Harbinger (DC Comics)

The Harbinger (Captain Lyla Michaels) is a superheroine appearing in publications by DC Comics. She had a supporting role in the Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline, where she gathered heroes to protect the multiverse from the Anti-Monitor.

Harbinger
Harbinger as depicted in Crisis on Infinite Earths #3 (June 1985). Art by George Pérez.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	As Lyla Michaels: The New Teen Titans Annual #2 (July 1983) As Harbinger: Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 (April 1985)
Created by	Marv Wolfman George Pérez
In-story information
Alter ego	Captain Lyla Michaels
Species	Metahuman
Team affiliations	New Guardians Black Lantern Corps United States Army
Abilities	Self-duplication and reintegration Energy manipulation Superhuman strength, durability, and speed Dimensional travel Time travel Cosmic awareness Flight

The character appeared as a recurring character in The CW television series Arrow and The Flash television series, portrayed by Audrey Marie Anderson.

Publication history

Lyla Michaels was created by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, and first appeared in The New Teen Titans Annual #2 (July 1983). She first appeared as Harbinger in Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 (April 1985).

Fictional character biography

Lyla Michaels is an orphan who is taken in by the Monitor and becomes his assistant.^[1] In Crisis on Infinite Earths, Michaels becomes Harbinger to battle the Anti-Monitor.^[2] Harbinger sacrifices her powers to save Earth-X, Earth-S, and Earth-Four before regaining them.^[3] After the multiverse is destroyed, Harbinger joins the Amazons as their historian.^[4]

Harbinger later sacrifices herself to protect Supergirl.^[5][6] She temporarily returns as a Black Lantern in Blackest Night.^[7] Following Harbinger's death, an artificial intelligence resembling her appears in The Multiversity.^[8]

In other media

Television

Audrey Marie Anderson as Lyla Michaels / Harbinger in the Arrowverse crossover "Crisis on Infinite Earths".

Lyla Michaels appears in the Arrowverse series Arrow and The Flash, portrayed by Audrey Marie Anderson.^[9][10] This version is an agent, later the director, of A.R.G.U.S. and John Diggle's estranged wife who secretly works for Mar Novu.

Film

• Lyla Michaels / Harbinger appears in Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, voiced by Rachel Quaintance.^[11] This version is a resident of Themyscira and a friend of Supergirl before being killed by Darkseid.
• An original incarnation of Harbinger, Kara Zor-El, appears in the Tomorrowverse films Justice League: Warworld and Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths, voiced by Kari Wahlgren in the former and Meg Donnelly in the latter.^[11]

Video games

• The AI incarnation of Harbinger appears in DC Universe Online.
• Lyla Michaels / Harbinger appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.^[12]

Merchandise

Lyla Michaels / Harbinger received an action figure in DC Direct's Crisis line in 2005.