GRAYVEN	BIOGRAPHY
Created by Ron Marz and Daryl Banks

Grayven; Art by Greg Tocchini

PERSONAL DATA

Occupation: Would-be conqueror
Status: Deceased
Homeworld: Unknown
Marital Status: Single
Known Relatives: Darkseid (father; not confirmed), unnamed mother (deceased), Orion and Kalibak (half-brothers; not confirmed)
Base of Operation: Mobile
Group Affiliation(s): Alien Alliance II (former)
Gender: Male
Height: 6'8"
Weight: 412 lbs.
Eyes: Red
Hair: Black
First Appearance: Green Lantern Vol. 3 #74 (June 1996): "Stand"
Creators: Ron Marz and Daryl Banks

OVERVIEW

The alleged bastard son of Darkseid, Grayven spent his entire life proving himself worthy of his heritage. He set off to conquer the universe and fought both the Darkstars and the Green Lantern Corps along the way. He was recently killed by a mysterious god killer.

HISTORY

As the Lord of Apokolips, Darkseid, has conquered many worlds during his centuries-long reign. On one unamed world he paused briefly in his conquests to take a mate. He left never knowing he had fathered a child, Grayven.

Grayven learned of his heritage when he was a boy. His mother told him on her deathbed. At that moment, Grayven decided to take the birthright he had been denied. He gathered his armies to conquer his father's world, Apokolips.

The armada of starships cut across the outer rim of the galaxy. Worlds fell before their might, and their populations were slaughtered by Grayven's armies. The defending Darkstars, including former Green Lantern Hollika Rahn, were killed protecting the planet Benet-Hajj from the encroaching armada. The planet's entire population was slaughtered by the armada before they advanced on the planet Empkeen.

Grayven's goal was the planet Rann in the Alpha Centauri system. He plotted to seize the Mega-Zeta Beam from the floating city of Ranagar. Though the Darkstars did not know of Grayven's plans, they did realize Rann would be the next target for attack. The remaining Darkstars assembled on Ranagar to plan their defense.

Grayven's forces intercepted K'ryssma, a Darkstar sent on a reconnaissance mission to ascertain his position and strength. She was sent back to Ranagar, battered and bleeding. K'ryssma died as Grayven's fleet warped into the floating city's dome. Part of Grayven's fleet engaged Darkstar Donna Troy and the last Green Lantern, Kyle Rayner, outside Rann's system. The two heroes from Earth fought their way through the ships on the way to Ranagar. The battle would soon be won by Grayven. He emerged from his flagship to observe the battle. Grayven ordered the death of all on Ranagar and brushed off Adam Strange's attack with force beams from his eyes.

Darkstar director John Stewart was next to join the assault on Grayven. He was easily beaten by the conqueror. Stewart was at Grayven's mercy as energy ripped through his body. The arrival of Green Lantern Kyle Rayner gave Grayven a new challenge to face. Grayven's forces outnumbered the defenders of Ranagar. Darkstar Charlie Vicker was cut down by the invaders. Another former Green Lantern, Darkstar Galius Zed, struggled to help save the floating city. The battle with Green Lantern was lasting too long, so Grayven changed his tactics. He blasted a hole through the support structure of the floating city, causing it to tip. Grayven ordered his assistant, Sinthia, to find the Mega-Zeta Beam. She tried to prevent Green Lantern's attack on her lord, but the ring wielder swatted her aside.

Grayven was winning the fight against his emerald foe when he was surprised by an energy burst from the Mega-Zeta Beam. John Stewart had intended to strike Grayven with the beam, but he missed. Grayven turned his attention to the battered Darkstar, once more blasting him with energy. Stewart's actions gave Green Lantern the chance to take another shot at Grayven. He threw the third son of Darkseid into the Mega-Zeta Beam. The would-be conqueror of Apokolips was teleported to parts unknown. Without Grayven's leadership, Sinthia ordered Grayven's armies to retreat. What the future holds for Grayven's army has yet to be revealed.

Fortunately for Grayven, the Mega-Zeta Beam did not kill him, rather it teleported him deep inside the Earth. It took many weeks for Grayven to dig his way to the surface while his anger grew stronger. No longer did he seek the throne of Apokolips, instead Grayven wanted revenge against Green Lantern. Bismarck, North Dakota, felt the effects of his rage before he made his way to New York City. The two enemies met in midtown Manhattan and their battle carried them from Times Square to the Brooklyn Bridge. Seeking to end the fight quickly, Green Lantern pressed his attack and was on the verge of defeating the so-called Son of Darkseid. Grayven, however, would not allow himself to be captured and attempted to escape. Blue energy, perhaps a byproduct of the Mega-Zeta Beam, pulsed around his body, and even drew in Green Lantern. The two found themselves leaving their battlefield far behind. Green Lantern was transported to the late 30th Century. Presumably, Grayven was thrown into space. - Green Lantern Vol. 3 #97

Grayven next returned to oppose the power of Imperiex. To this end, he had forged alliances with the rulers and champions of many worlds, some he might have otherwise considered enemies, such as his foe Adam Strange, and even Darkseid himself. Grayven added Maxima, ruler of Almerac, to their coalition. Retreating from the overwhelming power of Imperiex, Maxima entered the Earth's solar system where her battered people rendezvoused with the tyrant. Grayven supplied Boom Tube technology to help them escape. They were stalled briefly by the arrival of Green Lantern Kyle Rayner and Superman who were investigating events of the fringes of the solar system. - Superman Vol. 2 #159

For reasons yet unknown, Grayven allied himself briefly with the Sinestro Corps. He had been involved in sending Nero and Effigy against his old foe Kyle Rayner.

Grayven eliminated a group of Qwardians in Space Sector 3388 before battling Kyle Rayner in his new identity Ion and former Darkstar Donna Troy. Grayven taunted Rayner regarding the fate of Rayner’s mother on Earth, evidentially aware of her infection by the sentient bio-virus Despotellis, a fact at the time unknown to Rayner. Grayven was no match for the Ion-powered Rayner, and he was defeated. His mind was scrambled in the fight. After his defeat, Grayven was sent to Oa by Rayner. - Ion #11-Ion #12

By chance, his trajectory was intercepted by a New God. Speed Queen of the Female Furies freed Grayven in the hope to make a stand against the unknown killer that was stalking the New Gods. She was killed before his eyes, and the confused Grayven fled to Earth. Deep underground, he built a device to collect the lingering zeta radiation from his first time on Earth. Grayven planned to zeta beam the New God killer into Darkseid's throne room.

Grayven’s presence on Earth did not go unnoticed. Sensors picked up powerful energy readings which led Batman to send the Martian Manhunter and Thunder to investigate. Grayven attacked, but was subdued by the heroes. After the Martian Manhunter red and restored Grayven’s mind, Thunder wanted to assist the so-called son of Darkseid in completing his zeta radiation collector, to get Grayven and the New God killer away from Earth. Once the device was created, Grayven turned on the heroes, before he was visited by the Black Racer. Grayven believed the Black Racer was the god killer. The Black Racer declared Grayven was not a true son of Darkseid, and was therefore beneath his notice. Rather than chance the Black Racer killing Darkseid, Grayven zeta beamed himself to Apokolips first.

Grayven is slain by the God Killer

In Darkseid's throne room, Grayven encountered the true god killer. It was not Darkseid, nor was it the Black Racer. In fact, the “Black Racer” he confronted on Earth was actually the shape-changing Martian Manhunter and not the real death entity. Whoever the slayer of the New Gods was, he claimed another life as he killed Grayven in the throne he had so long coveted. - Outsiders: Five of a Kind - Thunder/Martian Manhunter #1

POWERS AND WEAPONS

Grayven possessed great strength and stamina. He was able to emit force blasts from his eyes, similar to his alleged father Darkseid, but not nearly as powerful.

CHRONOLOGY

For a definitive list of appearances of Grayven in chronological order click here

PROFILE REFERENCES

Green Lantern Secret Files #1 (July 1998)

Green Lantern Secret Files #2 (September 1999)