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If you were able to live forever, what would you do to keep yourself busy? Collect things? Become the greatest fighter? What about playing games and making wagers? That’s what the Grandmaster decided was a good idea to spend all eternity fixated on. How does one become an immortal? What’s he the grandmaster of? Let’s find out!

At the beginning of the universe, there were several species who evolved into sapient life forms before all others. These species were not to last but their sole surviving members were granted immortality and as long as they had a reason to live, they could keep on going with living. En Dwi Gast was one such individual and he decided that his love of games would become his focus. He would find several of the other immortal beings such as himself and they would call themselves the Elders of the Universe and a family of choice. While most of the Elders each took unique obsessions, En Dwi shared his with his brother and the two would play against one another. His brother would eventually take on the moniker of The Grandmaster, a name that En Dwi would covet. He’d make a bet with his brother that whoever one their next game, the loser would have to sit out the rest of their existence until the universe ended. En Dwi would win and take the name of The Grandmaster for himself.

Eons would pass with the games that En Dwi would play growing in scope, by the time of Earth’s modern age of heroes, he would find a planet brimming with new pieces to play with. Frequently becoming a thorn in every super-powered beings side, he’d often abduct them to compete against one another or other beings of the multiverse. His travels to the multiverse would give him more ideas for competitions he could run, the only thing that comes close to the rush of victory for En Dwi was the joys of finding new play things.

Sometimes his games could be used for more than his amusement, such as when his brother, The Collector, had died. En Dwi would make a wager with Death herself that if he won, she would have to return The Collector to life and if he lost, then he too would die. His victory was short though due to Death admitting she could only revive The Collector if En Dwi sacrificed himself, perhaps in his only selfless act, he complied. The Collector would then follow in his brother’s footsteps to bet with Death for the return of En Dwi, once returned, En Dwi would make one more contest with Death that would stop any Elder of the Universe from being within Death’s grasp and win.

When Thanos was searching for the Infinity Gems, En Dwi would be tasked with holding onto the Mind Gem, but his addiction to trial by combat meant that he would lose possession of it to Thanos with ease. On several occasions, when the multiverse would butt heads, En Dwi would be there to try and make a game of the two sides, he’d have the Avengers face off against the Justice League. In another multiverse meeting, the 616 Universe would collapse and be remade, this allowed for a loophole, granting the original Grandmaster who now called himself The Challenger, to return, demanding to face off with his brother once more.

There you have it! The Grandmaster got to be a big deal in the most recent Thor film, Thor: Ragnarok where he was played by Jeff Goldblum. Though he wasn’t sporting blue skin, he more than made up for by being played by Jeff Goldblum. Hopefully we’ll see more of him in more of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as time goes on. See you next time!

Suggested Reading
The Avengers #69
JLA/Avengers
Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions
Avengers: No Surrender

Dr. Bustos
drbustos@comicattack.net