Mortilus
| This article is about the Cybertronian deity. For the Nebulan sometimes known as "Mortilus Zarak", see Zarak (G1). |
- Mortilus is a deity from the IDW portion of the Generation 1 continuity family.
Mortilus the Death-bringer was a Transformer deity during the earliest period of Cybertron.
Fiction
IDW Generation 1 continuity
- First Appearance: Transformers vol. 1 #23 (invoked); Transformers: More Than Meets The Eye Annual 2012 (depicted)
Cybertronian religion holds that the Death-bringer's origins were tied to Primus, the First Light. When Cybertron was initially formen, the Light God split his essence into five avatars of his being: Mortilus, Solomus, Epistemus, Adaptus, and Primus himself, forming a pantheon of deities called the Guiding Hand. Mortilus became the Death-bringer, who represented the necessary corollary to life.
The texts of the religious sect known as the Clavis Aurea state that Mortilus sought to turn Cybertron's power outward, and wage war against the rest of the universe; his dissension led to a cataclysmic battle that led to Cyertron's first moon being ripped from its orbit. You, Me, and Other Revelations According to legend, Mortilus' rebellion spawned monsters to lay waste to Cybertron, birthing beasts such as the monstrous Trypticon, The Illusion of Control which Mortilus raised and commanded using his Void Scepter. Salvation His dissension saw Solomus entrapped in a crystal container, Epistemus as a brain module, Adaptus as a transformation cog, and mortally wounded Primus himself. Mortilus's rebellion caused Cybertron to shudder and ripped asunder its first moon. Ultimately, he was destroyed and his death allowed Cybertronian sparks to burn for eternity as immortals. You, Me, and Other Revelations
A different interpretation put forth in the Keening Texts instead hold that Mortilus sought to bring his "gift" to the cosmos, and used Luna-1 as a staging ground to attack Cybertron, creating a thousand horrors with which to attack the Cybertronian race. Mortilus battled his brethren, laying clever traps and tricking the other members of the Guiding Hand to give up their physical forms. Mortilus was defeated by Primus himself, who summoned a bolt of primal lightning that blasted Mortilus and his moon away from Cybertron. Mortilus survived his destruction as an abstract idea. Rejoining the Guiding Hand, the redeemed Mortilus joined the group in creating the Afterspark, where Cybertronians could live forever. The God War
While explaining to Springarm that he was skeptical of religion, Orion Pax listed Primus, Mortilus, and Adaptus as examples of gods he didn't believe in. Chaos Theory Part 2
In modern times, Mortilus worshippers still exist, such as the NAILs who sold the Lost Light to Drift. Twenty Plus One For a time Roadbuster thought Mortilus spoke to him, telling him to murder his cadets and sacrifice their remains to a pit for the Death-bringer to consume. This whole affair was in fact part of a larger web of deceit. Sins of the Wreckers #4 Mortilus's name was also used in derogatory figures of speech. After becoming co-captain of the Lost Light, Megatron's door was frequently vandalized with graffiti, such as "spawn of Mortilus". Towards Peace
The Functionist Universe
After the Functionist Council worked out that Rung was designed to produce photonic crystals, An Expert's Guide they first thought him the spawn of Mortilus sent to frustrate Primus' will before they decided realized that Rung was proof of Primus endorsing cold construction. Modes of Production
Ask Vector Prime
Vector Prime speculated that the Dark Spark could have been a fragment of Mortilus, among other explanations. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/05/18 He also noted that Mortilus Zarak sharing a name with a member of the Guiding Hand could be simple coincidence, or something far more sinister. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/04
Following the splintering of the Thirteen original Transformers into infinite alternate selves across the multiverse, Mortilus was known to be a member of the group in some universal streams. During the group's time in ancient Greece, the holomatter avatar he employed inspired the myth of Hades, uncle of Hermes. He stayed in the Thirteen's ship parked underneath Earth's surface with his vassal, a three-headed dog named Bruticus. Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/08
Beast Wars: Uprising
Mortilus was a deity in Transformer religion, notable for his spiked carapace. His name was frequently used as a curse word. Derailment
| Guiding Hand | |||
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