coalition and absorb Imperiex's energy, intending to rule the universe. In response, a new plan is devised, with Lex Luthor activating a temporal displacement weapon which is combined with Apokoliptian energy. This allows Superman to transport Imperiex's and Brainiac's consciousnesses back in time to the Big Bang, destroying them both.

Powers and abilities

As the embodiment of entropy, Imperiex wields the power of the Big Bang. He can project powerful blasts of energy and create black holes capable of destroying entire universes. Imperiex also possesses superhuman strength, durability, and speed, and can create smaller probes resembling him.

In other media

Television

Imperiex appears in the second season of Legion of Super Heroes, voiced by Phil Morris. This version originates from Apokolips in the 41st century, possesses cybernetic enhancements, and was originally a gladiator before becoming a universal conqueror, with the artificial intelligence K3NT creating a clone of Superman named Kell-El to oppose him. After Kell-El travels to the 31st century to gain the Legion of Super-Heroes's help, Imperiex follows him through time and allies with the Fatal Five, the Legion of Super-Villains, and the Dominators. Imperiex manipulates Brainiac 5 into succumbing to the original Brainiac's influence, only to be betrayed and killed by him.

Film

The Legion of Super Heroes incarnation of Imperiex makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in Scooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too!.

Video games

Imperiex appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.

Miscellaneous