TIME-EATERTIME-EATER
Real Name: Nathaniel Richards
Identity/Class: Extradimensional
human mutate;
diverged at some point from Nathaniel Richards of Earth-6311's
31st century (from whom Immortus
and most divergent Kangs, Rama-Tuts,
Scarlet
Centurions, etc...diverged)
Occupation: Devourer of realities
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: None
Enemies: Elendil of reality-22681,
Exiles (Blink/Clarice
Ferguson of Earth-295, Iron Lad/Nate Richards of Earth-18651,
Khan/Kamala Khan of Earth-81111, Valkyrie of reality-22681, Wolvie),
Nick Fury of Earth-68151, Galactus of numerous alternate realities, L'il
Magneto, Morph (Kevin Sidney of Earth-1081), Namor
of Earth-71853, Sabretooth (Victor Creed of Earth-295), the Unseen
(Nick Fury of Earth-616), numerous inhabitants of the various alternate
realities he consumed;
Earth-66881 natives:
Blackbeard (Ben Grimm), Capt. Mercedes Knight, the Scarlet Falcon (Sam
Wilson);
Earth-81111 natives: Cobalt,
Furball;
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: Kang the Conqueror, "Kang, the Man Who Became Reality," "Mister,""Mister Fishbowl"
Base of Operations: Mobile throughout the
multiverse
First Appearance: (in energy form): Exiles
III#1 (June, 2018);
(in physical form): Exiles III#4 (August, 2018)
Powers/Abilities: After having absorbed power
from thousands of alternate reality counterparts of the world-devourer
Galactus, the Time-Eater existed as both matter and energy
simultaneously and could alter his form between formless energy and a
physical form resembling his original Kang form, albeit much taller and
radiating energy.
The Time-Eater possessed the Power Cosmic, which he
could manipulate at will for effects such as energy projection and
creating energy constructs such as cages. He could also utilize the
power stolen from the various Galactuses to absorb entire realities
into himself, effectively erasing them from existence and feeding off
of their energies for power, similar to how Galactus would devour a
planet. However, once absorbed, the realities would slowly be destroyed
over time within the Time-Eater's form and during this period, the
consumed realities could be restored if the Time-Eater's energies were
dispersed while the realities were still being "digested."
His stolen Galactus power also seemed to grant the Time-Eater enhanced cosmic senses (possibly a form of cosmic awareness), as he was able to sense and track the location of the Exiles within the Watcher's citadel despite the team having randomly teleported away from him. He was also capable of shielding his movements from being directly seen by the all-seeing Unseen of Earth-616, his trail only seen as a shadow by the Unseen rather than being fully seen.
The Time-Eater was also capable of summoning forth armies of temporally divergent Kang counterparts, whether already existing or splintered from his own timeline. These counterparts did the Time-Eater's bidding but whether they were acting of their own accord or under the Time-Eater's control remains to be seen.
Following his defeat and energy dispersal, it was
stated that the Time-Eater likely would not be able to access his
stolen Galactus power anymore but it was unclear whether he may be able
to regain his power by killing other Galactus counterparts in the same
way he originally gained his power.
Height: Various
Weight: Various
Eyes: Glowing yellow
Hair: None seen (see comments)
History: (Exiles III#5 (fb)
- BTS) - Kang the Conqueror spent "a thousand lifetimes" trying to
become a god through conquest, only to retain feelings of
insignificance in the grand multiverse. At some point, he traveled into
his own past in an attempt to offer his younger self power and have his
younger self rule at his side as twin gods.
(Exiles III#4 (fb) - BTS) - Traveling to Reality-18854, Kang diverged a temporal counterpart of himself that killed that reality's Galactus and harnessed his power. Kang then traveled to other realities, killing and harnessing the power of their Galactus counterparts as well. After repeating this act possibly thousands of times, Kang gained the ability to consume entire realities.
(Exiles III#5 (fb) - BTS) - Continually disguising
his true identity inside the severed head of Galactus counterparts, the
power hungry Kang became known as the Time-Eater.
(Exiles III#2 (fb) - BTS) - The Time-Eater's existence eventually became one of both matter and energy.
(Exiles III#5 (fb) - BTS) - With his newfound power,
the Time-Eater meditated and reflected on his past, deciding that true
godhood lie not in ruling the multiverse but becoming it.
(Exiles III#1) - The Time-Eater
continued absorbing
entire realities, feeding off their energies. After many realities had
already been removed from existence, the Time-Eater's activities drew
the attention of reality-616's Unseen, who feared his own reality would
soon fall. In an effort to stop the Time-Eater, the Unseen recruited
his Earth-68151 counterpart, Nick Fury, to retrieve the
extradimensional Tallus device, which he could then gift to the leader
of a new group of reality-hopping Exiles. The Unseen soon had the
Tallus summon Earth-295's Blink, whom he informed of the Time-Eater's
activities, explaining that while he could normally view all realities,
the Unseen was only capable of seeing shadow where the Time-Eater
traveled. The Unseen then tasked Blink with seeking out the secrets of
the Time-Eater, assuring her that the Tallus would guide her through
the multiverse. As if on cue, the Tallus activated and transported
Blink to the dystopian Earth-81111, where Blink attempted to explain
about the Time-Eater to that reality's Khan. Before much could be said,
the Time-Eater arrived and began absorbing Earth-81111, forcing the
Tallus to transport both Blink and Khan to Earth-18651. Realizing the
Tallus had recruited Khan and herself into a new team of Exiles, Blink
explained the situation to Khan before they witnessed Earth-18651's
Iron Lad apprehending some bullies. Blink and Khan stopped Iron Lad
from harming the bullies and managed to explain the danger to the
multiverse moments before the Time-Eater arrived on Earth-18651.
Appearing as a giant severed head of the cosmic Galactus, the
Time-Eater began absorbing Earth-18651.
(Exiles III#2 - BTS) - From
Earth-616's moon, the
Unseen witnessed the Time-Eater's absorption of Earth-18651, noting to
himself how, while the multiverse was assembling its champions as the
new Exiles, the Time-Eater was closing in on them and the Tallus was
barely able to propel the Exiles to their next reality before the
Time-Eater caught up. The Time-Eater continued his removal of
Earth-18651 from existence and Iron Lad's armor sensors managed to
determine the Time-Eater's status as both matter and energy and its
power, incalculable. Before the three Exiles could be absorbed,
however, the Tallus transported them to reality-22681's Asgard, where
Iron Lad revealed that his sensors were still picking up remnants of
Earth-18651, suggesting that the absorbed realities could be restored
if the Exiles proved able to stop the Time-Eater.
(Exiles III#2 - BTS/Exiles
III#8 (fb) - BTS) - After the Exiles
aided reality-22681's Valkyrie against Surtur, Blink explained the
Time-Eater to Valkyrie moments before the Time-Eater caught up to them
once more.
(Exiles III#2 - BTS) - Before the Time-Eater could
absorb the Exiles, the Tallus
again transported them away, this time to Earth-32518, where the
extradimensional Adorable X-Babies had settled. Valkyrie immediately
asked what had happened to her reality and where the Time-Eater,
prompting Blink to comment that the Time-Eater was likely right behind
them. Encountering the X-Baby Wolvie, the Exiles attempted to explain
about the Time-Eater but the innocent and child-like Wolvie assured
them nothing bad ever happened there before rushing off to find pies
that had been stolen by L'il Magneto.
(Exiles III#2 - BTS/Exiles III#8 (fb) - BTS) -
Moments after L'il Magneto was
apprehended, however, the Time-Eater appeared on Earth-32518 and began
absorbing the reality, erasing L'il Magneto from existence.
(Exiles III#2 - BTS) - The
Exiles
prepared to make a stand against the Time-Eater but the Tallus again
transported them to another reality, this time to Earth-616's moon,
where the assembled Exiles met with the Unseen. The Unseen informed the
Exiles that the Time-Eater was consuming realities faster than they
could be reborn and that if the Exiles could not stop the Time-Eater,
the multiverse would be nothing more than a void. Iron Lad replied that
the realities consumed by the Time-Eater could be restored, likening
his theory to that of cutting open a serpent's belly before its food is
digested.
(Exiles III#3 - BTS) - When the Exiles were deposited onto Earth-18753 by a cracked Tallus, the Time-Eater followed and began consuming Earth-18753's cyborg dinosaurs. The Tallus managed to teleport the Exiles away from the Time-Eater again but Iron Lad noted that the Time-Eater consumption of realities was affecting the rules of reality itself, causing a disruption in the Tallus' navigation. Arriving on Earth-71853, the Exiles met that reality's hippie Namor before the Time-Eater appeared and began consuming Earth-71853 as well. The Tallus immediately transported the Exiles to Earth-86315, where the Exiles assisted that reality's Captain America and Becky Barnes against the Red Skull.
(Exiles III#7 (fb) - BTS) - As the Time-Eater
consumed Earth-71853, the reality-hopping Morph of Earth-1081 was drawn
to the Old West of Earth-18136 by the psychic Pastor Xavier.
(Exiles III#5 (fb) - BTS) - While the Exiles were
transported away, the Time-Eater ventured to Earth-68151 circa 1972,
where espionage agent Nick Fury battled him.
(Exiles III#4) - Transported to Earth-66881, the
Exiles met the time-displaced pirate captain Thing, alias Blackbeard,
and informed him of their then-missing Tallus and how if they could not
locate it, the Time-Eater could destroy all reality. Learning that
Blackbeard needed their help against slavers, Blink suggested they
assist Blackbeard but Iron Lad questioned whether they should,
reminding her of what might happen if the Time-Eater arrived and they
did not have the Tallus to transport them away. After the Exiles aided
Blackbeard against the slavers, Iron Lad reminded the other Exiles that
they had to find the Tallus, commenting that the Time-Eater could
arrive at any moment and they had no means of escape without the
Tallus. Once the Exiles reacquired the Tallus, it transported them into
the ruins of the Watcher's citadel on Earth-616's moon, where the
Exiles found the severed head of a Galactus counterpart that they had
previously assumed to be the Time-Eater. Iron Lad quickly found records
of the Time-Eater's origins, learning that the Time-Eater was a
divergent Kang counterpart just in time for the Time-Eater to arrive
from a multiverse portal.
(Exiles III#5) - As Earth-616's
Unseen recalled the
Time-Eater's identity as Kang and watched the Exiles' confrontation
with him, the Time-Eater powered up, preparing to attack, as Iron Lad
deduced that the Time-Eater was merely one divergent counterpart of
Kang that appeared to be using the corpse of Galactus as a tool or
weapon. The Time-Eater briefly monologued about his origins but the
Exiles soon attacked, putting all of their energy into the attack. The
Time-Eater shrugged off the attack, however, announcing that he was
filled with the Power Cosmic and welcoming their continued assault as
the nature of "mere meat." Tossing the superhumanly strong Valkyrie
aside with ease, the Time-Eater proclaimed that he need only destroy
the Tallus to become reality itself and when Wolvie remarked that it
would be a lonely existence, the Time-Eater exclaimed that an angel
would not expect an insect to understand. Before the Time-Eater could
consume the Exiles, Earth-68151's Nick Fury appeared, having been
pulled through a portal by the Tallus, and opened fire on the
Time-Eater. When the Time-Eater proved unaffected, Blink teleported
Fury and the Exiles to another area of the citadel, soon learning from
Iron Lad that the Time-Eater had nearly consumed all of reality and
there was nowhere else they could flee. Realizing the Time-Eater had
only been toying with them to savor his last challenge before
accomplishing his plans, the Exiles devised a plan to reverse the
Time-Eater's actions by traveling to the point where the Unseen had
given Blink the Tallus. Blink informed her that if they stopped the
Time-Eater at that point, it would restore the realities he had
consumed but it would diverge their own existences from their home
realities, preventing them from ever returning home. While Wolvie ran
off, emotional at the thought of not being able to return home, the
other Exiles realized Nick Fury had to be the one to travel into the
past with the Tallus. The Time-Eater soon emerged from another portal,
having meditated and realized he had been too permissive with the
Exiles, and announced his plans to destroy the Exiles. Iron Lad and
Valkyrie held off the Time-Eater as Blink and Khan escorted Nick Fury
through various portals towards his ultimate destination in the past.
Impressed by Valkyrie's strength, the Time-Eater nonetheless knocked
her aside, prompting Iron Lad to come to her defense. Suggesting Iron
Lad might side with him, the Time-Eater learned that Iron Lad would
rather die alongside his friends than live as Kang. The Time-Eater then
knocked Iron Lad to the ground before sending temporal divergent
counterparts of himself after Blink, Khan and Fury.
(Exiles III#5/Exiles III#6 (fb))
- Ready to end the
battle by taking the Exiles' lives, the Time-Eater prepared to kill the
fallen Valkyrie (and her flying horse Elendil) and Iron Lad but Wolvie
returned and ordered the Time-Eater to be nice. The Time-Eater
responded by incinerating Wolvie, only to witness Wolvie pop back into
existence like a cartoon character. After trying and failing twice more
to destroy Wolvie, who attempted to befriend the annoyed Time-Eater,
the Time-Eater trapped Wolvie in an energy cage until he could later
figure out how the destroy the small hero. Fury ultimately succeeded in
getting the Tallus back in time to the Unseen and when Iron Lad and
Valkyrie recovered, the Time-Eater sensed his own power draining as
reality righted itself in the past. Summoning some of the temporal
divergent counterparts of himself as defense, the Time-Eater still held
Valkyrie and Iron Lad at bay and his powers soon weakened enough for
the cage trapping Wolvie to dissipate. Blink then returned to her
teammates with a slew of her own alternate reality and temporally
divergent counterparts and various allies from realities the Exiles had
visited. Falling under the combined assault, the Time-Eater disappeared
in a large blast of Power Cosmic and temporal energy. Afterwards, the
Exiles witnessed reality fully returning to normal as their alternate
reality allies were restored to their home realities. Valkyrie asked
Blink if the Time-Eater was dead and Blink replied that it was unlikely
but assured Valkyrie that he was gone and likely could never draw upon
the power of Galactus again, effectively ending his multiversal threat.
(Exiles III#6 - BTS) - The Unseen thought about recent events involving the Exiles' battle with the Time-Eater and the Time-Eater's ultimate defeat. As the Exiles took a break on Earth-616, Blink remarked on how great being on the beach felt without the Time-Eater chasing them around.
(Exiles III#7 - BTS) - After traveling to Earth-18136 in search of Blink's missing former Exiles teammates, Blink and the Exiles found Earth-1081's Morph and Earth-2182's Nocturne under the control of Earth-18136's psychic Pastor Xavier and Blink deduced that Pastor Xavier had summoned Morph there during the Time-Eater's earlier consumption of Earth-71853.
(Exiles III#8 - BTS) - When the Exiles were put on
trial for interfering in timelines by a splinter group of alien
Watchers, Blink recounted the Exiles' saving of trillions of realities
by defeating the Time-Eater. The Watchers angrily ordered to recount
her entire life so Blink then did as ordered, eventually catching back
up to the point at which her current Exiles team defeated the
Time-Eater and the Exiles' subsequent trial by the Watchers. When
Valkyrie gave her testimony, she recounted the Time-Eater's arrival in
her home reality, her joining the Exiles and their defeat of the
Time-Eater. The Exiles' Wolvie then gave his testimony, remarking on
how the Time-Eater arrived in the reality he called home and how he had
to leave in order to save the reality.
Comments: Created by Saladin Ahmed, Javier Rodriguez and Alvaro Lopez.
The Time-Eater was seen briefly in an energy form by the Unseen in Exiles III#1 but in most of Exiles III#1 and the entirety of Exiles III#2-3, we don't see the Time-Eater directly but rather, he is inside a severed Galactus head that is following the Exiles, consuming realities in their wake. For those appearances, I listed him as being behind-the-scenes because the Time-Eater was inside the Galactus head, animating and moving it in energy form. He first appeared in physical form in Exiles III#4.
The Time-Eater's hair, if any, was never seen, as he
was only ever seen either in energy form or in a costumed physical form
with a mask that covered any hair he might have displayed.
Profile by Proto-Man.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Time-Eater has no known connections to:
images: (without ads)
Exiles III#4, p20, splash page (Time-Eater's physical form, main image)
Exiles III#5, p3, pan1 (Time-Eater's physical form, headshot)
Exiles III#1, p2-3, pan1 (Time-Eater's energy form)
Exiles III#1, p20, splash page (Time-Eater inside
a Galactus corpse, absorbing Earth-18651)
Exiles III#1, letters page (Time-Eater inside a
Galactus corpse)
Exiles III#8, p7, pan5 (Time-Eater inside Galactus
corpse, arriving in reality-22681)
Exiles III#5, p2, pan1 (Time-Eater powering up)
Exiles III#6, p1, pan2 (Time-Eater's defeat)
Appearances:
Exiles III#1 (June, 2018) - Saladin Ahmed (writer), Javier Rodriguez
(pencils), Alvaro Lopez (inks), Wil Moss (editor)
Exiles III#2 (June, 2018) - Saladin Ahmed (writer), Javier Rodriguez
(pencils), Alvaro Lopez (inks), Wil Moss (editor)
Exiles III#3 (July, 2018) - Saladin Ahmed (writer), Javier Rodriguez
(pencils), Alvaro Lopez (inks), Wil Moss (editor)
Exiles III#4 (August, 2018) - Saladin Ahmed (writer), Javier Rodriguez
(pencils), Alvaro Lopez (inks), Wil Moss (editor)
Exiles III#5 (September, 2018) - Saladin Ahmed (writer), Javier
Rodriguez (pencils), Alvaro Lopez (inks), Wil Moss (editor)
Exiles III#6 (October, 2018) - Saladin Ahmed (writer), Rod Reis (art),
Sarah Brunstad (editor)
Exiles III#7 (October, 2018) - Saladin Ahmed (writer), Rod Reis, Lee
Ferguson (art), Sarah Brunstad (editor)
Exiles III#8 (November, 2018) - Saladin Ahmed (writer), Joe Quinones
(pencils, inks), Joe Rivera (inks), Sarah Brunstad (editor)
First Posted: 04/15/2021
Last updated: 04/15/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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