Celestials
From Marvel Database
When the first of us appears to you, faithful one, look well upon his visage — and know the meaning of our mission! 
- -- Celestial[1]
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History
The Celestials were a species of extremely powerful extra-terrestrial cosmic beings. The alien race influenced key events in human history for mysterious and unclear reasons. They weere responsible for key human evolutionary events, such as the genetic-offshoot races the Eternals and the Deviants as well as the emergence of super-humans. They were also credited with influencing and aiding the development of some ancient advanced civilizations such as the Aztecs.
Appearance
The Celestials resembled massive armor-clad humanoids of enormous size, with most more than two thousand feet (600 meters) in height and some even larger.
Agenda
They were 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. The Celestials conducted similar experiments on other species, such as the Skrulls, whose main and Eternal branches were soon supplanted by the Deviant, shape-shifting branch of that race.
The exact purpose of the Celestials' genetic manipulation was unknown, and they went to great lengths to preserve their freedom to conduct such experiments. Should an experimented race "fail" by the Celestials' standards, Arishem arrived on the target world to herald the coming of Exitar the Exterminator, a Celestial ten times his height that "purified" the offending world and race by destroying its non-life-affirming elements. Thor was on the planet Pangoria when this happened, and was told the issues at stake were "too great for even an immortal to grasp".[2]
History
Due to their imposing presence, all-concealing armor, and seeming indifference to those whom they judge, the Celestials 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 most of humanity. The only entities remaining aware of the Celestials' existence were the Asgardians, who actively opposed the Celestials' unrevealed motives; the other pantheons; and Earth's Eternals and Deviants. In modern times, however, with the rise of superhumans, many superheroes rediscovered the existence of the Celestials.
The Celestial Home Universe
One of the most baffling aspects of the Celestials was their origin. No one, not even the Watchers, ever knew where they came from. Nathaniel Richards once speculated that they really lived in hyperspace, and that their sets of armor were channels in which they could exist in this reality. Another theory came from the mysterious "Celestial Universe" discovered during a trip through alternate realities by Dr. Doom, The Thing, The Human Torch and Sharon Ventura. It was a reality completely overrun by Celestials and was only seen very briefly. Another place thought to be the Celestial homeworld by The Beyonder was a string of planets connected by Celestial technology. It was called the World Complex Headquarters and was converted into a tourist trap by various alien races so that they could view the Celestials daily. It turned out that The Celestials made this as an illusion to fool the Beyonder, and they also allowed him to beat them which in turn led to his rejection of friendship by the female mutant Tabitha Smith. There is also evidence that they were directly created by Eternity.
However despite all these claims there are still no leads as to who the Celestials truly are and where they came from. Many alien races accepted a diversity of beliefs as to their origins. Some of these beliefs led to interstellar war between two or more races. It is possible that the only one who really knows the truth behind the origin of the Celestials was the Supreme Being.
The Watchers
In opposition to the Celestials' agenda were the Watchers. Having sworn an oath of non-interference in species younger than themselves, the Watchers found the Celestials' genetic engineering of such species to be the antithesis of what they believed. Thus, the Watchers and the Celestials were in conflict for billions of years.[3]
The Monolith
The creators of the legendary Black Monoliths were the Celestials, who had sent it to help record vast amounts of data over the centuries. An Arishem lookalike Celestial took off with the Monolith and Machine Man, (who was inside the Monolith at the time.) It was never revealed what happened to X-51 during his time with the Celestials. Later, however, the Celestials dumped Machine Man back on Earth after allowing him to travel with them for a time because they considered him to be "total ☠☠☠☠."[4]
Alternate Universes
Earth X (Earth-9997)
According to the visions of Kyle Richmond, and the Watchers equipment, the Celestials came from the same universe as the Elders of the Universe. These beings would advance their natural eveolution to such a state in which they would begin to lose all definition. In an attempt to maintain what little identity they had left, the Celestials would create giant suits of armor out of Vibranium to cohabitate. The Celestials also lost a means to reproduce, and would soon find a very devistating way around this: By "impregnating" a planet with a portion of their essance, it would become an "embryo" that would gestate and grow into a new member of their race. The planet in question would also be "injected" with Vibranium to form into a new shell for the newly bown Celestial. As a form of protection of that growing Celestial, it's "parents" would manipulate the DNA of a planets dominant life form to gain super-abilities and unkowingly act as antibodies, protecting the planet until the Celestial is born.
Each race they manipulated would have three tiers of mutation, the first would be for each individual to manifest their own powers. These powers usually would manifest when triggered by a catalyst (radiation for example), and the powers would varry depening on a number of factors, usually a combination of the outside catalyst and the subjects subconcious image of themselves. The second teir would be have every member of their race exhibit the same ability, and the third would be a total loss of identity, those at this stage would be defined by what others around believed them to be. This was installed as a failsafe, should the Celestials ever have to quell a rebellion, it would be a matter of willing their wayward anti-bodes dead.
The Celestials would soon over populate their home universe causing it's collapse and the event that would lead to it's own creation. This event would lead to the birth of Galactus, who unknown to most but the most cosmically aware was actually an equalizer to insure that the Celestials would never overpopulate the universe again by feeding on some of the planets they impregnate.
In the early days of the new universe, the Watchers would be forced to maintain their pact of non-involement by the Celestials after not acting to prevent the birth of Galactus, and then later interfearing with an alien race which would then create atomic weapons that would destroy their world. The Celestials would then place a Watcher on a moon of each othe worlds they impregnated. Forced to watch these worlds, the Watchers eventually would work to maintain the Celestials propagation roles, and at least in the case of Uatu, Earth's Watcher. Interfear with events on the planet when they threatened the Celestial's plans.
Over the centuries, the Celestials would be responsible for manipulating the Kree, the Skrulls, the Asguardian's and many more. The Earth became subject to one of the Celestial's propagations during the time of the dinosaurs. Removing a portion of the Earth to create the moon, the Celestials were responsible for the dinosaurs extinction. They would place Uatu on Earth's moon.
Next the Celestials would manipulate the DNA of mankind, however some tribes of humans would escape the Celestials manipulations, such as the Moon tribe. The Celestials would create the Deviants and the Eternals to keep the human race in check until they themselves would begin mutating with special powers due to their own natural evolution. The Celestials involvement in the universe since is presumably the same as that of Earth-616.
In recent times, Reed Richards had succeeded in converting Galactus into a star, thus throwing off the universal balance, and being forced to work with the High Evolutionary and the Silver Surfer to advance his son Franklin's mutation to the third teir and convince him that he is Galactus in order to restore that balance.
When the entire human race was mutated by the release of the Terrigen Mists in Earth's atmosphere, it spet up the natural process of the planets evolution. The Celestials would come to Earth in order to terminate the project, however they would get oppsoition by the new Galactus, who would fight them off until they retreated. Galactus would then kill the Celestial growing in Earth's core, but sparing the planet. It would cause the mass of the planet to change and throw it's axis off, but this too in time would be corrected.
Since then, the Celestials have had no contact with Earth, nor are their current activities known, however X-51 had gathered a group of Heralds from other realities for the purpose of informing the Earth's of each reality of the potential danger of the Celestials.
The Celestials' physical forms are almost completely lacking in defenition, and are probably an energy base of some kind. In order to maintain individuality, they have constructed giant suits of armor to habitate. These suits of armor are constructed out of Vibranium.
They are an alien race that advanced it's natural evolution to a point in which their species almost lost all sense of identity. In order to maintain individuality, they would construct suits of armor to live in. Empregnating planets with their essance, they would reproduce. This brought upon the end of the previous universe. The Celestials survived the death of the old universe and have started their procreation anew.[5]
The Watchers were revealed to have been enslaved by the Celestials as guardians of unborn celestials which existed in certain planets such as Earth.
Mutant X (Earth-1298)
The only beings in the universe who were able to contain the Goblin Entity (they weren't able to kill it) prior to the birth of Scotty Summers.[6]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
None known.
Abilities
None known.
Average Strength level
Unknown.
Weaknesses
None known.
Habitat
Habitat: Habitat of this race is unknown.
Gravity: Gravity of this race is unknown.
Atmosphere: Atmosphere of this race is unknown.
Population: Population of this race is unknown.
Miscellaneous
Type of Government: Government type unknown.
Level of Technology: Technology level unknown.
Cultural Traits: Cultural traits unknown.
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*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 unnamed 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 2 (1976 series) |
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*Ashema the Listener — A female Celestial who took Human Form while on a Mission with Nezzar the Calculator. The two were to take Franklin Richards back to presumably the One Above All Celestial for evaluation. However Franklin taught Ashema the gifts and curses of human emotion and caused her to change her mind about Franklin and all of humanity for that matter. She eventually defied her Celestial Brethren and saved Franklin's Counter Earth by storing it inside of her. However The Dreaming Celestial, a renegade, entered the Counter Earth and began corrupting it and Ashema. Eventually Ashema retaliated and fell under the complete control of the Dreaming Celestial. She was eventually saved by the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom and helped recapture the Dreaming Celestial. It is presumed that she left Earth to rejoin the other Celestials. She hasn't been seen since. First appeared in Heroes Reborn: The Return 1 |
Tiamut, The Dreaming Celestial — A renegade Celestial. During the Second Host, the Dreaming Celestial committed a crime "against life itself" (Which was in fact murdering another Celestial) and was exiled by his brethren. His spirit was ripped from his body and placed in a device known as the Vial, which was 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 took advantage of this opportunity and began mentally controlling Ghaur in order to be freed. An intervention by the Avengers and the Eternals led to the plan's downfall and the Vial was sealed once more.
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*Eson the Searcher — Destroyed the legendary isle of Lemuria. - First appeared in Eternals 9 (1976 series) #9 |
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*Exitar the Executioner — Twenty-thousand-feet tall with yellow and black armor. Exitar destroys the life on worlds which fail the Celestials' tests. A full-strength hammer blow from Thor only managed to punch a small hole in his armor. During a conflict with The Watchers, Exitar (or another Exitar as this one had been storing his energies for millions of years whereas the first one had spent his energy terraforming the planet Pangoria) was "murdered" by Sue Storm after she destroyed his "brain case." He is never seen again except for in a flashback splash page in the last issue of Thor, Son of Asgard. |
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*Gammenon the Gatherer A Celestial that is sent out to find various Plant, Animal and Humanoid Specimens for Experimentation. He reports to Jemiah and often travels with Eson. An Alternate Reality version of him fought alongside Jemiah to battle Ego, The Living Planet. As Ego was about to kill the two they were saved at the last moment by Blink of the Exiles. Gammenon takes pity on her and as a reward for saving them, he and Jemiah personally escort Blink back to Earth safely while at the same time giving her a warning about the "Timebreaker" — First appeared in Eternals 4 (1976 series) #4 |
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*Hargen the Measurer A Celestial that measures. True nature of the job has never been defined. — First appeared in The Eternals 9 (1976 series) |
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*Jemiah the Analyzer Jemiah gathers all of the specimens given to him by Gammenon and places them into a massive analyzing machine. An Alternate Reality version of him fought alongside Gammenon to battle Ego, The Living Planet. As Ego was about to kill the two they were saved at the last moment by Blink of the Exiles. Jemiah takes pity on her and as a reward for saving them, he and Gammenon personally escort Blink back to Earth safely while at the same time giving her a warning about the "Timebreaker" — First appeared in Eternals 7 (1976 series) #7 |
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*Nezarr the Calculator — Two-thousand-feet tall and 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 to the Asgardians, Nezarr lost his arm in battle with the artificial being 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 9 (1976 series) |
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*The One Above All — The leader of the Celestials. Not much is known about him; however, both X-Factor and Thor have encountered him. Not to be confused with the entity of the same name whom the Living Tribunal answers to. - First appeared in Eternals 7 (1976 series) |
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*Oneg the Prober A Celestial that apparently specializes in probing. Is often mocked by fans due to the nature of his job. — First appeared in Eternals 9 (1976 series) |
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*Tefral the Surveyor A Celestial that specializes in Surveying the landscape. He is one of the few Celestials that actually explore the planet during the First Hosts — First appeared in Eternals 7 (1976 series) |
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*Ziran the Tester A Celestial that tests the stability of genes and such in the lifeforms they have evolved. He sends them through a series of tests until they are ready to go back to the planet to start their new lives. — First appeared in Eternals 28 (1976 series) |
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*Devron the Experimenter — A young Celestial who was assigned to watch over Earth alongside Gamiel the Manipulator. The two were very competitive and nearly caused the Destruction of Earth. Eventually he and Gamiel were reassigned to coordinate the first meeting between the Kree and the Skrull...who go to War almost instantly after meeting each other. Unlike most Celestials Devron is only as tall as Hulk (Bruce Banner). — First appeared in Marvel Monsters: Devil Dinosaur #1 one-shot (2005). Note: This is a humor story depicting Celestial youth, an inconsistency with Celestial full-grown birth as seen in Thor 424, and appears to be non-canonical. |
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*Gamiel the Manipulator — A young Celestial who, like Devron, was assigned to watch over Earth. He was disgusted that Devron's Little Folk had beaten back his creations: the Killer Folk so he brought the Hulk from the Future and sent him down upon the Little Folk and their champion: Devil Dinosaur. Eventually he and Devron got in trouble and were reassigned to Hala where they accidentally set the Kree and The Skrull races into a four-million-year war against each other. Unlike most Celestials Gamiel is only as tall as the Incredible Hulk. Note: This is a humor story depicting Celestial youth, an inconsistency with Celestial full-grown birth as seen in Thor 424, and appears to be non-canonical. |
| *The Red Celestial - This Celestial was the one who helped bring the baby "Blue" Celestial into this Universe. Its name is unknown but it appears its job would be midwiving. After the events of The Black Galaxy Saga this Celestial was never seen again. | |
| *The Blue Celestial - The first ever documented Celestial that was seen born. It was made from the genetic material of the Black Galaxy, a place where Ego, the Living Planet, snuffed out all of the stars and the genetic material of Eric Masterson and Hercules. After leaving with the giant Celestial Host at the Black Galaxy it was encountered again by the High Evolutionary, the Goddess Sif and the God Balder. Its duty was to keep Ego the Living Planet at bay while it and his brothers awaited the arrival of the Awe-Inspiring Super Ego. Once the creature appeared and crushed Ego, The Blue Celestial and its older bretheren attacked The Super Ego with full force. However The High Evolutionary has suspicions that they are trying to help the Super Ego in some way...not destroy it. The Blue Celestial was never seen again after this Event. | |
| *The Red/Blue Judge - The Second known Celestial with the right to Judge Worlds. When Kosmos and Kubick traveled the Universe they encountered this strange Celestial standing alone. It allowed them to enter its mind and have a peek at what some of the Celestials secrets are. It eventually judged them worthy of life after letting them see its mind and then it was never seen again. | |
| *Monolith Gatherer - A Celestial nearly identical to Arishem despite the fact that his armor is red and purple. He made a cameo at the end of the Machine Man Vol 1. He was seen by Uatu, the Watcher as he took off into the Celestial Mothership with a Monolith in hand. Inside that Monolith was X-51. This Celestial was never seen again after the final issue of the series. | |
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*Scathan the Approver - A Celestial from the Alternate Future of the Guardians of the Galaxy. He was summoned by the Living Tribunal during a battle against the God-Like Child known as Protege. In the end Scathan captured Protege and killed him. Unlike Arishem who judges Scathan approves and disapproves of certain situations. It is speculated that Scathan was actually a representative of the True Beyonders and not the Celestials. However...with the cancellation of The Guardians of the Galaxy series Scathan was never seen again and makes it impossible to prove whether or not this assumption is true or false. |
Notes
- They were created by Jack Kirby, first appearing in The Eternals #1 (July 1976).
- The concept of the Celestials and their involvement in human history may have been inspired by the theories of Erich von Däniken, which were first explored in the 1968 book Chariots of the Gods.
- Brio, one of the Proemial Gods (the first lifeforms to appear in the current universe), bears a resemblance to the Celestials. His connection (if any) has yet to be explained, though he was tasked with "the welfare of fledgling lifeforms," a task similar to that carried out by the Celestials.
- It is possible that the only one who really knows the truth behind the origin of the Celestials was the Supreme Being (seen by some as Jack Kirby), the creator of the Marvel Multiverse.
- The Legendary Black Monolith from Arthur C. Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey entered Marvel Continuity long ago (Mostly because of Nostalgia, since Machine Man's first appearance was in the 2001 Comics). In the final issue of Machine Man it was revealed that the creators of the Monolith were the Celestials, who had sent it to help record vast amounts of data over the centuries.
Trivia
- No trivia.
See Also
- Discuss Celestials on the forums
- Appearances of Celestials
- Race Gallery: Celestials
- Images of Celestials
Links and References
- Sersi's Loft: Home of the Eternals
- Knightmare6.com; Marvel Cosmic Entities
- The Grand Comics Database
- The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators
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