Himon

Himon is a fictional character. Created by Jack Kirby, the character is one of the New Gods, a fictional race of gods in publications from DC Comics. The "gray-haired mystic" is Mister Miracle's mentor and "look[s] like convention promoter Shel Dorf."^[1]

Fictional character biography

Himon is a citizen of New Genesis who secretly lives on the planet Apokolips, which is ruled by Darkseid. He maintains an identity as a "Hunger Dog", one of the lowest classes. He is an inventor and scientist and created the Mother Box, the semi-sentient computers that most New Gods wear. He also discovered "Element X", which was used to create the Mother Boxes. He has one daughter, Bekka.^[2]

Mister Miracle, the son of New Genesis' ruler Highfather, had long ago been traded to Darkseid as part of a truce. Unsatisfied with his life, Mister Miracle snuck out of an orphanage run by Granny Goodness and participated in Himon's rebel cell. It was partly a class, where Himon taught various people ways of building devices, such as a Mother Box, matter manipulators, or a small screen that translated thoughts into pleasing imagery. The latter was anathema to life on Apokolips. It was at this time that Mister Miracle met Big Barda, another dissatisfied soldier under Granny Goodness. Himon taught Scott how to make a Mother Box, which was his way of rebelling against Darkseid. Himon's class was caught one by one and murdered by the local Darkseid enforcer, Wonderful Willik. This would cause disastisfaction to rise in Big Barda, for one of her misguised students was also part of Himon's class. In revenge, Himon snuck into Willik's home and detonated a bomb in his face, killing him. Mister Miracle and Big Barda came under pursuit by Darkseid's forces. They fled and Himon and Metron, their allies, opened a teleportational gateway for Miracle to escape, knowing full well this would be all the excuse needed for Darkseid to go to war against New Genesis.^[3][4]

Himon also tries to reform the Female Fury code-named "Knockout". His efforts seem to have an effect, but are later revealed to have failed.

Metron and Himon share, at the very least, a professional respect for one another, which is significant since Metron is seldom seen shaking hands with any other Fourth World characters.

Himon had earlier designed a fortress planet, Tartaros. This, along with Himon's daughter, Bekka, play a role in an adventure in which a brainwashed Superman tries to repower Darkseid.^[5]

Death of the New Gods

Himon has resurfaced in the Death of the New Gods mini-series, in which he helps various heroes investigate the rash of god murders. Eventually it is highly suspected that the God Killer is Himon, whose ultimate goal is helping the Source destroy the Fourth World and make a Fifth World. It was revealed that Infinity Man was the killer and had been posing as Himon to avoid detection. Superman saw Himon trapped on the Second Source Wall revealing the ruse.^[6]

New 52

In this slightly altered continuity, Himon is the mentor of the Forever People. He comes into conflict with the Infinity Man when he loses supervision over the group. ^[7] Mister Miracle believes Himon has been slain at the hands of Kanto. ^[8]

Powers and abilities

Himon is a genius in formulating new scientific theories and in inventing and designing advanced technology. Through the use of his devices, such as the Mother Box, his phasing (teleportation)circuitry in his costume, and his android replicas of himself, he has become a brilliant escape artist. In addition to his immortality, Himon is much stronger, faster and more resistant that any human.

References

1. ↑ Ro, Ronin. Tales to Astonish: Jack Kirby, Stan Lee and the American Comic Book Revolution (Bloomsbury, 2004)
2. ↑ DC Graphic Novel #4: The Hunger Dogs (1985)
3. ↑ Mister Miracle #9 (September 1972)
4. ↑ Action Comics #593 (1987)
5. ↑ "Superman/Batman" #37–42 (August 2007–January 2008)
6. ↑ Death of the New Gods #7 (May 2008)
7. ↑ "Infinity Man And The Forever People" #4 (Oct. 22 2014)
8. ↑ Justice League #42 (July 2015)