Sequoia (Marvel)
Sequoia is a male extraterrestrial comic character who features in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Sequoia
A prophecy read that one day the perfect human female, who would be the Celestial Madonna, would have a union with the perfect male plant of the Cotati race, and from their union would spring the perfect child, who would be the Celestial Messiah; a being that destined to change the universe. A newborn star appeared in the sky above Avengers' Headquarters during the period when Mantis was an active member of the group, proclaimed that the Celestial Madonna's time was at hand. Kang the Conqueror had set up an automatic monitoring device to alert him to this appearance, in hopes of capturing the Madonna and using the child to advance his quest for power, but did not know which of three human females was The Madonna: Mantis, the Scarlet Witch, or Agatha Harkness. Once it was revealed that it was Mantis, she mated with the elder member of the Cotati contingent that had been left on Earth along with a group of the Kree-born Priests of Pama. Though this Cotati was a tree, this mating was made possible because he took the form of the Avenger known as the Swordsman, who had recently been killed saving her life in battle with Kang. Their baby was named Sequoia, after the noblest of Earth trees. (Giant-Size Avengers v1 #4)
The Cotati decided that only they were fit to raise the Celestial Messiah. The Elder Cotati removed the powers Mantis had gained as the Celestial Madonna and stole away the pod that was their offspring. (Fantastic Four v1 #323) The High Cotati traveled within a pyramid to Earth, standing beside Kang and revealing the pod that would become the Celestial Messiah. They asked Mantis to cease her vendetta to reclaim her son. She refused, and a battle involving Mantis and the Fantastic Four against the Priests of Pama and Kang ensued. Eventually, the Cotati were unable to stand up to Mantis' mental assault, fueled by her burning desire to be reunited with her son, and the High Cotati fled with the pod to their chosen realm, a realm of pure thought. Mantis sent her psychic essence after them, leaving her physical form behind. (Fantastic Four v1 #325)
Sequoia was introduced as the child of Mantis and the Cotati, conceived as part of a prophecy that foretold his importance in the cosmic balance. Still an infant at this stage, Sequoia was central to the unfolding conflict as forces across the universe sought to either protect or destroy him. Thanos, perceiving him as a potential threat to his schemes, dispatched assassins to eliminate the child, forcing Mantis to rally the Avengers to defend him. Though Sequoia was too young to act directly, his very existence propelled the heroes into action, and he was the focal point around which the narrative of survival and protection was framed. (Avengers: Celestial Quest v1 #1) Sequoia continued to be safeguarded by Mantis and the Avengers as Thanos’s agents pursued them across space. His presence was revealed to influence events beyond his immediate control, as mystical and cosmic forces seemed to react to him, reinforcing the prophecy surrounding his destiny. Despite being only a child, his importance was emphasized by the level of opposition arrayed against him. Mantis treated him not merely as her son but as the “Celestial Messiah,” the one foretold to play a decisive role in the conflict between the Cotati and their enemies. In this issue, Sequoia remained under protection, but his symbolic weight escalated tensions across the galaxy. (Avengers: Celestial Quest v1 #2)
Mantis raised Sequoia in hiding in Willimantic, Connecticut for a time, then asked Sequoia's father to take him to the Cotati homeworld of Tamal. At the time of Sequoia's puberty, a newborn star once again appeared, signaling the Celestial Messiah. This caught the attention of Thanos, who tried to kill him. Mantis and the Avengers traveled to Tamal to save him. At this time in his life, Sequoia was going through a period of adolescent rebellion. Usually referred to as Quoi for short, he had taken the name "Q". He was captured by the pirate Raptra, but she decided not to deliver him to Thanos. They escaped to a region of space called "the Rot", in which space itself was being consumed by beings created by Death and Thanos. After a great battle involving the Avengers and Mantis, the Rot was defeated, then Quoi and Raptra remain in that sector of space to help its recovery.
Empyre
Under his fathers care, Quoi came to learnt the history of his people and the injustice that had been done to them. By this point, the Cotati had transformed their society from a peaceful one to one that sought vengeance against all animal races. They intended to launch a war against the universe to purge it of animals with them rallying under the Celestial Messiah. (Empyre v1 #2)
On the Moon, his father wanted Quoi to purge any emotions he might have towards the animal race and urged him to take part in the purifying Rootquest. Whilst meditating, he encountered a construct created by his mother Mantis who wanted to urge him away from the path he was following but he refused. Ultimately, he destroyed the construct as he was resolved to killing all the animal races for their crimes to the Cotati. (Lords of Empyre: Celestial Messiah v1 #1)
Using his amplified powers, Sequoia he kept the Avengers hostage where he offered them an ultimatum to either join the Cotati's cause or die. Thor managed to summon his hammer and called on thunder to free himself along with his compatriots. This led to Quoi fleeing the scene but he warned the Avengers not to interfere in his people's war against the Alliance. (Empyre v1 #2)
The Invisible Woman, the Thing, She-Hulk and Mantis managed to sneak their way behind enemy lines in order to meet Quoi himself. This was so that Mantis could make another appeal to her son to turn away from the path he had chosen. However, he was once again committed to his role in killing the animal races. It was then that a Cotati within She-Hulk sprouted and killed her where her husk was used against her former comrades. (Empyre v1 #4)
Overview
Personality and attributes
In appearance, Sequoia was a male Cotati-human hybrid, born with the physical characteristics of both his parents. He resembled a human child in stature and build, though his skin carried a faint greenish hue, marking his alien lineage. His hair was dark and thick, and his facial features reflected a youthful softness consistent with his age. Unlike the fully plantlike Cotati, Sequoia’s appearance leaned closer to humanity, though subtle textures in his skin hinted at his hybrid nature. His clothing was simple in his earliest appearances, consisting of garments chosen by Mantis to protect and conceal him during their travels, rather than a costume or armor. (Avengers: Celestial Quest v1 #1)
In terms of personality, Sequoia was depicted as innocent, trusting, and receptive, reflecting his youth and sheltered upbringing. While too young to fully understand his role, he showed moments of empathy and responsiveness to those around him, particularly toward his mother and allies. His innocence contrasted starkly with the cosmic forces vying over him, underscoring the tragedy of his situation as a child bound by destiny. His earliest portrayals emphasized his quiet nature and his instinctive trust in those who protected him. (Avengers: Celestial Quest v1 #1)
In time, he came to develop an absolute hatred of animal life for the near extermination of his people. (Empyre v1 #2)
Thor was somewhat of an uncle figure to Quoi. (Empyre: Avengers v1 #0)
Powers and abilities
Sequoia was a Cotati-human hybrid, and this physiology endowed him with natural traits beyond ordinary humans. Though still a child, it was indicated that he possessed latent psionic potential inherited from his Cotati heritage, granting him a future connection to plant life and telepathic abilities that had yet to fully manifest. From his human lineage, he retained a physical form much closer to humanity, granting him a natural balance between the two species. His physiology suggested a resilience beyond ordinary humans and the promise of greater powers as he matured, though in his early appearances these traits remained largely dormant. (Avengers: Celestial Quest v1 #1)
Quoi can control life forces, absorbing energy from many sources ranging from individual life forms to the universe itself, and channel it at will to heal or for other purposes, including offensive energy blasts. His psionic powers are quite formidable, on the level of Thanos. He can breathe both carbon dioxide and/or oxygen due to his human–plant metabolism; he can also survive without either and without food for extended periods of time.
Quoi was able to transform himself into a human form. (Lords of Empyre: Swordsman v1 #1)
Quoi was able to manipulate the dreams of other people, such as making Tony Stark dream about the slaughter of the Cotati. (Empyre v1 #2)
He had the ability to control the growth, shape, and toughness of his bone-like wood structure. (Lords of Empyre: Celestial Messiah v1 #1) He was able to create a sword from his body which he gave to his father. (Lords of Empyre: Swordsman v1 #1)
The power of the Death Blossom could greatly increase Sequoia's ability to control all plant-life across a world and beyond. (Empyre v1 #1)
Notes
- Sequoia was created by Steve Englehart and Rich Buckler where he made his first appearance in Fantastic Four v1 #325 (April, 1989).
- In an interview on Newsarama, writer Alex Paknadel said, "Quoi's a zealot, and like all zealots he truly thinks he's doing the right thing. Furthermore – and I think this is key - because he's only physically an adult due to the accelerated Cotati growth cycle, he's really a kid in king's ermine. I see him as almost a child soldier, with all the tragedy and misplaced trust that implies. There's no mustache-twirling dastardliness here, and I think that extends to how Quoi treats his former allies. In Empyre #1 his respect for some of the Avengers he's encountered before – particularly Thor, whom he bonded with demigod-to-demigod way back in Celestial Quest – is quite sincere. He sees himself as a righter of terrible wrongs – an Avenger if you will. Only trouble is, the perpetrator of those wrongs just happens to be animal life as a whole. That's bad news for us meat bags."
Alternate Versions
Appearances
- Fantastic Four v1: (1989)
- Empyre v1: (2020)
- Lords of Empyre: Celestial Messiah v1: (2020)
External Links
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