Otherplace

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Otherplace, is a fictional location in titles published by Marvel Comics. The concept debuted in Uncanny X-Men #160, (August 1982) and was created by Chris Claremont and Brent Anderson.

History

"Otherplace" has sometimes erroneously been called "Otherworld"; however, in the Marvel Universe, Otherworld is actually the home dimension of the beings who empower and oversee the Captain Britain Corps (not be confused with "Other-Earth", homeworld of Kang the Conqueror.) Limbo's physical laws are primarily magical, though laws of the ordinary universe (such as electromagnetism and gravity) normally apply within its bounds.

It has an ecology composed primarily of demons of various sizes, strengths, and intellects. It is said that its ether is much thinner than that of the normal universe, allowing for a greater spectrum of magical powers and effects. All demons within it are magical creatures that possess spell making abilities to a greater or lesser degree. Although Otherplace has a linear history, time within it is not rigid. Many points in its past and future are connected through naturally occurring temporal rifts, and its present is relative to the individual. Its history can be changed by travel through these rifts, but for some reason this is rare.

Limbo is traditionally ruled by a Supreme Sorcerer, either a demonic native or an entity from another universe, often Earth's. Limbo's appearance and physical laws are highly variable, and determined by the power and personal taste of its ruler. It can take the form of an otherworldly paradise, or a rocky, sulfurous perdition. The demons of Limbo traditionally display an attitude of slavish loyalty to its sovereign, and act as servants. They can even assume forms mandated by a sufficiently powerful sorcerer. However, the longer Limbo's ruler spends away from the dimension, the weaker that individual's mystical thrall over it becomes, and the more autonomously the demons begin to act. Left to their own devices they will plot to betray and conquer whoever holds the highest position. They also try to invade other realities if not held in check.

Otherplace generally has a morally and spiritually corrupting influence over its denizens. If human, a resident of the realm slowly metamorphoses into a demonic entity. This change enhances the magical powers of the individual at the cost of their soul. Persons of great moral courage and wisdom can stave off the change for decades, but it is considered inevitable. The transformation usually progresses in stages initiated by the evil acts Limbo demands for survival. Magic in limbo is fundamentally neutral. It is the social and political climate that leads to this process.

The reality of Limbo is generated by a single deposit of a magical metal called promethium. In Limbo it takes the form of a giant animal heart, hidden in a cavern deep below its surface. Removal of the promethium to another dimension will cause Limbo to vanish. The heart of Limbo was once sought by the supervillain Doctor Doom as an inexhaustible energy source for his nation of Latveria.^[1][2]

Rulers of Otherplace

The complete timeline of Limbo is unknown, but it has had several reigning sorcerers during its history with the Marvel Universe. These include:

• Belasco: Commonly referred to as The Demon Belasco, he is primarily human in appearance, and may have been human once. Though wicked as any demon, Belasco lacked the savagery common to Limbo natives.
• Illyana Nikolievna Rasputin: Also known as Magik or the Darkchylde, Rasputin was abducted by Belasco as a child and was raised in Limbo. Belasco employed her as an apprentice, and was eventually overthrown by her. In time her mutant power of teleportation emerged, allowing her to leave, although she remained Limbo's ruler in absentia up until her death. In the alternate reality of the House of M, Illyana was returned to life, which inspired Belasco to resurrect her in the restored reality, using his memories and any remaining essence of her left in Limbo. The result was Illyana's Darkchylde persona, seemingly missing the innocent soul that Belasco had always coveted, and he rejected her. After defeating Belasco with the help of the New X-Men, Darkchylde once again ruled Limbo, and focused on recovering her soul. She sought pieces of her soul that had been taken from her before her death - the Bloodstones and her Soulsword. Soon afterwards, in the X-Infernus storyline, Pixie accidentally removed the Soulsword in Nightcrawler with her Souldagger. When Darkchylde left to reclaim it, Witchfire, the daughter of Belasco, seized the throne. Having regained her Soulsword, Illyana was able to resume her more human appearance as Magik, but was captured by Witchfire upon her return, losing the Bloodstone she took from Pixie's soul. During the X-Men's mission to Limbo to save Illyana and recover Pixie's Bloodstone, Witchfire's summoning of the Elder Gods was interrupted, sending her and the amulet containing Illyana's three Bloodstones (as well as one of Pixie's) back with them. When a saddened Magik teleported the X-Men home, they convinced her to stay. What this means for her status as ruler of Limbo, presumably restored after Witchfire's rule ended, is currently unclear.
• S'ym & N'astirh: Native demons of Limbo, this pair exhibited qualities far exceeding Limbo's average. S'ym was the most physically potent native of Limbo, while N'astirh was a powerful sorcerer. They were right-hand servants of Belasco and then Magik. They jointly seized power when Magik's hold weakened sufficiently due to her prolonged absence, then they tricked her into opening a permanent portal from Earth to Limbo. Their subsequent invasion caused the "Inferno" crossover. N'astirh was weakened when their invasion was repelled, leaving S'ym the sole ruler, but without the Soulsword to strengthen his throne.
• Doctor Doom: Conquered Limbo during his attempt to claim its precious promethium.
• Darkoth: Wrested the Soulsword from Doom and slew S'ym. Assumed rulership of Limbo and wardenship of Soulsword. End of his rulership is unknown, but the Soulsword was next seen back in Kitty Pryde's possession.
• Margali Szardos: Tricked her daughter, Amanda Sefton, into giving her the Soulsword Kitty had entrusted her with, and used it to kill those ahead of her on the 'Winding Way'. After her attempt to release a demon under London was defeated by her daughter and Excalibur, she was taken captive by Belasco in Limbo, but switched bodies with her daughter at the last second. In Amanda's body, Margali returned to Limbo with Nightcrawler, defeated Belasco, and reclaimed her body. She quickly left, however, leaving Limbo without a ruler. Not wanting to leave the dimension unguarded, Amanda became ruler of Limbo.
• Amanda Sefton: Took control over Limbo after her mother's abdication. Bearing the Soulsword once again, she assumed the title of Magik. During her time as ruler, she hid the Soulsword for safekeeping inside a visiting Nightcrawler, the purest soul she knew. Although she rebuffed attempts by Belasco, the N'Garai, and Nightmare to recapture Limbo, a later invasion by Belasco resulted in her being driven out.

The Technarchy

Limbo was also briefly controlled by The Magus, an alien entity of vast technological power. To save her teammate Warlock, Magik stranded the Magus in Limbo, where she hoped her demon vassals would subdue him. Instead he expanded to fill the entire dimension and radically transformed its ecology within a few days. A sizable percentage of Limbo's demons were infected by the Magus with the Transmode Virus, a techno-organic pathogen that transmogrifies carbon-based organisms into living electronic machines. Although the details are unclear, it is assumed he killed a large number of them by draining them of life energy. He then escaped by unknown means, leaving roughly half the remaining demons shape-shifting, techno-organic beings like himself.

While most living beings are immobilized by the techno-organic transformation, Limbo's demons are apparently immune to that effect. The infection can be transmitted intentionally, but most chose not to pass it on, and the ratio of “natural” to transmuted demons remained relatively stable. For example, at the time of Magik's overthrow, S'ym was a techno-organic demon, whereas N'astirh was not. The domination of Limbo by the Magus was purely physical. Apart from the infections, Limbo remained unperturbed. Control reverted to Magik when he vacated, then to Belasco when Magik was de-aged and N'astirh was killed during Inferno. He retained power until recently, when he was overthrown by Amanda Sefton, who had obtained Magik's soulsword and was now calling herself Magik.

Other versions

• Storm The X-Men Leader appeared as a sorceress. She first appeared in the Uncanny X-Men #160. She was older than her main counterpart version. She was mercy killed by Illyana in Magik #4.
• Nightcrawler He first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #160. He became the loyal servant of Belasco. He was killed by Cat in Magik #2.
• Kitty Pryde She first appeared in Magik #1. She turned to combat and became a warrior. She had been mutated slightly by Belasco to give her cat like features (Eyes, claws and Teeth) and she renamed herself Cat. She was later mutated further into a cat like creature with an animal like mind. She was killed by Illyana in self defense in Magik #3.
• Fantastic Four A demonic version of the Fantastic Four appeared in Excalibur #37-#39. They fought Doctor Doom and Excalibur for the Soulsword.

References

External links

• Marvel Universe: Belasco
• Marvel Universe: Demons
• Marvel Directory: Limbo-Belasco
• Uncanny Xmen: Limbo
• Marvel Database: Limbo (Demonic)