Prometheus (Villains) #1

History

The issue arrived as part of DC's New Year's Evil initiative — a coordinated set of eight villain-spotlight one-shots published in early 1998, each designed to seed or elevate antagonists across DC's line. Morrison was at the height of their JLA run, which had already revitalized the Justice League as DC's best-selling title by returning the 'Big Seven' to center stage and treating them as a modern pantheon. Prometheus was Morrison's deliberate contribution to that mythological framework: an anti-deity whose own origin parable mirrors the Greek Prometheus stealing fire from the gods. Interior art was handled by Arnie Jorgensen, while cover duties went to Jason Pearson (who also provided covers for other New Year's Evil one-shots), with Dan Raspler and Peter J. Tomasi serving as editors. A production curiosity: the issue's indicia incorrectly identifies it as 'Gog (Villains) 1,' reflecting what appears to be a proofreading error during the multi-title rollout.

Trivia · 8 facts

• First appearance of the Morrison/Jorgensen version of Prometheus (designated Prometheus III in reference guides to distinguish him from earlier unrelated characters using the name), who becomes the definitive version of the character.
• Written by Grant Morrison with interior pencils by Arnie Jorgensen; cover painted/signed by Jason Pearson; edited by Dan Raspler and Peter J. Tomasi.
• Published February 1998 as part of DC's 'New Year's Evil' event — a series of eight villain-centric one-shots spotlighting DC antagonists.
• The 22-page story, titled 'There Was A Crooked Man,' also features the first and only appearance of Retro — a civilian who wins a JLA fan contest, only to be murdered by Prometheus so the villain can steal his identity and infiltrate the Watchtower.
• The issue serves as a direct prelude to JLA #16–17 (March–April 1998), where Prometheus enacts his plan to destroy the Justice League from within the Watchtower; it was later reprinted in the JLA: Strength in Numbers trade paperback.
• Prometheus's signature technology — a neural-interface helmet that downloads combat skills directly into his brain and a 'Ghost Key' granting access to an extradimensional 'Ghost Zone' — is introduced and explained in full here.
• The character's origin (criminal parents gunned down by police, worldwide training, discovery of a cult and alien spacecraft in the Himalayas) is presented in full-length flashback, making this the only complete origin story for the Morrison incarnation.
• Elements of the character were later adapted for the Arrowverse TV series Arrow (Season 5), where a re-imagined Prometheus was portrayed by Josh Segarra, with the disguised voice provided by Michael Dorn.

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Variants (1)