PROFITEERPROFITEER
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (unidentified
race)
Occupation: Arms dealer, casino owner/operator
Group Membership: Elders of
the Universe (The Fallen One/Tryco Slatterus, Grandmaster/En Dwi Gast, others)
Affiliations: The Fallen One (Tryco Slatterus), Medi-Bots, Werman, her clients;
formerly Jo-Venn, N'Kalla
Enemies: Avengers (Black
Panther/T'Challa, Captain America/Steve Rogers, Captain Marvel/Carol
Danvers, Ghost Rider/Robbie Reyes, Iron Man/Tony Stark,
She-Hulk/Jennifer Walters, Thor/Thor Odinson), Captain Val-Lorr, Emperor Stote, Empress Victoria, Fantastic Four (Human
Torch/Johnny Storm, Invisible Woman/Sue Richards, Mister Fantastic/Reed
Richards, Thing/Ben Grimm), Zoralis Gupa, Hulkling (Dorrek VIII/Teddy Altman),
Jo-Venn, Marvel Boy
(Noh-Varr of Reality-200080), Alicia Masters Grimm, the New Fantastic
Four
(Brainstorm/Valeria Richards, Powerhouse/Franklin Richards,
Spider-Man/Peter Parker, Wolverine/James Howlett), N'Kalla, Nova Prime
(Richard Rider), Oracle-2, Peacebringer, Rocket Raccoon, Nymbis
Sternhoof, Super-Skrull (Kl'rt)
Known Relatives: En Dwi Gast (Grandmaster,
brother), Va Nee
Gast (Voyager, niece) (possibly, see
comments)
Aliases: "Boss," "Karen," "Lady," "Ma'am;"
impersonated Lani Ko Ako
Base of Operations: The Casino Cosmico, outer
space
First Appearance: Empyre: Fantastic Four#0
(September, 2020)
Powers/Abilities: The Profiteer, like the other Elders of the Universe, is unable to die and has lived for at least many centuries, if not much, much longer. While not displayed, the Profiteer likely has the ability to survive in the vacuum of space unaided, much like the other Elders of the Universe.
The Profiteer is capable of changing her form at will and can telepathically mask her thoughts from others.
The Profiteer has centuries worth of knowledge about
extraterrestrial weapons and the management of finances, including
those earned from a casino.
As the owner/operator of the Casino Cosmico, the
Profiteer has access to the Casino's advanced technology, including a
holographic, changing arena, sophisticated medical equipment and
fast-traveling interstellar spacecraft. She also has an extremely vast
amount of extraterrestrial wealth, acquired through various means.
She is capable of summoning henchmen to her side but
whether this is an inherent superhuman power (as most Elders of the
Universe have the power of teleportation) or merely due to
teleportation technology within the Casino Cosmico remains unclear.
Height: Unrevealed (approximately 6'3")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 180 lbs.)
Eyes: Purple-gray
Hair: Black with white streaks
History: (Empyre: Fantastic Four#0 (fb) - BTS)
- The Elder of the Universe known as the Profiteer devoted her entire
life to the acquisition of wealth.
(Empyre Fallout: Fantastic Four#1 (fb) - BTS) - For
centuries, the Profiteer provided arms for both the extraterrestrial
Kree and their enemies, the Skrulls, for use during the long-lasting
Kree/Skrull War. Profiting off the fighting, the Profiteer helped
escalate the deadliest arms race in the known universe. At some point,
the Profiteer brokered a deal with Kree Colonel Kal-Torr and Skrull
General J'Bahzz to conscript the two races' living chronicles, Jo-Venn
and N'Kalla, into her service so that they could be raised together
fighting one another.
(Empyre: Fantastic Four#0 (fb) - BTS) - At some
point, the Profiteer took over ownership of the cosmic Casino Cosmico
from her brother, the Grandmaster. From the Casino, the Profiteer began
regular re-enactments of the Kree/Skrull War using Jo-Venn and N'Kalla
and profiting from wagers placed on the battles.
(Empyre: Fantastic Four#0) - The Profiteer welcomed
numerous aliens to her Casino Cosmico to place bets on a Kree/Skrull
War re-enactment in the form of wagering the outcome of a gladiatorial
battle between the Kree Jo-Venn and Skrull N'Kalla. Once she introduced
her patrons to the challengers, the Profiteer asked them to choose the
battlefield and the wagerers chose the Lava Wastes of Lorkanna Six.
Finding the location interesting, the Profiteer informed her patrons
that the location historically favored the Skrulls but wondered aloud
if the fates would favor the Kree this time. She then asked the patrons
to place their bets as the battle began. When the Kree quickly defeated
the Skrull, forcing N'Kalla into life-sustaining stasis, the Profiteer
summoned her Medi-Bot and asked how long it would take to have N'Kalla
patched up. Learning that it would take two or three hours, a
disappointed Profiteer thanked her patrons for their wagers and
informed them that the next fight would be in three hours, promising
that, at Casino Cosmico, the Kree/Skrull War never ended. Later
visiting the medical bay, the Profiteer checked on her combatants and
was informed that Jo-Venn's injuries were worse than initially thought.
Asking about N'Kalla's throats, the Profiteer admitted that she didn't
want N'Kalla to have an obvious weak spot and the Medi-Bots replied
their understanding of her orders. When the Profiteer explained how her
gladiatorial fights had to continue or her clients would grow bored,
her assistant Werman suggested postponing the next fight to give
Jo-Venn and N'Kalla time to recuperate, much as Grandmaster would do.
The angry Profiteer sternly reminded Werman that the Grandmaster was no
longer the owner and that to him, the Casino Cosmico was nothing more
than a game, and that it was a lucrative business for her. The
Profiteer then asked who was on the title card for that night's fight.
Later that night, the Profiteer announced another fight between Jo-Venn and N'Kalla as a Kree/Skrull War re-enactment, unaware that the Fantastic Four were in the Casino Cosmico, having been towed there when their ship had trouble. During the fight, the Thing realized Jo-Venn and N'Kalla were nothing more than children and leapt into the arena to stop the fight. The Profiteer refused to have interference in her battle and decided to change the parameters of the fight for her profit, announcing the Thing and Human Torch as surprise guest combatants. While the Thing insisted that the Profiteer could not profit off of his name, as he owned the trademark, Mister Fantastic confronted the Profiteer personally, asking if she was responsible for the collapse of the cosmic economy. Claiming that she was actually keeping the economy going, the Profiteer proclaimed that she had to keep the Kree/Skrull War going as the fights were the "gold standard" of the universe, contributing to the rebuilding of extraterrestrial infrastructures, scientific and medical advancements, and weaponry. The Profiteer then summoned some of her henchmen to attack Mister Fantastic, remarking on how Mister Fantastic would be shown the advances in weaponry. Announcing that she took the Fantastic Four's interference in her business very personally, the Profiteer admitted to forcing the Kree and Skrull children to fight one another in hopes of causing the recent Kree/Skrull alliance to fail. When Werman interrupted by electronically communicating with the Profiteer, Mister Fantastic took advantage of the distraction to swat the Profiteer aside. He then used her control console to reprogram the battlefield to resemble the Blue Area of the Moon and Thing and Human Torch, allowed themselves to be defeated by Jo-Vann and N'Kalla together, forcing them into an alliance. The Profiteer then took Mister Fantastic captive and announced her plans to continue using Jo-Venn and N'Kalla in fights but Thing and Human Torch confronted her as well. The Profiteer assured the heroes they would not her leave the Casino Cosmico alive, only to learn that Franklin and Valeria Richards had broke the bank gambling and now pretty much owned the Casino. Invisible Woman then had Franklin and Valeria offer to return the Casino to the Profiteer in exchange for freeing Jo-Venn and N'Kalla and filling the Fantastic Four's ship with fuel. The Profiteer reluctantly agreed to the deal and Jo-Venn and N'Kalla promised to someday return to kill the Profiteer.
(Fantastic Four VI#21 - BTS) - When Franklin and Valeria Richards crashed in Earth's Yancy Street while escorting Jo-Venn and N'Kalla to their home, a fight broke out between the two and at one point, Jo-Venn claimed to be a Kree warrior, prompting Valeria to remind Jo-Venn that she had personally freed him from the Profiteer. As Valeria took advantage of Jo-Venn's sense of honor by claiming she was being dishonored by Jo-Venn's behavior, Jo-Venn calmed down and admitted Valeria was right.
(Fantastic Four VI#23 - BTS) - After Jo-Venn and N'Kalla were used by the Cotati to force the Kree/Skrull War animosity into the soldiers of the Kree/Skrull alliance via an Omni-Wave Projector, they used their own individual histories together to remind the alliance of the importance of working together, thereby ending the threat. Following the battle, Jo-Venn and N'Kalla proclaimed themselves in the Richards family's debt for not only freeing them from the Profiteer's pits but also for saving them from each other.
(Empyre Fallout: Fantastic Four#1) - Following the
end of the Cotati war on Earth, several Earth heroes questioned the
Cotati Celestial Messiah Quoi about his armies' weapons and Mister
Fantastic decided to call the Profiteer for assistance in identifying
who made the Cotati's weapons. Upon arriving, the Profiteer asked if
Jo-Venn and N'Kalla missed her and the two children tensed up, ready to
fight her. Mister Fantastic assured the other heroes that the Profiteer
was no threat with so many heroes around and the Profiteer then went
ahead and looked over the Cotati weapon the heroes had confiscated.
Explaining how she had once profited off the Kree/Skrull War, the
Profiteer proclaimed that she could place the weapon but her knowledge
came at a hefty price. Thor then interrupted, exclaiming that he grew
tired of the proceedings and wished to be rid of Quoi and the Cotati.
While Thor saw to Quoi's banishment, the Profiteer began looking
through the Cotati crates to examine their weaponry.
Later, the heroes met again with the Profiteer, who asked if anyone wanted to wager on what she had learned about the Cotati weapons. Thing suggested she get on with her analysis, prompting the Profiteer to announce that, despite all of her experience with weapons and knowledge as an Elder of the Universe, she had no idea what the weapons were. She then explained that the weapons' power source was something ancient, even older than any of the Elders of the Universe, and decided that her payment for analyzing the weapons would be not only the crystalline batteries that powered the weapons, but also Jo-Venn and N'Kalla. The Avengers and Fantastic Four refused to turn over the children and the Profiteer insisted that the children had been conscripted to her services and the heroes could either return the children or risk battling both the Kree and Skrull Empires over the deal she had long ago brokered. Honorary Avenger and now Emperor of the Kree/Skrull alliance Hulkling grabbed the children's conscription papers from the Profiteer and announced that the only problem was that the Kree and Skrull Empires no longer existed separately. Explaining to the shocked Profiteer that he was the leader of the Kree/Skrull alliance, Hulkling announced that the alliance no longer had need of the Profiteer's services and bid the Profiteer goodbye as she departed at extremely fast speed. The heroes soon departed as well and the Unseen examined the left behind Cotati weapons himself, soon determining that the Profiteer was right about the weapons' power source being extremely ancient.
(Guardians
of the Galaxy VI#7 (fb) - BTS) - The Profiteer posed as the Badoon
Sisterhood's Lani Ko Ako in an effort to prevent an extraterrestrial
alliance that might impede her weapons sales.
Arranging events so that the meeting would descend into chaos and
warrant more weapon sales, the Profiteer designed and distributed a
weapon to the Kree Captain Val-Lorr that would slay its wielder if he
or she fired on a Utopian Kree. In her role as Lani Ko Ako, she
attended a "meeting of the Galactic Powers" aboard the Proscenium in
the unaffiliated space at the Galactic Rim alongside various other
intergalactic representatives, only to secretly change forms and murder
Zn'rx Emperor Stote in the bathroom.
(Guardians of the Galaxy VII#7 -
BTS / (Guardians of the Galaxy VII#8 (fb) - BTS) - Noh-Varr discovered
Stote seconds before he died, noting that one of the delegates was a
shapechanger. Assuming Noh-Varr to be the murderer, Val-Lorr fired on
him and was slain by his own weapon (distributed by the Profiteer).
(Guardians of the Galaxy VII#8) - During the subsequent investigation into the double murder, Mentacle telepathically confirmed that Oracle, Noh-Varr, Kl'rt and Zoralis Gupa were all innocent. After Peacebringer set off a countdown on its explosives, intending to offer peace in the form of quick and merciful death, impartial investigator Rocket Raccoon correctly identified "Lani Ko Ako" as an impostor and as the Profiteer, having masked her thoughts from all of the telepaths in the room. Reports of assaults by Knull stripping multiple planets of life in moments convinced the Profiteer to abandon the idea of causing war as recent events could bankrupt the galactic economy and make the various races unable to afford the Profiteer's weapons. She therefore teleported away with the Peacebringer, saving all of those present in the Proscenium.
(Fantastic Four VI#31 - BTS) - As N'Kalla woke up on Earth in the home of Ben and Alicia Grimm, she remarked to herself how she was spending another day waking in a soft, human bed worlds away from the Profiteer and her fighting pits. When Alicia mentioned her intention to teach N'Kalla and Jo-Venn how to sculpt, N'Kalla at first laughed due to her entire life spent sculpting her own flesh as a shapeshifter before going into the story of her life prior to being traded to the Profiteer and how much Alicia meant to her.
(Fantastic Four VI#37 (fb) - BTS) - The Profiteer returned to the Casino Cosmico to learn the casino had went broke.
(Fantastic Four VI#37) - Frustrated
at her Casino being broke, the Profiteer demanded to know how it
happened and when one of her underlings remarked that no one had been
coming to the casino, an angry Profiteer hurled her drink at the
apologetic lackey. Resigned to the fact that no one wanted to take
risks anymore in a stable cosmic economy, the Profiteer began
brainstorming on how to bring people back into her casino. After seeing
video footage of N'Kalla and Jo-Venn fighting one another, the
Profiteer determined that bringing them back to her fighting pits was
exactly what the Casino Cosmico needed.
A short time
later, the Profiteer sent a battle cruiser to Earth on Halloween night
to reacquire N'Kalla and Jo-Venn. Declaring her previous agreement null
and void, the Profiteer (appearing in holographic form) announced plans
to reclaim Jo-Venn and N'Kalla as her "property" before unleashing a
swarm of armored soldiers. When the Profiteer's soldiers captured
N'Kalla, Jo-Venn went berserk and killed several of the other soldiers,
prompting the Profiteer to exclaim that only she may kill her soldiers.
She then insisted that if she could not have Jo-Venn and N'Kalla then
no one could as she ordered her battle cruiser to fire all weapons.
Before the cruiser could fire, however, Spider-Man and Human Torch
arrived and helped destroy the cruiser. The Thing then assured the
remaining Profiteer soldiers that while their ship was destroyed, they
would get the soldiers back to their boss, and he warned that if the
Profiteer ever came after Jo-Venn and N'Kalla again, he would make it
personal.
(Immortal Thor I Annual#1 (fb) -
BTS) - At some point, the Elder of the Universe Fallen One became
indebted to the Profiteer and she tasked him with working off his debt
by participating in her fighting pits in an effort to improve the
Casino Cosmico's floundering profits.
(Immortal
Thor I Annual#1) - After the Casino Cosmico began to somewhat regain
its monetary footing, the Profiteer spoke to its patrons about the
night's gladiatorial fight and attempted to goad them into placing
bets. While introducing the battle's first fighter, Killkrab, the
Profiteer was annoyed to witness the other fighter, fellow Elder of the
Universe the Fallen One, dispatch Killkrab within seconds. Following
the fight, the Profiteer met with the depressed Fallen One, who felt he
could do better than a three second victory. Suspecting he was losing
his edge after breaking a sweat against the Profiteer's cyborgs, the
Fallen One asked what his fellow Elder saw when she looked at him and
the Profiteer replied that she saw only a loss leader that was barely
bringing in new business to her casino. She then remarked that his
quick victories were costing her ticket sales and that he would never
work off his debt at that rate. The Fallen One responded by requesting
a vacation in exchange for a real show in which he would battle the
cosmic powers of the universe using a reacquired Power Stone.
Comments: Created by Dan Slott, R.B. Silva and Sean Izaakse.
The Profiteer referred to the Grandmaster as her brother but it was not clear if the Grandmaster was her biological brother or if she meant that the Grandmaster was her "brother" in terms of her fellow Elder of the Universe. It wouldn't be the first time the Elders of the Universe have referred to their fellows as non-biological siblings.
This profile was completed 10/16/2020, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Proto-Man (Guardians of the Galaxy updates by Snood).
CLARIFICATIONS:
Profiteer has no known connections to:
images: (without ads)
Empyre: Fantastic Four#0, p1, pan1-3 (Profiteer, main image)
Empyre: Fantastic Four#0, p18, pan2 (Profiteer, headshot)
Empyre: Fantastic Four#0, p23-24, pan1 (Profiteer battling Mr.
Fantastic)
Empyre Fallout: Fantastic Four#1, p6, pan1 (Profiteer with a Saurid)
Guardians of the Galaxy VI#8, p2-3, pan1 (Profiteer posing as Lani Ko Ako)
Fantastic Four VI#37, p1, pan2 (Profiteer throwing a drink)
Immortal Thor I Annual#1, p3, pan3 (Profiteer looking annoyed)
Appearances:
Empyre: Fantastic Four#0 (September, 2020) - Dan Slott (writer), R.B.
Silva, Sean Izaakse (art), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Fantastic Four VI#21 (September, 2020) - Dan Slott (writer), Paco
Medina, Sean Izaakse (art), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Fantastic Four VI#23 (November, 2020) - Dan Slott (writer), Paco Medina
(art), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Empyre Fallout: Fantastic Four#1 (November, 2020) - Dan Slott (writer),
Sean Izaakse (art), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Guardians of the Galaxy VI#7 (December, 2020) - Al Ewing (writer), Marcio Takara (art), Darren Shan, Mark Basso (editors)
Guardians of the Galaxy VI#8 (January, 2021) - Al Ewing (writer), Marcio Takara (art), Darren Shan, Mark Basso (editors)
Fantastic Four VI#31 (June, 2021) - Dan Slott (writer), R.B. Silva (art), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Fantastic Four VI#37 (December, 2021) - Dan Slott (writer), Nico Leon (art), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Immortal Thor I Annual#1 (September, 2024) - Al Ewing (writer), David Baldeon (art), Michelle Marchese (editor)
First Posted: 09/29/2021
Last updated: 06/24/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
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