Comics and the Bible | Seraph of the Global Guardians | Super Friends #7 and #25

 
There are comic book characters who believe in God.  Ben "The Thing" Grimm of the Fantastic Four wears a yarmulke at his wedding in Fantastic Four #5 (2018).  Todd Rice (Obsidian) and Jennie-Lynn Hayden (Jade) are shown praying in a church in an early issue of Infinity Inc. Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen is said to be a Lutheran.  

There are also comic book characters who are gods.  Thor is the Norse god of thunder.  Highfather and Darkseid are called "New Gods."  Wonder Woman was, at one point in her 80 year history, the goddess of truth.  

There are also a handful of mainstream comic book characters that serve God.  Both the Spectre of the Justice Society of America and Zauriel of the Justice League of America have been God's "avenging angels."  I think it is fair also to say that the Seraph of the Global Guardians was a super hero in the service of the Lord.

The Seraph first appeared in Super Friends #7, cover dated Oct. 1977.  The issue is the first of a three-part saga which sees the graduation of Junior Super Friends Marvin, Wendy, and Wonder Dog and the introduction of Zan and Jayna, the Wonder Twins, who are taken on as the new Junior Super Friends.  In addition to the regular Super Friends line up--Superman, Batman & Robin, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman--other members of the Justice League are featured, including the Atom, Black Canary, Elongated Man, the Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Hawkman and Hawkwoman, and Red Tornado.  Teaming up with the Justice Leaguers are a number of international heroes: Bushmaster, Godiva, Ice Maiden, Impala, Jack o' Lantern, The Olympian, Owlwoman, Rising Sun, The Seraph, Tasmanian Devil, Thunderlord. and Tuatara.   

In Israel, Superman is paired up with Seraph, who explains the source of his powers.  He wears the actual mantle worn by Elijah the prophet.  His rod once belonged to Moses.  His ring was Solomon's*.
And his long hair gives great strength as Samson's did.  Working together, Superman uses his science-based powers and Seraph uses his "magic-based" powers to disarm a bomb.  

Seraph would return in Super Friends #25, which also featured Green Fury (later known as "Green Flame" and still later as "Fire.").  Though a number of the international heroes would appear again, Seraph was not featured in the main stories, perhaps because he was granted a back-up feature that appeared in issues #38, #41, and #46.  The back-up stories will be highlighted in upcoming blogs.   

Seraph and seven of the international heroes were brought into the main DC continuity or "canon" with issue #46 of DC Comics Presents, cover dated June 1982.  The international heroes were called the "Global Guardians" for the first time in this Superman team-up book.  The Global Guardians were active during the so-called "Crisis on Infinite Earths" and their post-Crisis existence was confirmed in History of the DC Universe #2 (1987).  The team would continue to make appearances post-Crisis in titles like Infinity, Inc. and Justice League Europe. 

To my knowledge, the name Seraph is never explained in the early appearances of the hero.  "Seraph" is a Hebrew word (שָׂרָף) used in the Hebrew Bible to refer to fiery serpents and angelic beings.  The plural form, seraphim, may be more familiar than the singular form.  

*"This ring is not mentioned in the Bible," editor E. Nelson Bridwell notes.  "It comes from Hebrew traditions."





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