Challenger (Marvel)
The Challenger is a male comic supervillain who features in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
Biography
The Challenger was one of the original Elders of the Universe that were a group that consisted of the last survivors of the first sentient species made immortal. Each Elder turned to a hobby in order to fill their immortal lifespan. The Challenger shared his hobby of playing games with En Dwi Gast, with whom he grew closer since they were constantly opponents. When each Elder decided to adopt an alias based on their interest, the Challenger decided to adopt the alias of 'the Grandmaster'. This choice did not sit particularly well with En Dwi, who became to yearn for his friend's mantle. Since there could only be one Grandmaster, the stakes of their games became higher and their friendship turned into rivalry. One day, the Grandmaster reluctantly took part in En Dwi's "greatest game of all," after which the loser would be barred from existence until the end of reality. The Grandmaster lost, and he was instantly exiled despite his pleas. In the aftermath, En Dwi Gast took on his alias of Grandmaster for himself. The former Grandmaster spent the following eons alone in the Far Shore waiting for everything to die. Following the destruction of the Multiverse due to incursions and its eventual restoration by the hands of Reed Richards, the former Grandmaster found an opening and returned to his universe. He eventually approached the Grandmaster for a rematch, and became known as the Challenger. (Avengers v1 #679)
To this end, the Challenger and the Grandmaster each assembled a team of warriors to fight in a contest on their behalf, the Black Order and the Lethal Legion, respectively. The battleground chosen for this contest was the Earth, with the purpose to have its heroes, namely the Avengers act as obstacles. (Avengers v1 #676) Additionally, the entire planet was teleported from the Solar System to a distant galaxy that could serve as a neutral space. (Avengers v1 #687)
For the final round, the Challenger made use of his ace-in-the-hole, and resurrected the Hulk. (Avengers v1 #684) The Hulk rampaged to the Avengers Auxiliary Headquarters, where Avengers infiltrator, and the Grandmaster's own secret agent, Voyager had teleported the final Pyramoid. (Avengers v1 #683) She was to teleport the device to the Grandmaster, but she had rebelled against him,[8] and even sided with the Avengers. Even though the Hulk managed to make his way to the vault where Voyager was hiding the Pyramoid, Wonder Man convinced him that the Challenger was as much at fault as the rest of humanity of not leaving him alone. When the Pyramoid was within his grasp, the Hulk destroyed it instead, costing the Challenger his victory. Before the Grandmaster could exile the Challenger, they both observed as Voyager confessed to the Avengers of her involvement with the Grandmaster. Enraged by the Grandmaster's deception, the Challenger disintegrated him. (Avengers v1 #686)
He was pummeled by an irate Hulk before sending him flying with a punch into Earth's orbit and then fought off Rogue, Wonder Man, and Falcon until Voyager arrived with an army of Avengers to confront him. (Avengers v1 #688) When the heroes started growing weary, a morale boost provided by Voyager combined with a power augmentation spell cast by the Scarlet Witch gave the heroes the strength necessary to defeat the Challenger and knock him out for good. (Avengers v1 #689)
Voyager took the Challenger back to the Far Shore in hopes to rekindle the kindness he had before being driven mad by his rivalry with the Grandmaster. Va Nee had him shackled observing the Avengers' subsequent adventures, in hopes they could inspire him like they inspired her. The Challenger vowed that he would eventually break free, but would play along and watch the heroes until then. (Avengers v1 #690)
Overview
Personality and attributes
He also came to be referred to as Grandmaster Prime. (Avengers v1 #688)
Powers and abilities
Such was his strength that he was strong enough to send Hulk flying from Earth into Earth Orbit with one blow. (Avengers v1 #688)
He was capable of projecting potent blasts of energy from his hands. (Avengers v1 #686)
Notes
- The Challenger was created by Mark Waid, Al Ewing, Jim Zub, and Pepe Larraz where he made a cameo appearance as a voice in Avengers v1 #676 (March, 2018) before fully appearing in Avengers v1 #679 (April, 2018).
Appearances
- Avengers v1: (2018)
External Links
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