Gardener (comics)

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caption=
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Gardener
real_name=Ord Zyonyz
species=from Seyfert galaxy M-77
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Marvel Team-Up" #55 (Mar 1977)
creators=Bill Mantlo and John Byrne
alliance_color=background:#c0c0ff
status=Possesses no citizenship
alliances=Elders of the Universe
previous_alliances=
aliases=None
relatives=None
powers=|

The Gardener is a fictional character, one of the known Elders of the Universe in the Marvel Comics universe.

Fictional character biography

The Gardener was once Ord Zyonyz, a being who came into existence in the Seyfert Galaxy M-77. Like all the other Elders, he belongs to one of the first races to develop since the Big Bang and thus is nearly immortal and extremely powerful. He is absolutely obsessed with peace and quiet, and with his garden.

At one time he created an amazing lush garden in the Blue Area of the Moon using his Infinity Gem, the Time Gem. This was eventually brought to a halt when Adam Warlock, Spider-Man, the Hulk and the Stranger were caught up in a battle on the moon and he used his gem along with the Soul Gem of Warlock and successfully slowed down the Stranger enough to make him leave. After using his gem in battle it was corrupted and he believed he could no longer use it to make things grow; he left it behind in search of a new place for his garden ["Marvel Team-Up" #55] (where it stayed until Thanos found it).

The Gardener was later revealed to possess Adam Warlock's Soul Gem. He journeyed to K'ai to create a paradise valley. There, he battled the Hulk, and lost possession of the gem. ["Incredible Hulk" Vol. 2 #247-248]

The cosmic entity Grandmaster had, by proxy, lost a contest for the entity Death. Angered, she forbade him and his fellow Elders, including the Gardener, from entering her realm. Thus the Gardener became immortal.

The Gardener was seen among a group of abstract and near-omnipotent beings (including Uatu the Watcher, Eternity, the In-Betweener, the Living Tribunal, Lord Chaos, Master Order, and a Celestial) confronting the Beyonder and Dave. ["Secret Wars II" #6]

The Gardener was among the Elders who allied together to restart the universe by killing Galactus. ["Silver Surfer" Vol. 3 #4] He used Earth plants to capture Mantis. He battled Galactus and the Silver Surfer, but was converted to energy and consumed by Galactus. ["Silver Surfer" Vol. 3 #9-10] Along with the other Elders who were devoured by Galactus, he caused Galactus "cosmic indigestion" from within. He escaped from Galactus and took possession of an Infinity Gem. He witnessed a battled between Galactus and the In-Betweener, then aided Silver Surfer, Nova, and the other Elders in helping Galactus defeat the In-Betweener. Ultimately, the Gardener fled to escape the wrath of Galactus. ["Silver Surfer" Vol. 3 #17-19]

Later, after Thanos was defeated, the Gardener retrieved the Time Gem and used it once more. Thanos confronted him, using the Gems he had already recollected to seemingly kill the Gardener and take the Time Gem, his ultimate goal to create the Infinity Gauntlet. ["Thanos Quest" #1]

The Contemplator later spotted the Gardener in the Dimension Of Manifestations. This took place during the Infinity War incident. The Gardener had joined with a group of abstract and near-omnipotent beings to converse with the Beyonder and Dave. ["Quasar" #38]

Powers and abilities

The Gardener has the ability to manipulate cosmic energy for a variety of effects, including virtual immortality, and the ability to increase his physical attributes to unrevealed superhuman levels. Currently, due to his machinations with the other Elders against Death, he cannot die by any means.

The Gardener created his crooked staff composed of unknown materials through which he can channel cosmic energy. He has used various of the Infinity Gems at one time or another.

The Gardener has accumulated vast knowledge of the botany of countless alien worlds over the millennia.

References