The Stranger (comic book)
The Stranger is a Marvel Comics character, a powerful cosmic entity of enigmatic origins and motives. He first appeared in Tales to Astonish #90 (April 1967), created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.
Character Overview: The Stranger is a humanoid being possessing vast cosmic power, seemingly on par with entities like the Watchers and Celestials. His origin and true nature are largely unknown and have been subject to retcons and speculation over the years. He often observes and manipulates events on Earth and throughout the cosmos, conducting experiments and interfering in conflicts seemingly according to his own inscrutable agenda.
Powers and Abilities: The Stranger possesses immense cosmic power, including:
- Energy Manipulation: The ability to control and manipulate vast amounts of energy for various purposes, including force fields, energy blasts, and matter manipulation.
- Matter Manipulation: The capacity to alter the structure of matter at a subatomic level.
- Teleportation: The ability to instantly transport himself across vast distances, even across galaxies.
- Telepathy: The power to read minds and communicate telepathically.
- Cosmic Awareness: A heightened awareness of cosmic events and energies.
- Immortality: An extremely long lifespan, potentially immortality.
Key Appearances and Story Arcs:
- Tales to Astonish: Introduced as a mysterious entity who intervenes in a conflict between the Hulk and the Leader.
- Silver Surfer: Frequently appears as an observer and occasional participant in Silver Surfer's adventures.
- Quasar: Plays a significant role in Quasar's cosmic journeys, often testing and guiding him.
- Contest of Champions II: Involved in a cosmic competition that tests the abilities of various Marvel superheroes.
Nature and Motivations: The Stranger's motivations are often unclear. He seems to be primarily interested in observation and experimentation, studying the evolution and behavior of sentient beings. He has sometimes been portrayed as a neutral observer, while at other times he has been depicted as manipulative and even dangerous. One prominent theory suggests he is a composite being created from the energies of an entire destroyed planet, although this has been questioned and retconned. His true nature remains one of the character's most enduring mysteries.
Supporting Characters and Relationships: Due to his solitary nature, the Stranger has few recurring supporting characters. He has interacted with numerous heroes and villains, including the Hulk, Silver Surfer, Quasar, and the Collector, often acting as a powerful and unpredictable force in their lives. His relationship with these characters is usually transactional or observational, rather than based on genuine friendship or animosity.