Universal Church of Truth

Universal Church of Truth
The ankh is the symbol of the Universal Church of Truth.
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Strange Tales #178
Created by Jim Starlin
In-story information
Member(s) Magus
Matriarch

The Universal Church of Truth is a fictional star-spanning religious empire appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Composed of diverse alien species, it first appeared in Strange Tales vol 1 #178 (February 1975), written by Jim Starlin. They are the archenemies to the Guardians of the Galaxy.

In the original stories, its seat of government was Sirus X, also called Homeworld, in the Hercules star cluster.

Fictional organization history

The head of the Church and object of its worship was Adam Warlock's evil self, the Magus. The assistant to the Church leader is the Matriarch.

Doctrine is enforced through the Church's Black Knights, and matters of law are subject to a Grand Inquisitor.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2008)

A different version of the Universal Church appeared in the second volume of Guardians of the Galaxy, The Thanos Imperative mini-series, and Annihilators: Earthfall miniseries. The church was responsible for resurrecting Thanos[1] and the Magus.[2]

Members

  • Magus - Founder of the Universal Church of Truth.
  • Matriarch - Leader of the Universal Church of Truth. She was later killed by Magus for trying to reprogram Adam Warlock.
  • Aqwen - A matriarch for the Universal Church of Truth and successor of the previous Matriarch.
  • Borgia - A Roclite who is a member of the Universal Church of Truth.
  • Captain Autolycus - The first leader of the Universal Church of Truth's Black Knights.
  • Cardinal Arokine - A high-raking member of the Universal Church of Truth.
  • Cardinal Raker - A high-ranking member of the Universal Church of Truth. Killed by Drax the Destroyer while protecting the Matriarch.
  • Egeus - A member of the Universal Church of Truth.
  • Kray-Tor - A corrupt judge for the Universal Church of Truth.
  • Len Teans - A professor that works for the Universal Church of Truth. His name is an anagram of Stan Lee.
  • Mama Alpha - A member of the Universal Church of Truth. She is a bartender that Pip the Troll was romantically involved with.
  • Rhaigor - A member of the Universal Church of Truth.
  • Sliggs - A member of the Universal Church of Truth.

Other versions

Guardians of the Galaxy (1991)

The Church appeared in a Guardians of the Galaxy storyline that took place on Earth-691. It was governed by the Protégé and controlled a large portion of the Milky Way. The Skrull heroine Replica was a devout member. She would later give herself to Protégé in order to save the Guardians.

In other media

Television

  • In Guardians of the Galaxy, the church is present within story as a central antagonistic faction in season 2. The Church itself isn't referenced but its followers are called the Universal Believers. Besides Mantis, the other known members that appear are Brother Raker (voiced by James Arnold Taylor) and Brother Arokine (voiced by Trevor Devall). The Believers have the ability to make whatever they believe in to become reality, much of their technology is powered by this through positive thinking. The only flaw is that if their beliefs waver, due in part to self doubt or external beleaguering, they lose their powers and everything fueled by their faith begins to falter as well. They have a cameo appearance in its premiere season through one of their advocates called Mantis in "Don't Stop Believin'" who acted who was a fanatical follower who resented J'son and his tyrannical rule. They don't make a full appearance until "Lyin' Eyes" where they target Rocket Raccoon's pocket dimension vial which contains the Sarcophagus of a specific character. During this time, they have Ebony Maw of the Black Order on their side. During the fight against the Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket Raccoon had caused doubts on the Universal Believers enough to defeat them and get away from them. In the episode "Free Bird," Ebony Maw had gotten Black Dwarf and Proxima Midnight on the side of the Universal Believers. In the episode "Back in Black," it is revealed that J'son is the patriarch of the Universal Believers when he expeimented on Mantis, Ebony Maw, and those who have similar powers like them.

Video games

Toys

  • Cardinal Raker, a church official, was a playable character in the Galactic Guardians set of Marvel HeroClix.[4]

See also

  • The Church of The Instrumentality in Dreadstar, also created by Jim Starlin

References

  1. ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy vol 2 #24
  2. ↑ Annihilators: Earthfall #2
  3. ↑ https://marvelavengersalliance2.com/aa2_characters/cardinal-raker/
  4. ↑ More Galactic Guardian Heroclix Spoilers, Heroclixworld.com
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