SYDREN
Real Name: Sydren
Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial
(Drenx)
possible mutant/mutate/other
Occupation: Lieutenant in S.W.O.R.D. (Sentient World Observation and Response Department)
Group Membership: S.W.O.R.D. (Beast/Hank McCoy, Abigail Brand, Deems, Lockheed, Paulletz)
Affiliations: Aarkus the Aetheric (aka Vision),
Blindfold (Ruth Aldine), Captain America (Steve Rogers), Danger, Legion (David Haller), K'eel R'krt, S.H.I.E.L.D. (Maria Hill), Warbird (Ava'dara
Naganandini),
X-Men (Armor/Hisako Ichiki, Beast/Hank McCoy, Colossus/Peter Rasputin,
Cyclops/Scott Summers, Emma Frost, Kitty Pryde, Wolverine/James
Howlett/Logan)
while Sydren follows Brand's
instructions and serves under her, the two often have a very antagonist
relationship
Sydren invoked "seven gods," perhaps indicating these were gods worshipped by Sydren and/or the Drenx in general
Enemies: Agent Benzan (S.H.I.E.L.D.),
Church of the Happy Host, Drenx pirates, Henry Peter Gyrich, Cassandra
Nova, Thanos and his agents, Termini, Unit, Xavier Shade;
formerly Breakworlders (Kruun,
Ord), Danger, Legion (David Haller)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: "Hissing buffoon" (from Drenx pirates);
I'm sure Brand called him all kinds of names, but I
apparently didn't write those down...
Base of Operations: The Peak, S.W.O.R.D.
base orbiting Earth
First Appearance: Astonishing X-Men#10 (May, 2005)
Powers/Abilities:
Sydren has empathic and other psychic abilities, enabling him to
sense activities and energies, although he is not precognitive. However,
he sometimes states what is otherwise very
visually obvious, leading to mocking from Brand and others.
Sydren can read emotions and thoughts, and he can determine if another being at least believes they are telling the truth, although he apparently cannot determine the true course or events he has witnessed directly, only what another believes he or she saw.
Sydren speaks with sibilance, hissing his "s" sounds; other Drenx do not share this trait, so it may be speech impediment.
He sometimes wears a spacesuit to operate outside of the Peak and occasionally assists Brand in field missions.
Height: Unrevealed (he sometimes looks to be 7' or
taller, while other times he is closer to 6' tall)
Weight: Unrevealed (he also sometimes appears to be almost
gaunt, while other times he is much more massive; his thick-based tail
would also affect his weight, so he could be anywhere between 200 and
600 lbs., possibly more)
Eyes: Usually solid yellow around a pupil, so likely no visible
sclera
Hair: None
Unusual features: Sydren, like
other Drenx (see comments), has
a somewhat elongated face/snout, with pendulous projections
hanging down on either side of his mouth. He has sharp teeth, incisors
and canines, at least, and he has referenced the possibility of
devouring Brand at least once.
Sydren has various projections extending backward from the top of his head and neck, almost like a mane, but not with hair.
Sydren has occasionally been shown to have webbed external ear-like structures, although these look something like an artistic varisation on the projections extending back from the top and side of his head and neck.
Sydren is often, but not always, shown with a long, thick-based tail. It is unrevealed whether he can extend or retract this at will, or whether its absence is simply an art error.
Like other Drenx, his leg structure is similar to that of a dog, standing on his metatarsophalangeal junction, with a prominent tarsus/ankle pointing in the posterior direction.
Also like other Drenx, he has three fingers and a thumb on each hand, and two toes on each foot.
History:
(Astonishing
X-Men#10) - As Danger assaulted the X-Men, Sydren sensed destruction,
which led Brand to mock him as destruction of portions of the Xavier
Institute (or whatever) was clearly evident. When she asked if he had
any other useful information, he first noted to her that if he ate her
head, two thirds of her agents would praise him in poems and
songs.
Nonetheless, Sydren noted a new,
non-human presence in the Xavier
Institute. Taking this to mean an alien presence, Brand considered the
matter to be within her jurisdiction, and she prepared to get involved.
(Astonishing X-Men#14) - Aboard the Peak, Brand, Sydren, and Deems discussed the apparent identification of the X-Men responsible for the destruction of Breakworld (Colossus, although he was not shown/identified to the reader). While noting that he was unable to read the future, Sydren confidently noted that he had sniffed the precognitives and had smelled certainty and terror.
(Astonishing X-Men#15) - As Cassandra Nova assaulted the X-Men, Sydren noted that the psychic turmoil coming from the mansion was overwhelming, leading Brand to mock him for stating the obvious. However, he then noted that the psychic energy was familiar, and he departed to "run the files and find it."
(Astonishing
X-Men#17) - Syndren probed the mind of Emma Frost, considering it most
likely that she was attacking her own team, but that there were
anomalies in his senses: One presence seemed to match Cassandra Nova,
but it was only intermittently present.
Sydren remained silent as Brand received word from their
mole, Lockheed, about the
approach of Ord, who had freed by and was aligned with Danger.
(Astonishing
X-Men#19) - Aboard the Peak and en route to Breakworld, Sydren probed
the mind of Emma Frost, noting, "Seven gods, this pain..." but finding
her to be free of Cassandra Nova; he further noted that while her mind
was clouded it was mending.
The Peak was subsequently assaulted by an armada from
Breakworld.


Frustrated
at the delay in "reds" being reported to her, Brand departed
to deal with it. As she approached the Drenx, however, Sydren informed
her that her half-brother, Lothi, was seeking sanctuary from a bounty
hunter. 
(S.W.O.R.D.
I#3) - As Gyrich's takeover of S.W.O.R.D. and enforcing detainment of all
extraterrestrials escalated, S.W.O.R.D. agents entered the room and held
Sydren and the other Drenx at gunpoint. Sydren tried in vain to assure
the other Drenx that they need not worry about the men with guns and
that they were there for a perfectly sensible reason.
Sydren subsequently informed Brand that the transports were ready to
return everyone to their homes, except actual felons, who would be
returned to captivity...and that those who had been unjustly arrested
by Osborn would be "lost in the system."(Uncanny X-Men II#9 - BTS) - An explosion in the Peak's fuel feeds (presumably either engineered or at least predicted by Unit), separated the Brig away from the Peak, sending all of its prisoners to Earth.
(Uncanny X-Men II#9) - Sydren reported the Brig's breaking free, with total failure of security.
After Brand had alerted the X-Men of this fact, Sydren reported the X-Men engaging the first groundfall target, the Termini; he further noted that there was no trace of Unit.
(Uncanny X-Men II#9-10 -
BTS) - Alerted by Brand, X-Men and Avengers groups recaptured the
escaped prisoners, presumably including the Drenx.
(AVX:
Consequence#3) - Sydren and Brand attended a meeting with SHIELD leader
Maria Hill, Captain America, and Wolverine, where they discussed
the fate and current motives/goals of Cyclops following the seeming
death of Charles Xavier at the hands of the Phoenix-possessed
Cyclops. 
When Wolverine stated he had no idea what Cyclops was up to, Brand indicated her distrust and had Sydren scan Wolverine despite Hill's objections.
Sydren noted that Wolverine was telling the truth.
(Astonishing X-Men#57) - Sydren accompanied Brand to Earth to evaluate the Shi'ar Warbird. He noted that she was afraid and ashamed, and when telepathic? SHIELD agent Benzan told him to stop, Sydren noted that she couldn't stop him, and he continued to note how Warbird mind was twisted with pain and that she felt weak and violated.
Physically (and perhaps psychically), Benzan punched Sydren back, at which point Warbird interrupted, offering to explain what she could.
Sydren was later surprised when Gambit set off an explosion after destroying S.W.O.R.D.'s security tapes and the X-Men took Warbird and departed.
(X-Men Legacy II#5 - BTS / X-Men Legacy II#7 (fb) - BTS) - After Legion teleported a group of Dire Wraiths onto the front lawn of the Jean Grey School to provide a distraction while his astral self entered the building, S.W.O.R.D.'s teletracers sought guilty parties.
(X-Men Legacy II#7 -
BTS) - A S.W.O.R.D. teletracer
identified Legion as a psychic guilt-trace, but Legion led pigeons to
destroy the teletracer.
Legion subsequently traveled to the Church of the Happy Host, where he instilled its members (who had corrupted Blindfold (Ruth Aldine)'s brother, Luca) with memories of the Dire Wraith attack.
(X-Men Legacy II#7) - Sydren accompanied Brand to the Church of the Happy Host in Raleigh, North Carolina, to which their teletracers had tracked the guilt-trail. Brand had Sydren evaluate the Church members, and he considered them to be guilty as he could see the crime in their minds.
Further noted that their may be a religious aspect to this case, and Brand mocked him for this latter declaration being blatantly obvious.
The Church members proudly confessed their activity, but claimed that there was no such thing as aliens (as such things were "illusions from the Satanic minds of mutants"), and Sydren could not believe that they denied his existence despite his physical presence.
Subsequent obvious claims from Sydren were mocked by by other S.W.O.R.D. members.
After Legion's presence was exposed, Brand had Sydren scan him, and Sydren noted that Legion "tassstes of nothing" but that he could sense another entity present in the room (Blindfold). Sydren sensed whispering as Legion and Blindfold reasoned a solution as the Church's attempts to explain their involvement with the Wraith proved lacking.
Legion then noted Brand's relationship with Beast, leading the Church members to spit on Brand, which led Brand to arrest them, as was Legion's original goal.
When one of the S.W.O.R.D. members attempted to
correct an instruction from Brand, Sydren advised him to shut up and
keep walking.
(Captain Marvel VI#13) - Thor engaged a Kree Sentry in Afghanistan and reported that it was "smarter than a picked lutefisk" to Captain America, who stood with Brand and other S.W.O.R.D. agents.
Another agent,
who had similar skin color and stature (but not much more in common)
to
Sydren responsed to the notation that a lutefisk was a fish with
disgust.
I don't see
Sydren in there otherwise (see comments).
(Captain
Marvel VI#14) - Sydren was presumably present as Brand attempted to
destroy New Kree-Lar, a replica of the Kree's capital city,
manifested
from his and Carol Danvers' memories.
I don't see Sydren in there (see
comments).

(Infinity#2)
- After agents of Thanos invaded the Peak, Sydren accompanied Brand in
getting outside the station and ambushing the invaders via an
externally placed bomb.
Brand had Sydren evaluate what had been accessed, and Sydren noted that they had limited themselves to functions routed through this substation, notably low orbital tracking, station alignment, and automated targeting systems.
Brand swiftly realized that they had allowed Thanos' fleet to bypass the Peak unimpeded.
(Infinity: Against the Tide Infinite Comic#2) - Alongside Brand, Sydren met with the Skrull K'eel R'kt, who had been rescued by the Silver Surfer from the devastation of the world Hy'lt Minor caused by the assault of the Builders.
As K'eel related the coming of the Builders to the skeptical
Brand, Sydren corroborated that K'eel was telling what he at least
believed to be true.
(X-Men Legacy II#19 (fb) - BTS) - After having been incapacitated by the X-Men, Legion unwittingly released a dark version of Charles Xavier from its prison within his mind. Legion was was taken to the Peak and held in stasis in S.W.O.R.D. custody for a month.
(X-Men Legacy II#19) - As Aarkus the Aetheric (aka Vision) confronted the revived Legion, Sydren was present along Brand when Legion was awakened.
Sydren sensed
confusion in fear in Legion, which Sydren added to by informing Legion
that an amorous Vdrasi had eaten her husband during a conjugal visit
while awaiting trial.
As Aarkus told Legion of his plan to use the shadow/clutch-mate of the Phoenix to stop the Xavier shade, which would eventually cause humanity to wipe out itself, Sydren noted that he sensed sadness in the tearful Legion.
(X-Men Legacy II#20) - As Legion faced the seeming shadow Phoenix (actually just a meanst to force Legion to merge his collective personae into a more powerful gestalt to stop the Xavier Shade), Sydren noted the obvious pain and fear in Legion, as well as the profound guilt in Aarkus.
As Legion cast out this seeming shadow Phoenix and confronted Brand and Sydren, Sydren noted a "damp warming sensation around my mysterious inhuman junk."
When Legion noted that the explanation was leaking out of Brand's head "quicker' alien pee'll get it your boots," Sydren noted that in his culture, that was a sign of respect.
Sydren subsequently revealed that after they had worked with Blindfold to develop the means to bring Legion to this gestalt state, they wiped Blindfold's memory and sent her home; Brand explained that this was because Blindfold kept bursting into tears when they told her the plan and refused to let them do it, warning that he was going to start "the end."
(X-Men
Legacy II#22)
- As Legion directed the X-Men against the Xavier shade, Sydren sensed
a change in Legion's confidence; as Sydren was oblivious to an incoming
energy blast from the struggle, Brand warned him as she dove to protect
him, shoving him out of the way and taking the blast herself. Alongside
Beast, Sydren looked upon the fallen Brand, believing her to have
perished.
(X-Men Legacy II#23) - Having re-absorbed the Xavier shade and being pushed by it into transforming into the dangerous World Worm, Legion absorbed the minds of Sydren, the X-Men, and others.
(X-Men Legacy II#24 - BTS) - Apparently merging with his final persona, the Weaver, Legion apparently undid/reversed the damage he had done.
(Avengers Undercover#10) - Alongside Brand, Sydren watched in silence as Baron (Helmut) Zemo, having hacked into SHIELD's communication network, publicly broadcast to much of the world, attempting to cause an uprising against SHIELD.
Later, after Cammi Benally thwarted Zemo's plot and then took off into space, Sydren announced as Cammi approached the Peak and asked Brand if she wanted to intercept. Brand instructed Sydren to let Cammi go, as she had earned a vacation.
Comments: Created by Joss Whedon and John Cassaday.
Sydren's appearance varies significantly with different artists; most notably, he is sometimes shown with a long, thick-based tail; othertimes, he apparently has no tail at all.
Despite the clear racial appearance, it
wasn't until Astonishing X-Men#57 that I saw Sydren actually
identified/confirmed as a Drenx.

Both the Marvel Chronology Project and Marvel Database identify Sydren as appearing in Captain Marvel VI#13, with the Database specifically indicating the August, 2013 issue I reviewed.
In #14, I don't see anything Sydren looking...the dome-headed guy looks more like either Arkus or a Sleepwalker...
I see a S.W.O.R.D. agent,
who had similar skin color and stature (but not much more in common)
to
Sydren responding to the explanation that a lutefisk was a fish with
disgust.
I'm not even sure the character on the right is the same as the
character on the left, but neither of them look particularly like
Sydren.
I don't see
Sydren in there otherwise...
The X-Men Legacy series by Spurrier was really hard to follow sometimes. I did the best I could in just reviewing issues with Sydren to piece together what was going on.
This profile was completed 09/30/2021,
but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25th
anniversary 's celebratory event to represent SWORD's characters and
stories.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Sydren should be distinguished from:
Appearances:
Astonishing X-Men#10 (May, 2005) - Joss
Whedon (writer), John Cassaday (artist), Sean Ryan (assistant editor),
Nick Lowe (associate editor), Mike Marts (editor)
Astonishing X-Men#14 (June, 2006) - Joss
Whedon (writer), John Cassaday (artist), Sean Ryan (assistant editor),
Nick Lowe (associate editor), Mike Marts (editor)
Astonishing X-Men#15 (August, 2006) - Joss Whedon (writer), John Cassaday (artist), Sean Ryan
(assistant editor), Nick Lowe (associate editor),
Mike Marts (editor)
Astonishing X-Men#17 (November, 2006) - Joss Whedon (writer), John Cassaday (artistSean
Ryan (assistant editor), Nick Lowe (associate editor),
Mike Marts (editor)
Astonishing X-Men#19-20 (February, 2007) - Joss
Whedon (writer), John Cassaday (artist), Sean Ryan (assistant editor),
Nick Lowe & Andy Schmidt (associate editor),
Axel Alonso (editor)
Astonishing X-Men#22 (October, 2007) - Joss Whedon (writer), John Cassaday (artist), Will Panzo
(assistant editor), Nick Lowe (associate editor),
Axel Alonso (editor)
Astonishing X-Men#23 (January, 2008) - Joss Whedon (writer), John Cassaday (artist), Will Panzo
(assistant editor), Nick Lowe (associate editor),
Axel Alonso (editor)
Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men#1 (July, 2008) - Joss Whedon
(writer), John Cassaday (artist), Will Panzo (assistant editor), Nick
Lowe (associate editor), Axel Alonso (editor)
Astonishing X-Men#32 (January, 2009) - Warren Ellis
(writer), Phil Jimenez (penciler), Andy Lanning (inker), Daniel
Ketchum (associate editor), Axel Alonso
(editor)
S.W.O.R.D.
I#1-5 (January-May, 2010) - Kierron Gillen (writer), Steven Sanders
(penciler), Craig Yeung (inker), Daniel Ketchum (associate editor),
Nick Lowe (editor)
Uncanny
X-Men#536 (June, 2011) - Kierron Gillen (writer), Terry Dodson
(penciler), Rachel Dodson (inker), Jordan D. White (assistant editor),
Daniel Ketchum (associate editor),
Nick Lowe (editor)
Uncanny X-Men II#9 (May, 2012) - Kierron Gillen (writer), Carlos Pacheco
(penciler), Cam Smith (inker), Daniel Ketchum (associate editor),
Nick Lowe (editor)
Uncanny X-Men II#10 (June, 2012) - Kierron Gillen (writer), Carlos Pacheco
&
Paco Diaz (penciler), Cam Smith (inker), Daniel Ketchum (associate
editor),
Nick Lowe (editor)
AVX: Consequence#3 (December, 2012) - Kierron
Gillen (writer), Scot Eaton (penciler), Andrew Hennessy (inker), Jordan
D. White (assistant editor), Daniel Ketchum (associate editor),
Nick Lowe (editor)
Astonishing
X-Men#57 (February, 2013) - Marjorie Liu (writer), Gabriel Hernandez
Walta & Felix Ruiz (artists), Jennifer M. Smith (assistant editor),
Jeanine Schaefer (editor)
X-Men Legacy II#7 (May, 2013) - Simon
Spurrier (writer), Tan Eng Huat (penciler), Craig Yeung (inker),
Jennifer M. Smith (assistant editor), Daniel Ketchum (editor)
Captain
Marvel VI#13 (August, 2013) - Kelly Sue DeConnick (writer), Scott
Hepburn with Gerardo Sandoval (pg2. 12 & 14) (artists), Tom
Brennan
(associate editor), Sana Amanat & Lauren Sankovitch (editors),
Stephen Wacker (senior editor)
Captain
Marvel VI#14 (September, 2013) - Kelly Sue DeConnick (writer), Scott
Hepburn with Gerardo Sandoval (pg2. 12, 13 & 18) (artists), Tom
Brennan
(associate editor), Sana Amanat & Lauren Sankovitch (editors),
Stephen Wacker (senior editor)
Infinity#2
(November, 2013) - Jonathan Hickman (writer), Jerome Opena & Dustin
Weaver (artists), Jake Thomas (assistant editor), Tom Brevoort with Lauren Sankovitch (editors)
Infinity: Against the Tide Infinite Comic#2 (November,
2013) - Jason Latour (writer), Rock-He Kim (artist), Jake Thomas
(assistant editor), Tom Brevoort with Lauren
Sankovitch (editors)
X-Men Legacy II#19-20 (January, 2014) - Simon
Spurrier (writer), Tan Eng Huat (penciler), Craig Yeung (inker), Xander
Jarkowey (assistant editor), Daniel Ketchum (editor)
X-Men Legacy II#22 (March, 2014) - Simon
Spurrier (writer), Khoi Pham (artist), Xander
Jarkowey (assistant editor), Daniel Ketchum (editor)
X-Men Legacy II#23 (March, 2014) - Simon
Spurrier (writer), Tan Eng Huat (penciler), Craig Yeung (inker), Xander Jarkowey (assistant
editor), Daniel Ketchum (editor)
X-Men Legacy II#24 (May, 2014) - Simon
Spurrier (writer), Tan Eng Huat (penciler), Craig Yeung (inker), Xander Jarkowey (assistant
editor), Daniel Ketchum (editor)
Avengers
Undercover#10 (November, 2014) - Dennis Hallum (writer), Tigh Walker
(artist), Jon Moisan (editor), Bill Rosemann (editor)
First posted: 09/06/2026
Last updated: 08/13/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and
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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.!