Felix Faust

{{Infobox comics character

|image=Felixfaust.PNG

|caption=Felix Faust as depicted in Supergirl vol. 5 #15 (May 2007). Art by Ian Churchill.

|species=Homo magi

|publisher=DC Comics

|debut=Justice League of America #10 (March 1962)

|creators=Gardner Fox
Mike Sekowsky

|alliances=Injustice League
Crime Champions
Secret Society of Super Villains
The Conclave

|aliases=Dekan Drache

|powers=* Mastery of magic

Extensive knowledge of archery and deception

|villain=Justice League

|partners=Vandal Savage
Nick Necro
Apprentices:
Fauna Faust (daughter)
Sebastian Faust (son)
Aurora

}}

Felix Faust is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Justice League of America #10 (1962), created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky. He is depicted as a mystic sorcerer, obsessed with restoring himself to his former might after being robbed of much of his power during a battle with Doctor Mist.{{cite book |last=Rovin |first=Jeff |title=The Encyclopedia of Supervillains |date=1987 |publisher=Facts on File |isbn=0-8160-1356-X |location=New York |page=128}} While typically empowered by the demonic powers of a trio of brothers known as the "Demons Three", to whom he sold his soul in a faustian deal, the character also frequently targets other magical entities and objects to strengthen his power, putting him frequently at odds with numerous superhero teams.

Faust has been adapted into numerous media outside comics, including television series and video games. Robert Englund, Dee Bradley Baker, and Jon Cryer, among others, have voiced the character in animation. Faust appeared in live-action in the 2014 television series Constantine, portrayed by Mark Margolis.

Publication history

Felix Faust first appears in Justice League of America #10 and was created by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky.{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Korte |first3=Steve |last4=Manning |first4=Matt |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |last6=Wilson |first6=Sven |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |date=2016 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0 |page=106}}

Fictional character biography

=Earlier history and background=

Throughout the character's history, various stories showcase or mention the early history of the character. The earliest recorded accounts of the sorcerer known as Felix Faust date back to approximately 5,000 BC when he emerged in the African empire of Kor. During this time, Kor was ruled by King Nommo, a prominent wizard and the guardian of the Flame of Life. Faust, driven by his malevolent ambitions, engaged in a fierce battle with Nommo, seeking to harness the Flame's power for his purposes. Nommo absorbs the Flame, defeats Faust, and banishes him to another dimension.{{Citation |last=Wallace |first=Dan |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia |page=120 |year=2008 |editor-last=Dougall |editor-first=Alastair |contribution=Felix Faust |place=New York |publisher=Dorling Kindersley |isbn=978-0-7566-4119-1 |oclc=213309017}}

In the mid-1920s, a deranged individual and aspiring magician named Dekan Drache inadvertently releases Faust, who destroys his soul and possesses his body. However, Faust has been greatly weakened and seeks to restore his power.

In the modern era, Felix has two children: Sebastian and Fauna. He attempts to sacrifice Sebastian's soul to the demon Nebiros, which instead gives Sebastian magic powers.{{Cite book |last1=Diaz |first1=Ruben |title=DC Comics Presents: JLA – Black Baptism |last2=Smith |first2=Sean |publisher=DC Comics |year=2011}}{{Cite book |last=Richards |first=Harvey |title="The Embrace" DCU Halloween Special #1 |publisher=DC Comics |year=2008}}

In post-Rebirth continuity, Faust is the son of the sorcerer Majika.{{Cite book |last=Wolfman |first=Marv |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1158965953 |title=Raven, daughter of darkness. Issue 7-12 |date=2019 |others=Pop Mhan |isbn=978-1-4012-8964-5 |location=[United States] |oclc=1158965953}} Around the 1500s, Faust was in an alliance with Vandal Savage and had an apprentice named Aurora. During this time, he encounters a time-traveling Robin and Superboy.{{Cite book |last=Tomasi |first=Peter |title=Challenge of the Supersons |publisher=DC Comics |year=2022 |isbn=978-1779515100}}

= ''Justice League of America'' =

Felix Faust first appeared in Justice League of America #10 (March 1962), where he attempts to regain his magic by summoning the Demons Three.{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=McAvennie |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |title=DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-8578-6 |page=100}} However, Aquaman distracts Faust and breaks the spell, after which he is imprisoned. Faust also attempts to gain power from Neron, but he punishes him and sends him to Hell.

= Outsiders vol. 2 (1993-1995) =

Felix would appear as one of the antagonists in the second Outsiders series; learning of his son's activities in the Outsiders team, he attempts to track him by sending in mystic creatures tasked with bringing Sebastian to him. Initially fearing his father's return, Halo encourages Sebastian to realize his father is not infallible. Felix obtains the Green Bell of Uthool and the Silver Wheel of Nyorlath, but Halo and Looker destroy them.

= ''52'' =

In 52, Felix Faust attempts to obtain Elongated Man's soul to free himself from Neron. However, Elongated Man sacrifices himself to trap the two in the Tower of Fate.

=One Year Later=

One year after Infinite Crisis, Faust escapes, transfers Red Tornado's soul into a human body, and steals his original android body for his purposes. In Justice League of America (vol. 2) #13, Faust appears as a member of the Injustice League. Furthermore, he helps gather soil to create Genocide.Wonder Woman (vol. 3) #26

=''The New 52''=

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Felix Faust is the son of the sorcerer Majika and sold Sebastian's soul in an attempt to garner immortality (unlike the previous versions where he attempted to obtain magical power). In Forever Evil, Faust joins the Secret Society of Super Villains.{{Cite book |last=Wolfman |first=Marv |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1158965953 |title=Raven, daughter of darkness. Issue 7-12 |date=2019 |others=Pop Mhan |isbn=978-1-4012-8964-5 |location=[United States] |oclc=1158965953}}{{cite comic|writer=Nitz, Jai|title=Suicide Squad: Black Files: Fortune's Wheel|date=2019}}{{Cite book |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia New Edition |publisher=DK Publishing |year=2021 |isbn=9780744053012 |at=Roll Call: Faust, Sebastian}}{{Cite book |last=Lemire |first=Jeff |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/830668855 |title=Justice League Dark. Volume 2, The Books of Magic |date=2013 |others=Peter Milligan, Mikel Janín, Lee Garbett, Daniel Sampere, Cam Smith, Admira Wijaya |isbn=978-1-4012-4024-0 |location=New York |oclc=830668855}}Justice League of America (vol. 3) #6Trinity of Sin: Phantom Stranger #15Constantine #11

=''DC Rebirth''=

The character appears as one of the villains refusing to be hired by Henry Bendix to kill Midnighter and Apollo during DC Rebirth.Midnighter and Apollo #1 (October 2016)

Powers and abilities

Felix Faust is commonly portrayed as a master sorcerer, possessing extensive knowledge of the supernatural and the ability to manipulate organic matter through his mastery of dark arts. He demonstrates proficiency in various forms of magic, including black magic and soul magic, the latter in which he specializes in alongside his son. These magical abilities enable him to perform a wide range of feats, such as energy manipulation, resurrection, communing with the deceased, teleportation, elemental control, intangibility, illusion casting, telepathy, and scrying. To utilize mystical powers, Felix relies on spell books, scrolls, familiars, or sometimes strikes bargains with demonic entities.{{Cite book |last1=Diaz |first1=Ruben |title=DC Comics Presents: JLA - Black Baptism |last2=Smith |first2=Sean |publisher=DC Comics |year=2011}}{{Cite book |last=Tomasi |first=Peter |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/181600058 |title=Black Adam : the Dark Age |date=2008 |publisher=DC Comics |others=Doug Mahnke, Christian Alamy, Nathan Eyring, Nick Napolitano, Rob Leigh |isbn=978-1-4012-1786-0 |location=New York, N.Y. |oclc=181600058}}{{Cite book |last=Barr |first=Mike |title=Outsiders (1993-1995) #18 |publisher=DC Comics |year=1994}}

The character also possess a few limitations. Felix Faust's ability to achieve his full potential as a sorcerer has been limited since his encounter with Dr. Mist and his spirit being within the body of occult dabbler and human Dreken Drache. Additionally, he lacks proficiency in hand-to-hand combat.{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1246530362 |title=Who's Who Omnibus. Volume 1. |publisher=DC Comics |year=2021 |isbn=978-1-77950-599-6 |location=Burbank, CA |oclc=1246530362}} In the New 52 continuity, he was initially regarded as a third-rate wizard who resorted to making Faustian deals to augment his powers, which had the unintended consequence of giving him a ghastly appearance.{{Cite book |url= |title=DC Comics Encyclopedia All-New Edition: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |date=2016 |publisher=DC Comics |others=Alan Cowsill, Alexander Irvine, Steven Korté, Matthew K. Manning, Stephen Wiacek, Sven Wilson |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0 |edition=First American |location=New York City, New York |oclc=936192301}} Furthermore, Felix has limitations in manipulating certain forms of pure magic, being classified as a "dark magician." Any attempt to manipulate such magic poses a risk of death for him, necessitating the use of a medium to channel and utilize it effectively.{{Cite book |last=Lemire |first=Jeff |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/830668855 |title=Justice League Dark. Volume 2, The Books of Magic |date=2013 |others=Peter Milligan, Mikel Janín, Lee Garbett, Daniel Sampere, Cam Smith, Admira Wijaya |isbn=978-1-4012-4024-0 |location=New York |oclc=830668855}}

Legacy

Throughout his long lifetime, Felix has fathered two children of his own both of British descent:

Sebastian Faust: Sebastian's soul was bartered to the demon Nebiros, but the power Felix asked for was granted to Sebastian instead. As a result, their father-son relationship has been adversarial. Sebastian has generally acted as a hero, working with the Outsiders and Sentinels of Magic.
Fauna Faust: The daughter of Felix Faust and the younger sibling of Sebastian Faust, Fauna followed a darker path than her brother. She would become a member of Kobra Cult's elite strike force, the Strike Force Kobra and secretly work alongside her father as an enemy of both her brother and the second incarnation of the Outsiders superhero team.

Other versions

Feline Faust appears as Felix Faust's counterpart in the universe of Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew!.Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew #14 (April 1983)
Felix Faust appears in JLA/Avengers #4 as a brainwashed minion of Krona.

In other media

=Television=

File:Felixfaustanimated.png.]]

Felix Faust appears in The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians episode "The Case of the Stolen Powers", voiced by Peter Cullen.
Felix Faust appears in series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU), voiced by Robert Englund.{{cite web |title=Felix Faust Voices (DC Universe) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/DC-Universe/Felix-Faust/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
Introduced in the Justice League two-part episode "Paradise Lost", this version was originally a professor of archaeology who developed an obsession with long-forgotten magic and the dark arts, eventually fashioning himself into a skilled sorcerer. He was subsequently dismissed from his position at the university and took revenge on those who wronged him with his new powers. In the present, he attacks Themyscira and forces Wonder Woman to help him enter Tartarus so he can form an alliance with Hades under the promise of receiving "ultimate knowledge". However, Hades reveals his "knowledge" to be a deadly curse that makes Faust rapidly age until he finally turns to dust by the time Wonder Woman causes Hades to be sent back to Tartarus, with Faust’s soul being cast into the Underworld.
In the Justice League Unlimited episode "The Balance", Tala recovers Faust's soul, who possesses the Annihilator automaton. With it, he overthrows Hades and takes over Tartarus, but is defeated by Hades, Wonder Woman, and Shayera Hol, after which Hades takes him prisoner.
Felix Faust appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker. This version is a member of the Legion of Doom.
Felix Faust appears in the Young Justice episode "Misplaced", voiced again by Dee Bradley Baker.
Felix Faust appears in the Constantine episode "Quid Pro Quo", portrayed by Mark Margolis.{{cite web|url=http://comicbook.com/2015/01/05/constantine-mark-margolis-to-play-felix-faust/|title=Constantine: Mark Margolis To Play Felix Faust|website=comicbook.com|date=7 January 2015 }} This version is an elderly sorcerer embittered by a lifetime of being overshadowed by the greatest magicians of his generation. He bargains with John Constantine and his associate Chas Chandler to return the souls of several innocents, including Chas' daughter, during which Faust compels Chas to give him the souls contained in his body. However, Chas restrains Faust before using a grenade to kill them and free his victims before resurrecting himself.
Felix Faust appears in Justice League Action, voiced by Jon Cryer. This version possesses the additional abilities of telekinesis, astral projection, and memory erasure, and was initially elderly before summoning the demon Ghast to regain his youth.
Felix Faust appears in Harley Quinn, voiced by Tony Hale. This version is a member of the Legion of Doom.

=Film=

Felix Faust appears in Justice League Dark, voiced by Enrico Colantoni.{{cite news|url=http://www.superherohype.com/news/379295-justice-league-dark-featurette-reveals-matt-ryan-returns-as-constantine|title=Justice League Dark Featurette Reveals Matt Ryan Returns as Constantine!|publisher=Superhero Hype|last=Perry|first=Spencer|date=July 26, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/11/15/justice-league-dark-trailer-debut-for-r-rated-dc-animated-movie|title=JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK: TRAILER DEBUT FOR R-RATED DC ANIMATED MOVIE|publisher=IGN|last=Vejvoda|first=Jim|date=November 15, 2016}}

=Video games=

Felix Faust appears as a boss in DC Universe Online, voiced by Brian Jepson.
Felix Faust appears as a playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains.{{Cite web |last1=Michael |first1=Jon |last2=Veness |first2=John |date=November 2, 2018 |title=Characters - LEGO DC Super-Villains Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/lego-dc-super-villains/Characters |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=IGN}}

=Miscellaneous=

The DCAU incarnation of Felix Faust appears in Justice League Adventures #33.{{Cite web |title=Justice League Adventures #33 - Disappearing Act (Issue) |url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/justice-league-adventures-33-disappearing-act/4000-96646/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=Comic Vine |language=en}}
The DCAU incarnation of Felix Faust appears in issue #26 of the Justice League Unlimited tie-in comic.{{Cite web |title=Justice League Unlimited #26 - The Ghosts of Atlantis (Issue) |url=https://comicvine.gamespot.com/justice-league-unlimited-26-the-ghosts-of-atlantis/4000-112045/ |access-date=March 18, 2024 |website=Comic Vine |language=en}}
Felix Faust appears in Smallville Season 11: Olympus. This version was a member of Shadowpact during World War II before betraying them to receive eternal youth from Hades. In the present, he joins Hades in attacking the Department of Extranormal Operations, only to be stopped and dragged to Tartarus by Wonder Woman.Smallville Season 11: Olympus #1-4