Dark Circle

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The Dark Circle is a criminal organization appearing in media published by DC Comics, primarily as an enemy of the Legion of Super-Heroes. They first appeared in 1968, created by Jim Shooter as a criminal organization founded by five members and consisting of them and their clones.

The Dark Circle concept was later modified to consist of members from five core worlds instead of clones. A later version, introduced following the Zero Hour: Crisis in Time! reboot, was led by Brainiac 4 and had several known Legion enemies among their ranks instead of generic masked henchmen.

The Dark Circle first appeared in Adventure Comics #367 as an insurgent group planning to conquer the United Planets in the 30th century. It was composed of only five people and various clones of them.^[1]

In the "Five Years Later" continuity, the Dark Circle is portrayed as an ancient quasi-religious movement. When the Dominators conquer Earth, the Dark Circle secretly aids the resistance movement, hoping to gain control of Earth, before being betrayed by Universo.

In post-Zero Hour continuity, the Dark Circle is an ally of the Affiliated Planets and is led by Brainiac 4, consisting of the leaders of the Khunds, the Gil'Dishpan, the Dominators, and the Sklarian Raiders. Brainiac 4 later kills the Dark Circle when they realize the level of her insanity.

• Ontiir - A member of the Dark Circle from the planet Tsauron. Killed by Kimball Zendak.
• Grullug Garkush - A member of the Dark Circle from the planet N'cron.
• Norak Kun - A member of the Dark Circle from the planet Naltor.
• Gorgoth - A member of the Dark Circle from the planet Fresish.
• Rolind Siepur - A member of the Dark Circle from the planet Arane II.

An alternate universe variant of the Dark Circle appears in Tangent: Superman's Reign #3. This version is a necromancy cult, with Etrigan the Demon, Bane, and Sargon the Sorcerer as prominent members.

An unrelated Dark Circle, led by Tala, appears in Phantom Stranger #20 (July–August 1972).

• The Dark Circle appears in the Legion of Super Heroes (2006) episode "In Your Dreams", with Grullug (voiced by Dave Wittenberg) and Ontiir (voiced by Bumper Robinson) as prominent members.^[2][3] This version of the group are mercenaries who utilize cloaking technology.^[4]
• The Dark Circle appears in Legion of Super-Heroes (2023), with Mon-El as a prominent member. This version of the group was founded by Brainiac in the 21st century to enable his resurrection and persists into the 31st century. It has also gone by many names such as Black Zero, Ouroboros, and the Beginning and the End.^[5]