"THE STRANGER'S PRISONERS"
PURPOSE: Test subjects of the Stranger
BASE of OPERATIONS: The Stranger's Laboratory
World, (later) Battleworld
Abomination - (Tales to Astonish #91) - While he was battling the Hulk, the enigmatic alien known as the Stranger was observing Earth at the time, and he decided that the Abomination should be removed, snatching the villain in the middle of the battle and taking him to his planet as his prisoner.
(Silver Surfer I #12) - After being returned to Earth by a witch coven and fighting the Silver Surfer, the Abomination was sent back to the Stranger's world.
(Thor I #178) - In an escape attempt, the Abomination battled Thor on the Laboratory World.
(Incredible Hulk #137, BTS) - Somehow, Abomination made his way to a drifting asteroid, where he was rescued by the alien Xeron the Star-Slayer and conscripted to be one the oarsmen of Captain Cybor.
Alpha the Ultimate Mutant - (Quasar #14 [fb] - BTS) -While wandering through space, Alpha, an incredibly powerful mutant created by Magneto, was captured by the Stranger, who made him the subject of his experiments on his Laboratory World. He was apparently placed alongside the Futurist.
(Quasar #14, 15, [16]) - Eventually, while exploring the Stranger's Lab World, Hyperion passed through the environment that housed Alpha and the Futurist. Soon after, these two, like many other of the Stranger's subjects, felt the psychic pull of the Overmind, who sent them to attack the Stranger and any who stood beside him. However, rather than follow the Overmind's bidding, Alpha and the Futurist took advantage of their newfound freedom to escape the Stranger's Lab World.
Bi-Beast - Under unknown circumstances, Bi-Beast became a prisoner of the Stranger. He escaped with other captives during the Overmind's assault on the Stranger. He attacked the Stranger and was defeated by Power Princess. He was one of those prisoners who remained in captivity after the Overmind's assault.
(Incredible Hulk II #412) - Bi-Beast was later used as a pawn of the Stranger, coming into conflict with the Hulk and the She-Hulk when he was allowed to temporarily "escape" with the Stranger's Family Jewels.
Captive/Threkker
- (Quasar #14 [BTS], 16) - The Captive (See
Comments) became a
prisoner of the Stranger under unknown circumstances. He was seen
among the
prisoners of the Stranger's Laboratory World. Like many others,
it was
influenced by the Overmind to break out of its cell and rise up against
the
Stranger and his allies. It was incapacitated by the hurricane
force winds
generated by Makkari. He presumably escaped the planet,
considering he was seen
later with the Starblasters.
Creature from Kosmos - (Quasar #14, 15, [16]) - The Creature was thought dead, but Quasar encountered Pilai on the Stranger's Laboratory World (See Comments). He was freed as part of the Overmind's attack on the Stranger. His subsequent fate was not revealed.
Dalabuur - a former crewman under Reptyl, he (and the entire crew)
was traded to the Stranger in exchange for S'Byll
Diamondhead (Archibald Dyker) - Dyker was last seen floating in space near Xandar (in orbit? In interplanetary space?), his altered physiology keeping him alive in the vacuum. What happened to him after that was unknown; he knew of Xandar's decimation by Nebula so he may well have observed it.
(Quasar #14 [BTS], 15, [16]) - Diamondhead was later discovered as one of the prisoners on the planet owned by the enigmatic Stranger, although his purpose for being there remains unrevealed. Diamondhead was among those prisoners who managed to escape when the Stranger was confronted by the hero Quasar.
(Quasar #19 [BTS]) - Diamondhead joined with other prisoners who were natives to Earth, such as the Presence and Jack of Hearts, and managed to return to Earth with their help.
(Quasar #20) - Quasar took control of the convoy, and
landed
it in Siberia. Learning that the travelers were all humans, he
allowed
them to remain on Earth.
Dragonfly (of the Ani-Men) - Under unrevealed circumstances, Dragonfly was captured by the enigmatic alien, the Stranger, and placed on his planet for study. She was inadvertently freed by the Avenger Quasar, who had traveled to the Stranger's world for his own purposes.
Joining other refugees of Earth, she returned to their native planet.
It was later
revealed that the Stranger had initiated a process that was mutating
her further.
Ego-Prime - Ego-Prime had apparently died on Earth. However, under unrevealed circumstances, Ego-Prime was not destroyed, and later was seen as a prisoner of the enigmatic alien, the Stranger, who imprisoned Ego-Prime on his home world for later study. Quasar stumbled into Ego-Prime's lair while infiltrating the Stranger's planet, but soon escaped. It is unknown whether or not Ego-Prime escaped along with most of the other captives during the Overmind's assault on the Stranger. Either way, he has not been seen since.
Elect/Power
Platoon - While circling
Earth's sun (because it
gave their alien physiologies superpowers) all but one of the
Elect was taken by the enigmatic Stranger to his Laboratory Planet for
experimentation. The remaining member, who was left in place for
uncertain reasons, was revived to find himself filled with vast power,
and he
traveled to Earth, where he became known as Quantum. The
Elect on the Laboratory World were encountered and freed during a
battle between
the Stranger and the Overmind. They first encountered and
attacked Hyperion
when he inadvertently entered their cell. Following their release
from their
cell, they were manipulated by the Overmind into attacking the Stranger
and his
temporary allies, Makkari and Quasar. Following the conclusion of
that battle,
they apparently escaped the Laboratory World.
Ethicals - The Ethicals were taken prisoner by the Stranger under unknown circumstances. They were taken to his laboratory world and studied until freed by the Overmind during his assault on the Stranger. By the time the conflict was over, almost all of the Stranger's prisoners escaped. The Ethicals have since been seen conferring with cosmic/abstract entities.
Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Axi-Tun) - During their exile from Earth, as well as their homeworld, the Four Horsemen were captured by the Stranger and imprisoned on his Laboratory World for study. The Four Horsemen were freed from the Stranger's prison by the Overmind, who sought allies against the Stranger and his allies. All four of them attacked and were defeated by Quasar.
Fusion - It is not certain where the Fusser twins were taken after their defeat by Spider-Man (Project: PEGASUS?), but they were next seen as prisoners of the Laboratory World of the Stranger. The Overmind, seeking to slay the Stranger for past actions, took control of a number of the inmates, including Fusion, sending them to battle the Stranger's allies: Quasar, Makkari, and the Squadron Supreme. Shortly thereafter, Fusion was seen along with a number of the inmates who escaped in a starship and returned to Earth.
Futurist
- While wandering through space, Futurist
was captured by the Stranger, who made him the subject of his
experiments on his
Laboratory World. He was apparently placed alongside Alpha the
Ultimate Mutant.
Eventually, while exploring the Stranger's Lab World,
Hyperion
passed through the environment that housed Alpha and the
Futurist. Soon after,
these two, like many other of the Stranger's subjects, felt the psychic
pull of
the Overmind, who sent them to attack the Stranger and any who stood
beside him.
However, rather than follow the Overmind's bidding, Alpha and the
Futurist took
advantage of their newfound freedom to escape the Stranger's Lab World.
Gorr
the Golden Gorilla
- Under unknown
circumstances, Gorr somehow became a prisoner/research subject on the
Stranger's
Laboratory World. When the Overmind attacked the Stranger,
he released many of his subjects and sent them to attack the Stranger
and his
allies. Gorr was one of those released, and he was transported by
Dr. Spectrum
(also a pawn of the Overmind at that time) to the site of the
battle. Gorr was
battered at super-speed by Makkari but was saved by a blast from the
Last
Monitor. Shortly thereafter the Overmind withdrew his power to
focus on the
Stranger, leaving his pawns free.
Following this struggle, many of the former inhabitants escaped the
laboratory
world. Gorr's fate is unrevealed.
Jack of Hearts - Under
unrevealed circumstances, after
leaving Earth, Jack of Hearts was captured by the enigmatic alien, the
Stranger,
and placed on his planet for study. Jack of Hearts was
inadvertently freed by
the Avenger Quasar, who had traveled to the Stranger's world for his
own
purposes. Joining other refugees of Earth, Jack of Hearts
returned to their
native planet.
Jakar - Jakar was captured by the Stranger while he was doing God knows what in space. The Stranger imprisoned him and made his a research subject on his Laboratory World. The Overmind attacked the Stranger, freeing many of his captives and sending them against the Stranger and his allies. Quasar found Jakar on a table being vivisected (that's being dissected alive), in unendurable agony. Jakar begged Quasar to kill him. When Quasar tried to free him instead, Jakar was furious and blasted him out of his cell. Jakar subsequently escaped or was released either during or after the final battle between the Overmind and the Stranger, as were many of the other prisoners.
Krakoa
- After being exiled into
space by the X-Men, Krakoa was taken captive by the Stranger. He
was encountered
by Quasar on the Stranger's planet.
Last Monitor/ Nygorn/Nyborn
- After returning to the planet
Marvan, the
remaining Monitor was captured by the Stranger and placed within his
Laboratory
World. According to the Last Monitor, all of the other Monitors
in the universe
were collected by the Stranger, vivisected, and met their deaths in the
process.
During the Overmind's assault on the Stranger, a number of his
prisoners were
released, including the Last Monitor. The Marvanite did not
restrict his rage to
the Stranger. He was outraged not only at the death of his
brethren, but at
having been imprisoned beside the inferior beings he used to
exterminate. The
Last Monitor took out his rage on his fellow former captives, as well
as those
who sought to free him. He was subdued by the combined efforts of
Hyperion and
Dr. Spectrum.
Magneto - After a scheme failed
against the X-Men, Magneto and
his then-stooge Toad were captured by the enigmatic alien Stranger,
although
Magneto later escaped, abandoning the Toad.
Megaman - After being returned to the future from whence he came, Megaman somehow returned to the modern era, but was captured by the Stranger, who brought him to his laboratory world for study. During the Overmind's attack on the Stranger, Megaman was one of those freed and sent to attack the Stranger's allies. Megaman was one of several former prisoners being transported to the site of the struggle between the Overmind and the Stranger's forces. Dr. Spectrum, of the Squadron Supreme, was the transporter, but in mid-flight he regained his own mind as the Overmind withdrew his influence to focus his full power against the Stranger. Spectrum then dropped Megaman and the others, leaving them to fend for themselves. Many of the Stranger's former prisoners escaped after this struggle, but Megaman's fate is unrevealed.
Mercurio the 4-D Man - Mercurio was at one point or
another abducted by the Stranger. During the Overmind's assault
on the Stranger, a number of his prisoners were
released, including the Mercurio. Along with many other captives,
he was
sent by the Overmind against the Stranger. He
was defeated
by Whizzer of Squadron Supreme.
Meru
the Mind-Bender - After
Thor exiled
him into space, Meru (and most likely Dalia
the Shape-Changer, since they were last seen merged) was
captured
by the Stranger. He was returned to his original form, and
imprisoned on
the Stranger's Laboratory World, where he underwent various forms of
tests.
During the
Overmind's attack on the Stranger, Meru was one of those freed and sent
to
attack the Stranger's allies. Meru was one of several former
prisoners being
transported to the site of the struggle between the Overmind and the
Stranger's
forces. Dr. Spectrum, of the Squadron Supreme, was the
transporter, but in
mid-flight he regained his own mind, as the Overmind withdrew his
influence to
focus his full power against the Stranger. Spectrum then dropped
Meru and the
others, leaving them to fend for themselves. Many of the
Stranger's former
prisoners escaped after this struggle, but Meru's fate is unrevealed.
Moondancer - Under unknown circumstances, she and two of her teammates, Solar Wind and Voyager, were captured by the enigmatic being known as the Stranger, and imprisoned for experimentation on his laboratory world. The duration of their imprisonment, and the events which occurred there are unrevealed. When the Overmind traveled to the Laboratory World, freed many inmates, and sent them to attack the Stranger and any others assisting him, a large number of prisoners escaped. Moondancer and her allies escaped at that time, returning to active duty in the Imperial Guard.
Overmind
- The Overmind had been an
enemy of the Stranger for ages. The Overmind enslaved the
Squadron Supreme
members and left with them to the Stranger's planet in order to
confront him as
his age-old enemy. Once there, they engaged in mortal combat (of
mental
energies). At the same time, an assembly of Watchers came
to ask of the
Stranger's advice, and, thinking the Watchers had some agenda of their
own, the
Overmind allowed his paranoia run rampant and his mind, in defense,
placed
itself in coma. Presumably, the Overmind remains on the
Stranger's planet, as a
part of his collection of specimens.
Presence
- The Presence and
Starlight had left Earth,
claiming that they would transform themselves into inert matter once
they were
far from this planet. Instead, at some point the two were
captured by the
enigmatic alien known as the Stranger and placed on his planet for the
Stranger's own mysterious reasons. The Presence and
Starlight were inadvertently
freed by the Avenger Quasar, who had traveled to the Stranger's world
for his
own purposes.
Rocket Raccoon - At some point on his journeys, the Rocket Raccoon was captured by the Stranger and taken for study on his laboratory world. He was freed during the Overmind's assault on the Stranger along with almost everybody else. He returned to his adventures afterward.
Shanga
the Star-Dancer - At some time while
she was
wandering through space, the Stranger took Star Dancer prisoner.
She was freed
by Quasar during the Overmind's assault on the Stranger's Lab
World. She has
not been seen since and her subsequent activates are unknown.
Sky-Walker
- At some point during his "space walk" he
was captured by the Stranger and imprisoned on his laboratory
world. When the
Overmind attacked the Stranger on this planet, the walker was one of
those sent
to battle the Stranger and his allies Quasar, Makkari, and the Squadron
Supreme.
His fate after the conclusion of the battle is unknown, but numerous
inmates
escaped, so it is entirely possible he returned to his journey.
Solar
Wind - Under unknown
circumstances,
he and two of his teammates, Moondancer and Voyager, were captured by
the
enigmatic being known as the Stranger, and imprisoned for
experimentation on his
laboratory world. The duration of their imprisonment, and the
events which
occurred there are unrevealed. When the
Overmind traveled
to the Laboratory World, freed many inmates, and sent them to attack
the
Stranger and any others assisting him, a large number of prisoners
escaped.
Solar Wind and his allies escaped at that time, returning to active
duty in the
Imperial Guard.
Sphinxor- At
some point under unrevealed circumstances, Sphinxor was captured
by the
Stranger, and brought to his laboratory world, imprisoned, and used as
a
research subject. The Overmind attacked the Stranger, and freed
many of his
prisoners. Among those freed was Sphinxor. The Overmind
drew many of the freed
prisoners to battle several Earth beings who were attempting to defend
the
Stranger, or at least stop the madness. Sphinxor was in the midst
of being
transported to the battle by Dr. Spectrum, when the Overmind withdrew
his
influence in order to focus on the Stranger. Spectrum dropped the
other
prisoners where they were and took off to help in the battle.
Many of the former prisoners escaped the Laboratory World, although
Sphinxor's
fate has not been revealed.
Stardust
- After his defeat by Rom and subsequent release
into
space, he was later captured and held captive by the Stranger on his
laboratory
world. During the Overmind's assault on the Stranger, Stardust
was one of the
captives who were freed and directed to attack the Stranger and his
allies.
Stardust attacked Quasar, sensing that he, like Rom, had the power to
shatter
the "starstuff bonds" which kept him prisoner. Stardust drained
Quasar's energy as
they struggled, until Quasar realized what was happening, reversed the
flow, and
drained Stardust's energy, incapacitating him.
Many of the former captives escaped the Stranger's world after this
struggle,
although Stardust's fate is unrevealed.
Starlight
- Starlight and the
Presence had left Earth,
claiming that they would transform themselves into inert matter once
they were
far from this planet. Instead, at some point the two were
captured by the
enigmatic alien known as the Stranger and placed on his planet for the
Stranger's own mysterious reasons. The Presence and
Starlight were inadvertently
freed by the Avenger Quasar, who had traveled to the Stranger's world
for his
own purposes.
Starman - A DC character who had a one page cameo.
Ten-For (?) - Although Ten-For apparently exploded after his last confrontation with the Machine-Man, Ten-For got better, and also became a prisoner and test subject on the Stranger's Laboratory World. Ten-For and several other prisoners were freed by the Overmind, who sought to destroy the Stranger. Ten-For was being transported to the battle by Dr. Spectrum when the Overmind withdrew his powers to focus fully on the Stranger himself. Spectrum left Ten-For and the rest of the group to join the struggle himself. Several of the other former inmates subsequently escaped the laboratory world, but Ten-For's fate is unrevealed
Toad - After a confrontation
with the X-Men, Toad
and Magneto were captured by the alien called the Stranger and
imprisoned on the
alien's distant world. When Magneto first escaped, he callously
left the Toad
behind, and the Toad's attitude toward his master began to
change. After being
recaptured, Magneto escaped a second time and took the Toad with him.
In addition, the Toad stole a large amount of
advanced equipment from the Stranger and has used it both when
impersonating the Stranger, or in his role as the Terrible Toad-King.
Trikon- After
its banishment from Earth, the Trikon was seen among the many
prisoners/subjects on the Stranger's Laboratory World. It
attacked and
defeated the Eternal Makkari when he entered its cell. At the
same time, the
Overmind disabled the force barriers around the cells of all of the
experiments,
and commanded a battalion of these former prisoners to join him as his
elite strike force.
The Trikon was not seen to be part of this battalion. Following
the conclusion of this struggle, a number of the former prisoners
escaped the
Laboratory World. The fate of the Trikon is unknown.
Voyager
- Under unknown circumstances,
he and
two of his teammates, Solar Wind and Moondancer, were captured by the
enigmatic
being known as the Stranger, and imprisoned for experimentation on his
laboratory world. The duration of their imprisonment, and the
events which
occurred there are unrevealed. When the
Overmind traveled
to the Laboratory World, freed many inmates, and sent them to attack
the
Stranger and any others assisting him, a large number of prisoners
escaped.
Voyager and his allies escaped at that time, returning to active duty
in the
Imperial Guard.
Weird
Sisters(3) - The
Weird sisters were agents of Maelstrom, who were at some point
taken
prisoner by the Stranger and studied on his planet for an unknown
amount of
time. After the Overmind's assault on the Stranger, almost all of
the captives
were freed, and the Weird Sisters left for Earth alongside a number of
other former prisoners by Jack of Hearts.
Woodgod - At some point, under
unrevealed circumstances (like almost all of the Stranger's captives),
the
Woodgod was captured by the Stranger and taken to his laboratory
world. He was
freed by Quasar during the Overmind's assault on the Stranger.
I'll do the comments about the characters in alphabetical order:
So what exactly was the Stranger studying these beings for? What secrets was he trying to unlock? How did he decide who was worthy of being studied? I know that he was doing it in the name of science. The race that he was allegedly the composite being of excelled in science, and he was driven to do the same since he was their embodiment. However, that has since proven to be a false origin, and not a worthy explanation. I know that the Masters of the Obscure have some theories. Here are some of mine. I know that the Stranger concluded from his study of Magneto and Toad that humanity may grow to be a threat to other planets. He then tried to destroy Earth. So maybe he is seeking out potential universal threats to neutralize. There is another possibility that he just likes to study and vivisect interesting creatures and try to gain knowledge from it, that he may be on a quest trying to gain all knowledge there is to gain. None of those ideas sound all that great to me, but the most plausible of them is the neutralizing threats one. They might not be good, but they're the best I could think of. I'm open to suggestions from any other "Masters of the Obscure," or anyone else for that matter.
Flank McLargehuge offers an idea: "I'd imagine the Stranger had so many superhumans from earth because he was studying humanity, perhaps for the plot in X-MEN FOREVER. I'm not very familiar with it however. "
PROFILE BY STUNNER
Profile updated and edited by Kyle
Sims, and later updated by Luis Dantas with additions from Flank
McLargehuge and Sean Curtin, and even later by Madison Carter for the
Beyond/Battleworld stuff.
CLARIFICATIONS: The Stranger's Laboratory/Prison world should not be confused with:
PRISONWORLD - of the Collector, held many beings in his collection, guarded by numerous extra-terrestrials under his control --Wolverine II #133
PRISONWORLD - of
the Microverse (Little D+gang,G-Men,Tri-Bunal,Murder-1) --Micronauts I
#53
And I'm NOT doing clarifications for each of the individuals!
First Posted: 10/01/2003
Last updated: 01/30/2007
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
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