Harbinger (DC Comics)

Harbinger
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 Harbinger (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.

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, she 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

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

Television

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 as the Harbinger in the crossover "Crisis on Infinite Earths".

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.^[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.

References

^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 137. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
^ Jimenez, Phil; Wells, John (2010). The Essential Wonder Woman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 178–179. ISBN 978-0345501073.
^ History of the DC Universe #1-2 (January - February 1987)
^ War of the Gods #4 (December 1991)
^ Superman/Batman #9-10 (June - July 2004)
^ Countdown to Adventure #1 (October 2007)
^ R.E.B.E.L.S. (vol. 2) #10 (January 2010)
^ The Multiversity #1 (October 2014)
^ Burlingame, Russ (October 2, 2019). "Crisis on Infinite Earths Exclusive: First Look at Audrey Marie Anderson as Harbinger". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
^ Burlingame, Russ (January 28, 2020). "Arrow: Will John Diggle Move to Superman & Lois?". Comicbook.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Lyla Michaels / Harbinger Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved June 15, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 18, 2024.

[Guide-1] Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 137. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.

[2] Jimenez, Phil; Wells, John (2010). The Essential Wonder Woman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 178–179. ISBN 978-0345501073.

[3] History of the DC Universe #1-2 (January - February 1987)

[4] War of the Gods #4 (December 1991)

[5] Superman/Batman #9-10 (June - July 2004)

[6] Countdown to Adventure #1 (October 2007)

[7] R.E.B.E.L.S. (vol. 2) #10 (January 2010)

[8] The Multiversity #1 (October 2014)

[9] Burlingame, Russ (October 2, 2019). "Crisis on Infinite Earths Exclusive: First Look at Audrey Marie Anderson as Harbinger". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.

[10] Burlingame, Russ (January 28, 2020). "Arrow: Will John Diggle Move to Superman & Lois?". Comicbook.com. Retrieved February 13, 2020.

[btva-11] "Lyla Michaels / Harbinger Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved June 15, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.

[12] Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved July 18, 2024.

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