Elders of the Universe

Elders of the Universe
The Elders of the Universe surround Silver Surfer and Mantis on the cover of Silver Surfer vol. 3, #4 (Oct. 1987). Art by Marshall Rogers.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Avengers #28 (May 1966)
Characteristics
Notable members	Architect Astronomer Caregiver Champion of the Universe Collector Contemplator Ego Explorer Father Time Gardener Grandmaster Judicator Obliterator Possessor Runner Trader

The Elders of the Universe are a fictional group of supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Collector was the first Elder to appear, and featured in Avengers #28 (May 1966), but the idea that he was a member of a group known as the Elders was not introduced until Avengers #174 (August 1978). The character was created by Roy Thomas and Sal Buscema.

The Elders of the Universe are the last survivors of otherwise extinct races and are known for their personal obsessions, such as collecting, gaming, and fighting, which are pursued fanatically. While the characters are not truly cosmic entities, all have achieved some cosmic level of power and knowledge. The first encounter with the heroes of Earth occurs when the Collector came to Earth seeking to expand his collection. Later, the Grandmaster created the supervillain team the Squadron Sinister as pawns to battle the champions of the time-traveling Kang the Conqueror, the superhero team the Avengers.

Although thwarted, the Grandmaster and his fellow Elders take an interest in Earth, and the Collector has two separate encounters with the Avengers, the second ending with his murder by the entity Korvac. The Grandmaster also tricks the entity Death into playing a contest—again involving many of Earth's heroes—that he deliberately loses to resurrect the Collector. The Grandmaster usurps control of Death's realm, and after a battle between the Avengers and the Grandmaster's champions—the Legion of the Unliving—is tricked by the Avengers. An angered Death then prevents the Elders from ever entering her realm, which effectively makes them immortal and is the Grandmaster's true goal.