Stranger (Marvel)
The Stranger is a male comic supervillain who features in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
Biography
The Stranger
Many galactic revolutions ago, when the Stranger had first begun collecting specimens for experiments regarding the nature of life in the universe, he encountered an organic sac floating in space and containing the gestating of the last Gigantian. Sensing the being to be far more advanced than anything he had heretofore discovered, perhaps a member of the long-lost race that had sired him, the Stranger investigated the gestating being. In his youthful exuberance, the Stranger unintentionally fatally injured the being in the process of extricating him. Before it expired, the being communicated to the Stranger its history, nature, and purpose; it was intended to develop into a form that could seek out and thwart the last Eyungian survivor known as the Over-Mind was a composite of the minds of all the Eyungians and who planned to enslave the galaxy, if not the universe. Unable to determine if the being was indeed one of his ancestors, the Stranger nonetheless vowed to carry on its mission and to remain vigilant for the great menace it had described. (Quasar v1 #16) The Stranger encountered at least one renegade Watcher, whom he considered dangerous and unpredictable. (Quasar v1 #15) The Stranger's existence was known to the people of Zenn-La, although his name was only spoken in whispers. (Silver Surfer v1 #5) Seeking to create a living planet, the Stranger applied to the Elder of the Universe known as the Collector to loan to him certain instruments and formulae existing only in the Collector's possession. The Collector agreed, with the stipulation that they should create two such planets and to provide the second for the Collector's museum. Seeking to eventually challenge the two as a test of whether captivity or freedom bred the stronger will. In creating the free planet, the Stranger gave it his own character and force of will and named it Ego. The captive planet was named Alter Ego. (Astonishing Thor v1 #3) The Stranger obtained the Infinity Union, a combination of three devices of enormous power that, when combined, has the ability to channel all forms of ambient energy into the user. The Stranger stored the device deep within his 'homeworld'. (Avengers v1 #317)
Afterwards, the Stranger came to Earth out of scientific curiosity to study the planet's powerful new mutant population. His arrival was registered by Professor X using his a radar-image beam component of Cerebro. The device came to believe the being was a powerful mutant but the beam was disrupted before an image could be made of the individual. This saw the X-Men splitting up in order to find this entity. Meanwhile, the Stranger near the West Chester base rented a room from a woman where he created a massive amount of money to satisfy her request for payment in advance. Whilst outside, he used his abilities to walk in air to avoid traffic with this act attracting the attention of Magneto and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants who wished to recruit him. To escape the attention he was drawing, the Stranger passed through the wall of a building causing several women to faint from the shock of seeing his activities. Magneto introduced himself, and when the Stranger asked why he would join them. This saw Magneto and Mastermind demonstrating their powers against him wishing to show them that he was not to be toyed with by them. The Stranger in response released energy that disrupted their powers and broke him free as well as transforming Mastermind into a statue of solid matter. The X-Men arrived at the scene where they battled the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. When Magneto created a shield to protect them, the Stranger formed a cone of energy that transported him to a quiet wooded area, with him allowing Magneto and Toad to accompany him. When Magneto demanded to know his mutant power, the Stranger told him he was no mutant and then grew to his full height. He further covered Magneto and Toad in a thin film of anti-magnetic membrane, which then transformed into cocoons. Noting that these would protect them for their journey, the Stranger adopted more alien proportions and confirmed that he was an extraterrestrial and explained that his people were greatly interested in mutations and that he traveled from planet to planet, taking specimens of mutants back to his world for study. As Magneto's actions convinced the Stranger to take him, along with the Toad, whose loyalty was touching, the Stranger transported the three of them into space, announcing that they would never return. (X-Men v1 #11)
Overview
Personality and attributes
In appearance, the Stranger manifested as a towering humanoid of immense size and commanding presence, his features resembling those of an elderly man of great wisdom. His skin was pale, his eyes glowed faintly with cosmic energy, and his long white hair and beard lent him an appearance reminiscent of an otherworldly philosopher or scientist. His attire consisted of flowing robes of white, silver, and blue, each shimmering faintly with starlight, as though woven from the fabric of the cosmos itself. When he traveled between worlds, his form was often accompanied by radiant bursts of energy or cosmic fire, signifying his mastery over the forces of space and matter. His physical appearance was merely one of many possible forms, as he could alter his size and composition at will, existing equally as a vast celestial presence or a figure indistinguishable from a human. (X-Men v1 #11)
Powers and abilities
He possessed some form of cosmic awareness as he was able to analyse a world from a distant point in space. (Tales to Astonish v1 #89)
The Stranger was durable and powerful enough to contain within himself concentrations of energy sufficient to obliterate a universe. (Avengers v1 #318)
He was part of the group of entities that opposed Thanos during the Infinity Gauntlet saga, managing to stagger him in a combined assault with Galactus and Eon and withstanding an explosion that near caused the collapse of reality. (Infinity Gauntlet v1 #5)
Equipment used by the Stranger included:
- Infinity Union :
He was classified as comparable to Galactus and Celestials in terms of brute power. (Thanos Annual v1 #1)
Notes
- The Stranger was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby where he made his fist appearance in X-Men v1 #11 (May, 1965).
In other media
Television
Appearances
- X-Men v1: (1965)
External Links
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