EXO-MIND EXO-MIND
Real Name: Exo-Mind
Identity/Class: Extra-Dimensional life form (unique)
Occupation: Would-be Dimensional Conqueror
Affiliations: The Exo-Mind is the ego of the Hellfire Helix, which is contained within the Bloodgem (which serves as a conduit for its energies). The Bloodgem was created by an unnamed group of extra-dimensional "gods". The Exo-Mind created Ulluxy'l Kwan Tae Syn, who served as its guardian. Other pawns of the Exo-Mind's agents include Goram and Sharzan the Elemental.
The Bloodgem, or fragments of it (i.e. the Bloodstones) have been possessed by numerous beings over the years, including Ulysses Bloodstone, Raa of the Anachronauts, the Maha Yogi/Merlin Demonspawn, the Conspiracy (Atlan, Dr. Juden Bardham, Centurius, Kaballa, Bubbles O'Day), a tribe of Incas, the Living Mummy (N'Kantu), an unnamed Japanese gang, Oliver Quinn (whose plane was brought down by a flying creature and crashed in the Atlantic Ocean), Elsa Bloodstone. It also reanimated/possessed the corpse of Baron Zemo (Heinrich). Baron Zemo (Helmut), Captain America, and various members of Batroc's Brigade, all briefly possessed the individual stones.
The Bloodgem is apparently part of the Lifestone Tree, one of many gems that received power from the Alpha and Omega Stones, which funneled the energies of the Hellfire Helix. The Lifestones empowered the Chosen Eight of Fate (a.k.a. the original Guardians of the Galaxy), and also included: the gem which empowered the Blue Diamond, the Godstone (a la Man-Wolf/Stargod, aka the Bloodgem and the Moongem), the Ka Stone (a la Sphinx), the Moongem (a la Moonstone(s)), the Power Prism (a la Dr. Spectrum), and many others.
Known Relatives: Star of Capistan (spawn); see also Affiliations
Aliases:
Hellfire Helix (sometimes the terms are used interchangeably, or
incorrectly), Bloodgem (ditto), Bloodstone (ditto), Starstone (ditto),
Stargem
Base of Operations: The Bloodgem, mobile across Earth; Formerly the Kree Galaxy; possibly formerly in the Universe which existed prior to the Big Bang; Formerly in an unnamed extra-dimensional realm
First Appearance: (BTS) Strange Tales I#73
(February 1960);
(first true appearance) Marvel Presents I#1 (October,
1975);
Note: For the most part, only actual appearances (Exo-Mind or Hellfire Helix) are listed. The Exo-Mind is behind the scenes when any of the Bloodstones are seen. See also individual entries for Ulysses Bloodstone and the Maha Yogi for other appearances.
Powers: The Exo-Mind can manipulate of possess others in contact with one of the Bloodstones. When the Bloodgem was reassembled, it once transformed it into an immense crystalline creature, which could absorb the life force of others. In this form it could also control entire crowds of people without direct contact.
(Marvel Presents#2 - text page) - The Hellfire Helix is an inter-dimensional conduit and channels massive levels of magical and unnatural energies from extra-dimensional realms. These streams flow through the universe binding everything together, like blood coursing through one's body. If one possesses the helix, one may conceivably utilize all those energies passing through it.
The Bloodstones, fragments of the Bloodgem, each transmit only a certain portion of the above energies, certain "wavelengths" that are limited to specific functions. The fragments confer varying degrees of power to their holders, including virtual immortality, mental powers such as telepathy and telekinesis, superhuman physical attributes, etc. (see Ulysses Bloodstone, Maha Yogi/Merlin Demonspawn, and Raa entries).
History:
(Rampaging Hulk I#4/2 (fb)) - An unknown time period ago (perhaps
even before the creation of the current universe of Earth (10-15
billion years ago)), an unnamed race of extradimensional Gods or
Elders existed in an alien universe where chaos rather than order
is the binding force of the cosmos, and it was dominated by
suffering and squalor. These Elders created the Bloodgem in order
to conquer other dimensions, intending to turn those realms into
a form similar to their own.
The Bloodgem served as a conduit to the energies of the Hellfire Helix, which is a point in space through which all magics and energies pass. These energies somehow created a consciousness which is known as the Exo-Mind. I'm not certain whether the Helix is a natural phenomena accessed by these Elders, or if it was possibly created by them.
(Rampaging Hulk I#4/2 (fb)) - The Exo-Mind created Ulluxy'l Kwan Tae Syn as its guardian, as per the wishes of the Elders, who apparently needed five such guardians to complete the ritual necessary for their crossing if dimensions.
(Rampaging Hulk I#4/2 (fb) / Official Handbook
of the Marvel Universe: Book of the Dead 2004: Bloodstone)
- However, the Exo-Mind had no interest in the
outcome of the Elders' efforts. It was more interested in the
struggle for its own sake, so it sabotaged the ritual to tilt the
odds against the Elders in order to make the odds, and the
struggle, more interesting.
(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Book
of the Dead 2004: Bloodstone) - The Bloodgem was hurled across
time and space, arriving in the final stages of the already
collapsing universe. The Bloodgem survived the death of that
reality and was released during the subsequent "Big Bang"
that created the current Earth-616 dimension.
(Defenders II#9 + 10 (fb) - BTS) - The Star of Capistan was "birthed" by the Bloodgem at some point in the past.
(Thunderbolts#45+46(fb)) - Thousands of years ago, now in the Earth dimension, the Bloodgem, was one of many gems brought by unidentified extra-terrestrial scientists to the planet Kree-Lar. Scientists on Kree-Lar had discovered an immense stone of tremendous power, which they had split in half and dubbed the Alpha and Omega stones. The energies released in the split killed thousands, but drew the attention of more advanced races, who came to Kree-Lar to explore these energies. The races each brought their own artifacts/stones/gems, seeking a common link. They found that link, and the artifacts were all discovered to be geological survivors of the Big Bang, remnants of the previous universe.
The gems were joined together into the Lifestone tree, and their power was used to advance the evolutionary traits of eight chosen representatives of their races, who became the Chosen Eight of Fate (occasionally referred to as the Guardians of the Galaxy). These Eight protected the galaxy for two hundred years until eventually breaking up. The Lifestones were taken from Kree-Lar to prevent intergalactic pirates from stealing them. However, the mission was discovered and the ark carrying the Lifestones was attacked. Its warp drive created an implosion, which created a fissure in space, thrusting the remnants of the arc and fragments of the Lifestones to the far corners of the galaxy. One spatial anomaly opened on the fringes of Earth's solar system, and a number of the gems/fragments arrived on Earth. The Bloodgem was one of these.
(Official
Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Book of the Dead 2004:
Bloodstone) - The Bloodgem arrived on Earth in 8250 B.C. The
utilization of the Bloodgem allowed it to be located anew by the
Exo-Mind.
(Rampaging Hulk#8/2 (fb)) - Exo-Mind wished to observe the evolution of humanity through disinterested eyes. To do so, it required a host whose entire existence revolved around a single purpose. It realized that revenge would be the ideal purpose.
(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Book of the Dead 2004: Bloodstone) - The Exo-Mind dispatched Ulluxy'l to Earth, and he rapidly created a citadel in a cavern around the Bloodgem.
(Marvel Presents #1 (fb)/Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, Deluxe Edition #16, p32/Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, Master Edition #2: Bloodstone/Captain America I#357/2(fb)) - The Man who would become Ulysses Bloodstone was born approximately 8250 B.C., towards the twilight of the Hyborian Age, into a small nomadic tribe who occupied Northern Vanaheim, which would later be called Scandanavia. One of his tribe's foremost hunters, he one night observed a meteorite crashing to the Earth. He directed his subsequent hunting endeavors in that direction, and one day when he spied a cloaked figure (Ulluxy'l), whom he followed into a cavern, where he approached an advanced citadel.
(Marvel Presents#1+2 (fb)) <8250 B.C.> - A wandering nomad saw the cloaked form of Ulluxy'l Kwan Tae Syn and followed it to its cave, where Ulluxy'l led him to the alter of the Bloodgem. The Exo-Mind empowered the nomad. The nomad returned to his tribe, demonstrated his superhuman abilities, and invited them to gain abilities in the same fashion. However, the Exo-Mind instead absorbed the life energies of the entire tribe, killing them. Enraged, the nomad attacked the Bloodgem, and it exploded, shattering into a number of fragments, one of which embedded itself in the nomad's chest. The nomad became the adventurer known as Ulysses Bloodstone, and was active for 10,000 years.
(Rampaging Hulk#8/2 (fb)) - As revealed by
Kaballa, the Exo-Mind empowered Ulysses Bloodstone to survive for
an indefinite period and serve as its host, and gave him the
purpose of killing Ulluzy'l (whom Bloodstone saw as the director)
and saving the world from him. The Exo-Mind allegedly created (or
directed) a large number of the monsters Bloodstone fought over
the years, primarily to keep him motivated to go on living. In
addition, the Exo-Mind inhibited Bloodstone's ability to cope in
the abstract and inhibited his reasoning, so that he would not
suspect the true reason he had been chosen to receive the power
of the Bloodgem.
Eventually, in the modern era, the Exo-Mind
decided it wished to experience death through Bloodstone, since
its own life is eternal. At the same time, it decided, having
experienced all it could through innocent eyes, it wished a new
perspective. To this end, the Exo-Mind organized the Conspiracy (five
members, including Ulluxy'l) to usurp Bloodstone's gem. They
would gain its power in exchange for providing this new
perspective.
(Rampaging Hulk#4/2) - Ulysses Bloodstone meditated on his Bloodgem fragment and learned of the existence of the Exo-Mind, and the otherdimensonal Gods, and their threat to humanity.
(Rampaging Hulk#1/2-6/2 - BTS, 8/2) - The Conspiracy
decided to replace Ulluxy'l, and joined with Centurius, who slew
and replaced him. The Conspiracy ultimately captured Bloodstone
and removed the Bloodgem fragment from his chest, killing him.
The Conspiracy members hoped to gain power along the likes of
Bloodstone from the Exo-Mind, who duped them into believing it
sought merely a new perspective. Instead, the Exo-Mind absorbed
the life forces from the members of the Conspiracy, and used
their power to cement the facets of the five Bloodgem fragments
to create a mobile crystalline form for itself. The Exo-Mind then
sought to absorb the life forces of all on Earth.
(Rampaging Hulk#8/2) - However, Ulysses Bloodstone, perhaps still drawing on the energies of the Bloodgem fragments, rose again and sought out the crystalline form. Bloodstone managed to project his essence into the form, and by sheer psychic strength to shatter the shields of the Exo-Mind, and to destroy (or temporarily disrupt) the Hellfire Helix. Bloodstone then died, the crystalline form was destroyed, and the consciousness of the Exo-Mind was temporarily dispersed. Four of the Bloodstones were taken by unknown individuals and dispersed across the Earth.
(Captain America I#357/2,358-361 - BTS, 362) - Years later, Baron Helmut Zemo sought the power of the Bloodgem to resurrect his father, Baron Heinrich Zemo. Zemo gathered Batroc, Machete, and Zaran to assist him, as well as the psychic, Tristram Micawber. The villains located the Conspiracy's altar, and found the skeleton of Ulysses Bloodstone, his Bloodstone fragment having reattached itself to his chest. Taking his skull, Micawber used it as a compass to locate the other fragments in their various locations across the planet. Their efforts were opposed by Captain America I and Diamondback II, although they ultimately succeeded. However, when Zemo affixed the reformed Bloodgem to the corpse of his father, the Exo-Mind regained consciousness and reanimated and controlled the corpse for itself. The Exo-Mind attacked all involved in the hunt and planned to renew its plot to take over the Earth (or the Universe). However, Crossbones, who had sought the Bloodstones for his boss, the Red Skull, shattered the Bloodgem (and the head of Zemo's corpse) with a crossbolt. The corpse, and the Bloodgem fell into an active volcano.
(Bloodstone#1-4) - Elsa Bloodstone, daughter of Ulysses, was given a fragment of the Bloodgem, and empowered to follow in her father's footsteps.
Comments: Created by Steve Gerber and Alan Kupperberg.
See Affiliations for efforts to clarify the terminology.
I'm extrapolating to name Oliver Quinn's plane as the one found in the Bloodstone Hunt, but it seems to fit together, although it was never detailed.
The Exo-Mind/Hellfire Helix/Bloodgem wins my award for the most confusing history.
What is still confusing:
Supplementary information at: Conspiracy, Ulluxy'l
Amongst the
components of the Lifestone Tree were the crystals that would
become known as Alpha and Omega Stones, the Godstone (which
empowered the Stargod of Other Realm and the Man-Wolf), the Ka
Stone (which empowered the Sphinx), the Moongem (which would
later empower both incarnations of Moonstone), the Power Prism of Earth-616 (which empowered Dr. Spectrum), and
the gem that empowered the Blue Diamond.
Other Gems of Power, not specifically
mentioned in the Lifestone Tree include the Lifestone of Dr. Demonicus,
Star of Capistan, and Xorr the God-Jewel (via time travel, it could
actually be the true common link between all of the gems).
Clarifications: Bloodgem fragments have also been referred to as Bloodstones, but I have tried to avoid that term to prevent further confusion with Ulysses Bloodstone.
The Elders who created the Bloodgem have no connection to the Elders of the Universe.
I'm not certain if there is any connection at all between the original Guardians of the Galaxy and the Guardians of the alternate future @ 3000 AD.
Centurius, of the Conspiracy, is not to be
confused with:
Centurious, the man without a soul, @
Ghost Rider II#74.
Last updated: 05/03/05
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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