SISTER CELESTIA

Real Name: Celestia Denton

Identity/Class: Human magic user

Occupation: Cult leader

Group Membership: Van Nyborg's cult

Affiliations: Undying Ones, Van Nyborg

Enemies: Casiolena, Defenders (Dr. Stephen Strange, Nighthawk, Silver Surfer, Sub-Mariner, Valkyrie (Brunnhilde)), Enchantress, Executioner (Skurge), Fragon, Sheldon and Renee Goldenberg, Hulk (Banner), Night-Crawler, Barbara Norris, Thing

Known Relatives: Alvin Denton (husband, deceased), Barbara Denton Norris (daughter), Jack Norriss (son-in-law)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Cobblers' Roost, Vermont, USA

First Appearance: Marvel Two-In-One I#6 (November, 1974)

Powers/Abilities: Sister Celestia was granted an unknown amount of power by the Undying Ones, her life force being held in the Celestia harmonica. She proved capable of participating in mystic rites and imbuing others with portions of the power (which allowed them to realize their 'destinies). If the harmonica was destroyed, Celestia's life would be ended.

History: (Defenders I#21 (fb) - BTS) - Celestia and Alvin Denton gave birth to their only daughter, Barbara, in a town called Flatbrush. Years later, Celestia attended Barbara's graduation from Stafford Prep. Soon after, Celestia was killed in a car accident.

(Defenders I#20 (fb) - BTS) - Rescued from death by the other-dimensional Undying Ones, Celestia's life-force was placed into a mystical artifact, soon called the Celestia harmonica. Celestia was promised her youth and beauty if she helped bring the Undying Ones to Earth. She was paired with a cult leader, Van Nyborg, and the two worked out an elaborate plot to bring the entities to Earth, including the sacrifice of Barbara after she'd become the Undying Ones' mate and been imbued with Asgardian magic.

(Incredible Hulk I#125-126 - BTS) - Van Nyborg recruited Barbara and her husband Jack to his Cult. They helped send the Hulk to battle the Night-Crawler in another dimension and Barbara was sent in after him. The battle led to the Undying Ones' dimension and Barbara offered herself to take Dr. Strange's place as captive of the Undying Ones.

(Defenders I#1-4 - BTS) - The sorcerer Necrodamus attempted to bring the Undying Ones to Earth by slaying the Sub-Mariner. This eventually Dr. Strange, Sub-Mariner, Hulk, and Silver Surfer to the dimension of the Undying Ones, where they 'rescued' Barbara, who'd become the mate of the Undying Ones, by pulling her back to Earth. Barbara was driven mad as a result. The heroes and Barbara then got involved in a battle between the magic-wielding Casiolena, Fragon, and the Enchantress, and the super-strong Executioner. To gain a bargaining chip, Enchantress bonded the captive soul of the Asgardian Valkyrie on to Barbara.

(Marvel Two-In-One I#6) - Sister Celestia posed as a beautiful girl playing the harmonica in the New York subway. Several patrons gathered around, including Dr. Stephen Strange, Clea, Sheldon and Renee Goldenberg, Duff Coogan, Nick Cromer, and Alvin, who was now living as a vagrant. The group was enchanted by the music until Cromer accidentally knocked the woman into the subway tracks, stealing her harmonica. Strange tried to rescue her, but she admonished him to save the harmonica instead, which he did. Celestia seemingly vanished in a spark of light which showered on all the patrons there. Celestia later claimed to Strange to be a manifestation of the Destiny Force, and that all there had gained the powers to realize their destiny. Strange teamed with the Thing of the Fantastic Four to help dissipate the powers of the crowd.

(Marvel Two-In-One I#7 - BTS) - The Enchantress, Asgardian sorceress, posed as the Valkyrie and tried to seize the Destiny Force by kidnapping Alvin. Dr. Strange, Thing, and Valkyrie battled the Enchantress and Executioner at Cobblers' Roost and retrieved the harmonica. Alvin suffered a fatal heart attack.

(Defenders I#20) - Van Nyborg had Dr. Strange and Valkyrie captured and placed on the mystical altar, prepared to be sacrificed. Sister Celestia unmasked while Van Nyborg began the ritual that would allow the Undying Ones to enter Earth's dimension. Nighthawk and Thing attacked and Thing crushed Celestia's harmonica before could blow it, causing the ritual to fail and Celestia to fade to dust. Before she died, she revealed to the Thing how to free Dr. Strange and Valkyrie, though it is unknown if she did so intentionally or unintentionally.

Comments: Created by Steve Gerber, George Tuska, and Mike Esposito

Special thanks to Mark O'English for scanning help with this one!

Profile by Chadman.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Sister Celestia has no known connections to

Sheldon & Renee Goldenberg


(Marvel Two-In-One I#6) - Sheldon Goldenberg and his wife Renee waited for a New York subway next to Dr. Stephen Strange, Clea, vagrant Alvin Denton, and teens Duff Coogan and Nick Cromer.  A woman playing the harmonica was knocked onto the tracks, dissipating in a flash of light that washed over the Goldenbergs and the others. They rushed off, returning to their Brooklyn home where Sheldon washed his face and then appeared faceless in the mirror, a manifestation of his feeling that he was losing his identity. Renee screamed, but Dr. Strange's astral form quickly reversed the effect. Sheldon felt inspired to quit his job and write a book, causing Renee to be filled with joy.

(Defenders I#20 - BTS) - The 'destiny force' was later revealed to have been magical energy from the other-dimensional Undying Ones, and was part of a complex plot to bring them to Earth.

 

 

--Marvel Two-In-One I#6 (Marvel Two-In-One I#6, Defenders I#20 – BTS

images:

Marvel Two-In-One I#6, p2, pan1
Defenders I#20, p13, pan7
Defenders I#20, p15, pan1
Marvel Two-In-One I#6, p7, pan3 (Goldenbergs)

Appearances:
Incredible Hulk I#125, 126 (March, April, 1970) - Roy Thomas (writer), Herb Trimpe (penciler/inker), Stan Lee (editor)
Defenders I#1 (August, 1972) - Steve Englehart (writer), Sal Buscema (penciler), Frank Giacoia (inker), Stan Lee (editor)
Defenders I#2 (October, 1972) - Steve Englehart (writer), Sal Buscema (penciler), John Verpoorten (inker), Roy Thomas (editor)
Defenders I#3 (December, 1972) - Steve Englehart (writer), Sal Buscema (penciler), Jim Mooney (inker), Roy Thomas (editor)
Defenders I#4 (February, 1973) - Steve Englehart (writer), Sal Buscema (penciler), Frank McLaughlin (inker), Roy Thomas (editor)
Marvel Two-In-One I#6 (November, 1974) - Steve Gerber (writer), George Tuska (penciler), Mike Esposito (inker), Roy Thomas (editor)
Marvel Two-In-One I#7 (January, 1975) - Steve Gerber (writer), Sal Buscema (penciler), Mike Esposito (inker), Roy Thomas (editor)
Defenders I#20 (February, 1975) - Steve Gerber (writer), Sal Buscema (penciler), Vince Colletta (penciler/inker), Roy Thomas (editor)

Last updated:11/12/06

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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