Annihilus

Annihilus
Annihilus. Art by Gabriele Dell'Otto.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Fantastic Four Annual #6 (1968)
Created by	Stan Lee Jack Kirby
In-story information
Place of origin	The planet Arthros, in Sector 17A of the Negative Zone
Team affiliations	Annihilation Wave
Partnerships	Blastaar
Notable aliases	Lord of the Negative Zone, the Living Death that Walks, Ahmyor
Abilities	Superhuman strength, stamina and durability Flight Wields Cosmic Control Rod: Energy and molecular manipulation Retarded aging process

Annihilus is a fictional character in Marvel Comics' Marvel Universe. 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, #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 #140-141 and #233, Marvel Team-Up #2, Marvel Two-in-One #75, and Thor #405-406, #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

Early appearances

Untold millennia ago, the Tyannans, a technologically-advanced semi-humanoid/leonine species of the antimatter universe the Negative Zone, seeded barren worlds with life spores. A freak meteor collision hurled one of their ships into the volcanic planet Arthros, where the crew released their spores before starving to death. Many generations later, a descendant from one of these spores, a weak insectoid creature, presented a mutation which made it extremely intelligent. The creature found the Tyannan starship wreckage and used a knowledge transference helmet to master the advanced Tyannan technology. This enhanced his intelligence and strength, creating a "Cosmic Control Rod" and body armaments. Obsessed with survival, the paranoid creature, which came to be known as Annihilus, set out to destroy any other living being he viewed as a possible threat to his existence. Annihilus used his newly acquired power to dominate other lifeforms that had arisen from the spores on Arthros, and plotted to either conquer or destroy the neighboring worlds in the Negative Zone. He transformed many prisoners via the Tyannans' Gene Transmuter into his servile Scavengers.^{[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 Reed, Ben, and Johnny entered the Negative Zone seeking anti-particles needed to treat Sue's cosmic ray-related pregnancy complications. Annihilus' 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 next invaded the Microverse, a dimension accessed via the energies of shrinking, sending his Insectivorid drones to conquer worlds in his name. Psycho-Man tried to control the dimensional interface leading to the Microverse, but the Insectovorids, emotionless and immune to his power, overran the entire Sub-Atomica System and forced him to retreat to his worldship. Psycho-Man captured the Silver Surfer and Spider-Man to power his weapons and drive off the invaders, but the heroes escaped, leaving Annihilus and Psycho-Man to battle for control of the worldship.^{[volume & issue needed]} Annihilus' Microverse invasion was presumably repelled.

Shortly thereafter, Doctor Doom stole Annihilus' Rod in a complex scheme to steal Galactus' cosmic power. Almost immediately, Annihilus captured the human Rick Jones, who was often stranded in the Negative Zone through a bond he shared with Kree soldier Captain Mar-Vell. Annihilus released Jones when the Fantastic Four retrieved his Control Rod from Dr. Doom. Later, Annihilus was challenged by Janus the Nega-Man, a research scientist and contemporary of Reed 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] When Mar-Vell used Reed's technology to free Rick Jones from the Negative Zone—thus meaning that Mar-Vell would no longer be forced to return to the Zone—Annihilus nearly crossed over to Earth along with Jones, but was driven back by the Avengers, the Vision turning intangible and tricking Annihilus into falling back into the portal to Negative Zone.^[4] Jones later returned to the Negative Zone, but his ability to access the Destiny Force—a near-infinite power source inherent in all humanity—protected him from Annihilus.^[5] Annihilus battled the Frightful Four, and once again attempted to escape the Negative Zone, but was foiled by Spider-Man and the Human Torch.^[6]

Sensing great power within Franklin Richards, Annihilus once abducted him, along with the Fantastic Four, Medusa, Wyatt Wingfoot, and Agatha Harkness into the Negative Zone. He attempted to tap the unknown power of Franklin, amplifying his powers out of control. The Four defeated Annihilus and escaped back to Earth, but Reed was forced to temporarily shut down Franklin's mind to protect Earth's Solar System.^[7]

When the Mad Thinker regained control of his "most powerful android," which Annihilus had previously transmuted into one of his Scavenger servants, it stole Annihilus' Control Rod, morphing into monster form. Annihilus was forced to team up with Reed, who had been stranded in the Negative Zone by the Brute (Reed Richards of the High Evolutionary's Counter-Earth), to foil the Mad Thinker's plan to conquer both the Negative Zone and Earth. The monster android was ultimately defeated, and Annihilus regained his Rod.^[8]

Annihilus next forged the first of many uneasy alliances with Blastaar, another Negative Zone warlord who ruled the planet Baluur. When his monarchy was overthrown, Blastaar offered to serve Annihilus in exchange for assistance in regaining control of Baluur. Although Annihilus viewed Blastaar as emotional and weak, he agreed to Blastaar's proposal, secretly planning to betray his newfound ally. Annihilus showed Blastaar his new weapon, the Super-Adaptoid—a powerful Advanced Idea Mechanics android which Annihilus "found" and reprogrammed, but when Nyglar, Blastaar's mate, grew suspicious of Annihilus and sent out a distress signal, the Thing and Avengers responded and defeated the villains. Annihilus slew Nyglar, after which Blastaar stole the Control Rod and left Annihilus to weaken and deteriorate rapidly.^[9] Dying and desperate, Annihilus slipped through the portal to Earth while the Fantastic Four explored the Negative Zone. He created an impenetrable barrier around the Baxter Building, taking Franklin and Alicia Masters hostage. He attempted to merge the Earth universe with the Negative Zone, nearly destroying both in the process. He battled the Avengers and was defeated by the Fantastic Four as they returned to Earth. Narrowly surviving the ensuing conflict, Annihilus returned to the Negative Zone.^[10] He was revived by Blastaar and regained his Control Rod, battling the Fantastic Four yet again.^[11] Annihilus next attacked the dimension of Asgard, home of the Norse Gods, which had partially drifted into the Negative Zone for a time after the Rainbow Bridge was shattered. Annihilus slew several of Asgard's elite guard, the Crimson Hawks, and almost defeated the mighty Thor and Balder before finally falling in battle to Odin, King of Asgard.^[12] Later, when Odin entered a week-long "Odinsleep" to renew his godly energies, Annihilus kidnapped his dormant body and transported it to the Negative Zone to try to tap into the Odinpower. Annihilus was soon located by the god Heimdall and defeated by Eric Masterson (as Thor), with Balder, and Sif. Masterson seemingly destroyed Annihilus, and returned Odin to Asgard.^[13] Shortly thereafter, the extra-dimensional energy vampire Rune was defeated and cast into the Negative Zone. The weakened Rune attempted to steal the Control Rod, but was defeated by Annihilus and held prisoner within a cosmic singularity until eventually escaping through a portal.^{[volume & issue needed]}

After investigating a strong energy pulse within the Negative Zone, Annihilus and Blastaar were imprisoned alongside the Fantastic Four by the Brute, who had enslaved the Tyannans as his personal army. Annihilus and his fellow captives eventually escaped and defeated the Brute, but Reed helped the Tyannans seal themselves off from the rest of the Negative Zone before a vengeful Annihilus and Blastaar were able to conquer them.^{[volume & issue needed]} Soon after, Annihilus and Blastaar joined forces with fellow Negative Zone warlord Syphonn, who created the Conqueror Wheel to access the Earth universe. During a confrontation with Adam Warlock, Annihilus and Blastaar realized that Syphonn planned to betray them-so they betrayed him first, forcing Syphonn to retreat as his Conqueror Wheel was destroyed by Warlock's allies.^[14]

Stranded on the Negative Zone world of Argor by a glitch in Reed's Fold Space Transceptor prototype, the Fantastic Four stowed aboard Annihilus' monstrous spacecraft, but were soon detected and fought a heated battle with Annihilus inside a cargo hold. Seizing the Control Rod, Reed combined its technology with his Fold Space Transceptor and opened an access portal that allowed the Fantastic Four to escape Annihilus' spacecraft.^{[volume & issue needed]} Later, Annihilus faced a major setback when the N-Explorers, a team funded by the Gideon Trust to explore and loot the Negative Zone, stole his Control Rod. While fighting the N-Explorers for possession of his Rod, Annihilus was decapitated and slain by Hellscout, a descendant of 17th-century Puritan settlers who had been stranded in the Negative Zone for centuries. Upon Annihilus' death, his body released a pod containing a nymph-like clone possessing his memories.^{[volume & issue needed]} After his new body's maturation, Annihilus awoke from his rebirth, but found the Control Rod missing and his empire in ruins.^{[volume & issue needed]}

When Reed planned a new superhuman prison in the Negative Zone, the Fantastic Four were assaulted by Annihilus, who believed they had stolen his Control Rod. After a brief skirmish, the Fantastic Four subdued him, only to be attacked by a second Annihilus who had apparently also been spawned upon the death of his predecessor. Each believing himself to be the true Annihilus and the other the thief, the two Annihiluses fought each other, allowing the Fantastic Four to escape.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Annihilation

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.^[15] He allies with Thanos^[16] and two beings that were trapped in the Kyln by Galactus, Tenebrous, and Aegis.^[17] Tenebrous and Aegis defeat Galactus and the Silver Surfer, and the two are connected to a giant mechanism in Annihilus' starship.^[18] Annihilus' goal is actually creating a massive Power Cosmic bomb that will destroy the Universe and the Negative zone, leaving Annihilus the only survivor.^[19] Drax and the Silver Surfer manage to free Galactus, who destroys the Annihilation Wave. Nova battles and kills Annihilus.^[20]

Annihilus was reborn as an infant with all of the original's memories.^[21]

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.^[22]

Negative Zone Civil War

During a later incursion into the Negative Zone, Johnny Storm discovers that Annihilus' 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.^[23]

The Human Torch dies stopping a horde of aliens from the Negative Zone.^[24] 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.^{[25][26][27][28]}

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 is also superhumanly strong.

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,^[29] Thor, Nova Prime, Quasar and Blastaar^[30] 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' power.^[31] By using these in combination with most of his stores 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.^{[volume & issue needed]}

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.

At present, the source of Annihilus' vastly increased powers are unknown—or if, in fact, the extent of his powers is a retcon; in the Annihilation miniseries, he was able to withstand a simultaneous assault by Nova (now the sole recipient of the energies once dispersed throughout the entire Nova Corps and hundreds if not thousands of times more powerful than ever before), and Quasar, who has been an even match in combat with the Silver Surfer.^{[volume & issue needed]} In fact, as was previously mentioned, he overpowered and killed Quasar with very little apparent effort. This may be due to Annihilus seizing control of the "Opposing Force" described as being the Negative Zone's version of the Power Cosmic, part of which he bestowed upon Ravenous and other Seekers (beings empowered with the Opposing Force with the intention of hunting down powered individuals and harvesting their energies for Annihilus' use).

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.^[32]

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.^[33]

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.^[34]

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 back into his insectoid form.^[35]

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 revenged boiled withim him.^[36]

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.^{[volume & issue needed]} Annihilus' appearance and powers in this incarnation are inspired by the anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion, as are most of the Fantastic Four characters Manga versions.^{[citation needed]}

Ultimate Annihilus

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.^[37]

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.^[38]

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 affect 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.^[39]

In other media

Television

• Annihilus appears in the Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends episode "The Prison Plot", as an illusion created by Mastermind.^{[citation needed]}

• Annihilus appears in the 1994 Fantastic Four episode "Behold the Negative Zone", voiced by Clyde Kusatsu.^{[citation needed]}

• Annihilus appears in Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes, voiced by Scott McNeil.^{[citation needed]}

• Annihilus appears in The Super Hero Squad Show episode "Double Negation at the World's End" voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.

Film

• Don Payne has expressed interest in having Annihilus as a villain in possible future installments in the Fantastic Four film franchise.^[40]

Video games

• Annihilus appears as a boss character in the 2005 Fantastic Four video game, where he is voiced by Lex Lang. He is faced by Mister Fantastic and The Thing in an underground lab mutated by cosmic radiation, which presumably is the explanation for Annihilus' origin within the game.^{[citation needed]}

• Annihilus also appears in the Blizzard Entertainment game Diablo II: Lord of Destruction as a unique small charm, which can be found only from a random server event, and the character defeating the special boss.^[41]

• 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.

• Annihilus appears as a villain character in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online.

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. ^ Avengers #96-97
6. ^ Marvel Team-Up #2
7. ^ Avengers #140-141
8. ^ Fantastic Four #181-183
9. ^ Marvel Two-in-One #75
10. ^ Fantastic Four #251-254; Avengers #233; Fantastic Four #255-256
11. ^ Fantastic Four #289-290
12. ^ Thor #405-406
13. ^ Thor #434-435
14. ^ Warlock vol 3 #1-4 (2000)
15. ^ Annihilation: Prologue
16. ^ Annihilation: Silver Surfer #2
17. ^ Annihilation #1
18. ^ Annihilation #1-2
19. ^ Annihilation #4
20. ^ Annihilation #6
21. ^ Annihilation #6
22. ^ War of Kings: Ascension #2
23. ^ Fantastic Four #578
24. ^ Fantastic Four vol 1 #587 (Jan 2011)
25. ^ Ching, Albert. "Associated Press Spoils FANTASTIC FOUR #587 Hours Before Comic Goes on Sale", Newsarama, January 25, 2011
26. ^ Ching, Albert. "Hickman Details FANTASTIC FOUR #587's Big Character Death", Newsarama, 25 January 2011
27. ^ Moore, Matt. "After Half Century, It's 1 Fantastic's Farewell", Associated Press via ABC News, January 25, 2011. WebCitation archive.
28. ^ Fantastic Four #588 (Feb 2011)
29. ^ Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #108 (1971)
30. ^ Fantastic Four Vol. 1 #290 (1986)
31. ^ Annihilation: Nova #4 (Sept. 2006)
32. ^ X-Men (2nd series) # 41
33. ^ X-Men: Alpha one-shot
34. ^ Blink #2
35. ^ Blink #3
36. ^ Blink #4
37. ^ Ultimate Fantastic Four #15
38. ^ Ultimate Fantastic Four #17
39. ^ Ultimate Fantastic Four #18
40. ^ Weinberg, Scott (2007-06-06). "Your Questions Answered from 'Silver Surfer' Screenwriter Don Payne!". Cinematical. http://www.cinematical.com/2007/06/06/your-questions-answered-from-silver-surfer-screenwriter-don-payne/. Retrieved 2010-04-14. 
41. ^ "Annihilus Charm Description". Classic.battle.net. http://classic.battle.net/diablo2exp/items/normal/ucharms.shtml. Retrieved 2010-12-26. 

External links

• Annihilus at Marvel.com