protector of Hiberlacprotector of Hiberlac
Real Name: Unrevealed; if any
Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (Hiberlac) creature (see comments)
Occupation: Protector of the Hibers
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Hibers (aka Sleepers)
Enemies: None known
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: "Creature" (from Rom)
Base of Operations: Planet Hiberlac, sixth from the sun in the Hunyoc System, Milky Way Galaxy
First Appearance: Rom I#67 (June, 1985)
Powers/Abilities: Large and powerful, it was the protector of
the peoples of Hiberlac. Specifically, it's mission was to destroy
anyone who sought to disturb the sleepers.
While it would savagely attack anyone appearing to
threaten the people, it was pleasant and peaceful upon learning once
convinced of a being's benevolent intent.
It could perhaps lift 5-50 tons and was highly durable.
It possessed a thick tail, which could be used as a striking weapon, and perhaps also for balance.
It had three-clawed fingers on
each of its two hands and two toes on each foot. It's teeth also
appeared to be relatively sharp and could likely be used to bite
powerfully as needed.
It could eloquently relate the history of its world and its people.
It apparently could continue to
function for numerous millennia; it likely entered a period of
stasis/dormancy between the single days of awakening of the people once
every millennium, although it could be awakened by the approach of any
being to the hibernation center.
It would seem likely that it may
have also been programmed/trained to be able to perform
maintenance/repair of the hibernation station(s), although there may
have been other, unseen androids performing such functions.
The protector spoke an alien
language, presumably one common to at least some of the people of
Hiberlac; Rom's translator enabled Rom and the protector to converse
directly.
History:
(Rom I#67 (fb) - BTS) - In the
past, the twin suns of the Hunyoc System shined brightly on the planet
Hiberlac. It was always warm and the suns light made the planet
flourish.
Grateful and happy, the people sang continually, joyfully, reverentially and filled with the glory of life.
Eventually, however, the suns grew dimmer, and their world cooled with it.
The plants and animals died, and it quickly became apparent that humanoid life could not survive.
Loving their world and believing their fate to be bound to their planet, the people were unable to consider building spaceships to flee to some other location; the thought of abandoning their beloved world made their souls shrivel.
The people developed a great building (or buildings) that could sustain the people in suspended animation and then revive them at the time of awakening. They also created large and strong android protector(s) to watch over them while they were in suspended animation and destroy anyone who sought to disturb the sleepers.
The planet lapsed into a dormant,
deep and frozen sleep from which it awakened once every millennium for
less than day when the planet was midway between the warming rays of
its suns. Then the world swiftly awakened, with long-frozen seeds
sprouting in the rains from melting ice.
(Rom I#67 - BTS) - Flying through space, the Galadorian Spaceknight Rom observed a bright light focally flashing from the otherwise barren world Hiberlac (although the planet was unknown to him at the time).
Curious of the source of the light
bright enough for him to perceive from space, Rom traveled to Hiberlac
to investigate.
On Hiberlac, Rom pursued the
source of the light to a mountain range as a storm started that thawed
and restored life to Hiberlac.
Rom reached the mountain range as
the melting ice fell off of it, revealing the face-like entrance to the
hibernation center. 
As Rom entered the hibernation center through it's mouth-like opening, the massive protector scratched Rom's chest with his claws before pounding him back with its massive tail. As Rom's cyborg eyes adjusted the cavern's darkness, he appreciated his attackers' form and realized that it meant his death. As the creature continued to strike, it began to vocalize, and Rom appreciated a cadence in what had originally seemed like bellowing. Realizing that it was not some lower lifeform, Rom summoned his translator, and after it's rays bathed the creature, it told him, "Begone unless you desire death, for my task is to destroy any who seek to disturb the sleepers!"
Speaking now in the creature's own
tongue, Rom explained that he had come driven by curiosity and meant no
harm, after which he asked about the "sleepers" he safeguarded. The
creature then revealed that the sleepers had lain in the chamber before
the call had come, signaling the time of the awakening.
(Rom I#67) - Awakening, the
Hibers sang their wordless song of joy as the exulted in the Time of
Awakening of their world and people. At Rom's query of the song's lack
of words, the creature explained that the song did not need words, as
it was a song of the heart and a song of thanksgiving. 
As the people wandered out of the
hibernation center, into the lush vegetation that had so recently
regrown, the creature detailed the history of the "dead time," the name
for current period where their planet went into extended periods of
dormancy, only coming to life once a millennium. He further related how
the people sang in joy for that one brief shining moment where their
world lived again.
Before too long, however, the planet began to pass out of the point between the two suns, and the world swiftly cooled again. As the vegetation began to wither again, the people realized that the moment had passed. After a brief moment of alarm, they turned and headed back into the hibernation centers, after which their protector explained how they were already swinging away from the midpoint between their suns and that the planet's fragile ecosystem returned once again to millennial dormancy. It further related how the people were returning to dormancy in suspended animation deep within the bowels of the planet they loved until they and their world both awakened and lived together
As the creature followed them back into the hibernation center, it added..."And in their long and dark dormancy, I will watch over them -- as I ever have! As I ever will!"
(Rom I#67 - BTS) - The Hibers were returned to their state of suspended animation.
After ice again covered the hibernation center, Rom departed Hiberlac, singing a song of gratitude for the lesson that life was precious in any form.Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The protector of the sleepers of Hiberlac should be distinguished from:
pg. 15, panel 1-2 (protector, body & face with native language);Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe II (Deluxe Edition) #15: Appendix to Alien Races: Hibers (March, 1987) - Mark Gruenwald (writer/producer), Peter Sanderson (writer/researcher), Josef Rubinstein (inker), Howard Mackie (assistant editor), Marc Siry, David Wohl, Marc McLaurin (editorial assistants), Gregory Wright (assistant editor)
First posted: 11/02/2026
Last updated: 11/02/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and
� 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you
like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com
Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!