Many people have collections, but only one eternal being takes that to the extreme. The Collector has been gathering up artifacts, people, and anything else that amuses him since nearly the dawn of time. How did this man come into existence? What started his collection need? Why is he always after something to collect? Let’s find out!
At the dawn of existence, one of the first sapient species began to evolve on Cygnus X-1. This species was where Taneleer Tivan would originate, due to the chaos of the universe, he’d end up as one of the last of his species. Along with other life forms who were the last of the first species in existence, Death would grant Taneleer immortality. Calling themselves the Elders of the Universe, they’d be some of the most powerful living people in existence and view each other as family. Taneleer would find a wife, Matani, who was also an Elder and the two would have a daughter Carina. Matani would die, shocking Taneleer, since they were immortal, he thought this to be impossible but realized that all Elders must have a will to live or they can die from the apathy they experience. Terrified, he vowed to find something to do with his eternal existence so he would not follow in his wife’s footsteps.
Having a vision of a being who would eventually gather deadly cosmic forces and destroy the universe as we know it, Taneleer decided he’d help save everyone by collecting artifacts he thought may prove useful to stop this being and to also collect as many species as he could to survive this apocalyptic event. So began Taneleer’s collection, not out of greed or malice, but to help save the universe. Eons would pass and Taneleer would gather enough things to fill entire planets worth of his collection. As time went on though, he’d forget his goal, now, it was all about his collection for the sake of collecting. Nothing else matters except to have exquisite one of a kind things for his beautiful collection.
As Earth’s age of heroes in the modern era began, Taneleer, now called The Collector to those who knew him, saw prized jewels to add to his collection. Many heroes are such rare occurrences in reality even if they are plentiful, each individual one is often unique enough to warrant space in the Collection. Meanwhile, the very being he’d seen in a vision that set him on this path all those millennia ago, Thanos, was becoming the very threat he’d seen. By now though, Taneleer was too distracted with his obsession to even notice that Thanos was succeeding at that very thing, he’d even end up helping the man. Nothing but the Collection mattered now.
Collecting still living people and imprisoning them in his Collection would clearly rub many people the wrong way and it often puts Taneleer in conflict with the very heroes he has tried to collect. You spend your days trying to collect powerful and clever beings and you learn why they are so powerful and clever. His days of trying to protect the universe long behind him, Taneleer spends most of his time trying to make bargains to add to his collection such as picking teams to fight in his name so that if he wins, he gets to collect more goodies. Sometimes this is with fellow Elders like the brother from another mother, The Grand Master. These two face off all the time in friendly wagers that involve manipulating teams of heroes to fight one another all to see who will get to claim victory while lives are on the line. As long was things get collected, then who cares? Not The Collector.
There you have it! The Collector is a rather infamous figure in Marvel Comics and has become a household name thanks to the Guardians of the Galaxy film. You can even see some of his private collection at Disneyland now, just be sure to get out of there before he gets ideas. He’s appeared animated and in live action, with the threat of Thanos looming over the Marvel Cinematic Universe currently, his role is similar to that of his comics counterpart. Until next time!
Suggested Reading
The Avengers #28
Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions
Howard the Duck Vol. 5
Dr. Bustos
drbustos@comicattack.net
