Set (Marvel)

Set is a demonic deity who features in Marvel Comics.

Biography

Set

Circa 18,500 BCE, the Unliving, a sorcerous coven, slew five Valusian women in sacrifice, then used demonic incantations to impregnate a sixth captured woman and her pregnancy to complete over mere days. The offspring of that unholy birth was prophesied to become the High Priest of Set, with immense powers, and foretold to one day rule all. The Unliving slew the woman after she gave birth to both a male (as foretold) but also a girl, which they felt was blasphemy. They were destroyed by Kull, who tasked his councilor Tu to drown the babies. Tu instead delivered them to a shepherd mourning the loss of his only son instead. (Conan the Barbarian Annual v1 #8)

After having King Conan of Aquilonia captured by the forces of King Strabonus of Koth and King Amalrus of Ophir, Tsotha-Lanti had him chained into his Scarlet Citadel, to be devoured by Satha. Satha approached Conan, dropping some venom on him, but went into hiding upon the sound of the door opening to Beeya, an ancient foe of Conan became slave to Tsotha-Lanti and who wished to enact his revenge on Conan. After teasing Conan with the keys of chains, Beeya was going to strike Conan when Satha reappeared in his back and killed him, before crushing his body and dragging it into the shadows, leaving Conan to free himself. After freeing Pelias the sorcerer, rival and captive of Tsotha, they encountered Satha a second time, but the serpent fled out of fear upon seeing the "naked soul" of Pelias. (Savage Sword of Conan v1 #30)

As young Wanda Maximoff was about to develop her powers, she was about to be recruited by the witches coven formed by Maria Russoff, Margali Szardos, and the Gypsy Queen, Lilia Calderu, wearing the Serpent Crown. Chthon visited in dreams Taboo, the keeper of the Darkhold and showed him a vision of the coven. Taboo knew that if Wanda was to join the coven, she would be in service to Set, and thus planned to prevent it, feeling Wanda as special to Chthon. Taboo joined forces with the sorcerer of Set Damballah to prevent it, until, during the brawl, Chthon manifested and declared Wanda out of Set's reach. (Mystic Arcana Scarlet Witch v1 #1)

Overview

Personality and attributes

In personality, Set was ancient, cunning, and utterly tyrannical. He was consumed with domination, chaos, and his return to Earth, using cults and mortals as pawns to achieve his aims. His manipulative nature was shown through the way he exerted control over worshippers via the Serpent Crown, bending their will to his own. Unlike some deities who fought openly, Set’s strategy was patient and insidious, allowing him to extend his influence through generations while remaining banished in another dimension. (Marvel Team-Up v1 #111)

Notes

• Set was created by Robert E. Howard, Mike Friedrich, and Herb Trimpe where he made his first appearance in Conan the Barbarian v1 #7 (July, 1971).
• The character was based on Set from Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian which in turn was named after the god Set.

Appearances

• Conan the Barbarian v1: (1971)

External Links

• Marvel Database Entry

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