ODOTOPIAN race ODOTOPIAN race
Classification: Extraterrestrial race
Location/Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
formerly 81 planets within an unidentified galaxy within the Horologium Supercluster
Known Members: None identified
Affiliations: None specified
Enemies: Contrasepsis;
(unintentionally) Eternity
First Appearance: (Behind-the-scenes) Fantastic Four#546 (July, 2007);
(full) Fantastic Four#547 (August, 2007)
Powers/Abilities: The Odotopians were highly advanced in science (especially biochemistry and quantum physics), technology, and culture.
They could designed a highly advanced probe as well as a quantum destabilization weapon.
They apparently either had an empire spanning 81 planets or they just had natives residing on that many worlds.
They communicated via scent.
Traits: The Odotopians were apparently benevolent, with interests in science and culture.
They were willing to defend themselves from attack and were also concerned with warning others of a potential threat.
Type: Bilaterally symmetric beings; it is
uncertain whether they were bipeds, as their lower bodies were not
clearly seen, nor were they seem in locomotion; they looked to be
semi-batrachian/anurans (frog-like), but maybe they were closer to
cephalopods (like octopi or squids)
Eyes: Two (on head; solid red color seen)
Fingers: Apparently 9 (they may or may not have had or needed an opposable thumb amongst those digits)
Toes: Unrevealed
Skin color: Green
Average height: Unrevealed; there is no frame of reference to beings of known height
History:
(Fantastic Four#547 (fb) - BTS) - The Odotopians were a proud and daring race living on 81 worlds throughout an undefined galaxy.
(Fantastic Four#550 (fb) - BTS) - The Odotopians' research into quantum destabilization irritated the substance of Eternity, the manifestation of the universe.
In response, Eternity sent the Contrasepsis (mindlessly destructive drones that served as "antibodies" to oppose things "infecting" or otherwise harming Eternity) against the Odotopians.
(Fantastic Four#547 (fb) - BTS) - The
Odotopians were attacked by the Contrasepsis, whose numbers and
tenacity seemed limitless. At great cost, the Odotopians learned that
the Contrasepsis could not be negotiated with and instead only wanted
the Odotopians' destruction.
The Odotopians further learned that as
soon as the Contrasepsis were done with them, they were coming for
another race (presumably humanity; see comments).
(Fantastic
Four#547 (fb)) - A member of the Odotopians made a message, greeting
their "siblings from across the stars," introducing themselves, and
detailing the circumstances of their demise and the threat of the
Contrasepsis to the rest of the universe.
They also included a sampling
of their science, art, and culture, and noted that the Odotopians would
in all likelihood be extinct by the time another race could receive
their message.
(Fantastic Four#547 (fb) - BTS) - The Odotopians sent a construct containing their messages across hyperspace to Earth.
(Fantastic Four#549 (fb) - BTS) - The Odotopians used a quantum destabilizer weapon in an effort to repel the Contrasepsis.
(Fantastic Four#547 (fb) - BTS / Fantastic Four#550 (fb) - BTS) - The weapon wiped out the Odotopians, as well as the Contrasepsis in their vicinity, but it also severely damaged the fabric of the universe, causing progressive destabilization that threatened Eternity, the entire universe, and everything in it.
(Fantastic Four#546 (fb) - BTS) - On Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, ISAAC discovered an unidentified object (the Odotopian probe/message) entering Earth's solar system from hyperspace, rapidly decelerating and on a trajectory to intercept Earth.
(Fantastic
Four#546 - BTS) - ISAAC informed Reed and Sue Richards (Mr. Fantastic
and the Invisible Woman of the Fantastic Four) of the object's arrival
and trajectory.
(Fantastic Four#547 - BTS) - Reed and Sue retrieved the Odotopian probe/message from space between Saturn and Earth. External scans indicated it to be a complex biochemical artifact. Reed noted it to have been constructed rather than a being some form of life, but that it wass the most fascinating technology he had ever seen. Reed was eager to determine its nature and purpose and Sue -- as they had been on their second honeymoon -- gave him two days to do just; she then returned to Titan.
(Fantastic Four#547 (fb) - BTS) - Reed determined the device to have three sections: The rear was a chemical faster-than-light drive and a subluminal propulsion unit; another section was a chemical soup that acted as an artificial "brain" for the whole thing, as well as its power source; and the bulk of the construct was a large collection of chemicals, bonded between layers of diterpene sclareol.
(Fantastic Four#547 - BTS) - Reed
then recruited Hank Pym (Earth's foremost biochemist) and brought him to the Lagrange Point One satellite to help evaluate
the structure. After allowing Hank to peruse his notes, Reed summarized
his findings, noting that diterpene sclareol was
an antifungal and that it could be used for biological temperature
regulation; Hank added the the chemical was used to make artificial
ambergris, a whale secretion used as the fixative for perfume, which
was now too expensive and instead made artificially. Hank then reasoned
that the construct's creator was trying to accurately preserve the
scents between the layers, and Reed concluded that this was the
equivalent of a hard drive from a race who tools and technology were
biochemical and whose language was based on an exchange of odors (they
both appreciated that if Ben Grimm (the Thing) had been present, he
would have made a joke aboutg flatulence). Reed thus concluded that the
device was designed to store a specific sequence of information in the
form of complex scents; and that it was meant to be a method of
communication with another race, much like Earth's Voyager 1.
Reed then designed a device to identify the scents -- based on the assumption the the primary scent was a mathematical representation of a hydrogen atom --and decode them into an elemental mathematical vocabulary that could then be translated into an audio-visual recording for them. Reed and Hank observed the translastion of the message.
(Fantastic Four#547 - BTS) - Reed and Hank shared their findings with the active members of the Fantastic Four (Black Panther/T'Challa, Human Torch/Johnny Storm, Storm/Ororo Munroe, Thing/Ben Grimm). T'Challa advised Hank to re-examine the artifact to determine if he could discover further information from it.
Reed and the Fantastic Four prepared to travel to the artifact's point of origin -- in hopes of saving the Odotopians, or, at least, Earth -- after gathering Sue Richards, but they were distracted by an attack by the Frightful Four.
(Fantastic Four#549 (fb) - BTS) - Hank Pym had Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) evaluate the Odotopian construct, and they learned of a quantum destabilizer weapon the Odotopians planned to use in hopes of repelling the Contrasepsis.
(Fantastic Four#549 - BTS) - En route to the Horologium Supercluster, the Fantastic Four fell out of hyperspace through a rent in space-time caused by the Odotopians' weapon. After Hank Pym revealed the existence of the weapon, Reed and T'Challa concluded that it had been the cause of the rent; Reed then guided them to return back to their universe and arrive in the Supercluster.
Finding no signs of conventional life, they concluded that the Odotopian weapon had exterminated the Odotopians before wiping out their foes. However, the presence of a large number of Watchers alerted the heroes alerted them to ongoing events of significance, and Reed's readings indicated that the disruption of space-time fidelity was spreading geometrically: The universe was falling apart.
As they further realized that rate of acceleration of the effect would cause it to overtake their ship's top speed in a little over 37 hours, but then a massive quantity of Contrasepsis emerged through the rent and swarmed over the heroes' ship.
(Fantastic Four#550 - BTS) - Reed and T'Challa worked to replicate the Odotopian weapon; Reed correctly theorized the weapon to have been the root of the problem, but T'Challa counseled that they could not save the universe if they perished. The ship leapt back into hyperspace as T'Challa deployed the weapon, destroying the Contrasepsis swarm while exacerbating the breakdown of space-time. Even a Watcher was pulled into the breach and apparently destroyed.
T'Challa and Reed then summoned the Silver Surfer, who tracked the Contrasepsis and transported the heroes' ship to a realm outside space, where they encounterd Dr. Strange and learned how Eternity had been affected.
Reed correctly surmised how the Odotopian-Contrasepsis struggle had escalated to cause this. Using Storm to house Eternity's essence during the procedure, Strange had Gravity (Greg Willis) act as a cosmic scalpel to cut through Eternity and removed the damaged space-time (and removed the mass of hyper-reactive Contrasepsis with it).
Comments: Created by Dwayne McDuffie, Paul Pelletier, and Rick Magyar.
Odotopia
(from Greek odòs, road, and tòpos, place), in reference to the brain, indicates a set of functional processes comprising in turn
on the one hand a “topological” mechanism, expliciting cortical
disfunctions which have been derived by a deficit, hyperactivation
or both and, the other part, a “odological” mechanism referring
to disfunctions which have been caused by white matter fascicles
lesions, for disconnection, hyperconnection or both.
Or, to simply, referring to both a location and the associated pathway(s).
The Horologium Supercluster is a real astronomical location/phenomenon. Look it up!
McDuffie, via Reed, makes a point about how the struggle between the
Odotopians and the Contrasepsis was similar to the use of
anti-bacterial soap and overuse of antibiotic medications leading to
the development of antibiotic resistance and the transformation or
replacement with normal bacteria, such as Staphylococcus species, into
more virulent and dangerous forms, such as methicillin-resistant Staph
aureus (MRSA), etc. In his analogy, the Odotopians became more
dangerous (eventually assaulting their host) when threatened by the
Contrasepsis, which were like antibodies (or perhaps more like white
blood cells). The analogy isn't quite perfect, but I see what he was
saying
He missed the
point of continuing on that the over-aggressive Contrasepsis reaction
was akin to an immune-mediated disorder, where the antibodies, etc.,
become overly active and uncontrolled, attacking the host as well.
The message from the Odotopians noted that their attackers "call themselves the Contrasepsis." The Contrasepsis did not speak and were not supposed to be anything beyond weapons of destruction, but perhaps they could annouce their names as desired...or, perhaps the Odotopians could sense their nature by their smell, and as smell was how they communicated, they interpretted their nature to be their name.
Additionally, an image in #547 from the Odotopian message showed swarms of ships over the Odotopian world along with discussion of the Contrasepsis' vast numbers and arrival/attack. However, the Contrasepsis did not use ships, but rather traveled through space under their own power without any technology. Maybe the image is of the Odotopians rallying their armadas, or perhaps, as the audio-visual presentation was presented following Reed's use of a translator of his design, perhaps it was a mis-translation.
Further, the Odotopian noted that after the Contrasepsis had finished
them off, they were coming for "you." As the Odotopian construct seemed to
specifically target Earth, presumably the Odotopian meant they were
coming for humanity. However, it may have just been sent to find beings
of power that could help or avenge them.
We
were given no explanation of what indication was given that the
Contrasepsis were coming for Earth; it may be that the Odotopian was
just saying this to urge the message recipient(s) to come after the
Contrasepsis.
It is also possible that this was a
mis-translation of the message, perhaps meaning that the Contrasepsis
might eventually threaten humanity...or something...
The Odotopians were referred to as Oditopians in FF#549-550...not sure why the spelling change, but we usually accept the initial spelling as correct/precedent. Plus, given the terminology listed above, I'd think the "i" spelling to be in error.
Despite the destruction of their world/worlds, it may be that one or more Odotopians survived by some means...given their technology, it is likely they could have had access to extradimensional or extratemporal transportation.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Odotopians have no known connections to
The probe had three sections: The rear was a chemical faster-than-light drive and a subluminal propulsion unit. Another section was a chemical soup that acted as an artificial "brain" for the whole thing, as well as its power source. The bulk of the construct was a large collection of chemicals, bonded between layers of diterpene sclareol (to preserve the scents they used to communicate).
The chemicals contained information on their science, art, and culture, as well as details on recent events; the probe could travel through and exit hyperspace under its own power, entering a desired solar system and targeting a desired planet.
(Fantastic
Four#547 (fb)) - As they were faced by the threat of extermination at
the hands of the Contrasepsis, a member of the Odotopians made a
message, greeting
their "siblings from across the stars," introducing themselves, and
detailing the circumstances of their demise and the threat of the
Contrasepsis to the rest of the universe.
They also included a sampling
of their science, art, and culture, and noted that the Odotopians would
in all likelihood be extinct by the time another race could receive
their message.
The constuct containing the above messages also detailed information about their plan to use a quantum destabilizer weapon in an effort to repel the Contrasepsis.
(Fantastic Four#547 (fb) - BTS) - The Odotopians sent a construct/probe containing their messages across hyperspace to Earth.
(Fantastic Four#547 (fb) - BTS / Fantastic Four#550 (fb) - BTS) - The weapon wiped out the Odotopians, as well as the Contrasepsis in their vicinity, but it also severely damaged the fabric of the universe, causing progressive destabilization that threatened Eternity, the entire universe, and everything in it.
(Fantastic Four#546 (fb) - BTS) - On Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, ISAAC discovered an unidentified object (the Odotopian probe/message) entering Earth's solar system from hyperspace, rapidly decelerating and on a trajectory to intercept Earth.
(Fantastic Four#546 - BTS) - ISAAC informed Reed and Sue Richards (Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman of the Fantastic Four) of the object's arrival and trajectory.
(Fantastic Four#547 - BTS) - Reed and Sue retrieved the Odotopian probe/message from space between Saturn and Earth. External scans indicated it to be a complex biochemical artifact. Reed noted it to have been constructed rather than a being some form of life, but that it wass the most fascinating technology he had ever seen. Reed was eager to determine its nature and purpose and Sue -- as they had been on their second honeymoon -- gave him two days to do just; she then returned to Titan.
(Fantastic Four#547 (fb) - BTS) - Reed deciphered the probe's three sections.
(Fantastic Four#547 - BTS) - Reed then recruited Hank Pym (Earth's foremost biochemist) and brought him to the Lagrange Point One satellite to help evaluate the structure. After allowing Hank to peruse his notes, Reed summarized his findings, noting that diterpene sclareol was an antifungal and that it could be used for biological temperature regulation; Hank added the the chemical was used to make artificial ambergris, a whale secretion used as the fixative for perfume, which was now too expensive and instead made artificially. Hank then reasoned that the construct's creator was trying to accurately preserve the scents between the layers, and Reed concluded that this was the equivalent of a hard drive from a race who tools and technology were biochemical and whose language was based on an exchange of odors (they both appreciated that if Ben Grimm (the Thing) had been present, he would have made a joke about flatulence). Reed thus concluded that the device was designed to store a specific sequence of information in the form of complex scents; and that it was meant to be a method of communication with another race, much like Earth's Voyager 1.
Reed then designed a device to identify the scents -- based on the assumption the the primary scent was a mathematical representation of a hydrogen atom --and decode them into an elemental mathematical vocabulary that could then be translated into an audio-visual recording for them. Reed and Hank observed the translastion of the message.
(Fantastic Four#547 - BTS) - Reed and Hank shared their findings with the active members of the Fantastic Four (Black Panther/T'Challa, Human Torch/Johnny Storm, Storm/Ororo Munroe, Thing/Ben Grimm). T'Challa advised Hank to re-examine the artifact to determine if he could discover further information from it.
Reed and the Fantastic Four prepared to travel to the artifact's point of origin -- in hopes of saving the Odotopians, or, at least, Earth -- after gathering Sue Richards, but they were distracted by an attack by the Frightful Four.
(Fantastic Four#549 (fb) - BTS) - Hank Pym had Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) evaluate the Odotopian construct, and they learned of a quantum destabilizer weapon the Odotopians planned to use in hopes of repelling the Contrasepsis.
--Fantastic Four#546 (547 (fb), 546-547, 549 (fb) - BTS
The Odotopians' research into quantum destabilization allowed them to create a powerful weapon of that nature.
(Fantastic Four#549 (fb) - BTS) - The Odotopians used a quantum destabilizer weapon in an effort to repel the Contrasepsis.
(Fantastic Four#547 (fb) - BTS / Fantastic Four#550 (fb) - BTS) - The weapon wiped out the Odotopians, as well as the Contrasepsis in their vicinity, but it also severely damaged the fabric of the universe, causing progressive destabilization that threatened Eternity, the entire universe, and everything in it.
(Fantastic Four#549 (fb) - BTS) - Hank Pym had Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) evaluate the Odotopian construct, and they learned of a quantum destabilizer weapon the Odotopians planned to use in hopes of repelling the Contrasepsis.
(Fantastic Four#549 - BTS) - En route to the Horologium Supercluster, the Fantastic Four fell out of hyperspace through a rent in space-time caused by the Odotopians' weapon. After Hank Pym revealed the existence of the weapon, Reed and T'Challa concluded that it had been the cause of the rent; Reed then guided them to return back to their universe and arrive in the Supercluster.
Finding no signs of conventional life, they concluded that the Odotopian weapon had exterminated the Odotopians before wiping out their foes. However, the presence of a large number of Watchers alerted the heroes alerted them to ongoing events of significance, and Reed's readings indicated that the disruption of space-time fidelity was spreading geometrically: The universe was falling apart.
As they further realized that rate of acceleration of the effect would cause it to overtake their ship's top speed in a little over 37 hours, but then a massive quantity of Contrasepsis emerged through the rent and swarmed over the heroes' ship.
(Fantastic Four#550 - BTS) - As the Contrasepsis breached the Fantastic Four's ship's hull, the Thing struggled to block their ingress, while Reed and T'Challa worked to replicate the Odotopian weapon; Reed correctly theorized the weapon to have been the root of the problem, but T'Challa counseled that they could not save the universe if they perished. After Ororo unleashed an electrical blast to disburse the Contrasepsis, Sue covered the ship with her invisible force field; the ship leapt back into hyperspace as T'Challa deployed the weapon, destroying the Contrasepsis swarm while exacerbating the breakdown of space-time. Even a Watcher was pulled into the breach and apparently destroyed.
--Fantastic Four#549 (549 (fb) - BTS
images: (without ads)
Fantastic
Four#547, story pg. 3 (probe captured from space by Mr. Fantastic);
pg. 10, panel 2 (Reed and Hank examine probe);
pg. 16, panel 3 (main image);
panel 4 (world surface);
panel 5 (face close-up);
pg. 17, panel 2 (city with ships);
panel 4 (face, different aspect);
#549, pg. , panel (space-time rent caused by weapon);
#550, pg. , panel (Eternity with injury)
Appearances:
Fantastic
Four#546 (July, 2007) - Dwayne McDuffie (writer), Paul Pelletier
(penciler), Rick Magyar & Scott Hanna (inkers), Molly Lazer
(assistant editor), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Fantastic
Four#547 (August, 2007) - Dwayne McDuffie (writer), Paul Pelletier
(penciler), Rick Magyar (inker), Molly Lazer
(assistant editor), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Fantastic
Four#549-550 (October-November, 2007) - Dwayne McDuffie (writer), Paul Pelletier
(penciler), Rick Magyar (inker), Molly Lazer
(assistant editor), Tom Brevoort (editor)
First Posted: 09/02/2017
Last updated: 09/02/2017
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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probe/message
weapon