Oshtur

Oshtur
Oshtur as part of the Vishanti Art by Geof Isherwood
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Strange Tales #120 (1964)
Created by	Jack Kirby, Stan Lee
In-story information
Alter ego	Oshtur
Species	Elder God
Team affiliations	Doctor StrangeQ Vishanti
Notable aliases	The Omnipotent Oshtur Bright Lady Lady of the Skies Gracious Lady Lady of the Eastern Star Bird Goddess
Abilities	cross-dimensional awareness supernatural powers vast magical abilities

Oshtur is a fictional character published in Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as an Elder Goddess born from the demiurge sometime billions of years ago. Unlike her siblings, Oshtur had a fascination with the realms beyond Earth. She took to the heavens before the fall of the Elder Gods and their degeneration into malevolent demons. It is unknown for how long Oshtur left earth, but it is presumed to be millions of years. While exploring the universe and other planes of existence, she met a companion in the mysterious but immensely powerful mystical entity Hoggoth, one of the founders of the later Vishanti. Again, it is unclear when or where Oshtur and Hoggoth discovered each other, though it has been confirmed that Oshtur asexually spawned Agamotto from one of her tears.

Publication history

The character appears in Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #43 (July 1992), #48-49 (December 1992-January 1993), and #54 (June 1993). She plays a significant part in the four-part series Mystic Arcana (2008).

Oshtur appeared as part of the "Vishanti" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89 #8.

Birth of Agamotto & the Vishanti

After witnessing children play, Oshtur was moved and gave birth to Agamotto. She instructed Agamotto then left him to undertake the paths of magic.^[1]

With Agamotto and Hoggoth, she formed the Vishanti.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Oshtur is also responsible for creating the Tome of Oshtur and the Book of the Vishanti.^{[volume & issue needed]}

The Book of the Vishanti

Oshtur is credited as the creator of the Book of the Vishanti, a tome of untold power comparable to the Darkhold, but based in white magic.^{[volume & issue needed]}

In Mystic Arcana, Ian McNee has a vision of Oshtur in which he is assigned to find the Four Cornerstones of Creation. In the final book he learns that this was a deception by Chthon, and the real Oshtur intercedes. In Book I, McNee claims Ma'at and Ishtar as names Oshtur is known by. Additionally, in Marvel Tarot, Oshtur is hinted to be some kind of angelic being set as an opposite to the evil of the demonic Chthon, and has also been implied to have some undefined connection with the Judeo-Christian God and the Virgin Mary, along with many other ancient human mythologies and pantheons.

References

1. ^ Mystic Arcana: The Marvel Tarot (focusing on Ian McNee with various Marvel archetypal characters appearing as Tarot Cards and some background stories on principalities.) Writer/Artist David Sexton with Doug Sexton and Jeff Christiansen.

• Mystic Arcana Book I: Air (focusing on Illyana Rasputin/Magik). Author: Louise Simonson. Pencils: Steve Scott.
• Mystic Arcana Book IV: Fire (focusing on Nico Minoru/Sister Grimm) Author: C. B. Cebulski. Pencils: Phil Noto.
• Strange Tales #120
• Dr. Strange #43 and #49
• Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Mystic Arcana - The Book of Marvel Magic