Samaritan

*I can't save everybody-- people die even while I'm saving lives here-- but I can still do what I **can.***
--****Samaritan****[src]

## History

The man named the Samaritan came from the 35th century in a world where the earth was dying and humanity faced extinction. To save the planet, that time's scientists came up with a plan: time travel, sending someone back in time to a specific event and change it to prevent the future. This man succeeded in his historian training and was chosen for the mission. After saying goodbye to his family, he was put through a time machine that sent him into the time stream. However, it also exposed him to the energy called the empyrean fire that changed him forever. After arriving in late 1985, he discovered he had gained incredible powers. After a time in training, he was alerted of the event that would happen in 1986, the moment the space shuttle called the Challenger was supposed to be destroyed. Instead of the crew dying, he used his new powers to save their lives, changing the flow of history. When news reporters asked who he was, he simply called himself *"a good Samaritan"*. From that day on, he was publicly known by that name, and chose to stay in this time to ensure the world and the future was safe.

He used his advanced computer - a "zyxometer" - to alter the records to create a normal identity and get himself a job as a fact checker for a major metropolitan magazine, *Current*.

Later, after a battle with Eterneon, Lord of Time, Samaritan briefly returned to the 35th century, to discover that his mission was successful and the disasters had been averted, but that his family had been wiped from existence, while only he lived.

Currently, Samaritan is a member of the Honor Guard and the patron superhero in Astro City. He pursues a romantic relationship with Winged Victory and saved the world a dozen times over, from the Living Nightmare to alien invasions.

## Powers and Abilities

* **Unique Physiology**: Samaritan's body was forced through a field of energy called the "Empyrean Fire", which altered him and gave him superhuman abilities. This energy is as ambient as time itself and can affect Samaritan's body in different ways, as well as giving him these powers:
	+ **Energy Projection**: Samaritan can project "empyrean" energy from his body. It can manifest in different ways, including blueish lightning, a weblike form and ambient energy.
	+ **Flight**: Samaritan flies at hypersonic speeds. He can travel around the world in seconds and across towns or cities in an instant.
	+ **Superhuman Strength**: Samaritan can use his energy to supplement his strength, which allows him to lift and pull heavy objects or force himself to withstand the pressures of flying in and out of orbit. It was alleged by Infidel that Samaritan has also "fought his way back into” reality after being cast from it.
	+ **Superhuman Durability**: Samaritan has withstood a variety of different physical and energy-based attacks, none of which seem to have done him any lasting damage. He was injured by the Living Nightmare and his nemesis, Infidel, but neither was capable of killing or even seriously harming Samaritan. Samaritan and Infidel were the only beings who survived the latter's complete destruction of reality, implying that Samaritan's durability extends to a universal entity level, if not multiversal.
	+ **Reality Warping**: Samaritan is capable of warping reality on a universal scale, rebuilding it alongside Infidel following their battle which left it annihilated. He also appears to be immune, or have a high resistance to, alterations to time and reality.
	+ **Dimensional Travel**: Samaritan cannot teleport in the conventional fashion. Instead, if he relaxes completely, he can travel to a dimension called the Closet in which he stores various trophies and/or other objects.

## Trivia

* Samaritan's hair was originally brown, got turned a bright blue by the empyrean energies he was exposed to, and is being bleached white for his civilian identity as Asa Martin (which may be also his birth name).
* Samaritan is also known as *Big Red* by some of his teammates.
* Samaritan made a guest appearance in the non-Astro City comic book *Shi/Cyblade: The Battle for Independents*.

## Appearances

*This list is incomplete*.

* *Astro City* #1 - In Dreams
* *Astro City* #5 - Reconnaissance
* *Astro City* #6 - Dinner at Eight
* *Astro City* (Volume 2) #1
* *Astro City* (Volume 2) #5 - Learning the Game
* *Astro City* (Volume 2) #6 - The Gathering Dark
* *Astro City* (Volume 2) #7 - Eye of the Storm
* *Astro City* (Volume 2) #8 - Patterns
* *Astro City* (Volume 2) #9
* *Astro City* (Volume 2) #10 - Show 'Em All
* *Astro City* (Volume 2) #½ - The Nearness Of You
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #1 - Through Open Doors: Part One
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #2 - Welcome to HumanoGlobal
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #3 - Mistakes
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #4 - On the Sidelines
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #7 - The View From Above
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #8 - The View From The Shadows
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #9 - The View From The Heart
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #10 - Victory
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #12 - The Deep Dark Woods
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #14 - Ellie's Friends
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #15 - Friends and Relations
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #17 - Sorrowsday
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #18 - The Dimming of the Day
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #19 - Pushing It
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #20 - Doing Battle
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #21 - The End of the Trail
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #24 - Apeman Blues
* *Astro City* (Volume 3) #27 - Game Over
* *Astro City* A Visitors Guide #1

## References

1. ↑ Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol 1 6
2. ↑ Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol 1 1
3. ↑ Kurt Busiek's Astro City Vol 1 6
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 *Astro City* #6
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 *Astro City* #1
6. ↑ Template:Astro City Special: Samaritan Vol 1 1
7. ↑ Template:Astro City Special: Samaritan Vol 1 1
8. ↑ Template:Astro City Special: Samaritan Vol 1 1