Anthony Devlin
Jan 2, 2006, 04:12 pm
<img src="http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/images/headshots/dc/ws/apollo12.gif" align=left hspace=10 alt="Apollo">Real Name: Apollo
First Appearance: <i>StormWatch Vol.2 #4</i>
Known Relatives: Midnighter (husband), Jenny Quantum (adoptive daughter).
Group Affiliation: StormWatch, The Authority.
Known Allies: Jenny Sparks, Midnighter, Jenny Quantum.
Major Enemies: The Commander, Teuton, Last-Call, Henry Bendix.
Eyes: Blue.
Hair: White.
Apollo is the product of Henry Bendix's StormWatch: Academy Program. The program's aim was to build, through bioengineering, custom made Superheroes with the sole intention of providing Bendix with a private army of Super-solders to fight in Bendix's secret wars. Apollo was recruited with fellow Authority member and partner, Midnighter.
On their first mission, Apollo was assigned squad command, and the mission parameters were to infiltrate an enemy (In Bendix's eyes) base to gather information and obtain a device known as the Engine. The Engine was a bioreactor extrapolated from Daemonite technology. Bendix wanted it at all costs, and ordered the team to get it. The team successfully infiltrated the base, but it was not too long before they encountered the base's defences. These countermeasures managed to take down most of the team members within minutes, with Apollo and Midnighter barely escaping. With the pair leaving empty handed, and Bendix watching the Earth, Apollo decided they should go underground, and attempt to do the work they should have been doing with StormWatch. Once they were well hidden they started to fight crime on a small scale, in the back alleys of America, always remaining out of sight of Bendix. It was during this period that Apollo also started to gather enough information on Bendix to hopefully topple him.
Five years later, and whilst on one of these underground missions, Apollo, still aligned with his partner Midnighter, unearthed a major conspiracy concerning the American military. They stumble upon an arms dealer who was selling highly advanced weapons on the black market -- weapons that they later discovered -- through interrogation -- are being produced at the Nevada Garden. The Nevada Garden was a construct of the original Engineer, as part of the plans of the The High to create a finer world through the use of technological advances made by the Engineer. Since StormWatch had stopped the The High from realising his goal, the Garden had been under the control of the US Army. Realising the scope of the corruption, Apollo and Midnighter decided they had no option but to attack and destroy the Garden before the situation escalated. Around this time, StormWatch officer Christine Trelane had unearthed all of Bendix’s secret files. One of these files outlined how Bendix had hijacked the Academy Program, and had started to produce his own private army of Super-solders, and that one such team had been made operational without StormWatch's knowledge. The files stated that the first mission had been a failure, with only two members of the original squad surviving. Bendix had pronounced these two as AWOL and listed them as active 'rogue agents'. Malcom King, acting Weatherman 1, ordered their apprehension, fearing what Bendix may have put in their heads. After completing scans for their signatures, they were picked up in North America, travelling in the direction of the Nevada Garden. StormWatch agents Hellstrike and Fahrenheit were dropped into their vicinity, where they tagged the pair with fetishes, enabling Skywatch to teleport them up into a secure hanger-bay. Apollo, fearing that Bendix had finally found them, immediately started to over-charge himself, in an attempt to short circuit the system. It was only when StormWatch officer Flint informed them of Bendix’s death, at the hands of fellow StormWatch officer Jenny Sparks, that Apollo powered down and asked to talk. After a brief discussion with the Weatherman, now convinced they are telling the truth and are not a threat, King asked for they’re assistance in removing the Nevada Garden technology from the hands of the US Army -- a mission both accepted. Although King had an ulterior motive for enlisting the pair for this mission, due to the lack of information on the pair, and according to records they don’t exist, there would be nothing to track the actions back to StormWatch. The mission was swift and successful. The base was destroyed and the technology safely transferred to Skywatch. With the mission complete, King offered to give them back the one thing that had craved for the past 5 years; he gave them back they’re lives -- new lives, away from StormWatch, ones as comfortable and protected as he could make.
It was over a year later that Apollo and his partner, Midnighter, came out of retirement after being persuaded to join ex-StormWatch officer Jenny Sparks' new team, following the demise of the StormWatch programme. Both accepted the offer and soon joined on as members of The Authority.
Apollo has been active on all of their missions under Jenny Sparks and has proven himself a valuable if not a little head strong at times member of the squad. This trait added to Apollo's eagerness would also at times prove to be his downfall. On the fist mission after Jenny’s death, in an attempt to save the baby Jenny Quantum (Jenny Sparks successor), Apollo is severely beaten whilst trying to protect Quantum from being kidnapped by a team of super-solders that had been order to apprehend the infant by Dr Jacob Kirstein. It is hinted that he was not only beaten to the point of death, but that Apollo was also raped by the squad's leader, The Comander. Apollo soon recoverd from his injuries; and joined the final battle to bring down Krigstein where we see the Authority not only win, but we see Apollo’s partner, Midnighter, extract his revenge on The Comander for what he had done to Apollo. Again during a battle that saw the Authority replaced by G8 operatives, Apollo was captured and tortured by his replacement, Teuton, and the homophobic replacement for the Midnighter, Last Call. They kept him without access to the sun (his source of power); resulting in Apollo becoming severely drained. It was Midnighter who eventually rescued him, just as Teuton had decided that he would experiment with his sexuality and was on the verge of raping Apollo. Once released and re-charged, Apollo killed his other captor, Last Call, by incinerating his head. The pair proceeded to take back the Carrier. It was whilst attempting this that Midnighter is almost killed by super-assassin, Seth. In a fit of rage, Apollo fought him--but was also defeated. It was the infant, Jenny Quantum, who would later defeat Seth. Later on after the battle Apollo and Midnighter were married and also adopted Jenny Quantum as they’re daughter.
Apollo was present on all missions by the Authority that followed, but it was on a recent mission to halt the revolution to over-throw them as leaders of the United States that Apollo and Midnighter's relationship starts to fall apart, masterminded by the presumed dead, Henry Bendix. After being exposed to a scenario that left the Midnighter in no-doubt to walk out of the team, which resulted in not only the team splitting, but also splitting from his husband, Apollo. Before the other members went their separate way, the Authority handed back control of the United States to an interim government. Once this had been done, Apollo took Jenny Quantum and left the Carrier in an attempt to bring a sense of normality to the infant’s life. Three years pass since the team disbanded and Jenny starts to display greater control over her powers; she has become aware that they (Apollo and herself) are being watched. She sees a face and shows this to Apollo, who instantly recognises the face to be that of Henry Bendix. Whilst Apollo is preoccupied in contacting the other members of the team to inform them of this revelation, Jenny goes on a journey of self discovery, to learn more about herself and her past incarnations; to get a greater understanding of her purpose. This process results in her prematurely ageing herself to that of a teenager -- a surprise to herself and her father, Apollo. The pair then prepare for an uncomfortable first meeting since Apollo's split with Midnighter. Where Midnighter is not only forced to confront the husband he turned his back on, but his daughter who was now a teenager. After heated words between the two, Jenny manages to persuade her father, Midnighter to rejoin the team to bring down Bendix once and for all. The team, now regrouped on the Carrier, and plotting their next move, are taken by surprise when Bendix presses home his advantage and surprise-attacks the team at the very heart of they’re home, The Carrier. Catching the team off-guard, Apollo acts without thinking and flies directly at Bendix, who in-turn to the surprise of the team, opens up a Door that Apollo flies right through, sending him straight to a dead world -- one without sunlight. Due to Bendix's earlier manipulations, he has managed to seize control over the Carrier; she now answers only to him. Apollo, in the meantime, is stranded on a world of ice, where Bendix sends two Evolutionaries after him to defeat him -- before leaving him to die in an icy grave. Underestimating Apollo’s potential, Apollo manages to defeat the Evolutionaries before his power is depleted, (due to the lack of sunlight) and makes his way back to the Carrier by removing the teleportation chip from one of the Evolutionarie's brain. Apollo returns to the Carrier in time to see Bendix reveal the true extent of his manipulation of the team. He has managed to gain control over Apollo’s estranged husband the same way he did the Carrier. Midnighter is then ordered to take down his teammates. Apollo takes Midnighter on directly, hoping that by taking him on directly the feelings they have for one another might overwrite anything Bendix has done to his brain implants. This fails to happen, and added with Apollo's reluctance to bring harm to his husband, proves to be Apollo's undoing. Midnighter has no control over his body, only doing as commanded to by his master, Bendix. The fight continues resulting in Apollo being beaten to the point of death. Quantum manages to distract Minighter while the Engineer enters his brain, attempting to take out his implants manually. With Midnighter no longer under the control of Bendix, the team take the fight to Bendix and eventually win, with Bendix being murdered by Midnighter.
At this point it is not clear if Apollo and Midnighter will be able to save their relationship and what impact it would have on the team if they can’t. But the team appears to have fully reformed and both are active members once more.
The extent of Apollo’s combat training whilst part of the StormWatch Academy program is unclear. Although some training would have been given, the exact amount is not known; Or if in fact all of his combat knowledge is as a result of his neural-implants. Other than that all other combat experience was gained whist in the presence of Jenny Sparks as part of her Authority, and further more Under Hawksmoor; most of this experience was learnt in the field.
Apollo powers his wide array of superhuman abilities through solar conversion, which means he converts and stores absorbed solar energies. Like Midnighter, he had his abilities built into him. He has had major structural augmentation added to this strength and speed enhancements. He can fire concentrated solar energy from his eyes, like heat vision. Apollo has in the past demonstrated that he can expel a great amount of energy from his body in a single strike, similar to a super nova, which takes most if not all of his energy. But in direct sun light, he is able to use his abilities within 30 seconds, and be at full charge within the hour.Apollo can also fly at speeds that can see him travel half-way around the world in mere seconds. He is also able to go for long periods of time without breathing. Apollo has a visible halo effect around his head when using his powers.
APPEARANCES:
StormWatch Vol.2 #4-9
The Authority (1st series) #1-12
The Authority (2nd series) # 1-14
Planetary: Crossing Worlds GN
Jenny Sparks #2
Authority: Human on the Inside GN
The Authority: Scorched Earth GN
Coup De'Etat #1-5
StormWatch: Team Achilles #5-6
WildStorm Winter Special 2004
The Authority: Revolution #1-12
First Appearance: <i>StormWatch Vol.2 #4</i>
Known Relatives: Midnighter (husband), Jenny Quantum (adoptive daughter).
Group Affiliation: StormWatch, The Authority.
Known Allies: Jenny Sparks, Midnighter, Jenny Quantum.
Major Enemies: The Commander, Teuton, Last-Call, Henry Bendix.
Eyes: Blue.
Hair: White.
Apollo is the product of Henry Bendix's StormWatch: Academy Program. The program's aim was to build, through bioengineering, custom made Superheroes with the sole intention of providing Bendix with a private army of Super-solders to fight in Bendix's secret wars. Apollo was recruited with fellow Authority member and partner, Midnighter.
On their first mission, Apollo was assigned squad command, and the mission parameters were to infiltrate an enemy (In Bendix's eyes) base to gather information and obtain a device known as the Engine. The Engine was a bioreactor extrapolated from Daemonite technology. Bendix wanted it at all costs, and ordered the team to get it. The team successfully infiltrated the base, but it was not too long before they encountered the base's defences. These countermeasures managed to take down most of the team members within minutes, with Apollo and Midnighter barely escaping. With the pair leaving empty handed, and Bendix watching the Earth, Apollo decided they should go underground, and attempt to do the work they should have been doing with StormWatch. Once they were well hidden they started to fight crime on a small scale, in the back alleys of America, always remaining out of sight of Bendix. It was during this period that Apollo also started to gather enough information on Bendix to hopefully topple him.
Five years later, and whilst on one of these underground missions, Apollo, still aligned with his partner Midnighter, unearthed a major conspiracy concerning the American military. They stumble upon an arms dealer who was selling highly advanced weapons on the black market -- weapons that they later discovered -- through interrogation -- are being produced at the Nevada Garden. The Nevada Garden was a construct of the original Engineer, as part of the plans of the The High to create a finer world through the use of technological advances made by the Engineer. Since StormWatch had stopped the The High from realising his goal, the Garden had been under the control of the US Army. Realising the scope of the corruption, Apollo and Midnighter decided they had no option but to attack and destroy the Garden before the situation escalated. Around this time, StormWatch officer Christine Trelane had unearthed all of Bendix’s secret files. One of these files outlined how Bendix had hijacked the Academy Program, and had started to produce his own private army of Super-solders, and that one such team had been made operational without StormWatch's knowledge. The files stated that the first mission had been a failure, with only two members of the original squad surviving. Bendix had pronounced these two as AWOL and listed them as active 'rogue agents'. Malcom King, acting Weatherman 1, ordered their apprehension, fearing what Bendix may have put in their heads. After completing scans for their signatures, they were picked up in North America, travelling in the direction of the Nevada Garden. StormWatch agents Hellstrike and Fahrenheit were dropped into their vicinity, where they tagged the pair with fetishes, enabling Skywatch to teleport them up into a secure hanger-bay. Apollo, fearing that Bendix had finally found them, immediately started to over-charge himself, in an attempt to short circuit the system. It was only when StormWatch officer Flint informed them of Bendix’s death, at the hands of fellow StormWatch officer Jenny Sparks, that Apollo powered down and asked to talk. After a brief discussion with the Weatherman, now convinced they are telling the truth and are not a threat, King asked for they’re assistance in removing the Nevada Garden technology from the hands of the US Army -- a mission both accepted. Although King had an ulterior motive for enlisting the pair for this mission, due to the lack of information on the pair, and according to records they don’t exist, there would be nothing to track the actions back to StormWatch. The mission was swift and successful. The base was destroyed and the technology safely transferred to Skywatch. With the mission complete, King offered to give them back the one thing that had craved for the past 5 years; he gave them back they’re lives -- new lives, away from StormWatch, ones as comfortable and protected as he could make.
It was over a year later that Apollo and his partner, Midnighter, came out of retirement after being persuaded to join ex-StormWatch officer Jenny Sparks' new team, following the demise of the StormWatch programme. Both accepted the offer and soon joined on as members of The Authority.
Apollo has been active on all of their missions under Jenny Sparks and has proven himself a valuable if not a little head strong at times member of the squad. This trait added to Apollo's eagerness would also at times prove to be his downfall. On the fist mission after Jenny’s death, in an attempt to save the baby Jenny Quantum (Jenny Sparks successor), Apollo is severely beaten whilst trying to protect Quantum from being kidnapped by a team of super-solders that had been order to apprehend the infant by Dr Jacob Kirstein. It is hinted that he was not only beaten to the point of death, but that Apollo was also raped by the squad's leader, The Comander. Apollo soon recoverd from his injuries; and joined the final battle to bring down Krigstein where we see the Authority not only win, but we see Apollo’s partner, Midnighter, extract his revenge on The Comander for what he had done to Apollo. Again during a battle that saw the Authority replaced by G8 operatives, Apollo was captured and tortured by his replacement, Teuton, and the homophobic replacement for the Midnighter, Last Call. They kept him without access to the sun (his source of power); resulting in Apollo becoming severely drained. It was Midnighter who eventually rescued him, just as Teuton had decided that he would experiment with his sexuality and was on the verge of raping Apollo. Once released and re-charged, Apollo killed his other captor, Last Call, by incinerating his head. The pair proceeded to take back the Carrier. It was whilst attempting this that Midnighter is almost killed by super-assassin, Seth. In a fit of rage, Apollo fought him--but was also defeated. It was the infant, Jenny Quantum, who would later defeat Seth. Later on after the battle Apollo and Midnighter were married and also adopted Jenny Quantum as they’re daughter.
Apollo was present on all missions by the Authority that followed, but it was on a recent mission to halt the revolution to over-throw them as leaders of the United States that Apollo and Midnighter's relationship starts to fall apart, masterminded by the presumed dead, Henry Bendix. After being exposed to a scenario that left the Midnighter in no-doubt to walk out of the team, which resulted in not only the team splitting, but also splitting from his husband, Apollo. Before the other members went their separate way, the Authority handed back control of the United States to an interim government. Once this had been done, Apollo took Jenny Quantum and left the Carrier in an attempt to bring a sense of normality to the infant’s life. Three years pass since the team disbanded and Jenny starts to display greater control over her powers; she has become aware that they (Apollo and herself) are being watched. She sees a face and shows this to Apollo, who instantly recognises the face to be that of Henry Bendix. Whilst Apollo is preoccupied in contacting the other members of the team to inform them of this revelation, Jenny goes on a journey of self discovery, to learn more about herself and her past incarnations; to get a greater understanding of her purpose. This process results in her prematurely ageing herself to that of a teenager -- a surprise to herself and her father, Apollo. The pair then prepare for an uncomfortable first meeting since Apollo's split with Midnighter. Where Midnighter is not only forced to confront the husband he turned his back on, but his daughter who was now a teenager. After heated words between the two, Jenny manages to persuade her father, Midnighter to rejoin the team to bring down Bendix once and for all. The team, now regrouped on the Carrier, and plotting their next move, are taken by surprise when Bendix presses home his advantage and surprise-attacks the team at the very heart of they’re home, The Carrier. Catching the team off-guard, Apollo acts without thinking and flies directly at Bendix, who in-turn to the surprise of the team, opens up a Door that Apollo flies right through, sending him straight to a dead world -- one without sunlight. Due to Bendix's earlier manipulations, he has managed to seize control over the Carrier; she now answers only to him. Apollo, in the meantime, is stranded on a world of ice, where Bendix sends two Evolutionaries after him to defeat him -- before leaving him to die in an icy grave. Underestimating Apollo’s potential, Apollo manages to defeat the Evolutionaries before his power is depleted, (due to the lack of sunlight) and makes his way back to the Carrier by removing the teleportation chip from one of the Evolutionarie's brain. Apollo returns to the Carrier in time to see Bendix reveal the true extent of his manipulation of the team. He has managed to gain control over Apollo’s estranged husband the same way he did the Carrier. Midnighter is then ordered to take down his teammates. Apollo takes Midnighter on directly, hoping that by taking him on directly the feelings they have for one another might overwrite anything Bendix has done to his brain implants. This fails to happen, and added with Apollo's reluctance to bring harm to his husband, proves to be Apollo's undoing. Midnighter has no control over his body, only doing as commanded to by his master, Bendix. The fight continues resulting in Apollo being beaten to the point of death. Quantum manages to distract Minighter while the Engineer enters his brain, attempting to take out his implants manually. With Midnighter no longer under the control of Bendix, the team take the fight to Bendix and eventually win, with Bendix being murdered by Midnighter.
At this point it is not clear if Apollo and Midnighter will be able to save their relationship and what impact it would have on the team if they can’t. But the team appears to have fully reformed and both are active members once more.
The extent of Apollo’s combat training whilst part of the StormWatch Academy program is unclear. Although some training would have been given, the exact amount is not known; Or if in fact all of his combat knowledge is as a result of his neural-implants. Other than that all other combat experience was gained whist in the presence of Jenny Sparks as part of her Authority, and further more Under Hawksmoor; most of this experience was learnt in the field.
Apollo powers his wide array of superhuman abilities through solar conversion, which means he converts and stores absorbed solar energies. Like Midnighter, he had his abilities built into him. He has had major structural augmentation added to this strength and speed enhancements. He can fire concentrated solar energy from his eyes, like heat vision. Apollo has in the past demonstrated that he can expel a great amount of energy from his body in a single strike, similar to a super nova, which takes most if not all of his energy. But in direct sun light, he is able to use his abilities within 30 seconds, and be at full charge within the hour.Apollo can also fly at speeds that can see him travel half-way around the world in mere seconds. He is also able to go for long periods of time without breathing. Apollo has a visible halo effect around his head when using his powers.
APPEARANCES:
StormWatch Vol.2 #4-9
The Authority (1st series) #1-12
The Authority (2nd series) # 1-14
Planetary: Crossing Worlds GN
Jenny Sparks #2
Authority: Human on the Inside GN
The Authority: Scorched Earth GN
Coup De'Etat #1-5
StormWatch: Team Achilles #5-6
WildStorm Winter Special 2004
The Authority: Revolution #1-12