Trader (comics)
Encyclopedia
Trader is a name shared by two fictional character
s appearing in the Marvel Comics
universe
. The first is a member of the Elders of the Universe
, and the second is a Mutant
. The second Trader first appeared in Morlocks #1, created by Geoff Johns
and Shawn Martinbrough.
or a personal service. A true victory for the Trader involves not only convincing his opponent to trade, but to do so at an exchange favorable to the Trader and for the opponent to be convinced that he got the better end of the deal.
At some point, the Trader somehow joined the group known as the Elders of the Universe. He then appeared during the Elders' scheme to slay the planet-devouring Galactus
and thus destroy the Universe in a bid to attain expanded powers. Their plan failed due to the involvement of Galactus' former Herald
, the Silver Surfer
, and his ally, Mantis
.
This conflict causes him to confront the In-Betweener
, who apparently compels Death to slay the Trader (along with the Astronomer
and Possessor
), despite the previously held agreements. Whether or not the Trader has really perished remains to be seen.
, the Trader is connected to the energy of the universe
due to his single-minded devotion to his "hobby," giving him cosmic awareness of the universe. Presumably, the Trader can also tap into this Power Primordial to manipulate cosmic energies, including gravitational and electro-magnetic
, the full extent of which remains to be revealed. Also, as with the Grandmaster's pact with Death
, all Elders are unaffected by aging, disease
, or toxin
s.
before being fired after a co-worker outed him as a mutant
. He found his way to Chicago
and joined the enigmatic Postman's
Morlocks
. Trader was one of the Morlocks who came to the mutant Cell
's rescue when he was being chased by cops. Trader took a bullet in the shoulder for him, and wasn't exactly happy about having an obvious gang-banger like Cell in the group.
After an argument between fellow Morlocks Electric Eve
and Angel Dust
, Trader yelled at Electric Eve for being too hard on the younger Angel Dust. However, after Electric Eve electrocuted her former pimp, Trader was the first one to check on her. He told her revenge was hollow, but she said she loved it and so would he. At that moment, Dr. Metellus' Sentinels arrived.
After narrowly escaping the Sentinels, Trader came to Electric Eve's defense after Postman yelled at her for endangering the group to get revenge on her ex. Trader told him about how he lost his plush job because the jerk two offices over outed him to the board. All he lived for was revenge. Just then the police rushed into their sewer "headquarters", and Trader jumped in the way of a bullet intended for Electric Eve. As he died, he commented on how he didn't think he'd ever take a bullet for someone again.
l input of anyone who looked at him, allowing him to blend into his surroundings. His powers also allowed him to alter his appearance to a point, as he made his hair appear longer, gave himself a goatee and several tattoos.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
s appearing in the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
. The first is a member of the Elders of the Universe
Elders of the Universe
The Elders of the Universe are a group of fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Collector was the first Elder to appear, and featured in Avengers #28...
, and the second is a Mutant
Mutant (Marvel Comics)
In comic books published by Marvel Comics, a mutant is an organism who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows the mutant to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
. The second Trader first appeared in Morlocks #1, created by Geoff Johns
Geoff Johns
Geoff Johns is an American comic book writer, best known for his work for DC Comics, where he has been Chief Creative Officer since February 2010, in particular for characters such as Green Lantern, The Flash and Superman...
and Shawn Martinbrough.
The Trader (Elder of the Universe)
Fictional character biography
The Trader is a master negotiator, taking great pride in the "art of the deal." He is at his best when he is trying to buy or sell something, whether it is a planetPlanet
A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
or a personal service. A true victory for the Trader involves not only convincing his opponent to trade, but to do so at an exchange favorable to the Trader and for the opponent to be convinced that he got the better end of the deal.
At some point, the Trader somehow joined the group known as the Elders of the Universe. He then appeared during the Elders' scheme to slay the planet-devouring Galactus
Galactus
Galactus is a fictional character appearing in comic books and other publications published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist and co-plotter Jack Kirby, the character debuted in Fantastic Four #48 , the first of a three-issue story later known as "The Galactus...
and thus destroy the Universe in a bid to attain expanded powers. Their plan failed due to the involvement of Galactus' former Herald
Herald of Galactus
The Heralds of Galactus are fictional characters appearing in publications from Marvel Comics. The Herald concept was introduced in Fantastic Four #48 - with the character the Silver Surfer - by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.-Publication history:...
, the Silver Surfer
Silver Surfer
The Silver Surfer is a Marvel Comics superhero created by Jack Kirby. The character first appears in Fantastic Four #48 , the first of a three-issue arc that fans call "The Galactus Trilogy"....
, and his ally, Mantis
Mantis (Marvel Comics)
Mantis is a fictional character, a superhero in the Marvel Universe, and former member of the Avengers.-Publication history:Mantis first appeared in Avengers #112 , drawn by Don Heck...
.
This conflict causes him to confront the In-Betweener
In-Betweener
The In-Betweener is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Warlock #10 The In-Betweener is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Warlock #10 The...
, who apparently compels Death to slay the Trader (along with the Astronomer
Astronomer (comics)
The Astronomer is a fictional character, an ancient alien appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. He is one of the Elders of the Universe. His first appearance was in Silver Surfer #4.-Fictional character biography:...
and Possessor
Possessor (comics)
The Possessor is a fictional character appearing in publications from Marvel Comics. The character is one of the Elders of the Universe. His name comes from his self-given title Possessor of the Runestaff, a powerful alien artifact....
), despite the previously held agreements. Whether or not the Trader has really perished remains to be seen.
Powers and abilities
Like all Elders of the UniverseElders of the Universe
The Elders of the Universe are a group of fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Collector was the first Elder to appear, and featured in Avengers #28...
, the Trader is connected to the energy of the universe
Universe
The Universe is commonly defined as the totality of everything that exists, including all matter and energy, the planets, stars, galaxies, and the contents of intergalactic space. Definitions and usage vary and similar terms include the cosmos, the world and nature...
due to his single-minded devotion to his "hobby," giving him cosmic awareness of the universe. Presumably, the Trader can also tap into this Power Primordial to manipulate cosmic energies, including gravitational and electro-magnetic
Electromagnetic radiation
Electromagnetic radiation is a form of energy that exhibits wave-like behavior as it travels through space...
, the full extent of which remains to be revealed. Also, as with the Grandmaster's pact with Death
Death (Marvel Comics)
Death is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain Marvel #27 Death is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain Marvel #27 Death is a fictional...
, all Elders are unaffected by aging, disease
Disease
A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
, or toxin
Toxin
A toxin is a poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms; man-made substances created by artificial processes are thus excluded...
s.
The Trader (Morlocks)
The Trader (real name unknown) first appeared in Morlocks #1, and was created by Geoff Johns and Shawn Martinbrough.Fictional character biography
He was a stockbroker on Wall StreetWall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
before being fired after a co-worker outed him as a mutant
Mutant (Marvel Comics)
In comic books published by Marvel Comics, a mutant is an organism who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows the mutant to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
. He found his way to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
and joined the enigmatic Postman's
Postman (comics)
Postman is a Marvel Comics character. He has the ability to permanently erase people's memories, usually specified by naming whatever he wants that person to forget.-Fictional character biography:...
Morlocks
Morlocks (comics)
The Morlocks are a group of several fictional comic book mutants associated with the X-Men in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Paul Smith, they were named after the subterranean race of the same name in H. G. Wells' novel The Time Machine. They first appeared...
. Trader was one of the Morlocks who came to the mutant Cell
Cell (comics)
Cell is a fictional mutant character in the Marvel Comics Universe. His first appearance was in Morlocks #1, created by Geoff Johns and Shawn Martinbrough.-Fictional character biography:...
's rescue when he was being chased by cops. Trader took a bullet in the shoulder for him, and wasn't exactly happy about having an obvious gang-banger like Cell in the group.
After an argument between fellow Morlocks Electric Eve
Electric Eve
Electric Eve is a fictional mutant character in the Marvel Comics Universe. Her first appearance was in Morlocks #1, created by Geoff Johns and Shawn Martinbrough.-Fictional character biography:...
and Angel Dust
Angel Dust (comics)
Angel Dust is a fictional mutant character in the Marvel Comics Universe. Her first appearance was in Morlocks #1, created by Geoff Johns and Shawn Martinbrough.-Fictional character biography:...
, Trader yelled at Electric Eve for being too hard on the younger Angel Dust. However, after Electric Eve electrocuted her former pimp, Trader was the first one to check on her. He told her revenge was hollow, but she said she loved it and so would he. At that moment, Dr. Metellus' Sentinels arrived.
After narrowly escaping the Sentinels, Trader came to Electric Eve's defense after Postman yelled at her for endangering the group to get revenge on her ex. Trader told him about how he lost his plush job because the jerk two offices over outed him to the board. All he lived for was revenge. Just then the police rushed into their sewer "headquarters", and Trader jumped in the way of a bullet intended for Electric Eve. As he died, he commented on how he didn't think he'd ever take a bullet for someone again.
Powers and abilities
Trader could cloud the retinaRetina
The vertebrate retina is a light-sensitive tissue lining the inner surface of the eye. The optics of the eye create an image of the visual world on the retina, which serves much the same function as the film in a camera. Light striking the retina initiates a cascade of chemical and electrical...
l input of anyone who looked at him, allowing him to blend into his surroundings. His powers also allowed him to alter his appearance to a point, as he made his hair appear longer, gave himself a goatee and several tattoos.