History
Twelve hundred years ago, the Mephitisoids were a starfaring race. Their empire was expanding across the Shi'ar Galaxy, when it encountered another expanding empire, that of the Shi'ar. The two growing empires went to war with each other for dominion of the galaxy. It was an interstellar war that went very well for the Mephitisoids and at the moment that the Shi'ar were on their last legs, disaster struck and the tide turned. The Shi'ar defeated and subjugated the Mephitisoids.
Because of the dishonorable and shameful method the Shi'ar won the war, history was rewritten and the truth buried. Shi'ar propaganda over the millennia depicted the Mephitisoids as a savage, brutal murderous race. The homeworld of the Mephitisoids has been kept under quarantine since and only the females are permitted to leave the world, the males forced to remain on the homeworld.[3]
Biology
The Mephitisoids are mephitisoid (i.e., skunk-like) humanoids with several adaptations including night vision, retractable claws, a semi-prehensile tail, and thick fur.
Their senses and perceptions are acute, allowing them to use pheromones for communications. The males use their pheromones to control other males in war. In turn the females only use their pheromones for mating purposes.[4]
Crossbreeding
On Earth-295, Mephitisoids have proven able to breed with Shi'ar, creating hybrids dubbed the Jath'Che, defenders of the Shi'ar royal family. They were later exiled to Ch'Reesharaa to live as farmers under D'Ken Neramani's rule.[5]
Alternate Realities
Earth-928
The Mephitisoids were mentioned by Doom when exposing to the public the true face of Avatarr, declaring that he didn't belong to the Mephitisoid race.[6]
Powers and Abilities
Powers
Night vision, retractable claws, acute olfactory senses, pheromone odors used to communicate and suggest actions.
Habitat
Habitat: Temperate, with cities located underground.
Gravity: 110% Earth standard
Atmosphere: 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen
Population: 350 Million
Miscellaneous
Type of Government: Small independent colonies
Level of Technology: Interstellar travel
Cultural Traits: Warrior-like, territorial
Representatives:
- Hepzibah (pronounceable name; real name is an unpronounceable combination of pheromone odors)
- Jonath, the only known Jath'Che (Shi'ar/Mephitisoid hybrids)
- Morrow, a Nova Corps member
Notes
- Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #6
- Tryl'sart is the Shi'ar name.
Trivia
It is largely believed that Hepzibah was conceived as an homage to the cartoon skunk Miz Mam'selle Hepzibah from the comic strip Pogo by Walt Kelly. The Mephitisoids were originally intended to be humanoid skunks as the common skunk belongs to the genus Mephitis. This is visually evident in the earlier appearances of Hepzibah, where she is drawn with black and white fur. For some reason, likely simple aesthetics and sex appeal, the skunk aspect became more and more feline over the years.
See Also
- Discuss Mephitisoids on the forums
- 10 representatives of Mephitisoids
- Appearances of Mephitisoids
- Minor Appearances of Mephitisoids
- Media Mephitisoids was Mentioned in
- Race Gallery: Mephitisoids
- Images of Mephitisoids
