Who the Clix? is a series of articles featuring information on comic book characters that have been made into figures for the popular tabletop game Heroclix. These articles are meant to help Heroclix players learn more about the characters behind their favorite pieces.
Today we look at the last son of Earth: Ulysses
Appearances in Heroclix: Superman and Wonder Woman
First Appearance: Superman#32
Team Affiliations: N/A
Powers/Abilities: Energy Transference; Energy Projection; Enhanced Intellect; Enhanced Senses; Flight; Superhuman Durability; Immunity to all poisons, diseases and toxins; Superhuman Speed; Superhuman Agility; Superhuman Reflexes; Superhuman Strength; Super-Breath
Created By: Geoff Johns and John Romita Jr.
Neil Quinn is the son of Bridget and Peter. Both of Neil’s parents work at the Ulysses research center. One day, while working in their lab with their infant son under their watchful eye the lab is locked down and readied for self-destruction after a leak of strange matter from dimension two. Determined to save their son, Peter and Bridget agree to send him to unknown dimension four where life similar to humanity exists. The young Neil Quinn returns to the Earth he believes was destroyed twenty-five years later.
Ulysses returns to Earth, hunting his enemy Klerik. Ulysses finds Klerik battling Superman and helps the last son of Krypton to defeat their mutual foe. Superman shocks Ulysses by informing him that this planet is the Earth of his birth and it was not actually destroyed. The two bond as Superman investigates the accident from twenty five years earlier. He eventually brings Ulysses to a suburban home where Ulysses’ parents are found alive and well. The son is reunited with his parents.
The two super-beings hunt a villain known as the Machinist. The Machinist eventually gets Ulysses alone and shows him the great potential for evil in humanity. With his faith in mankind broken, Ulysses broadcasts a message to the world; he is going to return to the great world and believes that the Earth does not have the potential for greatness. He offers 6 million people from across the globe a chance to come to the great world with him and forge a new beginning. Ulysses warns his parents not to come to the great world with him which Superman overhears. Ulysses and Superman battle before Ulysses knocks Superman out and takes him to the great world ships. Against his wishes, Ulysses’ parents board the great world ships.
After Superman awakens, Ulysses reveals to him that the great world is going to use the six million people as fuel. A process they have done to countless planets and races over the years. Superman sees Ulysses’ parents and points them out to Ulysses. His love for his parents overcomes his loyalty to the great world and so he frees Superman. Together, the pair save the humans at the cost of the great world’s core which becomes unstable and explodes. Though Superman saves Ulysses’ life, Ulysses blames Superman for all that has gone wrong and the two battle with Superman proving victorious.
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