Celestials

The Celestials are a fictional species of very powerful beings in the Marvel Comics' universe. The Celestials resemble massive armor-clad humanoids two thousand feet in height. They are responsible for the creation of two offshoots of humanity, the Eternals and the Deviants, on Earth one million years ago. However, through Celestial experimentation, mainline humanity retained the greatest potential for superhuman abilities. They have conducted similar experiments on other species such as the Skrulls, whose mainline and Eternal branches were soon supplanted by the Deviant, shape-shifting branch of that race.

The exact purpose of the Celestials' genetic manipulation is unknown; however, they go to great lengths to preserve their freedom to conduct such experiments. Should an experimented race "fail" by the Celestials' standards, Arishem arrives on the target world and heralds the coming of Exitar the Exterminator, a Celestial ten times his height that "purifies" the offending world and race by destroying its non-life affirming elements. Thor was on the planet Pangoria when this happened, and he was told that the issues at stake were "too great for even an immortal to grasp". Any one Celestial (so far) has been shown to be powerful enough to disregard any entity not a threat to its own survival.

Due to their imposing presence, all-concealing armor, and seeming indifference to those whom they judge, the Celestials have acquired the sobriquet of "Space Gods" used by many star-faring races. On their last visit to Earth 616 in the Fourth Host, the Celestials wiped all memory of their existence from mainline humanity. Only the Asgardians, who actively opposed the Celestials' unrevealed motives, the other pantheons of the Marvel Universe, and Earth Eternals and Deviants remained aware of the Celestials' existence.

Members

• Arishem the Judge - One of two Celestials who have the right and ability to judge which planet's civilization will live and which will die. Arishem has led all Four Celestial Hosts on Earth as well as Fourth Host on the planet called Pangoria and a Fifth Host on an unamed planet in a distant galaxy. He was also the leader among the delegation of Celestials who waged war on the Watchers in an unknown galaxy. First appeared in Eternals (1976 series) #2

• The Dreaming Celestial - a Renegade member of the Celestials. During the Second Celestial Host, The Dreaming Celestial committed a crime "against life itself" and was exiled by his brethren. His spirit was ripped from his body and placed in a device known as "The Vial", which was then sealed under the Diablo Mountains in Colorado. He slept there until the Deviant Priestlord Ghaur discovered The Vial and drank the essence of the Dreaming Celestial, giving him the height and power of a Celestial. The Dreaming Celestial soon took advantage of this opportunity and began mentally controlling Ghaur so that he would free him from his never-ending sleep. However, an intervention by The Avengers and Eternals led to the plan's downfall and the Vial was sealed once more.

After the events of Heroes Reborn, The Dreaming Celestial found a loophole out of his eternal prison and into the Heroes Reborn Universe. There, he learned the Celestial Ashema guarded this Pocket Universe and that the only way out was through her. However, he found himself opposed by Dr. Doom, Lancer, Technarx and several other heroes. Eventually The Dreaming Celestial captured Ashema and escaped to our Universe, where he was finally thwarted by Doom and The Fantastic Four.

He awoke once more in an alternate future and turned the world-devourer Galactus into a weapon that would consume the entire Universe, enabling him to become the Nucleus and Founder of a new, darker reality. However, The Fantastic Four, Thor, Iron Man and Shi'ar were able to thwart his plans and cause Galactus to consume the Renegade. First appeared in Eternals (1976 series) #18

• Eson the Searcher - Destroyed the legendary isle of Lemuria. First appeared in Eternals (1976 series) #9

• Gammenon the Gatherer - First appeared in Eternals (1976 series) #4

• Hargen the Measurer - First appeared in Eternals (1976 series) #9

• Jemiah the Analyzer - First appeared in Eternals (1976 series) #7

• Nezarr the Calculator - Two thousand feet tall and always depicted in dark blue armor, Nezarr participated in the Celestials' four visits (the first through fourth Hosts) to Earth.

As a member of the Fourth Host of the Celestials, Nezarr appeared in the Soviet Union and was targeted by an atomic missile directed by General Greshkov. However, Nezarr created an illusion in the minds of the firing crew that the missile had turned back on them, and the resulting mental trauma put all of them into comas.

In opposing the Asgardians, Nezarr lost his arm in battle with the artificial life form known as the Destroyer. The Destroyer cut Nezarr's arm off with the Odinsword, but he re-grew it almost instantly.

Nezarr was also among the delegation of Celestials who waged war against the Watchers. First appeared in Eternals (1976 series) #9

• The One Above All - The leader of the Celestials. Not much is known about him; however, both X-Factor and Thor have encountered him. First appeared in Eternals (1976 series) #7

• Oneg the Prober - First appeared in Eternals (1976 series) #9

• Tefral the Surveyor - First appeared in Eternals (1976 series) #7

• Ziran the Tester - First appeared in Eternals (1976 series) #18

Quotations

• "When the first of us appears to you, faithful one - Look well upon his visage - and know the meaning of our mission!"

-- the only time the Celestials speak, Eternals (1976 series) #2

External links

• Sersi's Loft: Home of the Eternals (http://www.geocities.com/brenni_au/) - Celestials (http://www.geocities.com/brenni_au/Celestials.html)