The Darkforce is a fictional concept in the Marvel Comics superhero universe. The Three Graces, here in a painting by Sandro Botticelli, were the goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility in Greek mythology. ... Marvel Comics NYSE: MVL, sometimes called by the nickname The House of Ideas, is an American comic book company. ...

It is a powerful, magic-like energy that can be manipulated in slightly different ways by a handful of beings that are attuned to it. There are slight yet inconclusive hints that it may be a corruptive influence of some kind (at least to Cloak) and perhaps even sentient. At least one darkforce user (Quagmire) is from the parallel universe of the Squadron Supreme instead of the main Marvel Universe. The Marvel Universe is the fictional shared setting where most of the comic stories published by Marvel Comics take place. ...

The Darkforce's origin is unknown. Some stories suggest that it is actually matter from a parallel universe that may be accessed by mystical means. Its first appearance was in August 1976's Champions #7, where it was shown as the source of Darkstar's powers of solid energy projection and flight. The Champions (of Los Angeles) are a short-lived superhero team from the mid-1970s, published by Marvel Comics. ... Darkstar, Laynia Petrovna, is a Marvel Comics fictional character. ...

Over the years, the Darkforce gradually became more and more of a presence among superpowered begins of the Marvel Universe. The second Moonstone (Carla Sofen) speculated in Avengers #238 that it could be related to the powers of the Shroud and the first Blackout. A later storyline revealed that, at the very least, it is possible to escape Blackout's energy traps by means of the Shroud's cape. New Warriors #31-33 and other storylines later expanded the number of Darkforce users even more. Blackout is the name of two fictional characters, both supervillains, in the Marvel Comics universe. ...

Sometimes the effects of Darkforce are subtle to the point of being cosmetic. For instance, it has been revealed that both X-Men member Nightcrawler and X-Men foe Vanisher use the Darkforce during their teleportation (as revealed in Bizarre Adventures #27).

It is not always easy to determine whether a superpower has any relation to the Darkforce. A tentative list includes:

• Darkstar
• Nightcrawler (as a means for teleporting only)
• Vanisher (as a means for teleporting only)
• Black Mamba
• Quagmire
• Shroud
• Left Hand (New Warriors foe, usurped powers from his own daughter)
• Silhouette
• The Spot (Spider-Man foe)
• Ecstasy
• The Smuggler
• Doorman (from the Great Lakes Avengers)

Darkstar, Laynia Petrovna, is a Marvel Comics fictional character. ... Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner) is a comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe, and a member of the X-Men. ... The Serpent Society is a fictional organization of snake-themed supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. ... The Great Lakes Avengers is a superhero group in the fictional Marvel Universe. ...

External links

• Marvel Database Project info on the Darkforce
• Profile on the Smuggler (includes comment about how Fabian Nicieza uses the concept