View source for Sodam Yat

{{Short description|DC Comics superhero character}}
{{Redirect|Sodam (comics)|the [[Marvel Comics]] [[supervillain]]|SODAM}}
{{Infobox comics character  <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
<!-- |character_name = Sodam Yat -->
|image          = Ion (Sodam Yat).png
|converted      = y
|caption        = Sodam Yat as Ion, as he appeared in ''Green Lantern/Sinestro Corps Secret Files'' #1 (December 2007)  <br>Art by [[Patrick Gleason (artist)|Patrick Gleason]].
|publisher      = [[DC Comics]]
|debut          = ''Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual'' #2 (1986)
|creators       = [[Alan Moore]] (writer)<br>[[Kevin O'Neill (comics)|Kevin O'Neill]] (artist)
|full_name      = Sodam Yat
|species        = [[Daxamite]]
|homeworld      = [[Daxam]]
|alliances      = [[Green Lantern Corps]]<br/>[[Guardians of the Universe]]
|partners       = <!-- optional -->
|aliases        = [[Ion (DC Comics)|Ion]], Yat, Yatmite
|supports       = <!--optional-->
|powers         = '''Daxamite abilities:'''
{{collapsible list
| titlestyle     = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
| title          = ''See list''
|
* Superhuman strength, hearing, durability, and longevity
* Superhuman vision
** Heat vision
** Microscopic vision
** X-ray vision
** Telescopic vision
** Infrared vision
* Superhuman breath
** Freeze breath
** Wind breath
* Superhuman speed
** Superhuman agility
** Superhuman reflexes
* Invulnerability
* Healing Factor
* Flight}}
'''[[Power ring (DC Comics)|Power ring]] abilities'''
*Force field
*Generation of hard-light constructs
*Real-time translation of all languages
*[[Ion (DC Comics)|Ion]]
|cat            = super
|subcat         = DC Comics
|hero           = y
|sortkey        = Yat, Sodam
}}
'''Sodam Yat''' is a fictional character, an [[extraterrestrials in fiction|extraterrestrial]] [[superhero]] published by [[DC Comics]]. He first appeared in ''[[Green Lantern|Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual]]'' #2 (1986), and was created by [[Alan Moore]] and [[Kevin O'Neill (comics)|Kevin O'Neill]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Cowsill |first1=Alan |last2=Irvine |first2=Alex |last3=Korte |first3=Steve |last4=Manning |first4=Matt |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |last6=Wilson |first6=Sven |title=The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe |date=2016 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-5357-0 |page=335}}</ref> He operated as '''[[Ion (DC Comics)|Ion]]''', having become one of the most powerful characters in current continuity. In 2013, [[ComicsAlliance]] ranked Sodam Yat as #32 on their list of the "50 Sexiest Male Characters in Comics".<ref>{{cite web|last=Wheeler |first=Andrew |url=http://comicsalliance.com/comics-sexiest-male-characters |title=ComicsAlliance Presents The 50 Sexiest Male Characters in Comics |publisher=[[ComicsAlliance]] |date=2013-02-14 |access-date=2015-07-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018024021/http://comicsalliance.com/comics-sexiest-male-characters |archive-date=2015-10-18 }}</ref>

==Fictional character biography==
===Introduction===
Sodam Yat is a prophesied future member of the [[Green Lantern Corps]], created by [[Alan Moore]] and is first mentioned in "Tygers", a story in ''Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual'' #2. He is mentioned in passing to [[Abin Sur]] by a demon named Qull of the Five Inversions, who had been imprisoned on the planet Ysmault by the [[Guardians of the Universe]]. As a [[Daxamite]] (a race which descended from [[Kryptonians]] with inherent Superman-like powers) with a [[power ring (DC Comics)|power ring]], he would be nearly unstoppable. Despite this, in Qull's prophecy, he is still defeated as part of the final destruction of the Green Lantern Corps.<ref>''Tales of the Green Lantern Corps Annual'' #2 (1986)</ref>

Alan Moore planned to use the character in his proposed story, "[[Twilight of the Superheroes]]", which went unpublished. In the proposal that was leaked onto the Internet, the Daxamite [[Green Lantern]] is named "Sodal Yat" and is also referred to as "The Ultimate Green Lantern". In that story, Sodal Yat is the last of an army of aliens to attack Superman. The Man of Steel defeats many Green Lanterns, [[List of alien races in DC Comics#Lizarkons|Thanagarians]], and [[Martian Manhunter]] before Yat kills him. The character would subsequently go unused until 2006.

===Modern incarnation===
As a young boy, Sodam Yat wanted nothing more than to explore the stars, but the xenophobic Daxam society forbade it. When a spacecraft crashes on Daxam, Sodam rescues the pilot Tessog and befriends him. However, his parents kill Tessog and make him believe that he was a violent menace. Years later, while visiting a museum, Sodam sees Tessog's preserved body on display and regains his memories. Enraged by this, he rebuilds Tessog's ship to leave Daxam, attracting a green power ring in the process.<ref>''Green Lantern Corps'' (vol. 2) #18 (November 2007)</ref>

Sodam Yat makes his first appearance in regular DC continuity in ''Green Lantern Corps'' #12 and part three of the ''[[Sinestro Corps War]]'' (''Green Lantern Corps'' #14) when [[Kilowog]] gathers a group of Lanterns to strike back against [[Sinestro]]'s [[Sinestro Corps|forces]] attack in Space Sector 2263. [[Salaak]] singles out [[Arisia Rrab]] to keep an eye on the newly graduated Lantern Yat, though she wonders why Yat is so important. Salaak has been charged by the Guardians of the Universe to keep Qull's prophecy from coming to pass but keeps this to himself, only saying that one day she may know why he is so special. In ''Green Lantern Corps'' #16 he destroys the core of [[Ranx the Sentient City]], ending the battle of [[Mogo]].

In ''Green Lantern Corps'' #17 Yat is chosen as the new host for [[Ion (DC Comics)|Ion]] by the Guardians of the Universe and fights [[Superboy-Prime]].<ref>''Tales of the Sinestro Corps: Superman-Prime'' (December 2007)</ref> The two battle each other fiercely through different areas of New York. Under the yellow light of the sun, Ion begins to unleash Superman-like powers, such as heat vision, to hurt his opponent. While the two trade blows, Ion is thrown into a nuclear power plant. The [[lead]] lining the walls weakens Ion. Prime takes the opportunity to spear him with several uranium rods, injuring him. Ion tries to escape, only to have Prime knock him into a cemetery. They continue to do battle, each drawing blood from their opponent. Although Ion battles courageously, the [[lead poisoning]] and loss of blood begins to affect him and he is beaten unconscious. He is later seen receiving medical attention from [[Soranik Natu]].

After the events of the war, the Guardians request [[Kyle Rayner]] assist Yat in adjusting to his new role. While speaking about Yat's history and attitude as a Lantern, it is revealed that he must now permanently wear a power ring (despite his possession of the Ion powers) to prevent the lead in his body from killing him. They are then attacked by [[Nero (DC Comics)|Alexander Nero]] who had been freed during the initial assault on [[Oa (comics)|Oa]], but had not participated in the overall Sinestro Corps story. Rayner fights to less than his abilities to encourage Yat to embrace his status as Ion. Yat eventually defeats Nero by taking control of Nero's own constructs, something Rayner states that he had never attempted.<ref>''Tales of the Green Lantern Corps: Ion'' (January 2008)</ref>

Some time later, Yat and Arisia receive word of the Sinestro Corps' invasion of Daxam from Yat's mother, who had escaped using the ship that her son was going to use to escape Daxam.<ref>''Green Lantern Corps'' (vol. 2) #34 (May 2009)</ref><ref>''Green Lantern Corps'' (vol. 2) #35 (June 2009)</ref> While fighting the Sinestro Corps, Yat enters Daxam's sun and turns it yellow, enabling the Daxamites to fight off the invasion. However, [[Krona (comics)|Krona]] later frees him, seeking to capture the entire emotional spectrum.<ref>''Green Lantern'' (vol. 4) #54 (July 2010)</ref><ref>''Green Lantern: Emerald Warriors'' #1 - 7 (August 2010 - February 2011)</ref>

===The New 52===
Sodam Yat was reintroduced into ''[[The New 52]]'' during the Green Lantern crossover ''Uprising''. He was at some point captured by the [[List of alien races in DC Comics#Durlans|Durlans]], who kept him on the planet Corona Seven before the Green Lanterns rescued him.<ref>''Green Lantern Corps'' (vol. 3) #31</ref> In the ''[[DC Rebirth]]'' initiative, he helps the Green Lanterns fight [[Cyborg Superman]].<ref>''Green Lanterns'' #57</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
As a Daxamite, Sodam Yat possesses similar abilities to a Kryptonian, including superhuman physical abilities, flight, super-hearing, super-vision, and super-breath. However, he is vulnerable to lead rather than [[Kryptonite]]. As the host of Ion, he possesses amplified powers and longevity.

==Other versions==
An alternate timeline variant of Sodam Yat appears in ''[[Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds]]''. In the 31st century, he resides on the remnants of Oa before the [[Legion of Super-Heroes]] encounter him and encourage him to create a new Green Lantern Corps.<ref>''Final Crisis: Legion of 3 Worlds'' #2 - 5 (November 2008 - September 2009)</ref>

== In other media ==
Sodam Yat appears as a character summon in ''[[Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 2, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - ''Scribblenauts Unmasked'' Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=August 5, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
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{{Green Lantern}}
{{Superman characters}}
{{Superboy}}
{{Alan Moore}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Yat, Sodam}}
[[Category:Characters created by Alan Moore]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1986]]
[[Category:DC Comics aliens]]
[[Category:DC Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds]]
[[Category:DC Comics characters with accelerated healing]]
[[Category:DC Comics characters with superhuman strength]]
[[Category:Fictional avatars]]
[[Category:Green Lantern Corps officers]]