Who the Clix? Orion

Who the Clix? is a series of articles featuring information on comic book characters that have been made into figures for the popular tabletop game Heroclix. These articles are meant to help Heroclix players learn more about the characters behind their favorite pieces.

For the full Who The Clix? archive, click here. If you think these articles are worth more than $0, click here.

Appearances in Heroclix: Wizkids DC, Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes, Collateral Damage
First Appearance: New Gods #1
Team Affiliations: New Gods, Justice League
Powers/Abilities: Immortality; Super strength, speed, invulnerability and endurance; Accelerated healing; Master combatant; The Astro Force
Created by: Jack Kirby

Orion is the second son of Darkseid and therefore half brother to Kalibak and Grayven. When he was very young, he was traded to Highfather of New Genesis in exchange for Scott Free. By trading children, it was hoped that New Genesis and Apokolips could achieve some form of peace. Orion's childhood was difficult as Highfather taught him to control the rage and anger he had inherited from his father, Darkseid. Eventually, he was able to forge these weapons into incredible fighting skills and earned the nickname, “the Dog of War.”

Eventually, Orion obtained the Anti-Life Equation, the very object of his birth father's desires. With this power in his control, he confronted Darkseid on Apokolips and battled him for control of the planet. Orion won the day and gained control of Apokolips. With Apokolips at his command and the power of the Anti-Life Equation, Orion turned Earth into a peaceful utopia. So much so that it actually began to disrupt the balance of the universe. After this is when Darkseid revealed that his defeat had been part of a plan to see the true potential of the Anti-life Equation.

Some time later, Orion traveled to Earth again and demanded that he and Lightray be admitted into the Justice League. They were accepted into the League and spent some considerable time adventuring along the group. He also later joined the League alongside Big Barda as envoys of New Genesis. During these membership times, Orion helped battle the Evil Eye, Starro, and even a white martian that had regained its memories. It was eventually revealed that Orion and Barda's time with the League was to prepare the heroes for a battle against the omnipotent Maggedon. In the final battle against this powerful foe, Orion gave his Mother Box to Oracle. Without the calming effect of the Mother Box, Orion was able to unleash his full fury on Mageddon and, alongside the League, defeat the foe. Once the battle was done, both Orion and Barda resigned from the JLA.

Orion eventually battles his father on Earth. As was prophesied, Orion rips out Darkseid's heart and kills his father. However, Darkseid's life essence could not be so simply extinguished and he eventually was reborn as Boss Dark Side. Recruiting the super-villain Libra, the resurrected Darkseid is able to raise many of his minions and successfully uses the Anti-Life Equation to conquer humanity. With the Earth under his thumb, Darkseid fires a bullet back in time to kill Orion after his “victory” against his father. This proved to be Darkseid's undoing. John Stewart recovered the bullet from Orion's body and it was then used to kill Darkseid once again.

Orion, like many of the New Gods, has been reincarnated once again. He has recently been seen aiding Wonder woman in a search for a child abducted by the gods of Olympia.