A Fatherbox is a "living" computer from Apokolips created by Metron.[1] These devices are used primarily by agents of Apokolips and the Light for different purposes. Described as "pure evil",[2] a Fatherbox's "good" counterpart is the Genesisian device, Motherbox.
Design[]
The design of Fatherboxes is not dissimilar to that of the Motherbox. It is a chunky and rectangular handheld device. The color of the casing varies between units; for example, Desaad's own is black, with a red, orange and yellow interface,[3] whereas the ones utilized by Parademons are also black but with a blue and red interface.[4]
History[]
Inception and nature[]
Fatherboxes were created by Metron, at some unspecified time in history, as a tool to tap into the Source of All Life and draw energy from it. As such, these devices are sentient and possess wondrous capabilities; albeit somewhat limited due to the built-in technological safeguards.[5] As a tool of the malevolent New Gods of Apokolips, Fatherboxes are likewise malevolent in nature. Unlike its counterpart, Fatherboxes will try to corrupt or subvert the bodies or minds of other creatures.[3][6]
2010[]
Desaad and Intergang used a Fatherbox to corrupt Infinity-Man. After a brief fight with Superboy, Sphere was able to purge Infinity-Man of the Fatherbox's influence. Wolf destroyed the Fatherbox.[3]
2016[]
After the Team was taken prisoner by the Reach, Virgil Hawkins, Tye Longshadow, Asami Koizumi, and Eduardo Dorado Jr. traveled to the Warworld to rescue them using a Fatherbox from Lex Luthor. After the mission was over, they used it to return home with Arsenal and then destroyed the device to spite Luthor.[7]
2018[]
Fatherboxes played a prominent role in Apokolips's campaign against the Justice League on several worlds.[8] For the most part, the League was ignorant of the true nature of the device. They were able to recover a Fatherbox in the field and gave it over to Dr. Silas Stone of STAR Labs to uncover its secrets.[2]
When Silas's son, Victor, was critically wounded in a lab explosion, he used the device to try and save his life, deducing that its healing capabilities could also work on his son.[9] The Fatherbox grafted itself to Victor's flesh, sustaining his life, but its essence also took control of his body, intermittently.[9][10] When this happened, Halo had to use her powers to cleanse him of the device's influences; eventually, she cured him permanently.[6] Later, the Fatherbox tech began to spread, now taking over Vic's body physically rather than mentally. His friends placed in in Metron's Mobius Chair, which sent the Fatherbox's soul back to the Source, finally freeing Vic of all influence from the Fatherbox.[1]
Fatherboxes were also given to some members of the Light and their agents. Count Vertigo used one while working as part of the Bedlam Syndicate,[4] Tuppence Terror used one during a mission with Onslaught to recover freed meta-humans,[11] and Ultra-Humanite used one to escape with Helga Jace following the abduction of Halo by Gretchen Goode.[5]
2020[]
Ma'alefa'ak possessed a Fatherbox as part of his deal with Desaad. He used it to open a boom tube to flee from Miss Martian and Martian Manhunter when they came to confront him over his gene-bomb and the death of Superboy.[12]
Grayven used a Fatherbox to open a boom tube to take Ma'alefa'ak to a meeting with Darkseid.[13]
Capabilities[]
Victor Stone after his enhancements from a Fatherbox.
Infinity-Man under a Fatherbox's thrall.
- Boom tube generation
- Matter manipulation: Fatherboxes possess the ability to fabricate or completely re-purpose matter to generate new materials for its handler's purpose.
- Healing: Fatherboxes can miraculously repair the damage done to Parademons and Apokoliptan technology by exposing them to a purple healing ray.[8] It also encased Victor Stone within a healing cocoon.[9]
- Biomechatronic enhancement: While reviving Victor Stone, a Fatherbox was able to generate mechatronic body parts in place of the ones he had lost.[10] This process grafts organic and inorganic parts together, effectively creating a cyborg.[10]
- Technology manipulation: A Fatherbox can corrupt Genesisian technology, such as Infinity-Man, and bring it under Apokoliptan control.[3]
- System interfacing: While aboard the Warworld, the runaways used a Fatherbox to interface with the stasis chamber controls.[7]
Sightings[]
- Season 1
- 17. "Disordered"
- Season 2
- 17. "The Hunt"
- Season 3
- 01. "Princes All"
- 03. "Eminent Threat"
- 10. "Exceptional Human Beings"
- 11. "Another Freak"
- 12. "Nightmare Monkeys"
- 13. "True Heroes"
- 14. "Influence"
- 16. "Illusion of Control"
- 22. "Antisocial Pathologies"
- 24. "Into the Breach"
- 25. "Overwhelmed"
- Season 4
Background information[]
The "Fatherbox" concept was introduced to the DC Comics canon in 2000 by Walt Simonson. Darkseid's former aide Mortalla presented Orion with an Apokoliptan Fatherbox to replace his seemingly dead Motherbox. In reality, the device was meant to bring him back under the control of Darkseid.