Phaeder was an exiled Inhuman geneticist and former member of the Genetic Council of Attilan. Gifted with a genius intellect following Terrigenesis, he became obsessed with cloning and advanced genetic manipulation. When his experiments violated sacred Inhuman laws, Phaeder faked his death and fled into exile.[3] During his exile, he formed an alliance with the Deviants of Lemuria and fathered the powerful hybrid Maelstrom with the Deviant woman Morga.[2]
He continued his genetic research in secret, building hidden laboratories and pioneering techniques in cloning. His influence shaped the early work of numerous Earth scientists, including the High Evolutionary,[4] and other key figures such as Arnim Zola and Miles Warren.[5] With Maelstrom, Phaeder returned to the ruins of sunken Attilan and utilized stored Terrigen to create powerful mutates, plotting vengeance on the Inhumans, Deviants, and humanity alike.[3]
Despite his efforts, Phaeder's aging body failed, and he was ultimately unable to transfer his mind into a new clone. After Maelstrom was slain by Deathurge, Phaeder passed away in his sleep.[3] His legacy, however, endured through the continued activities of his descendants and through the technology he left behind, some of which was later used in the creation of beings like Alpha the Ultimate Mutant.[6]
History
Early Life[]
Phaeder was a Inhuman born in the hidden city of Attilan, during its existence beneath the Atlantic Ocean[2]. A member of the royal House of Phaeder, he rose to prominence in the late 19th century as one of Attilan's most gifted geneticists. His advanced intellect and groundbreaking theories earned him a position on the ruling Genetic Council, where he advocated for scientific exploration beyond traditional limits. At some point in his early life, Phaeder underwent Terrigenesis, the sacred Inhuman rite of exposure to the Terrigen Mists, which enhanced his innate abilities. His exposure likely amplified his already exceptional scientific mind, allowing him to pioneer revolutionary research in the field of genetics, particularly in the controversial area of cloning.[3]
Outcast of Attilan[]
At this time, Phaeder began conducting controversial experiments in cloning, a practice forbidden by Inhuman law and tradition. Agon, then ruler of the Inhumans and head of a rival house, condemned Phaeder for his transgressions and accused him of treason. Phaeder argued that the ancient laws prohibiting cloning were rooted in superstition and scientific ignorance, but his appeals were rejected. He was expelled from the Genetics Council and exiled from Attilan. To escape persecution, Phaeder created a clone of himself and killed it, faking his death and disappearing from Inhuman society to continue his work in secret.[3]
Alliance with the Deviants[]
In his exile, Phaeder eventually encountered a colony of Deviants a genetically unstable sub-species of humanity engineered by the Celestials. Recognising his immense scientific talents, the Deviants welcomed him into their society. Phaeder relocated to their capital city in undersea Lemuria-East, where he collaborated with Deviant scientists in the breeding of mutates, hoping to stabilise the Deviants' erratic genetic structure.[3] During his time there, Phaeder took the Deviant handmaiden Morga as a mate. Though beautiful by Inhuman standards, she was considered unattractive among Deviants. Together, they had a child who would later become the powerful villain Maelstrom.[2]
Maelstrom was raised within Deviant society and began assisting his father in the Breeding Pits by age twenty. However, Phaeder eventually fell out of favour with the Deviant ruling elite. Morga was executed, and Maelstrom was cast into the slave pens. Phaeder managed to rescue his son and escape Lemuria. They fled across the Earth, living incognito and establishing hidden laboratories around the globe. Together, they made significant advances in cloning and consciousness transfer, allowing them to periodically move their minds into younger cloned bodies. Over time, however, Phaeder's aging body and mental fatigue left him too frail to continue the process.[7][2] At some point, Maelstrom mated with the Deviant Medula but abandoned her, unaware that she was pregnant. Their offspring would later be known as Ransak the Reject.[7]
Influence on Earth's Geneticists[]
In 1928, Phaeder disguised and using a false identity attended the International Conference on Genetics in Geneva, Switzerland. There, he met the young scientist Herbert Wyndham and secretly provided him with advanced papers explaining how to unlock the genetic code. These papers would eventually help Wyndham become the High Evolutionary.[4] Two years later, Phaeder reappeared at Mount Wundagore in Transia, where he again offered aid to Wyndham. This time, he delivered a workforce of enslaved Moloids to help construct Wyndham's Citadel of Science.[8] Separately, Phaeder and Maelstrom later aided Swiss geneticist Arnim Zola, providing him with knowledge to help interpret and build upon ancient Deviant genetic records found in a mysterious iron box within his castle,[5]
Return to the Ruins of Attilan[]
After the Inhumans relocated their city of Attilan from the Atlantic Ocean to the Himalayas during the mid-20th century, Phaeder and Maelstrom established a secret base within the undersea ruins of the former city. There, they discovered ancient vaults containing Terrigen molecules. Phaeder used the Terrigen to engineer new mutates and to grant Maelstrom powers enabling him to siphon kinetic energy. With these powers, Maelstrom adopted his new identity and plotted revenge against the Inhuman royal family. Due to his age and condition, Phaeder was unable to benefit from the Terrigen himself.Together, the two spent decades amassing knowledge and power, aiming to conquer both the Inhumans and Deviants. They also supported various human researchers who could unknowingly advance their goals. Among them were, Wladyslav Shinski of the Enclave, to whom they helped build a new Citadel of Science. Miles Warren, later known as the Jackal, a pioneer in cloning. Dr. Hydro, to whom they supplied a Terrigen-derived formula that transformed humans into water-breathing amphibians, known as the Hydro-Men.[3]
Legacy and Death[]
Magneto later discovered advanced genetic equipment once belonging to Phaeder in his abandoned base in Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico. Using this equipment, Magneto created Alpha the Ultimate Mutant.[9] Phaeder and Maelstrom also created mutated servants using a mix of Terrigen-altered Inhumans, Deviants, and kidnapped humans,[7] Years later, when the Inhumans—now ruled by Black Bolt sought to reverse the effects of the Hydro-Men transformation using an Anti-Terrigen compound developed with the help of Reed Richards, Maelstrom's minions stole the serum intending to use it against all Inhumans. When Maelstrom was defeated and depowered by the very compound he sought to weaponise, he reported his failure to the increasingly frail and bedridden Phaeder. Moments later, Maelstrom was slain by his enforcer Deathurge, and Phaeder died in his sleep.[3] Although both Maelstrom and Phaeder had previously developed methods to transfer their consciousnesses into cloned bodies—improving upon technology originally refined with Zola's aid only Maelstrom survived the transfer. Phaeder, too weak to endure the process, perished permanently.[7]Attributes
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Powers
- Superhuman Strength: In his prime, Phaeder possessed slightly enhanced strength.[2]
- Advanced Longevity: In his prime, Phaeder possessed slightly enhanced longevity.[2]
Abilities
- Genius-Level Intellect: Phaeder was extremely gifted at genetic engineering, particularly cloning and mutating others.[2]
See Also
- 6 appearance(s) of Phaeder (Earth-616)
- 2 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Phaeder (Earth-616)
- 1 mention(s) of Phaeder (Earth-616)
- 2 mention(s) in handbook(s) of Phaeder (Earth-616)
- 2 image(s) of Phaeder (Earth-616)
Links and References
References
- ↑ All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z #6 ; Maelstrom entry
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 FF: Fifty Fantastic Years #1
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Marvel Two-In-One #72
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 X-Factor Annual #3[[Category:]]
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Captain America #209[[Category:]]
- ↑ Defenders #15
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #6
- ↑ Silver Surfer Annual #1[[Category:]]
- ↑ Defenders #15[[Category:]]
- ↑ FF: Fifty Fantastic Years #1
- ↑ FF: Fifty Fantastic Years Vol 1 1