|
|
Raven's
Azarath Connections |
|
|
Teachings of Azar
Arella, involved in a mystic cult, was chosen to become
the bride of the demonic Trigon. Abandoned by the demon after mating with
him, Arella was bent on suicide when she was taken in by the pacifistic disciples
of Temple Azarath, a group who had centuries earlier forsaken life on Earth
to pursue their own nonviolent lifestyle.
In their interdimensional world, Raven, Arella's daughter
by Trigon, was born. Fearing that the child would bring evil among them, Juris,
a magistrate of Azarath, attempted to cast the infant Raven into Limbo, only
to be destroyed himself. Azar, the spiritual leader of the temple, then took
the young Raven under her personal tutelage, instructing her in pacifism,
meditation, and the submergence of her emotions, while perfecting her powers
of teleportation, astral projection, and empathic healing.
Later, after Azar's death (in which she entered another
plane of existence), when Raven was plagued by prophetic dreams of Trigon,
she learned of her true parentage and, defying her teachers, she confronted
her demon father in Limbo at his bidding. Trigon spared her and Arella after
satisfying himself that, upon his return when she reached adulthood, he could
seduce Raven into becoming his ally. When Raven turned eighteen, she sensed
Trigon's power returning and fled to Earth.
Trigon the Terrible
The disciples of Temple Azarath refused to help the Titans
in their battle against Trigon, due to their pacifistic beliefs. Arella remained
on Azarath, but aided the Titans during their first encounter with Trigon;
she eventually rescued Raven from him. After the Titans combined their powers
and banished Trigon into the Nether-Verse, Arella assumed the duties of guarding
the doorway against any attempt by Trigon to return.
Trigon did indeed return when his influence over Raven
reached a powerful level. In the ensuing battle, Lilith led the Titans in
a seance, using Raven's rings as a focus. Raven's image appeared, but rejected
their help, after which the Titans were mystically transported to an Azarath
in the throes of destruction. Despite their efforts, Azarath and all its inhabitants
are apparently destroyed.
Lilith tapped the power of Raven's rings to return herself,
the Teen Titans, and Arella to Earth, which has been totally taken over by
Trigon. Trigon awakened at full strength, possessing the souls of everyone
on Earth except the Titans and Arella, and grew to even more gigantic stature,
many times the size of the former Titans Tower. The Titans decided to fight
on, even in a seemingly hopeless cause. As they rushed to confront their foe,
Lilith roused Arella to action, but failed until Raven's mother suddenly hears
the clairvoyant Titan speaking in the voice of the deceased Azar, former spiritual
leader of Temple Azarath.
|
Azar herself teaches Raven pacifism in
TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS mini series #1 [1982] |
|
As the Titans approached, Trigon began to open a gateway
to his ravaged home universe, intending to recreate it by allowing it to absorb
the dimension containing Earth. While the Titans fought, Arella and Lilith,
who was being controlled by Azar, placed Raven's rings on her body. Raven's
soul-self, now an angelic pure-white entity serving as a conduit for the power
of Azar, rose from her still form and grew to envelop Trigon, ultimately destroying
him.
Remnants of Azarath
Unknown to the Titans, however, the souls of Azarath (now
tainted by Trigon) needed a vessel to survive. They sought Raven, but she
was protected by her soul self. The souls of Azarath were aware of Jericho,
and his powers made it easier for the souls to enter him. The souls of Azarath
resided in Jericho, but were still quite weak. They would lay dormant, and
build up strength as time passed.
Jericho took over the criminal society known as the Wildebeests
and began a series of experiments to create alternate bodies. When these experiments
failed the Wildebeests then went after the other members of the New Titans,
hoping that their super-powered bodies would prove more receptive to possession
from the Azarathian force.
A battle in the remains of Azarath concluded with the
destruction of the Wildebeest society and the death of Jericho himself. But
the Azarathians were still defeated. In a final effort to end this threat
forever, Raven, former Phantasm Danny Chase, and Raven's mother, Arella, attacked
the Azarathian energy. Their own energies combined with the force from Azarath
and drove away the evil.
The dimension where Azarath once stood is now a uninhabited wasteland.
People of Azarath
Azar: Female spiritual leader of Temple Azarath; granddaughter
of the original Azar, founder of Temple Azarath.
Coman : High Magistrate of Azarath
Gayla : Raven's nursemaid
New Teen Titans #1-6 [1980]: Titans stop Trigon's invasion of earth.
First appearance of Trigon in issue #2. First appearance of Arella in issue
#5. Origin of Raven, Trigon and Arella in issue #6.
Tales of the New Teen Titans #2 [1982]: 4-issue mini series. As the
Titans take a break on a camping trip, the new members reveal their origins.
The origin of Raven.
New Teen Titans (second series) #1-5 [1984-1985]: Titans stop
Trigon's second attack on earth. Death of Trigon. Raven cleansed of Trigon's
evil and disappears. Arella reappears and aids the Titans to defeat Trigon.
New Titans #71-84 [1991-1992]: This event is catalogued as "Titans
Hunt." Corrupted Azar taking over Jericho revealed in issues #82-84.
Souls of Azarath become Phantasm in issue #84.
Top of Page
|
Arella
Real Name: Angela Roth
|
|
Arella recounts her first encounter
with Trigon. |
|
Childhood's End
Angela Roth grew up in a restrictive home with a fanatically religious father.
Growing tired of abuse, both physical and mental, Angela fled her Gotham home
at the age of seventeen. Her parents either didn't notice or didn't care.
Angela stumbled upon a Church, where she felt welcome for the first time
in her life. But this 'church' was actually a demonic cult with a most sinister
agenda. Unbeknownst to Angela, she was a member of a cult trying to bring
the devil to Earth. Instead, the cult brought Trigon in the guise of a handsome
man with gold-flecked eyes. Angela was whisked away to his dimension, became
his wife and carried Trigon's seed, which was to be Raven. After the conception,
Trigon showed her his true form and cast her back to Earth.
|
| Arella is welcomed into Azarath - as detailed in TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS mini series #1 [1982]. |
|
This despairing, weak-willed woman was about to commit suicide when she was
stopped by a messenger who brought her to Azarath, where she began a new life.
It was here that she was given the name Arella, which means "The Messenger
Angel."
Through the birth of Raven, Trigon's evil came to Azarath. Azar, the teacher
and guide of the Azarathians, took Raven under her tutelage, while Arella
was reassigned to temple duties. When Azar died, Arella resumed raising Raven
and was alarmed at her daughter's distant manner. When Raven turned eighteen,
she sensed Trigon's power returning and fled to Earth.
Trigon the Terrible
Arella remained on Azarath, and during the Titans' first encounter with Trigon,
she eventually rescued Raven from him. After the Titans combined their powers
and banished Trigon into the Netherverse, Arella assumed the duties of guarding
the doorway against any attempt by Trigon to return.
Trigon did indeed return when his influence over Raven reached a powerful
level. In the ensuing battle, Arella and the Titans were pitted against Trigon
and a possessed Raven. When Trigon was destroyed and Raven's body disappeared,
Arella embarked on a quest to find her daughter. Arella found Raven, as did
the forces of Brother Blood, who captured both mother and daughter. The two
were rescued by Robotman, Azrael and the New Teen Titans after Raven shattered
Brother Blood's mind. Arella was injured in the battle, but recovered.
Arella then established a ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It was designed
to be a haven for young women that had lost their way in life, much like Arella
had years ago.
|
Arella and Danny Chase perish - but merge with the souls of Azarath to be
reborn as Phantasm - in NEW TITANS #84 [1992]. |
|
Hunt For Titans
Shortly after this, current and former members of the Titans (including Raven)
were hunted and captured by the Wildebeest Society, for unknown reasons. During
the Titans Hunt, a vicious version of a soul self savagely attacked Arella's
ranch, killing all inhabitants except Arella. Devastated and alone, Arella
vowed to join the Titans Hunt and find her daughter.
Deathstroke, Nightwing, Troia, Pantha, Phantasm, Arella and Red Star joined
forces to track the Titans down. Upon locating the captured Titans, the heroes
were shocked to learn the identity of the leader of the Wildebeests was their
own teammate, Jericho.
It seems the tainted souls of Azarath regained their strength and merged
with Jericho shortly after Trigon's second defeat. The souls now needed powerful
vessels for each of them to survive. Now possessed by this force, Jericho
sought to acquire superhuman beings as vessels for the souls of Azarath. He
used the Wildebeest Society as a front to kidnap the Titans to house the tainted
souls of Azarath. Now tainted by this evil force, Jericho also acquired new
abilities to help in his mission: a savage and powerful soul self that took
the form of a lion and a healing ability that repaired his throat and enabled
him to speak. Arella realized it was Jericho that destroyed her ranch.
A battle in the remains of Azarath concluded with the destruction of the
Wildebeest society and the death of Jericho himself. But the Azarathians were
still defeated. In a final effort to end this threat forever, Raven, former
Phantasm Danny Chase, and Raven's mother, Arella, attacked the Azarathian
energy. Their own energies combined with the force from Azarath and drove
away the evil. In an explosion that saw the dissipation of one energy wave,
the other energies somehow combined. This new force inhabited the garb once
worn by Danny Chase and took on the identity of the new Phantasm.
Danny and Arella died that day; Their essences merged with the cleansed souls
of Azarath to create a new entity known as Phantasm.
Arella possessed various sensory/mystical abilities she learned while living
in Azarath.
New Teen Titans #1-6 [1980]: Titans stop Trigon's invasion of earth.
First appearance of Trigon in issue #2. First appearance of Arella in issue
#5. Origin of Raven, Trigon and Arella in issue #6.
Tales of the New Teen Titans #2 [1982]: 4-issue mini series. As the
Titans take a break on a camping trip, the new members reveal their origins.
The origin of Raven.
New Teen Titans (second series) #1-5 [1984-1985]: Titans stop
Trigon's second attack on earth. Death of Trigon. Raven cleansed of Trigon's
evil and disappears. Arella reappears and aids the Titans to defeat Trigon.
New Teen Titans (second series) #6 [1985]: Arella begins her
search for Raven.
New Titans #67 [1990]: Raven makes amends with her mother, Arella,
who started a ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
New Titans #71-84 [1991-1992]: This event is catalogued as "Titans
Hunt." Corrupted Azar taking over Jericho revealed in issues #82-84.
Souls of Azarath become Phantasm in issue #84. Arella's ranch destroyed in
issue #73. Arella dies/transforms into Phantasm in issue #84.
Teen Titans [third series] #8 [2004]: Raven's origin is retold. Arella's
back story is expanded and her real name [Angela Roth] is revealed for the
first time.
Top of Page
Evil Grows
Trigon was an other-dimensional demon, the result of the mating of a female
member of a mystic sect and their god. Dark energies that floated through
the dimensions were the expunged evil natures of Azarath. Trigon became the
personification of these dreadfully evil energies.
At birth, Trigon slew all around him, and, at age six, he destroyed his an
entire planet. When he reached thirty, Trigon had established himself as absolute
ruler of the millions of worlds within his dimension. Trigon's hunger for
power was still not sated, so he turned his four eyes to other dimensions.
Trigon first came to Earth with the intention of fathering a child. He appeared
to a cult member named Arella in the guise of a handsome man, and sired a
child named Raven. The child was raised in Azarath.
Trigon wanted his daughter to rule by his side, and after he managed to breach
the dimensional barriers, Raven agreed to this as long as he permanently returned
to his home dimension. When Raven arrived, she realized that Trigon had no
intention of keeping his word. Arella and the Teen Titans fought the demon
and banished him to the Nether-Verse. His "wife" Arella agreed to
serve as guardian of the dimensional gate so that Trigon could not return.
|
| Trigon aims to claim his daughter in TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS mini series #1 [1982]. |
|
|
| Trigon lords his power in NEW TEEN TITANS #6 [1980]. |
|
Despite Trigon's banishment, Raven began to physically change as Trigon's
evil worked within her. Trigon absorbed the life-forces of the billions of
souls in his dimension in order to breach the doorway, which he did. Trigon
had his forces destroy Azarath.
Reunited with his now-evil daughter, the pair transformed Earth into Hell
until the New Teen Titans, with Lilith back in their midst, killed the soulless
body of Raven. This so angered Trigon that he began to siphon souls in order
to return to his home dimension. The spirit of Azar and all of Azarath, however,
still dwelled in Raven's rings. Azar used the now-soulless body of Raven to
focus all of Azarath's pure light into Trigon, destroying him.
Trigon's evil legacy continues
Unknown to the Titans, however, the souls of Azarath (now tainted by Trigon)
needed a vessel to survive. They sought Raven, but she was protected by her
soul self. The souls of Azarath were aware of Jericho, and his powers made
it easier for the souls to enter him. The souls of Azarath resided in Jericho,
but were still quite weak. They would lay dormant, and build up strength as
time passed.
|
| JUST LIKE DADDY: Trigon transforms Raven in NEW TEEN TITANS (second series) #3 [1985] |
|
Jericho took over the criminal society known as the Wildebeests and began
a series of experiments to create alternate bodies. When these experiments
failed the Wildebeests then went after the other members of the New Titans,
hoping that their super-powered bodies would prove more receptive to possession
from the Azarathian force.
A battle in the remains of Azarath concluded with the destruction of the
Wildebeest society and the death of Jericho himself. But the Azarathians were
still defeated. In a final effort to end this threat forever, Raven, former
Phantasm Danny Chase, and Raven's mother, Arella, attacked the Azarathian
energy. Their own energies combined with the force from Azarath and drove
away the evil. Raven is transformed utterly and disappears (at this point,
she is presumed dead).
Soon after, an evil version of Raven emerged; Her evil consciousness survived,
and she found a mortal vessel to house her form. Raven was intent on planting
the seeds of Trigon's unborn children into new vessels. Evil Raven continued
her reign of terror; She planted ‘Trigon seeds' in Supergirl, Changeling,
Magenta, Deathwing, and Thunder and Lightning. Eventually, Raven and her demon
allies came into conflict with the Titans. The Titans were able to destroy
evil Raven utterly, and restore good Raven into a new spiritual golden body.
Trigon was a power- house who looked upon his mortal opponents as insects.
He was overwhelming in combat, using his powers to rid himself of any opposition
and proclaiming his superiority or glory. Trigon had devastating force beams
from his eyes and hordes of demons under his command. Trigon frequently acted
through agents such as Psimon of the Fearsome Five or the transformed Raven.
Trigon was a ruthless tyrant who had nothing but contempt for life. He sought
to conquer all, including his daughter Raven, whom he felt belonged to him.
Artist George Pérez on Trigon [from The Titans Companion, 2005]: " Trigon is Hot Stuff on steroids. I didn’t know he was going to be colored red until the comic came out, so I said, “My God, now with the loincloth, he does look like Hot Stuff from the Harvey comics, with extra eyes and obviously big and bad.” Basically, he was just the Devil incarnate. He was a real fun character to design because he was just pure evil. Taking the riff from the Emperor’s New Clothes, and then having Trigon actually kill the child was something that just said, “Oh, yes, this is one fella who’s really, really bad.” In hindsight, one of the things I probably would not have designed is the antlers quite that way, because they tended to look a little puny on his head. Better to just go straight horns or enormous elk-like antlers, as opposed to those little ones that he had there. In hindsight, I might’ve designed him a little more fiercely, but he was always a fun character. I liked drawing him just looking down on people, and the extra eyes were always fun to work with."
New Teen Titans #1-6 [1980]: Titans stop Trigon's invasion of earth.
First appearance of Trigon in issue #2. First appearance of Arella in issue
#5. Origin of Raven, Trigon and Arella in issue #6.
Tales of the New Teen Titans #2 [1982]: 4-issue mini series. As the
Titans take a break on a camping trip, the new members reveal their origins.
The origin of Raven.
New Teen Titans (second series) #1-5 [1984-1985]: Titans stop
Trigon's second attack on earth. Death of Trigon. Raven cleansed of Trigon's
evil and disappears. Arella reappears and aids the Titans to defeat Trigon.
Top of Page
|
