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| Sphinx | |
|---|---|
 The Sphinx (right) battles theThing on the cover ofThe Thing #34 (April 1986), art by Kim DeMulder. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | (Anath-Na): Nova #6 (Feb. 1977) (Karim): The New Warriors #4 (Aug. 1990) |
| Created by | (Anath-Na): Marv Wolfman andSal Buscema (Karim): Fabian Nicieza |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Anath-Na Mut Meryet Karim |
| Species | Human Mutant |
| Notable aliases | (Anath-Na): The Dreaded One Omni-Sphinx (Karim): Lady Sphinx |
| Abilities | (Anath-Na):
(Karim):
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TheSphinx is the name of two fictional characters appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics.
The male version of Sphinx first appeared inNova #6 (Feb. 1977) and was created byMarv Wolfman andSal Buscema.[1]
The female version of Sphinx first appeared inThe New Warriors #4 (Aug. 1990) and was created byFabian Nicieza.
Anath-Na Mut is a chief wizard in the court ofRamesses II in ancient Egypt. Defeated in a magic duel by the prophetMoses, Anath-Na was exiled into the desert for his failure.[2] The titleNova recounts in aflashback of how Anath-Na discovered the mystic Ka Stone, which grants himimmortality and superhuman powers. Under the alias Sphinx, Anath-Na wanders Earth for a thousand years, but becomes bored of his immortal life.[3] After learning about the origins of Richard Rider, aliens from planetXandar, and their sentient machine, Sphinx theorizes that he can use Xandar's Living Computer to finally die.[4]
In aFantastic Four Annual, Sphinx empowers a pawn known as Thraxon to help subdue theInhumans. He utilizes rulerBlack Bolt's electron energy to amplify a scanning device and read all the minds in everyone for knowledge of how Sphinx could finally die. TheFantastic Four defeat Thraxon and in a final confrontation, Black Bolt blasts him into deep space.[2] Sphinx reappears in theNova series, taking mental control of Nova, along with his temporary allies (Comet,Crimebuster,Diamondhead,Powerhouse, andDoctor Sun), they travel back to Xandar and join a war against the invadingSkrulls.[5]
Once on Xandar, Sphinx takes advantage of the war to absorb knowledge from its planet-size computer. Evolving into a god, Sphinx decides to destroy Earth. Knowing that he is outmatched,Mister Fantastic contacts the cosmic entityGalactus and presents a proposal — if he stops Sphinx, then Mister Fantastic will release him from his vow to never devour Earth. He accepts and, when the group finds Galactus a new herald (Terrax), they travel to Earth again. After Galactus defeats Sphinx, he crushes the Ka Stone and sends Anath-Na back in time to ancient Egypt. Anath-Na is trapped in atime loop, forcing him to constantly relive his life up to this point.[6]
Anath-Na relives his life several times due to a chronal flaw, until he meets his past self. The two build a machine to reconstruct the Ka Stone. After hypnotizing his past self so that he will not remember their meeting, Anath-Na enterssuspended animation. He awakens after Galactus departs and begins to rebuild the Ka Stone.[7] TheThing battles Sphinx into a standstill, destroys his machine, and leaves him with an incomplete Ka Stone.[8] ThePuppet Master forces Sphinx to crush the Ka Stone; as a result Anath-Na immediately ages 5,000 years before turning into dust.[9]
Meryet Karim is a desert nomad who finds an unconscious Anath-Na Mut soon after he finds the Ka Stone. While nursing him back to health, Karim absorbs residual energies from the Ka Stone, which grants her a fraction of its powers and allows her to continuously reincarnate while retaining the knowledge of her previous lives. In the modern era, she finds the Ka Scepter's remnants and reconstructs it to become the new Sphinx. Then, Karim alters history so Anath-Na will kill Moses and conquer Earth. Sphinx is thwarted by theNew Warriors and resurrects Anath-Na in a bid to reclaim his love. The empowered Sphinx battles the New Warriors, but when facing his feelings for Karim, he merges with her into one composite entity who goes back in time to live a normal life.[10]
The Anath-Na incarnation of Sphinx is an ancientmutant who gained additional powers through use of the Ka Stone and possibly other sources. He has supernatural strength, stamina, and durability, as well as virtual immortality. Courtesy of the jewel's mystical properties, Anath-Na also has a range ofmetaphysical abilities, including energy control, mind reading, hypersonic flight, and knowledge absorption. The Meryet Karim incarnation of Sphinx possesses nigh-omnipotence after imbuing herself with energies from the Ka Scepter. Both versions of Sphinx have expertise in Egyptian magic.[11]
The Meryet Karim incarnation of Sphinx appears inLego Marvel Avengers: Strange Tails, voiced byAlia Shawkat.[12] This version is a social media influencer who, reluctantly, uses cats as her gimmick. She gets her powers from an idol of the previous holder Anath-Na Mut, voiced by Kerem Erdinc.
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