Olympians (Marvel Comics)

Olympians
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Journey into Mystery Annual #1 (1965)
Created by Stan Lee
Jack Kirby
Characteristics
Pantheon Greek and Roman
Notable members Apollo
Aphrodite
Ares
Artemis
Athena
Dionysus
Hephaestus
Hera
Hercules
Hermes
Neptune
Pluto
Zeus

The Olympians are a fictional species appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. These characters are based loosely on the Twelve Olympians and other deities of Greek mythology. During the beginning of the 1960s, the exploits of the Asgardians Thor and his evil brother Loki demonstrated that an updating of ancient myths could again win readers. In 1965, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby introduced the Olympians in Journey into Mystery Annual #1.[1][2]

History

The Olympians are a race of extra-dimensional beings that possess a variety of mystical superhuman abilities that were once worshipped by civilizations centered on or around the Mediterranean, Agean, Ionian, Tyrrhenian and Ligurian seas such as Greece, the Roman Empire and parts of Egypt and Turkey as gods from roughly 2500 BC until roughly 500 AD. The Olympians are related to every other pantheon of gods that have ever been worshiped on Earth, such as the Asgardians[3] and the Gods of Heliopolis[4] (ancient Egypt) because Gaea, the spirit that represents life on Earth, was the mother of the first race of gods to appear on Earth.[5] The various pantheons that exist today are the descendants of these earlier gods. It is believed that the Olympians were born somewhere on Earth but currently reside in another dimension that is adjacent to Earth known as Olympus. One known entrance to this realm is actually located atop Mount Olympus in Greece.[6][7]

Racial attributes

Most Olympian gods are identical in appearance to humans and are fully capable of having children with humans, other mystical beings, even extraterrestrials. The Olympians are closer to possessing true immortality than most of Earth's pantheons in that they cease to age upon reaching adulthood, though some reach maturity far faster. For instance, Marvel's depiction of Artemis' birth shows her growing rapidly after birth and helping her mother deliver her brother, Apollo. Olympians are immune to conventional disease, and cannot be killed through conventional means. All Olympians possess superhuman strength with males, typically, being stronger than females. The average male Olympian possesses sufficient superhuman strength to lift about 30 tons while the average Olympian female can lift about 25 tons. Several Olympians exceed these averages by a considerable degree due to naturally possessing greater physical strength, though some can augment their strength further by magical means.

The tissues of all Olympians are harder and more resilient than those of a human, granting them superhuman durability, and are roughly 3 times more dense, bolstering their natural strength and resilience. The increased density results in the Olympians being much heavier than most humans, even though they don't appear to. The average Olympian, both male and female, can withstand extreme temperatures and high caliber bullets without sustaining injury. It is possible for them to be injured, but the mystical energies of their bodies will enable them to heal with much greater speed and with more finality than humans. The average Olympian can repair injuries that result in severe lacerations and loss of blood within a brief period of time without any scarring. More extensive injuries require a longer healing time. Severe injuries, such as severed limbs, can be magically regenerated if the injured Olympian receives treatment within a short period of time after the injury. A small minority of Olympians possess the ability to fully regenerate missing limbs without external aid from other gods. However, any Olympian can die if a significant portion of his or her bodily molecules are scattered. Still, it's possible for a god of extreme power or several gods working together to resurrect those who are slain, though this must also be done shortly after death. The musculature of all Olympians produces considerably fewer fatigue toxins than human beings, granting them superhuman stamina in all physical activities.

There are some Olympians that are born with the potential to harvest great amounts of mystical energy for a variety of purposes including projecting powerful energy blasts, inter-dimensional teleportation, shapeshifting, temporary augmentation of their physical attributes, and granting other superhuman abilities to affect beings or objects, etc. Among the most prominent of the Olympians possessing vast energy manipulating abilities are Neptune, Pluto and Zeus. Other Olympians possess special attributes unique to them such as Aphrodite's mystical ability to arouse love and passion in others and transform weapons into objects of peace or Apollo's ability to generate great heat and light equal to a small sun.

Known members

See also

References

  1. ↑ Classics and Comics, p.112
  2. ↑ The Gospel According to Superheroes: Religion and Pop Culture, p.67
  3. ↑ Thor Annual #11 (November 1983)
  4. ↑ Thor & Hercules: Encyclopaedia Mythologica (September 2009)
  5. ↑ The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #9 (1985)
  6. ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #12 (December 1983)
  7. ↑ Marvel Comics in the 1970s: An Issue-by-Issue Field Guide to a Pop Culture Phenomenon, p. 97
  8. ↑ Chaos War #4 (February 2011)
  9. ↑ Hercules and the Heart of Chaos #1 (August 1997)

External links

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