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The Black Priests were one of the many factions involved in the incursions. They were trying to stop the incursions and stablize the Multiverse by destroying each universe's incursion point: Earth. Their extreme methods made them enemies to others.[1]

Near the end, Doctor Strange joined them and became their leader, the Eye of Eyes. However, in a misguided hunt for Rabum Alal, they were wiped out (barring Strange) by the Black Swans.[2]

History

Origin[]

The Black Priests emerged around the same time as the Mapmakers; Rabum Alal would later speculate that they were a type of defensive reaction by the Multiverse.[3] They were powerful beings who were major players in the Game of Worlds,[4][5] destroying intrusive Earths to save both of the universes involved in an incursion, with the hope that destroying enough Earths could stabilize the Multiverse.[1]

Black Priests (Multiverse) from New Avengers Vol 3 5 001

Destroying Black Swan's home

They destroyed Yabbat Ummon Turru's Earth, causing her to join the Black Swans.[6] At some point, they were thwarted by the Great Society of Earth-4290001.[7][8] They attacked Earth-23099 and slaughtered its Illuminati; this was anonymously observed via the Bridge by the Illuminati of Earth-616, whom the Priests detected but could not identify.[9]


Time Runs Out[]

Shortly after the actions of the Illuminati were made public, Doctor Strange joined the Black Priests' cause and became their leader ("the Eye"), having mastered the way in which they use their power.[1]

Stephen Strange (Earth-616) and Black Priests (Multiverse) from New Avengers Vol 3 27 001

The Eye of Eyes restraining Abyss and Nightmask

Sunspot's Multiversal Avengers traveled across the Multiverse to find the source of its decay and found the base of the Black Priests. Both sides fought each other until Doctor Strange revealed himself and stopped the conflict. Back in his Sanctum, Stephen explained that the true intention of the Black Priests was to save the Multiverse, hoping that destroying enough Earths would stabilize the Multiverse and stop the early death of everything.[1]

Shortly before their encounter, Strange had convinced his fellow Black Priests of the need to attack their enemies, the Ivory Kings and Rabum Alal, so he offered to help the Avengers face them. In order to get to the Ivory Kings, it was needed to get hold of one of their Mapmakers, and in order to get to Rabum Alal, it was needed to get hold of one of his Black Swans. The Avengers would go get one of them, while the Black Priests tried to get the other.[1]

Stephen Strange (Earth-616) and Black Priests (Multiverse) from New Avengers Vol 3 31 001

Finding the Library of Worlds

The Black Priests and Doctor Strange arrived at Earth-1903990 and used a key to invade the Library of Worlds, the Black Swans' headquarters. However, as they explored the Library, they were led to a chamber where there was a vacuum, making the Priests unable to speak their spells. The Black Priests were wiped out and Strange was taken captive by the Swans to see Rabum Alal, who turned out to be Doctor Doom. He and the Molecule Man clarified to Strange that they were also trying to save the Multiverse; the true enemies were the Beyonders (Ivory Kings).[2][3]

As they were all on the same side, Doom and Strange teamed up against the Beyonders. Doom used a bomb made of countless Molecule Men to take out the Beyonders and steal their power, allowing him to salvage the Multiverse's remnants as Battleworld.[10]

Powers[]

Black Priests (Multiverse) from New Avengers Vol 3 27 001

The Black Priests have shown to possess high-level powers, presumed to be of magical origin by the Black Panther, though they rejected the distinction between science and magic:

  • Flight/Levitation[9]
  • Multiple/Unfathomable Mind(s): According to Charles Xavier, they do not possess one mind but tens of thousands, and are consequently unfathomable, causing any telepath that attempts to read their minds great pain.[9]
  • Telepathic/Magical/Extra-Sensorial Perception ? They were somehow able to see despite their lack of eyes.[9]
    • Multiversal Witnessing/Mirrors Detection: They were able to sense that they were watched by a "Mirror", the Illuminati's Bridge, while not able to discern the identity of those watchers. They also indicated that they were able to sense the witnessing of Mapmakers and of Ivory Kings.[9]
  • Matter Reorganization: According to Reed Richards, their resistance and reconstruction was due to "matter reorganization", making them virtually invincible, reforming after being shattered by Iron Man's Repulsors, and even by Captain Marvel's Power Cosmic and Black Bolt's voice.[9]
Black Priests (Multiverse) and Gardeners from New Avengers Vol 3 27 001

Battling the Ex Nihilii of the Multiversal Avengers

  • "The Words:" The Black Priests are able to use language to distort reality. Each Black Priest is capable of saying one "word" (a symbol which means "something"). The addition of another symbol can change the meaning of that "something." Doctor Strange stated this method to be akin to replacement cipher. This way, the Black Priests can distort the reality in different ways, depending how many symbols are said and in which order. It was stated that some beings were able to resist to such words.[9]
    • Energy Blasts[9]
    • Pyrokinesis[9]
    • Organic Disintegration Magneto, Captain Marvel, and Black Bolt were killed and were left as only damaged skeletons, wrecked costumes and a few human parts (feet and hands).[9]
    • Cryokinesis[1]
    • Paralysis[1]
    • A Black Priest was also seen blasting a newly activated Inhuman, cutting his body into pieces.[9]

Paraphernalia

Equipment

Helmets of unknown function and utility, in metal. Magneto was able to lift them from their wearers.[9]

Notes

  • One of the Black Swans indicated that the Black Priests are not truly alive but are instead animated things that feign life.[11]

Trivia

  • The Black Priests' goal of stabilizing the Multiverse by destroying Earths is very similar to the plan of the Builders,[12] another faction in the incursion crisis.
  • When the Black Priests destroy a world, the word they speak each and every time is "Life" as their goal is to save life, even if it means sacrificing Earths. Strange describes their work as "triage."[1]

See Also

Links and References

http://www.comicvine.com/black-priests/4060-60501/

References

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