Harbinger

HARBINGER

Real Name: Lyla

Class: Human mutate

Occupation: Harbinger

Group Affiliation: formerly New Guardians, Black Lantern Corps

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile, formerly Monitor's Satellite

First Appearance: New Teen Titans I #21 (July, 1982)

Powers: Harbinger possessed low levels of superhuman strength and durability. She could fly, create energy bolts, and create duplicates of herself. Each time she created a duplicate she divided her power equally among them, so the more duplicates she made, the weaker they were. Harbinger could only use her abilities in short bursts, needing to recharge afterwards.

History: Layla was found as a child by the Monitor, who saw her clinging to wreckage in the Atlantic Ocean. He saved her, and raised her aboard his satellite. The Monitor was preparing for the Crisis on Infinite Earths, and made Lyla his Harbinger by giving her superpowers, and making her his emissary across time and space. She used her duplicates to bring Monitor the greatest heroes of all ages from the entire multiverse.

(Green Lantern III #32, 35) - Entropy set out to destroy the works of the Guardians of the Universe, so he attacked Kroef's Island and absorbed Harbinger, the New Guardians and the Chosen into his body. The Green Lantern Corps defeated Entropy, but at the cost of the lives of the Chosen, who sacrificed themselves to assure the Corps victory. Entropy's body dissipated, and Harbinger and the Guardians were free from him.

(Superman / Batman #9, 10, 12) -Wonder Woman learned that Superman's cousin Kara Zor-El landed on earth, and was determined that she should be trained on Paradise Island. Kara spent her first day in public with Superman in Metropolis, and Wonder Woman, Artemis and Harbinger went to retrieve her. Harbinger told Superman that Kara's destiny had to be preserved at all costs. Kara and Harbinger were fast friends, but Harbinger's orb predicted that her presence would cause death and destruction on Paradise Island. Darkseid wanted Kara for his own and sent an army of Doomsday animates to ravage the island. Harbinger died trying to protect Kara from them. She was laid to rest on Paradise Island and a memorial was built to her.

(R.E.B.E.L.S. #10-12) - The resurrected Black Lantern Harbinger pursued members of the Sinestro Corps, and when Vril Dox's R.E.B.E.L.S. got in the way she destroyed their ship. Harbinger killed Sinestro corpsman Narok, and his ring sought out Vril Dox, who was thrilled by his newfound power. The R.E.B.E.L.S. fled to the planet Kandato, and Stealth and Harbinger pursued them. During their battle a transmatter portal opened, the creation of Lyrl Dox for Starro. Lyrl, Starro, and High Vanguard members that had become Black Lanterns poured through. Vril tried to remove Lyrl's Starro spore, but his son told him to get away, and asked Vril to save his master Starro, shocking his father. Vril used his power ring to push the Black Lantern's Vril, and Starro back through the portal to Maltus, hoping they'd finish each other off. Starro battled the Black Lanterns for three days until Lyrl Dox lured them into his transmatter device, and sent them to an event horizon. Starro was angered at having his glorious fight interrupted, but he needed Lyrl to coordinate his troop movements with the High Vanguard decimated, and set his sights on Earth to test the mettle of that planet's heroes.

Comments: Created by Marv Wolfman & George Perez.

Harbinger received a profile in Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #10. Harbinger received a profile in Who's Who: Update '88 under the New Guardians entry.

Harbinger had a cameo in Teen Titans III #32.