In the Marvel Universe, the Deviants are the end product of a series of DNA tests known as Homo descendus, created by the enigmatic alien Celestials. Their race is largely insensitive and they view all other species as a threat. They even distrust each other and often get in their own way.
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Publication history
The Deviants first appeared in The Eternals #1 (July 1976).
Fictional history
They are an offshoot of the evolutionary process that created sentient life on Earth instigated by the alien Celestials, and wage war against their counterparts, the Eternals. While the Eternals are humanoid, the Deviants are generally monstrous, with each Deviant possessing a unique mutation. Extremely mutated or deformed Deviants are referred to as "mutates", with some Deviant mutates inspiring the monsters of myth and legend.
The Deviants are religious, revering the Dreaming Celestial ("He Who Sleeps in Darkness"). They credit him with their creation and claim that he granted them dominion over the Earth, an agreement they believe was later broken by the treachery of the other Celestials. They have one or more holy books—the only one named thus far being the Book of Krask.
In the advent of the heroic age, Brother Tode is the leader of the Deviants. The Deviants' aristocracy, led by Tode, attack Olympia and kidnapped the Eternals with the intent to disintegrate them. However, Iron Man rescues the Eternals and helps them defeat the Deviants. The Eternals transform the Deviants' aristocracy into a synthetic cube, killing them. Without the aristocracy, the Deviants' priests seize power, led by Ghaur. Kro returns to Lemuria and becomes the leader of the Deviants.
Membership
Deviants
Kro – A Deviant warlord who is the ruler of Lemuria and head of the Delta Network. Kro is a long-lived shapeshifter.
Ahqlau – Conspirator and friend of Yrdisis who posed as an ally of Kro, but was actually spying on him for Ghaur.
Argos the Hunter – Member of the Sword of Damocles. Argos wields a cosmic energy staff.
Broop – A jester working for Brother Tode.
Brother Tode – The monarch and former ruler of Lemuria. He was killed by molecular reassembly by the Eternals.
Brother Visara – A charismatic leader who led the Deviants in a revolution against all forms of leadership. He was killed by the other Deviants for his hypocrisy.
Chudar – A horned, red-skinned Deviant who attends to Kro.
Coal – A Deviant who was sent by Ghaur to retrieve the Proteus Horn.
Darg – A pink-skinned Deviant who observed a gladiatorial match involving the Avengers. He had his sword stolen by Black Knight.
Dark Angel/Tzabaoth (Donald and Deborah Ritter) – The twin children of Thena and Kro and members of the Delta Network.
Dragona – A member of the Delta Force; sister of Ereshkigal and former lover of Brother Tode. Dragona is able to fly and breathe fire.
Dulpus – The former leader of a group who attempted to assist in the takeover of Earth to gain favor from Kang the Conqueror. He sent Glomm into single combat against Warbird.
Deviant Mutates
The Deviant Mutates are the creations of the Deviants. Among the known Deviant Mutates are:
Bandrhude – A type of Deviant mutate who were used prior to Great Cataclysm (the sinking of Atlantis). Bandrhude was later used in the modern era by Ghaur and Kro.
Brutus – A Deviant Mutate who briefly led the Deviants after Ghaur's seeming destruction by the Dreaming Celestial. Brutus organized the Subterranean wars and persecution of Deviant mutates. Brutus was killed when he was exposed as a mutate.
Cataphrax – A warrior and former wrestler in the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation who has strength rivaling Ikaris. He was killed by Thena.
Dromedan – Dromedan was bred by the Deviants as a weapon against the Eternals. Imprisoned beneath New York City by the Eternals. Dromedan has vast psionic powers, including mind control, illusions and telekinesis. He can also emit destructive energy blasts, and transform matter.
Giganto – A servant of the Mole Man.
Glomm – A servant of Dulpus.
Gorgilla – Member of the Fin Fang Four. He was formerly used as a pawn by Kro.
Gort – An agent of Brutus who was defeated by the Hulk.
Grottu – It was produced through the Deviant mutate stockpiles. Grottu battled Ulysses Bloodstone, who killed him in combat.
Karkas – A former gladiator who allied with the Eternals. Karkas was trained by the scholars in Olympia and assisted in Kro's rebellion against Ghaur. Karkas was later defeated by Reject.
Lizard Men – A race of Deviant mutates with a reptilian appearance who reside in Subterranea. Several Lizard Men were once used as agents of Kro and journeyed to Midnight Mountain and attempted to help capture Makkari.
Deviants of the planet Lyonesse
Blackwulf (Pelops) – The son of Tantalus and leader of the Underground Legion. He was killed by his father.
Blackwulf (Lucian) – The brother and successor of Pelops and the son of Tantalus.
Bristle – Member of the Peacekeepers.
Id – The son of Tantalus and brother of Blackwulf (Pelops and Lucien). Its current whereabouts are unknown.
Khult – A Deviant from Tebbel who is the father of Nirvana. He became servant of Tantalus but usurped his rule of Armechadon at the same time.
Lady Trident – A member of the Peacekeepers who was killed one of Touchstone's bodies. However, she was placed in stasis by another Touchstone.
Mammoth (William "Willie" Amos) – A member of the Underground Legion and possibly the past self of Wraath. His arm was cut off by Blackwulf (Lucian) to save him from the Black Legacy.
Nirvana – The daughter of Khult, wife of Tantalus, and mother of Lucian, Pelops and Id. She committed suicide after giving birth of Lucian. Her body was preserved in undead form by Khult and was later released into death with Lucian's aid.
Pandara – A servant of Lord Tantalus. His current whereabouts are unknown.
Schizo – Member of the Peacekeepers and the sister of Touchstone. She was rendered comatose by Touchstone.
Tantalus – The Armechadonian Deviant who is the father of Pelops, Lucian, and Id, and the husband of Nirvana. He used the Peacekeepers as agents on Earth. Tantalus was killed by Blackwulf (Lucian).
Delta Network
The Delta Network, also referred to as the Delta Force, was a group of Deviant warriors who were organized by Warlord Kro. When the Avengers were captured by the Deviant priesthood, Kro called the members into action to rescue them. Delta Network members included: Ransak the Reject, Karkas, Enigmo, and Donald and Deborah Ritter (the twin children of Thena and Kro). The Delta Network appeared only in Avengers #370–371. The group was created out of pre-existing characters by Glenn Herdling and Geof Isherwood.
Skrulls
The Skrulls are nearly all Deviants who eliminated the other offshoots of their species, leaving only one of the original race (Prime Skrull) and a Skrull Eternal (Kly'bn).
In other media
The Deviants appear in Eternals, with Kro as a prominent member. This version of the species were created to progress and ensure the development of life in the universe by wiping out apex predators on various planets. The Deviants came to hunt down and wipe out all life, leading to the creation of the Eternals to stop them.