Brew’s Crew: Syphonn

(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.)

By Byron Brewer

Syphon

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n was an odd bird: a character from the Negative Zone that was actually interesting. No insult to either Annihilus or Blastaar, but when you get past them — bugs! But Syphonn –!

Syphonn was a warlord from the Negative Zone. He launched an attack on the positive universe by using a weapon of his own creation. This weapon was known as the Conqueror Wheel. The device created a portal allowing him passage into the positive universe.

Syphonn was basically an energy parasite. He had the ability to absorb energy through power portals that he had established in the positive universe, and he could change the ends of his tentacles into sharp weapons.

He had the added ability to animate the dead and to telepathically control them into carrying out his wishes. He has used this ability on living beings as well as those that were once dead but had somehow been returned to life. One such being was Drax the Destroyer, who was his first known living victim. Drax was manipulated into stealing the corpse of the Kree warrior Captain Marvel.

The villian managed to use his abilities to persuade his fellow Negative Zone warlords, Annihilus and Blastaar, to join his cause. Together, they stole the Soul Gem from the forehead of Warlock. They were all eventually defeated by Genis-Vell, son of Mar-Vell, and Warlock. They were assisted by the former members of the Infinity Watch.

Syphonn has been absent from the cosmic canvas for some time. I do not even recall him being involved in either Annihilation War. Perhaps he will be a part of Marvel NOW? (Yeah, right!)