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This page is dedicated to the beings referred to as "Elder Gods" in the context of Earth.
For other beings known as "Elder Gods", on Earth or elsewhere, please consult the "Elder Gods" glossary page.

Born from the Demiurge, the Earth's Elder Gods were purportedly its first lifeforms. Nearly all of them became demons, and in a war among themselves, they were purged by the God-Eater Demogorge.[6][7] A few are known to have survived the culling: Set, Chthon, Gaea, Oshtur, etc. The demonic Set and Chthon fled to other dimensions to escape the Demogorge's wrath. Banished from Earth, they seek to return but are opposed by Gaea and Oshtur, the two who were never corrupted.[8]

Additionally, five Elder Gods dwell in Utgard: the Utgard-Loki, Toranos, Kemur, Mejed, and Nrgl. They have been sealed there since the Elder God culling, but Gaea recently opened the gate to Utgard.[9]

History

Origins and early years[]

Demiurge Primordial (Earth-616) and Elder Gods of Earth from Immortal Thor Vol 1 5 001

Demiurge Primordial spawning the Elder Gods

The Elder Gods are incredibly powerful ethereal beings with vast mystic powers. They were spawned by the Demiurge's energies soon after the Earth's formation, roughly 4 billion years ago.[6][7][10]

Curious about the stars, the Elder Goddess Oshtur left Earth ten of thousands of years before the conflict that would erupt among the Elder Gods.[11]


Degeneration and Elder Gods culling[]

Atum (Earth-616), Chthon (Earth-616), and Set (Earth-616) from Silver Surfer Annual Vol 1 2 001

Chthon and Set escaping the Demogorge

Set discovered that he could increase his own powers by eating his fellow Elder Gods and he became the Earth's first murderer; however, the process caused him to degenerate into a demon. Most of the other Elder Gods, with the exception of Gaea (and Oshtur who was off-world), began to imitate him and became demons themselves to further their own strength. Horrified, Gaea called upon the Demiurge to produce her a savior that could wipe out the Elder God demons: Atum. Absorbing the demons' powers into his own body, Atum became the Demogorge and wiped out almost all the demons, except Chthon and Set who escaped to other dimensions (the Flickering Realms and the Serpent's Sea).[7]

Utgard-Loki (Earth-616) from Immortal Thor Vol 1 8 001

The Utgard-Loki giving Gaea the key to his realm

A scant few other Elder Gods survived. Tiwaz left the Earth to wander. Meanwhile, the Utgard-Loki (like Set and Chthon) escaped to his own realm, Utgard. Also, united against a common foe, he was joined by four other Elder Gods: Toranos, Kemur, Mejed, and Nrgl. The Utgard-Loki then created a gate and gave his sister Gaea the key, in case she would ever wish to release them.[9]

When Oshtur returned to Earth, she discovered what happened to her kin. Similar to how Set and Chthon created their own realms, Oshtur and Gaea also made planes for themselves: the Astral Plane and Avalon, respectively. The four Elder Gods set aside their differences to create the Crossroads as neutral ground.[12][11] Agreements were made between the four of them, including restrictions to direct interference to the others' activities.[13]

The Nethergods, including Necromon and Mandrac, were possibly degenerate Elder Gods.[14]

According to the Darkhold, one million years ago, Chthon led a group of evil gods in a war against a benevolent faction, but was sealed away alongside his army by his victorious opponents.[15]

Modern days[]

Of the survivors, Gaea currently resides within the Earth itself and is known as "Mother Nature"; Oshtur formed the Vishanti to assist Earth's Sorcerer Supreme; and Chthon and Set reside in their own dimensions but they still exert influence through their followers and artifacts (such as the Darkhold and the Serpent Crown).[6]

Chthon tricked Ian McNee into gathering the Cornerstones of Creation,[16] and was nearly reborn though Victoria Montesi and almost unleashed by Carnage.[17]

Toranos and the Utgard-Loki were two Elder Gods who had been sealed in Utgard since escaping the Demogorge. Under unrevealed circumstances, Gaea was forced to unlock Toranos, who then clashed with her son, Thor.[18]

Habitat

Habitat

Originally Earth. Eventually, four of the surviving Elder Gods created Inner Planes for themselves.[12][11]

In addition, the four of them created the Crossroads to meet as "neutral grounds."[12][11]

The Utgard-Loki's realm is Utgard. Uniting to escape the Demogorge, several Elder Gods joined him there, namely Toranos, Kemur, Mejed, and Nrgl.[9]

Miscellaneous

Level of Technology

Cornerstones of Creation from Marvel Tarot Vol 1 1 001

The Elder Gods created magical items. Among them are the Cornerstones of Creation, four powerful artifacts left behind by the four Elder Gods (one each):[19]

  • The "Sword" from Oshtur. It is associated with air, as Oshtur is an air deity.
  • The "Rose" from Gaea. It is associated with earth, as Gaea embodies the earth.
  • The "Crown" from Set. It is associated with water, as Set rules the waters.
  • The "Mirror" from Chthon. It is associated with fire; the mirror is actually the Darkhold,[16] and it reflects Chthon's dark flames.

Representatives

Chthon, Gaea, Hyppus, Isuus, Kemur, Mejed, Nrgl, Oshtur, Set, Tiwaz, Toranos, Utgard-Loki

Atum, son of Gaea, is "the first of the new race of gods,"[7][20][21] but he is sometimes treated and/or counted as an Elder God.[22][23][24]

The Nethergods, including Necromon and Mandrac, were possibly degenerate Elder Gods.[14]

Notes

See Also

Links and References

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Marvel Zombies: The Book of Angels, Demons & Various Monstrosities #1 ; Demons' profile
  2. What If...? #25
  3. Avengers #187
  4. Scarlet Witch Annual #1
  5. 5.0 5.1 Carnage (Vol. 2) #4
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Thor Annual #10
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Silver Surfer Annual #2 ; Saga of the Serpent Crown: Creation
  8. Marvel Tarot #1
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Immortal Thor #8
  10. Immortal Thor #5
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Marvel Tarot #1 ; Planes Prelude: The Inner Planes
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #12 ; Mystic Dimensions - From the Journals of Ian McNee
  13. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #12 ; Vishanti entry
  14. 14.0 14.1 Marvel Legacy: The 1980s Handbook #1 ; Necromon's profile
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 Carnage (Vol. 2) #14
  16. 16.0 16.1 Mystic Arcana: Sister Grimm #1
  17. Carnage (Vol. 2) #1415
  18. Immortal Thor #1
  19. Mystic Arcana: Magik #1
  20. Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; Atum's profile
  21. Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica #1 ; Gaea's profile
  22. 22.0 22.1 Incredible Hercules #118
  23. Incredible Hercules #120
  24. Mighty Avengers #23
  25. Lovecraft, Lee and the Elder gods: Who will win? at greydogtales
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 Cove West on Marvel and Lovecraft at Remarquable
  27. 27.0 27.1 Elder gods, List of Marvel Comics demons, at Wikipedia
  28. Oshtur at (French) Wikipedia
  29. Carnage (Vol. 2) #15
  30. Thor #301
  31. Savage Sword of Conan #216
  32. Savage Sword of Conan #125 ; At the Altar of the Goat God
  33. Savage Sword of Conan #164 ; The Slithering God
  34. All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #8 ; N'Garai's profile
  35. Doctor Strange #388
  36. Thanos Imperative #5
  37. Thanos Imperative #6
  38. Glossary entry for "Elder gods"
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