Ra (god worshipped by Orsirosians; Reality-8116)

RA
Reality-8116

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Extradimensional/Alternate Reality (Reality-8116) deity/god

Occupation: God (see comments)

Group Membership: Unrevealed (see comments)

Affiliations: Orsirosians (notably Aknaton);
Ra seemed to approve of Aknaton's plan, so he would likely consider Aknaton, Vanth Dreadstar, Juliet, Whis'par, and Za as allies

Enemies: Zygoteans (see comments);
Aknaton, Vanth Dreadstar, Juliet, Whis'par, and Za destroyed the physical world with which he was associated and perhaps Ra as well, even if he approved

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Buddha, Death, God, Life, Lointan, Lord Ra, Power, Ra, Rawner, Selepic, Velram (see comments);
he claimed to answer to any or all names when he chose

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
at least formerly an unspecified/unidentified extradimensional realm

First Appearance: (Mentioned) Epic Illustrated#1: Metamorphosis Odyssey chapter I: Aknaton (Spring, 1980);
(fully appearing) Epic Illustrated#6: Metamorphosis Odyssey chapter IX: Absolution (June, 1981)

Powers/Abilities: According to Ra, he was naught but faith and opportunity.

Ra could, at least, travel between dimensions, and allow glimpses through "all" potential futures.

Ra may or may not have derived power from worship. He stated that the need of his worshippers was the reason for his existence.

Ra likely had great powers to manipulate energy and was extremely long-lived (even the standard Orsirosians lived for many millennia ("centuries were like hours").

Height: Unrevealed; approximately 30', likely variable
Weight: Unrevealed; like 12 tons at human-level density
Eyes: Varying patterns of energy
Hair: None

History:
(Epic Illustrated#1/7 (fb) - BTS) - Ra was worshipped as a god by the highly advanced Orsirosians.

(Epic Illustrated#6/6 (fb) - BTS) - Ra was apparently worshipped by multiple races throughout the galaxy.

(Epic Illustrated#1/7 (fb) - BTS) - The Orsirosians eventually perished at the hands of the Zygoteans; the only exception was Aknaton, who plotted to use the Infinity Horn to destroy the entire Milky Way galaxy to end the Zygoteans' threat and to spare the rest of the galaxy and beyond a slow death at their hands.

(Epic Illustrated#6/6 (fb) - BTS) - As his plans approached fruition, Aknaton sought Ra's counseling in whether he had the right to destroy the galaxy.

(Epic Illustrated#6/6) - On another plane of reality, having prepared the Amulet of Joenis Soule, Aknaton then dropped it into a flaming cauldron, and chanted the proper verses with just the right shades of credulity. Acceptance was achieved, trust both died and drew nearer, and as the flames burnt through reality, Aknaton, who had never truly believed in anything but himself, reached out for a deeper trust and was answered by his own desire. Despite the Heavens trembling, Aknaton continued to chant, and finally Ra appeared.

Aknaton was incredulous at meeting his god, and Ra explained how he used many aliases and asnwered to any and all names when he chose, although, in reality, he was naught but faith and opportunity. He asked how he might serve his last worshipper, and Aknaton explained his need for counsel and reviewed his plot. Aware of this, Ra asked whether Aknaton wished assurances of his success or whether he sought aid in his "act of charity."

When Aknaton explained that he was already had the means and the certainty of his success, Ra counseled Aknaton that by coupling Vanth with the powerful sword, Aknaton may have altered the futures he had previously glimpsed, as Vanth had the power to thwart Aknaton's plans.

Disregarding this, Aknaton asked merely if he had the right to destroy the galaxy, but Ra -- acknowledging that he was well aware of the question of whether one had the right to play God and that actually being a god hadn't helped the least in answer it. -- told him instead that this was purely a matter of conscience and Aknaton must look to himself for the answer.

When Aknaton expressed uncertaintly that he was right, Ra, considering perhaps that Aknaton's use of forbidden drugs and powerful magics in scanning the future was causing him to question the veracity of what he had seen, showed Aknaton a direct view of all the myriad futures, confirming the horrors that awaited if Aknaton did not follow through with his plan. Ra further asked Aknaton if he believed the stars would grant them the option of pushing them quickly through death's door if they preferred crawling on their bellies to that same portal. As he vanished, Ra bade Aknaton farewell, telling him "If gods truly exist, I pray they aid you in your journey."

After Ra vanished, Aknaton gained the knowledge that the Infinity Horn awaited him in a subterranean temple on the world Dreamsend, and he retained the conviction that what he was about to do was just.

(Epic Illustrated#9 - BTS) - Guided by Aknaton and defended by Vanth, Aknaton's agents Juliet of Earth, Za of Tyjor, and Whis'par of the Forest People joined togetherion Dreamsend in blowing the Infinity Horn, which completely annihilated everything in the Milky Way galaxy.

Comments: Created by Jim Starlin.

I would presume that Ra perished with the destruction of all those who knew of and worshipped him. However, he did dwell in an extradimensional realm and so he may have survived after all. I think it would make for an interesting story to have Ra later meet with Vanth (later known as Dreadstar).

Ra seemed to be a monotheistic deity, worshipped as a sole god rather than as part of a pantheon. His origins are unrevealed, but his discussion seemed to indicate that he was a being of power, knowledge, and history. It seemed to me that he was noting that he served the role of a god, but that he was not claiming to be the true creator god.

As Ra claimed to be known as "God" and "Buddha," it would seem likely that he was alledging that he was worshipped on Earth, but I'd also keep in mind that Aknaton and most others except Juliet wouldn't have been speaking English, and so what we heard them say would be English translations of whatever they really saying, meaning that "Buddha" etc. were the equivalents of whatever alien deities to which he was referring. At any rate, following the destruction of Orsiros and Earth, but with much of the galaxy still surviving, he referred to Aknaton as his last worshipper.

I'm not sure of the significance of the other names he used as aliases:

Velram...it's an anagram of Marvel, but I don't know whether that was intentional or not. It may just be another name under which he was worshipped by another alien race.
Lointan is similar to the French word lointain, which means distant relative; whether that's intentional or not I have no idea, but it seems at least more likely than referring to a "loin tan."
It's also likely to be the name of some alien god by which name he was worshipped...or another name under which he was worshipped by another alien race.
Rawner...maybe it's just a longer form or "Ra" or just be another name under which he was worshipped by another alien race.
Selepic...I don't see any other reference for it...It may just be another name under which he was worshipped by another alien race.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Ra should be distinguished from:

Ra/Ammon Ra/Atum/Demogorge - the corrupt/obsolete god-killing son of Gaea--Thor Annual#10
Za of Tyjor of Reality-8116 - one of the three agents gathered by Aknaton to blow the Infinity Horn--Epic Illustrated#1

images: (without ads)
Epic Illustrated#6: Metamorphosis Odyssey chapter IX: Absolution, pg. 2 (main; summoned);
        pg. 3, panel 1 (with symbols);
            panel 6 (eyes);
        pg. 5, panel 5 (full)

Appearances:
Epic Illustrated#1: Metamorphosis Odyssey chapter I: Aknaton (Spring, 1980) - Jim Starlin (writer, artist), Stan Lee (editor)
Epic Illustrated#6: Metamorphosis Odyssey chapter IX: Absolution (June, 1981) - Jim Starlin (writer, artist), Stan Lee (editor/publisher), Archie Goodwin (editorial director), James Shooter (consulting editor)
Epic Illustrated#9: Metamorphosis Odyssey, Chapter XIII: Doomsday (December, 1981) - Jim Starlin (writer, artist), Stan Lee (editor/publisher), Archie Goodwin (editorial director), James Shooter (consulting editor)

First posted: 04/08/2018
Last updated: 04/08/2018

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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