EBON VEINEBON VEIN
Classification: Extradimensional (Netherplace)
magic item
Creator: Unrevealed, if any
User/Possessors: Kuragari, Tar
First Appearance: (mentioned): Uncanny X-Men I#329 (February, 1996); (seen): Uncanny X-Men I#330 (March,
1996)
Powers/Abilities/Functions: The Ebon Vein
resembled a gigantic heart through which flowed the healing Crimson
Dawn elixir. When one looked into the Ebon Vein, they would be able to
view events occurring on Earth.
History:
(X-Men Unlimited I#12 (fb) - BTS) - Tar, then an initiate in studies on
the Ebon Vein, led his apprentice, Gomurr the Impetuous, in halting a
destructive aspect of the mystic entity Cyttorak, containing it within
a crimson gem. After Cyttorak cursed the gem so that any who touched it
would be his destructive avatar, Tar and Gomurr sealed the gem under a
mountain of rocks, neither trusting the other to not be lured by
Cyttorak's power.
(Uncanny X-Men I#329 - BTS) - Decades later, after their teammate Psylocke was
mortally wounded by Sabretooth, X-Men Wolverine and Archangel met with
mystic Gomurr the Ancient,
to whom Wolverine explained that they were seeking a pint of the
Crimson Dawn elixir from the Ebon Vein. Gomurr insisted that to seek
out the Crimson Dawn elixir was to seek out death and at first refused
to help until Wolverine threatened him with his claws. Gomurr then
reluctantly agreed to help as Dr. Strange arrived to assist as well,
having earlier sensed Wolverine and Archangel's impending mystical
clash.
(Uncanny X-Men I#330/X-Men Unlimited I#12 (fb) - BTS) - Wolverine, Archangel and Dr. Strange were led into the Netherplace dimension by Gomurr the
Ancient. Once there, the foursome sought out of the Ebon Vein in order
to acquire the Crimson Dawn and they were eventually met by Tar,
protector of the Crimson Dawn. Having grown tired of only receiving
visitors when they needed something, Tar killed Gomurr then unleashed
his minions against Wolverine, who had warned Tar to get out of their
way. As Wolverine distracted Tar and battled his minions, Dr. Strange
and Archangel got close to the Ebon Vein itself. Knowing how to save
Psylocke, Dr. Strange had Archangel look into the Ebon Vein to see that
Psylocke was dying. He then told Archangel to pray that he had enough
love in his heart for Psylocke to save her. Mystically reaching into
Archangel's chest, Dr. Strange drew forth a portion of Psylocke's soul
that she had entrusted to Archangel through their love for one another.
Realizing what was happening, Tar insisted Strange had accomplished
nothing without Psylocke being physically present to drink of the
Crimson Dawn, but Dr. Strange reached into the Ebon Vein itself and
released the portion of Psylocke's soul into the Vein. The release of
Psylocke's soul into the Ebon Vein caused the dying Psylocke to
instantly stabilize on Earth and Dr. Strange, Wolverine, Archangel and
a Tar-restored Gomurr were deposited back on Earth via the paper
dragon's portal.
(Psylocke & Archangel: Crimson Dawn#4 (fb)) - Unbeknownst to
Archangel, when the Crimson Dawn's mystical essence was used to save
Psylocke's life, it created an imbalance in Tar's Ebon Vein power base.
Realizing how fragile Tar's hold on the Ebon Vein's power was, the
mystic Kuragari took advantage and plotted to slay Tar.
(Psylocke & Archangel: Crimson Dawn#1) - After killing Tar, the
mystic Kuragari took Tar's throne at the center of the Ebon Vein's
veins and began plotting to take down Psylocke.
(Psylocke & Archangel: Crimson Dawn#3) - After Kuragari
kidnapped Psylocke to be his queen/servant, Gomurr the Ancient
mystically teleported Archangel into the Netherplace realm, where he
arrived near one of the Ebon Vein's veins, which flowed the Crimson
Dawn elixir like a river.
(Psylocke & Archangel: Crimson Dawn#4) - When Gomurr the Ancient
was given proctorship of the Crimson Dawn, he realized that Archangel
must repay the debt that was created when he used the Crimson Dawn to
save Psylocke. Gomurr immediately teleported into Netherplace and took
Archangel to the chamber housing the heart of the Ebon Vein. Explaining
that Archangel must now give back to the Crimson Dawn to repay his
debt, Gomurr pulled forth a portion of Archangel's soul to match that
of Psylocke's that was earlier immersed in the Crimson Dawn. Despite
being annoyed that Gomurr had never told him of such a debt, Archangel
nonetheless released the portion of his soul into the Crimson Dawn, an
act which began to restore Psylocke's mental faculties following
Kuragari's corruption. Archangel then confronted Kuragari personally
and when Kuragari ordered Psylocke to kill Archangel, she managed to
fully shrug off his influence and stabbed Kuragari. Gomarr then
appeared as well and assumed command of Kuragari's Undercloak agents as
rightful proctor to the Crimson Dawn. Following Kuragari's banishment,
Gomurr then returned Archangel and Psylocke to Earth.
Comments: Created by Scott Lobdell, Jeph Loeb, Joe Madureira and Tim Townsend.
Due to some weird wording in various issues, there's
some confusion as to what the
Ebon Vein is, exactly. Wolverine mentions having to "trek" the Ebon
Vein, as if it some sort of dimension, almost like the Winding Way.
Later in the same issue though, it is mentioned that the Ebon Vein is
supposed to be in the heart of "the city," suggesting that the Ebon
Vein is more a thing and not a place. Also, at at least one point in
Uncanny X-Men I#330, the dimension housing the Ebon Vein, Tar and the
Crimson Dawn is referred to as Netherplace, further suggesting that the
Ebon Vein is a thing and not a place. A year after the Vein's
appearance in Uncanny X-Men I#330, the recap pages in Psylocke &
Archangel: Crimson Dawn#1 refers to the Ebon Vein as an elixir and
states that Archangel administered it to Psylocke (which must be a
mistake, as the Crimson Dawn is later mentioned in the same issue as
being used by Archangel to heal Psylocke, further backing up that the
Crimson Dawn is the elixir, not the Ebon Vein). Of course, a line from
Wolverine in that same Crimson Dawn#1 issue again refers to the Ebon
Vein as the elixir, creating more confusion. Also, various mentions of
the Crimson Dawn were equally confusing. It seems as if many writers
(sometimes even the same writer) used the terms Ebon Vein and Crimson
Dawn interchangably, creating all sorts of confusion as to what is
what. The way I see it, the Ebon Vein is the giant heart whose veins
run through the dimension called Netherplace in Uncanny X-Men I#330.
Since the Ebon Vein's veins run throughout Netherplace, it has been
stated by Wolverine that one can "trek the Ebon Vein" by following its
veins. The Crimson Dawn is the red elixir that is inside the Ebon Vein
and its protectors are occasionally referred to as followers of the way
of the Crimson Dawn or it is mentioned that they "serve" the Crimson
Dawn since they guard it.
Profile by Proto-Man.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Ebon Vein should be distinguished from
images: (without ads)
Uncanny X-Men I#330, p16, pan3 (The Ebon Vein, main image)
Uncanny X-Men I#330, p17, pan4 (Dr. Strange reaching into the Ebon Vein)
Psylocke & Archangel: Crimson Dawn#1, p14, pan1 (Ebon Vein's veins, with the Crimson Dawn flowing like a river)
Psylocke & Archangel: Crimson Dawn#4, p12, pan1 (Ebon Vein in its chamber)
Appearances:
Uncanny X-Men I#329 (February, 1996) - Scott Lobdell, Jeph Loeb
(writers), Joe Madureira (pencils), Tim Townsend (inks), Bob Harras
(editor)
Uncanny X-Men I#330 (March, 1996) - Scott Lobdell, Jeph Loeb (writers),
Joe Madureira (pencils), Tim Townsend (inks), Bob Harras (editor)
X-Men Unlimited I#12 (September, 1996) - John Francis Moore (writer),
Steve Epting (pencils), Ariel Olivetti (pencils, inks), Kevin Conrad
(inks), Kelly Corvese (editor)
Psylocke & Archangel: Crimson Dawn#1 (August, 1997) - Ben Raab
(writer), Salvador Larroca (pencils), Art Thibert, Allen Martinez, Sean
Parsons, Hack Shack Studios (inks), Matt Idelson (editor)
Psylocke & Archangel: Crimson Dawn#3 (October, 1997) - Ben Raab
(writer), Salvador Larroca (pencils), Art Thibert, Allen Martinez, Sean
Parsons, Hack Shack Studios (inks), Matt Idelson (editor)
Psylocke & Archangel: Crimson Dawn#4 (November, 1997) - Ben Raab
(writer), Salvador Larroca (pencils), Art Thibert, Allen Martinez, Sean
Parsons, Hack Shack Studios (inks), Matt Idelson (editor)
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Last Updated: 01/09/17
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.!