KEEPER

Real Name: Dr. Raker (first name unrevealed)

Identity/Class: Alternate Reality (Earth-691, active from late 20th century through 2018 A.D.) human

Occupation: Scientist

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Killraven (Jonathan Raven), Saunders, Scrapper and other unidentified agents; unidentified mutates;
    mentally enslaved by and forced to serve the Martian Masters

Enemies: Dr. Ann Carver, Killraven, Martian Masters, Joshua Raven (later Deathraven), Maureen Raven

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: "Scientist" (by Killraven, complete with the quotation marks)

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
    formerly a base within the former Grand Central Station, in what had been Manhattan, New York

First Appearance: Amazing Adventures II#18 (May, 1973)

Powers/Abilities: Dr. Raker either created or had access to a number of mutates (called "mutants" by Killraven in the story)

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'6" at time of death; perhaps a couple inches taller as a younger man)
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 140 lbs. at time of death; perhaps 160-170 lbs. as a younger man)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: White (formerly brown)

History:

(Amazing Adventures II#18 (fb) - BTS) <Circa 2001 AD> - A young, approximately 2-year-old Jonathan Raven accompanied his mother, Maureen, and his newborn baby brother, Joshua, to Welfare Island, where they spent 2 weeks hiding out with Dr. Ann Carver.

(Amazing Adventures II#18 (fb)) - When Dr. Raker arrived with two other men in a helicopter, Dr. Carver assumed they were being saved, but after they ran out, Raker ordered his subordinates to kill the two women but to be careful not to harm the children. After Saunders and his associates had executed the two women, Raker told him he could dowhat he wanted with the newborn, as the Masters only wanted the older Jonathan. When Saunders expressed disgust with harming a child, Raker told him the infant was no concern of his, as the Masters wanted youths to train, not babies to coddle.

(Amazing Adventures II#18 (fb) - BTS) - Raker took Killraven before one of the Masters and left him to be instructed by the Masters' human agents on how they would serve as gladiators.

(Amazing Adventures II#18(fb) - BTS) - Raker subsequently made a base in the former Grand Central Station in what had been Manhattan, New York, where he apparently genetically-engineered a number of monstrous mutates.

(Amazing Adventures II#18 (fb) - BTS) - Years later, after freeing himself from the gladiatorial pens and leading a group of Freemen, Killraven renewed his efforts to seek out the Keeper.

(Amazing Adventures II#18) <Circa 2018 AD> - Killraven fought his way past Scrapper on the way into the former Grand Central Station, after which he shouted to the Keeper that he was coming, and this time the Keeper would have to face Killraven alone. When Killraven urged the Keeper to come out, a pair of mutates were unleashed. Killraven -- noting that the Keeper must be desperate to risk his precious specimens -- swiftly dropped the orange, two-headed feral creature with his slingshot, but the long-limbed green man-creature leapt through the air and knocked Killraven off his feet. However, Killraven rolled with assault and smashed the larger mutate to the ground, incapacitating it.

    When Killraven challenged the Keeper again, noting he had come to settle with him for what he did to him and his brother, Dr. Raker told Killraven, "You'll have to force your way in, pack-rat. And I assure you -- my defenses are quite satisfactory."

    After Killraven blasted his way in, Raker noted that his sensors had reported that that was the last of Killraven's weapon's energy, while -- as his defenses blasted at Killraven -- his own weapons were still fully charged. When Killraven mockingly told him that he didn't need a gun to destroy him as only "scientists" needed toys, Raker noted that his taunt was once a term that commanded respect. Noting that this must have been a long time ago, Killraven hurled a sharp piece of metal debris that skewered Raker in the right side of his chest.

    Momentarily collapsing and thought dead by Killraven, who felt somewhat empty at completing his obsessive mission, Raker surprised Killraven by reviving, thanking him, and explaining that he had been liberated from the Martian Masters' control. At Killraven's request, Raker detailed the "Martian" invasion starting back in 1901.

    After relaying the initial defeat of the Martian Masters, Raker explained that others of their race still stationed on Mars had watched and learned from this defeat, enabling them to succeed when they returned in 2001.

    As Raker continued, Killraven acknowledged his memories of his mother's death and his own collection, and of Raker bringing him to the Masters to be instructed in his role as a gladiator.

    Dying, Raker told Killraven how he had chosen him because he knew he was special (able to resist the Martian Masters' mind control) and that he knew Killraven would be ready on the day  he could breach the defenses and kill him (Raker), Advising that Killraven could destroy them and that he had the power, Raker died.

(Amazing Adventures II#18 - BTS) - The green mutate suddenly attacked anew, but Killraven wrangled it into a full nelson and broke its neck.

Comments: Created by Gerry Conway, Neal Adams & Howard Chaykin, and F. Chiaramonte.

    It has long been established that the "Martian Masters" had an outpost on Mars but were not native to that planet.

    This profile was completed 11/26/2020, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20^th anniversary 's celebratory event.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Keeper/Dr. Raker should be distinguished from:

• KEEPER WHITMAN of Earth-691 ( ) - supervised Killraven in gladiatorial pens of Martian Masters, experimented on him to enable him to control Martian Masters and develop exceptional physical abilities, implanted knowledge of human culture and learning within his subconscious, later found and killed by Killraven--[Amazing Adventures II#27],
• KEEPERS of DEATH-BIRTH of Earth-691 - experimented on prisoners--Amazing Adventures II#
• KEEPERS of Earth-7031 - race bore witness to the act of creation, contained the Anti-Creation until they began to die off; the last informed Binary of the Anti-Creation and she destroyed it; briefly brought into Reality-616 by Gavin--Ms. Marvel Special#1
  
• KEEPER of the Hyborian era - alien/demonic being living within an unidentified beast--Conan the Barbarian I#192
• KEEPER of the 16^th century (    ) - cruel warden of an insane asylum, took charge of the time traveling Dan Cooper, unwittingly followed him back to the 20th Century (1962), where he was thought to be insane and placed in an asylum himself--Strange Tales I#97
• KEEPER of Reality-691 circa 26th-31st century - alternate future counterpart of Silver Surfer, herald of Galactus--Guardians of the Galaxy I#23
• KEEPER of ANTIQUITIES- Asgardian--Thor I#163
• KEEPER of the COMIC CODE ( ) - determines acceptable material--Not Brand Ecch#5
  
• KEEPER of the COSMIC CUBE (    ) - AIM, forced by Red Skull (Shmidt) to surrender the Cube to him--Tales of Suspense I#80
• KEEPER of the DREAM - see BURKE, JOB--Man-Thing III#1
• KEEPER of the FLAME (Lann) - el Dorado, They Who Wield Power, controlled the Sacred Flame of Life, slain by Tyrannus--Avengers I#30
• KEEPER of the FLAME (unidentified) - Eurasia, engineered near genocide of Moloids, tortured Namor, killed in destruction of Eurasia--Namor Annual#1/2
• KEEPER of the MENAGERIE - see RIMTHUSAR/CRUEL-STRIKER--Thor I#320
• KEEPER of the NORTHERN LIGHTS - see SAINT ELMO--Alpha Flight Special Edition II#1
• KEEPER of the SIX - see KIBUKA--Black Panther III#54, 55
• KEEPER of the TWILIGHT WELL - see KARTAG (app-kar)--[Thor I#195], 196
• KEEPERS of the GREAT SILVER GATE (Umr At-Tawil and a group of "Ancient Ones") - associated with the portal through which the Old Ones came to Earth, possibly associated with Yog-Sototh; captured Aleister Kane--Through the Gates of the Silver Key; Marvel Fanfare I#52
• KEEPERS of HARMONY - see ARMAJESUITS--Domino II#4
• KEEPERS of the TREASURE-CRYPT of LANJAU of the Hyborian era - formerly protected the Jade Serpent, slain at some point, reanimated by the Witch Men of Hyperborea, who sought them as warriors for Vammatar's army, slew the witch men to continue their pursuit of the serpent, followed it into a deep cavern, where it was thrown by Conan. Immense, skeletal warriors--Conan the Barbarian I#255
  
• KEEPERs of the SACRED KOAN - resurrected and empowered American Samurai--[Elektra I#12]
  
• KEEPERS of the WAY (Mantor, others) – protected Ancients scientific knowledge, seen as magicians by other Sectaurs, used Kai force--Sectaurs#1
  
• other "Keeper" or "Raker" characters, groups, etc.
  

(Amazing Adventures II#18 (fb) - BTS) - Raker subsequently made a base in the former Grand Central Station in what had been Manhattan, New York. (Amazing Adventures II#18 (fb) - BTS) - Years later, after freeing himself from the gladiatorial pens and leading a group of Freemen, Killraven renewed his efforts to seek out the Keeper. (Amazing Adventures II#18) <Circa 2018 AD> - Killraven fought his way past Raker's agents, culminating in Scrapper, after which Raker unleashed a pair of mutates, whom Killraven also incapacitated.     Finally, Killraven confronted and fatally wounded Raker, freeing him from the Martian Masters' influence. --Amazing Adventures II#18

Scrapper was apparently the leader of a group of human agents serving Dr. Raker at his base in the former Grand Central Station in what was once Manhattan, New York.      Scrapper wielded an axe and a sword.      After fighting his way past the others apparently serving with and/or under Scrapper, Killraven warned Scrapper to let him past or he would finish him, too.      Parrying Killraven's sword with his own blade, Scrapper instead warned Killraven that he would die for the gried he and his Freemen had caused Scrapper and his associates.      Insisting he must personally deliver his message to his Keeper, Killraven knocked Scrapper off of a raised walkway and landed atop him, incapacitating if not killing him. --Amazing Adventures II#18

*

(Amazing Adventures II#18 (fb) - BTS) - Keeper / Dr. Raker subsequently made a base in the former Grand Central Station in what had been Manhattan, New York, where he apparently genetically-engineered a number of monstrous mutates. (Amazing Adventures II#18) <Circa 2018 AD> - After Killraven invaded former Grand Central Station, he urged the Keeper to come out and face him, and a pair of mutates were unleashed.      Killraven -- noting that the Keeper must be desperate to risk his precious specimens -- swiftly dropped the orange, two-headed feral creature with his slingshot.      The long-limbed green man-creature leapt through the air and knocked Killraven off his feet.      However, Killraven rolled with assault and smashed the larger mutate to the ground, incapacitating it.      After Killraven had confronted and slain Raker, the green mutate attacked Killraven anew, leaping on his back and grabbing his neck. Flipping the mutate over his head, Killraven caught the creature in a full nelson and snapped his neck (killing it within 2 seconds of its striking him). --Amazing Adventures II#18

Appearances:
Amazing Adventures II#18 (May, 1973) - Gerry Conway (script), Neal Adams & Howard Chaykin (pencilers), F. Chiaramonte (inker), Roy Thomas (editor; series conception)

First posted: 09/07/2021
Last updated: 09/05/2021

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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