OTHERWORLD (AVALON)

Type: Extradimensional mystical Realm

Evironment: Earth-like

Usual Means of Access: Magic/Time Travel

 

 

 

Dominant Lifeform: The Tuatha Da Danaan (Celtic Gods);
Amergin, the natives of Camelot (Askalan, Gafael, Owein, King Arthur Pendragon, the Proud Walkers, Weyland), Iron Ogre, Lady of the Lake, Merlyn, Sir Benedict of the Falls, Roma, Strider, the Walkers,

along with some dragons (Ashtoroth, Kharad Dur, Malcolm Drake, Sarafand), elves (Buckthorn,
Jackdaw, Moondog, Sundog), faeries, giants (Gargantua, Gog, Maegog), goblins (Bogweed, Gagol, Groglin, Hornwort), leprechauns (Irish elves), and similar beings;
It possibly the point of origin of the members of the
Troll Associates.
Saturnyne frequently resides with the Starlight Citadel, although she is not native to Otherworld.
see also Features for other natives to related/connected realms.
see also Features for other natives to related/connected realms

Features: Otherworld actually consists of the cosmology of the Celtic gods, especially the island of Avalon, the home of the gods, although some references use the name Avalon as the name for all the worlds in this dimension. These other worlds include:
Momur (also spelled Magh Mor or called Tir Na Bog) which is ruled by Midir and is home for numerous elfin-like creatures. In myth, this realm was considered underground, but this may be because some portals to it from Earth were located there.
Tir fo Thuinn, the under-sea home of Leir, the god of sea and storm (presumably the same Leir who is god of lightning and the spear).
Tir inna mBan, a land of paradise populated by beautiful women who abducted mortals to be their husbands.
Tir tairngiri, the Land Of Promise, ruled by Leir's son, Manannan where Bran the Second retired millennia ago.
Annfwn, the Land of the Dead ruled by Arawn (also known as Donn), son of Mider. The Briton Lord Pwyll ruled here in Arawn's stead in Prehistoric times.
Tir nam Beo, the land of the living set apart from Annfwn as a paradise for certain worthy souls favored by the Celtic gods.
It is also intimately associated with::
the Dark Realm of the Fomor (home of the Fomor)
the Netherworld of Necromon (Doomwraiths, Necromon, Nightshade, White Rider of Death, Wolfsbane);
Note: The Starlight Citadel is the base of Brian Braddock, and formerly Roma and Merlyn. It exists within Otherworld on top of a small floating island.

    There is some indication that time runs more quickly in Otherworld than on Earth. When Oisin, the son of Finn, returned home after three weeks in Momur, he discovered three centuries had passed in his absence. Back in Ireland, he turned into an old man over night before dying. When Bran the Second left Tir inna mBan after one year, his crew realized they were returning home after over three thousand years. The one man who set foot on Eire (Ancient Ireland) immediately turned to dust. Bran and his crew returned to Otherworld where they presumably became the Walkers. (This Bran is not to be confused with Bran the Blessed, the son of Leir and brother of Branwen)

Aliases: Avalon is also known as the Golden Forest and the Bosom of Gaea

First Appearance: Fantastic Four I#54 (September, 1966)

History: (Excalibur I#50 (fb)) - Merlyn came to Otherworld and established his base the Starlight Citadel, from which he created what would become the Captain Britain Corps to patrol the Multiverse.

(Captain Britain Summer Special 1980/4-text) - Originally, there were twelve Walkers: Men of power who perceived the old paths, or "ley lines," connecting the points of magic from long before the dawn of time. The Walkers passed their knowledge onto those men wise enough to understand, many of whom became the druids. The Walkers also created routes from Earth to the realm known as Otherworld, usually by way of underground tunnels, allowing the inhabitants of both worlds to mingle together.

However, six of the twelve Walkers were corrupted by the forces of darkness. They created false paths which led men to madness and death, usually via black magic. People became mistrustful of the old way, mainly because of these six evil Walkers. Witches were burned, creatures of Otherworld like faeries, elves, trolls, and dragons were shunned and scorned. The old paths were discarded, and a rift appeared between the two worlds. The remaining six Walkers, the noble or Proud Walkers, gradually withdrew from Earth, returning to Otherworld. The evil Walkers came to dwell in the Netherworld bordering on Otherworld.

??-After the fall of Camelot in the 6th Century, Merlin/Merlyn moved the body of Arthur Pendragon to Avalon. Camelot and many of its survivors were apparently relocated to Otherworld.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I #15) - The Evil Eye was forged by the alchemists of Avalon.

(Fantastic Four I#54 (fb) ) - Around the 12th Century, Prester John traveled to Avalon, where he marveled at its wonders. He was given the Evil Eye and the Chair of Survival. Avalon apparently vanished from the sight of men soon after, having been destroyed by the forces it once utilized.

 

 

(Captain Britain I#1-2 (fb)) - Merlyn and Roma granted the Amulet of Right to Brian Braddock, transforming him into Captain Britain. They similarly gave the Sword of Might to Joshua Stragg, who became the Reaver.

(Captain Britain I#33-37) - Captain Britain was brought to Otherworld by Merlyn for a conflict involving Nykonn.

BTS - The Black Knight (Dane Whitman in the body of Eobar Garrington) was brought to Avalon as an ally of Amergin, the High Priest of Avalon.

(Avengers I#225-226) - Escaping the Dark Realm to which they were exiled, The Fomore invaded Otherworld and ravaged the land, possibly forcing the Celtic gods out. The wizard Amergin brought the Black Knight's allies, the Avengers, through time to fight the Fomore and force them out. The Celtic gods returned to Avalon afterwards.

(Hulk Comic (Marvel UK)#1, 3-21-BTS, 22-30, 43-55, 57-63) - In the modern era, Necromon, the leader of Netherworld, sought to overrun Otherworld. He realized that the forces of Camelot would rally against him, and so he sought to eliminate some of their greatest warriors. He erased the memory of Captain Britain, and sent his Mordred, one of the evil Walkers, to eliminate the current Black Knight. The Knight located the amnesiac Captain Britain, and the two were assisted against the Trolls of Netherworld by Vortigen, one of the Proud Walkers. Vortigen helped Braddock regain his memory, and led the two in a quest to Otherworld.
In the course of the journey, losses occurred on both sides, but ultimately the Proud Walkers were gathered to fight against their surviving evil brethren. The forces of Necromon were defeated and the evil Walkers were either slain or incapacitated. Camelot was destroyed by the death-throws of Necromon, but Vortigen brought everyone to his castle to build a new Camelot. Presumably the Proud Walkers either dwell there, or have separated and returned to their homes.

(Marvel Super-Heroes (UK)#377, 383; Daredevils (UK)#1, 2, 9, 10; [Mighty World of Marvel#8], 9, 11-13) - Merlyn and Roma manipulated Captain Britain into struggle with Mad Jim Jaspers and the Fury, which escalated out of control, resulting in the seeming death of Merlyn. The funeral took place in Otherworld, after which Roma took over as ruler.

(Captain Britain II#4) - Roma observed Captain Britain's struggle against Sidney Crumb, an innocent man mutated into a monster by a toxin released from the corpse of the Fury.

(Captain America I#305-306) - Modred the Mystic attempted to force Merlyn to reveal himself from Otherworld. Merlyn refused, and waited until Captains Britain and America overpowered Modred to appear, and he took Modred into custody.

(Thor I#386-387) - The Asgardian god Thor pursued a griffin-like creature into Avalon where it killed a Danaan family. The Celtic gods Leir and Caber rehashed old feuds with him before coming to terms and joining to kill the beast.

(Marvel Comics Presents#22/3) - A race of wolf people calling themselves the Tuatha De Danan brought Wolfsbane (Rahne Sinclair) to their realm in Avalon, and attempted to force her to stay with them. She escaped back to Muir Isle.

(Marvel Comics Presents#30/4) The Fomore once gain invaded Avalon as Leir matched them in battle against the wishes of The Dagda. The Dagda, however, manipulated a swarm of insects to force a stalemate between the two forces.

(Quasar#11) - Modred the Mystic managed to mentally possess Phoenix (Rachel Summers) and directed her to open a portal to Otherworld so that he could return physically to Earth. Quasar, who at the time was watching for alien presences on Earth, decided to investigate the strange behavior of the Phoenix Force, leading to a fight against the still mind-controlled Rachel and Modred. He was defeated but soon rescued by Rachel's Excalibur teammates Nightcrawler, Meggan, Captain Britain and Widget. The five heroes worked together and managed to banish Modred through another portal created by Widget. It is unknown whether that portal led back to Otherworld or to another dimension.

(Excalibur I#43-BTS, 44-50) - Roma observed as Captain Britain and Excalibur battled Necrom (not Necromon) to defend Otherworld. At the conclusion of the struggle, Merlyn revealed that he was still alive.

(Fantastic Four III#6-BTS, 7, 8) - Roma had the Fantastic Four brought to the Starlight Citadel, where they debated the need to terminate Franklin Richards, due to his potential threat to the Multiverse.

(Heroes for Hire I#2, 8) - The Lady of the Lake granted the Sword of Light, Shield of Night, some armor, and the flying steed Strider to Dane Whitman, the Black Knight.

(Excalibur I#125) - Roma and Merlyn observed the wedding of Brian Braddock and Meggan.

(Excalibur II#1-4) - Mastermind (the computer) enslaved Roma and took over Otherworld, until he was defeated by the combined efforts of Roma and Excalibur. Following the battle, Roma gave Captain Britain the sword Excalibre and proclaimed him to be the new King of Otherworld.

(Avengers III#81 (fb) - BTS, 79-81) - Morgan le Fay led her forces into Otherworld, assaulting and capturing Braddock and Meggan. She intended to use Thor's arrows to transmit Braddock's injuries onto the nation of England, but Braddock transferred the title of Captain Britain to Kelsey Leigh, who defeated and banished Morgan and her forces.

COMMENTS: Avalon adapted by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

    Otherworld by Chris Claremont, Herb Trimpe, and Fred Kida.

Both of the following images are from Excalibur I#50, one of only two issues we see the Otherworld version of the lighttower in, and the only one we see it clearly in. Image 1 shows the tower about to be destroyed, but damage aside is the best clear view. Image 2 shows what's left of it now (not a lot), and shows the paving and standing stones that ringed it.
--Loki








In Excalibur I#50, Merlyn claims to have created Otherworld. The time period of the flashback is not given, and since he has lied and manipulated others before, this remains unconfirmed (and in conflict with Celtic Mythology).

I never really recorded the appearances of the dimensions, so I'm sure I missed a bunch, let me know what I missed, and I'll add it. In fact, the whole entry is almost certainly missing quite a lot. Again, let me know, and I'll add it.

The Dark Elves of Svartalfheim (one of the nine realms of Asgard) have been described as the Faeries. The exact connection between the Dark Elves, the Faeries, Svartalfheim/Asgard, and Otherworld is as yet undefined.

The Evil Eye (used by Prester John, also the power item in the first Avengers/Defenders war, etc.), @ Fantastic Four I#54, originates from the Druids of Avalon.

The Leprechauns of Cassidy Keep, including Eamonn O'Donnell, @ X-Men I#101, are presumably natives of Otherworld

There are a large number of dragons of unrevealed history (such as the one from Excalibur). Some of these may be from Otherworld.

    Per Ian McNee's readings from the First Tarot: Avalon is also known as the Golden Forest and the Bosom of Gaea. Avalon is in many ways a reflection of the Earth during the golden age of the goddess (Gaea), when the forests were tended to by her druids, the skies were aflutter with her fairies and the Earth was green and full of magic.

A portal to Avalon appears in Generation X#37.
--Per Degaton

Profile by William Uchtman and Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Otherworld/Avalon should not be confused with:

The Elves of Otherworld are presumably separate from:
The Elves of Asgard:
--The Light Elves of Alfheim, @ Thor I#277
--The Dark Elves of Svartalfheim, @ Thor I#344 (see comments)

Saturnyne, Opal Luna Saturyne, has several other dimensional counterparts from which she should be distinguished.

Wolfsbane of Otherworld is distinct from:

Appearances:
Captain Britain I#1-2 (October 13th-20th, 1976) - Chris Claremont (writer), Herb Trimpe (pencils), Fred Kida (inks), Larry Lieber (editor)
Captain Britain I#33-36 (1977) - Gary Friedrich & Larry Lieber (writers), Ron Wilson (pencils), Bob Budiansky, Fred Kida (#33-34, 36), Tom Palmer (#35) (inks), Larry Lieber (editor)
Captain Britain I#37 (1977) - Larry Lieber, Bob Budiansky & Len Wein (writers), Ron Wilson (pencils), Pablo Marcos (inks), Larry Lieber (editor)
Hulk Comic#1
Hulk Comic#3-21
Hulk Comic#22-30
Hulk Comic#43-55
Hulk Comic#57-63
Captain Britain Summer Special (1980)
Marvel Super-Heroes#377 (September, 1981) - Paul Neary & Dave Thorpe (writers), Alan Davis (artist), Paul Neary (editor)
Marvel Super-Heroes#383 (March, 1982) - Dave Thorpe (writer), Alan Davis (artist), Bernie Jaye (editor)
Daredevils#1-2 (1982) - Alan Moore (writer), Alan Davis (artist), Bernie Jaye (editor)
Avengers I#225-226 (November-December, 1982) - Steven Grant (writer), Greg LaRoque (pencils), Chic Stone (inks), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Daredevils#9-10 (September-October, 1983) - Alan Moore (writer), Alan Davis (artist), Bernie Jaye (editor)
Mighty World of Marvel#8-9 (January-February, 1984) - Alan Moore (writer), Alan Davis (artist), Tim Hampson (editor)
Mighty World of Marvel#11-13 (April-June, 1984) - Alan Moore (writer), Alan Davis (artist), Tim Hampson (#11) & Chris Gill (#12-13) (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#15 (May, 1984)
Captain Britain II#4 (April, 1985) - Mike Collins (writer), Alan Davis (artist), Ian Rimmer (editor)
Captain America I#305-306 (May-June, 1985) - Michael Carlin (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), Dennis Janke (inks), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Thor I#386-387 (December, 1987 - January, 1988) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Ron Frenz (pencils), Brett Breeding (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Marvel Comics Presents#22 (June, 1989) - Sue Flaxman (writer), Rodney Ramos (pencils), Jose Marzan (inks), Terry Kavanagh (editor)
Marvel Comics Presents#30 (October, 1989) - Sue Flaxman (writer), Tom Morgan (artist), Terry Kavanagh (editor)
Quasar#11 (June, 1990) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Mike Manley (pencils), Fred Fredricks (inks), Howard Mackie (editor)
Excalibur I#43-50 (November, 1991 - May, 1992) - Alan Davis (writer/pencils), Mark Farmer (inks), Terry Kavanagh (editor)
Heroes for Hire I#2 (August, 1997) - John Ostrander (writer), Pascual Ferry (pencils), Jaime Mendoza (inks), Mark Bernardo (editor)
Heroes for Hire I#8 (February, 1998) - John Ostrander (writer), Pascual Ferry (pencils), Jaime Mendoza (inks), Mark Bernardo (editor)
Fantastic Four III#6-8 (June-August, 1998) - Chris Claremont (writer), Salvador Larroca (pencils), Art Thibert (inks), Mark Powers (editor)
Excalibur I#125 (October, 1998) - Ben Raab (writer), Dale Eaglesham (pencils), Scott Hanna (inks), Frank Pittarese (editor)
Excalibur II#1-4 (February-May, 2001) - Ben Raab (writer), Pablo Raimondi (pencils), Walden Wong & Pablo Raimondi (#3) (inks)
Avengers III#79 (April, 2004) - Chuck Austen (writer), Sean Chen (pencils), Tom Simmons (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers III#80-81 (May-June, 2004) - Chuck Austen (writer), Olivier Coipel (pencils), Andy Lanning (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

First Posted: 03/15/2002
Last Updated: 02/25/2014

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