Monitor (Mar Novu)

For DC Comics organization, see Monitors (DC Comics).

The Monitor
The Monitor as depicted in Back Issue #34 (June 2009). Art by George Pérez.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearance(in shadows) The New Teen Titans Vol. 1 #21 (July 1982)
(fully seen) G.I. Combat #274 (February 1985)
Created byMarv Wolfman
George Pérez
In-story information
Alter egoMar Novu[1]
Team affiliationsJustice League
Hero and Heroines of the Multiverse
PartnershipsMobius, the Anti-Monitor (Brother); Alpheus, the World Forger (Older brother); Perpetua, the Super Celestial Mother of DC Multiverse
Abilities
  • Cosmic Powers
  • Cosmic Awareness
  • Resurrection
  • Reality Alteration
  • Universal Force Control
  • Molecular Reconstruction
  • Matter Manipulation
  • Dimensional Manipulation
  • Space-Time Manipulation
  • Narrative Manipulation
  • Energy Manipulation
  • Energy Projection
  • Telekinesis
  • Telepathy
  • Teleportation
  • Self-Sustenance
  • Power Bestowal

The Monitor or Over-Monitor, also known as Mar Novu,[2] is a fictional character created by writer Marv Wolfman[3] and artist George Pérez as one of the main characters of DC Comics' Crisis on Infinite Earths limited series.

The character began appearing, along with his assistant Lyla Michaels, in numerous DC Comics titles beginning in 1982, three years before the Crisis began in July 1985; these appearances made it seem that he was some sort of weapons dealer for supervillains. This was all part of the setup Wolfman and the staff of DC Comics planned for the Crisis, showing the Monitor currying favor with villains such as Maxie Zeus, prior to calling on the heroes.[4] The Monitor was depicted in the shadows for all of his appearances in DC's mainstream superhero titles, and his face was first revealed in one of their few remaining non-superhero titles, the war comic G.I. Combat issue #274.

LaMonica Garrett portrayed the character on The CW's Arrowverse, debuting during the 2018 crossover Elseworlds. This marked the first live-action adaptation of the character. The character has made subsequent appearances on several shows set in the Arrowverse. The character also appeared in the 2019 crossover Crisis on Infinite Earths.

  1. ^ Justice League volume 4 #22 may-jun 2019
  2. ^ Justice League vol 4. #22 (May–June 2019). DC Comics.
  3. ^ In Batman and the Outsiders #14 (Oct. 1984), he is listed as having been "created by Marv Wolfman, age 38, of Flushing, New York". (p. 12)
  4. ^ Batman and the Outsiders #14 (Oct. 1984)