DC Comics has been the source of some of the most spectacular characters and exciting stories in the world for over eighty years. Throughout the decades, there have been dozens of characters that have made enormous impacts on the world and have been immortalized thanks to their brilliant writing and art from talented individuals over their long histories. The Mythos of DC Comics is a long and twisting road of intergalactic proportions where universal entities walk alongside the common man.
The last surviving alien of an extinct race who can leap over buildings in a single bound spend their time saving the people of a foreign planet. At the same time, a human male explores the universe as a member of an interstellar peace officer with a magic ring. The vastness of the DC universe can be tracked all the way back to its beginning and its creator, The Presence. The Presence is the all-powerful omnipotent being that created the entirety of the DC universe and everything in it. Rarely does The Presence ever make an appearance within the DC continuity, having been identified only a hand full of times in the comics' entire lifespan. While not much is known about The Presence, there are some unique facts made available to readers who search with a fine-toothed comb. Here are some things to know about the Presence of DC Comics.
5 The First Concept Of The Presence Appeared in Sandman
The Presence is said to be a manifestation of the hopes and dreams of the universe. Through the combined wills of all living things, The Presence came into being and, with him, the creation of the universe. Author Mike Carey, known for Lucifer and Sandman Presents, substantiated that the original concept for The Presence came from Neil Gaimon's Sandman.
The power that dreams and stories possessed was made prevalent as the source of Morpheus's power but was always hinted at as being stronger than almost anything in the world. The concept of the power of dreams transferred into the Presence's origin as he is the source of those dreams, and they, in turn, are the source of him.
4 He Created The Council Of Eternity
There are dozens of groups and secret organizations throughout the DC universe that control the finer workings of alternate dimensions and intergalactic territories, like the Guardians of the Universe who created the Green Lantern Corp or the Sentinels of Magic that keep the lords of Chaos in check.
While the argument could be made that The Presence created all of these groups, he had a direct link to the Council Of Eternity. The Council of Eternity served as a tribunal for the greatest sinners in the universe, made up of powerful wizards, including the wizard Shazam.
3 Known By Many Names
Like most omni-existent beings, The Presence is subject to many of the names placed upon him over his endless lifespan. He has had multiple titles, names, incarnations, and aspects with just as many names as he does. The original name placed upon the Presence was The Voice. In the first appearance of The Presence, there were only world bubbles associated with The Presence as the Spectre gained his powers.
The title of the Presence was coined in the Lucifer comics as the Archenemy of the archangel and the sole force he sought to rebel against. The Presence also first appeared in physical form in front of Lucifer Morningstar for the first known time in DC history.
2 The Source Is A Part Of The Presence
The Presence is a being that not many have the capacity to fully understand. The true scope of everything The Presence encompasses drives many characters who witness the entirety of its existence mad. Because of this, when The Presence decides to commune with an organism lower than itself, it appears in non-damaging aspects those individuals are able to comprehend.
The Presence also separates parts of himself, called aspects, and sets them off to do specific tasks that make up the fabric of the universe. One of those aspects is The Source, a cosmic power that many in the DC Universe seek to control that sits at the edge of everything.
1 The First Appearance Of The Voice Was In The Origin Of The Spectre
The first initial appearance of The Presence was in More Fun Comics #50, written by Tom Hickey. In the story, fans are first introduced to Jim Corrigan as a decorated police detective who is later murdered by gangsters. Following his death, Corrigan's soul was met by the archangel Michael who decided to bond him with gods vengeance and make him the conduit of that vengeance on earth.
As Corrigan and the Spectre became one, The Presence spoke for the first time in DC Comics history and bestowed the Spectre his powers. The Spectre is one of the most powerful and feared entities in the DC universe that is regularly seen during significant events and is nigh unstoppable when acting as God's wrath. The Spectre is also known for inhabiting the body of Hal Jordan in an event that nearly destroyed the entire Justice League.