Terrigen Mist
Encyclopedia
The Terrigen Mist is a fictional substance from the Marvel Comics
universe
. It plays a prominent role in the stories of the Inhumans
, a fictional race of super-humans. The Terrigen Mists were first referenced in the Fantastic Four
comic book series.
, arising as a vapor from the Terrigen Crystals, which are able to alter Inhuman biology. The Mists were discovered by the Inhuman geneticist
Randac approximately 25,000 years ago; he immersed himself in the Mists and gained mental powers comparable to the Eternals
. Sometimes the mutated subjects gain superhuman
abilities; Medusa
and Black Bolt
are two examples of this.
However, in the past, uncontrolled exposure to the Mists (due in part to Randac wishing for all the Inhumans to undergo Terrigen treatment, or Terrigenesis) mutated the majority of the Inhuman population into hideously deformed monsters. After centuries of eugenics
and birth control
, the Inhumans managed to mitigate the genetic damage and cultivated a more responsible use of the Terrigen Mists. The practice they developed was to let only genetically perfect specimens undergo the random mutations provoked by the Mists. Their theory was that genetic screening could avoid the risk of hideous and animal mutations in an individual. However, there are examples throughout the Inhumans' canon where an exposed Inhuman became a devolved, sometimes mindless, evolutionarily inferior throw-back. The term Alpha Primitives was coined for these unfortunate outcasts of Inhuman society, who would for centuries become the breeding stock of a slave race. Resentment at this caste system sometimes bubbles up, and the Alpha Primitives have tried to overthrow their rulers in multiple storylines, often as a result of manipulation by a third party.
mutant
Quicksilver
subjected himself to the Mist, he gained the ability to travel through time
as an acute enhancement to his former super-speed. Luna
, Quicksilver's half-human half-inhuman daughter, gains psychic
abilities from the Mists allowing her to see emotional auras emanating from individuals.
It is also shown in this series that depowered mutants, if exposed to the Terrigen Mists, gain an uncontrollable version of their former powers. For example, the Mists restore the hyperacute senses of Callisto
, but all the amplified stimuli cause her to fall into a coma
. However, the effect is only temporary; powers fade after a short while. As shown with Quicksilver, the bodies of those exposed to the mists for extensive periods begin to produce their own Terrigen Crystals with the same mutagenic effects. At the end of the Son of M
series, the U.S.
government confiscates the Terrigen Crystals dropped by Quicksilver, which leads Black Bolt
, the leader of the Inhumans, to declare war on the United States.
depowered mutants provided moments of renewed powers but then caused them to explode. Use on U.S. Marines in Silent War
also proved that the mists, while providing temporary powers to humans who are certain in their purpose, also causes certain death. The Inhuman Gorgon was subjected to a second exposure while imprisoned, which increased his strength, but possibly lowered his intellect.
The Inhumans have introduced the Terrigen Mists to the Kree to further their evolution. Also, they have planned on using the Utterance of Destiny, or the T-Bomb, which would spread the Mists all across the universe, making all living beings Inhumans, which to the prime group, would bring about equality and an end to war.
left the Inhumans the Xerogen crystals to use as a defense against the growing numbers of their human cousins. Whereas the Terrigen Mists enhance Inhumans with superpowers, the Xerogen mists de-evolve humans into Alpha Primitive
s. The deposed Inhuman king, the Unspoken, removed the crystals from Attilan. But when he was banished, he cultivated and grew the crystals.
The Mighty Avengers battled and defeated the Unspoken, with the Xerogen crystals soon returned to the Inhumans. Queen Medusa quickly claimed that the Xerogen Crystals do not exist.
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...
. It plays a prominent role in the stories of the Inhumans
Inhumans
The Inhumans are a fictional race of superhumans, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. This race appears in various comic book series published by Marvel Comics and exists in that company's shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe....
, a fictional race of super-humans. The Terrigen Mists were first referenced in 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...
comic book series.
History
The Terrigen Mist is a natural mutagenMutagen
In genetics, a mutagen is a physical or chemical agent that changes the genetic material, usually DNA, of an organism and thus increases the frequency of mutations above the natural background level. As many mutations cause cancer, mutagens are therefore also likely to be carcinogens...
, arising as a vapor from the Terrigen Crystals, which are able to alter Inhuman biology. The Mists were discovered by the Inhuman geneticist
Geneticist
A geneticist is a biologist who studies genetics, the science of genes, heredity, and variation of organisms. A geneticist can be employed as a researcher or lecturer. Some geneticists perform experiments and analyze data to interpret the inheritance of skills. A geneticist is also a Consultant or...
Randac approximately 25,000 years ago; he immersed himself in the Mists and gained mental powers comparable 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...
. Sometimes the mutated subjects gain superhuman
Superhuman
Superhuman can mean an improved human, for example, by genetic modification, cybernetic implants, or as what humans might evolve into, in the near or distant future...
abilities; Medusa
Medusa (comics)
Medusa is a fictional superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Medusa first appeared in Fantastic Four #36 , and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.-Fictional character biography:...
and Black Bolt
Black Bolt
Black Bolt is a fictional character that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Fantastic Four #45 Black Bolt (Blackagar Boltagon) is a fictional character that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Fantastic Four #45 Black...
are two examples of this.
However, in the past, uncontrolled exposure to the Mists (due in part to Randac wishing for all the Inhumans to undergo Terrigen treatment, or Terrigenesis) mutated the majority of the Inhuman population into hideously deformed monsters. After centuries of eugenics
Eugenics
Eugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...
and birth control
Birth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
, the Inhumans managed to mitigate the genetic damage and cultivated a more responsible use of the Terrigen Mists. The practice they developed was to let only genetically perfect specimens undergo the random mutations provoked by the Mists. Their theory was that genetic screening could avoid the risk of hideous and animal mutations in an individual. However, there are examples throughout the Inhumans' canon where an exposed Inhuman became a devolved, sometimes mindless, evolutionarily inferior throw-back. The term Alpha Primitives was coined for these unfortunate outcasts of Inhuman society, who would for centuries become the breeding stock of a slave race. Resentment at this caste system sometimes bubbles up, and the Alpha Primitives have tried to overthrow their rulers in multiple storylines, often as a result of manipulation by a third party.
Use by non-Inhumans
Since the introduction of the Terrigen Mists, the inhabitants of the Marvel Comics universe have believed that Terrigen Mists were toxic for regular Homo sapiens. When the depoweredHouse of M
House of M is an eight-issue comic book limited series and crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics in 2005. Written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Olivier Coipel, its first issue debuted in June 2005 as a follow-up to the events of the Planet X and Avengers Disassembled...
mutant
Mutant (Marvel Comics)
In comic books published by Marvel Comics, a mutant is an organism who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows the mutant to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
Quicksilver
Quicksilver (comics)
Quicksilver is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in X-Men #4 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby...
subjected himself to the Mist, he gained the ability to travel through time
Time travel
Time travel is the concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space. Time travel could hypothetically involve moving backward in time to a moment earlier than the starting point, or forward to the future of that point without the...
as an acute enhancement to his former super-speed. Luna
Luna (comics)
Luna Maximoff is a fictional supporting character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Luna first appeared in Fantastic Four #240 , and was created by John Byrne...
, Quicksilver's half-human half-inhuman daughter, gains psychic
Psychic
A psychic is a person who professes an ability to perceive information hidden from the normal senses through extrasensory perception , or is said by others to have such abilities. It is also used to describe theatrical performers who use techniques such as prestidigitation, cold reading, and hot...
abilities from the Mists allowing her to see emotional auras emanating from individuals.
It is also shown in this series that depowered mutants, if exposed to the Terrigen Mists, gain an uncontrollable version of their former powers. For example, the Mists restore the hyperacute senses of Callisto
Callisto (comics)
Callisto is a Marvel Comics fictional character, associated with the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith, she first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #169 ....
, but all the amplified stimuli cause her to fall into a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
. However, the effect is only temporary; powers fade after a short while. As shown with Quicksilver, the bodies of those exposed to the mists for extensive periods begin to produce their own Terrigen Crystals with the same mutagenic effects. At the end of the Son of M
Son of M
Son of M is an American comic book limited series, a follow up to Marvel Comics' "House of M" event, starring the depowered Quicksilver. Quicksilver was one of the many mutants to lose his powers as part of the Decimation, which he was, in part, responsible for.-Background:Following his sister's...
series, the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government confiscates the Terrigen Crystals dropped by Quicksilver, which leads Black Bolt
Black Bolt
Black Bolt is a fictional character that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Fantastic Four #45 Black Bolt (Blackagar Boltagon) is a fictional character that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Fantastic Four #45 Black...
, the leader of the Inhumans, to declare war on the United States.
Use in the 'Silent War'
Use on X-CellX-Cell
X-Cell is a terrorist organization in the Marvel Comics universe.-Fictional team biography:Made up of ex-mutants, the group targets government authorities in an attempt to regain their lost powers after the Decimation event, which de-powered over 90% of the world's mutant population and which they...
depowered mutants provided moments of renewed powers but then caused them to explode. Use on U.S. Marines in Silent War
Silent War
Silent War is a six-issue Marvel Comics comic book limited series which began in January 2007. It was written by David Hine, with art by Frazer Irving....
also proved that the mists, while providing temporary powers to humans who are certain in their purpose, also causes certain death. The Inhuman Gorgon was subjected to a second exposure while imprisoned, which increased his strength, but possibly lowered his intellect.
The Inhumans have introduced the Terrigen Mists to the Kree to further their evolution. Also, they have planned on using the Utterance of Destiny, or the T-Bomb, which would spread the Mists all across the universe, making all living beings Inhumans, which to the prime group, would bring about equality and an end to war.
Xerogen Mist
The KreeKree
The Kree, also known as the Ruul, are a scientifically and technologically advanced militaristic alien race in the fictional Marvel Universe. They are native to the planet Hala in the Large Magellanic Cloud...
left the Inhumans the Xerogen crystals to use as a defense against the growing numbers of their human cousins. Whereas the Terrigen Mists enhance Inhumans with superpowers, the Xerogen mists de-evolve humans into Alpha Primitive
Alpha Primitive
The Alpha Primitives are a fictional subspecies of humanity from Marvel Comics. They first appeared in Fantastic Four #47 , and were created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee.-History:...
s. The deposed Inhuman king, the Unspoken, removed the crystals from Attilan. But when he was banished, he cultivated and grew the crystals.
The Mighty Avengers battled and defeated the Unspoken, with the Xerogen crystals soon returned to the Inhumans. Queen Medusa quickly claimed that the Xerogen Crystals do not exist.