CYGNORION race CYGNORION race
Classification: Semi-humanoid reptillian extraterrestrial race
Location/Base of Operations: Planet Cygnorion, unidentified star system, unidentified galaxy (see comments)
Known Members: Xanja, unidentified lieutenant, unidentified soldiers under Xanja
Affiliations: Unidentified weapons-dealer (see main image)
Enemies: Vaalu was an enemy to those loyal to Xanja, as weas Spider-Man (Peter Parker)
First Appearance: Web of Spider-Man I#25 (April, 1987)
Powers/Abilities: Unrevealed.
Xanja had vast superhuman powers,
but there is no evidence that other Cygnorians had similar powers. It
is unrevealed whether they have reptillian or perhaps piscine
(fish-like) physiologies. They were only shown on land breathing air,
and it thus unrevealed whether they could breathe underwater.
The Cygnorion soldiers carried some form of hand rifles and used personal aircraft. They had the means to easily travel to and/or communicate with other worlds.
They had spaceships armed with energy blaster weapons.
Traits: The Cygnorions were formerly ruled by the tyrant Xanja who led them in a quest to conquer other worlds and establish a massive empire.
Some of the Cygnorions were loyal followers of Xanja while others sought peace.
Type: Bilaterally symmetric semi-humanoid reptilian (or piscine?) bipeds
Eyes: Two (on head; color unrevealed; it is unclear whether they have visible irides or not)
Fingers: Four (plus opposing thumb)
Toes: Unrevealed
Skin color: Green, scaled
Average height: Approximately 5'10"?
Other distinguishing features:
Cygnorions were covered with green scales (presumably indicating a
reptillian or piscine nature). They also had a prominent ridge running
from the top of their forehead down their neck and upper back, at
least. They had claws fingers and webbed, fin-like ears.
History:
(Web of Spider-Man I#25 (fb) - BTS) - The
Cygnorions were ruled by Xanja, whom some, at least the more pacifistic
members, considered a tyrant.
(Web of Spider-Man I#25) -
Surrounded by a group of his soldiers, Xanja completed an
interplanetary pact with an unidentified weapons-dealer (or perhaps a
planetary ruler) over a video conference. The other party agreed to
immediately transport the Cosmultigizer (Cosmic Multi-Energizer) to
Cygnorion; this would increase the power of their weaponry a
thousandfold, making possible the conquest of worlds that even Xanja
never before dared to attack. In return, Xanja promised to fill the
other party's banks with one third of the wealth those planets would
yield. 
A dovish Cygnorion lieutenant rushed to the neighboring world Hyginus, met with its monarch, Vaalu, and urged
him to prevent Xanja from obtaining the Cosmultigizer. However, Vaalu
noted their policy of avoiding direct entanglements in the affairs of
others and their preference of using time travel to accomplish their
goals.
(Web of Spider-Man I#25 - BTS) - As the Cosmultigizer traveled through space toward Cygnorion, however, it interfaced with a laser signal from Earth and was pulled off course to Earth.
(Web of Spider-Man I#25 (fb) - BTS) - Xanja's forces informed him of the Cosmultigizer's diversion.
(Web of Spider-Man I#25) - Furious when his people noted that they had no mean to reverse its course, Xanja vowed to retrieve it himself.
(Web of Spider-Man I#25) - Learning Xanja's intent, Vaalu developed a plan to thwart Xanja.
(Web of Spider-Man I#25 (fb) - BTS) - While Xanja converted into energy and traveled to Earth, Vaalu traveled 20 years into the past, reanimated the recently deceased Harry Gibbs, became a police officer, and monitored for the arrival of the Cosmultigizer.
(Web of Spider-Man I#25) - Xanja possessed small-time criminal Arnie Strunk and sought out the Cosmultigizer, coming into conflict with Spider-Man (inspired to intervene via a vision of Reality-87425 in which Xanja obtained the Cosmultigizer) and Gibbx/Vaalu. Spider-Man distracted the powerful Xanja sufficiently for Vaalu to subdue him.
With Xanja in electro-shackles, Vaalu departed with him and the Cosmultigizer.
Comments: Created by Larry Lieber and Vince Colletta.
We don't know whether Vaalu
returned Xanja to Cygnorion, or perhaps he imprisoned Xanja of his own
accord, or had him tried by some interplanetary council, or...who knows?
One might speculate that the lieutenant referencing the "Heavens" trembling might indicate a believe in one or more godly realms...or one might not...
We know nothing about the guy who
agreed to trade the Cosmultigizer for profit, other than -- as their
agreement was referred to as an interplanetary pact -- that he was from
another world...perhaps he was a representative of his world's
government...or perhaps he was just a weapons-dealer. He obviously knew
the weapons' power but was willing to trade it in return for profit, so
he presumably was less interested in direct warfare.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Cygnorions should be distinguished from:
(Web of Spider-Man I#25) -
After Xanja made a pact to obtain the Cosmultigizer, an unidentified dovish Cygnorion lieutenant rushed to the
neighboring world Hyginus, met with its monarch, Vaalu, and informed
him of this agreement.
Vaalu warned the lieutenant that if Xanja knew
of his actions, the lieutenant would envy the dead, but the lieutenant
advised that Xanja was a tyrant with boundless ambition, and that Vaalu
must prevent him from getting the Cosmultigizer or " the Heavens would
tremble."
Vaalu noted that the Hyginians were peaceful, but the
lieutenant countered that they were not weak or fearful. Vaalu then
explained that though his people were capable of space travel, they
avoided it, as entanglements in the affairs of other worlds was
dangerous; they preferred to travel back into their own past.
The lieutenant acknowledged their expertise in time travel, but felt that would not be helpful in this case.
(Web of Spider-Man I#25) - The lieutenant was present after the Cosmultigizer had been diverted to Earth and Vaalu -- having learned Xanja's intent to travel to Earth to retrieve it -- announced he had a plan to thwart Xanja.
--Web of Spider-Man I#25
Xanja gained the Cosmultigizer, which energized
the Cygnorions' weapons, increasing their firepower a thousandfold.
Xanja then led the Cygnorions to war against other worlds.
--Web of Spider-Man I#25
Note: When Spider-Man-616 explored the Cosmultigizer, it projected a hologram of the Cygnorions using the Cosmultigizer's power to war against other worlds. Spider-Man was then pulled through a warp portal into the midst of the destructive battle (although he was not harmed by floating in space unprotected, so it was most likely just a vision). Realizing this was a potential future, he realized he could stop this from happening.
Spider-Man noted that the
Cosmultigizer increased the weapons power one hundred fold, but the
weapons dealer who traded the weapon to Xanja said it would increase
the power a thousandfold. Presumably he'd know better, although he
could have been exaggerating.
images: (without ads)
Web of Spider-Man I#25, pg. 1, panel 1 (Cynorion and surroundings);
panel 2 (Xanja negotating with weapons dealer);
pg. 2, panel 1 (lieutenant meeting with Vaalu);
panel 2 (lieutenant face);
pg. 3, panel 1 (Xanja chastizing subordinates);
pg. 11, panel 5 (Reality-87425, ships);
pg. 12, panel 1 (Reality-87425, personal craft);
Appearances:
Web of Spider-Man I#25 (April, 1987) - Larry Lieber (writer, penciler), Vince Colletta (inker), Jim Salicrup (editor)
First posted: 8/26/2018
Last updated: 8/26/2018
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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Cygnorion
lieutenant
Reality-