TYANNANS
TYANNANS
Classification: Extradimensional (Negative Zone) semi-humanoid/leonine race
Location/Base of Operations: An alternate cosmos within
the vortex existing at the center of the Distortion and Annihilation Areas of
the Negative Zone;
formerly Tyanna, a planet on the outer
rim of the Negative Zone (see comments)
Known Members: Tjellina
Affiliations: Creators of Annihilus and many of the
races of the Negative Zone
former pawns of the
Brute
Enemies: Brute;
Annihilus, Balurrians, Blastaar, Brute, Fantastic Four (Human
Torch, Invisible Woman, Mr. Fantastic Four, Thing) --all while enslaved by Brute
First Appearance: Fantastic Four I#140 (November, 1973)
Powers/Abilities: The Tyannans have a felid-type
conformation, indicating that they might have enhanced human physical abilities,
including vision and olfactory senses, though this is unconfirmed. They did not
demonstrate particular fighting prowess.
They have undefined energy powers, enabling them to
manipulate the dimensional barriers, though they require a another mind through
which they can channel such powers.
They have advanced technology, including faster-than-light
space travel, genetic engineering, holoprojection, energy weapons capable of
decimating planets, etc. It was the Tyannans who created the technology from
which the Cosmic Control Rod was developed.
Traits: They are dedicated to peace and progression of life. In the past, they were naively trusting, but their experiences with the Brute likely resolved this. They described themselves as being arrogant, but that was likely just an overly critical observation based on their failed mission which had doomed the crew of one ship.
History:
(Fantastic Four I#140(fb) / Fantastic Four Unlimited#3(fb)) - Long, long ago and
far, far away, the Tyannans were the sole inhabitants of the Negative Zone.
In eons past, the world of Tyanna was dominated by
technology. Their race was highly advanced, and they stood tall and proud, and
aspired to reach heights denied to other species. They built vast factories, in
which they manufactured the seeds of life, and they sealed those living spores
in golden canisters of power, that they might survive the rigors of an
incredible journey:
a voyage to seed the stars. They explored the cosmos of the Negative Zone to its
furthest limits, charting worlds they felt were capable of supporting life. One
of the earliest planets they so seeded was Baluur (later the home planet of
Blastaar).
(Fantastic Four: Redemption of the Silver Surfer) - One ship colonized the planet Bathandia.
(Fantastic Four I#140(fb) / Fantastic Four Unlimited#3(fb)) - However, a freak meteor collision crippled one of the seed
ships, which randomly crashed on a barren planet, Arthros, at the very core of the
Negative Zone, marooning the crew on its dark, volcanic surface. Even the food
processors were destroyed in the crash, and as there was nothing edible on the
planet, the crew knew their end was near. Still, the captain of the crew
followed his initial mission, releasing the seeds of life. He then dictated his
race's history into a recording helmet, and told how he watched helplessly as
his crew began to drop around him, and that he himself starved to death soon
after.
(Fantastic Four Unlimited#3(fb) - BTS) - Having overreacted to the crash which was the first "failure" of the Tyannans in time unmemorable, they elected to commit racial suicide. Their entire population entered the vortex, expecting instant obliteration. Instead, they learned their science could transform them into anti-matter. Ever curious, the Tyannans allowed their technology to do so. For eons, they existed unknown, while whole civilizations lived and died in the rest of the Zone. Their minds and technology became ever more powerful there.
(Fantastic Four I#140 - BTS) - Much later, after many, many generations, a weak insectoid creature evolved from the life spores, the first to possess significant intelligence. The insectoid fled from attackers to discover the now empty ship of the Tyannans. From a recording helmet, the being that would become Annihilus learned "the legacy of one race and its futile arrogance." From this helmet the insectoid's mind was greatly advanced, and it soon mastered the technology it found on the ship to create the Cosmic Control Rod. He also adopted their gene transmuter, with which he transformed beings he encountered into his Scavengers.
(Fantastic Four: Redemption of the Silver Surfer) - The Bathandian Tyannan Tjellina became one of the servants of Prodigion in his mission to establish new life in the Negative Zone, but she and her allies subverted his goals by eradicating existing life with his life-giving seeds. Tjellina and her allies were eventually trapped in a barren world were they were forced to labor to transform it into a lush paradise.
(Fantastic Four Unlimited#3(fb) - BTS) - The Brute/Reed Richards floated helplessly in the Negative Zone, drifting towards the vortex. The Tyannans threw him a lifeline, but after recovering he soon combined his intellect with their science to subvert the will of the Tyannans and make them his slaves. He planned to use them to subjugate first the Negative Zone, and then the world of Earth-616.
(Fantastic Four Unlimited#3(fb) - BTS) - The Brute/Reed developed a generator to turn the Tyannans back into positive matter, so they could leave the vortex. As he activated the generator, a pulse of energy issued forth from the vortex. It was detected by beings of power, such as Annihilus and Blastaar, who sought to investigate it, and utilize it for their own ends.
(Fantastic Four Unlimited#3) - An unlikely alliance of
Annihilus and his Scavengers, Blastaar and some Baluurians, and the Fantastic
Four entered the vortex to investigate the pulse of energy. They were all soon
captured by the Tyannans, under control of the Brute/Reed, who detailed their
history. He then led them to escape the vortex and proceed to attack Baluur,
planning to decimate the world. The Brute/Reed then prepared to lead them into
the positive matter world, but the Fantastic Four and their allies broke free
and fought the Brute/Reed and the Tyannans. This delayed their transport into
the earth dimension long enough that the Tyannans, who had become some
acclimated to the realm within the vortex, were all pulled back into the vortex
(since they hadn't managed to escape the Negative Zone in time to prevent
this).
After the defeat of the Brute, Annihilus and Blastaar headed
back into the vortex in an effort to conquer the Tyannans themselves and pilfer
their technology. Reed Richards of the Fantastic Four convinced the Tyannans--now
recovered back within the vortex--to channel their powers through his mind, thus
repairing the damage done to the dimensional barrier between the Negative Zone
and Earth's universe. The Tyannans then shut themselves off, from all
inhabitants of all universes, effectively barring Anninhilus and Blastaar from
reaching them.
Comments: Created by Gerry Conway, John Buscema, and Joe Sinnott.
The dimension containing the Tyannans is compared to realms hypothesized to exist on the other side of a black hole.
Clarifications:
not so much
Appearances:
Fantastic Four I#140 (November, 1973) - Gerry Conway (writer), John Buscema (pencils), Joe Sinnott (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Fantastic Four Unlimited#3 (September, 1993) - Roy Thomas (writer), Herb Trimpe (pencils), Alex Trimpe (layouts), Steve Montano (inks), Mike Rockwitz (editor)
Fantastic Four: Redemption of the Silver Surfer (June, 1997) - Michael Jan Friedman (writer)
Last updated: 05/23/12
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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