Tellus (comics)
| Tellus | |
|---|---|
|
Tellus Art by Steve Lightle | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | Legion of Super-Heroes (third series) #9 (April 1985) |
| Created by |
Paul Levitz Steve Lightle |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Ganglios |
| Place of origin | Hykraius |
| Team affiliations |
Legion of Super-Heroes Dark Circle |
| Abilities |
Telepathy Telekinesis |
Tellus is a fictional DC Comics superhero and a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes featured in the 30th century. Tellus was co-created by writer Paul Levitz and artist Steve Lightle.
Fictional character biography
Tellus, real name Ganglios, is a native of the methane-atmosphere planet Hykraius. All Hykraians are methane-breathers and cannot survive outside a liquid methane environment without special breathing apparatus (in Tellus' case, a special helmet). Like all members of his race, Tellus was both telepathic and telekinetic, and it was his skill with these powers that helped gain him entry into the Legion Academy and later the Legion itself. He joined the Legion alongside Polar Boy, Magnetic Kid, Sensor Girl and Quislet in Legion of Super-Heroes (third series) #14.
He was the one of the first Legionnaires who was non-humanoid in appearance. (Quislet, who joined at the same time, did not have a body in the normal sense. Additionally, Wildfire -- who joined the team years earlier -- was composed entirely of anti-energy, kept within a containment suit that made him appear humanoid.)
Tellus served in the Legion for many years and re-appeared in Legion of Super-Heroes (fourth series), where it was revealed that Tellus had joined Dark Circle, a criminal organization that by then had transformed itself into a quasi-religious organization.
Post-Zero Hour
Tellus did not appear in the Legion reboot after the Zero Hour event, nor was he in the 2005 reimagining/reboot of the Legion.
Post-Infinite Crisis
The events of the Infinite Crisis limited series have restored a close analogue of the pre-Crisis on Infinite Earths Legion to continuity, as seen in "The Lightning Saga" story arc in Justice League of America and Justice Society of America, and in the "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes" story arc in Action Comics. Tellus is included in their number.
This version of Tellus first appeared in the Adventure Comics Special Featuring the Guardian (2008) one-shot as a prisoner of Cadmus. He was seen briefly in Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds #5 (September 2009), as multiple versions of the Legion battled Superboy-Prime, the Time Trapper and the Legion of Super-Villains. In Superman #690 (September 2009), he was seen in the 21st century, urging the Green Lantern known as Sodam Yat to avoid contact with his fellow Daxamite, Mon-El.
As revealed in Adventure Comics (second series) #8, Tellus was part of a secret team sent by the late R. J. Brande to the 21st century to save the future in the Last Stand of New Krypton storyline.
In 2011 DC Comics rebooted their entire line, including the Legion (again). It has not been clarified which (if any) of the tales noted above are still canon. Tellus was a regular character in the New-52 series Legion Lost, which was cancelled after 16 issues. In that series, he and several Legion comrades were trapped in the twenty-first century.
Powers and abilities
Ganglios has two arms and two stubs which operate as legs but are insufficient to support his body weight. His tail extends longer than his body and he has green eye with no pupils as well as horns, no teeth, scales, no nose and a "third eye" of sorts on his forehead which glows when he uses his powers. One of Ganglios' main abilities is his telepathy. He uses it as a means of communication, investigation, searching, controlling and deciphering. He can even search the mind of an unconscious foe and reach into the subconscious of other individuals. This is a natural ability of his race. Although rarely used, Ganglios' can force his telepathic powers to control lesser minded beings. Normally he uses this ability to allow himself into other's mind to sift through their thoughts without resistance. Using telekinesis he can move his large, heavy body about with no difficulty as well as levitating himself and others (with more stress per person). This is not the only way he uses his abilities however. Ganglios can create a telekinetic shield around himself and others to protect himself from most physical and energy based attacks.
Ganglios moves about by the use of his Telekinesis, however his normal function of moving is swimming as he does on his home planet so while moving through space or on normal human gravity levels he seems to be swimming through the air.
Weakness
Ganglios cannot breathe normal human levels of oxygen and requires the production of methane to be pumped into the air in his area in order to breathe. Without his breathing apparatus he would suffocate.
Equipment
As a member of the Legion of Super-Heroes he is provided a Legion Flight Ring. It allows him to fly and protects him from the vacuum of space and other dangerous environments.