View source for Acanti

{{Refimprove|date=December 2009}}
{{Infobox comics species
<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
<!-- |species   = Acanti-->
|image     = Acanti3.jpg
|imagesize = <!-- default 250 -->
|caption   = The Acanti as depicted in ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' #166 (November 1982). Art by [[Paul Smith (comics)|Paul Smith]] (penciller), [[Bob Wiacek]] (inker), and [[Lynn Varley]] (colorist).
|publisher = [[Marvel Comics]]
|debut     = ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' #156 (April 1982)
|creators  = [[Chris Claremont]] (writer)<br>[[Dave Cockrum]] (artist)
|deities   = 
|homeworld = 
|members   = 
|powers    = 
|subcat    = Marvel Comics
|altcat    = Marvel Comics alien species
|sortkey   = Acanti
|et        = y
}}
The '''Acanti''' are a race of fictional whale-like aliens appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. They have appeared in ''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' within the [[Marvel Comics]] universe. They were created by writer [[Chris Claremont]] and artist [[Dave Cockrum]]. Many of them were enslaved by the [[Brood (comics)|Brood]] empire.

==Physical characteristics==
The Acanti are colossal whale-like creatures with several pairs of fins and widely spaced eyes. An adult Acanti can grow to several miles in length, and even an infant is large enough to swallow a spaceship.<ref>''[[Uncanny X-Men]]'' #156 (April 1982)</ref> They communicate through psionic sounds referred to as songs and can fly faster than the [[speed of light]] without assistance.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Belt |first=Robyn |date=July 28, 2020 |title=A Complete Guide to Marvel’s Galactic Empires |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/a-complete-guide-to-marvel-s-galactic-empires |access-date=January 12, 2025 |website=Marvel}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Asher-Perrin |first=Emmet |last2=Templeton |first2=Molly |date=December 16, 2022 |title=''Avatar 2'' Joins a Long, Storied History of Space Whales |url=https://reactormag.com/avatar-2-joins-a-long-storied-history-of-space-whales/ |access-date=January 12, 2025 |website=Reactor |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Waid |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Waid |title=History of the Marvel Universe |last2=Rodriguez |first2=Javier |author-link2=Javier Rodríguez (artist) |date=July 13, 2021 |publisher=Marvel |isbn=9781302928292}}</ref>

==Fictional race biography==
The Acanti are an ancient species who wander through space and are largely benevolent and compassionate. They are led by the Prophet-Singer, who serves as a vessel for the Soul, a mystical force that links the species. At the end of their lives, the Acanti typically hurl themselves into stars. The Prophet-Singer also does so, releasing the Soul to inhabit their successor.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />

After migrating to the [[Milky Way]], the [[Brood (comics)|Brood]] enslave the Acanti to exploit their ability to travel at light-speed, transforming their bodies into [[Bioship|living starships]].<ref name=":0" /> When the Prophet-Singer dies, the Soul is unable to leave his corpse until the [[X-Men]] free it.<ref name=":1" /><ref>''Uncanny X-Men'' #165 (January 1983)</ref><ref name=":2">''Uncanny X-Men'' #166 (February 1983)</ref>

The [[Chitauri]] used the Acanti and the [[List of alien races in Marvel Comics#Starsharks|Starsharks]] to create the Chitauri Leviathans, which serve a similar purpose as living ships.<ref>''[[Thanos]]'' (vol. 2) #13 (January 2018)</ref>

==In other media==

* The Acanti appear in the ''[[X-Men: The Animated Series]]'' episode "Love in Vain".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kendall |first=Gene |date=April 7, 2018 |title=Which Classic Foes Couldn't Appear on X-Men: The Animated Series - And Why? |url=https://www.cbr.com/x-men-the-animated-series-no-brood-villains/ |access-date=May 24, 2025 |website=[[Comic Book Resources|CBR]] |language=en}}</ref>
* The Acanti appear in ''[[Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gullapalli |first=Vishal |date=October 30, 2021 |title=56 Marvel comic book references in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy |url=https://www.polygon.com/comics/22752312/marvel-guardians-of-the-galaxy-game-easter-eggs-comic-books-movies |access-date=May 24, 2025 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Marvel Cosmic}}
[[Category:Characters created by Chris Claremont]]
[[Category:Characters created by Dave Cockrum]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1982]]
[[Category:Fictional extraterrestrial species and races]]
[[Category:Fictional whales]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds]]