Publisher: DC Comics
Created by: Jack Kirby
1st appearance: Forever People #1 (March 1971)
Nationality: Genesisian
Team Affiliations: Forever People, New Gods
Legal Status: Uknown
Height: 6’1 Weight: 201 lbs (91 kg)
Eye color: Black Hair color: Black
Relatives: Valkyra (mother, deceased), Serafina (twin sister)
Skills and abilities:
Powers: As a New God, he has all the powers and abilities inherent to his race, and is capable of sensing fluctuations in the Source. He is described as a “warrior class seven,” implying a level of armed and unarmed combat skill. He also has the ability to control his own density, allowing him to become very heavy or very light. Presumably, this may be extended to practical invulnerability and superhuman strength and may allow some level of uncontrolled flight, but neither has been demonstrated.
Biography
Bronze Age
Originally introduced as a New God going by the full name of “Vykin the Black” during the Bronze Age, Vykin was the son of Valkyra. Raised on New Genesis alongside his close friends, with whom he later formed the Forever People. During Darkseid’s war on the New Gods, his friend Beautiful Dreamer was kidnapped and trapped on Earth. He and the remaining Forever People went to Earth to rescue her. There, they were aided by Superman and a cosmic being summoned by their Mother Box, called Infinity Man. After Beautiful Dreamer was rescued, Vykin and the Forever People decided to remain on Earth to explore the planet and their roots. This version of the character had magnetic abilities, allowing him to attract and repel items made of either iron or steel. He also had an innate ability with machines and electronics.
Modern Age
The early Modern Age saw the elimination of the suffix “the Black,” and the revelation that the Forever People were not actually New Gods, but instead Earth-born humans who would have died as infants without the intervention of the New Gods, who took the children to New Genesis and raised them there as future protectors of Earth. This retcon was soon retconned, however, and Vykin and his team members were re-established as New Gods and implied to be an example of the next stage of the New Gods’ evolution.
New 52
The New 52 introduced the character’s current origin, familial relationship to Serafina, and powers. His parentage, previously identified, is no longer clear. Unlike previous incarnations, he has an acrimonious relationship with other members of the team.
