Gardener (Ord Zyonz) - Marvel Universe: The definitive online source for Marvel super hero bios.

Marvel Universe

Gardener (Ord Zyonz)

Universe
Marvel Universe

Real Name
Ord Zyonz

Aliases
Gardener

Identity
Secret, the general populace of Earth were unaware of his existence.

Occupation
Botanist

Citizenship
Unrevealed

Place of Birth
Unrevealed, possibly Seyfert galaxy M-77

Known Relatives
None

Group Affiliation
Elders of the Universe

Education
Unrevealed

Height
7'1"

Weight
390 lbs.

Eyes
Purple

Hair
Grey

Powers
While in possession of soul gem, he is able to accelerate the rate of growth to plant life. As an Elder of the Universe, the Gardener possesses immortality. He is immune to the cellular deterioration, aging, and impervious to conventional harm (disease, penetration wounds, etc.). Only the dispersion of a major portion of his body's molecules could prevent his regenerative powers from functioning. In his preoccupation with the art and science of cultivating plants, the Gardener has not devoted much of his energies to the development of potential physical and mental powers, unlike several of his kinsmen. Eschewing violence, the Gardener has little experience in combat techniques. While he is able to survive in space and go for prolonged periods of time without nourishment, he is unable to traverse interstellar distances without some means of propulsion.

Abilities
As an Elder, the Gardener is invulnerable to the gem, travel through space at trans-light speeds, and open portals to other dimensions (such as the microverse of K'ai).

Weapons
The Gardener currently wears a green Soul-Gem upon his brow, one of six such power-jewels known to exist in the universe. Although the origin and nature of the Soul-Gem is as yet unknown, it would seem to be an artifact that either possesses great energies or is able to tap great energies which can be channeled by the wearer's will. Its previous wearer, Adam Warlock, employed the jewel to emit beams of concussive force, to scan the thoughts of others, and to entrap his opponents' life essences, or soul. This latter property may be an innate capacity of all gems, or may be a property peculiar Soul-Gem. The Gardener's Soul-Gem even seems to possess a primitive form of sentience, as well as an "appetite" for souls that it is occasionally able to impose upon its wearer. Souls known to reside within the subjective Soulworld (pocket universe) of the green Soul-Gem are Adam Warlock of Earth, Pip of Laxidasia, Gamora of Zen-Whoberi, Autolycus of Sirus X, and Kray-Tor of Jude. The Gardener mainly uses the Soul-Gem to accelerate the photosynthetic growth in plant and to animate them.

First Appearance
Marvel Team-Up #55

Origin
Unrevealed

Significant Issues
Thanos Quest #1

Like all the Elders of the Universe, the Gardener's origin is lost in antiquity. Although, it is known that he is among the oldest living beings in the universe, having been a member of one of the first races of the universe to become sentient in the wake of the Big Bang. Virtually immortal, the Gardener has devoted his life to the creating of natural beauty by sowing the seeds of plants, flowers, and trees upon barren or devastated worlds. The number of worlds he has turned into fertile planet-wide gardens over the eons was countless. He has amassed a knowledge of botany second to none and has collected billions of different seeds in his travels. Using his advanced cultivation techniques, he can cover a barren Earth-size planet with lush vegetation in the space of a year.

In recent millennia, the Gardener acquired a Soul-Gem, an alien artifact the enabled its possessor the ability to transform cosmic energy for personal use. The Gardener employed it to stimulate the growth of his seeds beyond their normal rate and to traverse space without a starship. Recently, the Gardener used his Soul-Gem's power to combat the Stranger, another powerful extraterrestrial possessing a Soul-Gem. Believing that he "corrupted" the gem by its use as a weapon, the Gardener abandoned it. Later, the Garden replaced his Soul-Gem with the gem that was once worn by the golden Earth-being Adam Warlock. Warlock's frequent employment of the gem as a weapon did not matter to the Gardener as long as he himself does not use it in that way.

Upon being contacted by the other Elders of the Universe, the Gardener agreed to partake in aggressive activity against the alien being Galactus and then the universe itself in order to recreate reality. The plan was foiled by Galactus' former Herald, Silver Surfer, and his ally, Mantis. The Gardener returned to his life as a gardener until confronted by the villain Thanos. Thanos challenged the Gardener for the Gem, taking it and killing the Gardener in the process.

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contributors: ohitsme, acotilletta2

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