Dark Circle
DC Comics villain group
title: "Dark Circle" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["characters-created-by-jim-shooter", "comics-characters-introduced-in-1968", "dc-comics-extraterrestrial-supervillains", "dc-comics-supervillain-teams", "legion-of-super-heroes"] description: "DC Comics villain group" topic_path: "technology/web" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Circle" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary DC Comics villain group ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox comics organization"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| image | |
| imagesize | |
| publisher | DC Comics |
| debut | Adventure Comics #367 (April 1968) |
| creators | Jim Shooter |
| members | Ontiir |
| Grullug Garkush | |
| Norak Kun | |
| Gorgoth | |
| Rolind Siepur | |
| villain | y |
| sortkey | Dark Circle |
| :: |
| image = | imagesize = | caption = | publisher = DC Comics | debut = Adventure Comics #367 (April 1968) | creators = Jim Shooter | type = | business = | organization = | team = | base = | owners = | employees = | members = Ontiir Grullug Garkush Norak Kun Gorgoth Rolind Siepur | fullroster = | cat = | subcat = | altcat = | hero = | villain = y | sortkey = Dark Circle The Dark Circle is a criminal organization appearing in media published by DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes. They first appeared in 1968, created by Jim Shooter as a criminal organization founded by five members and consisting of them and their clones.
The Dark Circle concept was later modified to consist of members from five core worlds instead of clones. A later version, introduced following the Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! reboot, was led by Brainiac 4 and had several known Legion enemies among their ranks instead of generic masked henchmen.
Fictional history
The Dark Circle first appears in Adventure Comics #367 as an insurgent group planning to conquer the United Planets in the 30th century. It is composed of only five people and armies consisting of their clones.
The Dark Circle launches a direct invasion of Earth during the Legion's Adventure Comics run following an attack by the Fatal Five that devastated the Legion and Earth's defenses. However, Brainiac 5 discovers the Miracle Machine and uses it to return all of the Dark Circle soldiers to their homeworlds.
Following a five-year time skip, the Dark Circle is portrayed as a philosophical movement that rejects intellectual knowledge and is said to have existed for millions of years, predating New Genesis and Apokolips. The group's members wear hoods with a prominent dark circle (zero) over the face.
Post-Zero Hour
In post-Zero Hour continuity, the Dark Circle is an ally of the Affiliated Planets, a rival political group to the United Planets. It is led by Brainiac 4 and consists of the leaders of the Khund, the Gil'Dishpan, the Dominators, and the Sklarian Raiders.
Members
- Ontiir - A member of the Dark Circle from the planet Tsauron. He is later killed by Kimball Zendak.
- Grullug Garkush - A member of the Dark Circle from the planet N'cron.
- Norak Kun - A member of the Dark Circle from the planet Naltor.
- Gorgoth - A member of the Dark Circle from the planet Fresish.
- Rolind Siepur - A member of the Dark Circle from the planet Arane II.
Other versions
- An alternate universe iteration of the Dark Circle appears in Tangent: Superman's Reign #3. This version is a necromancy cult, with Etrigan the Demon, Bane, and Sargon the Sorcerer as prominent members.
- An unrelated Dark Circle, led by Tala, appears in Phantom Stranger #20.
In other media
- The Dark Circle appears in the Legion of Super Heroes (2006) episode "In Your Dreams", with Grullug (voiced by Dave Wittenberg) and Ontiir (voiced by Bumper Robinson) as prominent members. This version of the group are mercenaries who utilize cloaking technology.
- The Dark Circle appears in Legion of Super-Heroes (2023), with Mon-El as a prominent member. This version of the group was founded by Brainiac in the 21st century to enable his resurrection and persists into the 31st century. It has also gone by many names such as Black Zero, Ouroboros, and the Beginning and the End.
References
References
- (April 1968). "[[Adventure Comics]]". DC Comics.
- (July 1978). "Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes". DC Comics.
- (November 1991). "[[Legion of Super-Heroes]] Annual". DC Comics.
- (July 1998). "Legionnaires". DC Comics.
- (August 1972). "[[Phantom Stranger]]". DC Comics.
- "Grullug Voice - ''Legion of Super Heroes'' (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors.
- "Ontir Voice - ''Legion of Super Heroes'' (TV Show)". Behind The Voice Actors.
- Couch, Aaron. (October 13, 2022). "DC's 'Legion of Super-Heroes' Sets Voice Cast With Meg Donnelly and Harry Shum Jr. to Star (Exclusive)".
- Aizin, Rebecca. (February 1, 2023). "Harry Shum Jr. Says He's 'Ecstatic' About His Superhero Debut: 'How Did I Even Get Here?'".
- Matadeen, Renaldo. (February 8, 2023). "Legion of Super-Heroes' Post-Credits Kills [Spoiler] - And Sets up a Dark Sequel".
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