| Glorious Godfrey | |
|---|---|
 Glorious Godfrey as depicted inThe Forever People #7 (March 1972). Art by Jack Kirby. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | The Forever People #3 (June 1971) |
| Created by | Jack Kirby (writer-artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Glorious Gordon Godfrey |
| Species | New God |
| Place of origin | Apokolips |
| Team affiliations | Darkseid's Elite Galaxy Communications |
| Notable aliases | G. Gordon Godfrey, Reverend G. Godfrey Goode, Godfrey |
| Abilities |
|
Glorious Godfrey is aDC Comicssupervillain who is part ofThe Fourth World series ofcomic books in the early 1970s.[1] He is aNew God fromApokolips and a servant ofDarkseid who masquerades as a human television personality.
Godfrey has been adapted into various media outside comics, primarily in association with the New Gods.Enrico Colantoni andTim Curry voice the character inJustice League andYoung Justice respectively, whileMichael Daingerfield andTom Cavanagh portray Godfrey inSmallville andSuperman & Lois.
Glorious Godfrey first appeared inTheForever People #3 (June 1971) and was created byJack Kirby.[2]
In 1971, an article inThe New York Times Magazine about "relevant comics" described "a handsome toothy character named Glorious Godfrey, a revivalist. Godfrey is drawn to look like an actor playingBilly Graham in a Hollywood film biography ofRichard Nixon starringGeorge Hamilton".[3] The character was intended to embody the powerful, charismatic speaker who could talk people into justifying violence and evil.[4]
Jack Kirby biographerMark Evanier states that Glorious Godfrey was based onBilly Graham, with elements ofArthur Godfrey. Kirby was disturbed by Graham'santisemitic views and apocalyptic sermons, which instilled fear rather than faith.[5]
Godfrey and his sister Amazing Grace are members ofDarkseid's Elite who possess similar mind control powers.[6]
In his first appearance, Godfrey confronts theForever People, who had stumbled upon a recruitment program for Earth-based warriors for Darkseid, and almost kills one of their members, Serifan. Despite the efforts of the Forever People's semi-sentient Super-Cycle, Godfrey's attack would have succeeded in killing Serifan; however, Highfather chose at that moment to recall all his people (and the cycle) home via teleportation.[7]
InLegends, Darkseid attempts to deprive the world of its heroes, not only so that they would be ineffective against Darkseid, but also in the hopes that the people of Earth would more willingly surrender to his rule. The first phase of the plan consists of creating immense collateral damage by sending creatures to Earth to fight thesuperheroes. The public begins to resent the heroes in their midst, and therefore Darkseid starts the second phase of his plan by sending the master manipulator Glorious Godfrey to Earth. Assuming the identity of G. Gordon Godfrey (a reference toG. Gordon Liddy), he starts a hate campaign against the superheroes that proves to be very effective, riling the public and ultimately leading to a presidential decision to outlaw any super-heroic activity. The final phase of the plan consists of the Apokoliptian warhounds, cybernetic creatures that are bonded to human hosts, for which Godfrey is able to find an ample number of 'volunteers' among his hypnotized public. He leads his charges to Washington D.C., only to be confronted by a cadre of assembled heroes. He obtainsDoctor Fate's helmet, but it wipes his mind and leaves him an empty shell.[8][2]
Godfrey was seen as an inmate ofBelle Reve. Darkseid dispatches theFemale Furies to spring out Godfrey so that he can deal with him. Their mission is a success at the cost ofBernadeth betrayingLashina.[9]
During the "Genesis" storyline, Godfrey is seen during a major battle on Apokolips.[10]
InFinal Crisis, Godfrey possesses human reverend Godfrey Good. Godfrey is present when Darkseid possessesDan Turpin's body. However, Darkseid responds to his minion's impending death (presumably because Godfrey's host body was not modified to successfully contain Godfrey's essence) by watching them die in front of him.[11] A one-shot revealed that Godfrey had been chosen by Darkseid to beLibra's assistant. The man is given generic technology to support him throughout the years because Darkseid believed the man had potential for greatness. Godfrey's assistance turns out to be invaluable, as Libra is the key to Darkseid's defeat of Earth.[12]
In 2011,The New 52 rebooted the DC universe. Glorious Godfrey makes his first appearance by giving greetings to Batman andRa's al Ghul from Apokolips. He has a new look, sporting a beard and an all-black uniform with red gloves and belt.[13] Glorious Godfrey's reason for coming to Earth is to retrieve the Chaos Shard, a powerful crystal which once belonged to Darkseid which Ra's al Ghul revealed was hidden inside the sarcophagus he crafted forDamian Wayne. After detecting a trace signature of the shard coming from inside Damian's body, and despite the assistance of the Justice League, Glorious Godfrey escapes with the corpse back to Apokolips, with Batman vowing to get Damian's corpse back.[14]
As a New God, Godfrey is nigh-immortal and possesses superhuman physical abilities. However, he is a poor fighter and relies on his persuasive abilities.
G. Gordon Godfrey appears inReign of the Supermen, voiced by an uncreditedTrevor Devall. This version is an editorialist who wrote an article on how Earth's people need to be their own heroes instead of relying onmetahumans.
G. Gordon Godfrey appears as a character summon inScribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.[18]
