Takion #1

History

The character's origin story is one of the more colorful editorial detours in mid-1990s DC history. Around 1994, writer Paul Kupperberg and editor Dan Thorsland were developing a proposal to resurrect the Roger Stern/Tom Lyle Starman (Will Payton), only to have it rejected when senior editors revealed that James Robinson and Tony Harris were already developing a different Starman series. Rather than abandon the work entirely, Thorsland suggested reworking the cosmic-energy-being concept into a wholly original character; the result, after several drafts and a deliberate decision to anchor the new hero in Kirby's Fourth World framework, was Josh Saunders — Takion. Aaron Lopresti, who co-created the character with Kupperberg, handled all pencils and covers throughout the run, with Gary Martin on inks and Dan Thorsland continuing as editor.

Trivia · 8 facts

• First appearance of Takion (Josh Saunders), a blind psychologist chosen by Highfather of the New Gods to become a 'Source Elemental' — a human avatar of the Source itself.
• Written by Paul Kupperberg; pencils and cover by Aaron Lopresti; inks by Gary Martin; colors by Lee Loughridge; letters by Willie Schubert; edited by Dan Thorsland.
• Published by DC Comics with a June 1996 cover date; story titled 'Birth Pains.'
• Features the first and only appearance of Nancy Hyatt, a coworker of Josh Saunders who dies within this issue.
• Also introduces Norman Kreger (first appearance), a civilian character who recurs throughout the series.
• Guest appearance by Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, whose Source-linked ring-power resonates with Takion's uncontrolled energies.
• The series ran exactly seven issues (all in 1996), with Takion later becoming the second Highfather of New Genesis following Izaya's death during the Genesis crossover event.
• Takion's name is a deliberate phonetic riff on 'tachyon,' a hypothetical faster-than-light particle; the issue includes a supplementary text page explaining tachyon physics to readers.

Full credits