Garryn Bek of the planet Cairn is a fictional extraterrestrial superhero character published by DC Comics. Created by
Keith Giffen
Keith Ian Giffen (born November 30, 1952) is an American comics artist and writer. He is known for his work for DC Comics on their ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' and ''Justice League'' titles as well as for being the co-creator of Lobo.
Biography
K ...
,
Bill Mantlo
William Timothy Mantlo (born November 9, 1951) is an American comic book writer, primarily at Marvel Comics. He is best known for his work on two licensed toy properties whose adventures occurred in the Marvel Universe: ''Micronauts'' and ''Ro ...
, and
Todd McFarlane
Todd McFarlane (; born March 16, 1961) is a Canadian comic book creator, artist, writer, filmmaker and entrepreneur, best known for his work as the artist on ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' and as the creator, writer, and artist on the superhero horro ...
, the character first appeared in ''
Invasion!'' #1 (January 1989), and went on to become a founding member of
L.E.G.I.O.N.
''L.E.G.I.O.N.'' is a science fiction comic book created by Keith Giffen, Bill Mantlo and Todd McFarlane and published by DC Comics. The principal subject of the comic book is a team of fictional extraterrestrial superheroes. The characters firs ...
Publication history
As a member of the titular group, Garryn appeared in ''L.E.G.I.O.N. '89'' (February 1989) through ''L.E.G.I.O.N. '94'' (September 1994) by
Keith Giffen
Keith Ian Giffen (born November 30, 1952) is an American comics artist and writer. He is known for his work for DC Comics on their ''Legion of Super-Heroes'' and ''Justice League'' titles as well as for being the co-creator of Lobo.
Biography
K ...
,
Alan Grant, and
Kevin Maguire returning several issues later in the follow-up series ''R.E.B.E.L.S. '94'' (October 1994) through ''R.E.B.E.L.S. '96'' (March 1996) by
Tom Peyer
Tom Peyer (born February 23, 1954) is an American comic book creator and editor. He is known for his 1999 revisioning of Golden Age super-hero Hourman, as well as his work on the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 1990s. An editor at DC Comics/Vertig ...
and Arnie Jorgensen. Bek makes two minor unnamed appearances in ''
Infinite Crisis
"Infinite Crisis" is a 2005–2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, a ...
'' #1 (December 2005) and ''
Rann-Thanagar War: Infinite Crisis Special'' #1 (April 2006).
Fictional character biography
''Invasion!''
For years, Garryn Bek served on the planet Cairn's police force. Imprisoned on the Citadelian-run Starlag prison asteroid during the Dominator-led Alien Alliance's invasion of Earth, Garryn shares a cell with Adam Strange, who mysteriously disappears, and next with
Vril Dox II
''The Coming Race'' is a novel by Edward Bulwer-Lytton, published anonymously in 1871. It has also been published as ''Vril, the Power of the Coming Race''.
Some readers have believed the account of a superior subterranean master race and th ...
. When Dox masterminds an escape plan, Bek and other inmates, including future
L.E.G.I.O.N.
''L.E.G.I.O.N.'' is a science fiction comic book created by Keith Giffen, Bill Mantlo and Todd McFarlane and published by DC Comics. The principal subject of the comic book is a team of fictional extraterrestrial superheroes. The characters firs ...
teammates participate in a riot and successfully escape the prison.
L.E.G.I.O.N.
{{main, L.E.G.I.O.N.
Traveling aboard a commandeered ship, the first stop for Bek and other former inmates is
Colu
Brainiac is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Otto Binder and Al Plastino and first appeared in ''Action Comics'' #242 in July 1958. Brainiac is usually depicted as an extraterr ...
, Dox's homeworld. Through the manipulations of Dox, the group assists in his liberation of Colu from the control of the ruling computer tyrants. On the heels of this victory, Dox unilaterally decides to take the troupe to Beks' homeworld, Cairn, which is ruled by drug lords. It is here, after empowering the police force of Zalman City, installing himself as commissioner and overthrowing (and killing many of) the world's drug lords, that Dox's growing organization is dubbed Licensed Extra-Governmental Interstellar Operatives Network (
L.E.G.I.O.N.
''L.E.G.I.O.N.'' is a science fiction comic book created by Keith Giffen, Bill Mantlo and Todd McFarlane and published by DC Comics. The principal subject of the comic book is a team of fictional extraterrestrial superheroes. The characters firs ...
), with the former inmates as officers and the Coluan forces as rank-and-file.
The first Cairn drug lord killed is Kanis-Biz, father of Bek's estranged wife, Marij'n Bek. Marij'n, enlisted to clone Dox after he is killed by Stealth, leverages her importance to the organization to exert control over Bek in hopes of re-establishing a romantic connection with him. Uninterested and seemingly disgusted by Marij'n's large size, Bek does all he can to avoid spending time with her.
While orbiting the planet Rista, Bek encounters the
Emerald Eye of Ekron
The Emerald Empress is the name of several, fictional super-villains appearing American comic books published by DC Comics. The characters associated with the name name are often portrayed as a prominent adversary of the Legion of Super-Heroes. ...
, a sentient mystical object of near unlimited power. The Eye chooses Bek as its new "beholder", and it quickly becomes unclear which of the two is in control. Under the influence, Bek slays two innocent L.E.G.I.O.N. employees. The Eye soon chooses Marij'n as a "co-beholder", but shortly abandons them both in reverse succession. Marij'n, physically slimmed by the powers of the Eye rebuffs Bek's new-found affections and the two do not rekindle a romantic relationship.
They do continue working as colleagues, often getting into more trouble such as when murderous infiltrators attacked the headquarters. This came after the group's clients were overrun with the rumour the entire place was closing down. Another infiltration attempt goes awry despite Bek's direction of the security forces. Bek spent some time neglecting his duties when he snuck off a to a jungle planet. He succeeds in his purpose, interrupting Captain Comet romancing his ex-wife Marij'n.
When Dox's son Lyrl usurps control over L.E.G.I.O.N., Bek joins Dox's newly formed opposition group
R.E.B.E.L.S. After Lyrl is defeated, Bek and his comrades once again assume control of L.E.G.I.O.N. Separately, Bek is involved in an effort to stop his old comrade Lobo from killing the earthman
Mike Carlin
Michael Carlin (born October 6, 1958) is an American comic book writer, editor, and executive. He has worked principally for Marvel Comics and DC Comics since the 1970s.
Early life
Carlin attended the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan, ...
. Since that time, Bek continues to serve as a capable administrator for the organization, most recently appearing unnamed in the events of ''
Infinite Crisis
"Infinite Crisis" is a 2005–2006 comic book storyline published by DC Comics, consisting of an eponymous, seven-issue comic book limited series written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, George Pérez, Ivan Reis, and Jerry Ordway, a ...
''.
Powers and abilities
On his own, Garryn Bek has no extra-human abilities and shows lackluster combat skills. He is an exemplary administrator and pilot.
Through his connection with the
Emerald Eye of Ekron
The Emerald Empress is the name of several, fictional super-villains appearing American comic books published by DC Comics. The characters associated with the name name are often portrayed as a prominent adversary of the Legion of Super-Heroes. ...
, Bek had access to near limitless power. Responding to (and also affecting) Bek's will, the Eye exhibited abilities to produce force fields, emit energy blasts, and manipulate the mind.
Alternate versions
Bek organizes a resistance cell to Dox's ever increasing tyranny in the ''
Armageddon 2001
''Armageddon 2001'' was a 1991 crossover event storyline published by DC Comics. It ran through a self-titled, two-issue limited series and most of the annuals DC published that year from May through October ('' Legion of Super-Heroes Annual'' #2 ...
'' crossover. He recruits a band of former L.E.G.I.O.N. members, but it ends badly.
[''L.E.G.I.O.N.'' Annual #2 (1991)]
In other media
Garryn Bek appears in ''
DC Super Hero Girls: Intergalactic Games'', voiced by
John DiMaggio
John William DiMaggio (; born September 4, 1968) is an American actor. His various voice roles include Bender on ''Futurama'', Jake the Dog on ''Adventure Time'', Marcus Fenix in the '' Gears of War'' series, Dr. Drakken on '' Kim Possible'', ...
.
External links
Cosmic Teams: Garryn & Marij'n Bek
References
Comics characters introduced in 1989
DC Comics superheroes
DC Comics aliens
DC Comics extraterrestrial superheroes
DC Comics police officers
Characters created by Bill Mantlo
Characters created by Keith Giffen
Characters created by Todd McFarlane