Stranger (Cosmic Being) (Earth-616)

Stranger
Name	Unrevealed
Current Alias	Stranger
Aliases	Impersonations: Beyonder
Affiliation and Relationships
Affiliation	Elders of the Universe, Four Muses
Relatives	Ego (creation); Alter Ego (creation)
Marital Status	Single
Physical Characteristics
Gender	Male
Height	15′ (4.57 m), Variable
Weight	Variable
Eyes	Irises: White
Hair	White
Origin and Living Status
Origin	The gestalt of the Gigantian Eternals
Living Status	Alive
Reality	Earth-616
Personal Information
Identity	Secret
Occupation	Cosmic Being, scientist
Base of Operations	Laboratory World
Creators and Appearances
Creators	Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, Chic Stone
First	X-Men #11 (March, 1965)
First	X-Men #11 (March, 1965)

 An awkward and distasteful coda. And yet I can't seem to summon the requisite ire. Can it be that, at some level, I'm actually pleased? After all, the best experiments are those whose results are entirely unexpected. And certainly I never foresaw all those eons ago that this one would end, not in destruction...but in a family. 

—Stranger

An enigma even to himself, the Stranger is both a cosmic being and an amoral yet curious extraterrestrial scientist. He conducts his experiments on the oddities of the universe from his personal, artificial Laboratory World. Although he routinely concocts contradicting claims about his origins, the Stranger is a gestalt of Gigantian Eternals.

History

Gigantian Uni-Mind

By his own account, the Stranger was a composite being who possessed the combined strength and intellect of the billions of humanoid beings who once lived on the planet Gigantus, an ancient world in the Andromeda Galaxy whose size approached the limit at which a planet could exist before fissioning into a sun. Gigantus, the home of a highly advanced and pacifistic people, was the target of the imperialistic race of Eternals from Eyung, who decided to destroy Gigantus when it proved too big to conquer. Before their world's destruction, however, a vast fleet of Gigantians escaped to retaliate against their attackers. After destroying Eyung, the Gigantians used technological means to meld their minds into a single being, apparently to one day combat the Eternals' similar composite entity, the Over-Mind. This being, later known as the Stranger, existed for some eons, and soon became engaged in the same pursuit of knowledge that had engaged his race.

The Stranger later claimed that he had found that composite being, accidentally killed him, and vowed to fulfill his role, though he still suspected he could be a Gigantian himself. However, this claim was later proved to be false when the Stranger's Gigantian minds began to unsync.

The Stranger creating the Living Planets

Ego the Living Planet

One of the many creations of the Stranger was Ego the Living Planet. The Stranger created Ego by merging Egros, a scientist, with every living thing orbiting his home star through a nova he caused. Ego's birth was also allegedly accompanied by that of Id, the Selfish Moon.

A second planet, Alter Ego, was also created, but was given to The Collector. The Stranger planned to one day set his two creations against each other to see who was the stronger. Ego existed within the so-called "Black Galaxy," which is probably actually a dark nebula near or within the Milky Way Galaxy.

Mutants

The Stranger stated he had been manipulating the evolution of the Mutants of Earth for decades. He wished to use their powers against the other cosmic beings and/or replacing them as they were to become Eternity and the sole survivor of the universe. This statement is controversial considering that he has also stated to have visited Earth only recently.

Modern Age

X-Men

The Stranger happened upon Earth as he was attracted by the sudden proliferation of superhumanly powered beings on it. Investigating some of these beings, the Stranger encountered Magneto and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, and the original X-Men. The Stranger took Magneto and the Toad with him to his home-base planet to study, although the Stranger left this planet sometimes. Making use of one of these chances, Magneto escaped back to Earth, but Magneto's enemy Professor X managed to telepathically contact the Stranger, who went to Earth and re-captured Magneto.

Apparently from his observations of Magneto and the Toad, the Stranger concluded that these powers, in the process of development by the denizens of Earth, would be misused and, in time, become a threat to other worlds. Thus, he journeyed to Earth in two occasions for the express purpose of limiting Earth’s population through a random purge. On each of these occasions, he was convinced by the selfless actions of Earth beings: (the Hulk and scientist Al Harper, a friend of the Silver Surfer) proved to him that the Earth had the potential for good. After his second attempt to destroy Earth, the Stranger declared it safe from any future reprisals.

Thor

Abomination appeared on the Stranger's Laboratory World after being defeated by the Silver Surfer. Realizing he was no match to the cosmic being; he used the Stranger's scanner to teleport Thor to the planet for help. Thor helped Abomination and soon freed all the Stranger's subjects. The Stranger, however, returned and Thor was no match for him. Thor then escaped but was trapped as Donald Blake. As a result, he was captured by Abomination who planned to take over the planet. Blake, however, became Thor again and the Stranger returned for revenge. Thor used his hammer to reverse time, thus stopping Abomination from ever summoning him to the world.

Since that time, the Stranger has employed his vast powers on behalf of the Earth. The first of these incidents pitted him against his ancient enemy, the Overmind. The Stranger used his superior power to imprison the Overmind on a mole of dust.

The Gardener

The Stranger, in possession of one of the six Infinity Gems, attacked Adam Warlock and Spider-Man in the Blue Area of the Moon, in order to claim Adam's Soul Gem. the Gardener, who was in the area, used his Time Gem's power (which was still believed to be another Soul Gem at the time) to combat the Stranger, thus driving him away. Believing that he "corrupted" the gem by using as a weapon, the Gardener abandoned it on the Moon.

The Champions

Not much time later, the Stranger busted into the Champions of Los Angeles headquarters, claiming to be there to save them from a Null-Life Bomb he created. Not remotely trusting him, the Champions fought the Stranger until the Null-Life Bomb began to expand and engulf Regina and the Stranger. The Champions finally listened to the Stranger's case and offered to help do whatever was needed to disarm the bomb, so the Stranger teleported them to a place that Hercules recognized from the time he invaded it, the realm of Kamo Tharn. They were sent there to retrieve his runestaff, which the Stranger didn't realize was already on Earth since Hercules helped steal it earlier. Darkstar noticed a trace of the portal the Stranger used to send them there and used her darkforce to re-open it and return to Earth. It turned out the runestaff was left sitting in the hospital broom closet after it was used to resurrect Jane Foster. Once it was retrieved, the Stranger guided Darkstar to use it to accelerate the Null-Life Bomb's expansion until it engulfed the universe. Since the bomb had expanded beyond its limit to contract and destroy, it instead dissolved into nothingness. With the Champions returned, the Stranger departed peacefully.

The Stranger's Gem was later stolen by Thanos in his first attempt to collect the six Gems so he could create a single synthetic Soul Gem and annihilate the stars of the universe with its power.

The third time he came to Earth was to thwart a plot by the Olympian god Pluto.

Infinity Gauntlet

As a cosmic being, the Stranger has gotten himself involved in a number of cosmic events. When Thanos' use of the Infinity Gauntlet proved to be out of control, he was one of the many cosmic beings to confront the mad Titan.

The Avengers

The Avengers were attacked by the Stranger when he was looking for the Scarlet Witch. During the fight, the Wasp was injured. The Stranger tracked the Scarlet Witch down while she was on a honeymoon with the Vision. The group found the Stranger's inconsistent abilities a mystery until their final confrontation aboard his ship where, thanks to the Beast's ingenuity, it was revealed that the Stranger was actually Toad in disguise. Easily defeating the Toad, the Avengers learned that, following Toad's last encounter with the Avengers, he traveled back to Laboratory World and stole technology in order to get back at Wanda for turning down his advances.

Captain Marvel

He had a showdown with Captain Mar-Vell aboard the O.K. space station.

Silver Surfer

The Elders of the Universe tried to kill Galactus. Afterwards, the Silver Surfer soon learned the origin of the Stranger from the Living Tribunal.

Nebula

The Stranger attempted to learn where Nebula had hidden his Infinity Union device. The Avengers then spread out to search for Nebula's ship. Unfortunately, Spider-Man came across it and inadvertently activated it, granting Nebula incalculable power. Nebula, having been given godlike powers by the Infinity Union, played with her new toys: the Stranger and the Avengers. The Avengers distracted Nebula long enough for the Stranger to learn how to strip Nebula from her new-found powers. He succeeded and Nebula was defeated. Unfortunately, Nebula made a clean get-away and the Stranger returned the Avengers to Earth.

Kosmos

The Stranger and a group of his fellow cosmic beings were forced to deal with Kubik's new creation, Kosmos.

Quasar

The Watchers broke their own rules and asked the Stranger to stop a virus, while Quasar used this time to free his experimental subjects that were trapped on Laboratory World.

Infinity Watch

After saving the universe from Thanos and ultimately acquiring his prize, the Infinity Gauntlet, Adam Warlock found himself on trial, judged by the very cosmic beings, including the Stranger, who supported him in the conflict. Presiding over the trial was the Living Tribunal, and the one making the case that Warlock was not fit to be the supreme master of the universe was Eternity. Eventually, the Living Tribunal ruled against Warlock, and he was forced to surrender his godhood by separating the six Infinity Gems.

Anthropomorpho

Quasar and the Contemplator encountered Anthropomorpho, who could create M-Bodies of the Manifestations such as the Stranger.

Bi-Beast

Controlled by the Stranger, the Bi-Beast intended to detonate a powerful bomb. While Doc Samson was easily repelled by the Bi-Beast, the Hulk and She-Hulk joined forces and were able to defeat him.

Quasar

The Stranger had also allied himself with Skeletron and the Starblasters. in an attempt to gain control of the Star Brand only to trap the now-Star Brand-empowered Skeletron in the now lifeless New Universe while shunting its Earth into orbit around his Laboratory World where it remains to this day. The Stranger remained an enigmatic being, studying the phenomena of the universe for unknown reasons and acting toward other living beings with unfathomable motives.

Four Muses

When reality was altered by creating Eurth, the Stranger became a member of the Four Muses.

Beyonder

He posed as the Beyonder to continue his studies. Creating his own Battleworld, he forced two groups of heroes and villains to battle each other.

Alter-Ego

Ego flew too close to the Earth, causing atmospheric disruptions and forcing Thor to investigate the disturbance. As Thor was about to stop Ego, he was interrupted by the Stranger, who told Thor that he could not be allowed to interrupt Ego's destiny, while revealing that Ego was his creation. Thor tried to deter him from reaching his final destination, the Collector's Museum. Ego learned his true origin and that he had a brother: Alter-Ego, who had been imprisoned by the Collector. Alter-Ego was created to despise his brother as the Stranger wanted to learn who was superior through battle. Ego reluctantly defended himself hurting his brother, but Thor stopped him before the final blow could be given. The remains of Alter-Ego fell into Ego's orbit effectively becoming a moon and together they traveled the universe.

Thanos

Trapped in the Cancerverse

Accessing the power of a stolen Cosmic Cube, Thanos summoned a gathering of the astral versions of some cosmic heavyweights, including the Stranger, the In-Betweener and members of the Elders of the Universe. While Thanos briefly taunted them with the powerful item, the Collector coveted it, seeking to break a trade. Tired of the general exchange, Thanos turned the Cube on the other entities, seemingly wiping them from existence. However, they were only banished to the Cancerverse, where eventually they found the Avengers, who like them were banished after they tried to defeat Thanos, who had lost control of the Cosmic Cube. The Stranger and the other cosmic entities helped the Avengers escape the Cancerverse and, after the heroes defeated Thanos, they handed him over to them as part of their deal. The cosmic entities left with Thanos as their prisoner, while the Avengers planned to confront the General who was in charge of Project Cosmic.

Howard the Duck

After Howard the Duck merged with the Nexus of All Realities, the Stranger kidnapped him from Linda and Shocket's spaceship while they were trying to invade the Collector's planet. The Stranger planned to keep Howard contained inside his spaceship in order to use him as a gate to create an entirely new universe - which was now possible due to the Nexus having bonded with a living being - where he would conduct his experiments without interference. Howard was then freed from the Stranger's grasp, not by his allies, but by another party interested in him: the would-be herald of Galactus, Scout.

Ghost Light

When Al Harper foiled the Stranger's plan to end humanity, an event which the Stranger had erased from people's minds, the Stranger's nano-clouds snatched Al's life force and sent it to rematerialize in the Stranger's Labworld. The Stranger then experimented on him, as with all the countless lifeforms he had there.

Inner faction

Unsynced minds

However, the legion of Gigantian minds that composed the Stranger's mind began to desync over time. A couple hundred of them called the Inner Faction remained sane and scanned Al's mind, discovering that he might have the means to cure the Stranger's insanity. He then sent Harper back to Earth to his original body, keeping the nanobots and powers the Stranger had given him as Ghost Light. Meanwhile, the deranged main Stranger attempted to retrieve Al Harper. At the request of an A.I.M. scientist Dr. Sombra Solomon, he returned the memories of the day he erased which caused widespread panic. He then took over Sombra's body to use as his avatar. The Inner Faction, Ghost Light, and the Silver Surfer battled the Stranger. The Stranger's minds were successfully synced thanks to Ghost Light's device and the Stranger left with Sombra to find a planet to be New Gigantus, as that was his mission before his madness.

Attributes

Power Grid

Powers

The Stranger can tap into ambient cosmic energy to generate force blasts with large concussive force, create shielding of great sturdiness, engage in matter manipulation, size alteration, display great psionic abilities, planetary level teleportation across vast distances, including between universes/dimensions and achieve numerous other effects that are well beyond the limits of Earth science. It would appear his great power will not avail him in parallel dimensions, especially mystical ones, due to how being present in such a place tends to weaken his connection to cosmic energy; this is how Pluto was able to overwhelm him while they combated each other in Pluto's native dimension. His power level should also, theoretically, be greater than beings, such as Mephisto and Dormammu, while on a neutral plane, in keeping with his status as a cosmic entity, and not a mere alien scientist. However, his power is certainly lesser than the In-Betweener, Celestials, and the Cosmic Cube artifact and beings formed from the Cube. Although his quest for knowledge indicates that the Stranger is not omniscient in the literal sense, he does possess formidable cosmic knowledge and expertise. Indeed, the Stranger is endowed with a certain type of cosmic awareness, since he analyzed the Earth from a distant point in space. He was part of the group of entities that opposed Thanos during the Infinity Gauntlet saga, has also appeared alongside other cosmic entities during the trial of Adam Warlock, and was classified as comparable to Galactus and Celestials in terms of brute power. The Stranger has cosmic and psionic powers that are rivalled or surpassed by Galactus, the Celestials, and the Watchers. The Stranger is considered an omnipotent entity.

Notes

• The Living Tribunal once asserted that if he had a fourth face opposed to the one of equity, it would be the Stranger's, or that the fourth face had become the Stranger.
  • The Stranger became angered by those claims, since he refused to be related to anyone.
• The Stranger is sometimes grouped with the Elders of the Universe. While he is seemingly the last of an ancient race, it is not clear if he has the Power Primordial. The In-Betweener is also grouped with them and he is definitely not an Elder in the traditional sense, which makes the Stranger's inclusion questionable.

Trivia

• The Stranger's Laboratory World was a large planet where the Stranger conducted his many experiments. Most of these experiments used unwilling sentients as test subjects.
• Laboratory World's one known moon was the Earth of the New Universe.

Marvel Value Stamp #74

• The Stranger was one of the characters featured in Series A of the Marvel Value Stamps issued in the 1970s.

See Also

• 72 appearance(s) of Stranger (Cosmic Being) (Earth-616)
• 15 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Stranger (Cosmic Being) (Earth-616)
• 27 minor appearance(s) of Stranger (Cosmic Being) (Earth-616)
• 10 mention(s) of Stranger (Cosmic Being) (Earth-616)
• 12 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Stranger (Cosmic Being) (Earth-616)
• 60 image(s) of Stranger (Cosmic Being) (Earth-616)
• 5 quotation(s) by or about Stranger (Cosmic Being) (Earth-616)
• 4 victim(s) killed by Stranger (Cosmic Being) (Earth-616)
• 3 item(s) used/owned by Stranger (Cosmic Being) (Earth-616)

Links and References

• Stranger (Cosmic Being) on Marvel.com