Повелители Хаоса и Порядка во вселенной DC Comics

Fictional supernatural powers in DC comics

The Lords of Chaos and Order are a fictional group of supernatural entities featured in American comic books published by DC Comics. Although alluded to in 1st Issue Special #9 (December 1975), their physical appearance was first showcased in DC Special Series #10 (1978). While the group is commonly associated with Doctor Fate titles, they also hold prominent roles in various other comic book series. Depicted as formidable beings of magic embodying the concepts of order and chaos, these groups engage in an eternal struggle for supremacy. The Lords of Chaos are known for their machinations to invoke kali yuga, a period characterized by the dominance of chaos in existence. Conversely, the Lords of Order strive to prevent this invocation and maintain balance. To achieve their goals, both respective groups empower various agents to carry out their will and influence in accordance to their agenda. To prevent the destruction of one another, both groups are occasionally balanced by entities referred to as the Lords of Balance (or Lords of Eternal Balance). These entities ensure that neither side overwhelms the other. Similarly, they can empower agents to carry out their will and influence events according to their respective agenda. The Lords of Chaos and Order have been adapted in various media, including the Young Justice animated series and the Injustice 2 video game. They play significant roles in these adaptations, with the Young Justice series featuring several characters affiliated with the group, and Injustice 2 heavily referencing their influence in the game's narrative.

The Lords of Chaos and Order would first be alluded to in 1st Issue Special #9 (December 1975). According to Hindu philosophy, the age of the universe and mankind is divided into four different cycles of ages in which the first age marks order ruling with perfection. In the second age, chaos begins to spread its subtle influence so that in the third age, chaos can go to war with order. In the final era, chaos triumphs and ushers in an age known as the "Kali Yuga". After this age, the cycle restarts when the age ends and the universe itself also ends, resulting in a rebirth of a new universe in which Order rules once more. Later, dimension known as Gemworld was once among the domains controlled and owned by the Lords of Chaos until a deal was struck with sorceress Citrina when magic began to drop on the planet Earth due to an alignment of the stars that was caused by one of them going nova thousands of years ago. Intending to find and populate a land where homo magi, faerie, and other magical creatures alike can live and thrive in a magical rich environment, the deal was made and the arrangement was kept secret from the history of Gemworld.

In the 2005 Day of Vengeance crossover, Eclipso seduces the Spectre into slaughtering most of Earth's magic users after she claimed that magic was the source of all of Earth's evil. Nabu organizes a team of magical beings to stop the Spectre and seal the Seven Deadly Sins. Nabu confronts the Spectre, and the Presence (a Lord of Chaos) uses Spectre as a new host. Although Nabu dies, his helmet is left with its significant powers. The deaths of the Lords of Order and Chaos caused magic to break down into its basic raw state, which marks the end of the Ninth Age of Magic within the DC Universe, and the beginning of the Tenth. Amethyst and Mordru are the only known Lords to have survived into the Tenth Age.

In 2016, DC Comics implemented another relaunch of its books called "DC Rebirth" which restored its continuity to a form much as it was prior to "The New 52". The Lords of Chaos and Order are presented with a new origin; being among the first mages on Earth, the group of mages plot and were successful in stealing magical power from the Greek Goddess of Magic, Hecate. Unlike the classical Greek mythology stories, Hecate was a primordial spirit of magic and predates most, if not, all other godly pantheons and once settled to be affiliated with the Greek pantheon. As their power rose, they ascended to a higher plane of existence and became the Lords of Chaos and Order and began controlling the magic in the known universe. However, conflicting origins have risen within DC's canonical universe; while some stories utilize the newly revised origin, other stories utilize an origin similar to the previous one. In this origin, the Lords of Chaos and Order were created from the Source as one of the first cosmic forces in the universe before the likes of both Old Gods (gods of both fantasy and real world inspired pantheons) and New Gods. The Darkworld also exists in this revised universe, the entity and its body that makes up the dimension having been explained to be a piece of the Great Darkness, the true embodiment and source of evil and darkness in the universe. Several Lords of Order appear in the Blue Beetle storyline "Hard Choices". Insane Arion battled Nabu thousands of years ago, having sought Khaji Da to save Atlantis after receiving a vision from the future where he learns of the eventual destruction of Atlantis and the scarab falsely promised him the ability to save it. Nabu succeeds in sealing away Arion and sets him in a tomb located in a dimension parallel to what would be El Paso, Texas. Arion later frees himself through his lackey, Mordecai Cull, and he is initially successful in defeating Doctor Fate and overpowering Khaji Da's will. Jaime Reyes narrowly defeats Arion by using his connection to the scarab against him, draining him of most of his magical power before Doctor Fate arrives and seals him away. Although the initial story claimed that Arion was driven insane by exposure to Khaji Da centuries ago, a later story clarified Arion was driven mad from being exposed to his Tear of Extinction and the Death Force as a side effect of using it against alien sea gods on Poseidon's behest. Both the Lords of Order and Chaos would make an appearance in the "Trials of Harley Quinn" storyline, seeking a new agent to act as a galactic angel of retribution, a title bestowed to a being to act as one of the balancing agents between order and chaos and tasked Mirand'r (the spirit of a dead Tamaranean from seventy years ago) to fill the position. She recommends the former supervillain, Harley Quinn, as she possesses traits associated with both order and chaos. While Harley eventually passes through all the trials, she betrays the Lords of Chaos and Order moments after receiving their power after mistakenly concluding her mother's death was among the trials they orchestrated. The Lord of Order and Chaos representatives explain that their trials are woven into events naturally occurring and thus her mother was destined to die. While Harley ultimate rejects the position, she appeals to the Lords of Chaos and Order by recommending Mirand'r, who understood the role. The Lords of Chaos and Order accepted her proposition and revived Mirand'r, making her an agent of balance. In the Justice League Dark storyline "Lords of Order", when the Source Wall at the edge of the universe cracked, the law and forces surrounding magic began to change. Nabu sensed the risks it would bring: a race of magical beings known the Otherkind would be unleashed from this catastrophic event. Nabu alongside the other Lords of Order plot to destroy the Sphere of the Gods, the source of magic. While this act would kill all magical beings, this radical plan would ensure the Multiverse's continual survival with many Lords of Order content with this plan. In doing so, they forced upon mystical objects to notable wizards and sorceresses including Madame Xanadu, Mark Merlin and Prince Ra Man, and Extraño. Controlling Kent Nelson himself, Nabu would imprison both Kent's apprentice and nephew, Khalid Nassour, and later the Phantom Stranger. Coming into conflict with the Justice League Dark, the team sought out Mordru, who revealed more of their origin and his role as the one who tortured Hecate personally. Using an artifact known as the Ruby of Life, he would temporarily turn the members of Justice League Dark into Lords of Chaos to enable them to battle the Lords of Order. Eventually, both Nabu and the other Lords of Order are defeated and the team reverts to their original form.

The godly Atlantean pantheon played significant roles as both villains and supporting characters in the comic series "Arion, Lord of Atlantis" and "Arion the Immortal." The first series initially existed in its own separate world connected to the "Warlord" comic title, but the events of "Crisis on Infinite Earths" merged the history of "Arion, Lord of Atlantis" with the mainstream DC Comics continuity. It was clarified by editor James Owsley in 1991 that while there were similarities in concept and titles, many of the gods featured in both series were not considered the same as those prominently featured in "Doctor Fate" and "Sandman," as explained in a proposal for the "Arion the Immortal" series. However, more recent reference books and storylines, such as the "Princes of Darkness" JSA storyline and the "Encyclopedia: All New Edition," directly reference Lords and Agents of Order and Chaos originating from the "Arion" series.

In "Justice League Dark" (volume 2), a group of new Lord of Order characters makes their debut, presenting a fresh origin for the group. These individuals are depicted as among the earliest mages on Earth who achieved their positions by subjecting Hecate, the primordial spirit of magic, to cruel acts of torture. In response, Hecate granted them the power they sought from the Dark Multiverse, a realm of darkness and evil. To counteract the corrosive effects of the magic they wielded, the Lords transferred their consciousnesses into enchanted objects reminiscent of the Helmet of Fate. This group, alongside Nabu, served as the primary antagonists in the "Justice League Dark: Lords of Order" storyline in 2016. They embarked on a plan to destroy the Sphere of the Gods, a source of magic, and sacrifice all magic and magical beings. Their objective was to starve off the Otherkind, a race of supernatural creatures who feed on magic and prey upon magical beings, draining them of their power for sustenance. The Lords sought to enforce order and balance in a world devoid of magic, viewing magic as a catalyst for chaos. Their actions were driven by a desire for stability and control in a new world without magic.

Amethyst, Princess of Gemworld: A Lord of Order born from a union between a human host possessed by a Lord of Order (Pantagones) and a human being, she inherited the powers and potential associated with it and is one of the few to have a physical body. She is a protector of Gemworld. Amon Ra: Based upon the ancient Egyptian deity of the same name; he is among the deities Doctor Fate invokes who has membership within the Lords of Order. Arion's lineage connects him to notable characters such as Aquaman, Ocean Master, and Zatanna in different continuities. Cyra: Manifested through the arcane object of lore called the "Cloak of Cyra", those who act as her host become "Sister Symmetry". Cyra took Madame Xanadu as her host by force. Kismet: A cosmic entity, Kismet protects the known galaxy from evil. Originally known as Ahti, she was once a peer and love interest for the eventual renegade Lord of Order, Tuoni (also known as Dominus) before ascending to the role of Kismet, an act that angered a jealous Dominus. Osiris: A fictional depiction based on the ancient Egyptian deity of the same name. He is among the characters Doctor Fate invokes who has membership of the Lords of Order. Terataya: A cosmic entity that takes the form of a medallion when procuring for hosts. Unusual among her brethren, both Tertaya and T'Charr come to form a truce with one another, having fallen in love. In order to prove chaos and order can co exist with one another, the pair secretly created Hawk and Dove, Terataya empowering Dove. Ohrmazd: A fictional depiction of Ahura Mazda, among the deities invoked by Doctor Fate who has membership in the Lords of Order. Lord Amethyst: The biological father of Amethyst, he a crucial role as the conduit through which Pantagones possesses his body to safeguard the realm and combat the forces of evil. Although he harbors suspicions about his wife's close interactions with Pantagones, the influence of the Lord's power renders him unaware of the fact that Pantagones utilized his body to engage in an intimate relationship with Lady Amethyst.

Tynan: Known as the "Cosmic Balancer," he is a powerful deity and sibling to the Lords of Order and Chaos, Gemimn and Chaon, respectively. Hailing from Darkworld, Tynan's role is to maintain balance by preventing the destructive forces of Order and Chaos from causing harm to the universe through physical contact. As a prominent god within the Atlantean pantheon, Tynan engaged in a conflict with Arion as part of a test orchestrated by the latter.

Doctor Fate / Fate (Jared Stevens, Hector Hall): Some iterations of the Doctor Fate lineage served primarily acted as agents of balance, their role being to prevent the conflict between these factions and their members from causing irreparable damage to the universe.

Chaon: A divine entity from Darkworld, Chaon is the sibling of Tynan and Gemimn. Serving as the chief Lord of Chaos and an Atlantean God of Evil and Madness, he posed a significant threat to Arion and was considered one of his most formidable adversaries. However, over time, their relationship evolved, and Chaon transformed into a reluctant confidante of Arion. Chaos: Served as Inza Nelson's patron during her time as Doctor Fate. Despite his association with chaos, Chaos held the belief that the Lords of Chaos are often misunderstood as purely evil entities. He advocated for certain approaches that he believed could impede the Lords of Chaos from achieving their goals when influenced by evil forces. T'Charr: A cosmic entity that often takes the form of a dragon. He eventually came to have a truce with Terataya and eventually fell in love with her. The pair would work secretly to prove that order and chaos are able to peacefully co exist and created the Hawk and Dove pair, empowering Hawk, and use as an experiment to eventually appeal to the Lords of Chaos and Order. Xanadoth: Similar to Mordru, Xanadoth is considered among the most powerful of the Lords of Chaos and a being that inhabits physical hosts, once being a ruler among them until her hunger for power and direction were held in disagreement with both the Lords of Chaos and Order, both groups fearing her and combining their might to seal her away.

Dark Majistra: The cosmic counterpart and wife of Calculha in the Atlantean pantheon, she stands apart from the other deities as the only one not originating from Darkworld. Within the ancient sect of gods, she played a pivotal role in raising Garn as a Lord (originally an agent prior to subsequent revisions) of Chaos. Majistra harbored ambitions to seize control of Atlantis and the Earth's magical energies from Arion and Calculha. However, her plans were thwarted when Arion ultimately killed her, intensifying Garn's deep seated animosity towards Arion. Dark Opal: A devoted agent of the Lords of Chaos, hr received assistance from Vandaemon in his rise to the throne years ago. This affiliation with the Lords of Chaos played a crucial role in facilitating Dark Opal's ascension. However, when Dark Opal ultimately fails in his attempt to secure the realm from Amethyst, he faces swift retribution from Child, a powerful entity aligned with the forces of Chaos. Doctor Chaos: A malevolent counterpart of the Doctor Fate sorcerous lineage. The original incarnation of Doctor Chaos engaged in conflicts with Superboy (Clark Kent). However, in the current continuity, the character has undergone a revamp, now portrayed as one of the guardians of the Chaos Realm, which serves as the central hub for the activities of the Lords of Chaos. Doctor Fate (Inza Cramer): Inza, the fourth individual to assume the mantle of Doctor Fate, was unwittingly an agent of chaos. She possessed a unique power set primarily rooted in chaos magic, which remained unknown to both her and Kent for much of their tenure. However, despite this unconventional aspect, she valiantly took on the role of a heroic figure and dedicated her efforts to nurturing a small community within New York City.

Nabu makes non speaking appearances in flashbacks in Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay.

In Injustice 2, the Lords of Order have decided that humanity is capable of only chaos and aid Brainiac in his campaign to conquer Earth, forcing Doctor Fate to do his bidding. As a result, Kent Nelson finds himself being controlled by Nabu forcing his friends Black Canary and Green Arrow to defeat Doctor Fate and remove his helmet, though Kent is freed from Nabu's influence for the time being he leaves to speak to his masters, warning the pair of the coming threat. Kent tries to reason with Nabu when he forbids him from aiding innocent people, causing Nabu to reveal that the Lords of Order support Brainiac's attack on Earth due to the chaos caused by the conflicts between the Regime and the Insurgency. Batman and Superman later free Kent Nelson after defeating Doctor Fate on Brainiac's ship and Superman destroys his helmet, freeing Kent who is killed by Brainiac. In Doctor Fate's ending, he defies the Lords of Order and defeats Brainiac, but is forced to go into hiding with the help of his Justice League Dark teammates and is happily reunited with his wife. In Raiden's ending, Raiden assists Batman in defeating Brainiac but after the battle, he finds he is unable to save Kent's life. Before dying, Kent reveals that the Lords of Order are responsible for the impending Armageddon conflict as they are intent to use it to create a more orderly multiverse. To oppose the Lords of Order and restore balance, Raiden joins forces with Justice League Dark to combat them. Various names of the Lords of Order are also mentioned in Nabu's gear, including Arion, Gemimn, Jheryl, Deedra, T'Charr, and Terataya.