Gods (Marvel Comics)

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The gods in the Marvel Comics' universe are divided into several pantheons. The gods of Earth came into existence when Atum (as Demogorge the God-Eater) killed all the Elder Gods who had degenerated into demons, then purified that consumed energy and used it to create several races of new gods. Other worlds may have their own Gods, with different origins.

There are also several beings who either claimed to be gods or were mistaken for gods.

Contents

[edit] Elder Gods

The Elder Gods came into being when the Demiurge spread part of its essence over the Earth. All but Gaea degenerated into demons when they realized they could increase their personal power by consuming their brethren. Gaea "mated" with the Demiurge to produce Atum/Demogorge the God-Eater, who killed or drove off all the demons.

[edit] New Gods

After purging Earth of the degenerated Elder Gods, Atum re-released their purified essences and created several new "tribes" of gods.

[edit] Council of Godheads

The leaders of the various pantheons (or their representatives) occasionally meet to discuss matters that may affect them. The first time they met (known so far) was approximately 1000 years ago when the cosmic entities known as The Celestials visited Earth for the third time. The Celestials demanded that the gods stop interfering in human affairs or they would close the portals between Earth and the gods' home dimensions. Overpowered by the Celestials, the godheads agreed, but began making plans to fight them when they returned 1000 years later to judge humanity. The Asgardians would attack first, using The Destroyer as a weapon. This plan was kept secret from most other gods. Gaea and the female rulers of each pantheon also met to discuss a more peaceful solution. They decided to choose twelve humans who would represent the best qualities of the human race, make them immortal, and present them to the Celestials as proof of humanity's worth; these would be known as the Young Gods. This plan was also kept secret.

A few years ago, the Celestials did return, and not long after, the Destroyer, powered by the souls of all Asgardians (except Thor, who arrived late to the battle) attacked the Celestials but was swiftly destroyed, leaving the Asgardians's spirits scattered. Gaea appeared with the Young Gods, and the Celestials accepted them, judged in favor of humanity, and left Earth, taking the Young Gods with them. Gaea then told Thor he could revive the Asgardians with a portion of each pantheon's essence. Each godhead willingly gave their part, except the Hindu ones (who are ruled by the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) who voted on the matter and decided that a new Asgardian race would eventually be born. This caused an angry Thor to fight Shiva (or Indra posing as Shiva, this isn't clear) and won, causing him to change his vote and gaining Thor their essence. Thor then revived the Asgardians with it.

Their next meeting came when four gods of the dead tried to join their infernal realms together to increase their powers; this awakened the Demogorge, who, thinking the time for the current gods to die had come, absorbed them. Discovering this, Odin convened the Council to discuss Demogorge's threat, and they decided to send a team of gods from different pantheons (Thor, Indra, Shango, Tawa, Horus, Quetzalcoatl, and Apollo) to fight Demogorge. He absorbed them all as well, but Thor's spirit forced Demogorge to restore all the absorbed deities, in exchange for the Death Gods restoring the barriers between their realms.

The Council met again during the events caused by the Infinity Gauntlet, as well as those caused by the Heart of the Infinite, but where mostly ineffectual against both menaces.

The Council also tested Thor to see if he was worthy of taking Odin's place in the group after his death, but Thor failed one of the tests when he provided food to a starving people instead of teaching them how to gain more by themselves.

[edit] List of known Marvel gods

[edit] Celtic gods (Avalonians)

Home: Avalon

[edit] Egyptian gods

Main article: Heliopolitans (comics)

Home: Heliopolis

[edit] Graeco-Roman gods

Main article: Olympians (comics)

Home: Olympus

[edit] Hindu gods

Home: Nirvana

[edit] Norse Gods

Main article: Asgardians (comics)

Home: Asgard

[edit] "False" Gods

Several beings have either claimed to be gods, or were mistaken for gods. These include:

[edit] Sources

Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition (Gods entry); 2006 edition (Council of Godheads entry); individual character entries

[edit] External links

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