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Ego the Living Planet

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Ego the Living Planet
File:Thor-161.jpg
Ego battles Thor and Galactus on the cover of Thor #161 (vol. 1, Feb. 1969) Art by Jack Kirby.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThor #132 (vol. 1, Oct. 1966)
Created byStan Lee (writer)
Jack Kirby (artist)
In-story information
Team affiliationsElders of the Universe
AbilitiesMatter manipulation
Psionic ability

Ego the Living Planet is a fictional extraterrestrial being that appears in the Marvel Universe. The character first appeared in Thor #132 (vol. 1, Oct. 1966) and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby.

Publication history

The fictional character of Ego the Living Planet was initially introduced in the Marvel comic book The Mighty Thor issue #132 (September 1966), and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. He was an early adversary of Thor, additionally appearing in the following issue, #133 (October 1966), and issues #155 (August 1968), #160-161 (January-February 1969), and #226-228 (August-October 1974) of Thor's title.

He also made significant appearances in subsequent comics sporadically throughout the 80's, 90's, and 2000's, including Fantastic Four #234-235 (September-October 1981), Rom #69 (August 1985), Silver Surfer #4 (October 1987) and #22 (April 1989), Quasar #14-15 (September-October 1990), Thor Annual #16 (1991), Thor #448-450 (June-August 1992), and Marvel Universe: The End #5-6 (July-August 2003).

Ego played a prominent role in 2000's Maximum Security cross-over storyline, appearing in Avengers #35 (December 2000), Maximum Security: Dangerous Planet (October 2000), Iron Man #34-35 (November-December 2000), X-Men Unlimited #29 (December 2000), Gambit #23 (December 2000), and Maximum Security #1-3 (December 2000-January 2001).

Ego had an entry in three editions of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, including issue #4 of the Deluxe Edition (March 1986), issue #9 of the Master Edition (January 1990), and issue #4 of the All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z (June 2006).

Ego-Prime was a being created using a portion of Ego, and appeared in Thor #199 (May 1972), #201-203 (July-September 1972), and Quasar #14-15 (September-October 1990).

"Alternate reality" versions of Ego have appeared in a number of titles as well. A version of Ego was featured under the Amalgam Comics imprint, in Iron Lantern #1 (June 1997). Ego has also appeared in alternate versions of the Marvel Universe, in Exiles #53 (December 2004), Marvel Zombies 2 #1 (December 2007), and Marvel Adventures: The Avengers #12 (June 2007), for younger readers.

Ego the Living Planet also appeared in the "Oni Press Color Special."[1]

Fictional character biography

Like all celestial bodies, Ego condensed from gas and dust in the "Black Galaxy" to become a planet. For some inexplicable reason, however, this particular planet achieved sentience and the ability to move of its own volition. Ego then began absorbing space vessels and even other worlds to survive, planning interstellar conquest. It was this behavior that attracts the attention of the Rigellian Colonizers, who fear that the nearby Ego will consume their home-world.

The Rigellians discovered Earth, and promised to leave it unmolested if the Thunder God Thor would defeat Ego. Accompanied by a Rigellian Recorder, Thor encounters Ego and after an epic battle defeats it. As a result, Ego vows to never leave the Black Galaxy and renounced its plans of conquest. [2] Several months later, a weakened Galactus invades Ego's space and seeks to replenish his energy by consuming Ego. Thor aids Ego in battling Galactus, and generates a massive God Blast that drives Galactus off. In gratitude Ego allows its surface to become the new home of the Wanderers, a race whose planet had been the very first to be devoured by Galactus billions of years ago. [3]

A well-meaning Rigellian took a sample of Ego's form, in the hope that this could be used to fertilize sterile worlds being considered for habitation.[4] This act drives Ego insane, and it soon gives in to its primordial urges and absorbs the Wanderers, which causes Thor to side with a returning Galactus. Assisted by ally Hercules and Galactus' herald, Firelord, Thor holds Ego off until Galactus attaches a massive starship engine to Ego's south pole, which drives the planet constantly through space and thereby prevents it from being a threat to other planets and populated sections of the universe. [5]

Years later, Ego eventually gains control of the engine and tracks Galactus to Earth seeking vengeance, but is unable to locate him. Ego began attacking Earth until finally stopped by the Fantastic Four and an unknown mutant known as L.R "Skip" Collins. It was on this occasion that Ego was destroyed — the Thing removes the attached propulsion engine and threw it into Ego's "brain", causing an angered Ego to activate it, which unintentionally drives the planet into the Sun. Ego's substance is then broken apart by the Sun's gravitational pull. [6]

Ego, however, slowly reformed from a few surviving particles and repaired the propulsion unit. Ego digested a number of Dire Wraiths to replenish Ego's energy reserves. Ego then battled Rom. [7]

Ego later joined the Elders of the Universe, as like them it is the only one of its kind in existence. The Elders planned to destroy Galactus, although Ego was sidelined before the confrontation when defeated by the Silver Surfer. [8] Ego later captured the Silver Surfer, and attempts to consume his energies.[9]

After being used as a pawn by the Supreme Intelligence in a bid to reestablish the Kree Empire, Ego threatened Earth one final time before being absorbed by the cosmic hero Quasar. [10]

Ego later attacks the Korbinite fleet and fights Beta Ray Bill. Ego reveals to Bill that Galactus' propulsion unit is driving Ego mad, and Bill has the fleet destroy the propulsion unit.[11]

Ego is later consumed by the bio-verse.[12] He is driven mad again by the Supreme Intelligence, and then battles Professor X and Cadre K.[13] Ego is subsequently captured and sent to Earth as an "infant" in spore form.[14] Ego begins to consume the Earth as it grows, and is absorbed into Quasar to prevent this.[15] Ego is later one of the beings who oppose Thanos in his bid to become all powerful.[16]

Powers and abilities

Ego is exceptionally intelligent, although as the name suggests it suffers from a God complex and can be emotional if thwarted. Ego is propelled through space via the engine Galactus implanted on it and can travel at faster than light speeds (for unknown reasons, Ego is unable to remove the powerful propulsion unit placed at its south pole). Ego has total control over its entire mass down to the molecular level; it often shapes its surface into the appearance of a gigantic face to address powerful beings, and can also shape its terrain to suit the circumstances. It is able to use its own substance to extrude tentacles, organic sensors, plant-like growth, and to create humanoid vessels for its consciousness. It can shape its surface to appear as a dead inhospitable world, or into an idyllic paradise to lure unaware space travelers to its surface, which it then absorbs. Ego possesses various internal features analogous to a living organism, such as gigantic tunnels that have been compared to arteries, and a gigantic brain-like organ deep below its surface. Ego possesses both digestive organs, which it uses when absorbing living beings, and an immune system with which to create powerful antibodies to destroy beings which resist absorption.

Other versions

Amalgam Comics

Main article: Oa the Living Planet

During the "Amalgam Comics" intercompany crossover event between Marvel Comics and DC Comics, a new character named Oa the Living Planet was created by merging DC's Oa with Marvel's Ego the Living Planet.[17]

Exiles

An alternate universe version of Ego is a deadly enemy of the cosmic entities the Celestials, and deliberately attempts to spoil their delicate experimentation on other worlds. Ego is eventually killed when Blink teleports one of Doctor Doom's devices into Ego's brain.[18]

Marvel Zombies

In an alternate universe many of the "zombified" Marvel heroes have become an entity called "The Galactus", and after encountering the living planet consume it. [19]

Marvel Adventures

Ego takes an amourous interest in the Earth but flees once the Avengers are alerted for fear of being "infected". [20]

In other media

Television

Music

The band Monster Magnet, on their album Dopes to Infinity, include an instrumental track named after Ego, the Living Planet.

Notes

  1. ^ Oni Press Color Special at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
  2. ^ Thor vol. 1, #132 - 133
  3. ^ Thor vol. 1, #160 - 161
  4. ^ Thor #201
  5. ^ Thor vol. 1, #227 - 228
  6. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 1, #233 - 234
  7. ^ Rom #69 (Aug. 1985)
  8. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3, #4
  9. ^ Silver Surfer vol. 3, #22
  10. ^ Quasar #14 - 15
  11. ^ Thor Annual #16
  12. ^ Thor #448-450
  13. ^ Maximum Security: Dangerous Planet
  14. ^ Iron Man #34
  15. ^ Maximum Security #1-3
  16. ^ Marvel Universe: The End #5-6
  17. ^ Iron Lantern #1 (June 1997)
  18. ^ Exiles #53 (December 2004)
  19. ^ Marvel Zombies 2 #1 (2007)
  20. ^ Marvel Adventures Avengers #12 (2007)

References

  • Ego the Living Planet at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)
  • "Ego the Living Planet page on Marvel.com". marvel.com. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
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