| Character Name: | Bloodwynd |
| Publisher: | DC Comics |
| Debut: | Justice League America #61 (April 1992) |
| Creators: | Dan Jurgens (writer & artist) |
| Real Name: | Raphael Arce Quintus Arce |
| Alliances: | Justice League Justice League International Sentinels of Magic |
| Powers: | Mystic blood gem grants various magical abilities including flight, superhuman strength, superhuman durability, and illusion casting. |
| Aliases: | Superman of Hell Martian Manhunter Man of Mystery |
| Homeworld: | Metropolis (Raphael) |
| Species: | Metahuman (Raphael) |
Bloodwynd is a codename used by multiple superheroes who have appeared in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character initially debuted in Justice League America #61 (April 1992) and was created by Dan Jurgens. While the character's origins were initially portrayed as an alter-ego of Martian Manhunter, subsequent portrayals of Bloodwynd depicted them as distinct and independent characters.
The original iteration of Bloodwynd is a necromancer who is revealed to be a descendant of African American slaves seeking retribution against their slave owner. Through a dark ritual involving a blood gem created as a sacrifice, they gained the ability to wield its powers, which facilitated their freedom. This version of Bloodwynd, initially unnamed, is later identified as Quintus Arce. While Martian Manhunter temporarily assumed his identity, Bloodwynd remained an ally of the Justice League and a superhero with sorcerous abilities until his disappearance after the team disbanded. It is revealed he was condemned to hell after an encounter with the sorcerer Felix Faust.[1]
The second iteration of Bloodwynd is the character's nephew Raphael Arce, an empath and unknowingly a descendant of the African American slaves whose abilities was awakened by the Lazarus rain during the Lazarus Planet crossover. The character is killed following a encounter with Martian Manhunter, as both worked to prevent the resurrection of Doomsday through either of them due to their abilities. The character then adopts Martian Manhunter's persona as Bloodwynd, using it to help damned souls in Hell.
Bloodwynd is the descendant of a group of African-American slaves owned by a brutal, sadistic planter named Jacob Whitney. These slaves performed an ancient ritual to create a mystical Blood Gem, with which they killed Whitney. The Blood Gem was passed down among the slaves' descendants. The Gem bestowed great physical powers on its wearer; unbeknownst to them, it also contained a microscopic world, where Jacob Whitney's spirit had become incarnate as the demon Rott. Over the years, Rott grew stronger as the Gem absorbed the dark side of each wearer's soul.
In recent times, Rott sucked Bloodwynd into the Gem and held him captive, while mind controlling the Martian Manhunter, compelling him to wear the Gem and impersonate Bloodwynd. Using Bloodwynd's identity, the Manhunter rejoined the Justice League, seeking a power source which would enable Rott to escape from his micro-world. While the JLA fought Doomsday alongside Superman, Blue Beetle realized Bloodwynd's identity when his cryptic teammate was incapacitated by fire (to which the Martian Manhunter was especially vulnerable). Once the truth was exposed, the Justice League battled Rott and freed the real Bloodwynd.
Bloodwynd remained with the Justice League after they rescued him from imprisonment within the Gem. Later, he withheld information from the League about an offer of alliance from the mystical villain Dreamslayer. Bloodwynd did not join Dreamslayer. Sensing a strange kinship with him, however, he would not oppose him either.
During the Overmaster storyline, Bloodwynd was also strangely inactive, refusing to take action against what he perceived to be a natural course of events. These two incidents caused Bloodwynd to question his membership in the League. He voluntarily put himself on reserve status. He later appeared in Showcase '94 #5 (May 1994), written by Ruben Diaz and illustrated by Max Douglas. In this story, Bloodwynd reveals more about the nature of his morality and powers, and punishes a drug dealer by forcing him to experience the pain of his victims.
In JLA #27 (March 1999), Bloodwynd officially joins an emergency expansion of the Justice League in order to battle a rampaging Amazo. The battle, which takes place in the Florida Everglades, goes badly as most of the JLA are defeated and their powers copied. Amazo loses his powers when Superman officially disbands the league.
See main article: Day of Judgment (comics). He appeared during the Day of Judgement storyline and in JLA Black Baptism serving as a member of the Sentinels of Magic. In the latter storyline, he was badly injured by the Diablos, a group of Mafia-styled demons who wished to gain revenge for demons slain during the Day of Judgement.
He was seen in a cameo during a bar brawl in the Oblivion Bar in Superman/Batman.
In the revised continuity, Bloodwynd's history closely mirrors his pre-Flashpoint incarnation. In DC Power 2024 #1, it is revealed that Quintus, a descendant, becomes the superhero Bloodwynd after inheriting the bloodgem. Following a confrontation with Felix Faust, Bloodwynd is condemned to Hell, where he relives his past failures. Saved by his nephew, Raphael, Bloodwynd learns that holding the bloodgem upon death leads to damnation. Raphael takes on the mantle, freeing Bloodwynd from Hell. Before vanishing, Bloodwynd urges his nephew to carry the legacy responsibly.
During the Lazarus Planet crossover, Raphael, a native of Metropolis affected by the Lazarus rains, discovers that he has gained empathic powers. Utilizing his abilities to alleviate the pain of others, he encounters a living memory of Doomsday, a formidable entity with advanced adaptive capabilities. The presence of Doomsday begins to overpower Raphael and even poses a threat to Martian Manhunter, who arrives to assist. In a selfless act, Raphael reclaims the living memory of Doomsday and channels all his power to suppress it, transforming into a psychic blood gem capable of containing him.
Quintus is a proficient necromancer, adept at summoning and utilizing the life energy and enhanced power of deceased spirits. He also possesses the ability to sense death locations and can impose the torment of victims upon murderers, similar to Ghost Rider's "Penance Stare".[3] In contrast, Raphael is an empath who can alleviate emotional and physical pain.[4] Both iterations of the character are equipped with a "blood gem", a potent arcane object that bestows a range of magical abilities. These abilities include flight, enhanced strength, telepathy, and the ability to cast illusions.[5]