Exploring the Moral Landscape of Celestials in Marvel Comics
Are Celestials Bad Guys in the Marvel Comics?
The question of whether Celestials are classified as 'bad guys' within the Marvel Comics universe is complex and depends heavily on the specific Celestial and their motives. While some Celestials may indeed take actions that are seen as harmful or destructive, their intentions and actions are often driven by their perception of a higher moral purpose or grand plan.
A Morallyambiguous Presence
In the Marvel Comics series, Celestials are depicted as beings that fall into a category beyond human morality. Their actions are driven by a quest for cosmic balance or an unnamed goal that transcends the ethical standards of Earth-dwelling beings. They are amoral, meaning they are not concerned with right or wrong, and their judgments are based on a higher, perhaps incomprehensible, standard.
Go Good or Go Bad
In Thor #389, the Celestial Exitar took on a role reminiscent of an anti-hero. Exitar identified the segment of the race he deemed as unpure and sought to ensure only the worthy survived. The pirates, whom he saw as selfish and evil, were targeted for eradication, allowing the rest to have a second chance. Similarly, in the Infinity Gauntlet comic, Celestials teamed up with the universe to combat Thanos, showing a willingness to work with others for greater good.
Antagonistic or Beneficent?
Conversely, the Celestials have also played the role of antagonists, as seen in the events of Thor #200 (1966) and Avengers #4 (2018). In Thor #200, the Celestials sought to destroy Earth in revenge for the death of one of their own. In Avengers #4, Arishem, known as the Judge, attempted to level the planet to prevent a pandemic. However, these actions can be viewed through the lens of Celestial moral reasoning; they see humans much like how humans view insects, as a lower form of life not worth preserving if factors such as disease or mismanagement threaten the survival of the Cosmic Order.
Understanding the Celestials' Grand Plan
The Celestials operate under a cosmic grand plan, acting in ways that are often misunderstood by those on lower planets or dimensions. Initially, they arrived on Earth to study the dominant species, revealing the existence of the Eternals and Deviants. Their experiments continued, with some seeking to help and others to destroy, based on their judgment of the success or failure of the experiment. This dual nature of Celestials is further highlighted by their division into specific roles such as:
Arishem - The Judge: Decides the fate of planets based on their success or failure in the grand experiment. Eson - The Searcher: Finds planets for the experiments. Ashema - The Listener: Understands human emotions and their impact on the experiment. Exitar - The Exterminator: Destroys failed experiments. Gammenon - The Gatherer: Collects data and samples from the planets. Jemiah - The Analyzer: Studies the outcomes of the experiments. Ziran - The Tester: Conducts tests to ensure the success of the experiments.The Celestials have many roles, numbering at least 35, including 2 hidden on Earth and a deceased one known as Knowhere. Their actions, whether benevolent or destructive, stem from a perspective that is often perceived as amoral by humans but is justified within their grand cosmic plan.
Conclusion
Whether Celestials are classified as 'bad guys' in the Marvel Comics universe is a matter of perspective. They operate based on a higher moral purpose that is often misunderstood by human beings. Their actions, whether helping or destroying, are part of their grand experiment and are often driven by a perceived cosmic necessity. Understanding their role and the nuances of their actions can provide valuable insights into the complex and vast universe of Marvel Comics.