WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Planet-Size X-Men #1 by Gerry Duggan, Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia & VC’s Clayton Cowles, on sale now
Mars has become a major touchstone in the Marvel Universe, perhaps now more than ever as the mutant nation of Krakoa was able to terraform the planet and make it habitable for their sister nation, Arakko. But this isn’t the first time new life on Mars has been a portent of important change coming to the universe, as the role the red planet played in Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers run laid the groundwork for what would eventually become Secret Wars.
Avengers #1 by Hickman and Jerome Opeña introduced a threat that proved more powerful than the Avengers in their initial battle. Ex Nihilo and his sister Abyss were created to be Cosmic Gardners by one of the Aleph, agents of the Builders. Created by the Builders to help them bring life across the universe, the Gardners were largely recalled when almost all the Abysses mysteriously perished. Only one remained, initially as an egg to her sibling, in the reality of Earth-616 — the core Marvel Universe. Arriving on Mars, they used their powers to begin the process of terra-forming Mars. Together, they were able to enhance evolution and attempted to create perfected versions of lifeforms, with Ex Nihilo sending “Origin Bombs” to Earth to spread their evolutionary influence onto that world as well.
By the time Captain America returned to the red planet with a large assortment of Avengers, Ex Nihilo and Abyss had come to terms with the likelihood of having to wipe out humanity, while also producing the creation of their Adam, the new incarnation of Nightmask. Initially standing opposed to the Avengers, their respect for Captain Universe — who was among the recruits collected by Captain America — ceased their conflict. At the command of Captain Universe, Nihilo and Abyss were allowed to continue their work on Mars with a caveat — they could not transform or destroy any more imperfect worlds and were instructed to stay away from Earth.
The pair quietly continued their efforts as the Avengers returned to Earth, with the two even being recruited to the heroic roster in time for the Infinity event, which brought them into direct conflict with the Builders. It was here they met their counterpart versions of Ex Nihilo and decided to help spread life through the universe. The pair would play a vital role in “Time Runs Out,” accompanying Thor and Hyperion across the universe to confront the Beyonders who were responsible for the destruction of the multiverse via the Incursions. In an attempt to stop the two Beyonders who confronted the heroes, Abyss and Nihilo sacrificed themselves and converted the Builder into a new life form.
Not long after, Doctor Doom would confront the same Beyonders alongside Doctor Strange and Molecule Man — setting himself up to become the God of the remnants of the multiverse. There’s a direct path from the early signs of life growing back on Mars and that event, which in turn set off Secret Wars. The work Ex Nihilio and Abyss did remain on Mars in the present-day — with HYDRA even trying to claim it recently, setting up Wolverine to rush to its protection.
The terra-forming of Mars by Ex-Nihilo and Abyss proved their inherent power and helped transform the world in ways that are still being felt even in the age of Krakoa. It’s important to remember that Mars has come to mean an incredible amount of potential for the heroes of the Marvel Universe, being the very first steps the Avengers made on their way to what remains one of the most monumental events in the history of the Marvel Universe.
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