N'astirh
Encyclopedia
N'astirh is a fictional character
created by Marvel Comics
as a demonic inhabitant of Limbo
. He first appeared in X-Factor
#32 and was created by Louise Simonson
and Jon Bogdanove
.
with great magical skills
and a master manipulator. Despite his power and loyalty to his lord Belasco
N'astirh rebelled when Belasco chose a human, Illyana Rasputin
as his apprentice. N'Astirh formed an alliance with S'ym
, the strongest of Belasco's demons. When Illyana rose against Belasco, N'Astirh stole Belasco's spellbook and fled from Limbo into Earth's past. When Illyana left Limbo, S'ym summoned N'Astirh again and they plotted against her. Due to the Magus
invasion of Limbo (or "Otherplace"), S'ym was turned into a techno-organic being. As a techno-organic being, S'ym became more powerful and took over Limbo.
N'Astirh made pacts with various villains in the Marvel Universe
, and his first alliance was with Cameron Hodge
. N'astirh's demons then kidnapped Artie Maddicks
and Leech
. Using Belasco's stolen book of spells, N'astirh sent demons to abduct mutant infants, and was brought computer expert Wiz Kid
as a captive. N'astirh was informed by Cameron Hodge about Mister Sinister
's orphanage for mutant children. N'astirh forced Wiz Kid to create a computer to process magic. N'astirh then transformed Hobgoblin
(Macendale), giving him demonic features and powers. When Jason Phillip Macendale, then the Hobgoblin, offered to make a Faustian bargain to trade his soul for the power of a demon, N'astirh laughed and scoffed at the offer, thinking Macendale's soul to be too pitiful to be of any worth. In return for amusing him, however, N'astirh granted Macendale's request by fusing the hapless human with a demon, which would eventually break away to become the Demogoblin
. Archangel vowed vengeance on N'astirh. N'astirh also made a pact with Madelyne Pryor
, who used this alliance to get revenge against her creator Mister Sinister and her ex-husband Cyclops
.
Madelyne Pryor
, N'astirh and S'ym then plotted a demonic invasion, starting with Manhattan
, known as the Inferno Crisis
. Thanks to a pact made between N'astirh and Illyana Rasputin
in the past, her actions in the present opened an inter-dimensional portal at the Empire State Building
, through which N'astirh's demons invaded Manhattan. Kang the Conqueror
sent his minion, the Growing Man
to attack N'astirh's demon horde. During the invasion N'astirh also coerced Illyana and Meggan
towards their darker sides—Magik having a tie to the demonic realm Limbo
(transforming her into Darkchilde) and Meggan being an empathic
shapeshifter
who was swayed by the dark emotions around her (transforming her into the Goblin Princess). Illyana eventually closed the portal on her own, sealing the demons in Limbo.
N'astirh brought Madelyne Pryor to Mister Sinister's genetic lab at the orphanage, to rescue her baby, and to confront Mr. Sinister. Madelyne learned that she was merely a clone of Jean Grey
, whom her husband had actually loved, and he left her upon learning that Jean was still alive. With the help of N'astirh and his fellow demon S'ym, Madelyne's psionic powers (far stronger than her progenitor's) were triggered, transforming her into the Goblin Queen. When N'astirh realized that Madelyne could not be used as his pawn openly he devised another way of coercing her to the dark side. When she was bound and defeated by Sinister he left her to fend for herself while he battled S'ym, and was infected and transformed by the transmode virus. The virus changes his coloring from green to red. He also claims he has 'become' magic, since he can now process and cast spells almost simultaneously.
N'astirh captured Nathan Christopher Summers. When N'astirh knew Madelyne had fallen into madness he returns and presents Madylyne her son as chief sacrifice.
N'astirh then attempted to form an alliance with Magneto
. However N'astirh's invasion attempt was thwarted by the X-Factor, New Mutants
, the X-Terminators
and the X-Men, as Magik returned N'astirh's demons to Limbo.. He was frozen and shattered and ultimately destroyed by an overload of lightning driven into him by Storm.
Much later, N'astirh reappeared at the side of Illyana Rasputin, during the 'Quest for Magik' storyline, though the circumstances surrounding his return remain unclear. He does not, however, seem to possess the enhancements and abilities given to him as a result of his exposure to the techno-organic virus during "Inferno." He also appears to be far more animalistic and savage than before and has not displayed any of the cunning and manipulative personality traits he once had.
He is absent during the X-Infernus crossover but returns later during the Second Coming event where is revealed that N'astirth is the mastermind who abducted Magik.
Vast magical powers grants him the ability to manipulate the forces of magic for a number of various effects, generate mystical energy as force bolts and protective shields, increase his size and strength, regenerate his injuries and tap into the innate evil of humans and turn them into demons with a touch. He also has the ability of flight due to his natural leather wings.
Transformation by the techno-organic transmode virus allows him the ability to alter his own shape and can rebuild his body from a single cell when destroyed or injured, and he can infect others with the transmode virus, converting them into "techno-organic" beings and absorbing their life energy. The virus also granted him a computer like mind allowing him to cast spells and process them almost simultaneously.
N'astirh has a gifted intellect, and possesses extensive knowledge of black magic gained through study of Belasco's principal book of sorcery.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
created by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
as a demonic inhabitant of Limbo
Otherplace
Otherplace, is a fictional location in titles published by Marvel Comics. The concept debuted in Uncanny X-Men #160, and was created by Chris Claremont and Brent Anderson.-History:...
. He first appeared in X-Factor
X-Factor (comics)
X-Factor is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It is a spin-off of the popular X-Men franchise, featuring characters from X-Men stories. The series has been relaunched several times with different team rosters, most recently as X-Factor Investigations.X-Factor launched in...
#32 and was created by Louise Simonson
Louise Simonson
Louise Simonson, born Mary Louise Alexander , is an American comic book writer and editor. She is best known for her work on comic book titles such as Power Pack, X-Factor, New Mutants, Superman: The Man of Steel, and Steel...
and Jon Bogdanove
Jon Bogdanove
Jon Bogdanove is an American comic book artist and writer. He is best known for his work on Power Pack, Superman: The Man of Steel, and for creating the character Steel with writer Louise Simonson in 1993.-Comics:...
.
Fictional character biography
N'Astirh was a demonDemons (Marvel Comics)
The Marvel Comics universe hosts a number of demons, many of whom are at times at conflict with gods and angels. All possess varying degrees of mystical power, feed upon souls for self-sustenance, and are inclined towards dark or “black” magic - evil....
with great magical skills
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
and a master manipulator. Despite his power and loyalty to his lord Belasco
Belasco
Belasco is a fictional supervillain in the Marvel Comics Universe. The character's first appearance was in Ka-Zar the Savage #11; he was created by Bruce Jones and Brent Anderson.-Fictional character biography:...
N'astirh rebelled when Belasco chose a human, Illyana Rasputin
Magik (comics)
Magik is a Marvel Comics character, associated with the X-Men. She is the younger sister of the Russian X-Man Colossus.-Publication history:...
as his apprentice. N'Astirh formed an alliance with S'ym
S'ym
S'ym is a fictional supervillain in the Marvel Comics Universe, a demon of Limbo who served as a frequent enemy and sometimes supporting character in The Uncanny X-Men and The New Mutants...
, the strongest of Belasco's demons. When Illyana rose against Belasco, N'Astirh stole Belasco's spellbook and fled from Limbo into Earth's past. When Illyana left Limbo, S'ym summoned N'Astirh again and they plotted against her. Due to the Magus
Magus (Technarchy)
The Magus is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.The Magus is a techno-organic patriarch of an alien civilization, and should not be confused with another character called Magus who is associated with Adam Warlock.-Publication history:...
invasion of Limbo (or "Otherplace"), S'ym was turned into a techno-organic being. As a techno-organic being, S'ym became more powerful and took over Limbo.
N'Astirh made pacts with various villains in the Marvel Universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
, and his first alliance was with Cameron Hodge
Cameron Hodge
Cameron Hodge is a fictional comic book supervillain and opponent of the X-Men, as seen in Marvel Comics. Created by writer Bob Layton and artist Jackson Guice, Hodge first appeared as a supporting character in X-Factor #1 , and was later revealed to be secretly acting against that group as the...
. N'astirh's demons then kidnapped Artie Maddicks
Artie Maddicks
Arthur "Artie" Maddicks is a fictional comic book character in Marvel Comics' shared universe, the Marvel Universe. He first appeared in X-Factor #2 and was created by Bob Layton and Jackson Guice.-Publication history:...
and Leech
Leech (comics)
Leech is a character in the Marvel Comics Universe.Leech made his first appearance in Uncanny X-Men as a Morlock, a group of mutants whose deformities force them to live in the sewers under Manhattan. He is usually depicted as being around 12 years old...
. Using Belasco's stolen book of spells, N'astirh sent demons to abduct mutant infants, and was brought computer expert Wiz Kid
Taki Matsuya
Takashi "Taki" Matsuya or sometimes called the Wiz Kid is a fictional mutant character from Marvel Comics. Created by Louise Simonson and Jon Bogdanove, his first appearance was in X-Terminators #1 .-Fictional character biography:...
as a captive. N'astirh was informed by Cameron Hodge about Mister Sinister
Mister Sinister
Mister Sinister is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #221 and was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Marc Silvestri....
's orphanage for mutant children. N'astirh forced Wiz Kid to create a computer to process magic. N'astirh then transformed Hobgoblin
Jason Macendale
Jason Philip Macendale, Jr. is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Machine Man #19 , and was created by writer Tom DeFalco and artist Steve Ditko....
(Macendale), giving him demonic features and powers. When Jason Phillip Macendale, then the Hobgoblin, offered to make a Faustian bargain to trade his soul for the power of a demon, N'astirh laughed and scoffed at the offer, thinking Macendale's soul to be too pitiful to be of any worth. In return for amusing him, however, N'astirh granted Macendale's request by fusing the hapless human with a demon, which would eventually break away to become the Demogoblin
Demogoblin
Demogoblin is a fictional character appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared as Demogoblin in Web of Spider-Man #86 , and had previously appeared as an unnamed demon in Spectacular Spider-Man #147....
. Archangel vowed vengeance on N'astirh. N'astirh also made a pact with Madelyne Pryor
Madelyne Pryor
Madelyne Pryor is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. As the love interest and first wife of X-Men leader Cyclops , she became a long-standing member of the X-Men supporting cast, until a series of traumas — being abandoned by her husband, losing her infant son, and...
, who used this alliance to get revenge against her creator Mister Sinister and her ex-husband Cyclops
Cyclops (comics)
Cyclops is a fictional character, the leader of the X-Men superhero team in the . A mutant, Cyclops emits a powerful energy beam from his eyes...
.
Madelyne Pryor
Madelyne Pryor
Madelyne Pryor is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. As the love interest and first wife of X-Men leader Cyclops , she became a long-standing member of the X-Men supporting cast, until a series of traumas — being abandoned by her husband, losing her infant son, and...
, N'astirh and S'ym then plotted a demonic invasion, starting with Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, known as the Inferno Crisis
Inferno (Marvel Comics)
Inferno was a Marvel Comics company-wide crossover in 1989 that mainly involved the mutant titles, namely The Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, X-Terminators, Excalibur, and The New Mutants...
. Thanks to a pact made between N'astirh and Illyana Rasputin
Magik (comics)
Magik is a Marvel Comics character, associated with the X-Men. She is the younger sister of the Russian X-Man Colossus.-Publication history:...
in the past, her actions in the present opened an inter-dimensional portal at the Empire State Building
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
, through which N'astirh's demons invaded Manhattan. Kang the Conqueror
Kang the Conqueror
Kang the Conqueror is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Avengers #8 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
sent his minion, the Growing Man
Growing Man
The Growing Man is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Thor #140 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.-Publication history:...
to attack N'astirh's demon horde. During the invasion N'astirh also coerced Illyana and Meggan
Meggan
Meggan Puceanu is a fictional character, a mutant superhero in the . She first appeared in Mighty World of Marvel #7, , and was created by Alan Moore and Alan Davis....
towards their darker sides—Magik having a tie to the demonic realm Limbo
Otherplace
Otherplace, is a fictional location in titles published by Marvel Comics. The concept debuted in Uncanny X-Men #160, and was created by Chris Claremont and Brent Anderson.-History:...
(transforming her into Darkchilde) and Meggan being an empathic
Empathy
Empathy is the capacity to recognize and, to some extent, share feelings that are being experienced by another sapient or semi-sapient being. Someone may need to have a certain amount of empathy before they are able to feel compassion. The English word was coined in 1909 by E.B...
shapeshifter
Shapeshifting
Shapeshifting is a common theme in mythology, folklore, and fairy tales. It is also found in epic poems, science fiction literature, fantasy literature, children's literature, Shakespearean comedy, ballet, film, television, comics, and video games...
who was swayed by the dark emotions around her (transforming her into the Goblin Princess). Illyana eventually closed the portal on her own, sealing the demons in Limbo.
N'astirh brought Madelyne Pryor to Mister Sinister's genetic lab at the orphanage, to rescue her baby, and to confront Mr. Sinister. Madelyne learned that she was merely a clone of Jean Grey
Jean Grey
Jean Grey-Summers is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl, Phoenix, and Dark Phoenix and is best known as one of five original members of the X-Men, for her relationship with Cyclops, and for her...
, whom her husband had actually loved, and he left her upon learning that Jean was still alive. With the help of N'astirh and his fellow demon S'ym, Madelyne's psionic powers (far stronger than her progenitor's) were triggered, transforming her into the Goblin Queen. When N'astirh realized that Madelyne could not be used as his pawn openly he devised another way of coercing her to the dark side. When she was bound and defeated by Sinister he left her to fend for herself while he battled S'ym, and was infected and transformed by the transmode virus. The virus changes his coloring from green to red. He also claims he has 'become' magic, since he can now process and cast spells almost simultaneously.
N'astirh captured Nathan Christopher Summers. When N'astirh knew Madelyne had fallen into madness he returns and presents Madylyne her son as chief sacrifice.
N'astirh then attempted to form an alliance with Magneto
Magneto (comics)
Magneto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the central villain of the X-Men comic, as well as the TV show and the films. The character first appears in X-Men #1 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
. However N'astirh's invasion attempt was thwarted by the X-Factor, New Mutants
New Mutants
The New Mutants are a group of teenaged mutant superheroes-in-training published by Marvel Comics. They have been the main characters of three successive comic book series, which were spin-offs of the popular X-Men franchise....
, the X-Terminators
X-Terminators
The X-Terminators are fictional characters in the Marvel Universe.-History:The name "X-Terminators" was originally used by X-Factor at that group's inception. The five original X-Men had founded X-Factor Investigations, and posed as normal humans purported to be an organization of mutant-hunters...
and the X-Men, as Magik returned N'astirh's demons to Limbo.. He was frozen and shattered and ultimately destroyed by an overload of lightning driven into him by Storm.
Much later, N'astirh reappeared at the side of Illyana Rasputin, during the 'Quest for Magik' storyline, though the circumstances surrounding his return remain unclear. He does not, however, seem to possess the enhancements and abilities given to him as a result of his exposure to the techno-organic virus during "Inferno." He also appears to be far more animalistic and savage than before and has not displayed any of the cunning and manipulative personality traits he once had.
He is absent during the X-Infernus crossover but returns later during the Second Coming event where is revealed that N'astirth is the mastermind who abducted Magik.
Powers and abilities
Transformation by the techno-organic transmode virus allows him the ability to alter his own shape and can rebuild his body from a single cell when destroyed or injured, and he can infect others with the transmode virus, converting them into "techno-organic" beings and absorbing their life energy. The virus also granted him a computer like mind allowing him to cast spells and process them almost simultaneously.
N'astirh has a gifted intellect, and possesses extensive knowledge of black magic gained through study of Belasco's principal book of sorcery.