From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia King Arthur (DC Comics)
King Arthur (DC Comics)
King Arthur the Y Gododdin. The character of King Arthur was made
popular by Geoffrey of Monmouth’s second major work,
the Historia Regum Britanniae (History of the Kings of Bri-
tain),
Publication history
The DC Comics version of King Arthur first appeared in
New Comics #3 (February 1936), kicking off a six issue
adaptation of the The Tale of Sir Gareth of Orkney by Sir
Thomas Malory.[1] This was also one of the earliest ap-
pearances of a recurring character in a DC Comics title,
and predates Superman’s debut in 1938.
Fictional character biography
New Comics
King Arthur appears in New Comics #3 The Tale of Sir Gareth
of Orkney and appears alongside his wife Guinevere, his
King Arthur from World’s Finest Comics vol. 1 #162,
friend Merlin, Sir Lancelot, and Gareth.[2]
Art by Curt Swan
Publication information Batman
Publisher DC Comics See also: Batman
King Arthur is present in Batman #36, a possible fantasy
First New Comics #3
entitled "Sir Batman at King Arthur’s Court" in which
appearance (February 1936)
Professor Carter Nichols uses his "Time-Ray Machine"
Created by Rafael Astarita device to send Batman and Robin back in time using
(writer & artist) "time travel hypnosis" to Arthur’s court at Camelot.
In-story information
Shining Knight
Alter ego Arthur Pendragon
Main article: Shining Knight
Place of Camelot Arthur reappears in Adventure Comics #66, a tale in which
origin
Merlin gives the Shining Knight a magical suit of armor
Team Knights of the Round Table (which protects its wearer from all forms of harm), a
affiliations sword (capable of cutting any substance except the afore-
Abilities mentioned suit), and a winged horse (pterippus) named
Skills Victory.[3] The Shining Knight later delivers the Holy
Expert fencer, equestrian, military tactician. Grail to King Arthur at Camelot in Swamp Thing vol. 2 #87
Weapons (June 1989).[4]
Magical sword Excalibur and its mystic
sheath, the magical dagger Carnwennan, and
the magical spear Rhongomyniad. Silent Knight
Main article: Silent Knight
King Arthur (Arthur Pendragon) is a fictional character, Arthur reappears in Brave and the Bold #1 a story where
a comic book King published by DC Comics. Arthur de- Merlin acts as a guide to young squire Brian Kent, who
buted in New Comics #3, (February 1936), and was created later becomes the Silent Knight.[5][6]
by Rafael Astarita. The character is based on the mythical
ruler King Arthur whose earliest recorded appearances World’s Finest Comics
were in the Annales Cambriae, the Historia Brittonum, and See also: World’s Finest Comics
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia King Arthur (DC Comics)
In World’s Finest Comics vol. 1 #42 comic figures Doc and • An alternate Arthur also appears in the 1992 mini-
Fatty travel back to King Arthur’s court using a unique series Batman: Dark Knight of the Round Table.
device called a "Time-Typer" which is basically a souped
up typewriter. Doc and Fatty meet the King and are told
that they need to kill a Dragon in order to earn a seat at
Brief bibliography
the Round Table. They later pilot a robot dragon and at- • New Comics #3,4,5,6,7,8 (February-September 1936)
tempt to scam King Arthur.[7] • Adventure Comics #66 (September 1941)
Green Arrow and Speedy travel to the jungle planet • Superman vol. 1 #38 (February 1946)
of Tropicus in World’s Finest Comics vol. 1 #52, there Green • All-American Comics #72 (April 1946)
Arrow meets both King Arthur and Daniel Boone in a sto- • Batman vol. 1 #36 (September 1946)
ry titled "A Sword, A Rifle And A Bow". Green Arrow, King • World’s Finest Comics vol. 1 #42 (October 1949),
Arthur and Daniel Boone are forced to duel in an alien • World’s Finest Comics vol. 1 #52 (July 1951)
arena against the best Tropican swordsmen, riflemen and • Brave and the Bold #1 (August 1955)
archers. At the end of this implausible story, both heroes • Superboy vol. 1 #75 (September 1959)
are inexplicably returned to Earth, as the capital city of • Superman’s Pal, Jimmy Olsen #53 (June 1961)
Tropicus is destroyed by a volcanic eruption.[8] • Superboy vol. 1 #103 (March 1963)
King Arthur also appears in World’s Finest Comics vol. • World’s Finest Comics vol. 1 #162 (September 1966)
1 #162, a story in which both Superman and Batman are • The Demon vol. 1 #1 (August 1972)
dragged through time to Camelot through the use of a • All-Star Comics #65 (April 1977)
"Time Mist", by a race of nameless purple skinned • Camelot 3000 #1-12 (December 1982-April 1985)
shapeshifting aliens, who trick Batman and Superman in- • Swamp Thing vol. 2 #87 (June 1989)
to helping them overthrow Camelot. The disguised aliens • The Demon vol. 2 #16 (1992)
state that Arthur, Merlin and the Knights of the Round • Batman: Dark Knight of the Round Table #1-2 (December
Table are actually alien imposters. With their help Arthur 1998-January 1999)
and the Knights are defeated, during the fight Superman • Hellblazer vol. 2 #113-114 (June-July 2008)
is stunned by King Arthur wielding Excalibur, and Bat- • Madame Xanadu vol. 2 #1 (August 2008)
man is wounded by Sir Galahad’s magic spear. Batman • Trinity #21 (October 2008)
and Superman later aid in their rescue when the decep- • Demon Knights #1 (November 2011)
tion is revealed, and with the help of magically empow-
ered knights like Sir Bors’ ring of fire, Sir Bohart’s super
speed, Sir Kay’s cloak of invisibility and growing powers,
References
Sir Lancelot’s invulnerable armor and super strength, [1] http://www.camelot4colors.com/retell.htm#"King
and Merlin’s magic spells, the aliens are ousted from Arthur,"New Comics #3-8
Camelot. At story’s end Superman and Batman are [2] New Comics #3, (February 1936)
knighted by King Arthur.[9] [3] Adventure Comics #66 (September 1941).
[4] Swamp Thing vol. 2 #87 (June 1989)
Etrigan [5] Brave and the Bold #1 (August 1955)
[6] http://www.dcuguide.com/
See also: Etrigan the Demon
who.php?name=silentknight
Arthur makes a tangental appearance in The Demon vol.
[7] World’s Finest Comics vol. 1 #42 (October 1949)
1 #1, a story where Merlin enlisted the demon Etrigan
[8] Brave and the Bold #1 (August 1955)
in the defense of Camelot, against the coming of Mor-
[9] World’s Finest Comics vol. 1 #162 (September 1966)
gaine le Fey her army of demons, and Arthur’s son Mor-
[10] http://www.mykey3000.com/cosmicteams/
dred. Later in The Demon vol. 2 #16-20 Merlin set Sir Perci-
profiles/demon.html
val the Golden Knight to guard the earthly exit from the
[11] Madame Xanadu vol. 2 #1 (August 2008)
Region Beyond, which is located in England. The Region
Beyond is where King Arthur had Merlin banish all the
dangerous mystical entities native to Great Britain.[10][11] External links
• DCU Guide: Merlin
Other versions • DCU Guide: Shining Knight
• DCU Guide: Silent Knight
• An alternate version of Arthur appears in the 1982
• Cosmic Teams: The Demon
maxi-series Camelot 3000, where he sleeps beneath
• Toonopedia: The Demon
Glastonbury Tor, but is awakened in the year 3000 to
• Torregrossa, Michael A. "Camelot 3000 and Beyond: An
stave off an alien invasion spearheaded by his sister
Annotated Listing of Arthurian Comic Books
Morgaine le Fey.
Published in the United States c. 1980-1998 (Revised
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia King Arthur (DC Comics)
Edition, May 2000)." The Arthuriana / Camelot
Project Bibliographies. U of Rochester, n.d.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=King_Arthur_(DC_Comics)&oldid=459220413"
Categories:
• DC Comics superheroes
• Fictional kings
• Fictional royalty
• Mythology in comics
• Golden Age superheroes
• Comics characters introduced in 1936
• Arthurian comics
• Arthurian characters
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