Black Racer

BLACK RACER

Real Name: Black Racer / Willie Walker

Class: God (New Gods) / human gestalt

Occupation: Messenger of death

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: Vera Johnson (sister). Ray Johnson (brother-in-law, deceased)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile

First Appearance: New Gods I #3 (June-July, 1971)

Powers: Black Racer could deliver death with a touch, and ushered souls into the afterlife. He could phase and traveled through the air at the speed of light on celestial skis and ski poles.

History: (New Gods I #3) - When the New Gods were born so was the Black Racer, elemental embodiment of death. Black Racer was powered by the Source and used many messengers for his mission.

(Flash: Our Worlds at War #1) - <November, 1967> Vietnam, Sgt. Willie Walker and his men got separated from the rest of their company, and in his effort to navigate the jungle Walker led his men straight into a U.S. target area. American planes bombed the jungle, killing Walker’s men and leaving him a quadriplegic.

(New Gods I #3) - The Black Racer chose New God Lightray as his target, and they battled across space until Metron appeared and used a Boom Tube to redirect the Racer to Earth. On Earth Black Racer heard quadriplegic Willie Walker calling to him. He saved Willie’s life from Intergang member Sugar-Man, who killed a man outside Willie’s apartment, and didn’t want to leave behind any witnesses. The Black Racer’s host heard Willie’scall for death, and gave Willie the power of the Black Racer, while sending the Racer’s current host back to the Source. Sugar-Man and Integang tried to detonate a bomb in the city on Darkseid’s orders, but Black Racer ended their attack by claiming Sugar-Man’s life. Black Racer returned to Willie’s helpless form as his sister Verna looked in on him, worried after hearing about a murder outside his apartment.

(New Gods I #4) - When Seagrin was murdered by the Deep Six, Black Racer oversaw the passing of Seagrin's soul into the Source.

(New Gods I #8) - Fastbak went looking for young Esak, who was missing from New Genesis, but as he approached Apokolips he saw the Black Racer on his tail. The Racer proclaimed that whoever reached Esak first would claim him, and now Fastbak knew that if he failed Esak would die. Fastbak barely outraced the Racer and saved Esak from an Apokoliptan magna-target that had ensnared him. The Black Racer wasn’t disturbed, he hadn't been defeated, only postponed from eventually taking his target.

(New Gods I #11) - Walker was summoned to act as the Black Racer, and during Orion and Kalibak’s cataclysmic battle he appeared and claimed Kalibak.

(New Gods III #18, 19) - Willie Walker was brought to the Glen Oaks Rest Home. Necromina attacked the old folks home with an army of zombies to threaten Orion’s old friend Victor Lanza and lure the hero in. Lanza took a blast from Necromina meant for his son and detective Dave Lincoln, and Black Racer emerged from Walker to claim his soul. The Black Racer viewed his life story, and declared that he was an exemplary human being and had earned eternal rest.

(New Gods III #24, 25) - Black Racer arose to claim the soul of C.E.O. E. Donald Rodman, who was killed by Desaad’s pawn Tyrus after an argument with the Forever People about how his company was polluting the environment. Desaad set off Nortech’s nuclear reactor, and killed Rodman because he was the only one who knew the security codes to shut it down. Rodman’s talk with the Forever People reminded him of his hippy idealistic youth, and he didn’t want to die knowing Nortech would be responsible for a nuclear holocaust. He begged the Black Racer to help him, and after the Racer took his soul he disarmed the reactor.

(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #4) - A ship in Darkseid’s armada was carrying a doomsday weapon to Earth, and only the astro-force could destroy it. Highfather made the grave decision to resurrect the only god capable of wielding the force, his son Orion, from the Source. The Black Rider appeared, warning him that although he would not interfere, Orion’s soul was not at rest, and it was a fool’s errand to play with a tortured soul. Highfather gravely said that he did what he must.

(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #7) - The Source began to crumble, hardening the hearts of all sentient beings. Verna looked in on her brother, and began to regret giving up her life for him. She told Willie’s unconscious form that the bills had racked up since her boyfriend left her, and even though he’d given her everything she had doubts about what she was doing. Willie revealed himself to her as the Black Racer, and assured her that even though her human ,mind could barely comprehend him that she served an important role in the scheme of life.

(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #14) - After an evening of sending souls to their destination the Black Racer was confronted by Vera. She accused him of being a murderer, and he assured her that because he was connected to the Source he knew when people’s time had come. She didn’t trust him, and didn’t believe he’d bonded with Willie to study humanity, since when he wasn’t doing his appointed duty all Willie did was lie comatose. She demanded he leave Willie, and leave their lives. He told her it was not that simple, he was only able to bond with Willie because he was so close to oblivion, and without the Black Racer’s presence he’d perish.

(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #15, 16) - The Black Racer felt the Source stirring, and told Vera that a moment of great importance was approaching, and there would soon be much work for the Racer. She didn’t understand, and when he hinted that it was the end of the Fourth World, she thought he ment it was the end of life. He told her life was a cycle, but everything she knew would soon be gone, but he equated her to a cow at slaughterhouse, she couldn’t possibly comprehend why or what the end was so he wouldn’t bother explaining it. Black Racer flew from the apartment, only to be confronted by local gangsters that figured out he was Willie Walker. They fired on him, but he horribly killed two of them with his touch. The rest fled, and continued about his business.

(Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #17) - The Black racer sensed the death of a god, and made his way to Apokolips, where Orion and Kalibak were having a final confrontation. Kalibak crippled Orion by channeling Darkseid’s power, and the Racer prepared to take Orion. Valkyra, Orion’s lover, lept in front of the Racer, and sacrificed her life to save her beloved. The stage was now set for Armageddon.

(Flash: Our Worlds at War #1) - When Parademons attacked Earth the Black Racer took those souls fated to die at the Parademons hands. One marked girl named Karen was saved by Flash, but Racer insisted that she had to die. Flash picked up Karen and tried to run her to safety, but the Racer was close behind, and swore to kill Flash for impeding his duties. Flash used one of the Parademons Mother Boxes to open a Boom Tube and teleport away the Racer. The Racer then took a man destined to die in a robbery , only to learn that the man he killed was his brother-in-law Ray. Back in the body of Willie Walker he questioned the Source for the first time and finally realized that the death he brought affected more people than just the one fated to die. Willie wept for his sister’s loss.

Comments: Created by Jack Kirby.

Black Racer received profiles in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #3 and Who's Who in the DC Universe #3.

Black Racer’s appearences in New Gods I #3, 4, 11 were reprinted in New Gods II #2, 6.

Black Racer had a cameo in Jack Kirby’s Fourth World #1..