ZUNDAMITES

Classification: Extraterrestrial race, semi-humanoid

Location/Base of Operations: Milky Way galaxy, Fakowi star system, planet Zundam

Known Members: Unidentified auction bidder, Mizix, unidentified Myriad member, unidentified attendees of the Great Marathon

Affiliations: Fantastic Four (Reed Richards, She-Hulk/Jennifer Walters), Rick Jones, Wyatt Wingfoot,

Enemies: Terminus

First Appearance: Fantastic Four I#270 (September, 1984)

Powers/Abilities: Compared to baseline humans, Zundamites are exceptionally tall and long-lived, easily surviving for thousands of Earth years. Their physiology allows them to endure the rigors of space travel with limited means of protection. They are even durable enough to survive falls from great heights.

    Zundamite Leaf Tea is served on other worlds...or, at least, one other world.

Level of technology: The Zundamites possess highly advanced technology and extensive knowledge in a great number of scientific fields, including cosmology. However, they seem to lack proper defensive technologies (see comments).

Type: Semi-humanoid
Eyes: Two (solid red; no visible iris or pupil; perhaps covered by a red membrane?)
Fingers: Seven (with opposable thumb)
Toes: Five
Skin color: Pale yellow
Average height: 11'8"

History:
(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition II#15: Appendix to Alien Races: Zundamites) - The Zundamite race originated on Zundam, the eight planet of the Fakowi star system.

(Fantastic Four I#270 (fb) - BTS) - The Zundamites counted great scholars and scientists among them who gathered a lot of information on the cosmos. Chief among them was a scientist named Mizix who studied the flow of cosmic energies and concluded that the third planet in the Sol system was destined to be a place of great galactic importance.

(Fantastic Four I#270 (fb) - BTS) - Over a thousand years ago, the ruthless alien scavenger Terminus came to Zundam to enslave the population and raid the planet's natural resources. Mizix was taken prisoner and forced to use his extensive knowledge of the cosmos to lead him to new worlds to plunder.

(Fantastic Four I#270) - Aware that Sol III was now strong enough to oppose Terminus, Mizix led his master to Earth. Aware of this betrayal, Terminus dropped the Zundamite from his travel pod, causing him to fall hundreds of feet. Gravely injured, the Zundamite was met by the Fantastic Four and was able to fill them in on Terminus before dying.

(Fantastic Four I#270 - BTS) - The remains of the Zundamite scientist were buried near the Keewazi reservation in Oklahoma.

(Avengers Spotlight I#25) - A representative of the Zundam was sent to attend the intergalactic auction of the rights to Rick Jones' autobiography. All the attending alien species hoped the book would reveal how he had been able to single-handedly stop the Kree - Skrull War. When it became clear Rick didn't know how he achieved that feat either, the Zundamite and the other aliens instantly lost interest.

(Quasar I#58) - Two unidentified Zundamites were in the crowd during the Runner's Galactic Marathon. They were seated near the finish line and witnessed the Eternal Makkari come in first.

(FF I#20 - BTS) - Reed Richards gave a lecture on neighboring alien races to the young members of the Future Foundation. He classified the Zundamites as a Type II civilization, listing them among the Cotati, the Wobbs, the Elan and the Ovoids.

(Squadron Supreme IV#6) - An unidentified Zundamite was seen as a low ranking member of the Myriad, an intergalactic criminal organization made up of rogue members from multiple alien species. The Myriad was opposed by Black Bolt, Toro and Doctor Spectrum of Earth-4290001.

Comments: Created by John Byrne.

    It's interesting to note that the Zundamites were not seen as part of the council of civilized cultures in Maximum Security: Dangerous Planet. Either their presence was strictly behind the scenes or they actually prefer to keep to themselves. The fact that they were unable to fight back against Terminus despite being highly advanced compared to other races appears to indicate the Zundamites could be pacifist by nature.

    In the potential future of Earth-8436 (The Last Galactus Story) the unhinged Watcher Ecce transported Zundam along with numerous other worlds to protect them from Galactus. This move caused their once highly advanced society to revert back to tribal clans with limited technology. A thousand years after their forced relocation, Galactus briefly interacted with members of the alternate future Zundam, including their leader All-Father who told the devourer what had happened to their planet. That version of Zundam was most likely destroyed when Galactus eventually absorbed the energy of the entire universe in his attempt to defeat the rogue Watcher.

    The Zundamites native star system was first named 'Fakowi' in their Handbook entry. I guess Peter Sanderson and Mark Gruenwald heard that old joke about how that African pygmy tribe got their name. An appropriate pun, considering Mzix was dwarfed by Terminus.
    I tell that joke all the time, and I had similar thoughts on seeing the name of the star system. At least they're not from Ru-Ru or Unga-Bunga...
    --Snood

    The Handbook estimates the Zundamite population at 59,640. Not exactly a whole lot of people, it's unclear whether this low number is due to a (natural) disaster like the arrival of Terminus or simply what happens when species enjoy lifespans of thousands of years. The Eternals are in no rush to have children either. 

Profile by Norvo.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Zundamites have no known connections to:

• Daxamites - aliens from a Divergent Continuity
  
• Any other races with a similar name

images: (without ads)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition p67, pan2) (image)
Fantastic Four I#270 p17, pan4 (Mizix)
Avengers Spotlight I#25 p21, pan2 (attend auction)
Squadron Supreme IV#6 p17, pan4 (Myriad member)

Appearances:
Fantastic Four I#270 (September, 1984) - John Byrne (writer, pencils, inks), Bob Budiansky (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe II #15 (March, 1987) - Mark Gruenwald & Peter Sanderson (writers), Kyle Baker (pencils), Joe Rubinstein (inks), Mark Gruenwald & Howard Mackie (editors)
Avengers Spotlight I#25 (November, 1989) - Glenn Herdling & Dwight J. Zimmermann (writers), Rodney Ramos (pencils), Don Hudson (inks), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Quasar I#58 (May, 1994) - Mark Gruenwald & Peter Sanderson (writers), John Heebink (pencils), Aaron McClellan (inks), Mike Rockwitz (editor)

All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z: Update#3 (2007) - Jeff Christiansen (head writer/coordinator), Stuart Vandal, Sean McQuaid, Michael Hoskin, Eric J. Moreels, Al Sjoerdsma, Chad Anderson, Ronald Byrd, Anthony Flamini, Steven Faulkner, Madison Carter, Chris Biggs & David Wiltfong (writers), Brian Overton (copy editor), Michael Short & Cory Levine (assistant editors), Mark D. Beazley (associate editor), Jeff Youngquist & Jennifer Grunwald (editors)

First Posted: 02/07/2023
Last updated: 04/07/2024

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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