NULL THE LIVING DARKNESS
Real Name: Null
Identity/Class: Demon (see comments)
Occupation: Inapplicable
Group Membership: Collective unconscious of the S'raphh
Affiliations: "The cat", Adam Henderson, "the little girl", Jerry the Devil's Accountant, MoreCo (Danforth, DeSoto, CEO Dallas Parr, Kim, others), Over-Mind (Grom), Kyle Richmond (biological construct), Simple Joe, unidentified nihilists
Enemies: Chorus (Al Gentle, Theodore Kroeber, Philip le Guin, Georgia Orr, Ursula Richards, Mindy Williams), Defenders (Beast/Henry McCoy, Clea, Devil-Slayer/Eric Simon Payne, Doctor Strange/Stephen Strange, Gargoyle/Isaac Christians, Hellcat/Patsy Walker, Hulk/Bruce Banner, Son of Satan/Daimon Hellstrom, Silver Surfer/Norrin Radd, Sub-Mariner/Namor McKenzie, Valkyrie/Brunnhilde), Red Fowler, Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze), Maureen Henderson, Madam Olga, August Masters, Pastor Oliver Matheson, Nighthawk (Kyle Richmond) of Earth-712, Cynthia Randolph, Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff), Squadron Supreme of Earth-712 (Amphibian/Kingsley Rice, Arcanna/Arcanna Jones, Cap'n Hawk/James Dore Jr., Doctor Spectrum/Joe Ledger, Golden Archer/Wyatt McDonald, Hyperion/Mark Milton, Lady Lark/Linda Lewis, Nuke/Albert Gaines, Power Princess/Zarda Shelton, Tom Thumb/Thomas Thompson, the Whizzer/Stanley Stewart), Vision ("Victor Shade"), Wonder Man (Simon Williams)
Known Relatives: None known
Aliases: Adam Henderson, Kyle Richmond, Simple Joe
Base of Operations: Mobile;
formerly Earth-712;
formerly Cherry Hill, Illinois;
formerly Christiansboro, Virginia;
apparently originated on Earth's Moon
First Appearance: Defenders I#103 (January, 1982)
Powers/Abilities: Null the Living Darkness was an amorphous being capable of interdimensional travel. It was able to draw on the power of others' consciousnesses, and grew more powerful as it did so. Null was capable of mind control, raising the dead to serve as his personal army, drawing spirits back to Earth, creating biological constructs to house itself, enlarging a being from microscopic to normal size or back, creating illusions, and causing nightmares in the human mind. It grew more powerful the longer it lived, surviving two seeming deaths, and finally succumbed when faced with the goodness of the race from which he originated.
History:
(Defenders I#103
(fb)/Ghost Rider I#71 (fb)) - Null the Living Darkness was birthed from
the collective unconscious of the ancient S'raphh race. The
S'raphh had lived on Earth's moon millennia before, and had been unable
to find the meaning of life. After committing collective suicide,
the race's unconscious desired revenge on creation. Null was
sent
forth to battle all creation in their name.
(Defenders I#103 (fb)) - A few months after his birth, Null appeared in Christiansboro, Virginia, a town in an economic depression. It began frightening off the town's citizens with ghosts, apparitions, and recurring nightmares. He also raised many of the dead in the town and used them as his pawns for force. Other members of the town it corrupted, using illusions and mind control. His mind took control of Simple Joe, a small child, a cat, and perhaps others.
(Defenders I#103) - When Gargoyle, former mayor of Christiansboro, returned to the town, he was accompanied by Clea, Devil-Slayer, Hellcat, and Valkyrie. Gargoyle was confronted by apparitions of his dead family while Simple Joe, the little girl, and the cat confronted the other heroes. Once Null had a sense of the uniqueness of the heroes, it revealed itself to them and explained its origins and purpose. It then bid his zombie army to attack them. Gargoyle soon attacked, but found his life-force draining powers ineffectual on Null; however, when Gargoyle tried feeding life-force into Null, Null lost all substance, and his zombie army returned to the grave.
(Ghost Rider II#71 (fb)) - Null realized how much it had to learn as it matured, before his power would be supreme. It wandered the Earth, studying the human race, and looking for a bitter human heart he could merge with.
(Ghost Rider II#71) - Null went to Cherry Hill, Illinois, and came across a despairing man named Adam Henderson. Null merged with the man, and wandered through the town, extinguishing hope at a party, killing a dog, and shoving aside people at a carnival. He visited Madam Olga, a fortune teller, and overwhelmed her with the story of his origins. He exploded her tent, leaving her in shock, then revealed himself in the sky above the carnival. He pulled Pastor Matheson into the air with him, and accused him of being a liar and a manipulator. He shrunk the pastor to doll-size, went before Maureen (Adam's wife), then tossed the pastor out the window. Ghost Rider attacked, hitting Null with a blast of hellfire that Null turned to energy, then they went flying through the wall to the ground below, breaking Adam's wrist. Ghost Rider and Null traded blows, and Null ineffectually tried reducing Ghost Rider in size. Null/Henderson grew enraged, and tossed a car at Ghost Rider. When Null tried toppling a statue on Ghost Rider, Maureen's life was put in danger, awakening hope in Adam's heart--with this hope weakening Null, Ghost Rider was able to drive him out.
(Defenders I#114 (fb)) - Null realized that it could not effectively destroy Earth until its own evolution into a higher form was complete, so it sought out a powerful pawn through which to operate until that time. Null's mind reached out to kindred spirit the Over-Mind, a powerful telepath who was also the embodiment of an entire race's hatred, who had been cast into a microworld (an alien dimension accessed by the energies of shrinking). Finding the Over-Mind apparently maddened by loneliness, Null brought Over-Mind from the Microverse to what it thought was its Earth, but soon found that they were on a parallel Earth (Earth-712, home of the Squadron Supreme). Still determined to conquer this Earth/universe, Null guided the Over-Mind's shattered psyche and set into motion its plan to take control of Earth's political leaders, starting with the head of the most powerful nation of that world, President Kyle Richmond of the United States of America.
(Defenders I#115 (fb) - BTS) - Over-Mind used too much power in the process of trying to take over Kyle Richmond, damaging his consciousness.
(Defenders I#115 (fb) - BTS) - Null somehow utilized a biological construct of Richmond, which housed Null's essence while Null continued to evolve.
(Defenders I#115 (fb) - BTS) - Meanwhile, the psychic collective from Earth-616 that would later be designated Chorus -- having failed in its attempt to save the life of Kyle Richmond-616 and having instead saved the criminal August Masters, who was responsible for Kyle's death, by shunting him out of reality to Earth-712 -- followed Masters to Earth-712 and then imprinted the memories of Richmond-616 onto Richmond-712.
(Defenders I#112 (fb)) - Null (in Richmond) and Over-Mind imposed a martial law over the U.S., convincing the public that they were taking down a conspiracy group, but in actuality gaining control of the country's influential citizens. Eventually, they contacted the Squadron Supreme and met them at their base, where Over-Mind claimed to be the force behind it all. Over-Mind physically defeated each member of the Squadron in turn, though Hyperion escaped. Null and Over-Mind gained control over world leaders by inviting them to the White House and mentally subjugating them. They then declared war on all other opposing nations, with the mentally-controlled Squadron as their personal force. Null, through Over-Mind, soon controlled the planet.
(Defenders I#112 (fb) - BTS) - After the Over-Mind had other satellites blanket Earth in Argonite radiation, Hyperion dismantled Rocket Central and used its lead-lined walls to construct an underground base. Unable to travel to Earth-616, he instead sent an interdimensional distress call.
(Defenders I#113) - Null (in Richmond) guided the Over-Mind, who guided the Squadron Supreme, in constructing star-ships on the Moon with which they could launch a nuclear war. When several Earth-616 heroes arrived (Beast, Doctor Strange, Gargoyle, Hyperion, Nighthawk, Scarlet Witch, Silver Surfer, Son of Satan, Sub-Mariner, Vision, and Valkyrie) and defeated the Squadron, Over-Mind did battle with the heroes. August Masters, a man from Earth-616 with a grudge against Richmond, surprisingly assassinated Richmond, releasing Null, who appeared in its true form in the sky over the heroes.
(Defenders I#114) - Weakened due to its premature "birth," Null began leeching energy from the millions of minds that made up Over-Mind's form. It toyed with the several heroes that opposed it by engaging in battle with them physically, knowing the heroes had no chance to triumph against it. Chorus united all the heroes into a single psychic being that could battle Null. Null and Chorus battled, and Null actually felt pain. Null, knowing that it could not be defeated because each of the heroes had a darkness in them that it could exploit, drew forth more power from Over-Mind's form. Chorus pulled the goodness from Over-Mind to form a shield, then both beings exploded as the good and evil in them met. The Chorus then took over the empty shell of the Over-Mind's body and renewed the battle with the reforming Null. Null tried to pull in the last of Over-Mind's energy, but sucked in Chorus as well. In Null's form, Chorus reawakened all the good that had once been part of the S'Raphh race. That purity, in Null's form, spread. Faced by the light inside itself, Null dissipated, simply ceasing to exist.
SECRET WARS III HAPPENED
BTS - Null actually got banished to some nether dimension!
(Avengers Unlimited Infinity Comic#56) - In an underground level of the MoreCo Building in San Francisco, company founder Dallas Parr oversaw the opening of a Hell portal, created and financed by a nihilistic cult, and then summoned the Devil's Accountant Jerry to make a deal that would make MoreCo solvent and viable again. Unknown to Parr, the demon Null the Living Darkness hitched a ride on Jerry to the Earth dimension and erupted from the accountant's body moments after Jerry's arrival on Earth. The demon slowly made his way through the expanding portal.
(Avengers Unlimited Infinity Comic#57) - While the nihilistic cult celebrated the arrival of Null because bringing it to Earth was their plan all along, Parr died in the chaos. Black Widow, who had been investigating the company's activities, sent Wonder Man in to punch Null back through the portal, but he couldn't follow through because he was a pacifist and didn't want to hurt a living being. He instead flew to the other side of the portal and tried to pull Null back through the portal. Meanwhile Black Widow approached MoreCo's attorney Danforth, had him sign over the company to her, and then annulled the contract to close the portal before Null could completely get through. Wonder Man escaped to Earth at the last second and Null got a few of its tentacles cut off, but the majority of Null got trapped once again in whatever nether dimension it had been.
Comments: Created by J. M. DeMatteis, Don Perlin, and Joe Sinnott.
Null doesn't fit in cleanly to the OHotMU's
classification system for demons. See Clarifications
for the different kinds of demons. "Extradimensional" refers to beings
of extradimensional origin. Like Dormammu
--Snood
Could there be a link between the
Bird People of
Sunev (Daring Mystery Comics#2 (April, 1940); Zephyr Jones story) and
the S'raphh.
--Gammatotem
It resembles a Beholder, a Dungeons and Dragons creature introduced in 1975.--
Quiof Thrul
Profile by Chadman. Update by Markus Raymond (Avengers Unlimited)
Clarifications:
Null the Living Darkness has no known connections to:
Simple
Joe, the little girl 
,
and the cat
(Defenders I#103 (fb)) - Simple Joe lived in Christiansboro, a town that had fallen on hard times. When all the townspeople started howling at graveyards, having recurring nightmares, and ghosts began attacking the city, the townsfolk began fleeing one by one. Simple Joe remained, and at some point came under the influence of Null the Living Darkness. Null also took control of the little girl and the cat at some point.
(Defenders I#103) - When a team of Defenders arrived in Christiansboro, Null had each of his pawns investigate them. Simple Joe confronted Hellcat, the little girl confronted Devil-Slayer, and the cat confronted the Valkyrie and Clea. All the heroes were brought together in the cemetery, where they did battle with a zombie army. Null was soon defeated by the Gargoyle, and the three pawns were presumably released.
--Defenders I#103 (103 (fb), 103
|
(Defenders I#103/Ghost Rider I#71 (fb)) - The S'raphh were 'pure-souled, open-hearted beings who dwelt millennia ago upon the surface of Earth's Moon. They eventually took to space on their wings to find the meaning of life. When that quest--which went on for an undisclosed amount of time--failed, the S'raphh committed collective suicide by diving into magma pits on the Moon. The collective unconscious of the race desired vengeance against all creation for their lack of finding an answer, and many years later that unconscious birthed Null, the Living Darkness, who went forth to wipe out all creation.
|
(Ghost Rider II#71 (fb)) - Adam and Maureen courted for years. He played his guitar, and fell in love with her for her optimism. They lived and married in Cherry Hill, Illinois, where he took a job as an English teacher until his music career could take off; years passed, and he hated the job terribly.
(Ghost Rider II#71) - With his thirtieth birthday approaching, Adam grew furious that his life had taken a different course. While complaining to Maureen, he smashed his favorite guitar and stormed out. Adam ended up on a hillside, thinking about his life, when a darkness descended on him, and Null the Living Darkness possessed him. While walking through the city, Adam extinguished the lights and the spirit of a party, and killed a dog by barking at it. He barreled through a group of people at the carnival, upsetting them. Adam went to Madam Olga, a fortune teller at the fair, and overwhelmed her with the story of Null's origins. He lashed out at her, and revealed himself as Null in the air above the carnival. Null pulled Pastor Matheson into the air and accused him of evil things. He shrunk the pastor to doll-size, went back to Maureen, then tossed the pastor out the window. Ghost Rider attacked and pushed Adam outside to the ground, breaking Adam's wrist. Null and Ghost Rider traded blows, and Null got more and more enraged, even unsuccessfully trying to reduce Ghost Rider in size. When he tried to smash Ghost Rider with a statue, Maureen's life was put in danger, and Adam's love for her was reawakened. Null was weakened then, and Ghost Rider cast Null out of Adam. Adam embraced Maureen, and confessed his love for her.
--Ghost Rider II#71 (71 (fb), 71
(Ghost Rider II#71 (fb)) - Maureen and Adam lived in Cherry Hill, Illinois, where they courted and he'd serenade her with his guitar. They married, and Adam took a teaching job, though he really wanted to pursue his music career. Adam grew more and more frustrated with his job.
(Ghost Rider II#71) - Adam, turning thirty soon, smashed his guitar in frustration while complaining to Maureen and stormed out. She'd encouraged him to keep working, as they couldn't make it on her salary alone. Maureen meditated to calm herself, and went to bed, fearful for her and Adam's relationship. Adam finally returned home, but he had been possessed by Null the Living Darkness. He held Pastor Matheson, shrunk to doll-size, and tossed him out a window. Ghost Rider attacked, and drew Maureen outside, where she found the pastor was still alive. She and the pastor rushed down the street to find Adam and Ghost Rider still battling. When Adam tried to topple a statue on Ghost Rider, Maureen was in the way, and the pastor saved her life by pushing her away. After Null was gone, Adam rushed to Maureen, embraced her, and confessed his love for her.
--Ghost Rider II#71 (71 (fb), 71
Pastor
Oliver and Sarah Matheson
(Ghost Rider II#71) - Pastor Matheson was attending a carnival with his wife Sarah in Cherry Hill, Illinois when Null the Living Darkness, in the form of Adam Henderson, levitated him into the air. The pastor prayed for help while Null accused the pastor of being a grand liar and manipulator. The pastor was shrunk to doll size, brought before Maureen Henderson, and then tossed out a window, where he regained his normal size. Ghost Rider attacked, and battled Null down on the street. The pastor and Maureen caught up with them, and when Maureen was almost crushed by a falling statue, the pastor saved her by pushing her out of the way. After Null was gone, Sarah rushed to the pastor's side. Despite his broken leg, the pastor was grateful for the lesson he'd learned that night.
--Ghost Rider II#71
images:
Defenders I#114, p1 (main)
Defenders I#103, p17, pan2 (original form, birth)
Ghost Rider II#71, p, pan (possessing Adam Henderson)
Avengers Unlimited Infinity Comic#57, pan10 (attempted return to Earth)
Defenders I#103, p10, pan6 (Simple Joe)
Defenders I#103, p15, pan5 (little girl)
Defenders I#103, p13, pan4 (cat)
Defenders I#103, p16, pan5-6 (S'raphh)
Ghost Rider II#71, p5, pan5 (Adam)
Ghost Rider II#71, p2, pan4 (Maureen)
Ghost Rider II#71, p12, pan3 (Pastor Oliver and Sarah Matheson)
Fear Itself: Fellowship of Fear, Null profile (recolored version of
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition#34, Null
profile)
Appearances:
Defenders I#103 (January, 1982) - J.M. DeMatteis (writer), Don Perlin
(penciler), Joe Sinnott (inker), Al Milgrom (editor)
Ghost Rider II#71 (August, 1982) - J.M. DeMatteis (writer), Don Perlin
(pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Tom DeFalco (editor)
Defenders I#112 (December, 1982) - J.M. DeMatteis (writer), Don Perlin,
(penciler), Mike Gustovich (inker), Al Milgrom (editor)
Defenders I#113-114 (January, February, 1983) - J.M. DeMatteis (writer),
Don Perlin (writer/penciler), Mike Gustovich (inker), Al Milgrom
(editor)
Avengers Unlimited Infinity Comic#56-57 (July 25th - August 1st, 2023) -
Sean McKeever (writer), David Baldeón (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)
First Posted: 11/24/2005
Last Updated: 10/09/2024
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
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All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099
Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff,
you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com/
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