First Appearance: Earth X #0 (1999)
Earth X is intended to provide a twofold glimpse of almost all of the superheroes in the Marvel Universe: a conjectural depiction of these heroes in a dystopian future setting and a unification of all of these heroes’ origins into a single master narrative. Much of Earth X consists of retelling the origins and background of the various Marvel heroes, as well as exploring the prehistory of the Marvel Universe. It is revealed that the Celestials have manipulated the evolution of all life on Earth, implanting a “celestial seed” that enables humans to be turned into superheroes. Their true motive, however, is to develop these superhumans as antibodies to protect the Earth itself, which is actually housing a nascent Celestial “egg.”
The primary story line involves the Inhumans returning to Earth after traveling through space for twenty years. They find that all of Earth’s population has been transformed into superhumans. This mass transformation has caused a food shortage and social and political collapse, and the former Green Goblin is now the unelected president of the United States. There are a number of threats to his domination, including the parasitic hive-mind of Hydra, as well as a new villain, the Skull, whose mind-controlled army marches on New York.
While the Inhumans investigate the cause of the transformation, Captain America searches the globe for a superhero army to stand against the Skull. He recruits Bruce Banner and the Hulk, who are separated into an apelike monster and a blind child; a retired and overweight Peter Parker; Colossus, ruling Russia as the “Iron Czar”; and Scott Summers, now called “Mr. S” by his new team of X-Men-in-training. No matter how many heroes side with Captain America, their fight is futile, since the Skull’s mind-control techniques simply add more bodies to the Skull army.
Meanwhile, Reed Richards, with help from X-51, discovers that the worldwide mutation was caused by Black Bolt, the king of the Inhumans, in an attempt to turn the entire population into Inhumans—ending discrimination and prejudice forever. X-51 also reveals the true nature of the Celestials and the danger of their return.
After the Skull reaches New York and kills President Osborn, he is stopped only when Captain America leads a new army of classic “Marvels” (animated clay statues of Golden and Silver Age Marvel heroes). Captain America, hidden inside a clay version of his Golden Age costume, is able to surprise the Skull and snaps the boy’s neck. As he takes the youth’s life, Captain America apologizes for failing him, proclaiming “The war ends here.”
The battle for Earth has just begun, however, as the Celestials approach the planet. Tony Stark launches his entire factory, in the form of a massive Iron Man suit, in a futile attack. Similar attacks by Thor and the Asgardians, as well as Namor’s Atlantean army, fail to slow down the Celestials. Following Richard’s advice, Black Bolt sacrifices himself to call across the reaches of space for Galactus, the devourer of worlds and the only natural enemy of the Celestials. Galactus arrives, fights the Celestials to a standstill, and then removes the embryonic Celestial from the Earth’s core, causing the Celestial host to leave the planet forever.
With the threats of the Skull and the Celestials finally gone, Captain America and Richards light their “Human Torches,” devices that will return Earth’s population to normal. X-51 officially takes over for Uatu, but pledges to be a more active “watchman” for the planet.
