Inhumans

Revision as of 11:20, 6 April 2014

The Inhumans are a race of genetically engineered race that feature in Marvel Comics.

History

Origins

Many years ago, Outpost #213 located at Uranus in the Sol system was attacked by a group of exiled Eternals who succeeded in destroying a Kree Sentry guarding the site. This attracted the attention of a Kree expedition who destroyed the Eternal's starship and took the body of the deceased crewman known as Arlok. Their study led them to determine the specimen to be genetically advanced leading to the Supreme Intelligence agreeing for a mission to the primitive world of Earth in order to conduct similar experiments as the Celestials. Over the course of their experimentation of the primitive humans, the Kree abandoned the planet where in the span of twenty five years they left behind the Inhuman race. (What If? v1 #28) In humans, the ancient Kree found a species that they could experiment on in order to reproduce the features of other alien species. Thus, their gene pool was inserted with the means of duplicating the abilities of other space-going beings. As a result, many of the developments that formed in the Inhumans had long been foretold by the Kree which meant the genetically engineered race were not the products of evolution but rather of careful strategy. (Inhumans v3 #2) Inhuman history was said to date back to pre-historic days where they created a highly advanced society when mankind lived in caves. Over the centuries, the rapidly growing number of humans began to fear and attack the Inhumans due to their powers. As a result, they retreated from the world instead of engaging in warfare against primitive humans they redirected their efforts to build the Great Refuge to shelter their people. (Fantastic Four v1 #46)

Agon was Chief Geneticist of Attilan who developed the process of transformation using the Terrigen Mists with King Randac being the first to go through the process becoming the first Inhuman. (Inhumans v1 #1)

Following the lead of the Genetics Council, King Auron wrote his first edict that helped create Inhuman society and government. (Inhumans v2 #2)

Through the Terrigen Mist, they were given the key to genetically alter their bodies to survive the perils of the world. (Inhumans v3 #1)

Many ages ago, there was a fracture within the Inhuman Royal Family that began over a matter of honor. This splintering saw the tribes moving their own paths with some going into the world and others went into space. (New Avengers v3 #10)

One period noted in the Proscribed Volume of the Royal History of the Inhumans was the forgotten reign of a king that became known as the Unspoken. This ruler was respected and loved by all his people which included the Alpha Primitives that tended to Attilan. Despite the love he felt, he was also equally feared for he was considered the greatest of his kind. He came to consider the Slave Engine to be a great threat to his people and thus ordered its removal. This act attracted the attention of the royal family with among them being Prince Black Bolt and his royal entourage who proceeded with rebelling against the Inhuman King. Despite his power, the king was defeated by Black Bolt who claimed the crown and offered redemption if the deposed ruler revealed the location of the Slave Engine. He refused and thus his name was removed from knowledge with the former king called the Unspoken who was thrown into the wilderness outside Attilan. Though expected to die, he was found by the Alpha Primitives that still respected him and taken into shelter where he remained for many years in hiding. (Mighty Avengers v1 #27)

Around a hundred years ago, the Genetics Council commissioned a study on the Terrigenesis ritual with this being conducted by the scientist Ultarnt. Her findings discovered some disturbing details about the seemingly random nature of Inhuman mutations with her research kept a secret in order to protect her people from its implications. (Inhumans v2 #3)

Inhumanity

Overview

Genetics was the science of interest among their people and through the use of vari-genes they were able to control evolution. Through this means, they were capable of directing evolution in ways they desired allowing them to produce many members of their kind given carefully specialized powers. (Fantastic Four v1 #46) When transformed, the alien forms of the Inhumans actually resembled the form of several galactic beings and species with some being extinct in the modern age. Not only did they replicate their appearance, but the Inhumans also gained the abilities of the race they resembled that had been programmed in their genetics but awakened by the Terrigen Mists. (Inhumans v3 #2) The seemingly random nature of Terrigen mutations actually held a pattern in that it was adaptive to future conditions. During times of conflict their genetic structure became aggressive and in times of climatic changes it adapted to cope. Thus, the Inhumans seemingly mutated in advance to an upcoming upheaval and adapt to future changes. Furthermore, if an Inhuman of a type integral to their social structure died than they would be replaced within three years. Instead of following the genetic pattern of heredity, the Inhumans adapted into genotypes that fit the requirements of society as a whole. (Inhumans v2 #3)

The first edict of King Auron wrote stated that, "Under this structure do we hereby establish the Genocracy of Attilan; ratified by council, fortified by technology, unified by evolution. From diversity comes equality." This demonstrated how the Inhumans embraced change as they saw that this was how the world operated. Transformation by Terrigenesis was considered a blessing as it meant that an individual Inhuman achieved their true potential. As such, some of their kind felt pity for normal humans who were unable to achieve this level of clarity. Furthermore, they believed that humans being all alike meant that they must be terribly sad and frightened for their lack of diversity in form. (Inhumans v2 #2) By nature, the Inhumans were migratory to the point that they embraced change. (New Avengers v3 #10) Undergoing the transformation with the Terrigen Mists was a requirement whereupon the individuals embraced their assigned station and role in their society. (Marvel Knights v4 #19) Such rites of transformation were known as the Ceremony of the Mists which all Inhumans needed to undergo prior to adulthood. (Marvel Knights v4 #20)

Metamorphisis of the Inhumans into their true forms was achieved through the process known as Terrigenesis. The rules surrounding preparation for this rite of passage was noted for being different in the past. In those days, there was not much preparation for childlings for exposure to Terrigenesis with no set age for embarking on the process. By later years, a formal training program was made to prepare their young for the procedure with a single set age requirement being made for the students. This provided many extra years of preparation and training for the young to comprehend the procedure. Their society offered those that graduated from the gift of childhood transformation with the young entering of their own will into the Terrigen Mists to take their first steps into adulthood. Upon entering into the flux chamber, they were exposed to the Mists and the strengths of their lineage manifested on their bodies. Not all transformations went correctly with some turning into forms that degraded their status in Inhuman society with such individuals being shunned and their fate being considered worse than death. (Inhumans v2 #2)

Randac writings on Terrigenesis said that, "Ours are now the laws of artificial selection, mutation and evolution. Take this catalyst that is called Terrigen, for it will give you genomorphology". (Inhumans v2 #2) Through the Terrigen Mist, the key was provided to the Inhumans for surviving the perils of the outer world by genetically altering their bodies during their coming of age. (Inhumans v3 #1) Among their kind, the Terrigen Codex contained all the hidden knowledge of the house of Black Bolt. They were noted for keeping precise genetic records of their people. (New Avengers v3 #10)

This genetically altered humans formed a highly evolved and advanced classist society. They were separated into different castes that included a warrior, artist, worker, educators and civil servant classes with the Alpha Primitives being at the bottom of this strata. Only the most cursory of contact was meant between the Inhumans and Alpha Primitives in order to maintain the purity of the bloodline. (Marvel Knights v4 #19) Genetic caches of family were considered prize treasures with acts of treason at times being held accountable as punishment for the crime. (Inhumans v2 #11) Being appointed Guardian of the Chambers where the Terrigen was cultivated considered a great honor as the crystals were used for the Terrigenesis rite. (Realm of Kings: Inhumans v1 #1) One of the institutions within their society was the Royal Guard. (Inhumans v2 #2)

A tool used to contain past events was the time-warping Historikon within the palace royal allowing history to be viewed. (Thor v1 #148) Certain weapons were created through the use of Black Bolt's sonic screams with these being embedded in Vibranium to create echo-weapons and echo-skeleton armor. (Secret Invasion: War of Kings v1 #1)

Members

• Marista : (Inhumans v2 #1)
• Tonaja : a young female Inhuman who liked Dinu though he was with Nahrees during the time when she along with her fellow students prepared for Terrigenesis. She became the first natural Flyer among the Inhumans in thirty years and took the name Archaepteryx as her code name. (Inhumans v2 #2)
• Ultarnt : a female Inhuman who around a hundred years ago was commissioned by the Genetics Council to study the seemingly random nature of Terrigen mutations only to discover a pattern with her findings sealed. (Inhumans v2 #3)
• Unspoken : a male former King that predated Black Bolt and was in fact his cousin whose reign became forgotten. He ordered the Slave Engine to be removed which brought about a rebellion from Prince Black Bolt and the royal family who deposed him. Overthrown, he refused to divulge the location of the Slave Engine and his name was removed from the records forever with him instead being referred to as the Unspoken. (Mighty Avengers v1 #27)

Notes

• In an interview regarding the Infinity miniseries, Marvel Executive Editor Tom Brevoort described the Inhumans as: "They're not like a team of superheroes. They're a demographic — being an Inhuman is like being Cuban, like being Irish. Within that strata, there are good guys and bad guys and bystanders and guys who just want to do their job and go home and drink an Inhuman Löwenbräu and kick back."

In other media

Television

• In Fantastic Four the animated series, the adaptation of the comic storyline was introduced in the Inhuman Saga three part episode. During the story arc, its revealed by the Seeker that their people were created by the experimentation of the Kree. After their creation, the Inhumans created an advanced civilization when mankind were simple primitives living in caves. As mankind's numbers grew, they began to attack the Inhumans who decided to retreat into the Great Refugee and keep their existence a secret from the world. By the modern age, their ruler was Black Bolt but a scheme by his mad brother Maximus saw him wiping the mind of Medusa and sending her into the world. She would make her way into Paris where she resorted to stealing money in order to survive which attracted the attention of the Wizard who inducted her into his Frightful Four. In this time, unknown to her she was being pursued by the Inhuman Royal Family when Black Bolt left the throne to find his beloved allowing Maximus to gain control of Attilan. After the Frightful Four's defeat by the Fantastic Four, Medusa was recovered by Gorgon and regained her memory where she along with the Royal Family sought to escape the Seeker but were captured where they returned to Attilan. With the aid of the Fantastic Four, they managed to defeat Maximus the Mad and restore Black Bolt to the throne thus ending the hostilities his brother intended to bring to the world. However, as a consequence, they were forced to remain behind the protective barrier of the Great Refugee.

Video games

Appearances

• Inhumans v2 #1-3:
• Marvel Knights v4 #19:
• Mighty Avengers v1 #27: (2009)
• New Avengers v3 #10: "The Thanos Seed" (2013)

External Link

• Marvel Database Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

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