Deep Six (DC Comics)
| Deep Six | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | New Gods #2 (April–May 1971) |
| Created by | Jack Kirby |
| In-story information | |
| Base(s) | Apokolips |
| Member(s) |
Gole Jaffar Kurin Shaligo Slig Trok |
The Deep Six are a fictional team of half-humanoid comic book villains created by Jack Kirby as part of the Jack Kirby's Fourth World set of DC Comics titles. They first appeared in The New Gods #2 (April–May 1971).
Fictional team history
At the bidding of their master, Darkseid, the Deep Six exist for the sole purposes of combat and terrorism in his name. All six fish-like members possess superhuman strength as well as the ability to breathe and function underwater. In New Gods #5, Orion kills all of the Deep Six during a battle on Earth. A member named Slig returns only to be killed by Orion again.[1]
The team returns to face Aquaman and his allies Koryak and Dolphin in Aquaman vol. 5 #6 (April 1995), where it is revealed that the team has been resurrected several times over the years, whenever Darkseid has use for them. The new members are actually "spawns" of the original, raised in birthing chambers. As the spawns were raised on Earth, they are more attuned to its ocean environments.[2] All members of the Deep Six are believed to have slain one of Aquaman's past loves and mother of his child Koryak. In the ensuing battle, all six are seemingly slain themselves. This revived version of Deep Six later faces the Supermen of America in Supermen of America #2 (April 2000).
The Deep Six appeared as members of Alexander Luthor, Jr.'s Secret Society of Super Villains.
In Countdown #38, the Deep Six are slain by the Infinity-Man entity. Slig's is the only death shown on-panel.
Members
The Deep Six possess superhuman strength, fish-like scaly skin and fins, and gills that enable them to function underwater. It is not known how long they can function out of water. The origin of the Deep Six has never been revealed.
- Gole - Gole uses bladed weapons and wears a helmet that completely covers his face.
- Jaffar - Jaffar usually wears a suit of green armor without a helmet. He can mutate other beings by touch, like his teammate Slig.
- Kurin - Kurin can often be seen carrying a trident-like weapon and is usually clad in gold-colored armor.
- Shaligo the Flying Finback - Shaligo's green skin is of a different hue than the rest of the team and he has blonde hair. His wing-like fins enable him to fly.
- Slig - Slig can be identified by his suit of blue armor. He can either disintegrate an object or radically mutate other living beings by touch alone.
- Trok - Trok wears a copper-colored helmet and wields an axe attached to a tether. He can spin this axe at high speed.