Technarchy
Encyclopedia
The Technarchy, or Technarchs, are a cybernetic, shapeshifting
, fictional species of extraterrestrial
origin in the Marvel Comics
' universe
, created by writer Chris Claremont
and artist Bill Sienkiewicz
. Its most notable members are the New Mutants
member Warlock
and his "siredam," the supervillain called the Magus
. The Technarchy first appeared in the person of Warlock in New Mutants
vol. 1 #21 (November 1984).
are formed, creatures who maintain hiveminds
, unlike the highly individualistic Technarchs, and who are inherently coded to send a message to the Technarchy once they reach a critical mass. The Technarchy, who consider Phalanx to be abominations, exterminate all such "nests" upon receiving the messages.
The Technarch homeworld was called "Kvch," is covered with cities, and itself appears to be techno-organic in nature. The Technarchy is itself a dictatorship
, led by the Magus
. The Magus has only had contact with Earth on account of the actions of his son Warlock
, who chose not to continue a native custom whereby the son eventually kills the father and takes his place in their society. The Magus pursued his son and had several encounters with Warlock's new team - the New Mutants
- and other Terran superhumans such as the X-Men
and Avengers
. Each time the Magus was thwarted in his schemes, and was thought to have returned to his home planet. An offspring of Magus in a mindless state has been revealed to be lying dormant underwater and awoken by the codeword "Warlock". His existence was revealed by the resurrected Bastion
who plans to use him as a weapon in his war on mutants.
Bastion rewrote its programming and infected Donald Pierce
and the Leper Queen
, the recovered techno-organic remains of Cameron Hodge
and Steven Lang
, as well as the corpses of Bolivar Trask
, Graydon Creed
, and Reverend William Stryker
with the Technarch transmode virus, declaring them to be the future of humanity and the end of mutantkind. Eli Bard
, a closeted servant of Selene
, infected himself with the programming and has also used the Technarch spawn to resurrect the corpse of Caliban
as well those of Warpath
's massacred tribe. He then presented himself to Selene who rewrote its programming even further and resurrected other mutants, including Pyro
and Cypher
so she could set her plan into motion of becoming a goddess.
from a "parent." The "babies" are then brought up in a creche. The Technarch themselves are asexual, and refer to their parents as "siredams," after "sire" for father and "dam" for mother, although humans tend to refer to them as male. Upon reaching a certain age, Technarch young must face their parent in single combat to prove that they have the right to live. Those that are weak are killed, while those that are strong kill their parent. The only known exception is Warlock
, a mutant Technarch with a peaceful disposition, who refused to fight and instead chose to flee, ending up on Earth where he joined the New Mutants
. The Magus came after him and challenged him directly, before being eventually devolved to childhood by a merged Warlock and Cypher
. He later returned and was defeated by Warlock and Hope, another ally who infected him with an altered version of the transmode virus, leading him to flee in self-hatred.
, cross dimensional barriers, detect energy sources at interstellar distances, detect mental activity, detect lifeglow, communicate in a wide variety of formats, and even fuse hydrogen.
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...
, fictional species of extraterrestrial
Extraterrestrial life in popular culture
In popular cultures, "extraterrestrials" are life forms — especially intelligent life forms— that are of extraterrestrial origin .-Historical ideas:-Pre-modern:...
origin in the 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...
' 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...
, created by writer Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer, during which he is credited with developing strong female characters, and with introducing complex literary themes into superhero...
and artist Bill Sienkiewicz
Bill Sienkiewicz
Boleslav Felix Robert "Bill" Sienkiewicz [pronounced sin-KEV-itch] is an Eisner Award-winning American artist and writer best known for his comic book work, primarily for Marvel Comics' The New Mutants and Elektra: Assassin...
. Its most notable members are the 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....
member Warlock
Warlock (New Mutants)
Warlock is a fictional character, a cybernetic alien superhero published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in New Mutants vol. 1 #18 , and was created by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz.-Publication history:...
and his "siredam," the supervillain called 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:...
. The Technarchy first appeared in the person of Warlock in 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....
vol. 1 #21 (November 1984).
History
The Technarchy is a race of giant techno-organic entities with very aggressive natures. They travel the universe looking for things on which to feed, which can be organic or mechanical. They feed by infecting their prey with the Transmode Virus, converting it into techno-organic matter, from which they then drain the energy, or "lifeglow". If the "lifeglow" is not drained from organic creatures after infection, then PhalanxPhalanx (comics)
The Phalanx are a fictional cybernetic species in the Marvel Comics universe. They have come in conflict with the X-Men and related groups on several occasions. They form a hive mind, linking each member by a telepathy-like system....
are formed, creatures who maintain hiveminds
Group mind (science fiction)
A group mind, hive mind or group ego in science fiction is a single consciousness occupying many bodies. Its use in literature goes back at least as far as Olaf Stapledon's science fiction novel Last and First Men ....
, unlike the highly individualistic Technarchs, and who are inherently coded to send a message to the Technarchy once they reach a critical mass. The Technarchy, who consider Phalanx to be abominations, exterminate all such "nests" upon receiving the messages.
The Technarch homeworld was called "Kvch," is covered with cities, and itself appears to be techno-organic in nature. The Technarchy is itself a dictatorship
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
, led by 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:...
. The Magus has only had contact with Earth on account of the actions of his son Warlock
Warlock (New Mutants)
Warlock is a fictional character, a cybernetic alien superhero published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in New Mutants vol. 1 #18 , and was created by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz.-Publication history:...
, who chose not to continue a native custom whereby the son eventually kills the father and takes his place in their society. The Magus pursued his son and had several encounters with Warlock's new team - the 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....
- and other Terran superhumans such as the X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
and 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...
. Each time the Magus was thwarted in his schemes, and was thought to have returned to his home planet. An offspring of Magus in a mindless state has been revealed to be lying dormant underwater and awoken by the codeword "Warlock". His existence was revealed by the resurrected Bastion
Bastion (comics)
Bastion is a supervillain that appears in the fictional Marvel Universe. The character was created by Scott Lobdell and Pascual Ferry and first made a cameo appearance in X-Men #52 . His first full appearance was Uncanny X-Men #333...
who plans to use him as a weapon in his war on mutants.
Bastion rewrote its programming and infected Donald Pierce
Donald Pierce
Donald Pierce is a comic book supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #132. He was created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne. Donald Pierce is a cyborg.-Fictional character biography:...
and the Leper Queen
Leper Queen
The Leper Queen is a fictional villain of the Marvel Universe. She's the leader of the Sapien League, an extremist anti-mutant organization similar to the Friends of Humanity.-The Mutant Daughter:...
, the recovered techno-organic remains of 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...
and Steven Lang
Steven Lang (comics)
Steven Lang is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. He is best known as a manufacturer of the mutant-hunting robots called Sentinels. He first appeared in X-Men volume 1 #96....
, as well as the corpses of Bolivar Trask
Bolivar Trask
Bolivar Trask is a fictional character and a military scientist in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #14 . He is the creator of the Sentinels.-Fictional character biography:...
, Graydon Creed
Graydon Creed
Graydon Creed is a fictional character created by writer Scott Lobdell and artist Brandon Peterson. The character is an enemy of the X-Men and first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #299 .- Fictional character biography :...
, and Reverend William Stryker
William Stryker
Col. William "Bill" Stryker, M.D. is a fictional comic book supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe, and enemy of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Brent Anderson, he first appeared in the 1982 graphic novel X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills.Rev...
with the Technarch transmode virus, declaring them to be the future of humanity and the end of mutantkind. Eli Bard
Eli Bard
Eli Bard is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain from the Marvel Comics universe. He is a member of the Purifiers and an enemy of the X-Men.-Fictional character biography:...
, a closeted servant of Selene
Selene (comics)
Selene Gallio is a fictional character, a comic book supervillainess from the Marvel Comics universe. She is a mutant, and an enemy of the X-Men often associated with the Hellfire Club's Inner Circle.-Publication history:...
, infected himself with the programming and has also used the Technarch spawn to resurrect the corpse of Caliban
Caliban (comics)
Caliban is a mutant character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:Caliban's first appearance was in Uncanny X-Men #148 , written by Chris Claremont and illustrated by Dave Cockrum.-Fictional character biography:...
as well those of Warpath
Warpath (comics)
James Proudstar, previously known as the second Thunderbird but also known as Warpath, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero associated with the X-Men....
's massacred tribe. He then presented himself to Selene who rewrote its programming even further and resurrected other mutants, including Pyro
Pyro (comics)
Pyro is a fictional character in Marvel Comics and an enemy of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne, he first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #141 ....
and Cypher
Cypher (comics)
Cypher is a fictional mutant character, a superhero from Marvel Comics. He first appeared in New Mutants vol. 1 #13 .-Fictional character biography:Doug Ramsey was born to Philip and Sheila Ramsey...
so she could set her plan into motion of becoming a goddess.
Reproduction
The Technarch reproduces using an advanced assembly line, using the genomeGenome
In modern molecular biology and genetics, the genome is the entirety of an organism's hereditary information. It is encoded either in DNA or, for many types of virus, in RNA. The genome includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences of the DNA/RNA....
from a "parent." The "babies" are then brought up in a creche. The Technarch themselves are asexual, and refer to their parents as "siredams," after "sire" for father and "dam" for mother, although humans tend to refer to them as male. Upon reaching a certain age, Technarch young must face their parent in single combat to prove that they have the right to live. Those that are weak are killed, while those that are strong kill their parent. The only known exception is Warlock
Warlock (New Mutants)
Warlock is a fictional character, a cybernetic alien superhero published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in New Mutants vol. 1 #18 , and was created by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz.-Publication history:...
, a mutant Technarch with a peaceful disposition, who refused to fight and instead chose to flee, ending up on Earth where he joined the 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 Magus came after him and challenged him directly, before being eventually devolved to childhood by a merged Warlock and Cypher
Cypher (comics)
Cypher is a fictional mutant character, a superhero from Marvel Comics. He first appeared in New Mutants vol. 1 #13 .-Fictional character biography:Doug Ramsey was born to Philip and Sheila Ramsey...
. He later returned and was defeated by Warlock and Hope, another ally who infected him with an altered version of the transmode virus, leading him to flee in self-hatred.
Powers and abilities
Technarchs grow in size and strength throughout their lives, and gain new abilities as their power increases. In addition to the shapeshifting and energy-channeling abilities granted by their physical nature, Technarchy members can (with enough power) travel through hyperspaceHyperspace (science fiction)
Hyperspace is a plot device sometimes used in science fiction. It is typically described as an alternative region of space co-existing with our own universe which may be entered using an energy field or other device...
, cross dimensional barriers, detect energy sources at interstellar distances, detect mental activity, detect lifeglow, communicate in a wide variety of formats, and even fuse hydrogen.