From the Fourth World, he lives to protect his people and others who need help. Possibly of two worlds but struggles with either. Who is he? He’s Forager of the New Gods and Bugs. So what is this strange being and what is he all about? Let’s find out!
To understand who Forager is we must go back to the beginning. There are two planets that orbit one another, New Genesis and Apokalips, each with many unique species of their own. While Apokalips was a hellscape, ruled by powerful gods of evil, New Genesis was a lush paradise for its gods who fought the Apokaliptians. While New Genesis was a beautiful place, it was not equal, there was a species of bug that evolved underground as the war between gods raged above them. This species of bug would become humanoid and capable of sentience and sapience, this was Forager’s people. Though they were part of New Genesis, the New Gods often looked down upon them as a secondary class citizenry, literally and figuratively as the New Gods lived in a floating city, Supertown.
Forager lived with his people and when they were living in danger of Mantis, one of their own threatening to destroy them all. He was sent by his leaders to ask the New Gods for help, gaining assistance from Orion and Lightray, they were able to stop Mantis’ plot. This began Foragers life as an adventurer, he would team up with New God and superhero alike, though he still seemed to be looked down upon by Orion, who couldn’t get over his prejudice. Forager would sadly meet his end in saving Batman from certain death during a battle with Darkseid. Orion would finally see Forager and his people as being a great species worthy of praise as any New God and carried Forager’s body to his people for a ceremonial burial. It was believed that Forager may have been a mixture of Bug and New God.
This would not be the only Forager, the legends of the great Bug hero who fought alongside New Gods and fought Apokaliptians, all while meeting strange aliens from other worlds, stayed with his people. The Bug leaders, the Prime One and the Queen Widow, realizing that the Forager mantle would be passed on to a new champion found a new hero. This young woman would go out and become a hero for her people but would become the herald for the end of the New Gods. She would have to travel far from home, to the alien planet of Earth to alert one of its own, Jimmy Olsen, the best friend of Superman, to aide her in trying to stop the death of the New Gods. She would help rebuild the safety of the multiverse in the aftermath of their deaths.
In the Rebirth, it is revealed the original Forager had not died but fallen dormant. He would be recovering in a cocoon, dreaming his way back to reality. He would team up with Morpheus, the Sandman of dreams to return to the land of the living and awakened. And discovers he is now on Earth, where he wishes to explore the universe but gets immediately caught up in fighting Nazi villain, General Electric before getting shunted off into a portal to another reality.
There you have it! Forager is one of the weirder parts of the New Gods of the Fourth World. He recently got a major role in the small screen in Young Justice’s third season. Where will he end up next? We’ll have to wait and see. Until then, see you next time!
Suggested Reading
New Gods #9
Cosmic Odyssey #4
Countdown
Bug! The Adventures of Forager
Dr. Bustos
drbustos@comicattack.net
