TEMPORAL ASSIMILATOR

Classification: Presumably extraterrestrial device

Creator: Unrevealed

User/Possessors: Beetle (Abner Jenkins), Collector (Taneleer Tivan)

Aliases: Temporal Transporter

First Appearance: Avengers I#28 (May, 1966)

Powers/Abilities/Functions: The original Temporal Assimilator used by the Collector acted as a time machine and could transport the user anywhere in time, activating simply by touch. This Assimilator caused the user to disappear from the timestream and presumably, reappear in another time period of the user's decision.

    The second Temporal Assimilator, also used by the Collector, was capable of transporting the user out of normal reality and into the Limbo-like "Time-World" pocket dimension.

History:
(Marvel Team-Up Annual I#7 (fb) - BTS) - Many centuries ago, when Ali Babba possessed a lamp and a flying carpet, a visitor from anothe time found him to offer a barter. The visitor was the Collector who, using his Temporal Transporter, managed to reach Ali Babba. The Collector got what he wanted and went back to the time of origin using the Transporter.

(Avengers I#28) - Centuries after, while attempting to escape the Avengers, the Collector grasped his Temporal Assimilator device and immediately began to disappear from the present day time period. Hawkeye warned the Collector not to move but the Collector boasted that he needn't move to activate the Temporal Assimilator and then bade his subordinate, the Beetle, to touch the Temporal Assimilator to disappear alongside him. With the help of the Temporal Assimilator, the two villains then disappeared completely into the timestream.

(Avengers I#51) - During another attempt to collect the Avengers, the Collector was attacked by his own Robotoid robot and grabbed a different Temporal Assimilator, thinking it could save him. Unsure whether or not to use the Temporal Assimilator and risk leaving his collection behind, the Collector ultimately used this second Temporal Assimilator to transport himself to the Limbo-like "Time World" and escape the Robotoid's grasp.

(Marvel Team-Up Annual I#7) - Again on the Earth to collect the last exemplar of the Plodex race, the Collector stumbled upon the interference of Spider-Man and Alpha Flight. The fight caused a so severe damage to the Elder's spaceship, that he decided to abandon it. The Collector picked up the Temporal Transporter, but Puck's acrobatic reflexes kicked the tool out of his hands and Spider-Man webbed up Tivan.

    Several hours later, with the help of Walter Langkowski, the starship was repaired enough to recollect the escaped Plodex exemplars, and leave planet Earth.

Comments: Created by Stan Lee, Don Heck and "Frankie Ray" (actually Frank Giacoia using a pen name).

    The Temporal Assimilators looked vastly different in the first two appearances, suggesting to me that the Collector must have had two different Temporal Assimilator. The first in Avengers I#28 was referred to as a time machine while the second in Avengers I#51 was said to transport its user to a "sidereal Time-World" where neither the Avengers nor the attacking Robotoid existed. My guess is the original one was just a time machine but the second one was capable not of transporting its user through time but rather, transporting the user directly into the Limbo-like "Time-World."

    The Temporal Transporter was used to visit Ali Babba, but Taneleer Tivan could have acquired that time machine before or after Ali Babba's life. When time travel is possible, the accuracy of "after" and "before" tends to get sloppy.

Thanks to Spidermay for adding the missed Marvel Team-Up Annual appearance.

Profile by Proto-Man. Update by Spidermay.

CLARIFICATIONS:
It is unknown if the Temporal Assimilator/Transporter are connected to the Collector's time machine, that could transport beings to and from the sub-space.

The Temporal Assimilator should be distinguished from:

• time machine of John Bentley - built circa 1962 A.D.; used to travel to various periods in the past--Tales to Astonish I#33/2
• time machine of Czarkowski - sent to the past by Justice Peace, where Czarkowski was killed by himself--She-Hulk II#1
• time machine of Dr. Doom - Fantastic Four I#5
• time machine of Kurt Dagmar impostor - used to summon various Deathloks from across the Multiverse; destroyed by Deathlok-7484--All- New Invaders#10
• time machine of Professor Dolen - built circa 1959 A.D.; used by Dolen to travel back in time to 6^th Century Camelot, where his future knowledge led to him becoming Arthur's magician, dubbed Merlin; may have been an alternate reality Camelot vs. just during one of Merlin's many periods of time away from Camelot--Strange Worlds#4/2
• time machine of Ed Evans - built circa 1955 A.D.; used to briefly travel to 2055 A.D. of Earth-55979--Strange Tales I#38/4
• time machine of Frederick Fenton - built circa 1963 AD; used to travel to Earth-63996's 30^th Century, where it ran out of power, stranding him there--Journey into Mystery I#96/3
• time machine of Frank Haynes - built circa 1959 A.D.; used to travel to Earth-59619s' 2059 A.D. and then back to 1944 A.D.; disintegrated en route to the past--World of Fantasy#18
• time machine of Harry Hoomple - based on design by colleague Lucy, resembled a car, used to travel back to a prehistoric era where he was slain by monstrous "cave-men"--Mystery Tales I#10/1
• time machine of Ashley Hunt; built circa 1965 A.D.; used to travel to Egypt circa 2699 B.C. to loot tomb of Tut-Kin-Tut where it was buried--Tales of Suspense I#3/1
• time machine of Eric Kane - built circa 1963 A.D.; used to travel into distant past where he shot a Neanderthal man that was one of his ancestors, which somehow left him in the form of a Neanderthal man when he returned to the present--Strange Tales I#109/3
• time machine of Kara - would-be alien conqueror who sought to conquer the solar system by recruiting great military leaders from history--Adventures into Weird Worlds#3/2
• time machine of Otus Kline, sent Kool-Aid Man back to 1773--The Adventures of Kool-Aid Man#2
• time machine of Kerwin Kronus - used in an attempt to prevent the creation of the Hulk--Incredible Hulk II#204
• time machine of Filbert Phelps - built circa 1962 A.D.; used to travel to one year forward in his own future, which was a void as it apparently did not exist yet--Journey into Mystery I#85/2
• time machine of Walter Phelps - built circa 1965 A.D.; used to travel 25 A.D. in hopes of using his advanced tech to become king--Tales of Suspense I#21
• time machine of Willy Phelps - built circa 1960 A.D.; used to travel to Earth-45968's 2010 A.D. where it was destroyed--Strange Tales I#68/5
• time platform of Dr. Nathaniel Richards of Earth-616, built over ten years ago and used to accidentally transport him to Alternate Earth-6311--Fantastic Four I#271
• time machine of Simon Stanley - built circa 1963 A.D.; stolen by research assistant Jukes who used it to travel 100 years into the past, where he was trapped in immaterial form--Tales of Suspense I#43/2
• time machine of Professor Storm - built by Storm in 1961 when it was used by a murderous thief to escape back to 1946 where he accidentally killed a younger Storm and then found himself back in 1961 because the time machine had never been built so he could not have used it to go back in time--Amazing Adult Fantasy I#7/4
• time machine of Alvin Sultan - built circa 1957 A.D.; allowed a person to travel backwards in time in progressively more rapid fashion; stolen by Roger Koning--Mystical Tales#7
• time machine/ship of Mr. Thursby - built circa 1952 A.D., used by him to travel forward in time, abandonned when he was apparently devoured by Grokkos in the future--Adventure into Weird Worlds#13/4
  
• time machine of Adam Tyler, used to travel to the dystopian future of 2053--Strange Tales I#20/5
• time machine of Harvey Wilkes - built circa 1959 A.D.; used by Jason Grubb to travel to 6^th century Camelot--Tales of Suspense I#3/2
• time machine of Earth-4935 - used by Cable - --Cable II#1
• time machine of Clockwise - contained within his armor--She-Hulk II#3
• time machine of Future Man-46141 - used to travel back to 1946 with goal of conquering that time period so that people from the future could relocate there--All-Winners Comics#21
• time machine of Justin Alphonse Gamble- disguised as a house--Power Man and Iron Fist I#79
• time machine of Godwulf of Earth-7484 - --Astonishing Tales II#36
• time machine built by XSE's Greystone, exploded killing him and shunting Havok-616 to Reality-1298 ("Mutant X")--X-Factor I#149
• time machinery of Immortus - --Avengers I#10
• time machine(s) of Kang the Conqueror - --Avengers I#8
• or any of his alternate timeline/reality counterparts
• Kang's Sphinx - a replica that Kang had had built of the time machine within an idol that his past self (Nathaniel Richards II of Earth-6311) had used when he first traveled back in time to Ancient Egypt (c. 2957 B.C.) in the past of Earth-616-- Avengers: Forever#2
• time machine of King Sapien--Amazing Fantasy II#15
• time machine of the Leader - used to travel back to Gamma mutate prehistoric man--Incredible Hulk II#283
• time machine of Rama-Tut - used to travel from Earth-6311's year 3016 to Earth-616's 2950 B.C.--Fantastic Four I#19
• or any of his alternate timeline/reality counterparts
• time machine of the Scarlet Centurion - --Avengers Annual#2
• or any of his alternate timeline/reality counterparts
• time machinery of the Time Guardian - --Motormouth & Killpower#9
• time machinery of the Time Variance Authority (TVA) - --
• time machine of Zarrko the Tomorrow Man - --Journey into Mystery I#86
• time machine of Zelda the witch - --Homer the Happy Ghost I#19/1
  
• time machine - built by neo-Nazis, stolen by Kirby Martell--War Machine I#15
• time machine of Arro Gorron of Earth-59591 circa 2469 AD - used to travel back to 20^th century of Earth-616--Tales to Astonish I#3
• time machine of Derek Welles of Earth-60911 circa 2050 AD - used to travel to 3045 AD--Tales to Astonish I#11/3
• time machine of Mary Bobkins of Earth-62184 - appeared in the form of a tree; traveled from presumptive 1980s to 1962 twice, the second time to retrieve the atomic yo-yo left behind by her son, Tommy Bobkins III, and found and formerly held by the young version of her future husband, Tommy Bobkins, Jr.--Amazing Adult Fantasy I#8/4
• time machine of Earth-51124 - used to send Robert Gordon forward and back in time--Strange Tales I#4/5
• time machine of Earth-57577 - used by Trouble-Shooters in 6965 A.D.--World of Fantasy#7/7
  
• time machine of Earth-62192 - used by Roderick Kane to escape 51^st century and travel to 1962--Strange Tales I#92/2
• time machine(s) of Earth-70165 - circa 2889 A.D.; residents disguised time machines in the past as haunted houses; Norman Crane used one to travel back to 1959 A.D., confirming the disguise to be undiscovered--Journey into Mystery#59
• time machines of Earth-81244, required sending two pods in opposite directions in time --Rampage Magazine (UK) I#40
• Time Diamonds - hurtled from exploding planet across space, on meteor that struck Earth-10964 (and possibly Earth-616) circa 65 million B.C.; obtained by Czar, used to manipulate time--Astonshing Spider-Man & Wolverine#1
• Time Glider - built by Beast of the X-Men--X-Men: Time Gliders#1
• T.V.A. Time Cycle - used by Death's Head (FPA)--Fantastic Four I#338
• Time probe - Korvac's device which accidentally seized Thor from the XX Century and transported him back--Thor I Annual#6
• Time Projector - device created by Zakka, allowed him to view the past and transport objects or beings to the present to serve him, used to bring forth Attila the Hun, Jack the Tipper, Tutinax, a Neanderthal, and a knight on horseback--Eternals Annual#1
• 4-D Time Portico - time travel vehicle used by Dale and Stacey Yorkes--Runaways I#13
  
• Chronal Research Center of Reality-700 - Tranquility City, Earth's moon--Marvel: The Lost Generation#8
• Chronol-Capacitor - used by Future Man to contact other time periods, pull individuals from other time periods to its location, and generate barriers of temporal energy--All-Winners Comics 70th Anniversary Special#1
• Chronolia of Earth-691 - circa 31st century AD, time travel center--Guardians of the Galaxy I#60/2
• Chronometer of Earth-2992 - created by Reed Richards; the "League of Losers" from Earth-6215 shattered it as Chronok passed through a time portal, splitting him in half and killing him--Marvel Team-Up III#18
• Chronometer of Earth-6025 - time travel device stolen from Reed Richards of Earth-6025 by Chronok, used to travel to modern era of Earth-6215 and slaughter the heroes--Marvel Team-Up III#16
• Chronowear - suit designed by Blaquesmith from remnants of Cable’s former time machine, used to navigate timestream to travel to Borderline--Cable II#85
• Clock of Ages - device of unrevealed origin; given to Tommy Tyme in 1943 by a Genie, the clock emits "sparkling radiations" to send someone to any place and time temporarily; the device is activated by turning the dial to the desired year, and when the alarm goes off, the time traveler is returned to their point of origin--Young Allies#7/2
• Dogbolter Temporal Rocket - crude time machine combined with nuclear bomb used by Josiah Dogbolter--Death's Head I#8
• Hopsikle - used by Justice Peace; presumably provided by the TVA--Thor I#371
• King Solomon's Frogs - time travel device built into twin Brass Frogs once owned by King Solomon--Black Panther I#1
• Rosebud II - Radical Dodecahedron; time vehicle built by Reed Richards--Fantastic Four I#337
• spatiotemporal Mix Master time machine - built by Aunty Nuke-80360--Crazy Magazine#80
  
• the TARDIS of the Doctor - --"An Unearthly Child"; (Marvel) Doctor Who Weekly#1
• warp drive of the Drydock station - used by Martinex to transport back in time the station from the 31^st Century--Avengers I#167 (fb) - BTS
  
• XD-1 - US Air Force aircraft built around 1957; when piloted by Lt. Tom Gorman, it transported him back in time to around 3000 B.C. in ancient Egypt;  Tom eventually faded back to his own time, but the XD-1 remained in the past--Strange Tales of the Unusual#8/3
• any other "Temporal" or "Assimilator" or "Transporter" devices

images: (without ads)
Avengers I#28, p19, pan1 (Collector grasping the Temporal Assimilator)
Avengers I#51, p16, pan4 (different-shaped Temporal Assimilator)
Marvel Team-Up Annual I#7, p28, pan1 (the Collector ready to use the Temporal Transporter)

Appearances:
Avengers I#28 (May, 1966) - Stan Lee (writer, editor), Don Heck (pencils), Frankie Ray/Frank Giacoia (inks)
Avengers I#51 (April, 1968) - Roy Thomas (writer), John Buscema (pencils), George Tuska (inks), Stan Lee (editor)
Marvel Team-Up Annual I#7 (October, 1984) - Louise Simonson (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), Sam De La Rosa (inks), Christie Scheele (colors), Danny Fingeroth (editor)

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

First Posted: 01/11/2018
Last Updated: 04/12/2026

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