Set

• Core Identity: Set is one of Earth's primordial Elder Gods, a demonic arch-fiend of immense mystical power who embodies death, chaos, and destruction, and whose corrupting influence has plagued the planet for billions of years.
• Key Takeaways:
• Primordial God of Evil: Set was one of the first sentient beings to manifest on Earth, born from the planet's own life-force. Alongside his sibling Chthon, he was one of the first to descend into depravity, consuming his fellow Elder Gods and becoming a powerful demon who was eventually banished from the Earthly dimension by Gaea and her son, Atum the Demogorge.
• The Serpent's Influence: Despite being dimensionally exiled, Set's primary impact on Earth-616 is felt through his artifacts and followers. His most infamous tool is the Serpent Crown, a psychic artifact of immense power that corrupts its wearer. He is also the creator and master of the reptilian Serpent Men and is worshipped by human cults like the Sons of the Serpent.
• Canon Divergence: Set is a significant cosmic and mystical threat in the Earth-616 comics, with a history stretching back to the dawn of time and major confrontations with heroes like Conan the Barbarian and the Avengers. He has not appeared or been directly named in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), where other primordial forces like Chthon have been introduced instead.

Set's introduction into the Marvel Universe is a fascinating case of literary adaptation and integration. His conceptual origins lie not in Marvel Comics, but in the pulp fantasy tales of author Robert E. Howard, the creator of Conan the Barbarian. Howard conceived of Set as the arch-nemesis of his Cimmerian hero, a malevolent, ancient serpent god worshipped by the sinister kingdom of Stygia. When Marvel Comics acquired the license to publish Conan stories in the 1970s, they brought Howard's rich world—including his pantheon of gods and demons—into their own burgeoning continuity. Set made his official Marvel Comics debut in Conan the Barbarian #7 (July 1971), written by Roy Thomas and illustrated by Barry Windsor-Smith. Initially, he was portrayed faithfully to Howard's vision, an unseen but ever-present evil in the Hyborian Age. However, Marvel writers, particularly Roy Thomas and later Steve Englehart, began to weave Set and other elements from the Conan mythos into the broader Earth-616 timeline. The masterstroke was retroactively establishing Set not just as a Hyborian Age deity, but as one of Earth's original Elder Gods, ancient beings who predated humanity and even the gods of Asgard and Olympus. This retcon, primarily explored in issues of Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme and the Atlantis Attacks crossover event, elevated Set from a fantasy villain to a fundamental cosmic threat within the Marvel Universe, linking his ancient evil to modern-day heroes and villains. This integration also saw him conflated with the Egyptian god of chaos, Set (or Seth), solidifying his name and thematic role.

The in-universe origin of Set differs dramatically between the established comic book canon and the cinematic universe, where his presence is entirely absent.

Set's origin is tied to the genesis of life on Earth. Billions of years ago, the sentient, cosmic entity known as the Demuirge seeded the nascent planet with its life-force. From this primordial energy, the first generation of sentient beings on Earth arose: the Elder Gods. These entities were immensely powerful and included figures like Gaea (the spirit of Earth itself), Chthon (the eventual author of the Darkhold), and Set. Initially, these beings co-existed, but their power and ambition soon led to corruption. Set was one of the first, alongside Chthon, to discover that he could increase his own power by consuming the life-force of his siblings. He became the first murderer on Earth, devouring his fellow Elder Gods and degenerating into a monstrous demon. This act of divine cannibalism triggered a catastrophic war among the Elder Gods, plunging the young world into chaos. As Set grew in power, his physical form mutated into a massive, multi-headed serpent-dragon. Fearing the complete destruction of the planet, Gaea, who had refrained from the conflict, prayed to the Demuirge for a savior. In response, she gave birth to Atum the Demogorge, the God-Eater. Atum systematically hunted and destroyed the corrupted Elder Gods. Faced with annihilation, Set and Chthon created a dimensional rift to escape. Atum pursued Set, and after a cataclysmic battle that resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs, he managed to slay Set's physical form. However, Set's evil was so profound that his consciousness survived, exiled to an adjacent dimension. From this extradimensional prison, Set has spent eons trying to influence Earth and engineer his return. His primary methods include:

• The Serpent Crown: An artifact containing a portion of his essence, allowing him to possess and corrupt those who wear it.
• The Serpent Men: A race of reptilian humanoids he created to be his servants on Earth.
• Avatars and Cults: Empowering individuals and cults (like the Sons of the Serpent) to carry out his will, often promising them power in exchange for their servitude.
• The Serpent's Sea: The name given to the Pacific Ocean during the time of ancient Atlantis, where his influence was strongest and where his first major attempt to return was staged.

His long-term goal has always been the same: to breach the dimensional walls, return to Earth in his full glory, and consume all life, plunging the planet into an eternal age of darkness and chaos.

Set does not exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) canon. The cosmology of the MCU has, thus far, focused on different primordial and cosmic beings. The role of an ancient, corrupting god of chaos has been filled almost entirely by his comic-book sibling, Chthon. As revealed in WandaVision and further detailed in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Chthon is the author of the Darkhold and the original master of Chaos Magic. He was depicted as a primordial demonic force who was defeated and sealed away, leaving behind his dark gospel to corrupt others, most notably the Scarlet Witch. While Set is absent, the MCU has introduced concepts that could theoretically pave the way for his introduction:

• The Ennead: The Egyptian gods introduced in Moon Knight, including Ammit and Khonshu, exist as beings from another dimension. Marvel could introduce Set as a monstrous, exiled member of this pantheon, aligning with his Egyptian mythological namesake.
• Primordial Beings: The existence of Celestials, Chthon, and other entities that predate humanity establishes a precedent for ancient, god-like powers. Set could be introduced as another such being, perhaps as a rival to Chthon or a threat from a different cosmic plane.

However, as of now, any discussion of Set in the MCU is purely speculative. His elaborate history with Conan, Atlantis, and the Serpent Crown is exclusive to the Earth-616 comic book universe.

As an Elder God, Set is a being of near-immeasurable power, far surpassing most terrestrial deities and cosmic entities. His abilities are primarily mystical and reality-altering in nature.

Set's power is vast, but his primary weakness is his banishment from Earth's core dimension. He cannot typically manifest his true form on Earth without significant mystical aid and ritual. When he does act, it is often through avatars, artifacts, or empowered servants.

• Immense Mystical Power: Set is one of the most powerful magic-wielders to have ever originated on Earth. His command over mystical energies is sufficient to challenge entities like Doctor Strange at his peak or even cosmic beings. He is a master of black magic and chaotic forces.
• Reality Warping: Within his own dimension, or when his influence on a region is strong enough, Set can alter reality to his will. During the Atlantis Attacks storyline, his mere proximity to Earth caused widespread mutations and chaos.
• Superhuman Attributes: In any physical form, Set possesses godly strength, durability, and stamina on a scale that is effectively limitless. He is immortal and virtually indestructible.
• Shapeshifting: Set's true form is believed to be a massive, hydra-like serpent with at least seven heads, but he can alter his shape, size, and form at will. He often appears as a giant serpent or a humanoid figure with serpentine features.
• The Seven Heads of Set: His iconic seven-headed form is not just a physical trait; each head is a distinct avatar representing a different aspect of his being and commanding different powers. The Seven-Headed Set is a manifestation of his will and is often worshipped by his cultists. These aspects are sometimes named as “Death,” “Destruction,” “Chaos,” “Darkness,” “Decay,” “Fear,” and “Deception.”
• Creation of Life: Set has the ability to create life, though the results are always monstrous and subservient to his will. His most notable creations are the Serpent Men, a cunning and malevolent race of reptilian shapeshifters who have served as his primary agents on Earth for millennia.
• Corruption and Possession: Set's most insidious power is his ability to corrupt mortals. His essence, infused within the Serpent Crown, can possess the wearer, twisting their mind and soul and making them a puppet for his will. He can grant immense power to his followers, but always at the cost of their humanity and freedom.
• Dimensional Travel and Manipulation: Though trapped, he has some ability to manipulate dimensional barriers, allowing his influence and sometimes lesser avatars to seep through into the Earth dimension. His ultimate goal is to tear down the barriers completely.

As Set is not present in the MCU, we can only speculate on his potential power level based on comparable entities.

• Chthon-Level Threat: If introduced, Set would likely be portrayed as a peer to Chthon. This would make him a top-tier mystical threat, capable of creating universally corrupting artifacts like the Darkhold and wielding a unique, fundamental force like Chaos Magic. His power would likely be sufficient to corrupt and overwhelm even the most powerful magic-users, such as the Sorcerer Supreme or the Scarlet Witch.
• Cosmic Horror: Visually, the MCU would likely lean into the cosmic horror aspects of a multi-headed serpent god. His power would be presented as reality-breaking and sanity-shattering, similar to the brief glimpses of Chthon's realm in Multiverse of Madness.
• Physical vs. Mystical: Unlike the more ethereal Chthon, Set's comic history involves direct physical combat (his battle with Atum). An MCU adaptation might portray him as both a mystical corruptor and a physical, kaiju-sized threat, capable of laying waste to entire armies or planets should he ever fully manifest.

Set does not have “allies” in the traditional sense; he has tools, pawns, and worshippers. His immense ego and destructive nature prevent any true partnerships.

• Chthon: As his sibling and fellow corrupted Elder God, Chthon is the closest thing Set has to a peer. They share a common origin and a mutual desire to corrupt and consume the Earth. However, they are also supreme narcissists and would undoubtedly turn on each other if one achieved their ultimate goal. Their relationship is one of mutual understanding of their shared nature, but they are rivals, not partners.
• Ghaur and Llyra: The Deviant priestlord Ghaur and the Lemurian empress Llyra were the chief architects of Set's most nearly-successful return to Earth during Atlantis Attacks. They orchestrated a massive conspiracy to gather the Serpent Crown and find seven superhuman women to serve as brides for Set, whose offspring would be his new avatars. They worshipped Set, but only as a means to gain ultimate power for themselves.
• The Serpent Men: His “children” and most loyal servants. This ancient race of reptilian shapeshifters has maintained Set's worship on Earth for eons, often infiltrating human society and working from the shadows to pave the way for his return.

• Atum the Demogorge: Set's ultimate nemesis. His nephew, born of his sister Gaea for the express purpose of destroying the corrupted Elder Gods. Atum was the one who defeated Set's physical form and forced his spirit into exile. The animosity between them is fundamental, representing the cosmic struggle between creation/preservation (Gaea's lineage) and consumption/destruction (Set).
• Gaea: Set's sister, the spirit of Earth. While Gaea is a nurturing, life-giving force, she is also a fierce protector of her domain. She directly opposed Set's corruption in the dawn of time and created his destroyer, Atum. She remains a passive but powerful barrier against his influence.
• Conan the Barbarian: During the Hyborian Age, Conan was Set's most persistent mortal adversary. While Conan could not fight the god directly, he repeatedly thwarted the plans of Set's cults, defeated his avatars, and resisted the temptations of the Serpent Crown, becoming a legendary symbol of human defiance against Set's creeping evil.
• The Avengers & Doctor Strange: In the modern era, Earth's heroes have become the primary line of defense against Set's influence. Doctor Strange has fought his mystical incursions, and the Avengers as a whole were instrumental in stopping his return during Atlantis Attacks, battling his avatars and the combined forces of Ghaur and Llyra.

• The Elder Gods: Set is a founding member of this group, specifically the faction that degenerated into demons. He, Chthon, and others represent the first major internal threat Earth's biosphere ever faced.
• The Sons of the Serpent: A modern-day, human supremacist hate group that, unknowingly or not, often utilizes the iconography and sometimes the power of Set. Their serpentine theme directly ties them to the Elder God, and on occasion, their leadership has been directly manipulated by Set or his agents, the Serpent Men.

Across numerous issues of Conan the Barbarian and The Savage Sword of Conan, Set was the overarching villain. These stories established the core tenets of his influence. The narrative rarely featured Set himself, but instead focused on the pervasive evil of his worship. Key plot points included:

• The Cult of Stygia: Conan frequently battled the priests and wizards of Stygia, a desert kingdom where Set was the state religion. These sorcerers would summon demons, animate the dead, and attempt to sacrifice innocents in Set's name.
• The Serpent Men of Thoth-Amon: Conan's arch-enemy, the sorcerer Thoth-Amon, was a high priest of Set. Many of their conflicts involved Thoth-Amon using powers granted by Set or commanding his reptilian Serpent Men.
• Resisting the Crown: Conan encountered and fought against the influence of the Serpent Crown multiple times, recognizing its inherent evil and the danger it posed to humanity. These stories solidified the artifact's reputation as a tool of ultimate corruption long before it appeared in the modern Marvel era.

This massive, line-wide crossover event was Set's “coming out party” for the modern Marvel Universe. The complex plot centered on the Deviant priest Ghaur forging an alliance with Llyra of Lemuria. Their goal: bring Set back to Earth.

• The Serpent Crown: The villains gathered the scattered pieces of the Serpent Crown, reassembling it to create a psychic beacon for Set.
• The Seven Brides: The core of the plan involved kidnapping seven super-powered women (She-Hulk, Storm, Scarlet Witch, Jean Grey, Invisible Woman, Dagger, and Andromeda) to be mystical “brides” for Set. They were to be impregnated by Set to create a new generation of avatars for him on Earth.
• Global Chaos: As the ritual neared completion, Set's influence began to warp the planet. His proximity caused monstrous sea creatures to attack coastlines and bizarre mutations to appear in the populace. The event's tagline was “The Serpent is Rising.”
• Heroic Intervention: The storyline crossed over into nearly every Marvel title, with the Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, and numerous solo heroes uniting to stop the plot. The final battle saw a team of heroes, led by a newly empowered Thor and Doctor Strange, confront Set's seven-headed avatar directly, while other heroes rescued the brides and destroyed Ghaur's machinery. They succeeded in severing Set's connection, banishing him once again.

It is critical to note that the primary antagonist of the Fear Itself storyline, The Serpent, is not Set. The villain of this event was Cul Borson, the long-lost brother of Odin and the Asgardian God of Fear. However, the event is relevant to Set for several reasons:

• In-Universe Confusion: The Serpent's name and iconography caused considerable confusion. Characters and readers alike initially wondered if this was a return of Set. The storyline itself eventually clarified that Cul was a separate, Asgardian entity.
• Thematic Overlap: Cul's goals and methods were remarkably similar to Set's. He fed on fear and chaos, transformed heroes into his malevolent servants (The Worthy), and sought to plunge the Earth into an age of despair. This highlights the “serpent” as a powerful archetype for evil within the Marvel Universe. The storyline serves as an important point of clarification for distinguishing between two major, serpent-themed cosmic villains.

• Robert E. Howard's “Father Set”: The original version of the character from Howard's pulp stories is the template from which the Marvel version was built. In Howard's lore, Set is an ancient, evil god worshipped by the Stygians and the “Old Serpent” of eldritch lore. While Marvel expanded his backstory to include the Elder God cosmology, the core essence—a malevolent serpent god whose power is channeled through sorcerers and ancient artifacts—is a direct and faithful adaptation of Howard's original creation.
• Earth-398 (Queen's Vengeance): In this reality created by Morgan Le Fay, where the modern age was reverted to a medieval one, Set's influence was much stronger. The Serpent Crown was a key artifact, and the world was rife with dark magic and monstrous beings, a perfect environment for a god like Set to thrive.
• Conan Properties (Non-616): In various Conan video games, animated series, and films (like Conan the Destroyer), analogues of Set often appear as the final antagonist. These versions are typically simplified, portrayed as a generic “snake demon” or powerful wizard-priest of a snake cult, lacking the deep cosmological backstory of his Earth-616 counterpart.

• Elder Gods (Marvel Comics)
• Chthon
• Gaea
• Atum the Demogorge
• Serpent Crown
• Serpent Men
• Atlantis Attacks
• Conan the Barbarian

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