Created by: Eric N. Bennett
Art by: Steven Butler
Color by: Tristan MacDonald

PERSONAL INFORMATION
REAL NAME: Taranis
KNOWN ALIASES: Tuireann, Tauranis, Taranus, Thunderer, Thunderlord, God of Justice, God of the Wheel
IDENTITY: Publicly known
OCCUPATION: God of Thunder, God of Justice, Adventurer
PLACE OF BIRTH: Unrevealed
CITIZENSHIP: Citizen of Avalorr
MARITAL STATUS: Married
KNOWN RELATIVES: Mophion (father), Danu (mother), Epona (sister), Esus, Teutates (brothers), Dara (wife), Gedmus, Fyagi, Cernunnos (uncles)
KNOWN ALLIES: Dara, Boden, Simon N. Kirby, Fighting Yank
MAJOR ADVERSARIES: Fomorians, Aenyr, Valthana Shadowmoon, Kurzol the Troll, The Demolition Squad, Photonn, Mirror Man II
GROUP AFFILIATIONS: The Gods of Avalorr, The First Guard
USUAL BASE OF OPERATIONS: Mobile between New York City and the Celestial City of Avalorr
EXTENT OF EDUCATION: Unrevealed
FIRST APPEARANCE: Taranis the Thunderlord #0 (February 2019)
HEIGHT: 6’8″ EYES: Green
WEIGHT: 660 lbs HAIR: Red
OTHER DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Full beard, long hair

HISTORY
Taranis the Thunderlord is one of the eldest and most powerful members of the gods of Avalorr, a pantheon that has long existed in the extradimensional realm of Otherworld (see Gods of Avalorr).
Revered throughout the ancient world as a god of thunder, storms, justice, and kingship, Taranis stood as both protector and warrior during the long conflict between the gods of Avalorr, the Fir Bolg, and the Fomorians.
As mortal belief shifted and the influence of older pantheons declined, Avalorr came under increasing pressure from expanding human religions and hostile forces seeking to erase or assimilate the old gods. During the Dark Age, Taranis confronted a sect of Dark Elves who sought to corrupt and destroy Avalorr from within. Though ultimately victorious, Taranis was imprisoned through powerful faerie magic within a statue, where he remained dormant for centuries as his memories slowly eroded (see Valthana Shadowmoon).
In the modern era, the statue containing his essence was brought to New York during a museum exchange. When the villain Kurzol the Troll attacked the exhibit, teacher Donal Stoner attempted to protect his students during the chaos (see Kurzol). The resulting conflict shattered the statue and released Taranis, who emerged into a world vastly different from the one he once knew.
Now operating between Earth and Avalorr as a result of his bonding with the essence of the mortal who freed him, Taranis serves as a member of the First Guard while struggling to understand the modern age, the faded influence of the gods, and the growing cosmic forces awakening around him (see First Guard).

POWERS & ABILITIES
As a god of Avalorr, Taranis possesses immense superhuman strength, durability, speed, and longevity far beyond mortal limits. He can survive extreme temperatures, tremendous physical force, and hostile environments, including deep space.
Taranis possesses mastery of the storm and can generate and manipulate lightning, weather systems, and atmospheric pressure on a planetary scale, summoning storms powerful enough to devastate entire regions. His control over wind, rain, and climate allows him to create focused weather phenomena ranging from localized lightning strikes to massive hurricanes.
His reflexes, senses, and healing abilities are similarly enhanced, while his divine physiology grants resistance to disease, toxins, and most magical or environmental harm.
Taranis wields the enchanted shield Skyspanner, a mystical artifact capable of absorbing and redirecting energy, returning to him when thrown, and functioning as both a weapon and a conduit for his elemental powers.