Ursa (DC Comics)
Ursa | |
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![]() Ursa inAction Comics Annual#10 (April 2007), art by Rags Morales. | |
Publication information | |
Publisher | DC Comics |
First appearance | Film: Superman(1978) Comics: Alternate version: JSA Classified#3 (November 2005) Canonical version: Action Comics#845 (January 2007) |
Created by | Mario Puzo |
In-story information | |
Species | Kryptonian |
Place of origin | Krypton |
Team affiliations | Kryptonian Military Guild |
Partnerships | General Zod Non |
Notable aliases | She-Devil[1] |
Abilities | See list
|
Ursais asupervillainappearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byDC Comics.She first appeared in the 1978 filmSuperman: The Movieportrayed by actressSarah Douglas.The character made her comic book debut inAction Comics#845 (January 2007). An adversary of thesuperheroSupermanandaccompliceofGeneral Zod,she is typically depicted as having been imprisoned in thePhantom Zonealong with Zod andNon.
Character biography
[edit]Films
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/57/GeneralZodForPresident20084.jpg/220px-GeneralZodForPresident20084.jpg)
First appearing inSuperman(1978), she,General ZodandNonare put on trial following a failed coup against the Kryptonian government, found guilty, and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Phantom Zone. In particular, according to the prosecutor, Jor-El, her "perversions and unreasoning hatred of all mankind have threatened even the children of the planet Krypton", with Zod and Non being the only exceptions.[citation needed]
In the theatrical cut ofSuperman II,Ursa's hatred for all men remains intact, though her character is written to be softer. Additionally, Jor-El's speech is rewritten to imply that she has feelings for Zod. In theRichard Donner cut,she is portrayed as being vicious, cruel, and willing to kill as many men as she can. Additionally, she does not display affection for Zod, only remaining aligned with him because of their common goals. In both versions of the film, she displays a penchant for collecting and wearing symbols and badges from the law enforcement and military officers she kills. AfterSupermanthrows a powerful explosive (ahydrogen bombin the theatrical cut and a nuclear missile in the Donner cut) into Earth's orbit, he inadvertently shatters the Phantom Zone, allowing Ursa, Zod, and Non to escape. Upon gaining powers from Earth's yellow sun, the trio head to Earth and force the President of the United States to surrender to them before forming an alliance withLex Luthorto seek out Superman. Following several battles, Superman tricks Zod's forces into coming to theFortress of Solitude,which he later bathes in red light to depower them. In the theatrical cut, Superman andLois Lanesubsequently send the trio down into the Fortress' bottomless depths, though a deleted scene depicts Zod's forces being arrested by human authorities. In the Donner cut, Superman travels back in time to ensure Zod's forces are re-imprisoned in the Phantom Zone.[citation needed]
Comics
[edit]Until 2006, the character of Ursa had never appeared in theSupermancomic books,but a similar character, namedFaora,made several appearances in thePre-CrisisSupermancomics. Faora was a Phantom Zone villain who first appeared inAction Comics#471 (May 1977),[2]Faora was introduced in the comics while the films were in production.[3]Like Ursa, Faora hates men, with her being imprisoned in the Phantom Zone for killing 23 men in a concentration camp.
InJSA Classified#3,Power Girl(who was unsure about her true origins, at the time) was confronted by an escaped prisoner, from thePhantom Zone.He claimed that Power Girl's true identity, is Ursa, who had escaped the Zone with their help and promised to help the others escape. However, the prisoner was later revealed to be an illusion, created by thePsycho-Pirate.
Action Comics#845 (January 2007), which is the second part of the "Last Son" arc byGeoff JohnsandRichard Donner,finally introduced Ursa to theSupermancomic book canon. This version of her contains elements similar to the originally released version ofSuperman II(even though Donner was co-writer of this arc) where she is in love with Zod. Zod and Ursa are the parents ofthe Kryptonian boythat Superman and Lois Lane adopted.[citation needed]
Action Comics Annual#10 explores the backstory of the comic version of Ursa similar to her movie counterpart. Lover of General Zod, and part of the Kryptonian guard, she believed thatNonandJor-Elwere right about Krypton's final fate, and sought to rebel against the Council. When Non was kidnapped, lobotomized and turned into a brute with minimal intelligence and unable to speak, Zod and Ursa snapped, instigating open rebellion, while Jor-El surrendered to the Council, eventually using the Phantom Zone projector upon the trio during the trial seen in the movie. Ursa stayed loyal to Zod, even in their "exile", and believing that Jor-El should have been able to save Krypton, or at least his lineage, agreed with Zod in pursuing and taking vengeance over the House of El.
Ursa appears in another flashback alongside Zod inAction Comics#866. Here, she and Zod encounterBrainiac,who shrinksKandor.During this encounter Brainiac killed the whole unit under Ursa's command. This paralyzes her with fear, changes her into the more vindictive person she is now. She runs a Black Ops squad that has been living on earth in secret. After Zod's attack on New Krypton she seem to be unable focus on her work and goes to Zod's side. Superman and even Non, lobotomized, seem to know her pain and seems to want to comfort her at this time. She is along with Superman or Commander El and Commander Gor now the leader of the Kryptonian military.
Despite her initial, brief joy in motherhood, she still shows the brunt of her misandric belief on her son,Lor-Zod,who was abused on a regular basis on the account of his perceived weakness (due to his conception in the Phantom Zone, Lor ages in uncontrollablegrow spurtsand exhibits weaker powers than the rest of his race under a yellow sun). As a result, Ursa is now completely estranged from Lor, who arrived on Earth and was raised as Chris Kent—the foster son ofClark Kentand his wifeLois Lane.Chris, upon returning to Earth one more time, openly defied his own legacy, mercilessly beating Ursa to saveThara Ak-Var,his current paramour. Ursa no longer considers Chris part of her family, and still resents Lois Lane for her bond with her estranged son.[4]
This version has developed a weakness to bright light and wears goggles. This apparently came about as a side-effect of being imprisoned in the Phantom Zone repeatedly.
FollowingDC Rebirth,Ursa has been reintroduced in the new continuity as Zod's wife, along with their son Lor-Zod. After joining Henshaw'sSuperman Revenge Squadand making believe them to free his army, General Zod used the Phantom Zone projector to free them. Along with theEradicatorII, they fled to another planet, planning to create a New Krypton.[5]
Powers and abilities
[edit]As a Kryptonian, Ursa derives her superhuman abilities from the yellow sun of Earth's solar system. Her basic abilities are high levels of superhuman strength, superhuman speed and superhuman stamina sufficient to bend steel in her bare hands, overpower a locomotive, outrun a speeding bullet and leap over a tall building in a single bound as well as heightened senses of hearing and sight including X-ray vision as well as telescopic and microscopic visions; virtual invulnerability; accelerated healing; longevity; heat vision; powerful freezing breath; and flight. Being female, her power levels are more akin to Supergirl and Wonder Woman.
Similar to other Phantom Zone escapees, Ursa typically never experiences the full measure of her abilities as she is never given enough time to absorb and metabolize the yellow solar energy of Earth's sun before she is defeated and banished back to the Zone. As such, Ursa could prove more powerful than even Supergirl and possibly Wonder Woman as well due to her being a fully matured Kryptonian female while Supergirl is a later adolescent Kryptonian female and Wonder Woman is an Amazon. Her full strength would also make her a sufficient threat to Superman due to her combat prowess.
Beyond just her superhuman strength and experienced hand-to-hand combat skills, Ursa is a ruthless killer who will do anything immoral to achieve her ends. She is fiercely loyal to General Zod and is willing to fight and die for his loyalty. Ursa is also a misandrist with an extreme sociopathic hatred of males, the only apparent exceptions being General Zod and her Phantom Zone cohorts. This sentiment seems to extend to a lesser degree to her own son, Lor-Zod, as she willingly and gleefully stood by while Zod violently and physically abused the young boy.
Like all Kryptonians, Ursa is vulnerable toKryptoniteand red solar radiation. Her virtual invulnerability does not provide protection from mind control or magic and can be overpowered and cause her to experience significant and even fatal injuries with significant force such as that of several atomic explosions or strikes from an opponent with superior strength and durability such asDoomsday.Her superhuman strength is inferior to the likes of Doomsday and her superhuman speed is inferior to Speedsters like the Flash. Her superhuman strength is limited due to her natural limits even while within the empowering light of Sol.
In other media
[edit]Television
[edit]- Ursa appears in theSuperman(1988) episode "The Hunter", voiced byGinny McSwain.This version is a Kryptonian criminal before she was sent to the Phantom Zone and collaborated with General Zod and Faora to create the titular Hunter to fight Superman.
- Ursa makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in theLegion of Super Heroesepisode "Phantoms" as an inmate of the Phantom Zone.
- Ursa appears in theDC Super Hero Girlstwo-part episode "#DCSuperHeroBoys", voiced byTara Strong.[6]This version was sent to the Phantom Zone byAlura Zor-El.
- Ursa Zod appears inYoung Justice,voiced byVanessa Marshall.[6]This version is the wife of Dru-Zod and mother ofLor-Zodwho becomes theEmerald Empressafter Lor steals the Emerald Eye of Ekron.[7][8]
Film
[edit]Ursa makes a non-speaking appearance inScooby-Doo! and Krypto, Too!.
Video games
[edit]- Ursa, alongside General Zod and Non, appears as the collective final Boss ofSuperman(1987).[9]
- Ursa appears inDC Universe Online,voiced byAdriene Mishler.[10][6]
- Ursa appears as a support card in the mobile version ofInjustice: Gods Among Us.[11]
- Ursa appears as a character summon inScribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[12]
- Ursa makes a cameo appearance inSub-Zero's ending inInjustice 2.[13]Following High Councilor Superman's imprisonment in the Phantom Zone, theJustice Leagueaccidentally open a portal that allows him, Non, General Zod, and Ursa to escape while trying to send Sub-Zero back to his home universe.
References
[edit]- ^The Multiversity Guidebook #1
- ^Jimenez, Phil(2008), "Faora", in Dougall, Alastair (ed.),The DC Comics Encyclopedia,New York:Dorling Kindersley,p. 118,ISBN978-0-7566-4119-1,OCLC213309017
- ^Brownfield, Troy;Matt Brady (2008-10-18)."New Krypton Countdown: When Kryptonians Walk the Earth".Newsarama.ImaginovaCorporation. Archived fromthe originalon 2008-11-23.Retrieved2008-10-20.
- ^Action Comics#876 (April 2009)
- ^Action Comics#984 (July 2017)
- ^abc"Ursa Voices (Superman)".Behind The Voice Actors.RetrievedJuly 29,2024.A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
- ^Shaunette, Morgan (May 5, 2022)."Young Justice: Phantoms Hints at a Classic Cosmic Villain".Comic Book Resources.RetrievedJuly 29,2024.
- ^Matadeen, Renaldo (June 11, 2022)."Young Justice: Phantoms Presented a Deadlier Take on a Classic DC Villain".Comic Book Resources.RetrievedJuly 29,2024.
- ^"Superman (1987)".
- ^"DC Universe Online Characters".
- ^"Injustice: Gods Among Us Mobile Cards - Mobile Fighting Game".30 April 2020.
- ^Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013)."DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide".IGN.RetrievedJuly 29,2024.
- ^Carter, Justin (November 15, 2017)."Injustice 2: Hellboy, Raiden & Sub-Zero Have the Greatest Endings We'll Never Follow up on".Comic Book Resources.
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