What the D’ast? Ravenous

(Editor’s note: This is another in a series of irregularly-scheduled columns by Managing Editor Byron Brewer, mainly dealing with Marvel Cosmic 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

After decades of seeing Mr. Fantastic and crew through the Negative Zone portal and out, you’d think I would know each and every denizen in that other-dimensional world, right?

Wrong! Where Annihilus found his second in command during the Annihilation War, I have no idea. But he has become one of my favorite villains, despite his lack of either Kirby or Starlin lineage.

Marvel Cosmic legend has whispered of “Seekers” for years, and Ravenous was identified as their leader during the War and was said to be “an unstoppable force of nature.” Later issues of Nova would show another side of Ravenous more akin to, say, the whiny Unspoken. But during the Annihilation War, in all his glory, Ravenous was awesome!

It was while seeking to unlock the possibilities of biological application of the Power Cosmic that Annihilus assigned Ravenous and his Seekers – a humanoid army that channels the “Opposing Force” through dog-like creatures called Currs, and are expert at tracking the Power Cosmic – the task of finding the Heralds of Galactus. The Annihilation Wave destroyed the Xander Cluster while searching for Air-Walker and Firelord, both of whom were former Nova Corps members. Upon locating Air-Walker, Ravenous became disappointed that he was an android and thus terminated him in spite of interference from the Silver Surfer.

Sensing the magnitude of the Annihilation Wave, Galactus decided to bestow a massive gift of the Power Cosmic to the Silver Surfer, thus increasing his power tremendously. The arrogant Ravenous engaged the Surfer fiercely, but he was handed a humbling defeat by the newly unleashed power of the Herald. Terrax was not as fortunate as the Surfer and was tracked down and captured by the Seekers on their star-sleds.

At the end of the Annihilation War, the Kree accuser Ronan thought it wise to make a pact with Ravenous in order the save many Kree lives. He gave Ravenous sovereignty over much of Kree space including the planet Kree-Lar. During his tenure as ruler there, he had to face an uprising from members of the Centurions led by Hybelea, Ronan, Wraith and Ra-Venn seeking to activate a forgotten army of Sentries that were housed under his thrown.

More recently, Ravenous was attacked by the Shi’ar led by their majestor, Vulcan. The Earth mutant dispatched Strontian to secure Ravenous’ surrender. During her mission, Strontian killed Ravenous’ insectoid adviser Orbus and appeared to be on the verge of taking Ravenous’ life when he was rescued by Nova Corps member Robbie Rider.

At last mention, Ravenous was being held prisoner along with Strontian and others aboard the Nova Corps starship, Resolute Duty. The Seekers have not been seen since Annihilation, but they were certainly a formidable force – as is Ravenous himself!