Who's Auron?

Who's This? Omega Men's Silver Surfer.
The facts: Created by Marv Wolfman in the pages of Green Lantern (as Lambien, issue 141, July 1981; as Auron, the very next issue) where he started the Omega Men's story, which followed in New Teen Titans, until the Vegan team got its own series. Auron appeared on an off, his fate wrapped up in his mother X'Hal's and his powers being a bit of a game-breaker. He leaves after her threat is ended, and does not show up again.
How you could have heard of him: Readers of '90s Superman comics might remember another Auron, who was a clone of the Guardian. No relation but the name. Since that was in '93-'94, I don't think it counts as a way to "have heard" of Auron.
Example story: Green Lantern #143 (August 1981) "Call Him... Auron! God of Light! God of Death!" by Marv Wolfman and Joe Staton
From what I hear, the answer to Who's Auron? is Who Cares? But I've gone back to his roots in Green Lantern, to what is (at least technically), his third appearance. To catch us up... The Citadel has conquered the Vegan star system. Next stop: Newfoundland! (Really.) Specifically a HIDDEN Newfoundland village (aren't they all though?) where Green Lantern Hal Jordan and the Omega Men have fought a battle with the alien tyrants and lost. Prisoners of the Citadelian compound, Carol Ferris and Demonia are witness to the birth of the entity known as Auron (formerly Lambien):
First problem with the character's viability from the perspective of this first appearance is the look. I think he's pretty cool and shiny in his Who's Who entry, but the flattish yellow in the story itself is very boring. Second problem: As soon as he opens his mouth, it's really heavy portentous cod-god stuff. Equally dull.
See what I mean? He saves Carol from Demonia's demon form (did she start out as a villain, is that what's going on?) and takes her away to see "glories". Oh man. Meanwhile, the Omega Men and GL fight the Citadel's Gordanian slavers and escape, but for the purposes of this article, we don't care. (Perhaps we don't regardless. Except maybe the Gordianian mech that pulls a Voltron.
But that's neither here nor there. Where were we? Oh yeah, Auron. He must do what he was reborn to do. It is a destiny he cannot avoid. His will is controlled by X'Hal (Amalgam idea: X'Hal Jordan. Filing it for later.) Do you think he wants to kill? No, but X'Hal really really wants him to light up some Gordanian asses, even if the peacenik Lambien inside him wants to resist. And maybe resist he can!
He just targets the robotic "hunters" and sends them into the sun! Well cool except Hal Jordan is in one such hunter's grip!
Aww geez, where's Green Arrow when you need him? Psych! The robots all melt and GL's shield holds, so that's okay then. Yes Hal, the ring "really comes in handy now and then". Back in NFLD, Omega Woman Kalista is hit and very near death. Can Auron save her?
Yes.

I guess the attraction, if there is one, is that while Auron wants to be a beatific god, there's something inside him that pulls him to destroy instead. He has to fight against it, and redirect X'Hal's anger to less bloodthirtsty ends. That's something, I guess, but it's not exactly the Incredible Hulk, y'know?

Who's Next? An alien angel. (What is it with Marv Wolfman and angelic alien beings?!)

Comments

Anonymous said…
I shall always opine that DC made a mistake, picking up Marv Wolfman to try to "Marvelize" DC. Everything he did was overwrought and melodramatic, and did not really build on DC's strengths.

Auron seems like Marv was trying to clone the Silver Surfer, but with the angst of a compulsion to destroy. Pass. I'm also pretty sure he created the Gordanians because he felt DC needed some Krees or Skrulls, the HIVE because DC needed an AIM, and the Omega Men because DC needed some Starjammers or maybe an Imperial Guard. Pass on all of them.

Also, gotta love he writes a Hal Jordan who points his ring at the only part of the robot that is yellow. Just make the whole robot yellow! Or have Hal blast the outer coating of the robot off and reveal a layer of yellow beneath.