SRENESKIAN race SRENESKIAN race
Classification: Humanoid extraterrestrial race
Location/Base of Operations: Planet Srenesk, unidentified star system, presumably within the Milky Way galaxy
Known Members: Mentor, unidentified message carrier;
the Council of Elders are apparently shown in the main image
Affiliations: Formerly the being that would become Omega (the Unknown)
Enemies: Inadvertently destroyed by the being that would become Omega (the Unknown);
they misinterpreted the Protar as attacking invaders
First Appearance: (Unidentified) Omega the Unknown I#1 (March, 1976);
(identified) Defenders I#77 (November, 1979)
Powers/Abilities: The Sreneskians were very similar to terrestrial humans in appearance, although only "Caucasian/pink/'white'" forms were shown.
They had advanced scientific abilities, including the ability to instill the ability to manipulate their planet's biosphere into an individual being.
They may have possessed ships with interstellar transport capacity.
Traits: The Sreneskians had an advanced society dedicated to science and culture, although they possessed a warrior caste. Many, if not all, of the warrior caste took a vow of silence, and the ability to maintain that vow despite pressure or desire to speak was considered highly honorable.
Sreneskian society was much more ordered than humanity's, and their highly structured socialization process minimized emotional reactions.
Funerals were apparently not part of Sreneskian society.
X3Z considered the Sreneskian society to have approached perfection.
Type: Bilaterally symmetric humanoids
Eyes: Two (on head; light blue color seen)
Fingers: Four (plus opposing thumb)
Toes: Unrevealed (presumably five)
Skin color: Pink (mirroring human Caucasian)
Average height: Approximately 5'10"?
History:
(Defenders
I#77 (fb) - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#14: Omega)
- When the planet
Protaris’ living mechanical inhabitants discovered that, as they had
reached the end of their evolution, they would be unable to adapt to
the radically changing conditions and climate of their world so that within a
relatively short number of years, the Protar would find it
uninhabitable.
Defenders I#77 (fb) - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#14: Omega) - The Protar planned to create a new organic race through bioengineering that would be be able to adapt to perpetuate their culture.
(Defenders I#77 (fb) - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#14: Omega) - They constructed a number of prototypes of living, sentient beings, each more truly humanoid than the previous one.and each in the form of a different sentient being whom the Protar knew to exist on another planet.
(Defenders I#77 (fb) - BTS) - The Protar sent each prototype in turn to the respective world with analogous life forms, starting with the least humanoid one. As each model was to think itself a real part of the world on which they had placed it, both the models and the inhabitants of the planets on which the models were placed would be unaware of their true natures and involvement in their project.
(Defenders I#77 (fb) - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#14: Omega) - Each prototype would learn about its adopted culture, and then transfer its experiences "up the chain" to the next, more advanced prototype.
(Defenders I#77 (fb) - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#14: Omega) - The X3Z (Omega; translated from the Protarian alphabet and system of numbering) model was created on Protaris and sent to Srenesk, a planet uniquely suited to teaching him concepts of morality and nobility.
(Defenders I#77 (fb) - BTS) - The X3Z model acclimated to planet Srenesk and joined its protective Warrior Caste, taking a vow of silence.
(Omega the Unknown I#2 (fb) - BTS) - At least per X3Z's perception, the Sreneskians approached perfection.
(Omega the Unknown I#4 (fb) - BTS) - Sreneskian society was much more ordered than humanity's, and their highly structured socialization process minimized emotional reactions.
(Omega the Unknown I#4 (fb) - BTS) - Funerals were apparently not part of Sreneskian society.
(Defenders I#77 (fb) - BTS / Omega the Unknown I#1 (fb) - BTS) - The final, purely biological model, human facsimile James-Michael Starling, was sent to Earth where he was raised in an isolated environment in Pennsylvania's Appalachians by a pair of androids in human form (although James-Michael believed them to be his real parents).
(Defenders I#77 (fb) - BTS) - All information from prior models was passed to model X3Z.
(Defenders I#77 (fb) - BTS) - Considered the pinnacle of his warrior caste, X3Z (his name on Srenesk has not been revealed) was chosen...
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#14: Omega) - ...by the elders of Srenesk...
(Defenders I#77 (fb) - BTS) - ...for the honor of being the first of their people to receive the power of manipulating biospheric energy, tapped from Srenesk's life force.
(Defenders
I#77 (fb)) - Sreneskian official Mentor complimented the warrior (X3Z) as he maintained
his vow of silence even with the honor they were going to bestow upon
him. Mentor noted his excitement at the miracles the warrior would bring them.
(Defenders I#77 (fb) - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#14: Omega) - Checking in on X3Z, the Protar appreciated that such power was too great for X3Z or any being to control, and that there was the added danger that X3Z would pass on the power to their last model and destroy their work. The Protar resolved that X3Z must be removed from Srenesk before he received the power, or else both he and the final model would be able to destroy their worlds.
However, despite their efforts, the Protar did not arrive in time.
(Defenders I#77 (fb)) - The Srenesk completed their treatments, considering that X3Z would be the first of a new type of being. As Mentor prepared to test X3Z's new power, another Sreneskian rushed in, announcing that they were attacked by creatures from beyond (the Protar, who were mistaken for conquerors), who had suddenly cut through their defenses, and that they didn't have time to mobilize against them.
Mentor resolved that their super-warrior would battle the invaders instead, and he instructed X3Z to use the force of the bio-sphere to bring their attackers down from the sky.
(Omega the Unknown I#1)
- X3Z battled the Protar on Srenesk. 
(Defenders I#77 (fb)) - As Omega readied his power, the alteration in the biosphere grew bolder, more disruptive, until chaos raged around the world, the force of the world being drawn into him, until the energy -- the creative force -- could no longer be disciplined, no longer held in check...
(Omega the Unknown I#1) - Ultimately, the energies within X3Z were released through omega-symbol-like energy patterns in his palms, "ravaging, mindless, uncontrollable."
(Defenders I#77 (fb)) - X3Z's power, as anticipated, overwhelmed him, destroying all Sreneskians (and their civilization) but himself, who was at the eye of the storm; the Protar also survived.
(Omega the Unknown I#1) - Distraught at the energy release's effects, X3Z dropped to a knee, and he was subdued by a blast from behind by one of the Protar.
(Omega the Unknown I#1 (fb) - BTS) - X3Z was bound in energy manacles.
(Omega
the Unknown I#1 - BTS) - At
the same time,
the 12-year-old
James-Michael Starling was at home and received a clear vision of X3Z's
fight during his sleep but, unaware of his true nature and that the
vision was due to his psionic link with X3Z, he believed it was
a dream.
(Omega the Unknown I#1 - BTS) - Starling was in a car accident where he discovered that the truth about his "parents" when the decapitated robotic head of his mother spoke to him before melting (both parents' forms melted, leaving no evidence of their presence). Distraught, Starling lapsed into a coma.
(Omega the Unknown I#1 / Defenders I#77 (fb)) - Awakening, X3Z heard the Protar noting that he was locked into his Srenesk identity, that X3Z believed they were the ones to have destroyed this world, and that his power had been passed to the final model.
(Defenders I#77 (fb)) - The Protar declared that the project was ended and that they must destroy both X3Z and the final model.
(Omega the Unknown I#1) - X3Z broke free, fought his way past the Protar, and reached a ship, from which he departed Srenesk, incinerating nearby Protar in the ship's plume.
(Omega the Unknown I#1 (fb) - BTS / Defenders I#77 (fb)) - Having learned the Protar intended to destroy him and James-Michael, now 12 years old, X3Z traveled to Earth to protect the boy.
Comments: Created by Steve Gerber, Mary Skrenes and Jim Mooney.
The names of the Protar (and planet Protaris) and the Sreneskians (and planet Srenesk) were revealed in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#14's Omega entry.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Sreneskians should be distinguished from:
(Defenders I#77 (fb) - BTS) - Considered the pinnacle of his warrior caste, X3Z (his name on Srenesk has not been revealed) was chosen... Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#14: Omega) - ...by the elders of Srenesk... (Defenders I#77 (fb) - BTS) - ...for the honor of being the first of their people to receive the power of manipulating biospheric energy, tapped from Srenesk's life force. (Defenders I#77 (fb)) - Sreneskian official Mentor complimented X3Z as he maintained his vow of silence even with the honor they were going to bestow upon him. He noted his excitement at the miracles he would bring them. (Defenders I#77 (fb) - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#14: Omega) - Checking in on X3Z, the Protar appreciated that such power was too great for X3Z or any being to control, and that there was the added danger that X3Z would pass on the power to their last model and destroy their work. The Protar resolved that X3Z must be removed from Srenesk before he received the power, or else both he and the final model would be able to destroy their worlds..."and we, who sought to form an ideal race, will have created monsters instead." However, despite their efforts, the Protar did not arrive in time. (Defenders I#77 (fb)) - The Srenesk completed their treatments, considering that X3Z would be the first of a new type of being. As a Sreneskian official, Mentor, prepared to test X3Z's new power, another Sreneskian rushed in, announcing that they were attacked by creatures from beyond (the Protar, who were mistaken for conquerors), who had suddenly cut through their defenses, and that they didn't have time to mobilize against them. Mentor resolved that their super-warrior would battle the invaders instead, and he instructed X3Z to use the force of the bio-sphere to bring their attackers down from the sky. (Defenders I#77 (fb)) - As Omega readied his power, the alteration in the biosphere grew bolder, more disruptive, until chaos raged around the world, the force of the world being drawn into him, until the energy -- the creative force -- could no longer be disciplined, no longer held in check... (Omega the Unknown I#1) - Ultimately, the energies within X3Z were released through omega-symbol-like energy patterns in his palms, "ravaging, mindless, uncontrollable." (Defenders I#77 (fb)) - X3Z's power, as anticipated, overwhelmed him, destroying all Sreneskians (and their civilization) but himself, who was at the eye of the storm; the Protar also survived.--Defenders I#77 Note: He is also shown in the image of X3Z being honored in the main image. |
 |  | Srenesk is apparently an Earth-like planet with comparable gravity and atmosphere. While at least some of the Sreneskians dwelled within an advanced cities, a portion of the planet was covered by a rocky, mountainous desert-like environment. (Defenders I#77 (fb)) - X3Z, the being who would become known as Omega (the Unknown) on Earth, was sent to Srenesk as part of plan to develop a fully humanoid species to perpetuate the robotic Protar's existence. Considered the pinnacle of the Sreneskians warrior caste, X3Z was chosen as the first to receive their biospheric energy manipulation power. The Protar correctly predicted that X3Z could not handle such power. (Omega the Unknown I#1 / Defenders I#77 (fb)) - When the Protar tried to halt the procedure, their too late arrival was perceived as an invasion, and X3Z's utilization of the biospheric power resulted in the destruction of Srenesk's biosphere, apparently slaying the entire Sreneskian population. --Omega the Unknown I#1 (Defenders I#77 (fb) / Omega the Unknown I#1 |  |  |
 (Defenders
I#77 (fb)) - As Mentor prepared to test X3Z's new power, another
Sreneskian rushed in, announcing that they were attacked by creatures
from beyond (the Protar, who were mistaken for conquerors), who had
suddenly cut through their defenses, and that they didn't have time to
mobilize against them. --Defenders I#77 |
  (Omega the Unknown I#1) - After his biospheric power unwittingly wiped out the Sreneskians, X3Z blamed the Protar. X3Z fought his way past them and reached a ship, from which he departed Srenesk, incinerating nearby Protar in the ship's plume. (Omega the Unknown I#1 (fb) - BTS / Defenders I#77 (fb)) - Having learned the Protar intended to destroy him and the final model in his line, James-Michael, now 12 years old, X3Z traveled to Earth to protect the boy. (Omega the Unknown I#4 - BTS) - The narrative noted that Omega still had the ship that brought him to Earth and that he could depart if he wished. --Omega the Unknown I#1Note: It is not confirmed that this ship is Sreneskian, but as it was different than the Protar's, I think it it is most likely that it is of Sreneskian origin.
Regardless, there is no evidence that the ship Omega arrived in was ever found...so where is it? . The ship used by Omega to flee from the Protar on Srenesk is significantly different in appearance between Omega the Unknown I#1 and Defenders I#77 (with the latter shown to the bottom left). Presumably artistic license...which is correct? Probably the original... . . . . .  |
Omega the Unknown I#1, pg. 1 (X3Z blasted at in desert region);
pg. 2, panel 1 (X3Z leaping at Protar with weapon; showing landscape);
pg. 3, panel 5 (blasting Protar; power overload hinted it);
pg. 8, panel 2 (Protar amidst dead Sreneskians);
pg. 9, panel 1 (Srenesk ship in profile);
(Omega entering Protar ship);
(Omega escaping in Protar ship)
Defenders I#77, pg. 14, panel 1 (X3Z with Sreneskians; X3Z at the forefront);
panel 3 (X3Z honored);
panel 4 (Mentor face);
pg. 15, panel 1 (X3Z empowered);
panel 2 (Mentor congratulating X3Z);
panel 3 (warning);
panel 4 (Protar ships approaching over skyline)
panel 6 (power overload revealed);
pg. 16, panel 1 (Srenesk devastated by energy overload);
panel 6 (X3Z departing Srenesk in ship);
Appearances:
Omega the Unknown I#1 (March, 1976) – Steve Gerber, Mary Skrenes (writers), Jim Mooney
(art), Marv
Wolfman (editor)
Defenders I#77 (November, 1979) – Steven Grant (writer), Herb Trimpe (penciler), Milgrom, Mitchell, Stone
(inkers), Allen Milgrom (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#14 (March, 1984) – Mark Gruenwald (head writer, editor, designer), Eliot R. Brown
(typesetter, technical writer), Peter Sanderson, Mark Lerer, Dan
Fingeroth (writers), Kirk Lassiter (Omega penciler), Josef Rubinstein (inker, embellisher)
Official
Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z hardcover#8 (2011) - Jeff Christiansen (head writer/coordinator),
Stuart Vandal, Mike
Fichera, & Madison Carter (coordination assistants); Sean McQuaid, Michael Hoskin,
Ronald Byrd, David Wiltfong, Chad Anderson, Chris Bigs, Eric J.
Moreels, Mark O'English, Al Sjoerdsma, Jacob Rougemont, Gabriel
Shechter, Anthony Flamini, Rich Green, Markus Raymond, Andrew Goletz, Rob London, Mike O'Sullivan, & Jeph York (writers), Wayne Boring (Omega artist), Jeff Youngquist &
Jennifer Grunwald (editors)
First posted: 10/07/2021
Last updated: 11/03/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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Mentor was apparently the leader of the elders of Srenesk.
