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Annihilus

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Annihilus
Annihilus.
Art by Gabriele Dell'Otto.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceFantastic Four Annual #6 (1968)
Created byStan Lee
Jack Kirby
In-story information
SpeciesArthrosian
Place of originThe planet Arthros, in Sector 17A of the Negative Zone
Team affiliationsAnnihilation Wave
PartnershipsBlastaar
Notable aliasesLord of the Negative Zone, the Living Death that Walks, Ahmyor
AbilitiesSuperhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility and reflexes
Chitinous exoskeleton grants increased durability
Flight
Wields Cosmic Control Rod:
  • Molecular manipulation
  • Energy blasts
  • Slowed aging process

Annihilus is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, primarily as an adversary to the Fantastic Four. His first appearance was in Fantastic Four Annual #6, published in 1968. He was created by writer Stan Lee and writer/artist Jack Kirby. He was responsible for the attacks in the Annihilation comic book event.

Annihilus has at various times been the ruler of the Negative Zone, controlling it's inhabitants via his powerful Cosmic Control Rod. He first encountered the Fantastic Four after Reed Richards discovered how to travel to the Negative Zone from Earth. Over the years he clashed with the Fantastic Four on many occasions, often with the FF foiling his plans to invade Earth. He is often the partner of Blastaar, who started out as a rival to Annihilus' rule of the Negative Zone before becoming allies.

He would later lead an enormous fleet of space ships from the Negative Zone into the main universe, setting off the Annihilation Wave by destroying or subjugating many planets. The armada was opposed by a number of cosmic heroes such as Star-Lord, Drax the Destroyer, Silver Surfer, and was ultimately stopped by the cosmic entity Galactus, killing Annihilus in the process, but he was later reborn as an infant in the aftermath of the Annihilation storyline.

Annihilus has appeared in a number of Marvel media, including several Fantastic Four shows, The Super Hero Squad Show, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. and Ultimate Spider-Man. In 2009, Annihilus was ranked as IGN's 94th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.[1]

Publication history

The character first appears in Fantastic Four Annual #6 (1968), and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. He had a recurring role in the series, including issues #108-110, #140-141, #181-183, #251-256, #289-290, and Fantastic Four Unlimited #3.

He played a small role in the Kree-Skrull War issues of Avengers, #89, 96-97. Other appearances include Avengers vol 1 #233, Marvel Team-Up #2, Marvel Two-in-One #75, and Thor #404-405, #434-435.

The character was the main antagonist in Annihilation, appearing in the prologue, the second issue of the Silver Surfer mini-series, and all six issues of the main title. He died in issue six, but has since been reborn. He appeared as an infant in War of Kings: Ascension #2.

Fictional character biography

Many years ago, a race of beings known as the Tyannans traveled the cosmos, seeding planets with life-giving spores. During a mission in the Negative Zone to give it life, one of their ships suffered a freak collision from a meteor, causing it to crash-land on the nearby world of Arthoros. Before perishing, the crew of said vessel released their carried spores onto the surface of the planet. Years later, a descendant of one of these spores, a weak insectoid grew to exist among the created lifeforms. Instead of embracing its surroundings and fellow fauna however, the creature grew to be paranoid and aggressive, valuing its survival above all other things due to the overall harshness of Arthoros's volcanic environment. Eventually, the creature that came to be known as Annihilus, discovered the wreckage of the Tyannan vessel and (thanks to a mutation in the spores that granted it intelligence) was quick to master the technology that lay before it and eventually used said power to dominate and subjugate all other life on Arthoros, as well as threaten the other life-sown worlds of the Negative Zone with invasion or outright obliteration.[volume & issue needed]

The first appearance of Annihilus. Cover to Fantastic Four Annual #6. Art by Jack Kirby.

Annihilus first encountered the Fantastic Four when they entered the Negative Zone seeking anti-particles needed to treat Sue's cosmic ray-related pregnancy complications. Annihilus's minions captured the heroes, but they escaped, stealing his Control Rod. They returned it after siphoning off the needed anti-particles and returned to Earth.[2]

Annihilus was challenged by Janus the Nega-Man, a research scientist, who developed a module capable of harnessing antimatter energy within the Negative Zone. Annihilus defeated Janus, forcing the Nega-Man to lead him to Earth, but Janus was instead seemingly killed in the exploding atmosphere where matter meets antimatter.[3] Annihilus nearly crossed over to Earth through one of Mister Fantastic's portals, but was driven back by the Avengers.[4] Annihilus battled the Frightful Four, and once again attempted to escape the Negative Zone, but was foiled by Spider-Man and the Human Torch.[5]

Sensing great power within Franklin Richards, Annihilus abducted him, along with the Fantastic Four, Medusa, Wyatt Wingfoot, and Agatha Harkness into the Negative Zone. He used a machine to prematurely release the child's full power potential, hoping to transfer the expended energies into himself. The Four defeated Annihilus and escaped back to Earth.[6] Annihilus later allied with Mr Fantastic against the Mad Thinker.[7]

Blastaar, a fellow Negative Zone warlord, stole the Control Rod and left Annihilus to die.[8] Desperate, Annihilus tried to escape to Earth. He was defeated by the Avengers and Fantastic Four before returning to the Negative Zone.[9] He was revived by Blastaar and regained his Control Rod.[10]

Annihilus attacked the dimension of Asgard, home of the Norse Gods, but was repelled by King Odin.[11] Annihilus later kidnapped a sleeping Odin, transporting him to the Negative Zone to steal his power. Annihilus was defeated by Thunderstrike.[12]

Soon after, Annihilus and Blastaar joined forces with fellow Negative Zone warlord Syphonn. During a confrontation with Adam Warlock, Annihilus and Blastaar betrayed Syphonn, allowing him to be defeated.[13]

Annihilus began leading the Annihilation Wave, an enormous fleet of Negative Zone battleships, ostensibly claiming to have the goal of conquering the universe. He claims that the universe is expanding into areas of the Negative Zone, making the universe now rightfully his territory. His forces destroy the Kyln, an intergalactic power station and maximum security prison, and the planet Xandar, headquarters of the Nova Corps.[14] He allies with Thanos[15] and two beings that were trapped in the Kyln by Galactus, Tenebrous, and Aegis.[16] Tenebrous and Aegis defeat Galactus and the Silver Surfer, and the two are connected to a giant mechanism in Annihilus' starship.[17] Annihilus' goal is actually creating a massive Power Cosmic bomb that will destroy the Universe and the Negative Zone, leaving Annihilus the only survivor.[18] Drax and the Silver Surfer manage to free Galactus, who destroys the Annihilation Wave. Nova battles and kills Annihilus.[19] Annihilus was later reborn as an infant with all of the original's memories.[19]

During the War of Kings, the Negative Zone is invaded by Darkhawk and his ally Talon. They discover the infant Annihilus and his Cosmic Control Rod have been placed under the care of a lesser lord of the Negative Zone, Catastrophus. Catastrophus had been using the Cosmic Control Rod to stunt the development of the infant Annihilus, hoping to prolong his own rule. Talon slew Catastrophus and seized the Control Rod, before calling out to the infant Annihilus and asking it to remember in the future that he had spared the creature's life.[20]

During a later incursion into the Negative Zone, Johnny Storm discovers that Annihilus's forces have been rebuilt to "pre-Crunch assault levels," but are currently embroiled in a struggle with Blastaar's forces. Central to that struggle is a city built from the remains of the Negative Zone Prison Alpha. The war is further complicated by the involvement of the Universal Inhumans.[21]

The Human Torch dies stopping a horde of aliens from the Negative Zone.[22] Later, when Reed Richards opens a window to the Negative Zone and menaces Annihilus with the Ultimate Nullifier, Annihilus in return brandishes Johnny's uniform to Reed.[23][24][25][26]

Annihilus uses regenerative surgery to revive the Human Torch, turning him into a gladiator when he refuses to reopen the portal from the Negative Zone.[27]

Annihilus is contacted by an alternative version of Reed Richards (one of the last survivors of the Council of Reeds) via the Cult of the Negative Zone, a religious movement worshiping Annihilus. As part of a plan to orchestrate an event known as the "War of Four Cities", Richards offers to open a massive portal between the Negative Zone and Earth, allowing the Annihilation Wave to pass through. Annihilus agrees, and sends forces to attack the Baxter Building and secure its Negative Zone gateway.[28]

Johnny Storm learns of the plan and enlists the Inhumans Light Brigade in an uprising, attacking Annihilus' forces as they prepare to cross over. With the aid of Light Brigade member Kal Blackbane, Johnny wrests the Cosmic Control Rod away from Annihilus, and takes control of the Annihilation Wave armada, using it to battle the Kree fleet as well as the Mad Celestials. Annihilus is captured and a leash is placed around his neck.[29]

After a rebellion breaks out for free elections in the Negative Zone, Annihilus wins as a write-in candidate for new leader of the Negative Zone, with 14,980,336,901,214 votes for him.[30]

During the Infinity storyline, Annihilus appears as a member of the Galactic Council.[31]

Powers and abilities

Annihilus is capable of self-propelled flight and can withstand the vacuum of space. He wears "armor"—actually an insectoid exoskeleton with some armored components—that grants him resistance to most forms of injury (extreme temperatures, ballistic force, bullets, etc.)

He has superhuman strength.

Annihilus wields the Cosmic Control Rod, a weapon of great power. It allows him to manipulate cosmic energy in order to manipulate the molecular structure of matter. The rod is capable of projecting vast amounts of destructive energy and concussive force. Continuous exposure to the cosmic energies of the rod has also retarded the aging process of its wielder, making Annihilus virtually immortal. Though not always engaging himself in direct combat, Annihilus has proved to be a formidable opponent, and was able to defeat the Thing,[32] Thor, Nova Prime, Quasar, and Blastaar[33] in individual fights with relative ease. Annihilus also sometimes wields energy pistols based on Tyannan technology that he has modified.

In Annihilation: Nova, Annihilus killed Quasar, and gained his Quantum Bands, adding to Annihilus's power.[34] By using these in combination with most of his stored power reserves Annihilus was able to withstand a massive blast from Galactus in the Annihilation series. While the blast destroyed his entire army, along with several solar systems, Annihilus was able to survive.[35]

He also leads an elite personal guard, the Centurions, 200 superpowered aliens, each from a different Negative Zone world. They are extremely loyal to him and form a devastatingly effective army.

Fantastic Four #600 reveals that Annihilus is always reborn upon death, as he was at the conclusion of the Annihilation miniseries. This is described by Annihilus as "endless resurrection . . . can't stop living."[36]

Other versions

Age of Apocalypse

When the mutant known as Legion traveled back in time to kill his father's long time nemesis Magneto to prevent Xavier from dealing with years of conflict, so Charles could be a true father to him, Legion failed and accidentally killed Xavier instead.[37]

With the battle between Legion and a team of X-Men sent back in time to stop him seen worldwide on television, mutants were revealed for the first time a full decade before they were seen in the normal Marvel Universe. Apocalypse made the decision to move up his quest for the creation of a world in his image: a world where mutants ruled and Survival of the Fittest was the only law.[38]

In this harsh world, the X-Man known as Blink would travel to the Negative Zone where she met Ahmyor, a freedom fighter native to the Negative Zone who joined the rebellion against their malicious leader, Blastaar. The two would exchange fists rather than greetings at first, though the battle would end in a stalemate. Once Ahmyor realized she meant him no harm, the two called a truce and he began to explain to her his situation. The people wanted to restore control to their previous ruler, Annihilus, who was also malevolent, but the lesser of two evils in this case. For some time, Ahmyor had been haunted by visions of their tortured leader Annihilus who had been made undone in his quest for order through domination. He could feel his gnawing need for power, the endless struggle that drove him to madness, but blue-clad interlopers called the Fantastic Four would inevitably see to his end.[39]

Despite not having any memories of herself, the girl found the spirit of rebellion to be a familiar one and joined his cause. Over the course of a week, Ahmyor would fall in love with this angel. She made him extremely happy as both a warrior and as a man and helped restore his soul. Eventually, the couple was captured and taken to Blastaar who revealed that Ahmyor was actually Annihilus. Blink felt betrayed as she believed she had done the honorable thing by aiding in a rebellion, but it appeared that she was only helping a dictator reclaim his empire. Ahmyor explained that he was amnesiac just like Blink was and had no recollection of his former life. When he was removed from power, he regressed to an earlier, humanoid stage in his being. However, his knowledge of the truth caused him to begin reverting into his insectoid form.[40]

Blastaar had previously acquired the Annihilation Cannon, a deadly invention made by Annihilus that could not be fired without the Cosmic Control Rod joined to the form of its creator. With Ahmyor/Annihilus now in his clutches, Blastaar finally had the key to active this ultimate weapon and he planned on using it to destroy Earth. Suddenly, Blink with a renewed dedication to her beloved and found him bound to the Annihilation Cannon. She moved quickly to free him, but discovered that the device had been altered so that it would explode if Annihilus was removed from it. Ahmyor's transformation into Annihilus was nearly complete and he urged her to leave him and the Negative Zone as he was no longer the man she loved. With tears in her eyes, Blink teleported Ahmyor away, sent the Annihilation Cannon to Blastaar's position, and teleported herself back home where the X-Men had been frantically searching for her. Subsequently, Annihilus was once again himself. An image fluttered across his mind's eye, causing him to pause, and giving him a moment's worth of peace. It was an image of the only being ever to reach him, the only one he ever loved. However, it faded just as quickly as it had come and was replaced with rage that burned in his heart as thoughts of revenge boiled within him.[41]

Mangaverse

In the Marvel Mangaverse, Annihilus is a gigantic, 100-foot-tall (30 m) monster that attacks the Earth in order to destroy it. He is confronted and defeated by the Fantastic Four.[42]

Ultimate Marvel

The Ultimate Fantastic Four encountered an Annihilus-like creature in their first foray into the N-Zone. Translating machines implanted in the Four's space suits dubbed the creature Nihil, though Nihil himself stated this is a caste title and not his proper name. Nihil ruled over a space station composed of the fused remains of several alien space ships. It orbited near a dying red dwarf star for warmth because the whole N-Zone is experiencing entropic decay.[43]

Like Annihilus, Nihil and his caste are from a species that can live over a million years. Not wanting to die before he is supposed to naturally, when Nihil learned that the UFF were from a different, younger universe he engineered a plan to escape and kill them. Johnny Storm, who for the entire trip had been experiencing discomfort, fell ill and was rushed by Sue back to their ship. Reed Richards and Ben Grimm went along with her but once they returned to tell Nihil of their situation Nihil revealed his intention to steal their ship, named by Johnny as the Awesome, and go to Earth. He exploded his translation devices, thereby rupturing Reed and Ben's space suits and exposing them to the N-Zone's highly acidic atmosphere. Nihil then sent his previously unseen soldiers to kill them but Reed sealed his damaged suit by covering his shattered face mask with his hand, and Ben discovered his lungs filter out poisons, enabling him to battle Nihil.[44]

In the ensuing fight, Ben ripped Nihil's right wing off, most of Nihil's soldiers were beaten by the enslaved alien refugees living on the space station, and Ben and Reed escaped to The Awesome. Nihil then launched a bioship after the UFF when they were racing back to Earth. Nihil's flagship managed to make it through but both ships crashed on to the Las Vegas Strip. Another battle started between Nihil and the Fantastic Four. During it, Johnny Storm emerged from the Awesome, discovering that he would periodically enter hibernation and shed his dead skin cells so that his powers would regenerate, and then entered the fight. At the climax of the battle, Nihil pinned Reed to the ground and opened his jaws to consume him, but Reed, stating that he was better than Nihil because he could adapt and Nihil just wanted to rule, stretched and jammed a plasma emitting weapon into Nihil's mouth. Nihil tried to pry the rod out by the trigger and his head was subsequently blown up. Nihil is at this time presumed dead and his body is most likely in government possession. Many of Nihil's soldiers survived and they were presumably captured if not killed. The lasting effect of this battle is that the Fantastic Four's secrecy was blown and the team had to be given a formal introduction to the world.[45]

In other media

Television

  • Annihilus appears in Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes, voiced by Scott McNeil. In the episode "Annihilation", the Fantastic Four are teleported to the Negative Zone and attacked by Annihilus' insectoid soldiers. They are eventually captured and brought to Annihilus' warship. There, it is revealed that Dr. Doom had tricked Annihilus into thinking that the Four were there to steal his power source, the Cosmic Control Rod. When Annihilus let his guard down, Doom stole the Control Rod for himself, hoping to use it to conquer Earth. After the Four convince Annihilus of Doom's eventual treachery, Annihilus decides to temporarily put aside his hate for humans, and aid the Four in retrieving his Control Rod from Doom. After a long battle, Annihilus manages to reclaim the Cosmic Control Rod, and returns to the Negative Zone. In the episode "Contest of Champions", Annihilus is pitted against the Fantastic Four by the Grandmaster, along with Ronan the Accuser, Impossible Man and the Super-Skrull. Annihilus is eventually defeated by the Invisible Woman and sent back to the Negative Zone.
  • Annihilus appears in Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., voiced by Robin Atkin Downes. In the episode "Doorway to Destruction" Pt. 1, Annihilus arrived in Vista Verde to siphon the gamma energy in order to invade Earth, and unleashes a mind-controlled Skaar to fight Hulk. Upon obtain the Gamma Cannon, Skaar fires it into the Negative Zone portal, which enables Annihilus and his army to invade Earth. After the first attempt at the invasion went wrong, Annihilus has Skaar get away with Red Hulk. In the episode "Doorway to Destruction" Pt. 2, Annihilus gets a mind-control device on Red Hulk, and sends him and Skaar to attack the ship that Hulk, She-Hulk, and A-Bomb used to get into the Negative Zone. After Hulk freed Red Hulk and Skaar from the mind-control device, Hulk and Red Hulk suspect that someone from Earth has supplied Annihilus with the mind-control devices. While the others fight Annihilus' minions, Hulk ends up confronting Annihilus, who crashes Hulk's mini-jet. Hulk then grabs Annihilus' Cosmic Control Rod, rupturing it by bending it in two, rendering Annihilus powerless. It was later revealed that Leader was the one who supplied Annihilus with the mind-control technology. In the episode "Into the Negative Zone," Annihilus is seen with Leader, where it was shown that Leader had confiscated Annihilus' Cosmic Control Rod and modified it. After Leader was defeated by Hulk, Annihilus reclaimed the Cosmic Control Rod and escaped.

Video games

  • Annihilus appears as a boss character in the 2005 Fantastic Four video game voiced by Lex Lang. He is faced by Mister Fantastic and Thing in an underground lab mutated by cosmic radiation.
  • Annihilus appears in the Marvel Super Hero Squad: The Infinity Gauntlet video game voiced by Dee Bradley Baker. He is in collaboration with Nebula when the plan to use the Time Infinity Gem to keep themselves immune to a time bomb that will make everyone else old. Both Annihilus and Nebula are defeated by Invisible Woman and Nova.
  • An Annihilus-inspired alternate costume is used by the Human Torch in the Facebook game, Marvel: Avengers Alliance. It uses the power of the villain's Cosmic Control Rod to call upon Annihilation Wave warriors to counterattack an enemy.

Merchandise

  • An Annihilus figure was released in series 3 of the Marvel Super Heroes action figure line (Toy Biz).
  • An Annihilus figure was released in series 3 of the figure line based on the Fantastic Four cartoon (Toy Biz).
  • Annihilus was the build-a-figure of the "Annihilus Series" of Marvel Legends (Hasbro), including a Wal-mart exclusive repaint.
  • An Annihilus figure was released in series 5 of the Marvel Super Hero Squad, paired with Human Torch (Hasbro).
  • Annihilus was added to the superhero-featuring board game Heroclix in 2013, after winning a fan poll in 2012.

References

  1. ^ Annihilus is number 94 IGN. Retrieved 10-05-09.
  2. ^ Fantastic Four Annual #6
  3. ^ Fantastic Four #108-110
  4. ^ Avengers #89
  5. ^ Marvel Team-Up #2
  6. ^ Fantastic Four #140-141
  7. ^ Fantastic Four #181-183
  8. ^ Marvel Two-in-One #75
  9. ^ Fantastic Four #251-254; Avengers #233; Fantastic Four #255-256
  10. ^ Fantastic Four #289-290
  11. ^ Thor #404-405
  12. ^ Thor #434-435
  13. ^ Warlock vol 3 #1-4 (2000)
  14. ^ Annihilation: Prologue
  15. ^ Annihilation: Silver Surfer #2
  16. ^ Annihilation #1
  17. ^ Annihilation #1-2
  18. ^ Annihilation #4
  19. ^ a b Annihilation #6
  20. ^ War of Kings: Ascension #2
  21. ^ Fantastic Four #578
  22. ^ Fantastic Four vol 1 #587 (Jan 2011)
  23. ^ Ching, Albert. "Associated Press Spoils FANTASTIC FOUR #587 Hours Before Comic Goes on Sale", Newsarama, January 25, 2011
  24. ^ Ching, Albert. "Hickman Details FANTASTIC FOUR #587's Big Character Death", Newsarama, 25 January 2011
  25. ^ Moore, Matt. "After Half Century, It's 1 Fantastic's Farewell", Associated Press via ABC News, January 25, 2011. WebCitation archive.
  26. ^ Fantastic Four #588 (Feb 2011)
  27. ^ Fantastic Four #600 (2012)
  28. ^ Fantastic Four #601 (2012)
  29. ^ Fantastic Four #602-605 (2012)
  30. ^ FF #18
  31. ^ Infinity #3
  32. ^ Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #108 (1971)
  33. ^ Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #290 (1986)
  34. ^ Annihilation: Nova #4 (Sept. 2006)
  35. ^ Annihilation #6 (2007)
  36. ^ Fantastic Four #600
  37. ^ X-Men (2nd series) # 41
  38. ^ X-Men: Alpha one-shot
  39. ^ Blink #2
  40. ^ Blink #3
  41. ^ Blink #4
  42. ^ Marvel Mangaverse vol 2
  43. ^ Ultimate Fantastic Four #15
  44. ^ Ultimate Fantastic Four #17
  45. ^ Ultimate Fantastic Four #18
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