Brew’s Crew: Elysius

(Editor’s note: This is another in a series of irregularly-scheduled columns by Managing Editor Byron Brewer, mainly dealing with cosmic comics and its many denizens. Mr. Brewer’s opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CosmicBookNews.com. He welcomes both raves and opposing views.)

 

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When readers today see Elysius, the former lover of Mar-Vell and mother of Phyla-Vell and Genis-Vell, on Titan, they may think she is one of the Eternals who live there under the rule of A’lars, better known as Mentor.

Well, yes and no.

You see, after being corrupted by a program left behind by the mad Titan Thanos, ISAAC, the super computer that served the Titan colony of Eternals, plotted to conquer the moon of Saturn in Thanos’ name. The computer used the Life Baths of Titan to genetically engineer a team of lieutenants. They were to lead his forces. Elysius was one of his earliest creations. At first, she found herself attracted to Eros (Starfox), the son of Mentor.

The Kree hero Captain Marvel came to Titan accompanied by Drax the Destroyer to oppose ISSAC. Elysius confronted them with her genetically engineered griffins. She commanded the griffins telepathically to do her bidding. They refused to follow her commands, sensing Captain Marvel to be serene and honorable. She trusted her pets’ instincts and became attracted to the warrior. Elysius helped Mar-Vell and Drax purge Thanos’ influence from ISAAC.

When Mar-Vell returned to his adopted home, Earth, Elysius accompanied him there. They soon became lovers. Mar-Vell was soon diagnosed with cancer, Elysius stayed with him on Titan as he weakened and finally succumbed to the disease. Before his passing, he asked his friend Starfox to take care of Elysius. She knew that she could not constrain Starfox’s lust for adventure. She chose to release him from his vow sometime later.

Grief stricken by her lover’s death, Elysius obtained Mar-Vell’s DNAcode from ISAAC and it was used to impregnate her with a son. He would become known as Genis-Vell. Mentorfelt that the son of Captain Marvel would be in danger from his father’s enemies so he had ISAAC accelerate the child’s growth into adolescence, and then implanted him with false memories of his childhood. This plan would enable Genis to defend himself from any would-be attackers.

Elysius raised Genis on the far-flung planet of Paraxis. He believed Starfox to be his father. As he grew older, he left Paraxis for fun and adventure. Elysius asked the Silver Surfer to retrieve him, and present him with a pair of Nega-Bands like those worn by his father. Genis began to follow in his father’s heroic footsteps. He took on various names such as Legacy, Captain Marvel and Photon.

Genis once accidentally exposed Elysius to an alien disease that began to kill her. He managed to save her life by aiding Thanos in a game against one of the Elders of the Universe, the Grandmaster (who else?). Elysius was later slain by Syphonn, a conqueror from the Negative Zone. He animated the dead corps of Mar-Vell to do his bidding. Genis aided the golden cosmic adventurer Adam Warlock and the ex-members of the Infinity Watch in bringing Syphonn to defeat.

Genis would soon be manipulated by the cosmic entities Entropy and Epiphany into helping them recreate the universe. Recreating the universe caused subtle alterations in the timeline. Genis was unaware at first that this action revived Elysius’ life. Newly resurrected, she created a daughter, Phyla-Vell, to follow in Genis’ footsteps. Elysius used the same process that brought Genis to life to create Phyla.

Not long after Phyla’s birth, Genis began to lose his mind. The loss of his mental capabilities caused him to exploit his powers. Eros and Phyla confronted him, and helped him gain control of his powers. Genis later sacrificed his life to save the universe.

Elysius continued to train Phlya in the use of her powers until she took active part in the war against the Phlanax, after which Phyla joined the Guardians of the Galaxy. She was reportedly killed in battle with Thanos.

To my knowledge, we have not seen Elysius since her daughter’s death. I hope we again see this dramatic heroine and former lover of Mar-Vell and her fellow Titan residents somewhere – soon!