terce-verdian-committee-sj-fullterce-verdian-committee-sj-face-misupVERDIAN TERCE

Real Name: Verdian Terce

Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (Kinshaan)

Occupation: Advisor to (manipulator of) Princess Sabra, Committee agent

Group Membership: Committee (Notably Anazar Prime), Union of Intelligent Races

Affiliations: Anazar Prime;
    posed as an ally to Princess Sabra

Enemies: Darby & Tolo Hawk, Lenise, Princess Sabra (and likely her father), Starjammers (especially Ch'od; but indirectly Raza, Captain Kalyx and the other Thorns)

Known Relatives: Other members of the Terce family (referenced only)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Died aboard the Kurnit Corona;
    formerly Planet Kinshaa, unidentified star system, unidentified galaxy (not the Shi'ar Galaxy and presumably not the Milky Way or Andromeda, either)terce-verdian-committee-sj-monst-front

First Appearance: Starjammers II#1 (September, 2004)

   

Powers/Abilities: Experienced in the ways and politics of the Union of Intelligent Races, Verdian Terce was arrogant and manipulative, seeking to lead Princess Sabra to facilitate the Committee's goals.

    He took the drug Hyrax, which in low doses facilitated remote communication with others allies who had also taken Hyrax. In high doses, Hyrax transformed him into a monstrous form with superhuman strength and durability as well as sharp teeth and claws.

    However, his human frame could not long contain such energies, and after consuming a high dose, he had minutes in that powerful form before he burst into flames, which would swiftly render him a pile of ashes.

   

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'10"); much heavier in monstrous form (perhaps 9')terce-verdian-committee-sj-face-prof.jpg
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 160 lbs); much heavier in monstrous form (perhaps 400-500')
Eyes: Amber (seemed to vary somewhat)
Hair: White (looked more light blonde in #2)
   

History:
(Starjammers II#1 (fb) - BTS) - Verdian Terce was in the Committee, acting as an advisor to the royal family of planet Kinshaa while they secretly sought to manipulate the rule to their own ends. They additionally used the drug Hyrax -- which was actually the seeds of the Thorn race -- to grant themselves superhuman powers.

(Starjammers II#1 (fb) - BTS) <Four years before the main story> - Terce and the Committee may have been involved in the assassination of the King of Kinshaa (capital world of the Union of Intelligent Races) "by an alien malcontent."

(Starjammers II#1 (fb) - BTS) - Terce escorted and observed the former king's daughter, Princess Sabra, on her extended journey aboard the royal flagship/diplomatic yacht Kurnit Corona to meet with other races. Finally, the ship headed back to Kinshaa.

(Starjammers II#1) - As maitre d' (or perhaps master of ceremonies) Brom announced Darby Hawk and his son, Union Defense Corps cadet Tolo Hawk, Princess Sabra was pleased that they finally had someone her own age (and halfway pleasant to look at) to sit at the table with her, but Terce advised her that he was a mere cadet and that she should not get carried away.

    As he approached Terce, Darby Hawk appreciated by his uniform that he was a member of the Committee and by his insignia that he was a Terce. Verdian identified himself, noting that he served the Committee, which served the princess. When Darby noted he had been promoted to a clerk working for the Bureau of Alien Affairs on Kinshaa and suggested that perhaps their would paths, Terce coldly replied, "Highly unlikely..."

    After Princess Sabra noted that her father had been assassinated, Terce added that that was why they must remain forever vigilant: "The populace loves Princess Sabra, and she has gone on this long peregrination to quell their unruliness. But out here, there are different rules...and the lawless drug runners." He further noted that they were especially concerned about the illicit trade in the narcotic Hyrax.terce-verdian-committee-sj-monst-face.jpg

    When Sabra noted that on Kinshaa, she would formerly become ruler, Terce added that she would be a ruler whose primary duty was to be the official spokesperson for the Committee. He further added that the Committee had taken care of the problem of nonhuman malcontents like the former king's assassin, but that their largest current concern was the random and increasingly violent incidents of piracy in the space lanes.

    At Tolo Hawk's query, Terce confirmed that this involved the Starjammers, they were led by a monstrous race of deadly plant creatures known as the Thorns, although they had attracted a variety of other alien misfits as well. Nonetheless, he assured Princess Sabra that the Committee would protect her and that their Union Defense Corps was the most efficient military system the galaxy had ever known.

terce-verdian-committee-sj-monst-vchod    With a clap of his hands, he summoned the Blackstars, the elite guard of the UDC, and, after praising their abilities, he had them demonstrate their superiority via the slaughter of a captured Thorn. He subsequently excused himself for important Committee work in his cabin.

    Within his cabin, Terce consumed at least one dose of Hyrax, after which he used a communication device to request an audience with his master, Anazar Prime, and the "Full Committee."

    Anazar noted that they had all consumed Hyrax and that their thoughts were sharp and Terce's communication clear, and he asked what Terce had to report.

    Terce confirmed that Sabra would be easily manipulated to serve their purposes, as they hoped, and that she would not be a problem like her father was. However, he advised that Sabra's lawyer and bodyguard, Lenise, watched her too closely and could cause difficulties.

    Anazar replied that they could remove Lenise via disgrace or assassination as needed and that -- in the princess' name -- they had issued instructions to the corps to search out and crush any hint of support for the Starjammers.

    Terce added that they may be required to perform certain selective genocide operations..."just to ensure that our point is understood." Anazar was pleased when Terce told him that his trip had been successful and that the Kurnit Corona contained a large Hyrax cargo, although it was not on their manifesto.terce-verdian-committee-sj-monst-burn

(Starjammers II#1 - BTS) - Tolo Hawk knocked on Terce's door, asking to discuss any advice he might have for his future in the corps. Terce either did not hear him or just ignored him, but regardless, he did not reply, and Tolo assumed that he had already gone to bed.

    Seeking to recover the Hyrax cargo, the Starjammers boarded the Kurnit Corona.

(Starjammers II#2 - BTS) - Lenise led Princess Sabra to flee the Kurnit Corona.

(Starjammers II#2 - BTS) - As Ch'od sought out Terce, Terce took a handful of Hyrax, transforming him into a powerful monstrous form (see comments) to face his foe. Terce briefly battered Ch'od before the power began to burn him out, and he burst into flames until only ashes were left behind.

Comments: Created by Kevin J. Anderson and Ale' Garza.

    The 2004 Starjammers initially seemed to me that it might not be Reality-616, but there were no direct contradictions, just odd variations from the status quo. The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe explained it thusly, "While Corsair took a leave of absence from the crew, the Starjammers found themselves lost in another galaxy and briefly joined Kalyx and his race the Thorns in opposing the Committee’s genocidal use of Thorn seedlings as the illegal drug Hyrax."

    I plan to profile the Thorns for an upcoming Arbor Day, and I'll do my best to sort out the details of Hyrax and the Thorns at that time.

    The intro/recap page in Starjammers#2 stated that in the previous issue, Verdian had revealed that the Committee planned to murder Princess Sabra before her coronation and blame the act on the Starjammers.
    I did not see any mention of that by Terce or anyone else in Starjammers#1. I only re-reviewed the first two issues for this profile, but maybe this plan was later shown in story and only first revealed during this recap.

    I had initially thought the consumption of a high dose of Hyrax had transformed Verdian into a form mimicking that of the Thorns. However, In re-reviewing it, I think his form was perhaps hairy rather that thorny, and he had digitigrade legs (standing on his digits, with the metatarsals and tarsi (hocks/ankles) elevated) as well as sharp, white teeth, which the Thorns all lacked. Or, is it fur vs. thorny exterior? It's not clear to me.

    This profile was completed 06/02/2026, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25th anniversary 's celebratory event.
    Thanks to Loki for suggesting Verdian Terce to represent the Starjammers characters and stories for the event.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Verdian Terce should be distinguished from:

images: (without ads)
Starjammers II#1, pg. 3, panel 2 (face, profile);
       pg. 5, panel 6 (face, mildly surprised);
       pg. 8, panel 2 (full);
    #2, pg. 10, panel 2 (monstrous form, grappling with Ch'od; showing face/teeth)
          panel 3 (monstrous form, posterior oblique, punching Ch'od back);
        pg. 11, panel 2 (frontal, throwing Ch'od);
        pg. 12, panel 3 (burning) 
Appearances:
Starjammers II#1 (September, 2004) - Kevin J. Anderson (writer), Ale' Garza (penciler), Sean Parsons (inker), Stephanie Moore (editor)
Starjammers II#2 (October, 2004) - Kevin J. Anderson (writer), Jorge Lucas (artist), Stephanie Moore (editor), Mike Marts (supervising editor)

First posted: 09/24/2026
Last updated: 06/02/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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