DAR-BENN
Real Name: Dar-Benn
Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (Kree);
citizen of Kree-Lar
Occupation: Part of the Supreme Intelligence; former Commander Supreme of the Kree Empire & General in Kree space fleet
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Ael-Dan, Starforce (Captain Atlas, Doctor Minerva, Korath the Pursuer, Ronan the Accuser, Shatterax, Supremor, Ultimus), four unidentified co-conspirators;
Dr. Kaer-Linn, Silver Surfer robot
Enemies: Aa-Garn, Avengers (Black Knight/Dane Whitman, Captain America/Steve Rogers, Crystal, Goliath/Clint Barton, Hercules, Iron Man/Tony Stark, Sersi), Clumsy Foulup, Deathbird, Dwi-Zann, Dr. Kaer-Linn, Shi'ar, Supreme Intelligence
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Capitol Citadel in Kree-Lar, Hala
First Appearance: Silver Surfer III#53 (August, 1991)
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Powers/Abilities: Dar-Benn was a pink-skinned member of the Kree race with the standard abilities of his people including approximately twice the strength of an average human. As a soldier he was trained in armed and unarmed combat and due to his rank also in military tactics. He was a fanatic, who tried to expand the Kree Empire by any means necessary. Height: 6'2" (by approximation) |
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History: Thanos used the Infinity Gauntlet and half the universe, including half of the Kree, disappeared. The Cotati, who had supported Clumsy Foulup's reign up to this point had all disappeared as well. (Silver Surfer III#53) - Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn called in a meeting with six other high ranking officers of the Kree military to conspire with them to take the throne. Ael-Dan destroyed a monitor after listening to Clumsy Foulup increasing the taxes again after half the empire had disappeared. Despite Clumsy Foulup's claim that he needed the money to strengthen the military and economy, Dar-Benn and Ael-Dan knew he was only filling his own pockets. Ael-Dan pointed out the Kree Empire was on the brink of collapse after the mass disappearances. Dar-Benn then revealed their plan to assassinate Clumsy Foulup and his closest ally Dwi-Zann during a live broadcast after which he and Ael-Dan would jointly seize power to avoid racial conflict between the blue and pink Kree. Aa-Garn spoke out against the plan and suggested to poison Clumsy Foulup or murder him in his sleep, but Dar-Benn explained it had to be public to avoid any suspicion and according to Ael-Dan so nobody could challenge them before they seized power. Aa-Garn's concern about a blue or pink Kree killing the Emperor were immediately eliminated because the killer would not be a Kree. Aa-Garn was shocked when Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn introduced the "Silver Surfer" as their assassin. Before Aa-Garn could fire at the Silver Surfer he was shot dead by Ael-Dan. Dar-Benn then explained that the "Silver Surfer" allied with them to atone for his alliance with the Skrulls against the Kree. Ael-Dan laid out the plan to have Clumsy Foulup assassinated during his speech the following night. The "Silver Surfer" left to prepare himself because according to Ael-Dan he already knew his part in the plan. Dar-Benn promised the others they would all receive individual instructions by courier that evening. After they were gone Dar-Benn was glad everyone reacted so well, which was no surprise to Ael-Dan because they had chosen their allies due to their blind patriotism. Dar-Benn regretted the death of Aa-Garn, but Ael-Dan deemed it necessary because he could've ruined their plans and seven conspirators were enough to take the throne. Ael-Dan was sure the "Silver Surfer" would succeed in killing Clumsy Foulup on television before they destroyed the "Surfer" themselves. The "Silver Surfer" slew Dwi-Zann before and Clumsy Foulup during a live broadcast. Two of Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn's co-conspirators forced the cameraman to keep filming while the "Silver Surfer" incinerated Clumsy Foulup. Heavily armed and clad in armor Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn then stormed the studio alongside their other two co-conspirators and destroyed the "Silver Surfer". Afterward they claimed in front of the camera that intelligence sources informed them too late of the assassination plot by the Skrulls and that they the "Silver Surfer" had been sent by them to assassinate their beloved Emperor Clumsy Foulup. Even after avenging his death by destroying the "Silver Surfer" they promised they would drench the galaxy with Skrull blood to punish them for the assassination. Ael-Dan offered to lead the Kree Empire alongside Dar-Benn while the Kree Empire prepared for war against the Skrulls once again. Dar-Benn declared martial law until free elections could be held. After the camera stopped rolling Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn collected the remains of the "Silver Surfer". Ael-Dan promised to Dar-Benn that the war would take as long as they needed it to be while they took the "Surfer's" remains down to Dr. Kaer-Linn's forgotten Advanced Robotics Lab 28. The old robotics expert wanted to know how well his "Silver Surfer" performed and Dar-Benn complimented him on the perfect construction and programming. Ael-Dan then killed Kaer-Linn by stabbing him in the back with a knife. Dar-Benn placed an explosive device in the lab to destroy all evidence of the fake Silver Surfer and its creator. Ael-Dan suggested their first action should be to find out what happened to the missing part of the Kree Empire. |
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(Quasar#32 (fb) - BTS) - At some point Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn cut the funding for Korath's experiments.
(Quasar#32 (fb) - BTS) - The Kree went to war with the Shi'ar.
(Avengers I#345 - BTS) - The Silver Surfer reported to Captain America how the new Kree leaders, Generals Dar-Benn and Ael-Dan, were fanatical in their desire to expand the Kree Empire.
(Iron Man I#278 - BTS) - The Supreme Intelligence planned to keep his subversion of the security network on Hala to bring the Avengers there secret from his political adversaries Dar-Benn and Ael-Dan.
(Captain America I#399 - BTS) - Captain America ordered his team to find the Kree leaders Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn. Iron Man and Goliath (Barton) located the central government building.
(Avengers I#346) - In the Great Hall of Kree-Lar Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn threatened the life of Ronan the Accuser if he couldn't explain why the Avengers were still at large on Hala. Ronan promised it would only be a matter of time before they were found by the genetic scans encircling Hala. The Kree leaders ordered Ronan to find them because they feared the Avengers interference and any distraction at this point in the war against the Shi'ar.
In the Capitol Citadel Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn were informed about a battle between the Avengers and an unauthorized Kree militia within the citadel. The area was already sealed off by security forces near the Grand Council Chambers. Ael-Dan blamed Ronan for the situation and suggested to have him executed, which Dar-Benn agreed. Dar-Benn additionally suggested to remove all members of the old regime, which he considered an oversight on their behalf. Followed by two guards Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn headed to the Council Chamber to confront the Avengers and the Kree militia. They were secretly followed by Lilandra's sister Deathbird. Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn introduced themselves to the Avengers. Ael-Dan was surprised to see Att-Lass, who claimed the Avengers were working with the Shi'ar, among the unsanctioned Kree militia. Ael-Dan also recognized Minn-Erva, Korath and Shatterax, but not Ultimus and Supremor, the latter was considered disturbing by Dar-Benn due to his resemblance to their enemy the Supreme Intelligence. Dar-Benn congratulated Att-Lass for capturing the Avengers, but then ordered his team to be executed along with the Avengers. In that moment Deathbird activated a force field around the Avengers and Starforce, forcing them to watch helplessly as she slaughtered Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn in front of them.
(Avengers I#346 - BTS) - The Supreme Intelligence ordered Starforce to travel to Chandilar and slay Lilandra in retaliation for the deaths of Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn.
(Iron Man I#279) - Kept upright by technology the deceased Kree leaders Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn were walked to Level 346 of the Citadel of Judgment by two Accusers. The Supreme Intelligence ordered the neural extractors to the attached to their heads so their minds could be transferred into the Supreme Intelligence, who relished in the fact that its former enemies were now part of it.
Comments: Created by Ron Marz (writer), Ron Lim (pencils) & Tom Christopher (inks).
Since the assassination of Clumsy Foulup took place during the time when half of the universe's population had been wiped out by Thanos, that means that it was (or should have been) among the events that were made to UN-happen when Nebula used the Infinity Gauntlet to transform the universe back to how it had been twenty-four hours earlier. This action would have retroactively prevented the disappearance of half of the Kree race which had supposedly motivated Ael-Dan and Dar-Benn to act when they did. The fact that Clumsy's assassination was reference in later (post-Infinity Gauntlet) stories means that the assassination must have taken place but under circumstances that were somewhat different than those depicted in Silver Surfer III#53. One significant difference is that the Cotati who had been helping Clumsy would have still been present and the conspirators would have had to deal with them as well.
--Donald Campbell
Apparently events that took place during this timeframe remained true and were not retroactively affected by Nebula returning half the universe and undoing the damage done by Thanos.
--Markus Raymond
An alternate version of these events was depicted in the two-part "What If...the Avengers Lost Operation Galactic Storm?" in What If? II#55-56 (November-December, 1993). In this timeline, known as Earth-93165, Captain America disrupted Deathbird's attack, resulting in her being killed by her intended victims. Ael-Dan then deduced that the Supreme Intelligence must have been aiding her and used a computer virus to destroy it. As Dar-Benn took a moment to appreciate their triumph, Ael-Dan stabbed him in the back, killing him. Ael-Dan then rewarded Cap by making him watch the Omni-Wave Annihilator was used to destroy Earth. Things got even worse after that.
--Donald Campbell
Profile by Markus Raymond.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Dar-Benn should not be confused with:
images (without ads)
Avengers I#346, p3 (main)
Silver Surfer III#53, p3, pan4 (general, head shot)
Avengers I#346, p17, pan5 (commander supreme, head shot)
Silver Surfer III#53, p3, pan3 (uniform)
Silver Surfer III#53, p17, pan3 (armored)
Avengers I#346, p20, pan1 (death)
Appearances:
Silver Surfer III#53 (August, 1991) - Ron Marz (writer), Ron Lim (pencils), Tom Christopher (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Quasar#32 (March, 1992) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Greg Capullo (pencils), Harry Candelario (inks), Kelly Corvese (editor)
Avengers I#345 (March, 1992) - Bob Harras (writer), Steve Epting (pencils), Tom Palmer (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Iron Man I#278 (March, 1992) - Len Kaminski (writer), Paul Ryan (pencils), Bob Wiacek (inks), Nel Yomtov (editor)
Captain America I#399 (April, 1992) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Rik Levins (pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Avengers I#346 (April, 1992) - Bob Harras (writer), Steven Epting (pencils), Tom Palmer (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Iron Man I#279 (April, 1992) - Len Kaminski (writer), Paul Ryan (pencils), Bob Wiacek & Keith Williams (inks), Nel Yomtov (editor)
First Posted: 11/20/2018
Last updated: 11/22/2018
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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