Takion

Takion (Joshua Saunders) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by Paul Kupperberg and Aaron Lopresti,^[1] first appearing in an eponymous series in 1996 that lasted for 7 issues.^[2]

Takion
Takion as depicted in Takion #6 (November 1996). Art by Aaron Lopresti.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Takion #1 (June 1996)
Created by	Paul Kupperberg (writer) Aaron Lopresti (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Joshua Saunders
Team affiliations	New Gods
Notable aliases	Highfather
Abilities	Avatar of the Source Omniscience/cosmic awareness Quantum field manipulation Emotional spectrum manipulation Speed Force manipulation Energy manipulation Matter manipulation Reality manipulation Space-time manipulation Telepathy Telekinesis Immortality

Publication history

In 2019, Kupperberg wrote about the creation of Takion on his website, stating:^[3]

"Unbeknownst to me and Dan [Thorsland], over in editor Archie Goodwin's office, a very different version of Starman was in development with writer James Robinson and artist Tony Harris. It only became beknownst when we fed our Starman proposal into the pipeline for review by the senior editors our Starman was bounced like a Spalding. Instead of just chalking it up to experience and sticking the proposal in a drawer, Dan suggested we salvage what we could from it and use that as a foundation to create an entirely new character. This we did and, after a bunch of talking and a few drafts, "Will Payton…Starman" became "Josh Saunders...Takion".

Fictional character biography

Josh Saunders

Josh Saunders is a blind psychologist who Highfather (Izaya) gave the ability to manipulate the Source and instructed him to cleanse it. Unbeknownst to Saunders, he is also intended to act as an avatar to resurrect Izaya in the event of his death. Saunders gains cosmic awareness, but struggles with it overwhelming his brain until he spends time in space to overcome this weakness.^[1][4][5]

Takion's main nemesis is Stayne, a human who was transformed by Darkseid and seeks to keep him from achieving his true potential.^[1][6]

Takion becomes the new Highfather after Izaya is killed by Ares during the Genesis event and Mister Miracle declines to replace him. Izaya survives as a spirit within the Source and possesses Takion to restore Supertown.^[7]

During Death of the New Gods, Takion is killed by Infinity-Man after he and Himon attempt to investigate his murder of several New Gods.^[8]

Powers and abilities

As the embodiment of the Source, Takion possesses vast reality-manipulating abilities. He can manipulate energy, matter, and time, become intangible, and teleport.^[1]

In other media

Takion appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.^[9]