Joenis Soule

Real Name: Joenis Soule

Identity/Class: Alternate reality (Reality-8116) android

Occupation: Guardian/protector of the key holding the location of Infinity Horn;
    former hider of the Infinity Horn

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Aknaton, Vanth Dreadstar

Enemies: Unidentified pirates, demons, thieves, magicians, Zygoteans (specifically for all of these groups, those that came to Delloran to try to obtain his treasure (the key)).

Known Relatives: Aknaton (creator)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
    formerly planet Delloran, Milky Way galaxy, Reality-8116

First Appearance: Epic Illustrated#4 (Winter, 1980)

Powers/Abilities: Artificial in construction (presumably an android of some sort), Joenis was unaging, and he survived intact and fully functional for over 100,000 years. 

    He was apparently unaffected by high levels of radioactivity that would be fatal to most organic life.

    He possessed a radium laser and was experienced in its use.

    It is not revealed whether he had superhuman physical abilities (strength, durability, regenerative abilities, etc.) and/or extreme combat skills, but he was intended to be an invincible guardian of the key, and he was successful in his task; most, if not all, of those who attempted to claim the key perished in the attempt.

    Joenis was grossly humanoid in appearance, but he could oddly extend his hands and digits; he could make them appear to be normal, and at other times the length of his metacarpal region and/or the lengths of his digits appeared to be markedly extended. Though some images make it look like he might have three fingers and a thumb on each hand, the ones that most clearly picture his hands (when not extended) show him to clearly have four fingers and a thumb on each hand.

    A radium laser to the head was apparently sufficient to end his life, at least once he completed the task of delivering the key to its intended master.

    Joenis appeared to be completely sentient and had full capacity for emotions, including love for his adopted homeworld and horror/disgust at the nature of the weapon he was keeping hidden. However, he had programmed to fulfill his duty, and he could not overcome his programming.

Height: Unrevealed (he never stood up in his pictured panels, but he looked roughly of average human height, so perhaps 5'10")
Weight: Unrevealed (he was artificially constructed, so guessing whether he would way more, less, or the same as a human of his height and build would be pure speculation)
Eyes: Solid bright red (no visible iris or pupil)
Hair: Brown (with beard)
Skin: Apparently some shade of purple

History: 
(Epic Illustrated#4/2 (fb) - BTS) - The Orsirians felt they needed to build a failsafe into the Infinity Horn to ensure it would not fall into the wrong hands.

(Epic Illustrated#4/2 (fb) - BTS) - Aknaton constructed an artificial immortal being, Joenis Soule, to hide the Infinity Horn on a far-off world and not reveal its location until a certain verse was recited to him by an Orsirian. 
                    "The hand of darkness calls but I am ready.
                    For the dim and hazy future I can see.
                    What is and what is to be is my burden.
                    Let all become as dark as the soul within me."            
    Soule was instructed to await that Orsirian on the planet Delloran.

(Epic Illustrated#6/6 (fb) - BTS) - Joenis hid the Infinity Horn within a subterranean temple on the world Dreamsend.

(Epic Illustrated#4/2 (fb) - BTS) - Soule put the hidden location on a key.

(Epic Illustrated#4/2 (fb) - BTS) - For 100,000 years, Soule protected Aknaton's key ("my treasure") from pirates, demons, thieves, magicians, and Zygoteans; many, if not all, of those who sought the treasure perished. 

    Soule eventually realized the nature of the level of death the Horn would bring about (destroying the entire galaxy), Soule for a long time thought about destroying the key, but Aknaton's programming proved too strong.

(Epic Illustrated#4/2 (fb) - BTS) - Joenis Soule learned to love Delloran. 

(Epic Illustrated#4/2 (fb) - BTS) - Soule survived the Zygoteans slaughter and atomic devastation of Delloran.

(Epic Illustrated#4/2 (fb) - BTS) - Eventually the Zygoteans made Soule appreciate the Horn's necessity.

(Epic Illustrated#4/2) - Arriving on Aknaton told Vanth of the Infinity Horn that would end the Zygotean threat, though he avoided the issue of how exactly the Horn would do that. After Aknaton told Vanth of his agent, Vanth was certain no one could have survived the atomic holocaust that hit Delloran, but Aknaton assured him he had.

    Aknaton mystically tracked Soule to where he dwelled and then recited the necessary verse. Soule was satisfied to have finally met the one for whom he had been waiting, and was shocked to learn it had been 100,000 years since they had last met. Noting he had realized the nature of the level of death the Horn would bring about, he discussed his considerations and resolution. Finally, Soule gave Aknaton the key (his amulet), telling him he was glad to be free of its black yoke, and then telling Aknaton to go and do what he must.

    Aknaton bade Joenis farewell, telling him he had served well, but Vanth, not believing Aknaton would leave him there, offered Joenis to accompany them on the Light Cutter, as there was plenty of room. Joenis declined Vanth's offer, calling him "friend" and telling Vanth this was his world and he had never developed a taste for travel. Vanth argued that Delloran was dead, and Joenis acknowledged this, telling Vanth he belonged there. 

    After Aknaton led Vanth away, back to the Light Cutter, Soule reached into his bag, pulled out his radium laser, put it to his temple and fired, ending his tortured existence. 

(Epic Illustrated#4/2 - BTS) - Vanth recognized the sound as what seemed to be a radium laser, and Aknaton acknowledged that this was likely correct, as he had noticed that Joenis had had one in his bag.

    After a long stare, Vanth asked "Why?", and Aknaton told Vanth that the artificial Soule had lacked the spirit to face what he knew was coming; Vanth must be stronger, and Aknaton prayed Vanth proved half as worthy as Soule.

(Epic Illustrated#9) - The Infinity Horn completely annihilated the entire Milky Way galaxy, including Delloran (and Soule's remains).

Comments: Created by Jim Starlin.

    Interesting that Joenis' creator, Aknaton, is an Osirosian, who have a few distinct non-human facial features, but Joenis is more human-looking, beyond his long hands/fingers and his red eyes. Presumably he was not intended to be associated with the Osirosians, which might have made the Zygoteans hunt him more doggedly.

    I love all of the Dreadstar stuff, but I especially like Joenis Soule.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Joenis Soule should be distinguished from:

•  other "Joe" or "Soul" characters

amulet/key

(Epic Illustrated#4/2 (fb) - BTS) - Soule put the hidden location on a key in the form of an amulet he wore as a necklace.

(Epic Illustrated#4/2 (fb) - BTS) - For 100,000 years on the planet Delloran, Soule protected Aknaton's key ("my treasure") from pirates, demons, thieves, magicians, and Zygoteans; many, if not all, of those who sought the treasure perished. 

(Epic Illustrated#4/2) - When Aknaton arrived and spoke the required verse, Joenis relinquished the key to him, telling him he was glad to be free of its black yoke.

(Epic Illustrated#5/7) - After dropping Vanth off with Juliet, Whis'par, and Za, Aknaton departed with the amulet to learn its secrets in another plane of existence.

(Epic Illustrated#6/6 (fb) - BTS) - Aknaton learned the Infinity Horn was hidden within a subterranean temple on the world Dreamsend.

images: (without ads)
Epic Illustrated#4: Metamorphosis Odyssey chapter VII: Delloran Revisited, pg. 4, panel 1 (Aknaton recites the verse as Joenis sits by a campfire);
            panel 5 (Joenis with extended hands);
        pg. 5, panel 1 (Joenis face and holds amulet);
        pg. 7, panel 3 (extended hands; sitting and reaching into bag);
            panel 4 (stairing into space);
            panel 5 (with radium laser to temple)

Appearances:
Epic Illustrated#4: Metamorphosis Odyssey chapter VII: Delloran Revisited (Winter, 1980) - Jim Starlin (writer, artist), Stan Lee (editor/publisher), Archie Goodwin (editorial director), James Shooter (consulting editor)
Epic Illustrated#5: Metamorphosis Odyssey chapter VIII: Sunrise on Lartorez (April, 1981) - Jim Starlin (writer, artist), Stan Lee (editor/publisher), Archie Goodwin (editorial director), James Shooter (consulting editor)
Epic Illustrated#6: Metamorphosis Odyssey chapter IX: Absolution (June, 1981) - Jim Starlin (writer, artist), Stan Lee (editor/publisher), Archie Goodwin (editorial director), James Shooter (consulting editor)
Epic Illustrated#7: Metamorphosis Odyssey chapters X: Requiem & XI: Nightfire (August, 1981) - Jim Starlin (writer, artist), Stan Lee (editor/publisher), Archie Goodwin (editorial director), James Shooter (consulting editor)
Epic Illustrated#9: Metamorphosis Odyssey, Chapter XIII: Doomsday & XIV: Aftermath (December, 1981) - Jim Starlin (writer, artist), Stan Lee (editor/publisher), Archie Goodwin (editorial director), James Shooter (consulting editor)

First Posted: 09/15/2017
Last updated: 09/15/2017

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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