Maelstrom (comics)

Maelstrom is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Maelstrom first appears in Marvel Two-in-One #71 (January 1981) and was created by Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Macchio, and Ron Wilson.

Maelstrom is the son of Phaeder, an Inhuman scientist banished from their city of Attilan for attempting cloning to increase Inhuman population numbers. Phaeder came to live among the Deviants and eventually had an affair with the Deviant Morga, who gave birth to Maelstrom. With his father's tutoring, Maelstrom becomes a skilled geneticist. After his father is incapacitated in an experiment, Maelstrom swears revenge on the Inhumans and becomes a would-be conqueror.

Maelstrom first encounters Earth's superhumans when he sends his minions—Phobius, Gronk, and Helio—to the scientific island facility Hydro-Base to steal an Anti-Terrigen mist compound. This substance can undo the effects of the Terrigen Mist and deprive Inhumans of their abilities. Maelstrom's Minions, however, are defeated by the Thing and Stingray.

The Thing, Gorgon, and Karnak travel via submarine to Maelstrom's laboratory and discover a base where they are subsequently captured. The heroes escape and battle Maelstrom alongside Black Bolt. The heroes hold off Maelstrom while Black Bolt intercepts and defuses a missile carrying the anti-Terrigen mist compound that is programmed to destroy Attilan. The Thing weakens Maelstrom by using the compound on him, and the heroes escape as the base self-detonates. Maelstrom orders his minion Deathurge to kill him.

Maelstrom and his minions survive by transferring their minds into clone bodies. Maelstrom attempts to siphon the energies of the Eternals, but is thwarted by the Avengers and transfers his consciousness to another clone body. Maelstrom attempts to stop the Earth's rotation and absorb the kinetic energy, but is drawn into conflict with the Avengers once more. The android Vision discovers a way to overload Maelstrom's power source and his body becomes discorporate and floats free from Earth.

Maelstrom later encounters Kronos and learns of the existence of the entity Oblivion. As Oblivion's avatar, Maelstrom becomes determined to achieve Oblivion's goal of non-existence on a universal scale. Maelstrom assumes the powers of the entity Anomaly, becoming the embodiment of the abstract principle of anomaly. This brings Maelstrom into conflict with Quasar in the Outer Void (realm of Oblivion). After several battles, Quasar finally defeats Maelstro, who is consumed by the power of Quasar's quantum bands. Maelstrom is later revived by his minions, but learns he has a son, Ransak, who would have been killed had he succeeded in his plan. Ashamed, he shrinks himself out of sight.

Eventually, Maelstrom returns, attempting to destroy the universe by creating a device known as the Cosmic Crunch. He battles the Great Lakes Avengers, who are powerless to stop him. In order to be prepared, he hires Batroc the Leaper and his brigade to help him. During the final battle, Maelstrom is tricked into killing himself by Mr. Immortal after he tells him that the grand secret of the universe was eternal loneliness. His soul is collected by Doorman, who had been chosen by Oblivion to replace Deathurge as its new angel of death.