Ian Karkull

Ian Karkull
Ian Karkull as depicted in Who's Who: Update '87 #3 (October 1987). Art by Greg Brooks.
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	More Fun #69 (August 1941)
Created by	Gardner Fox Howard Sherman
In-story information
Species	Human magic user
Partnerships	Obsidian
Abilities	Scientific genius Darkness manipulation

Ian Karkull is a supervillain in comic books published by DC Comics. He first appeared in More Fun Comics #69 (August 1941) as a foe of the sorcerer Doctor Fate. He later became a recurring foe of the All-Star Squadron and the Justice Society of America, beginning in All-Star Squadron Annual #3.

Publication history

Ian Karkull first appeared in More Fun Comics #69, and was created by Gardner Fox and Howard Sherman.

Fictional character biography

In the late 1930s, Ian Karkull is a scientist and archaeologist working in the Sahara Desert with partner Everett Dahlen to find Ragnor, a mystic city rumored to possess great wealth and a knowledge of dark powers. However, Dahlen betrays Karkull and leaves him for dead, during which he learns magic before being rescued by nomadic Arabs.

After returning to the United States, Karkull builds a machine that can transform men into intangible shadows. He kills Dahlen out of revenge, but attracts the attention of Doctor Fate. Karkull transforms into a shadow to evade him, but Fate destroys the machine that would return him to human form.

For an undetermined period, Karkull wanders Earth, plotting his revenge. At some point, he is contacted by Wotan, another enemy of Doctor Fate, who is trapped underground and needs his help to escape. The two relocate to a hidden city in the Arctic, getting Fate's attention when they kill U.S. Navy scientists who come too close to their lair. After defeating the two, Fate leaves the city to burn to the ground.

Karkull later manipulates Obsidian to gain access to the Shadowlands. The same story reveals that the Justice Society were exposed to Karkull's energy during World War II, which slows their aging and enables them to remain healthy despite their advanced age. Eventually, Obsidian kills Karkull and uses his energy to expand the Shadowlands across the world.

Powers and abilities

Ian Karkull wields magic derived from Shadowlands energy, which enables him to manipulate darkness. He later transforms into a shadow entity, becoming intangible and no longer aging.

In other media

Karkull appears in the Superman: The Animated Series episode "The Hand of Fate", voiced by Ted Levine. This version is a demon who Doctor Fate imprisoned in a tablet.