Fictional character biography

The Overmind is an alien belonging to the Eternals

Eternals (comics)

The Eternals are a fictional race of superhumans in the Marvel Comics universe. They are described as an offshoot of the evolutionary process that created sentient life on Earth. The original instigators of this process, the alien Celestials, intended the Eternals to be the defenders of Earth which...

 of Eyung, and was born uncounted millennia ago on the planet Eyung ("Eternus"). Grom acted as one of their warlords, leading massacres of entire species. He was also the reigning champion in their gladiatorial arenas. When his race had engaged the Gigantians in a war about to lead to mutual absolute destruction, Grom's physical prowess led to his being chosen as the receptacle for their entire population of several hundred million minds, and was launched in a protective capsule, unconscious for thousands of years while assimilating them into one single mind.

In more recent years he awoke, and piloted his ship to the nearest inhabited planet which happened to be Earth. He here came into contact with the Fantastic Four

Fantastic Four

The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...

, who had been warned by Uatu the Watcher. The Overmind took over the mind of Mister Fantastic

Mister Fantastic

Mr. Fantastic is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the Fantastic Four. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, he first appeared in Fantastic Four #1 ....

, and battled the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom

Doctor Doom

Victor von Doom is a fictional character who appears in Marvel Comics publications . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #5 wearing his trademark metal mask and green cloak...

, who proved unable to stop him until the Stranger

Stranger (comics)

The Stranger is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics.The Stranger first appeared in X-Men #11 , and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.-Fictional character biography:...

 intervened and shrank the Overmind into a subatomic microverse

Microverse

Microverses are dimensions occurring within the fictional Marvel Universe.The Microverses are often visited by the Fantastic Four in various adventures. They were formerly defined as any universe only accessible through vibrational attunement...

 on a dust mote, where he was left completely isolated with no available conquests, and went mad from the strain.

He was later discovered by another collective consciousness known as Null, the Living Darkness

Null, the Living Darkness

Null, called also Null the Living Darkness, is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.Null is a demon and enemy of the Defenders and Squadron Supreme.-Fictional character biography:...

. In his current broken state Null managed to take control of him and sent him on a campaign against a parallel universe

Parallel universe (fiction)

A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...

 Earth inhabited by the Squadron Supreme

Squadron Supreme

The Squadron Supreme is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Squadron Supreme first appeared in Avengers #85 - 86 The Squadron Supreme is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Squadron Supreme first...

. The Overmind, now a conqueror, mentally enslaved both the Squadron and this Earth's leaders, while posing as the U.S. president Kyle Richmond

Nighthawk (Marvel Comics)

Nighthawk is the name of several fictional characters that appear in publications published by Marvel Comics. There have been five versions of the character: a supervillain-turned-superhero from the mainstream Marvel Universe continuity, Kyle Richmond, who belonged to the team Squadron Sinister;...

, and began construction of an interstellar armada to invade other worlds. When Hyperion brought the Defenders

Defenders (comics)

The Defenders is the name of a number of Marvel Comics superhero groups which are usually presented as a "non-team" of individualistic "outsiders," each known for following their own agendas...

 to assist him, they managed to free the Squadron. Meanwhile Null had leeched away the Overmind's mental energies, but yet another psychic composite entity, of 7 human telepaths, empowered by the assembled heroes, managed to defeat it, and came to inhabit the weakened Grom.

The Overmind then returned with the Defenders to their Earth. For a while this entity was welcomed into the Defenders' ranks, and the loose ends of the seven psychics's old lives were tied up. He assisted the Defenders in the rescue of Daimon Hellstrom

Daimon Hellstrom

Daimon Hellstrom, also known as the Son of Satan and Hellstorm, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:He first appeared in Ghost Rider Daimon Hellstrom, also known as the Son of Satan and Hellstorm, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics...

 from the Miracle Man

Miracle Man

The Miracle Man is a supervillain featured in Marvel Comics, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby as one of the first enemies of the Fantastic Four. He was originally depicted as a stage magician with megalomaniacal desires, capable of convincing others through hypnosis that he has amazing powers...

. The Overmind grew uncomfortable and eventually left, while making them forget it was ever one of them. It tried to find a purpose by attempting to help Millwood, New Hampshire, a town of 800 people dying of chemical poisoning, by controlling their minds and making them ignore their ailments, in order to foster the illusion that they were well. However, the Overmind was convinced to let them be aware of reality rather than an illusion.

When the Squadron transferred to this Earth, the Overmind's original psyche was stirred into awareness and absorbed the telepaths into his own billion-wide whole. His psychic powers were replenished and his true mind reasserted itself. He once more mind-controlled and kidnapped the Squadron to take revenge against the Stranger by organizing a raid against the latter's laboratory world. He freed many of the Stranger's superhuman captives to fuel his enslaved ranks. He locked the Stranger in a stalemated mental battle. When several Watchers

Watcher (comics)

The Watchers are a fictional race of extraterrestrials that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the first Watcher - named Uatu - appears in Fantastic Four #13 .-Fictional history:...

 arrived on an unrelated business the Overmind was wrought by paranoia, believing the Stranger to have summoned them for assistance, inducing psychosis, and enabling the Stranger to capture him as a subject of study.

The Overmind's future counterpart travels back in time to present-day Squadron-Earth to aid the Scarlet Centurion

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...

 in repulsing the expanding Nth Man

Nth Man

Nth Man is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Thomas Lightner first appeared as Blacksun in Marvel Two-in-One #21-23 , and was created by Bill Mantlo and Ron Wilson....

. His head explodes from the effort and he dies.

He later apparently managed to escape and declined participation in the Mad Thinker

Mad Thinker

The Mad Thinker is a fictional character, a supervillain in the . He is a genius specializing in evil robotics and usually comes up with very elaborate infallible devious plans that unfold like clockwork....

's quest for vengeance against the Fantastic Four.

Civil War

Shortly afterwards Grom was affected by the Purple Man

Purple Man

The Purple Man is a Marvel Comics supervillain. Originally a foe of Daredevil, he was introduced in Daredevil vol. 1 #4...

's mind-controlling pheromones, and used to both monitor New York's population, as the latter's chemicals spread in the water supply, as well as control potential threats like the Avengers

Avengers (comics)

The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...

, but disappeared after the Purple Man's defeat. He was eventually located by Baron Zemo

Baron Zemo

Baron Zemo is the name of two fictional characters, both supervillains, in various Marvel Comics comic books, notably Captain America and the Avengers...

 and his Thunderbolts, during the Civil War event, and coerced to join the group or face jail time.

Powers and abilities

The Overmind possesses vast psychic powers derived from the synthesized intellects of the billion Eternals of Eyung composing his essence, including telepathy, telekinesis, or illusion-casting, and can use them over great distances. The Over-Mind can scan the thoughts of others and project his thoughts into others' minds within an unrevealed radius. His victims are completely unaware of his influence unless he allows them. Even when severely weakened, with his mind comatose and his body under the influence of the 7 telepaths, whose assembled might was likened to a drop in the ocean compared to his own, he was able to control the minds of 800 people, and at full power he managed to push the Stranger

Stranger (comics)

The Stranger is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics.The Stranger first appeared in X-Men #11 , and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.-Fictional character biography:...

, a cosmic entity rivaling Galactus

Galactus

Galactus is a fictional character appearing in comic books and other publications published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Jack Kirby, the character debuted in Fantastic Four #48 , the first of a three-issue story later known as "The Galactus...

in scope, to his mental limits. He possesses psychokinetic ability enabling him to lift approximately what he can physically lift. He can project psychokinetic concussion blasts capable of deforming steel at 10 feet (3 m).

His sole weaknesses are his inability to control Eternals of any race, and his schizoid composition can make his abilities weaken immensely when sufficiently stressed. The Over-Mind is susceptible to magic, the imposition of superior intellects and powers, and fatigue. Twice he suffered mental breakdowns, rendering him mentally vulnerable. He cannot impose his will upon the Eternals of any known alien races.

Additionally as a result of his alien physiognomy and metabolism, he possesses great superhuman physical strength, magnified sevenfold through psionic augmentation, and even more impressive speed, stamina, and durability. He is an experienced veteran of many wars, with considerable fighting skills.