MOURNERS
Membership: Fath, Krugarr, Sardan, Wayopex. others include an unidentified A-Chiltarian, Betan, Courga, Deonist, Elan, Entemen, Glx, Guna, Kamado, Korbinite, Kymellian, Megan, M'Ndavian, Reptoid, among others unidentified (including a humanoid woman).
Purpose: To see that all beings, especially those of cosmic significance, receive the proper respect and memorial services upon their deaths. They are non-confrontational and not-for-profit
Affiliations: Associates of Kismet, Makkari, Quasar; Uncertain relationship with various manifestations of Death and certain Death Gods, as well as the In-Betweener, Living Tribunal, Lord Chaos and Master Order, the Time-Keepers (all of whom attended the ceremony for Eon); antagonized by Thanos; held ceremonies for Eon and the Kree
Base of Operations: The Mourning Star, mobile throughout the known universe
First Appearance: Quasar#26 (September, 1991)
Powers/Abilities: A number of the Mourners possess certain mental or energy manipulative powers, However, these are only used as parts of the ceremony, and never in conflict against others. They have demonstrated the ability to rapidly travel to and from other dimensions.
History: The origin of the Mourners is uncertain. They travel throughout the universe, performing services to commemorate the dead. The events that drove them to do so have not been revealed.
They first observed within the Eonverse preparing to hold a ceremony for Eon, just after it had been slain during the struggle against Maelstrom. Wayopex questioned Quasar about the nature of Eon's death and requested permission to hold Eon's ceremony there. The Mourners held a memorial service for Eon, which was attended by a number of Cosmic entities, as well as Quasar. Thanos, an enemy of Eon, then possessing the Infinity Gauntlet, disrupted the ceremony. Quasar sent all present away while he attempted, futilely to deal with the virtually omnipotent Thanos. It is not certain if the ceremony was ever resumed.
When next observed, the Mourners were within the Kree Galaxy, preparing to mourn the billions of Kree killed at the climax of the Kree-Shiar war by the Nega-Bomb explosion on Hala. Quasar and his allies, Her/Kismet and Makkari were investigating Hala at the time and again encountered the Mourners. During the ceremony, it was determined that the Kree had not passed on to the afterlife, and had instead been waylaid somehow. Upon investigating this, Quasar and his allies learned that the souls had been consumed by the Soul-Eater.
Following that confrontation, Quasar left Kismet and Makkari behind on the Mourning Star, while he went to participate in the events of the Infinity War. Kismet was disgusted to learn that the Mourners do nothing to help the dying, and accused them of worshipping death. Kismet followed their direction to the planet Scadam, where she attempted in vain to stop the Black Fleet's attack. Eventually, she was forced to return to the Mourning Star or suffer permanent injury. It was only the power of the Starbrand, accessed subconsciously by Kayla Ballantine, that stopped the Mourning Star and all aboard from being destroyed by the Black Fleet. Kismet made an attempt to discover the source of that power, and was left behind by the Mourning Star. The Mourners dropped Makkari off at Grosgumbeek, at his request.
COMMENTS: Created by Mark Gruenwald and Dave Hoover.
The Mourners refer to the soul as the Zama, the afterlife as the Weavern, and Shulan represents some period of time, probably years or longer.
Clarifications: The Mourning Star has no connection to:
Fath has not yet had
his native race identified. He is the leader of the Mourners and
officiates the Burial Cermonies--Quasar#26 (35, 39, 40
Krugarr is a Lem. He is a "Listener", who detects the
deaths of significant beings and then guides the Mourners to the
location of their deaths.--Quasar#39
Sardan appears to be a
Kodabak. He was outraged when Thanos disrupted the ceremony for
Eon, but wisely restrained himself to avoid the wrath of
Thanos.--Quasar#26 (35
Wayopex is an Interdite, and as such possesses certain empathic
powers. He gathers information on the deceased, both to be used
in the service, as well as being inscribed in a permanent record.
It was Wayopex who identified that the Kree destroyed by the
Nega-Bomb had not actually died. He is able to commune with the
souls of the recently dead, and lets them know that they are
being honored. --Quasar#26, 35 (named)
The Mourning Star is an immense intergalactic starship, designed along
the lines of a gothic cathedral. Its halls are lined with shrines
to extinct beings and races. It possesses advanced cloaking
capabilities and can achieve warp speed. --Quasar#35 (39, 40, 43,
45, 47
Appearances:
Quasar#26 (September, 1991) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Dave Hoover (pencils), Fred Fredericks (inks), Kelly Corvese (editor)
Quasar#35 (June, 1992) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Greg Capullo (pencils), Harry Candelario (inks), Kelly Corvese (editor)
Quasar#39 (October, 1992) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Steve Lightle (pencils), Harry Candelario & Mark McKenna (inks), Kelly Corvese (editor)
Quasar#40 (November, 1992) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Steve Lightle & Andy Smith (pencils), Mark McKenna & Ralph Cabrera (inks), Kelly Corvese (editor)
Quasar#41-43 (December, 1992 - February, 1993) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Andy Smith (pencils), Ralph Cabrera (inks), Mike Rockwitz (editor)
Quasar#45 (April, 1993) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Grant Miehm (pencils), David & Dan Day (inks), Mike Rockwitz (editor)
Quasar#47 (June, 1993) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Andy Smith (pencils), Ralph Cabrera (inks), Mike Rockwitz (editor)
Last updated: 05/01/05
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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