The Deviants are a
genetically unstable race: physical
characteristics beyond bilateral symmetry radically change with each generation
in a Deviant family. Thus a Deviant child will greatly differ in appearance
from either of his or her parents. The genetic instability of the Deviants is
the most important factor underlying the structure of their society. Although
the Deviants are ruled by a monarch and what remains of their class of
nobility, a great deal of power in Deviant society has long been held by the
priesthood. The priests attempt to weed out those Deviants who are born with
the most extreme and grotesque differences from the others by publicly
condemning them to death in the flame pits at "Purity
Time." Through such a measure, the priests assert
that they keep variations within the Deviant race's genetic makeup within
certain limits.
The priesthood has also served to perform the
ritual of ascendancy that certifies the accession of a new ruler to the Deviant
throne. In the past, the priesthood would simply allow the heir of the former
ruler to become the Deviants' new monarch. However, the priesthood could also
designate someone who was not an heir to the past ruler to become the new one. When Jim Rhodes
was playing the role of Iron Man,
his armor was taken control of by an unseen force while he was testing the
armor over Holland. It turns out that the Eternals
had taken over the armor in an attempt to free themselves of the Deviants' evil
clutches. After deducing what to do to free the immortal Eternals, Rhodey
joined in the scrap between the two races.
In more recent years,
Brother Tode, ruler of the Deviants, and most of
the Deviant ruling class attacked Olympia, principal city of their longtime
enemies, the Eternals. The Eternals defeated the Deviant invaders and melded
their atoms into a giant stone-like block which they cast into space. The only
known Deviant survivor from that attack is the Warlord
Kro, who then took the leadership from Tode's son
Ranar with the blessing of the priest Ghaur.
First ever appearance: The Eternals #1.
First IM appearance: Iron Man Annual #6.
 Pic courtesy Marvel Wiki.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 13 July 2008 )
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