HERALD'S URN
Classification: Extraterrestrial cosmically imbued item
Creator: Dwarves of Nidavellir under
direction of Thanos
User/Possessors: Galadorians (names
unrevealed), Yondu Udonta (Earth-616),
Yondu Udonta (Earth-691 (future))
First Appearance: Yondu I#1 (January, 2020)
Powers/Abilities/Functions: The Herald's Urn
holds the Power Cosmic of a herald of Galactus. Guided by the intent
and nature of
the person wielding it, the Urn's cosmic energy can create or destroy
via a released energy blast;
this includes instant teleportation over vast interstellar space. The
cosmic energy is held inside by an Urn of unknown but powerful material
with a lid that can be partially opened to release the Power Cosmic,
which glows through the semi-translucent container. It is unrevealed
if the Urn's Power Cosmic is finite (although this seems unlikely given
the Power Cosmic is described as eternal).
History:
(Yondu I#2 (fb)) - Galactus' first herald, the Fallen
One,
was killed. Thanos and and the sprite-like Skreet
retrieved the body.
Thanos took the corpse to the dwarves of Nidavellir, renown for their
skill in forging energy-imbued artifacts and weapons. Thanos extracted
the
Power Cosmic from the Fallen One's husk and the dwarves encased it in
the Urn, which
took weeks to create. Thanos intended to use the Urn as a weapon but
was killed in the galaxy-spanning Annihilation War before he could
retrieve it. The dwarves placed the Urn in a small chest and the Urn
quickly became a desired and priceless object for its power, but was
also considered a myth by many.
(Yondu I#1 (fb) - BTS) - M'kraan leaders sought to
create a new M'kraan
Crystal using the Herald's Urn. They hired the crafty
freebooters known as the Ravagers to acquire the Urn, but they were
slain (see comments) before
member Yondu Udonta's arrival, leaving the Urn unexpectedly in his
hands. The M'kraan then hired
the savage
Sav'rkk to retrieve the Urn and kill Yondu.
Yondu I#1) - Yondu recognized the Herald's Urn was
incredibly valuable but was at a loss on how to safely sell it. He
turned to his trader ex-girlfriend Zhala and left
with the Urn for Contraxia to see her, not realizing Sav'rkk was
trailing him.
(Yondu I#2) - Yondu showed the Herald's Urn to Zhala,
who realized the dangers associated with such a powerful item because
of those who would stop at nothing to acquire it. She told him of its
origins and set up a sale with now crimelord Skreet on the moon Anthos.
Sav'rkk killed many to reach Yondu, who had been joined by his
time-traveling descendant (also called Yondu Udonta but from future
Earth-691). Overwhelmed by Sav'rkk's brutal assault, Yondu-616 opened
the Urn.
(Yondu
I#3) - Influenced by
Yondu-616's destructive intent, the Herald's Urn transported both
Yondus and Sav'rkk to the ravaged planet Galador (long thought
destroyed by the Builders on a cataclysmic rampage). The Yondus fought
off Sav'rkk and retrieved the Urn from the
ravaged landscape and escaped to link up with Skreet and her Bahamut
Crime Syndicate.
(Yondu I#4) - Out in space, the Yondus evaded M'kraan
ships chasing the Herald's Urn. But they were soon boarded by Sav'rkk,
ready to kill both Centaurians.
(Yondu I#5) - The cyborg Sav'rkk was about to slay
Yondu-616 when Yondu-691 opened the Herald's Urn to stop him.
Yondu-691's protective intent resulted in Sav'rkk's arm restored,
distracting him, and the Yondus pushed him out the airlock. The Yondus
determined the Urn's true nature, as well as the motives of the
M'kraan. To end the hunt, the Yondus resolved to pass the Urn to Skreet
(after calling for the Silver Surfer's help). On Anthos, Skreet refused
payment, but Sav'rkk and a M'kraan regiment attacked, leading to an
all-out bloody fight. Yondu-616 gained the Urn, although Yondu-691
apparently died protecting Yondu-616 while also killing Sav'rkk.
Yondu-616 chose not to attempt resurrection of his descendant,
realizing he could not control the Urn. The Silver Surfer finally
arrived and subdued all except Yondu-616. Because the Power Cosmic was
eternal, the Surfer stated it could not be destroyed, nor would it be
use to him, only that it should be held by those virtuous. As a result,
the Surfer took Yondu-616 and passed the Urn to Galadorians to restore
their planet, given the noble reputation of their past Spaceknights.
Comments: Created by Zac Thompson, Lonnie Nadler, John McCrea.
The color of the cosmic energy released varied: gray, pastel rainbow, blue. Perhaps this reflected what it was used for.
It's not clear who killed the Ravagers and left the
Herald's Urn just lying on the spaceship deck. Was it attacking pirates
in an equal match where both groups completely killed each other? Did
someone open the Herald's Urn and their destructive nature killed
everyone onboard? Did the chaos-obsessed Sav'rkk attack and kill
everyone but inexplicably leave the Urn behind?
Creating a second M'kraan
Crystal?
Ambitious and extremely dangerous on a cosmic scale. Maybe it was a
lesser-powered version with the M'kraan not realizing the full scope
of its power.
Unfortunately, I can't see this storyline of the
Herald's Urn going much
further. It
seems to have been ignored by the attacking, darker-natured
Spaceknights shown scant
months later in Cable
#1 (May, 2020), who did not detect the revived Galador.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Herald's Urn has no known connections to:
images: (without ads)
Yondu I#2, p2, pan1 (main image)
Yondu I#2, p9, pan6 (holding casket)
Yondu I#5, p, pan (unleashing cosmic energy)
Appearances:
Yondu I#1 (January, 2020) - Zac Thompson & Lonnie Nadler (writer),
John McCrea (pencils & inks), Darren Shan (editor)
Yondu I#2 (January, 2020) - Zac Thompson & Lonnie Nadler (writer),
John McCrea (pencils & inks), Darren Shan (editor)
Yondu I#3 (February, 2020) - Zac Thompson & Lonnie Nadler (writer),
John McCrea (pencils & inks), Darren Shan (editor)
Yondu I#4 (March, 2020) - Zac Thompson & Lonnie Nadler (writer),
John McCrea (pencils & inks), Darren Shan (editor)
Yondu I#5 (April, 2020) - Zac Thompson & Lonnie Nadler (writer),
John McCrea (pencils & inks), Darren Shan (editor)
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
First posted:
01/01/2021
Last Updated: 01/01/2021
Non-Marvel
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