Wraith (DC)
Wraith is a male extraterrestrial comic character who features in DC Comics.
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Biography
Wraith
Unknown to him, his people were a race of conquerors who sent members of their kind along with technological secrets to a primitive world. This was with the intention of the target world to use this knowledge to power their technological advancement. Once they had reached a certain point, the race would trigger the Earthstone to shut down all technology and then arrive to harvest the planet of resources. (Superman Unchained v1 #8)
In 1938, the world was at the brink of the Great War with the military in America looking to seek aid and sending a message into space. Scientists had sent the message that was an incomplete but simple mathematical equation with the idea that an intelligent race could understand that the reason it was not completed was to indicate that more could be done by working together than apart. The alien race responded sending a pod containing him along with a more complex equation coated on the craft that contained various codes and formulae's on it. The alien was taken in by the American military with General Rudolph convincing President Roosevelt that the pod's occupant could be invaluable to their cause. He convinced them to set up a facility for him with this becoming known as the Machine and the pod's occupant being referred to as William Rudolph's Ace In The Hole (Wraith). As a result, General Rudolph was the first 'father' that Wraith had ever known and he became dedicated to serving the United States of America. Initially, the Machine served as a research facility to studying and implementing the knowledge that was on Wraith's pod. However, in time, it was used for more aggressive operations with Wraith being deployed on American initiatives when necessary where he operated for the next 8 decades. (Superman Unchained v1 #3)
In recent years, he began to work under General Sam Lane after he was briefed about the Machine and took over its operations. (Superman Unchained v1 #3)
When first encountered, Wraith emerged during a tense global crisis in which multiple orbital weapons were threatening catastrophic destruction. Superman’s attempt to prevent disaster brought him into contact with the being who had secretly defended Earth for decades. Wraith revealed his presence by intercepting and dismantling one of the incoming threats with staggering speed and destructive efficiency, employing both precision strikes and massive concussive force. His actions demonstrated clear familiarity with such missions, as he disabled the weapon in seconds and then confronted Superman directly. Their meeting quickly shifted from wary observation to a physical test of strength, with Wraith displaying an ability to match and even overwhelm Superman in certain exchanges before pausing to speak with him, establishing that he was neither an enemy nor an ordinary ally. (Superman: Unchained v1 #1)
Overview
Personality and attributes
In appearance, Wraith was a male figure of imposing, broad-shouldered build, towering in stature with a heavily muscled physique. His skin had a metallic, reflective quality, with a bluish-silver sheen that gave him an almost armored look even when unarmored. His facial features were strong and angular, with eyes that glowed faintly, casting an unnatural light. He wore a black bodysuit with segmented armor-like plating across the torso, shoulders, and arms, the design streamlined yet heavy, with silver-gray accents highlighting the suit’s structure. His hands were often seen bare, revealing the same metallic-toned skin as his face, and no cape or flowing garment accompanied his appearance—his presence relied entirely on his sheer physical form and advanced suit design. (Superman: Unchained v1 #1)
In personality, Wraith demonstrated a calm, measured demeanor, with confidence rooted in decades of operating without public recognition. He was direct in speech, avoiding unnecessary words, and displayed neither overt hostility nor warmth toward Superman in their first interaction. Instead, he maintained a pragmatic tone, evaluating Superman’s capabilities and intentions while revealing only as much as he deemed necessary. His bearing suggested the mindset of a soldier accustomed to both secrecy and high-stakes assignments, speaking with an undercurrent of authority and experience. (Superman: Unchained v1 #1)
He did not know much about his biological homeworld or his people beyond the fact that it resided in the Triangulum galaxy. All he knew of them was that they were a world older than Krypton and he believed that they had priorities similar to the Kryptonians. Despite that, he came to identify more with Earth and that he believed it to be his home. (Superman Unchained v1 #5) In reality, they were a race of conquerors who harvested worlds of a certain level of advancement and used people like Wraith as a kind of Trojan Horse. (Superman Unchained v1 #8)
Powers and abilities
His physiology was similar to a Kryptonian with his cells similar to those of a yellow sun-empowered inhabitant of Krypton though one that had decades of exposure. (Superman Unchained v1 #3) He had noted that the decades of training had led to him attaining a great level of control over his energy signature. It was said that he was stronger and faster than the likes of Superman. (Superman Unchained v1 #8) Wraith’s physiology granted him strength on par with, and in some moments surpassing, that of Superman. He possessed the ability to fly at extreme speeds, survive unprotected in the vacuum of space, and endure massive impacts without harm. His durability extended to both physical force and environmental extremes, while his stamina allowed for sustained exertion in prolonged combat or high-intensity operations. In addition, his energy manipulation abilities, evident in his destructive strikes, appeared to be an intrinsic part of his biology rather than external weaponry. These core traits made him an exceptional combatant and operative even before his tactical skill was considered. (Superman: Unchained v1 #1)
Wraith was capable of unleashing a powerful sonic attack by tightening the muscles in his throat to create an echo chamber. (Superman Unchained v1 #4)
His solar-charged physiology allowed him to use that charge to control the electromagnetic energy around him. It took his years to learn and master whereby he could use this ability offensively. He could also manipulate his energy signature to replicate the effects of certain substances such as Kryptonite. (Superman Unchained v1 #8)
He had shielding that helped prevent him from being detected by others. (Superman Unchained v1 #4)
Notes
- Wraith was created by Scott Snyder and Jim Lee where he made his first appearance in Superman Unchained v1 #1 (August, 2013).
Appearances
- Superman Unchained v1: (2013)
External Links
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