Hades (DC Comics)

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caption=Hades in his adopted modern guise.
Art by Rags Morales
character_name=Hades
publisher=DC Comics
debut="Wonder Woman" #1
(February 1987)
creators=George Pérez (writer & artist)
alter_ego = Hades
species =
homeworld = Olympus
alliances=Olympian Gods
partners =
aliases =
supports =
powers=Olympian god, former ruler of Tartarus. Hades possessed the lifespan of an immortal and vast mystical abilities.|

Hades is a fictional character, a god in the DC Comics universe based on the actual Hades from Greek mythology. He is primarily featured in the Wonder Woman series, alternately as a divine benefactor and enemy of the heroine.

Character history

As in classical mythology, Hades is a member of the Olympian gods, the immortal children of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. Along with his brothers Zeus and Poseidon, he ruled a significant portion of the ancient world. As God of the Underworld, Hades had dominion over the spirits of the dead. His realm was divided into three sub-sections, the Asphodel Fields (a misty after-world), Tartarus (abode of the damned), and the Elysian Fields (the paradisal resting place of great heroes). Hades ruled these realms beside his queen Persephone, whom he took as a bride in favor of his former wife Hecate.

Pre-Crisis

Hades did not figure frequently in the adventures of Wonder Woman until the end of the first volume, when Hades was tricked by the Anti-Monitor into making a pact with Ares to conquer Olympus. The plot was thwarted when Persephone, inspired by the love between Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor, went to her husband to profess openly her love for him. Hades pulled out of the scheme, and Steve Trevor freed the gods while Wonder Woman engaged Ares in final combat. ("Wonder Woman" #329)

Post-Crisis

As a result of the machinations of the alien god Darkseid, the Olympian gods were each split into separate entities for many years, existing as both their Greek and Roman variations. Hades' Roman counterpart, Pluto, ruled his own dimensional variant of the Underworld, occasionally coming into conflict with his "brother." The pantheons were eventually merged once more centuries later.

Hades shared a sometimes tense relationship with Wonder Woman's people, the Amazons of Themyscira. The Amazons had been appointed to guard an entryway to his realm, Doom's Doorway, behind which were trapped many monsters and undead abominations. Over the centuries, many Amazons lost their lives when the Doorway was occasionally breached. Despite their loss, the Amazons always attempted to show proper respect to the Lord of the Underworld, as one of the honored gods of their faith. In time, most of the gods' followers died off or ceased to believe, leaving the Amazons an important part of Hades and the Olympians' continued existence.

Like her Amazon sisters, Wonder Woman has often had an uneasy relationship with Hades. Early in her career, she descended through Doom's Doorway, slaying most of the monsters and freeing her people from their terrible burden. On other occasions, she has journeyed to the Underworld to request a boon from its ruler or to free the soul of a slain comrade, such as the Amazon Artemis and the murdered messenger god Hermes. Hades did not take kindly to these incursions into his realm.

For most of his centuries-spanning life, Hades garbed himself in a classical Greek toga and wore his thinning black hair in ringlets. In recent years however, many of the gods adopted modern clothing in an attempt to evolve with the times. Hades took to dressing in a dark black suit and tophat, and cane much in the style of an undertaker. However, it should be noted his appearance looks very similar to that of The Shade of "Starman" fame.

Recently, a shift in power occurred in the Olympian pantheon. While Athena assumed the throne of Mount Olympus from her deposed father Zeus, Hades was stabbed in the back by his nephew Ares. As a result, the former War God soon became the new ruler of the Underworld. It can be assumed that after his death, Hades' spirit became a resident of his own former realm. How he has been treated by his new "landlord" has not been revealed.

Other media

Justice League and Justice League Unlimited

Hades appeared on the Justice League animated series ("Paradise Lost", Parts I & II), as well as on Justice League Unlimited ("The Balance"). His appearance on the show is significantly different from the comics version, with long black hair, a dark goatee, and black and silver armor. He is a former lover of Wonder Woman's mother Hippolyta and (it is implied) possibly the real father of Wonder Woman. Hades was voiced by John Rhys Davies in "Paradise Lost", Parts I & II, but was voiced by veteran voice actor Bob Joles in "The Balance".

However, he was significantly altered. In the comic books as in the original myths, Hades, while feared, was not evil. He was portrayed as a hard but ultimately just judge. In the show he was literally demonized and used as a stand in for the Devil. According to the "Paradise Lost", (based on John Milton's book by the same name which retells Lucifer's War Against Heaven) after a failed attempt to overthrow Zeus, Hades was cast out and damned. He was sentenced to eternal torment and imprisonment in the pits of Tartarus, the fiery abode of demons and the evil dead. This Hades made a pact with Felix Faust--a clear nod to the true Faust was said to have made a deal with the Devil. (Through the first episode, Hades as shown as a fiery being with--it seems--horns on his head.) Hades here was portrayed as deceitful and treacherous and, though seemingly handsome, revealed his true face as that of a monster. This was further suggested in his second appearance with how the words Hell-though it was cut off--and Tartarus were used interchangeably and demons were terrified by Hawkgirl thinking she was an angel. She encouraged them in that thought and, pointing upwards, said that if they touched her "The Boss" would be angry. Hades also implies to Diana that he is in fact "Her father." saying that he and Hypolita createdher together. Despite this he assists in fighting Faust and decides to torment his soul for eternity.

Wonder Woman

Hades is going to appear in the upcoming "Wonder Woman (animated movie)" voiced by Oliver Platt.