Imperiex


Imperiex

(pop culture)The cosmic destroyer Imperiex tore into the pages of Superman vol. 2 #153 (2000) in a story scripted by Jeff Loeb and penciled by Mike McKone. On a quest for ultimate power, this heavily armored monstrosity eradicated countless planets until crossing galaxies with the despot Mongul. When Imperiex destroyed Warworld—Mongul's mega-sized mobile weapon—Mongul's son solicited the aid of one of his father's most powerful adversaries: Superman. Superman and Mongul II engaged in a star war with Imperiex's foot soldiers, the Imperiex-Probes. On his unholy mission to reunite the universe in a new Big Bang, Imperiex ordered an army of probes to assault Earth, triggering the Imperiex War (published by DC Comics in various series under the umbrella title “Our Worlds at War”). Superman united with two of his deadliest foes, Darkseid and Lex Luthor, to stave off Imperiex, but not before the conflict leveled Topeka, Kansas, and Paradise Island. Several heroes—including Aquaman, Maxima, and Amazonian Queen Hippolyta (Wonder Woman's mother)—were apparently killed, although some have resurfaced. Ultimately, the combined efforts of Superman, et al. defeated Imperiex, who was sent back in time 14 billion years to the original Big Bang, from which Superman hopes the galaxy monger will never return. During their struggle, Imperiex provoked an interesting reaction from Superman, who found himself questioning his campaign for truth, justice, and the American way. For a short time the Man of Tomorrow adopted a black background to replace the gold background in his classic “S” chest insignia to commemorate those who died during the Imperiex invasion.