Marvel Legends Starfox and Champion of the Universe

Starfox, whose real name is Eros of Titan, is a cosmic adventurer and superhero in the Marvel Universe best known for his connection to the Eternals and as the brother of Thanos.

Origin and Family

Eros was born on Saturn’s moon Titan to Mentor (A’lars) and Sui-San, members of the Eternals, a powerful offshoot of humanity. He grew up in the shadow of his older brother, Thanos, the infamous Mad Titan. While Thanos was obsessed with death and destruction, Eros embraced life, pleasure, and adventure, earning an easy-going reputation on Titan and beyond.

Powers and Abilities

Starfox is endowed with physical abilities common to the Eternals, such as superhuman strength, durability, flight, and longevity. His signature power is the psionic ability to stimulate the pleasure centers in other people’s brains, allowing him to emotionally influence or calm them, sometimes controversially so. Starfox is also a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and proficient in advanced Titanian technology.

Superhero Career

Eros left Titan to seek romance and excitement across the galaxy before eventually coming to Earth. He joined the Avengers, where the Wasp suggested he adopt the codename Starfox for public appeal. As an Avenger, Starfox participated in major galactic events, including the Infinity Gauntlet saga and the Kree-Shi’ar War, playing crucial roles against threats orchestrated by his brother Thanos.

Major Storylines

• Fought alongside and against Thanos, especially during the Infinity Gauntlet events where he was sometimes a pawn in his brother’s cosmic schemes.
• Served as an Avenger, aiding in missions that saved both Earth and the cosmos.
• Played a part in complex moral and legal stories, including controversies regarding his pleasure-inducing powers.
• Joined missions with cosmic heroes and fought universe-threatening entities like the Infinites.

Personality and Legacy

Starfox is charismatic, flirtatious, and values camaraderie and personal freedom. Although often lighthearted, he has faced his share of hardship, particularly due to the crimes of Thanos and the responsibilities of the Eternal legacy. Despite being overshadowed by his brother’s villainy, Starfox’s heroism and charm have earned him a unique place in the Marvel Universe, both as a cosmic champion and a controversial figure.

First Appearance and Creators

• First Appearance: Iron Man #55 (1973)
• Creators: Jim Starlin and Mike Friedrich

Starfox continues to be one of Marvel’s most nuanced spacefaring heroes, celebrated and challenged for his abilities and his irrepressible zest for life.

Champion of the Universe, real name Tryco Slatterus, is a powerful cosmic entity and one of the Elders of the Universe in Marvel Comics.

Origins and History

Tryco Slatterus was born over five billion years ago in the Ancrindo Nebula and is among the oldest sentient beings in existence, his entire species long extinct. As an Elder of the Universe, Champion is immortal, sustained by his obsessive pursuit of physical combat and competitive challenge, believing he was born to be the greatest warrior in the cosmos. He roams the universe seeking worthy opponents, often giving worlds and heroes the ultimatum to battle him in tests of strength or face destruction.

Powers and Abilities

Champion possesses the Power Primordial, a force left over from the Big Bang, granting him immense strength, stamina, speed, durability, and cosmic endurance. He is a master of thousands of martial arts from across the universe, but favors boxing above all. While wielding the Infinity Gem of Power (Power Gem), he could match physical deities and even challenge Thanos, with blows capable of shattering planets. Champion is essentially indestructible and sustains no injuries from the passage of time or battle.

Key Storylines and Battles

• His cosmic “boxing matches” have involved Marvel’s strongest heroes, including the Thing, Hulk, Thor, Wonder Man, Colossus, and more, whom he invited (or forced) to famous bouts—with the Thing earning his rare respect.
• He once sought to destroy Earth after being disappointed in his opponents, but was persuaded to spare it.
• Champion has fought the Silver Surfer and even tried to kill him when their goals clashed.
• As a member of the Elders, he became part of cosmic schemes, including attempts to destroy Galactus and reshape the universe.
• He held the Power Gem until Thanos outsmarted him and took it, but Champion remained a major cosmic force.
• Episodes of comic relief and humiliation marked his history, such as being tricked by the Deadpool Corps and forced to join their ranks as “Championpool”.

Personality and Legacy

Tryco Slatterus is proud, reckless, and fixated on combat as his eternal purpose. His arrogance and love of a good fight make him both a threat and a sometimes-comic figure in cosmic Marvel stories. Despite his bombastic persona, he prizes honor in combat and rarely uses his power unjustly, often following strict “rules” of engagement.

First Appearance and Creators

• First Appearance: Marvel Two-in-One Annual #7 (1982)
• Creators: Tom DeFalco and Ron Wilson

Champion of the Universe stands as one of the most enduring and unique cosmic figures in Marvel Comics, symbolizing the obsessive spirit of competition and the quest for the ultimate physical challenge.