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Destiny (DC Comics)

Destiny is a DC Comics character created by Marv Wolfman and Bernie Wrightson, first appearing in Weird Mystery Tales #1 (1972), and was regular host of that series for the first fourteen issues, after which he hosted Secrets of Haunted House. He is one of the Endless in Neil Gaiman's comic book series, The Sandman. In The Sandman Special #1, he was also referred to by his Greek name, Potmos. In 1997, he starred in an eponymous three-issue limited series written by Alisa Kwitney.

Destiny is portrayed as a tall figure, obscured within a purple or brown robe and cowl. He reads from a large book, originally known as the Cosmic Log, chained to his right wrist, which contains all past, present, and future events. He does not leave footprints, nor does he cast a shadow. Destiny is blind, although this doesn't appear to hinder him, and is always calm, detached, and sombre even in extreme situations.

Early appearances

Like Lucien, Cain and Abel and some other Sandman characters, Destiny first appeared as host of a 1970s DC horror comic, Weird Mystery Tales. There was, of course, no mention of his family, though a more traditional version of Death did appear in it. In his earliest appearances, he was less of a storyteller than an introducer, as most of his stories were actually told by Jack Kirby's Dr. E. Leopold Maas, an investigator of paranormal phenomena.

Destiny began appearing in some of the stories beginning in issue #10 (though he said that as all the stories he tells deal with destiny, he is in all of them, as well). By issue #15, Eve had taken over the series, and had been wheedling in since early in the run. Destiny now hosted a new title, Secrets of Haunted House, which was initially hosted by all four characters. The other hosts regarded him as the dullest storyteller, and as the hosts supposedly controlled the letters pages (responses were written in-character), that attitude was generally reflected there as well. For his birthday, Cain, Abel, and Eve gave him a sampler that said "If you're so smart, why don't you have your own book? although, being blind, he would be unable to read it.

Destiny met Superman in Superman #352, preventing Superman from helping people in order to break a forming destiny of Metropolis becoming dependent upon him, and met the New Teen Titans on several occasions, all of these written by Wolfman.

According to Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe #6 (1985), Destiny is "the one being who has been able to resist Zeus' unlimited powers." It refers to the Cosmic Log as Book of Souls. It reports "Cosmic Observer" as his occupation and "inapplicable" for the field, "Known Relatives."

The Sandman

In The Sandman, Destiny is revealed in issue #7 as the eldest of the Endless. Destiny's realm is The Garden of Forking Ways, where he continually walks its maze-like paths. His book, referred to as the Book of Destiny rather than the Cosmic Log, is his sigil in the galleries of the other Endless.

He is the least characterized and least used of the Endless in the series. Though he was first depicted in the series in a picture at the end of the first collection (in the penultimate issue), his first actual appearance is in the fourth collection, Season of Mists. In a quiet way, he seems to direct the family affairs of the Endless; it is he who calls the family meeting that begins Season of Mists.

In The Books of Magic vol. 1, #4, also by Gaiman, Mister E and Timothy Hunter see Destiny at the end of the universe, shortly before he is taken by Death.

Lucifer

In the series Lucifer by Mike Carey, Destiny is shown talking to Lucifer. Both seem to have a contempt for each other, where Lucifer favors chaos and freedom, and Destiny favors order and control. Lucifer seems to be less powerful than Destiny, as even Lucifer is bound by Destiny's book.

Destiny: A Chronicle of Deaths Foretold

Destiny is also featured in the three-issue miniseries Destiny: A Chronicle of Deaths Foretold, authored by Alisa Kwitney with art by Kent Williams, Michael Zulli, Scott Hampton, and Rebecca Guay. Destiny is there shown transforming the son of Byzantine Empress Theodora into a pestilence-bearing Horseman of the Apocalypse. The Horseman spreads bubonic plague throughout eras of human civilization while searching for a woman he can love and spare. The frame story focuses on the Horseman's appearance in the 21st century, where he offers a glimpse of Destiny's book to the frightened survivors of the latest plague.

Recently

Destiny met Chronos in Chronos # 9. He also met Lobo and Supergirl in his labyrinth in The Brave and the Bold volume 2, #4. He is more nervous and absent-minded in his demeanor, as a result of having to give up his book.

Destiny lost the Book of Destiny in the opening storyline of the new Brave and the Bold series, and when Lobo and Supergirl arrive in his garden he speaks about it being sent off to be found by those outside its pages. As it turns out, the Challengers of the Unknown were those outside of its pages, as well as the recipients Destiny had sent it off to be procured by. After a struggle between all factions at the culmination of the arc, the Challs arrive by Zeta beam to Rann and acquire the book after defeating the opposition. After, it was to be in their care.

After this arc, the book remained in the Challs hands until after the defeat of Megistus and time was set right. Destiny arrives and reclaims his book.