Quasar (Wendell Vaughn)

Superherobox|

caption=Quasar
Art by Greg Capullo and Keith Williams
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Quasar
real_name=Wendell Elvis Vaughn
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut=as Marvel Man: "Captain America" #217 (January, 1978)
as Quasar: "Incredible Hulk" #234
creators= Don Glut, Roy Thomas (co-writers), John Buscema (artist)
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
alliances=The Avengers Starmasters S.H.I.E.L.D.
aliases=Protector of the Universe (formal title)
Marvel Boy
Marvel Man
powers=Energy manipulation.
Teleportation.
Solid light constructs.
Flight.

Quasar (Wendell Elvis Vaughn) is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Universe. He is one of Marvel's cosmic heroes, a character whose adventures frequently take him into outer space or other dimensions. However, Quasar deviates from the archetype of the noble, dauntless alien set by such Silver Age cosmic heroes as the Silver Surfer, Adam Warlock and Captain Mar-Vell in that he is an everyman. He starred in an eponymous monthly ongoing series written by Mark Gruenwald that ran for sixty issues beginning in 1989 and has served as a member of The Avengers.

Publication history

Quasar received his solo series in "Quasar #1", October 1989, written by Mark Gruenwald and illustrated by Paul Ryan and Danny Bulanadi.

Later, the New Universe's Star Brand was introduced into the Marvel Universe. Its presence precipitated into the "Starblast" crossover, which was intended to stir up interest in Quasar's solo series or a prospective cosmic team series starring Quasar, but it failed to do so. "Quasar" was soon cancelled at issue #60, in which Quasar set out to leave Earth in order to spend more time in his job as Protector of the Universe. Stories in "The Avengers", "Fantastic Four" and "Marvel Team-Up" have subsequently depicted Quasar on Earth.

Quasar appeared in the four-issue mini-series "Annihilation: Nova" (June-Sept. 2006) with a new costume and at the climax of which, he appeared to be killed. He later appeared as a "spirit" to Phyla-Vell, the second Quasar, who starred in the miniseries ": Quasar" #1-4 (Sept.-Dec. 2007), by writer Christos Gage and penciller Mike Lilly.

Quasar appeared for the first time since his future self in the Phyla Vell story, in "Nova" #17, as the writers Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning (known collectively as DnA) thought he was too useful a character to stay dead:

Fictional character biography

Origin & early career

Wendell Vaughn was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. When S.H.I.E.L.D. came into possession of the alien Quantum Bands that had been worn by the deceased 1950s superhero Marvel Boy, Wendell Vaughn had just graduated from S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy. Although considered highly capable by his superiors, they nonetheless deemed him unfit for field work, sensing that Vaughn lacked the necessary "killer instinct"—the will to win at all costs.

His first assignment was security detail for a research facility where a team of scientists were performing experiments on the Quantum Bands. A test pilot selected to wear the bands proved spectacularly successful at wielding them (a probable allusion to Hal Jordan), but he perished when the energy output reached a critical mass beyond his control. Vaughn witnessed this, yet despite the inherent danger he donned the bands when the criminal scientists AIM launched a full-scale assault on the facility. Using the bands' power to generate solid energy constructs, he repulsed the attack. Afterwards, the energy buildup began to overwhelm him, so Vaughn soared off into the upper atmosphere to ensure that the imminent explosion would endanger no one else. Resigning himself to annihilation, he decided to simply relax and "go with the flow". To his surprise, the buildup abruptly dissipated. Vaughn realized the key to wielding the bands was a flexible will, rather than an indomitable, uncompromising one. Ultimately, his lack of a killer instinct made all the difference.

Wendell Vaughn became a superhero, using the codename Marvel Boy in his first appearance alongside S.H.I.E.L.D.'s superhuman Super-Agents; he later became Marvel Man and finally settled on the "nom de guerre" of Quasar.

Protector of the Universe (the "Quasar" series)

Quasar journeyed to Uranus, the planet from which the original Marvel Boy had received the bands, and had the bands' true nature and origins revealed to him by the cosmic entity called Eon. Eon revealed that the bands were intended to be worn by his agent, the Protector of the Universe, a role which had previously belonged to the late Captain Mar-Vell. Quasar was offered the role and accepted. As a result, his mind was opened to the true extent of the bands power, including how to use the bands to teleport via a dimension called the Quantum Zone. After returning to Earth, he resumed his role as a superhero and shortly thereafter joined the Avengers.

After a falling-out with both his estranged father and Eon, he quit his role as Protector of the Universe. During this time Maelstrom, the "Cosmic Assassin," killed both Quasar and Eon. However, Quasar was recreated in an energy form by the cosmic being Infinity and battled Maelstrom in the heart of a black hole. Maelstrom was destroyed by the Quantum-bands and Quasar resurrected himself, complete with a new costume. Eon was revealed to have reincarnated in the form of its newborn offspring, Epoch.

Quasar played a vital role in "", trying to protect the Earth from various alien menaces. His attempt to stop the Nega-Bomb from passing through Earth space fails when the Skrull captain threatens to detonate it. Quasar is forced to let it go on through. Soon after, he realizes the operation of the star-gates is seemingly causing anti-matter to build up in the sun. On top of all this, he has to deal with Her, a powerful cosmic being with an unhealthy fixation on Quasar. Then along comes Binary whom Her then attacks, because Quasar had asked Her to keep an eye on the star-gates. Eventually, things calm down and Quasar and Binary eliminate the antimatter. Binary does a majority of the work as her powers are simply that much more applicable to the task, but Quasar, at great risk to himself, helps her escape the sun.

During the Infinity War, which happened a few weeks after Galactic Storm, Quasar travels to the Dimension of Manifestations in order to gather intelligence. With the aid of the Contemplator, he discovers the cosmic being Eternity in a catatonic state. He leaves the dimension, and the Contemplator, to travel with his fellow superheroes through a mystical portal. They battle the Infinity Watch. Quasar attempts and fails to harness the energy of Adam Warlock's Soul Gem, when it explodes in his face. The Contemplator, who had discovered information he felt Quasar needed, provides a further distraction with a telepathic call, allowing Warlock to land a finishing blow.

Later, after things calm down, Quasar attempts to use the near-omnipotent Ultimate Nullifier against the godlike Magus. Magus uses the Infinity Gauntlet to turn the weapon against Quasar, wiping him from existence. Quasar thus found himself in the realm of Oblivion, where he was apparently destroyed. However, he was able to resurrect himself through means of the Star Brand, which he had acquired during a trip to the New Universe prior to the Infinity War. This exile into space was enforced when the radioactive Soviet expatriate called the Presence threatens to kill his loved ones. Quasar fakes his death before leaving Earth.

Avengers Deep-Space/Annihilation

Quasar helped defend the universe from aliens called Infinities and was next seen during "Maximum Security" where he absorbed the essence of Ego the Living Planet and again exiled himself into space, for fear of Ego expanding to planet-size.

Quasar has helped to operate an Avengers deep-space sensing station with the help of Living Lightning. He has assisted the Fantastic Four in a battle with Galactus. He appeared with a new costume in the four-issues miniseries "Annihilation: Nova" (June-Sept. 2006), in which he is killed by Annihilus, who drains the energy from the Quantum Bands.

After Annihilus' defeat, the Quantum Bands came into the possession of Phyla-Vell, who commented that when given the option, the bands "chose" a good host rather than an evil one.

ecret Invasion

Wendell was seemingly restored to life into a light entity when the scientists of Project Pegasus extracted the Worldmind from Nova's brain to use the supercomputer to jump start a project they had in storage.

Future ?

Wendell Vaughn appeared as one of the 142 heroes on the cover of the first issue of , hinting that after his "return" Vaughn could join the Fifty State Initiative at any point. Previously Wendell appeared also in his actual condition during Nova Annual #1 on a future dreamed by Richard Rider and on a setting that could fit with the upcoming Dark Reign saga's one, hinting an active involvement of Wendell also on this saga.

Powers and abilities

Quantum Bands

Quasar's powers are derived from the pair of Quantum Bands fused to his wrists (or more specifically, from the seven gems on each of the bands). They are linked to their wearer's nervous system and grant tremendous powers of energy manipulation. The wrist-bands were originally discovered by the Uranian Eternals in a weapons depot left by the alien Kree.

Foremost amongst these powers is the ability to tap into a limitless energy source called the Quantum Zone. Quasar can project quantum energy in the form of devastating beams of force or heat, but more commonly employs them to fashion incredibly durable constructs of solid energy, such as containment spheres or pincers. He protects himself with a personal force field of quantum energy.

The Quantum Bands can also exert control over many other types of energy that are part of the electromagnetic spectrum. For example, Quasar once tapped into a sun and caused it to emit an enormous solar flare. He can also absorb and redirect the cosmic energy wielded by such powerful beings as the Silver Surfer, Jack of Hearts, Adam Warlock, Thanos, Phoenix and the Watchers, siphoning their power and using it to augment his quantum energy. Forms of energy the Quantum Bands cannot control include magic and the Darkforce.

Although he cannot overtly affect psionic energy, Quasar has programmed his bands to render him impervious to psionic mental control. Even Moondragon and the Overmind proved unable to overcome this defense. He does not appear to be protected from magical forms of compulsion.

Quasar can create apertures into and out of the Quantum Zone, thus allowing passage through its infinite, featureless expanse. He mainly uses this ability to traverse interstellar distances in a manner similar to hyperspace travel. The effect is essentially a form of teleportation, which Quasar refers to as a Quantum Jump. A Quantum Jump has a destructive side effect on the local environment, violently upheaving gravity and tearing holes in the atmosphere (on Earth, it would damage the ozone layer), so Quasar initially refrained from using it except when in space or in dire circumstances. However, he eventually discovered that he could prevent this effect by surrounding himself with a barrier of solid energy before jumping. Quasar can also shunt other matter into the Quantum Zone provided that he's in physical contact with it.

The Quantum Bands enable their wearer to fly by manipulating gravitons. The maximum flight speed he can attain is unknown, but he made a trip from Earth to Uranus in approximately four years flying non-stop (this was before he learned how to quantum jump). That would require a constant speed of roughly 50,000 miles per hour. This doesn't take into account the velocity he can achieve in a short burst of acceleration.

The quantum band gems possess some capability for analyzing and processing information as if they were extremely advanced computers. This allows Quasar to navigate the Quantum Zone and the depths of space. The gems are able to detect, analyze, and track energy emissions across vast distances. They can also "program" his Quantum energy to register and react to certain preset conditions. For instance, at one time Quasar had the Earth surrounded with an invisible lattice-work of energy that was designed to act as a global alert system against potential extraterrestrial threats. The energy field could detect any surges of exotic energy emanating from the planet's surface as well as if any object larger than a micrometeorite passed through it; in either case, the field would react by transmitting an alert signal to the Quantum Bands.

Quasar has a direct link to Epoch through his bands, which gives him ready access to her nascent omniscience.

Annihilus killed Quasar and gained the Quantum Bands, adding to his already considerable power ["Annihilation: Nova" #4 (Sept.2006)] ,though the bands subsequently came into the possession of Phyla Vell following Annihilus' apparent death. She has since discovered that the bands contain a finite amount of energy which will drain away if they are isolated from their power source (as yet unexplained) and that they also remain linked in some way to their former users. Quasar has since been sighted as a "spirit", and it has been indicated that his link to the bands enabled him to "pull himself together again" following his physical death.

tar Brand

While he possessed the power of the Star Brand, Quasar gained the abilities of flight, superhuman strength and resilience. He also was able to regenerate his entire body from minute remains and did not need to eat, drink or breathe. However, virtually all of the energy derived from the Star Brand was depleted not long after he gave it away. The Living Tribunal later stated that Quasar's body retains only an insignificant trace amount of energy.

Cosmic awareness

Quasar also briefly possessed the same powers of cosmic awareness that Eon granted to Kree soldier Mar-Vell (later known as the original Captain Marvel). By simply concentrating for a moment, he could gain complete knowledge about virtually anything in the universe. It's unclear why Eon didn't bestow cosmic awareness on Quasar permanently, but being nigh-omniscient himself, he likely determined that it would have been detrimental to Quasar's psyche (as it was to that of Genis-Vell). The fact that he received the awareness while his mind was inhabiting an energy construct, and he did not demonstrate it upon returning to his body, may also have something to do with it.

tandard Operating Procedure

While Quasar's powers are quite powerful and diverse, since he doesn't make it a habit of using all of his power to destroy his opponent, it is important to note his standard operating procedure [ [http://www.quantumzone.org/behind_the_scenes/everything_quantum-bands.html Quantum Zone: Everything There Is To Know About Quasar's Quantum-Bands] by Mark Gruenwald] .

* Contain. Q encounters someone who looks menacing. Immediate reaction: whip up a containment vessel around him to prevent further danger.
* Drain. If it appears this menace has energy-based powers, Q taps those powers and drains them off. The length of time this takes depends on the extent of the menace's power. He cannot do this to persons whose energies are outside the electromagnetic spectrum or are vastly more powerful than he (e.g., Thanos).
* Attack. Clobber the guy with a quantum-construct, be it a personal weapon (Q prefers nunchakus) or a big something like a giant hammer or anvil.

Other versions

Captain Universe Quasar

After a failed war with the Elder God Set and the deaths of every hero on Earth save The Silver Surfer, Quasar was merged with Captain Universe to form a super-being that was capable of capturing and defeating Set. Using the Eye of Agamotto Quasar trapped himself and Set within its pocket dimension. ["What If" vol. 2 #25]

Once, during a trip through alternate realities, the Earth-616 version of Quasar viewed his Captain Universe-enhanced counterpart and Set battling each other. ["Quasar" #30]

Guardians of the Galaxy

Tricked by Eon's evil 'child' Era, Quasar jumps to a sentient nexus of energy and is killed. He ends up in the 'White Room', where all Quantum Band wielders go after death. Eon is entrapped with him, in the form of a centerpiece on the Room's table.

Her, now called Kismet, teams up with the long-lost son she had with Quasar, Starhawk. They visit Quasar's grave and learn what Era has done. With the aid of the Hawk-God Starhawk worships, the two vow to stop Era.

House of M Quasar

Wendell Vaughn briefly appeared for one panel as a scientist during the alternate time line of caused by Wanda Maximoff. There is no indication that he possesses the quantum bands in this universe. ["House of M"]

Last Avengers Story

Quasar briefly mentioned as having been driven insane in "Last Avengers Story" #1, but he does not appear.

Ultimate Quasar

Although Quasar has not appeared as a superhero in the Ultimate Marvel setting, S.H.I.E.L.D agent Wendell Vaughn is the head of security for the top secret Project Pegasus in Devil's Point, Wyoming. He first appears in "Ultimate Power" #1, when Project Pegasus is attacked by the Serpent Squad.

Footnotes

References

* [http://www.comics.org Grand Comics Database]
* [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/FRAMES00.HTM Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators]
* [http://www.comicvine.com/quasar/3319/ Comics Vine]