ASTRONOMER
ASTRONOMER
Real Name: Seginn Gallio
Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (race of origin unidentified; by his nature, he is that race's sole survivor)
Occupation: Astronomer, seeker of power
Group Membership: Elders of the Universe (Architect, Caregiver, Champion, Collector, Contemplator, Explorer, Father Time, Gardener, Grand Astrogater, Grandmaster, Judicator, Obliterator, Possessor, Runner, Trader, others)
Affiliations: Champion (Tryco
Slatterus), Collector (Taneleer
Tivan),
Contemplator imposter (actually a Skrull imposter of Tath
Ki), Ego the Living Planet,
Gardener (Ord Zyonz), Grandmaster (En
Dwi Gast), Iron Hulk of an unidentified reality, Obliterator (Maht Pacle), Possessor
(Kamo Tharnn),
Runner (Gilpetperdon),
Sinalinas race, Trader (Cort
Zo Tinnus);
formerly Death (cosmic manifestation), In-Betweener
Enemies: Annihilation Wave, Death (cosmic manifestation), Galactus (Galan), In-Betweener, Invisible Woman (Sue Richards), Maestro of Battleworld, Mantis, Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards), Nova (Frankie Raye), Shalla-Bal, Silver Surfer (Norrin Radd)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
formerly the "Magic Realm";
formerly a base within an unspecified star system in the Cone
Nebula;
First Appearance: Silver Surfer III#4 (October, 1987)
Powers/Abilities: The Astronomer is extremely intelligent. He has virtually complete knowledge of all matter in space, especially the positions, dimensions, distribution, motion, composition, energy, origins, and evolution of celestial bodies and phenomena. Additionally, he can conceive of and mastermind extremely complex plots, often on a galactic scale.
The Astronomer is unaging, his life force bolstered by his single-minded obsession with the pursuit of astronomy. Along with the other Elders of the Universe, Gallio was, for a time, permanently barred from entry into Death's realm, making him essentially unable to die (at least within Earth's universe).
The Astronomer has no other known superhuman physical abilities. He was believed to be of comparable strength to a middle aged human male of his size who engaged in no regular exercise.
The Astonomer can project laser beams from his hands that he uses to measure the distance between planets; he can also use these for destructive purposes. This appears to be technologically derived, though perhaps the weapons are cybernetic implants, or something like that. The extent and power of his laser ability is unrevealed, but it could at least temporarily match a blast from the Silver Surfer.
The Astronomer wears a lens device over his right eye that grants his telescopic vision, enabling him to see vast distances; the extent of this ability and associated limitations is unrevealed.
Height: 6'4"
Weight: Unrevealed (based on his height and build, I would have assumed
him to be be about 200 lbs.; the OHotMU Update '89 entry listed his weight as
"unknown," which presumably indicates we don't know if he was of the same
density as a human)
Eyes: Blue (the lens over his right eye is an external apparatus, not a
cybernetic/prosthetic device)
Hair: Bald (light brown beard)
History:
(Captain America Annual#6 - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#4: Elders of the Universe entry (fb)
/ Silver Surfer III#6 (fb) - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
Update '89: Astronomer entry) - Seginn Gallo
is one of the Elders of the Universe: Coming into existence approximately 5.5
billion years ago, he is one of the oldest living beings in
the universe and was a member of one of the first races to become
sentient in the wake of the Big Bang, the event that began the universe.
(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#4: Elders of the Universe entry (fb) / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89: Astronomer entry) - Gallio's origins are lost in antiquity, but he spent his life engaged in single-minded pursuit and recording of astronomy, exploring and charting the universe and studying its stars, planets, and other heavenly bodies. His monomaniacal obsession apparently enabled him to survive indefinitely, while the rest of his race became extinct.
(Silver Surfer III#6 (fb) - BTS) - Between 5.5 and 4.5 billion years ago, another Elder, the Obliterator, located each of the other Elders of the Universe, including Gallio, who had come to be known as the Astronomer.
(Silver Surfer III#6 (fb) - BTS / Silver Surfer III#1_ (fb) - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89: Astronomer entry) - The Elders chafed under the idea that there was a non-mystical, non-purely-abstract being older than them: the immensely powerful planet-destroyer Galactus, who had survived the destruction of the previous universe and been reborn in the Big Bang of the subsequent/current universe.
(Silver Surfer III#15 (fb) - BTS) - Soon after Galactus
empowered the Silver Surfer, the Astronomer became impressed with the Surfer's
tracking abilities.
(Silver Surfer III#4 (fb) - BTS / Silver Surfer III#6 (fb) - BTS / Silver Surfer III#7 (fb) - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89: Astronomer entry) - Apparently working with the Grandmaster, the Astonomer conceived a plot to destroy Galactus, convincing fellow Elders Champion, Collector, Contemplator (actually a Skrull imposter), Gardener, Grandmaster, Obliterator, Possessor, Runner, and Trader that -- since Galactus served in maintaining the balance between Eternity, the cosmos' embodiment of existence and time; and Death, the embodiment of non-existence (this should more appropriately be the embodiment of mortality, as Oblivion is the embodiment of non-existence) -- Galactus' demise would alter the balance of and thusly bring about the end of the universe and lead to the development of a new universe.
To avoid perishing in the universe's end,
the Astronomer conceived a plot by which the Elders might become not only
unaging, but also unable to die. He further conceived that by assembling the six
known Infinity Gems (at the time largely known as the Soul Gems due to
misunderstanding of their true natures), the Elders could slay Galactus. Via the
gems' power, they planned to fatally siphon Galactus' biospheric energy (which
he had obtained by draining the life from other planets) into six other planets.
When the new universe would arise, the Astonomer believed
that not only would they be the oldest beings in existence, but that they would
be reborn as a race of "Galacti," Galactus-like beings, and be a dominant power
in the universe.
(Silver Surfer III#7 (fb) - BTS) - While five of the Infinity
Gems (not including the true Soul Gem) were believed to have been destroyed when
Thanos siphoned their powers into his synthetic soul gem, which had been
subsequently destroyed (Avengers Annual#7), the Astronomer appreciated that the
Infinity Gems could not be destroyed; instead, they had been hurled through
hyperspace at the instant of the synthetic gem's destruction.
The Astronomer had further appreciated that the Collector had
obtained one of the Infinity Gems shortly after his resurrection by Death
(Marvel Super-Hero Contest of Champions#3)
(Silver Surfer III#1 (fb) - BTS) - Presumably as part of the above plot, the Champion was sent to assault the Silver Surfer on Earth allegedly to prevent the Surfer's escape, leading the Surfer to find the means to escape Earth and inadvertently assist the Elders' collection of the Infinity Gem of Mind (see comments).
(Avengers Annual#16 - BTS) - The Grandmaster's and Collector's machinations with Death rendered the Elders of the Universe exiled from the realm of death, which made them essentially unable to die.
(Silver Surfer III#10 (fb) - BTS) - Aware of the Elders' plot and its threat to its own existence, the cosmic entity Eternity indirectly opposed this plot by meditating on the pure idea of continuity, which led the Celestial Jemiah the Analyzer to appear on a Skrull world, which in turn precipitated the Skrulls attacking the Kree.
(Silver Surfer III#3 - BTS) - The Surfer confronted the
Collector, questioning the two recent plots involving the Elders. The Collector
claimed to have been solely seeking his wife's resurrection, which didn't work
out, and to have no knowledge of the Champion. However, when the Surfer left,
the Collector alerted the Champion, who warned the other Elders of the Surfer's
involvement. This conversation was observed by a sentient plant in the
Collector's collection...who apparently passed the information on to Mantis.
The Runner subsequently confronted and defeated the Surfer
and left him for dead; the Surfer was recovered by Mantis.
(Silver Surfer III#4 (fb) - BTS) - The Possessor gathered with several other Elders (Astronomer, Champion, Collector, Contemplator (actually a Skrull imposter), Gardener, Grandmaster, Obliterator, Runner, Trader), using Ego the Living Planet as their meeting place. They formed an alliance with the powerful Ego by rationalizing that his nature as a unique being made him the last of his kind and thus an Elder.
(Silver Surfer III#4) - Mantis joined forced with the Silver Surfer to oppose the Elders' plans. They traveled to the planet on which the Elders held their meeting (unbeknownst to them, this was actually Ego), where the Grandmaster revealed how he had rendered the Elders immortal. The Grandmaster then revealed his and the Astronomers plot, the death of Galactus, which would make the Elders the oldest living beings in existence. Ego then detected the Surfer and Mantis' presence, and Ego and several Elders (not including the Astronomer) attacked them, but the pair escaped.
(Silver Surfer III#7 (fb) - BTS) - The Contemplator (imposter) was sent to meet with the Supreme Intelligence to negotiate for the Mind Gem.
(Silver Surfer III#7 (fb) - BTS) - By defeating the ablest sentients of the planet Grinx, the Champion obtained their world trophy, another Infinity Gem.
(Silver Surfer III#7 (fb) - BTS) - The Trader traded for two Infinity Gems.
(Silver Surfer III#7 (fb) - BTS) - The Elders planned to next gather on Earth, as Galactus had sworn to never return there. They further arranged to meet in a tropical area lush with plant-life, knowing that this would allow the then plant-powered Mantis to travel there as well, and that the Gardener's superior control over plants would allow him to capture her.
(Silver Surfer III#5 - BTS) - The Obliterator tracked and assaulted the Surfer and Mantis, and eventually destroyed Mantis' form (though she transferred herself into the local plant life an soon formed a new body), but when he threatened to overpower the Surfer, the Surfer transformed the Obliterator's weapons, so that they projected only harmless light (at the same time disabling his transportation devices). Deprived of his ability to carry out his reason to live -- killing others -- but unable to die due to the Grandmaster's arrangements, the Obliterator agreed to share everything he knew, so that the Surfer might consign the Grandmaster to the same fate.
(Silver Surfer III#6 - BTS) - The Obliterator told the Surfer and Mantis of the place (Earth) and time (autumnal equinox) of the Elders' next planned meeting. During this meeting, they were to test the weapon they would use against Galactus. However, the Surfer soon learned of a Kree threat against Zenn-La, and so he honored his pledge to defend Zenn-La, leaving Mantis to return to Earth alone.
(Silver Surfer III#7 (fb) - BTS) - The Elders (Astronomer, Champion, Collector, Gardener, Grandmaster, Possessor, Runner, Trader) regathered on Earth as planned.
(Silver Surfer III#7) - The Elders discussed their absent
members and their reasons; Astronomer noted how the Obliterator had sought the
Surfer and Mantis for them. They then discussed how they might slay Galactus via the six main Infinity
Gems. They discussed having five Infinity Gems so far, and the Astronomer noted
that as soon as the "Contemplator" obtained the Mind Gem, ultimate victory would
be theirs.
As planned, the Gardener discovered Mantis spying on them and captured
her, though she had time enough to send out a plea for help to Shalla-Bal (the
Surfer's former lover and ruler of the planet Zenn-La).
(Silver Surfer III#7 - BTS) - Apparently unaware of the
Contemplator's presence, the Surfer met with the Supreme Intelligence, asking
him/it to exclude Zenn-La from the Kree-Skrull war, which the Supreme
Intelligence approved. However, the Supreme Intelligence refused the Surfer's
second request to exclude Earth, and when the Surfer threatened him/it, the
Supreme Intelligence used the Mind Gem (referred to as one of the generic
"Soul Gems") to steal the Surfer's mind and absorb it into him/itself.
Explaining that it needed the "soul gem" to maintain its
sanity due to the conflict between the blue and pink Kree minds that it had
absorbed, the Supreme Intelligence refused to give the gem to the
"Contemplator."
(Silver Surfer III#8 - BTS) - The Surfer eventually freed his
mind from the Supreme Intelligence and stole the Mind Gem, leaving the Supreme
Intelligence incapacitated by the opposing blue and pink Kree minds within it.
Meanwhile Shalla-Bal tried to contact Mantis via the plants
on Zenn-La, but instead the Gardener intercepted the message and confronted
Shalla.
(Silver Surfer III#9 (fb) - BTS) - The Gardener captured Shalla-Bal and brought her to join Mantis as their prisoner near the Cone Nebula where the other Elders (Astronomer, Champion, Collector, Gardener, Grandmaster, Possessor, Runner, Trader, and the astral self of the "Contemplator"), had gathered to ambush Galactus.
(Silver Surfer III#9) - The Contemplator told the Elders of the Surfer holding the Mind Gem, and the fate of the Supreme Intelligence.
(Silver Surfer III#9 - BTS) - The Gardener's astral self appeared to the Surfer, informing him they had both Shalla-Bal and Mantis and telling him to meet them in the Cone Nebula and give them the last "soul gem" or the women would perish.
(Silver Surfer III#9) - When the Surfer arrived, the Elders coerced him to release the Mind Gem to save Shalla-Bal and Mantis, then sent them to a distant place where their containment would detonate on his approach, but his power and speed enabled the Surfer to escape destruction and save one of the women (Shalla-Bal, though he had tried to save Mantis).
(Silver Surfer III#9 - BTS) - Via a flare duplicating the flare used by Nova (Frankie Raye) to summon Galactus, the Elders summoned Galactus to their base.
(Silver Surfer III#9) - After Nova arrived to investigate, the Elders used the six Infinity Gems to siphon his powers into six nearby worlds. When Nova tried to stop them, the Elders used the gems' power to contain her within an energy beam. Returning, the Surfer freed Nova and then guided her to cause the six planets' sun to go nova, disrupting the transfer, and creating a black hole towards which the Elders, Infinity Gems, and Nova and the Surfer were pulled.
(Silver Surfer III#9 / Silver Surfer III#10 (fb) - BTS /
Silver Surfer III#11 (fb) - BTS) - Restored by the nova explosion's energies,
Galactus saved the Surfer and Nova -- as well as Champion, Collector, Gardener,
Grandmaster, and Runner -- from the black hole. Possessor, Astronomer, and Trader, as well as the Infinity Gems,
were lost into the black hole.
Present only in astral form, the Contemplator escaped the
other Elders' fates.
(Silver Surfer III#10 - BTS) - Despite the Grandmaster's assertions that they could not die, the vengeful Galactus converted the Champion, Collector, Gardener, Grandmaster, and Runner into energy and consumed them. He did subsequently note that their energies were difficult to absorb, but considered that he had all Eternity to do so.
(Silver Surfer III#10 (fb) - BTS) - Eternity informed Galactus how he had known of the Elders' plot and had indirectly opposed it by influence the Celestial Jemiah the Analyzer to appear on a Skrull world, which precipitated the Skrulls attacking the Kree and ultimately led to the Surfer taking the Mind Gem from the Supreme Intelligence.
(Silver Surfer III#11 - BTS) - Nenora guided the Surfer and Nova to seek out the "Contemplator" in the Coal Sack Nebula. They tracked him down but were captured by his ally, Reptyl.
(Silver Surfer III#12 - BTS) - After the Cotati guided Reptyl's aide Clumsy Foulup to free Nova, Reptyl's forces fled from Nova and the Surfer, after which Reptyl devoured much of the "Contemplator."
(Silver Surfer III#13 - BTS) - The Surfer and Nova found the
partially eaten, disembodied head of the "Contemplator" floating amidst the
Coalsack Nebula.
(Silver Surfer III#15 (fb)) - The Possessor, Astonomer, and Trader emerged from the Black Hole in the "Magic Realm" (domain of the In-Betweener, Lord, Chaos, and Master Order). All six Infinity Gems were scattered about the realm. Though unable to die, these Elders were all physically frail and resolved to obtain the Gems by any means possible. (see comments)
(Silver Surfer III#17 (fb) - BTS) - The Possessor was aware of the legends of the In-Betweener and knew they were based on fact.
(Silver Surfer III#15 (fb) - BTS) - The Astronomer foresaw various events -- such as Galactus consuming and having difficulty digesting the Elders who had not been pulled into the black hole; sending the Silver Surfer to recover the Infinity Soul Gem to remove the Elders' souls to make their bodies more easily digested; the Surfer bringing others with him, who would fall under the influence of Lord Chaos and Master Order and thus be more willing to deal with the Elders; and an alliance with the In-Betweener, the surest means to traversing the black hole.
The Astronomer led the Elders to plan to locate and then trade the Gems in exchange for the Silver Surfer; but then to use the Soul Gem to release the In-Betweener, who would both restore them to their realm and destroy Galactus for them.
(Silver Surfer III#17 (fb)) - The Possessor, Astronomer, and Trader founded a sanctuary dedicated to the In-Betweener. They threw their voices into the void, and the In-Betweener heard and agreed to their plans.
(Silver Surfer III#15 (fb)) - The three Elders found and arrived on the world of the Sinalinas, where two gems had fallen. With nothing of value to trade the Sinalinas and with Trader and Astronomer necessary for future endeavors, the Elders agreed to the Sinalinas' offer to trade them the two gems in exchange for Tharnn, whose knowledge of an alien realm interested the Sinalinas, as well as a starship and some weaponry.
(Silver Surfer III#15 (fb) - BTS) - The Trader and Astronomer recovered the other four Infinity Gems.
(Silver Surfer III#15 - BTS) - When the Silver Surfer (along
with Mr. Fantastic/Reed Richards and the Invisible Woman/Sue Richards, who were
already beginning to fall under the influence of Master Order and Lord Chaos,
respectively) arrived on the world of the Sinalinas, the natives rushed out to
prevent the invaders from harming or taking the Possessor, or Tale-er, whose
stories they treasured. The Surfer and allies made short work of the Sinalinas,
and the Possessor confirmed that the Astronomer and Trader were seeking the
other four Infinity Gems, though he refused to reveal where they had gone. Able
to track them, the Surfer took the Richardses with him as he departed, leaving
Tharnn behind, just as planned.
(Silver Surfer III#15) - Guiding the Richardses in their ship,
the Surfer tracked and confronted the Trader and Astronomer in their ship,
noting they had all six Infinity Gems. After the Astronomer noted his long-time
appreciation of the Surfer's senses, the Trader responded that his skills were
wasted, as they needed the Infinity Gems, which were attached to the Trader's
biological aura by a bodycase, which could only be removed through his
death...and he could not die. Affected by Lord Chaos, Sue Richards attacked
savagely, dropping the Trader by forming a force field to cause his power
hand-blaster weapon to backfire; stunning the Master Order-affected Mr.
Fantastic by massively distending his form with a spiked shield; and confounding
the Astronomer by making his arms and legs invisible.
Appealing to the Trader's monomania, the chaos-driven Sue
Richards (aka Malice) incapacitated the Surfer with the Trader's gun (which she
had made invisible) and then traded the Surfer to the Trader for all six
Infinity Gems.
(Silver Surfer III#16 (fb) - BTS) - After the departure of "Malice," the Astronomer and Trader landed their ship on an unidentified planet, bringing the captured Surfer and the Order-driven Reed Richards with them.
(Silver Surfer III#16 - BTS) - The Trader taunted the Surfer
with his inability to escape his bodycase or to touch his surfboard without his
permission, and then told the Surfer he would fly the Astronomer and Trader back
through the black hole. Richards noted that the Elders could not have escaped
the "Magic Realm" via the Infinity Gems and that they needed the Surfer.
Richards further insisted that Death's pact barring the Elders from her realm
did not apply in the Magic Realm, and that they could, in fact, die here.
Therefore, if they gave the Surfer access to his board to escape the realm, he
could access his power and slay the Trader or both Elders.
Though the Trader disputed this, the Astronomer seemingly
admitted that Richards had seen through them. Richards offered to trade them his
promise to free them (after rescuing Sue) in exchange for their freeing the
Surfer; the Trader seemed uncertain, but the Astronomer accepted, much to the
Trader's seeming consternation. The Astronomer noted that Richards was an
honorable and serious man, but after they departed, the Astronomer and Trader
smiled and shook hands, as the heroes had again played into their scheme.
(Silver Surfer III#16 - BTS / Silver Surfer III#17
(fb) - BTS) - At some point as the Surfer tracked and led Richards to
the ship Sue Richards had piloted towards the black hole, the
Possessor, Astronomer, and Trader arrived and hid behind a panel aboard
that ship. Reed Richards accidentally touched the Soul Gem and was
briefly possessed by the In-Betweener, who subsequently emerged
physically into the Magic Realm.
(Silver Surfer III#17) - The Possessor, Astronomer, and Trader
emerged from behind their hidden panel, revealing their alliance with the In-Betweener
and their plans; the Astronomer noted his pride in having been able to conceive
this complicated plot. With the Elders intending to leave the Surfer and Richardses
(now free from Chaos and Order's influence)
trapped in the Magic Realm,.the Elders gathered the other five gems (the In-Betweener
retained the Soul Gem) and departed to Earth's universe.
As they
approached Galactus' ship, the Punisher was unleashed and attacked the In-Betweener,
who swiftly
recovered and annihilated the Punisher. Upon entering Galactus' ship, the Trader
used the five Infinity Gems he held to incapacitate Nova. However, the In-Betweener failed in his
attempt to destroy the collapsed Galactus (as Galactus was unique in this
universe and had no force with which to counterbalance him) and instead decided to cast Galactus
back through the black hole. The Astronomer angrily forbade this, reminding that
the other Elders were still within Galactus. The Elders fired a
blast drawing on their Infinity Gems' power, but the In-Betweener was
unaffected. He then summoned Death
and apparently -- arguing that, as the balance point between extremes, he was
death himself, as well as life -- forced her to slay the three Elders.
(Silver Surfer III#17 - BTS) - The In-Betweener then banished Death as he transported Galactus' ship back into the Magic Realm. There, Reed, Sue, and the Surfer summoned Lord Chaos and Master Order and explained the In-Betweener's activities. Lord Chaos and Master Order, at the Surfer's request (in exchange for returning the In-Betweener to them) caused Galactus to disgorge the Elders within him. Reviving, Galactus insisted the In-Betweener must die.
(Silver Surfer III#18 (fb) - BTS) - Lord Chaos and Master Order returned Galactus, the Surfer, the Richardses, and the Champion, Collector, Gardener, Grandmaster, and Runner to their native universe.
(Silver Surfer III#18 - BTS) - Champion, Collector, Gardener, Grandmaster, and Runner observed the battle between Galactus and the In-Betweener.
The Grandmaster stated, "I do not believe that childish story of Death being forced to do do anything. Death swore to refuse us forever!" He chose to risk his existence in that belief. With the Grandmaster wagering on the In-Betweener's victory and vowing to stop the others from interfering, the Champion incapacitated the Grandmaster while the other Elders added their Infinity Gems power to the Surfer's own to push the battling Galactus and In-Betweener into the realm of Lord Chaos and Master Order, where those two reclaimed the In-Betweener (still in possession of the Soul Gem) as their prisoner. The two cosmic beings then cast the others from their realm.
(Silver Surfer III#19) - Champion, Collector, Gardener, Grandmaster, and Runner used their Infinity Gems to depart to elsewhere in the universe via hyperspace.
(Annihilation: Ronan#3) - Astronomer, Champion, Contemplator, Grandmaster, Gunrunner, Judicator, Quantum, Runner, and Zarek showed up in the transformed Abyss on Godthab Omega. The newly arrived group witnessed the arrival of the Annihilation Wave/Swarm.
(Annihilation: Ronan#4 - BTS) - The new arrivals' fates are unrevealed, though Glorian eventually wiped out the Annihilation Wave.
(Contest of Champions III#6 (fb) - BTS) - Following the defeat of God Doom and the subsequent omniversal reconstruction, Astronomer and the other Elders of the Universe became aware of Battlerealm, the former, broken "Secret Wars" reality at the edge of spacetime.
(Contest of Champions III#6 (fb) ) - The Elders traveled to Battlerealm and visited the husk of the old Battleworld where they still sensed an immense source of power waiting to be claimed (the recently formed ISO-8). All the Elders immediately lusted after it, ready to follow the path of their individual obsessions to claim it. Astronomer suggested to just share the power on this world, but others disagreed. In the end they all agreed to the Grandmaster's proposal of deciding through a contest of champions. All twelve of them would get to pick a champion from the new multiverse to fight in their stead, with Grandmaster already selecting Maestro (Bruce Banner) who they found alive and defiant in the ruins of Battleworld.
(Contest of Champions III#6 (fb) - BTS) - Astronomer picked Iron Hulk as his champion.
(Contest of Champions III#6 (fb) ) - The Elders' champions duked it out in Arcade's Killiseum arena. Grandmaster's champion made quick work of Iron Hulk and put on his armor after slaying him. Astronomer looked on in shock at his champion's quick defeat.
Comments: Created by Steve Englehart, Marshall Rogers,
and Joe Rubinstein.
Regarding the assessment of Silver Surfer
III#1: Alternatively, the Champion may have actually been part of a plot to help
the Skrulls enslave Galactus, and the Surfer's defeat of the Champion and
subsequent escape from Earth may have been incorporated into the Astronomer's
subsequent plans. The Champion seemed to be actually seeking the Surfer's
destruction in both Silver Surfer III#1 & 3, though the Astronomer could easily
have considered the Champion a simpleton and not told him of the full plans at
this point. I have to think the Astronomer wanted the Surfer to get the Soul
Infinity Gem from the Supreme Intelligence. I further think that while this
group of Elders had already gathered together, only the Grandmaster was aware of
the nature of the Astronomer's plot until portions of it were revealed to the
rest in Silver Surfer III#4.
Similarly, I would guess that the Obliterator revealed what
he knew, but the he had been considered a pawn and not made privy to any details
that might foil the larger plot...
Due to the complexity of the plot, for which the Astronomer is credited, I have listed him as behind the scenes in all major efforts by any of the Elders up to their departure in Silver Surfer III#19. The Astronomer seemed to be legitimately outraged and surprised by the In-Betweener's plan to cast Galactus into the black hole and then to summon Death to destroy them...so presumably that's where his plan fell apart.
The image to the right was a supplemental
entry from the Astronomer's OHotMU Update '89 entry, which came about a year
after the issue publishing the Astronomer's apparent demise. The image shows him
firing a laser blast at Nova. That event didn't end of occurring in the comics.
The Astronomer and Nova encountered each other twice and both times largely
indirectly. In Silver Surfer III#9, the Elders collectively nailed Nova with a
blast from their Infinity Gems; after the Surfer freed her, she destroyed the
sun, casting the Astronomer and others into the resultant black hole. In Silver
Surfer III#17, the Astronomer wore his armor, rather than tunic shown in the
picture, and it was the Trader, who incapacitated Nova with a blast from the
five Infinity Gems he held.
Perhaps there is some, as yet unrevealed, encounter between
the two...?
The Possessor was subsequently shown to have survived apparent obliteration at the hands of Death, as he was active again in Quasar#47 (June, 1993); so, it's entirely possible that Astronomer and/or Trader survived, too, or that their destruction at Death's hands was part of a ruse.
In Silver Surfer III#7, the Runner mistakenly (or perhaps as an intentional insult) called the Astronomer "Astrologer."
Thanks to Patrick Duke for scanning the OHotMU images for me. My Update '89 issues are somewhere in the hundreds of unfiled comics...I could find the trade paperbacks/essentials, but these were in black & white, of course...
Also, for an extensive discussion on the nature and progression/evolution of the Elders of the Universe, please see the comments on the Possessor profile.
His real name is a combination of the names of
Carl Sagan and Galileo Galilei. I don't know if Steve Englehart
intended this as his real name, but Mark Gruenwald was a member of the
Planetary Society, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was the one who
came up with it.
--Andrew Kidd
Contest of Champions update by Norvo & Markus Raymond.
Thanks to Loki for providing the head shot from the Gamer's Guide to the Marvel Universe 1992 Character Update.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Astronomer has no known connections to
images: (without ads)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89#1 (July, 198): Astronomer
entry (main image)
Gamer's Guide to the Marvel Universe 1992 Character Update, p51 (head shot)
Silver Surfer III#15, pg. 20, panel 2 (firing laser at Surfer)
Silver Surfer III##16, pg. 6, panel 1 (armored form, from behind)
Silver Surfer III##17, pg. 5, panel 1 (face close-up)
Silver Surfer III##17, pg. 6, panel 2 (full body in armored form (behind In-Betweener)
Silver Surfer III##17, pg. 14, panel 5 (Death!)
Appearances:
Silver Surfer III#1-6 (July-December, 1987) - Steve Englehart (writer), Marshall Rogers
(penciler), Joe Rubinstein (inker), Michael Higgins (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89#1 (July, 1989) - Peter
Sanderson (writer/researcher), Ron Lim (artist), Gregory Wright (editor), Mark
Gruenwald (executive editor)
Silver Surfer III#7-10 (January-April, 1988) - Steve Englehart (writer), Marshall Rogers
(penciler), Joe Rubinstein (inker), Michael Higgins (editor)
Silver Surfer III#11 (May, 1988) - Steve Englehart (writer), Joe Staton
(penciler), Joe Rubinstein (inker), Michael Higgins (editor)
Silver Surfer III#12 (June, 1988) - Steve Englehart (writer), Marshall Rogers
(penciler), Joe Rubinstein (inker), Michael Higgins (editor)
Silver Surfer III#13 (July, 1988) - Steve Englehart (writer), Joe Staton
(penciler), Dave Cockrum (inker), Michael Higgins (editor)
Silver Surfer III#15-18 (September-December, 1988) - Steve Englehart (writer), Ron Lim (penciler), Joe Rubinstein (inker),
Craig Anderson (editor)
Silver Surfer III#19 (January, 1989) - Steve Englehart (writer), Ron Lim (penciler),
Keith Williams (inker),
Craig Anderson (editor)
Annihilation: Ronan#3 (August, 2006) - Simon Furman (writer), Jorge
Lucas (artist), Molly Lazer & Aubrey Sitterson (assistant editors),
Andy Schmidt (editor)
Contest of Champions III#6 (May, 2016) - Al Ewing (writer), Paco Medina
(pencils), Juan Vlasco (inks), Chris Robinson & Mark Paniccia
(editors)
First Posted: 02/02/2014
Last updated: 04/25/2023
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
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