—Genesis[source]Whoever defeats the helm claims the helm. Whoever wears that crown controls the land. You see, it's called Annihilation for a reason. The golden helm is the only thing that keeps the Amenthi horde in check. Without it, the demons of the dark world would consume everything or die trying.
History
Origins[]
Not much is known about the being known as Annihilation, apart from the fact that it is a dark god from "further beyond" that was driven to the hellish world of Amenth where it became the ruler of its Daemons.[2] There are many myths about it including that it is an elder god, a primordial force or the spirit of Amenth made manifest,[3] or a being originating from a branch of the Anti-Tree.[4] At some point in time, Annihilation gave birth to the demons, and allowed them to feed on its body, until only its spirit remained, trapped in the Golden Helm.[5]
Wars Against the Mutants[]
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Thousands of years ago, its army broke free from the dimension of Amenth and emerged on Okkara, wanting to conquer the land as it had been attracted by the dark personality of Genesis.[2] On Okkara its Daemons battled the Okkaran mutant population, led by Genesis, her husband Apocalypse, and their Four Horsemen. At one point during the war, the mutants gained the upper hand, prompting Annihilation to offer peace terms spoken only to Genesis. It offered to end the war and go back to Amenth without further incidents if Genesis just asked for it, but she rejected as Genesis deemed the war between them to be necessary to strengthen the mutants.[4]
Eventually, it became clear that the mutants could not win, and in an effort to buy time, the mutants sealed the breach through which Annihilation and its armies had emerged. Okkara was permanently split, with one half (Arakko) being sealed within Amenth, and the other (Krakoa) remaining on Earth. Genesis, the Horsemen and the rest of the mutants remained on Arakko to continue the battle against Annihilation, in an effort to buy time for Apocalypse to find the means of defeating Annihilation once and for all.[6]
As the years went on, Arakko remained a bastion for the Okkaran mutants, while Annihilation kept sending its forces to attack them, capturing the Okkaran mutants who had been lost in Amenth and breeding them with daemons in order to produce powerful hybrids.[7] After Genesis' failed in her attempt to break the demonic armies once and for all, Annihilation challenged her to a fight to the death to settle who would rule Amenth. Genesis won the duel, only to realize that it had been a trap; without a host, the horde of daemons would run rampant and destroy Arakko. This forced Genesis to don the golden mask of Annihilation, merging the two, and giving Annihilation control over Arakko and its mutants.[7][8]
X of Swords[]
With Arakko finally conquered, Annihilation and its new Arakkan vanguard set about conquering other realms, attacking and destroying Dryador.[8] In an effort to once again find its way to Earth, Annihilation sent Summoner and a piece of Arakko to Earth, in order to make contact with Apocalypse and lure him into opening a gateway between Krakoa and Arakko. The plot was successful, and Annihilation's forces ambushed the Krakoans who had been lured to Amenth. However, Annihilation's conquests had attracted the attention of Saturnyne, who intervened in the conflict. She offered to arrange a contest to settle the conflict between Arakko and Krakoa. Death agreed to the terms, on behalf of Arakko.[9]
Annihilation possessing Genesis then observed behind the scenes as the tournament proceeded. Following the battle between the White Sword and Gorgon, the scores for Arakko and Krakoa were even. The final event, which would settle the tournament, would be a duel between Apocalypse and Genesis. During their battle, Genesis, initially without the Golden Helm, seemed to have the upper hand as she managed to destroy her husband's sword, but suddenly Apocalypse grabbed her sword, the Twilight Sword, and shoved it into her stomach. She begged Apocalypse to kill her, but he refused, allowing Annihilation to take control of Genesis and summon almost all of the Amenthian forces to Otherworld, intending to conquer Krakoa for good.[10]
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Back in control over Genesis
However, as the battle raged on the Champions of Krakoa were joined by the reassembled X-Men and Captain Britain Corps and eventually the Vescora. As the war was seemingly turning in Krakoa's favor, Apocalypse was able to remove the Golden Helm from Genesis' head, causing it to possess Apocalypse. However, unlike Genesis, Apocalypse was able overcome Annihilation's influence and conceded the tournament on Amenth's behalf. After that, Saturnyne turned the Golden Helm into a staff, dulling Annihilation's corruptive influence, and gifted it to Genesis. She also decreed that Amenth and Krakkoa would exchange one hostage each, as a show of good faith. On behalf of Amenth, Genesis chose Apocalypse, and on behalf of Krakoa, Apocalypse chose Arakko itself, including all the mutants trapped on it.[11]
Arakki Civil War[]
While Annihilation's influence had been dulled by Saturnyne, its corruptive power remained, now far more subtle than it had been. Whispering to Genesis, Annihilation influenced her to launch a crusade against her remaining foes in Amenth, as well as causing her to return to planet Arakko.[1]
In order to ensure that war erupted, the staff also whispered to the members of the Great Ring during Genesis' meeting with them, soon resulting in the eruption of a civil war on Arakko.[12]
At the ending of the war, Storm and Genesis were in the heat of their final conflict, when the staff began to whisper to Storm. It attempted to convince her to join it, but this was the final straw, as Storm destroyed Annihilation and melted the staff, so no one else would be harmed by it.[2] However, the artifact was nothing more than a vessel for Annihilation to influence the physical realm, and its destruction only cut it off from reality.[13]Attributes
Powers
- Possession: Bound to a helmet, Annihilation requires a host to properly interact with the outside world.[6] It is unknown if Annihilation still possesses this ability due to Saturnyne transforming it into a staff,[11] but was still able to influence its holder.[1]
- Mind Control: The staff allowed Genesis to take control of White Sword and his 99 Champions.[1]
- Limited Shapeshifting: Annihilation was able to somewhat change its appearance such transforming from a golden pharaoh headdress-like helm to a green tentacled parasite-like creature, and can also adapt to its wearer's head and face.[11]
- Hordes of Amenth: Annihilation was stated to have full command and control of the seemingly endless hordes of Daemons born on Amenth and can command them to do their bidding. Annihilation's hosts are also granted this ability once they put on the helmet.[7]
- Dark Energy Manipulation: Annihilation was seen emitting dark energy in the form of lighting, although it didn't use this power on its enemies.[11] It was stated she has the same power source as The Adversary. Saturnyne stated Annihilation could take over the multiverse and annihilate every world. It was stated while forcing herself to Apocalypse, she is the end of all things. She also stated she has the power to close the rift between two realities.
- Avatar Form: The Helm/Staff wasn't Annihilation true form, but merely a physical vessel it used to affect reality as Annihilation was an noncorporeal entity existing in the outside. The artifact's destruction only severed Annihilation's connection to the physical realm, leaving it trapped but still very much alive.[13]
Abilities
- Sword Combat: Annihilation is seemingly skilled in sword combat.[14]
Weaknesses
Paraphernalia
Equipment
Weapons
Notes
- It is suggested that Annihilation, the Shadow King, the Adversary, the First Fallen, le Bete Noir, and the Goblin Force are all different aspects of the same thing.[13] Interestingly, several of those are known oppositional entities to the Phoenix Force.
- The connection between Annihilation and the Adversary was first hinted in X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #13 where Storm described the force behind the helm as "adversarial" and something she had faced before.
See Also
- 12 appearance(s) of Annihilation (Earth-616)
- 3 minor appearance(s) of Annihilation (Earth-616)
- 2 mention(s) of Annihilation (Earth-616)
- 38 image(s) of Annihilation (Earth-616)
- 1 item(s) used/owned by Annihilation (Earth-616)
Links and References
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #12
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #18
- ↑ X-Men (Vol. 5) #12–13
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 X-Men: Before The Fall - Heralds of Apocalypse #1
- ↑ Excalibur (Vol. 4) #15
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 X-Men (Vol. 5) #13
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 X-Men (Vol. 5) #14
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 X of Swords: Stasis #1
- ↑ X of Swords: Creation #1
- ↑ X-Men (Vol. 5) #15
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 X of Swords: Destruction #1
- ↑ X-Men: Red (Vol. 2) #13
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Resurrection of Magneto #3
- ↑ X-Men (Vol. 5) #12
- ↑ Powers of X #4