Origin

A sentient universe, Neh-Buh-Loh was initially incarnated as Qwewq, an infant universe. Coming of age in Summer's End, he became the huntsman of the Sheeda queen Gloriana. He was given the task to hunt and kill teams of seven, to prevent the fulfillment of a prophecy that said she would be killed by Seven Soldiers. He was also tasked with locating the Seven Imperishable Treasures.

Creation

Neh-Buh-Loh was created by Len Wein and Dick Dillin. He made his first appearance in Justice League of America #100. The character was significantly rebooted by Grant Morrison, who drew on several literary and mythic sources, particularly the story of Snow White's Huntsman, and the legends of the Wild Hunt.

Character Evolution

Bronze Age

In his initial appearance, Nebula Man was a terrible giant who strode across the world and destroyed civilizations. Very little was known about his origin or powers.

Modern Age

The Modern Age re-introduced Nebula Man, and identified him as having been created by the Iron Hand. He was described as having massive, if unexplored, cosmic powers. Mid-way through the Modern Age the character was greatly expanded upon and altered. No longer a creation of the Hand, his current origin and status as a living universe was introduced, as was his involvement with the Sheeda. It recast his motivation to destroy the Earth as an element of the Sheeda harrowing.

Major Story Arcs

The Iron Hand

Nebula Man is confronted by the Seven Soldiers of Victory. He is shattered by Wing's use of the Nebula Rob, creating a time warp that catapults the members of the Seven Soldiers through time and space. Part of his shattered body remains near the time-displaced Crimson Avenger, erasing his memories and imbuing him with fantastic powers. It is hinted significantly that the hand which was threatening to crush the world was that of the Nebula man. Being referred to as "Nebuloid" (1/2/3/4) & called Nebula man specifically by a SSV member/Ironhand.

Stars and STRIPE

Having spent fifty years slowly regenerating himself, Nebula Man emerges and swears to finally destroy the world. He seeks out and steals the Nebula Rod, and tracks down the cosmic belt. He attacks Stargirl in an attempt to steal the belt, but is absorbed into it.

Classified

Encountered as the infant Qwewq, Neh-Buh-Loh is entered by the members of the Justice League, less Batman, in pursuit of the Black Death, who plants a seed of evil in Qwewq. As the adult Neh-Buh-Loh, having travelled back from the far-distant future, he absorbs Pulse-8 and reforms himself into a humanoid shape. Joining forces with Gorilla Grodd to turn the International Ultramarine Corps into weapons, he leads his Sheeda spine-riders to take control of the heroes. He fights and easily defeats Batman, but is overwhelmed by Superman. Declaring that he has seen enough, he vanishes to the future. Qwewq is entered by the members of the International Ultramarine Corps, seeking redemption.

Seven Soldiers of Victory

Gloriana orders Neh-Buh-Loh to kill her stepdaughter, the princess Rhiannon, but he cannot bring himself to do it due to her beauty and grace. Instead, he hides the girl away on present-day Earth without her memories. He is summoned by Boy Blue to Miracle Mesa in the present day, and kills the latest incarnation of the Seven Soldiers to rise up. He is later sent by Gloriana to retrieve the Undry Cauldron from the Undying Don. He fights and kills the Don's bodyguards, and stabs the Don through the torso, killing him. In the aftermath he encounters Rhiannon, investigating the massacre with her mentor Zatanna. Seeing in her now only the shame and guilt he feels for betraying his Queen, he threatens to kill her if she does not flee. He returns Sheeda-side with the Cauldron, then travels to a hidden valley where the descendants of Pegazeus roam. He exiles himself there until he is confronted by Frankenstein, to whom he reveals that the International Ultramarine Corps planted a flaw in him. Frankenstein exploits this flaw and shoots Neh-Buh-Loh in the face, causing him to experience a rapid cooling and slowing, which kills him.

Alternate Versions

All-Star Superman

The infant version of Neh-Buh-Loh appears in this alternate universe as the site of Superman's experiments on how a world without him may look.

Powers and Abilities

Neh-Buh-Loh is a universe which is sentient; he contains within himself a version of Earth on which superheroes never evolved. He is capable of independent time travel. He is superhumanly strong and durable, and can generate energy blasts from his own matter. He possesses enhanced senses, including the ability to detect cosmic radiation and radio waves. He is skilled in armed and unarmed combat.

His abilities include:

• Holding his own against mighty Aurakles
• Nebula Man's touch equaling 200 atomic bombs
• A portion of his power is enough to incapacitate & then stalemate classic Dr. Fate
• Overwhelms Pulse 8, a being able to break Steel's hammer, easily generate Continental weight, make an entire city float, & alter Green Lantern rings.... Basically, Nebula man overpowered a reality warper.
• Defeated an nuclear bomb+ level opponent
• Has the strength to crush the Earth in his hands, resisting Dr. Fate/Johnny Thunderbolt/the Entire JSA & JLA simultaneously.
• Composed of Supermatter, contains galaxies, & if left unpoisoned would have been the size of the universe.

Weapons and Equipment

Neh-Buh-Loh occasionally carries a double-headed weapon resembling a halberd. He sometimes manifests weapons from out of his own matter.