Deviants

• Core Identity: The Deviants are a genetically unstable, monstrously diverse race of humanoids engineered by the cosmic Celestials, serving as the chaotic and tragic counterparts to their perfect and immortal siblings, the Eternals.
• Key Takeaways:
• Role in the Universe: Created one million years ago by the Celestials from proto-humanity, the Deviants represent a failed experiment in genetic diversification. Their inherent genetic instability results in every member possessing a unique, often grotesque, form and a vast array of unpredictable powers, placing them in a position of perpetual conflict as the “monsters in the dark” of Marvel's ancient history. Eternals.
• Primary Impact: The Deviants once ruled a vast, global empire from their capital of Lemuria, enslaving early humanity. Their eternal war with the Eternals shaped Earth's mythological past, and their genetic legacy extends across the galaxy, as they are the progenitors of the shapeshifting Skrulls race.
• Key Incarnations: In the primary comic universe (Earth-616), the Deviants are an ancient, intelligent, and technologically advanced civilization with a complex society. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), they are reimagined as artificially created, predatory beasts designed by the Celestials to hunt other predators, only later evolving intelligence by absorbing the energy of the Eternals they were sent to destroy.

The Deviants first appeared in Eternals #1, published in July 1976. They were conceived and brought to life by the legendary writer and artist Jack Kirby upon his return to Marvel Comics in the mid-1970s. The entire Eternals saga was Kirby's ambitious attempt to create a new, self-contained mythology within the Marvel framework, similar in scope to his celebrated “Fourth World” saga at DC Comics. Kirby's concept was profoundly mythological, drawing from Erich von Däniken's “ancient astronauts” theories, which were popular at the time. The Deviants were designed as the perfect antithesis to the god-like Eternals; where the Eternals were beautiful, orderly, and unchanging, the Deviants were monstrous, chaotic, and ever-mutating. They embodied themes of genetic entropy, societal rejection, and the tragedy of being deemed a “mistake” by one's own creators. Initially, the Eternals series was not integrated into the mainstream Marvel Universe. It was later writers, most notably Roy Thomas in the pages of Thor, who skillfully wove Kirby's creations into the existing continuity, establishing the Celestials, Eternals, and Deviants as fundamental pillars of Marvel's cosmic history.

The origin of the Deviants is a tale of cosmic experimentation gone awry, but the specifics of this origin differ drastically between the comics and the cinematic universe.

Approximately one million years ago, the First Host of the god-like Celestials descended upon Earth. These silent, colossal space gods selected a tribe of primitive hominids (Homo erectus) as the subjects for a series of profound genetic experiments. Their goal was to test the evolutionary potential of nascent life and accelerate its development. This tampering resulted in the creation of three distinct offshoots of the human race:

• The Eternals: A small population of genetically perfect, immortal beings gifted with cosmic power. They were the Celestials' intended success story—stable, powerful, and god-like in their potential. They represent order and genetic stability.
• The Deviants: A far more numerous race whose genetic code was imbued with what is termed “unstable DNA” or a highly volatile active gene. This resulted in radical, unpredictable mutations with every generation. No two Deviants are born alike, leading to a species of monstrously diverse individuals. They were the Celestials' experiment in chaos and rapid adaptation, but were ultimately deemed a failure.
• Mainline Humanity: The vast majority of the proto-hominids were left with latent genetic potential, allowing for the eventual emergence of super-powered mutants (homo superior) and other enhanced individuals.

Freed from Celestial oversight, the Deviants, with their superior numbers and aggressive nature, quickly became the dominant species on Earth. They founded a technologically advanced empire based in the continent of Lemuria and used their power to enslave the burgeoning human race. Their reign was brutal and their culture was built on a strict caste system, with those possessing more powerful mutations forming the ruling class. This dark age came to a cataclysmic end when they declared war on their celestial cousins, the Eternals. The ensuing conflict was so destructive that it triggered the Great Cataclysm, a planetary event that caused the sinking of both Lemuria and its rival continent, Atlantis. The Deviant empire was shattered, and its survivors were forced to rebuild their society in secret, deep beneath the oceans and within the Earth's crust.

The origin of the Deviants in the MCU, as detailed in the film Eternals (2021), is a complete and fundamental reinvention of the concept. In this continuity, the Deviants are not a naturally evolving species, but rather artificially created biological weapons. The Celestial Arishem the Judge manufactured the Deviants for a singular purpose: to be deployed on nascent worlds to eliminate the planet's apex predators. By removing these natural threats, intelligent life (such as humanity) could flourish unimpeded. The growth of a large, intelligent population was essential for Arishem's ultimate goal—to generate enough life energy to fuel the “Emergence” of a new Celestial gestating within the planet's core, a process that inevitably destroys the host planet. However, the Deviants' design was flawed. They evolved beyond their initial programming, becoming apex predators themselves and beginning to prey upon the very civilizations they were meant to protect. Seeing his creations as a failed project, Arishem created a new set of synthetic beings—the Eternals—to hunt down and exterminate the rogue Deviants. The MCU Deviants were initially portrayed as bestial creatures operating on instinct. A major turning point occurred when they discovered they could absorb the Cosmic Energy that powered the Eternals by killing them. This absorption process acted as an evolutionary catalyst. The Deviant known as Kro killed several Eternals, absorbing their energy to develop sapience, the ability to speak, a more humanoid form, and the power to share the absorbed energy with other Deviants. This transformed them from simple monsters into a vengeful pack united against their creators and their designated executioners.

The comic book Deviants are a fully realized civilization, defined by their unique biology and the complex society it has fostered.

The defining characteristic of a Deviant is their unstable genetic code. This leads to a phenomenon known as “genetic deviation,” ensuring that every Deviant is born with a unique physical form and set of abilities.

• Endless Variation: Their appearances range from vaguely humanoid to utterly monstrous, with extra limbs, horns, scales, tentacles, and other features being commonplace. Similarly, their powers are wildly diverse, including superhuman strength, durability, energy projection, shapeshifting, and psionic abilities.
• Longevity: Deviants are extremely long-lived, with lifespans stretching for thousands of years, but they are not truly immortal like the Eternals. They age, albeit very slowly, and are susceptible to disease and injury. The most notable exception is Warlord Kro, whose unique mutation grants him conscious control over his body's molecules, allowing him to feign death and effectively live indefinitely.
• The “Pures”: On very rare occasions, a Deviant is born with a completely human or Eternal-like appearance. These individuals, known as “pures,” are seen as abominations and are either cast out or killed at birth. Ransak the Reject is the most prominent example of a “pure” who survived.
• The Slaying: To maintain a degree of genetic stability and control, Deviant society practices a ritualistic culling of newborns with what they deem “excessive” mutations. This brutal practice is known as “The Slaying.”

Deviant society is a reflection of their chaotic nature, built on a foundation of power, fear, and religious zealotry.

• Capital City: Their primary seat of power is the city of Lemuria, a massive, technologically advanced metropolis located deep beneath the Pacific Ocean.
• Caste System: They operate under a rigid caste system. At the top is the ruling class, typically a monarch or a powerful warlord like Kro. Beneath them are the priests, scientists, and warriors, with the monstrously mutated “mutates” forming the lowest working class.
• Religion: The Deviants' religion centers on the worship of the Dreaming Celestial (Tiamut the Communicator), a renegade Celestial who was imprisoned deep within the Earth by his brethren during the Second Host. The Deviants believe the Dreaming Celestial is their true creator and protector, referring to him as “The One Who Sleeps in Darkness.” Their high priest, Ghaur, has often attempted to manipulate this faith to seize power by awakening the colossal being.

Despite their monstrous appearance, the Deviants are technological geniuses, particularly in the fields of genetic engineering and warfare.

• Genetic Engineering: They are masters of manipulating DNA, capable of creating powerful mutates and biological weapons.
• Advanced Weaponry: Their technology includes sophisticated energy weapons, flying crafts, and powerful explosives.
• Unique Devices: They have developed unique and terrifying technologies, such as the “Brain Mine,” a psionic device capable of projecting terrifying illusions into the minds of their enemies.

The MCU's depiction strips away the civilization and technology, focusing instead on their biological evolution as a predatory species.

In the MCU, Deviant biology is simpler but contains a key evolutionary mechanic not present in the comics.

• Initial Form: They are initially quadrupedal, beast-like creatures composed of fast-growing, vine-like tendrils. They possess a pack mentality and are driven by a singular instinct to hunt and kill.
• Cosmic Energy Absorption: Their most critical biological trait is the ability to absorb Cosmic Energy from slain Eternals. This process is physically transformative. The Deviant's tendril-like body parts are shown healing, re-forming, and incorporating the slain Eternal's energy.
• Accelerated Evolution: For the Deviant Kro, this absorption triggered a rapid evolution. He developed a bipedal, more humanoid form, gained full sentience and strategic thought, and learned to speak. He also gained the ability to transfer some of this absorbed energy to other Deviants, healing them and seemingly bringing them under his direct control.

The MCU Deviants possess no discernible society or culture.

• Pack Structure: Initially, they operate as a simple pack of predators.
• Kro's Leadership: After his evolution, Kro becomes the alpha of the pack, transforming them from scattered beasts into a coordinated army with a unified purpose: survival and vengeance against the Eternals. Their motivation is not conquest or faith, but a primal desire to stop being hunted and to kill the beings they blame for their suffering.

The Deviants of the MCU have no technology whatsoever. They are purely biological creatures whose only weapons are their own bodies: claws, teeth, and tendrils.

• Warlord Kro: The most prominent and complex Deviant. A cunning military leader and shapeshifter who has lived for over 20,000 years. Kro's unique immortality and ability to assume any form have made him a perpetual survivor and a formidable foe. His most defining trait is his millennia-long, secret love affair with the Eternal Thena. This forbidden romance represents the slim hope of unity between the two warring races and has often placed Kro at odds with his own people, as he has occasionally allied with the Eternals to save Earth.
• Ghaur: The ambitious and treacherous High Priest of Lemuria. Unlike the warrior Kro, Ghaur seeks power through manipulation, political scheming, and dark religious rites. His primary goal is to awaken the Dreaming Celestial to usurp its power and become a god himself. He is a master geneticist and has frequently clashed with the Eternals, Thor, and the Avengers in his quest for ultimate power.
• Ereshkigal: A powerful and ambitious Deviant scientist and adventurer. She has often rejected the authority of both Kro and Ghaur, seeking power on her own terms. At one point, she sought to attain godhood by acquiring the Starbrand, bringing her into direct conflict with the Avengers.
• Ransak the Reject: A unique Deviant warrior born as a “pure,” possessing a perfectly human appearance. Because of his lack of mutation, he was branded an outcast and forced to fight as a gladiator. Despite the hatred he faces from his own people, he is one of their fiercest and most honorable warriors.
• Karkas: A massive, monstrously-fanged Deviant with red, stony skin. Despite his terrifying appearance, Karkas is a gentle, highly intelligent philosopher and poet. He was also forced to fight as a gladiator, where he formed a deep and unlikely friendship with Ransak. The two are often presented as a duo, representing the inner turmoil and hidden nobility within Deviant society.

• Eternals: The Deviants' primary and eternal enemy. The conflict between the two races is a foundational myth of the Marvel Universe—a war between order and chaos, beauty and deformity, stability and mutation. The Eternals see it as their sacred duty to protect humanity from the Deviants, whom they view as a dangerous cosmic mistake.
• Celestials: The Deviants' creators, judges, and executioners. They hold a complex relationship of fear and worship towards their makers. While they revere the Dreaming Celestial, they live in terror of the other Celestials, who periodically arrive on Earth to judge its inhabitants. The Deviants know that if humanity is found wanting, the Celestials will purge the planet, destroying Deviants and Eternals alike.

• Skrulls: The Deviant race has a direct and crucial link to one of the most significant alien empires in the Marvel Universe. Millennia ago, the Celestials performed the same three-pronged experiment on the reptilian ancestors of the Skrulls. This created the shapeshifting Deviant Skrulls, the immortal Eternal Skrulls, and the baseline Skrulls. The Deviant branch proved the most powerful and aggressive, ultimately wiping out the other two races to become the sole progenitors of the modern, shapeshifting Skrull Empire.
• Atlantis: Due to the sinking of Lemuria, the Deviants' primary city now lies deep underwater. This has put them in geographical proximity and occasional conflict with the Kingdom of Atlantis, ruled by Namor the Sub-Mariner. Their interactions are often tense, marked by territorial disputes over the ocean floor.

This is the foundational text for the Deviants. When the Fourth Host of the Celestials arrives on Earth to pass judgment, the Deviants, under Warlord Kro's command, panic. Fearing their creators will exterminate them as a failed experiment, they launch a desperate, ill-advised attack against the Celestial Host. Their actions are futile and only serve to draw the Celestials' wrath. This storyline established the core power dynamics: the god-like Celestials, the stoic and dutiful Eternals, and the fearful, scheming Deviants, all while humanity is caught in the middle. It also introduced the tragic romance between Kro and Thena.

This 12-issue miniseries delved deeper into Deviant society and politics than ever before. The story centers on the rise of Priestlord Ghaur, who successfully deposes Warlord Kro as ruler of Lemuria. Ghaur's master plan is to assemble a group of powerful Eternals and Deviants to create the “Anti-Mind,” a psychic gestalt powerful enough to challenge a Celestial directly. This series was critical for defining Ghaur as a major antagonist and for exploring the internal schisms and complex culture of the Deviants beyond their role as simple monsters.

This epic storyline in the pages of Thor was instrumental in fully integrating the Deviants and Eternals into the mainstream Marvel Universe. The saga sees the Asgardian All-Father, Odin, reveal the secret history of the Celestials' visits to Earth. When a Deviant expedition uncovers the tomb of the Dreaming Celestial, Ghaur's priests attempt to awaken him. This forces the Eternals to intervene, leading to a massive conflict that draws in Thor and the forces of Asgard. The eventual confrontation with the Celestials of the Fourth Host establishes their immense, world-shattering power and solidifies the Deviants' place in Marvel's cosmic hierarchy.

The most prominent and radically different alternate version of the Deviants. As detailed previously, the MCU reimagines them entirely, stripping them of their intelligence, society, technology, and status as a naturally-evolved species. They are artificial predators who only gain sentience through the parasitic absorption of their enemies' power. This change streamlines their role to that of a direct, physical threat for the Eternals, removing the complex political and moral dimensions of their comic book counterparts. Their leader, Kro, retains his name and connection to Thena, but his character is transformed from a cunning immortal warlord into a tragic monster seeking vengeance for its own manufactured existence.

In the pocket universe created by Franklin Richards following the Onslaught event, a different version of the Deviants appeared. This incarnation was heavily merged with the Skrulls. Led by a being named “Master,” who was visually identical to Warlord Kro, these Deviant-Skrulls were the primary antagonists for the heroes of this new world. This version highlights the strong conceptual link between the two shapeshifting, genetically-themed races that has long existed in the prime universe.

A direct one-to-one equivalent of the Deviants does not exist in the Ultimate Marvel reality. Thematic elements of their story—ancient alien intervention and genetic tampering—are present in the origins of other groups, such as this universe's version of the Kree and the creation of mutants, but the specific race of monstrous, ever-changing beings known as the Deviants never made an appearance.

• Celestials
• Eternals
• Warlord Kro
• Skrulls
• Jack Kirby

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