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{{Short description|Marvel Comics fictional character}}
{{Infobox comics character<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
| character_name = High Evolutionary
| image          = HighEvoAnniConquest.jpg
| caption        = The High Evolutionary as seen in ''[[Annihilation: Conquest]]'' #1 (January 2008)<br>Art by [[Tom Raney]].
| publisher      = [[Marvel Comics]]
| debut          = <small>Mentioned:</small><br>''[[The Mighty Thor]]'' #133 (October 1966)<br><small>Full appearance:</small><br> ''The Mighty Thor'' #134 (November 1966)<ref>{{cite book |last1=Misiroglu |first1=Gina Renée |last2=Eury |first2=Michael |title=The Supervillain Book: The Evil Side of Comics and Hollywood |date=2006 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |isbn=9780780809772 |url=https://archive.org/details/supervillainbook0000gina/page/160/mode/2up |language=en}}</ref>
| creators       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Stan Lee]]
* [[Jack Kirby]]
}}
| full_name      = Herbert Edgar Wyndham
| species        = Human mutate/[[cyborg]]
| alliances      = [[New Men (Marvel Comics)|New Men/Knights of Wundagore]]
| powers         = * Immense intelligence
* [[Psionics|Psionic powers]]
* [[Sentience|Sentient]] armor grants: 
** [[Superhuman strength]] and durability
** [[Flight]]
** [[Regeneration (biology)|Regeneration]]
** Manipulation of matter and energy
** Size-shifting
}}
The '''High Evolutionary''' ('''Herbert Edgar Wyndham''') is a fictional character appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. He is depicted as a scientist who seeks to evolve different life forms such as the [[New Men (Marvel Comics)|New Men]]. The High Evolutionary's goals have often put him at odds with different superheroes.

Originally introduced as an antagonist in the [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]] comics, the High Evolutionary would go on to feature prominently in storylines involving the [[Fantastic Four]] and the [[Silver Surfer]]. His backstory was later connected to the [[X-Men]] villain [[Mister Sinister]], while the High Evolutonary became integral to the [[origin story|origin stories]] of the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] heroes [[Scarlet Witch]], [[Quicksilver (comics)|Quicksilver]], and [[Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)|Spider-Woman]].

[[Chukwudi Iwuji]] portrays the High Evolutionary in the [[Marvel Cinematic Universe]] film ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3]]'' (2023).<ref name="SDCC2022">{{Cite web |last=Vary |first=Adam B. |date=July 23, 2022 |title=Marvel Studios' Phases 5 and 6: Everything We Learned at Comic-Con About the Multiverse Saga |url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/marvel-studios-phase-5-phase-6-multiverse-saga-comic-con-1235323893/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220724165117/https://variety.com/2022/film/news/marvel-studios-phase-5-phase-6-multiverse-saga-comic-con-1235323893/ |archive-date=July 24, 2022 |access-date=July 24, 2022 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref name="IwujiCast">{{Cite web |last=Gerblick |first=Jordan |date=November 8, 2021 |title=Guardians of the Galaxy 3 casts Chukwudi Iwuji in mystery role as filming begins |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-3-casts-chukwudi-iwuji-in-mystery-role-as-filming-begins/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119225929/https://www.gamesradar.com/guardians-of-the-galaxy-3-casts-chukwudi-iwuji-in-mystery-role-as-filming-begins/ |archive-date=November 19, 2021 |access-date=May 6, 2022 |website=[[Total Film]] |publisher=[[GamesRadar+]]}}</ref> Additionally, [[Richard Newman (actor)|Richard Newman]], [[Jonathan Frakes]], [[Corey Burton]], and [[Nolan North]] have voiced the character in animation.

==Creation==
Co-creator [[Stan Lee]] stated the character was inspired by the [[H. G. Wells]] novel ''[[The Island of Doctor Moreau]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last= Lee |first= Stan. |title=[[Marvel Masterworks]]: The Mighty Thor – Volume 5 |publisher= Marvel Enterprises |date= January 2006 | chapter= Introduction |isbn= 978-0785120766}}</ref>

==Publication history==
{{expand section|date=June 2019}}
The High Evolutionary was first mentioned in ''[[Thor (comic book)|The Mighty Thor]]'' #133 (Oct. 1966), first appears in ''The Mighty Thor'' #134 (Nov. 1966), and was created by [[Stan Lee]] and [[Jack Kirby]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=168}}</ref> His minions appeared before him (but only alluded to him), in issue #132.

==Fictional character biography==
Herbert Wyndham was born in [[Manchester]], England. While a student at [[University of Oxford|Oxford]] in the 1930s, he took an interest in the work of genetic biologist [[Mister Sinister|Nathaniel Essex]], and began experimenting with genetic manipulation, building a machine (that he called the genetic accelerator) with which he attempted to "evolve" the rats in his mother's London basement. While attending a genetics conference in Geneva, Wyndham was approached by a mysterious man (who was in truth the outcast [[Inhumans|Inhuman]] geneticist [[Phaeder]]) who handed to him papers containing blueprints for cracking the genetic code. With this information to bolster his experiments, Wyndham successfully developed a serum he dubbed "Isotope A".<ref>''X-Factor'' Annual #3 (Aug. 1988). Marvel Comics.</ref>

[[Image:Sinistermeets12.jpg|thumb|185px|left|[[Phaeder]] hands Wyndham the papers to break the genetic code.]]
Although expelled from the university for his single-mindedness, he finally succeeded in evolving his pet [[Dalmatian (dog)|Dalmatian]] Dempsey into a humanoid life form with the intelligence of a [[Common chimpanzee|chimpanzee]]. However, Dempsey was shot by [[Poaching|poachers]] and Wyndham realized that such creatures as he would create would have no place in the human world. In partnership with scientist Jonathan Drew (father of [[Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)|Jessica Drew]]), Wyndham moved his experiments to the seclusion of [[Wundagore|Wundagore Mountain]] in the small Balkan nation of [[Transia]]. The discovery of [[uranium]] on the land (inherited by Drew's wife) provided vast funding, and they bought more land from local baron Gregor Russoff.<ref>''The Punisher'' Annual #1 (Aug. 1988). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Assembling a "citadel of science" designed by German scientist Horace Grayson (father of the future [[Marvel Boy (Robert Grayson)|Marvel Boy]]) and built by [[Subterranea (comics)#Moloids|Moloid]] slaves supplied by Phaeder, the pair continued their experiment until Drew's daughter fell ill from uranium poisoning and was placed into suspended animation to save her life.<ref>''Silver Surfer'' Annual #1 (Aug. 1988). Marvel Comics.</ref> Subsequently, Drew's wife was attacked and killed by Russoff's [[Werewolf by Night|werewolf]] form, and Drew left Wundagore. Wyndham, on the other hand, developed a suit of protective silver armor for himself and continued his work.<ref>''Fantastic Four'' Annual #21 (Sept. 1988). Marvel Comics.</ref> Now joined in his work by research assistant Miles Warren (who would later become [[Jackal (Marvel Comics character)|Jackal]]), Wyndham was able to make more and more radical breakthroughs, including the [[biological uplift|genetic acceleration]] of some local animals into the half-human, half-animal beings that he dubbed his "[[New Men (Marvel Comics)|New Men]]".<ref name=Thor135>''Thor'' #135 (Dec. 1966). Marvel Comics.</ref>

When Jonathan Drew returned to Wundagore where he was possessed by the ghost of the 6th-century [[Magician (fantasy)|magician]] [[Magnus the Sorcerer|Magnus]], he warned that the citadel had been constructed upon the place where the malevolent Elder God [[Chthon (Marvel Comics)|Chthon]] had been banished. He began to train the New Men in the ways of combat and chivalry of his time until they eventually came to refer to themselves as the "Knights of Wundagore", and to Wyndham as the "Lord High Evolutionary".<ref name=Thor135 /><ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' Annual #22 (Sept. 1988). Marvel Comics.</ref> In 1958, Magnus's fears came to pass when Baron Russoff attempted to use the ancient magical tome known as the ''[[Darkhold]]'' to cure himself of his [[lycanthropy]], inadvertently freeing Chthon from imprisonment. The Knights held him off and Magnus was able to re-bind Chthon. However, on this same night, a pregnant woman named Magda sought refuge at the citadel and gave birth to twin children there. Although she fled after childbirth, the moment of Chthon's defeat coincided with the birth of the children, and the baby girl was touched by the demon's magic. Wyndham attempted to find foster parents for the children, but when met with failure, they were placed in stasis for decades until suitable candidates were found. Raised by Roma Django and Marya Maximoff, the twins grew up to be the superheroes [[Quicksilver (Marvel Comics)|Quicksilver]] and the [[Scarlet Witch]], the latter wielding chaos magic as a result of Chthon's influence.<ref name="Avengers #186"/><ref>''Web of Spider-Man'' Annual #4. Marvel Comics.</ref>

[[Image:Counter-Earth25.jpg|249px|thumb|right|The High Evolutionary observing from his base within [[Counter-Earth (comics)|Counter-Earth]]'s moon.]]
In the modern era, the High Evolutionary encountered the [[Asgardians (Marvel Comics)|Asgardian]] thunder god, [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]. Alongside Thor, the High Evolutionary battled the [[Man-Beast]] (one of the New Men) and his evil New Men.<ref>''Thor'' #134-135. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Wyndham eventually saw the world as a far too confining place, so he converted his scientific research citadel into a spaceship, exploring the stars with his New Men. He later settled his New Men on a planet, ''Wundagore II'', while he stayed on one of the planet's moons and began work on a [[Counter-Earth (comics)|detailed replica of Earth to be located on the opposite side of the Sun]]. There his New Men regressed to bestial behavior and revolted against him. He captured the [[Hulk]], intending to evolve him by a million years. However, his experiment was interrupted by the New Men, who fatally wounded their former master. In desperation, he performed the experiment meant for the Hulk on himself, evolving into a godlike being. In this enlightened state, he was repulsed by his tampering with evolution and [[Devolution (biology)|devolved]] the surviving New Men before willing his own existence to dissolve and become one with the cosmos.<ref>''Tales to Astonish'' #94-96. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The High Evolutionary eventually returned to human form and finished his creation, Counter-Earth. Although Counter-Earth was supposed to be a temporary structure that would be evolved into a paradise, the Man-Beast corrupted the process, and Counter-Earth became an imperfect world.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sacks |first1=Jason |last2=Dallas |first2=Keith |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: The 1970s |date=2014 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490564 |page=72}}</ref> By this time the High Evolutionary had adopted [[Adam Warlock]] and bestowed him with the [[Infinity Gems|Soul Gem]], dispatching him to redeem Counter-Earth.<ref>''Marvel Premiere'' #1-2; ''Warlock'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> The High Evolutionary aided Warlock against Man-Beast and his agents.<ref>''Warlock'' #3, 5, 8. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Eventually, one of [[Galactus]]'s [[Herald of Galactus|Heralds]] discovered this Counter-Earth. Galactus declared that Counter-Earth was ideally suited for his sustenance (just as the real Earth). The High Evolutionary faced Galactus in battle and lost, while the [[Fantastic Four]] and [[Gorr the Golden Gorilla|Gorr]] tried to prevent Galactus from devouring Counter-Earth; eventually the [[Impossible Man]] tricked the World Devourer to seek sustenance from the Impossible Man's world, Poppup, leading to a fatal condition. Out of compassion, the High Evolutionary saved Galactus by evolving him into living energy that was eventually re-collected by Galactus's world ship.<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #172-175. Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the earliest phases of its construction, the High Evolutionary's Counter-Earth was aggressively targeted for "collection" by the [[Beyonders]] (not to be confused with the [[Beyonder]]). Agents of the Beyonders manipulated Adam Warlock into murdering the High Evolutionary to allow theft of Counter-Earth, but he was revived by [[Moondragon]] and Warlock's counterpart, [[Kismet (Marvel Comics)|Her]].<ref name="One' 1980">''Marvel Two In One'' #61-63 (Mar. - May 1980). Marvel Comics.</ref> When the High Evolutionary discovered the disappearance of Counter-Earth, alongside the [[Thing (comics)|Thing]], [[Alicia Masters]], [[Starhawk (character)|Starhawk]], Moondragon, and Her, the High Evolutionary pursued the Beyonders to rescue his world. When the High Evolutionary arrived at the Beyonders' planet museum, he himself reported that his mind snapped when he witnessed the scope of their powers and how effectively insignificant he was compared to these alien beings. It is this encounter that marks the beginning of the High Evolutionary's mental instability.<ref name="One' 1980"/>

Although the High Evolutionary claimed that the Beyonders considered Counter-Earth an "interesting but primitive work by a talented provincial", there has not been an explanation as to why they wished to interrupt the project even before the High Evolutionary had introduced life onto the new world. For unknown reasons, the Beyonders placed all life on Counter-Earth into stasis{{Volume needed|c=y|date=March 2014}} and later allowed the planet to be destroyed during the [[The Infinity Gauntlet|Infinity Gauntlet]] conflict, although they could easily have prevented it.<ref>''Warlock and the Infinity Watch'' #3-4 (Apr. - May 1992). Marvel Comics.</ref>

[[Image:AvengersAnnual17cover.jpg|185px|thumb|left|Cover of ''[[Avengers (comic)|Avengers Annual]]'' #17.<br>Art by [[Sal Buscema]].]]
During the "[[Evolutionary War]]" storyline, the High Evolutionary had become increasingly unstable and maniacal. His attempt to end his life was prevented by his suit. He returned to Earth, hoping to find something strong enough to overcome his armor. He goaded the Hulk into attacking him, and Hulk succeeded in smashing his armor; the malfunctioning armor then devolved the High Evolutionary into a mass of [[protozoa|one-celled organisms]].<ref name="The Incredible Hulk' 1981">''The Incredible Hulk'' vol. 2 #266 (Dec. 1981). Marvel Comics.</ref> However, the suit's circuits reorganized and restored the High Evolutionary to his previous state. His death and subsequent rebirth gave the High Evolutionary a new insight into the future of mankind. Rather than being a benevolent yet distant protector, as he had been with his New Men, he would take a direct hand in molding the future of humanity, so that they might one day be as powerful as the Beyonders he had witnessed.<ref>''The Avengers'' Annual #17 (Nov. 1988). Marvel Comics.</ref>

The High Evolutionary later came into conflict with a number of [[superhero]]es, notably the reserve [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] and [[Adam Warlock]], when he tried to forcibly [[mutation|mutate]] (or "evolve") the entire population of the Earth with his "Evolution Bomb". The Avengers stopped him, though the High Evolutionary and [[Hercules (Marvel Comics)|Hercules]] were exposed to the High Evolutionary's ''Genesis Chamber'' and became "more than a god", evolving out of existence.<ref>''The Punisher'' Annual #1; ''Silver Surfer'' Annual #1; ''The New Mutants'' Annual #4; ''Fantastic Four'' Annual #21; ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' Annual #22; ''The Uncanny X-Men'' Annual #3; ''Web of Spider-Man'' Annual #4; ''The West Coast Avengers'' vol. 2 Annual #3; ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' Annual #8; ''The Avengers'' Annual #17. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The evolved essences of the High Evolutionary and Hercules were harvested by the Celestials and imprisoned and manipulated for unknown purposes in the Black Galaxy. Eventually both were returned to human form, and the High Evolutionary returned to space with the Knights of Wundagore. After Thor shaved his beard, one of the New Men brought the shaving bowl containing Thor's blood and hair to Count Tager as part of the High Evolutionary's plot to create a new race of immortals.<ref>''Thor'' #406-408. Marvel Comics.</ref> After his liberation, the High Evolutionary decided that rather than advancing humanity, he would create all-new gods and immortals using the unique matter that composed the Black Galaxy, including the New Immortals consisting of [[Analyzer (comics)|Analyzer]], Count Tagar, Juvan, Nobilus (who was created from Thor's DNA samples), and Zon. He and his creations were on-hand to witness the birth of a new [[Celestial (comics)|Celestial]], but viewing this event with all his hyper-evolved senses seemed to drive the High Evolutionary back to madness.<ref>''Thor'' #419-425. Marvel Comics.</ref>

At one point, [[Ego the Living Planet]] was investigated by the High Evolutionary, who observed Ego while a titanic, cloud-like entity - which he tentatively designated "Super-Ego" - absorbed Ego. The High Evolutionary theorized that there was more than one Ego (a notion supported by its apparently erratic behavior over the years, the various origin stories known about it, and by the fact that ''an'' Ego appeared after this one was destroyed by its "parent") and that they might all stem from the "Super-Ego".{{Volume needed|c=y|date=January 2012}}

His mental instability progressed to the point that the High Evolutionary became infatuated with [[Shanna the She-Devil|Shanna]], wife of [[Ka-Zar (Kevin Plunder)|Ka-Zar]]. Infused with the power of the [[Savage Land]]'s terraformer (commissioned by the [[Beyonders]]), she had become much like the High Evolutionary himself: powerful, well-meaning, and mentally unstable.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=January 2012}} The two became obsessed with each other, and nearly departed Earth to create a new world of their own, but Ka-Zar convinced Shanna otherwise.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=January 2012}} The High Evolutionary repented, agreeing to return Shanna to her normal state once he realized (despite his mania) that the relationship should not be pursued.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=January 2012}} The High Evolutionary once helped to restore the Savage Land and its inhabitants after the engines that kept the volcanoes active were demolished by [[Terminus (comics)|Terminus]].<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' Annual #12 (Oct. 1988). Marvel Comics.</ref>

The High Evolutionary was revealed to have a student called the High Technician who was responsible for creating a team of uplifted dinosaurs called the Saur-Lords during his time in the Savage Land.<ref>''Captain America'' #415 (May 1993). Marvel Comics.</ref>

In the ''Quicksilver'' series, it was revealed that the High Evolutionary's genetic code had become unstable, accounting for his periods of mania and aggression. The High Evolutionary became more powerful and maniacal than ever, but Quicksilver was still able to reason with him. With the support of New Men Delphis and [[Bova (comics)|Bova]], and after nearly losing his life at the hands of the Man-Beast, the High Evolutionary was able to restore himself to an un-evolved human state and mental stability using Isotope G.<ref>''Heroes for Hire & Quicksilver'' Annual 1998. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The High Evolutionary is now an occasional ally of [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]] and other superheroes. He confronted his mentor [[Mister Sinister]] alongside the [[X-Men]] when the villain took over his satellite-based device (which temporarily shut down the X-Gene of all Earth-based [[Mutant (Marvel Comics)|mutants]], devolving them into normal humans) and altered it, in a test-of-evolution scheme by force-evolving the entire global human populace.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=July 2009}}

He was seen in the ''[[X-Men: Endangered Species]]'' one-shot as one of the nine villains [[Beast (Marvel Comics)|Beast]] approaches to help him reverse the effects of [[Decimation (comics)|M-Day]]. In the second chapter of the ''Endangered Species'' storyline, Beast attempts to reach Wundagore Mountain to locate the High Evolutionary. The Knights of Wundagore confront and ultimately escort Beast inside, where the High Evolutionary appears to him as a hologram, giving Beast only cryptic and mostly dismissive answers.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=July 2009}}

[[Spider-Man]] spoke to him during ''[[One More Day (comics)|One More Day]]'' on whether he could do anything to save the life of [[Aunt May]]. He could give no useful help.<ref>''Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man'' #24. Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the ''[[Annihilation: Conquest]]'' event, the High Evolutionary reappeared in [[Kree]] space, working on restructuring the Kree genome in a fortress inside a star. [[Adam Warlock]] brought Quasar and Moondragon to him after being overwhelmed by Phalanx warriors, who quickly invaded the High Evolutionary's vessel. Once Ultron was revealed to be the leader of the Phalanx militia, the High Evolutionary detonated the star, vaporizing his ship, Ultron, and the invading Phalanx warriors. He subsequently was captured by the Phalanx and forced to transfer the essence of Ultron into the body of Warlock, apparently killing him. However, the High Evolutionary was aware that Warlock's consciousness had survived and implied that Warlock would "lead the way" for the new [[Guardians of the Galaxy (2008 team)|Guardians of the Galaxy]].{{Volume needed|c=y|date=July 2009}}

The High Evolutionary later works with [[Magneto (Marvel Comics)|Magneto]] and [[Blob (Marvel Comics)|Blob]] to determine why so many mutants were depowered on [[Decimation (comics)|M-Day]]. He developed a suit for the depowered Magneto that replicated his original powers, and Magneto led an attack on San Francisco as a distraction so that the High Evolutionary could gain a currently unknown object from inside of the [[Dreaming Celestial]].<ref>''Uncanny X-Men'' #500. Marvel Comics.</ref> After extensively examining the Dreaming Celestial, the High Evolutionary subjected Magneto to an extremely dangerous technological procedure in an attempt to restore his power and was a success.<ref name="Uncanny X-Men #507">''The Uncanny X-Men'' #507. Marvel Comics.</ref>

High Evolutionary had a part in turning an ordinary zoo [[hippopotamus]] into the [[Hippo (comics)|Hippo]].<ref>''Dark Reign: The Sinister Spider-Man'' #2. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Although not inhabiting Mt. Wundagore at the time, the High Evolutionary still maintained a garrison there where Chthon re-emerged and slaughtered many of the remaining New Men.<ref>''Mighty Avengers'' #21. Marvel Comics.</ref>

[[Doctor Doom]] and [[Mister Fantastic]] later had the Future Foundation members gather the other geniuses to attend a symposium on how to defeat the "Council of Reeds" (alternate versions of Mister Fantastic who were trapped in this universe by Valeria a while back, possessing Reed's intellect while lacking his conscience). High Evolutionary was one of those given the invitation from Thing and the evolved Moloids.<ref>''FF'' #3. Marvel Comics.</ref>

He later drained the [[Silver Surfer]]'s [[Power Cosmic]] into himself, rendering the Surfer mortal and giving the High Evolutionary the ability to control and modify the star sphere of the civilization-destroying entity [[Galactus]], allowing him to bestow life to dead worlds. The High Evolutionary created a herald for himself as well as a silver-coated [[biome]] of life on Earth, which needed only sunlight to survive, without the need to kill other animals. The Surfer and the [[Fantastic Four]] unite with the armed forces to kill all the High Evolutionary's creations on the grounds that they eradicate emotion and individuality from the humans who were transformed. They again exterminate the High Evolutionary's creations after he begins to terraform the Moon, on the rationale that it will affect tides and animal migrations. Galactus arrives, and the Fantastic Four cheer on Galactus to kill Wyndham, but as the High Evolutionary now serves an equal opposite "World Builder" function of creating rather than committing genocide on sentient civilizations, he allows the High Evolutionary to leave with his star sphere to continue creating new life throughout the universe.<ref>''Silver Surfer'' vol. 6 #1-5. Marvel Comics.</ref>

When the High Evolutionary learned that the god-like Celestials were coming to Earth to judge whether humanity should continue to exist or perish, he—with the help of the Evolutionaries—systematically began to slaughter his creations, fearing that their unnatural presence may cause the Celestials to deem the planet unworthy.<ref>''New Warriors'' vol. 5 #6. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The High Evolutionary has appeared in the 2015 ''Uncanny Avengers'' series. He has apparently created a new Counter-Earth, no longer inhabited by humans but instead by millions of New Men. The High Evolutionary routinely exterminates the entire population of New Men when they ultimately fail to meet his standards of perfection and then re-creates them. He was served in his plans by a human called the Master Scientist and Luminous (a female who was created from the genetic templates of Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch while also having the same abilities as them). A human called the Low Evolutionary was one of a few humans living on Counter-Earth who opposed the High Evolutionary.<ref>''Uncanny Avengers'' #1-2. Marvel Comics.</ref> After being tracked down and defeated by Luminous, Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch were brought to the High Evolutionary himself. He revealed to them that Django and Marya Maximoff were their true parents. He also told them the truth where they were supposedly not mutants, but they had been experimented on by the High Evolutionary. The High Evolutionary later confronted the Avengers Unity Division when they interfered with his plan to destroy Lowtown (a refuge for a resistance formed by the High Evolutionary's rejects, led by the Low Evolutionary).<ref>''Uncanny Avengers'' #4. Marvel Comics.</ref> He was defeated after [[Brother Voodoo|Doctor Voodoo]] unleashed upon him the thousands of souls of those he had exterminated and was forced to flee through a portal with Luminous.<ref>''Uncanny Avengers'' #5. Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the ''[[Secret Wars (2015 comic book)|Secret Wars]]'' storyline, it was mentioned months ago that the High Evolutionary was among the scientists that Magneto's right-hand person Briar tried to contact to make a special cocktail to augment Magneto's powers for the upcoming incursion between [[Earth-616]] and [[Earth-1610]].<ref>''Magneto'' vol. 3 #19. Marvel Comics.</ref>

[[Maker (character)|Maker]] collaborated with High Evolutionary to destroy the Superflow that kept the different universes separate to merge them into one reality. As a result of this action, the Earth-1610 [[Ultimates]] members [[Captain America (Ultimate Marvel character)|Captain America]], [[Iron Man (Ultimate Marvel character)|Iron Man]], [[Hank Pym#Ultimate Marvel|Giant-Man]], [[Wasp (comics)#Ultimate Marvel|Wasp]], and [[Hulk (Ultimate Marvel character)|Hulk]] were revived where they were to help Eternity fight the First Firmament.<ref>''The Ultimates 2'' vol. 2 #9. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Continuing his work on Counter-Earth, the High Evolutionary used his technology to accelerate Counter-Earth so that he can have it combine with Earth. To help in that, the High Evolutionary sent a meteor to Earth that altered Earth's vibration frequencies where their synching will merge the two planets.<ref>''The Avengers'' #672-673. Marvel Comics.</ref> This plot attracted the attention of the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] and the [[Champions (2016 team)|Champions]] where Falcon and Viv are unexpectedly teleported to Counter-Earth and brought to the High Evolutionary. He decides to evolve them where he starts by turning Viv into a human. The Avengers and the Champions went to Counter-Earth and fought the New Men and then caused a malfunction with the High Evolutionary's teleporter where he seemingly perished.<ref>''Champions'' vol. 2 #12-13. Marvel Comics.</ref> It was discovered during this time that the High Evolutionary had created a clone of himself called the Higher Evolutionary where he had more compassion than his creator and had been hooked up to the Orbit-Engine where his removal will destroy Counter-Earth.<ref>''The Avengers'' #674. Marvel Comics.</ref> The High Evolutionary was actually turned into sentient digital data and trapped in an unknown dimension. As he evolved the life on the planet that he landed on, he had a run-in with Viv who was also sent there as a side-effect of deactivating the Orbit-Engine and states that it would require a digital connection for him to return. Upon discovering that Vision is building Viv 2.0 to replace Viv, the High Evolutionary states that it would be their connection back to their reality. Viv used the connection to go back to her reality while the High Evolutionary was left in the unknown dimension.<ref>''Champions'' vol. 2 #15. Marvel Comics.</ref>

The High Evolutionary was returned to his dimension by a machine used by the Knights of Wundagore. He left Counter-Earth upon becoming disappointed with the outcome of his experiment.<ref>''Spider-Woman'' vol. 7 #6. Marvel Comics.</ref>

At some point as part of the prelude to the "[[Hunted (comics)|Hunted]]" storyline, [[Kraven the Hunter]] hunted some New Men to draw out the High Evolutionary. Kraven cuts a deal with the High Evolutionary to take his [[DNA]] sample and create 87 clones of him in order for them to go out into the world and prove themselves to Kraven. The High Evolutionary agrees to the terms and creates the clones. Out of these clones, only one that calls himself the [[Last Son of Kraven]] killed the other clones and proved himself to Kraven the Hunter.<ref>''The Amazing Spider-Man'' vol. 5 #16. Marvel Comics.</ref>

In ''[[Spider-Boy]]'', the High Evolutionary is revealed to be an ally of [[Madame Monstrosity]], who also experiments with creating Humanimals.<ref>''Spider-Boy'' Vol. 2 #5. Marvel Comics.</ref> After Madame Monstrosity transforms herself into a [[Chimera (genetics)|chimera]] to battle Spider-Boy and is defeated, the High Evolutionary captures her and takes her to be studied.<ref>''Spider-Boy'' Vol. 2 #7. Marvel Comics.</ref>

==Characterization==
===Powers and abilities===
The High Evolutionary has evolved his intelligence to the upper limit of human potential, and is the only human whose intelligence and knowledge has been listed as equal to certain cosmic entities.<ref>''Fantastic Four'' Annual #23. Marvel Comics.</ref> He is considered the leading [[geneticist]] in the [[Marvel universe]], and is vastly knowledgeable in [[biology]], [[chemistry]], medicine, [[physics]], engineering, [[psychology|human psychology]], [[computer science]], and cybernetics.

Due to experimentation on his own [[genome]], his highly enhanced brain and cybernetic exoskeleton, the High Evolutionary has demonstrated god-like powers; including the ability to evolve and devolve life-forms, superhuman strength and durability, manipulating matter at a subatomic level, energy manipulation and projection, cosmic awareness, precognition, telepathy, telekinesis, extra-dimensional travel, and size alteration. On one occasion, he managed to hold his own against [[Galactus]] for a prolonged time before being defeated.<ref name="Fantastic Four #175">''Fantastic Four'' #175. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Of note, the High Evolutionary has forged weapons for his New Men that show some anti-mystical properties, as demonstrated by a lance wielded by [[Beast (Marvel Comics)|Beast]] that was able to damage the ''[[Darkhold]]''.{{issue|date=May 2023}}

===Equipment===
His exoskeleton provides him with an uncanny degree of protection from attacks, and also provides [[life support]] (filtering/recycling his air and providing sustenance when needed). If he is badly damaged, the suit can heal his wounds and can completely restore him to life using records of his genome and brain activity patterns, as in one instance the suit restored him fully after he had attempted to commit suicide by destroying his own body.<ref name="The Incredible Hulk' 1981"/>

===Personality===
The High Evolutionary's character has varied between that of a weary, well-meaning creator to that of a "[[mad scientist]]" who is willing to do whatever he considers necessary to further his goals of evolving a better, less-brutal world. He has great respect for the process of evolution, but is also deeply troubled by the immense amount of death and suffering required for such slow progress (see the ''Quicksilver'' series). Although menacing and arrogant during his maniacal phases, the High Evolutionary's history also contains more than one example of his desire to be responsible, creative, and kind. Most Marvel writers have resisted portraying him as a standard-fare villain, thereby adding levels of sympathy and complexity to the character. The High Evolutionary has been manipulated and driven to insanity by both the [[Beyonders]] and the [[Celestial (comics)|Celestials]], cosmic races that have interfered with human evolution in the past, indicating that his work might perhaps be a threat to their own. Even at his most unstable, the High Evolutionary has always demonstrated a paternal love toward even his most flawed creations: he rehabilitated [[Nobilus]], has attempted to heal Count Tagar and the God Pack, and has spared the Man-Beast his life despite multiple attempts to murder him. At one point, he offered to (and did) restore the [[Savage Land]] after it was destroyed by [[Terminus (comics)|Terminus]], even though it had been created by the very race that had confiscated and then destroyed his own beloved creation, Counter-Earth.

The High Evolutionary played a key role in saving the Earth from Chthon, and rescued Galactus from death despite his attempts to consume Counter-Earth. He has served as a benevolent father figure to several characters, including [[Adam Warlock]], [[Quicksilver (Marvel Comics)|Quicksilver]], [[Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)|Spider-Woman]], [[Wolverine (character)|Wolverine]], and [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]], often charging them with tasks that lead to their personal growth as individuals and heroes. Along these lines, he has taken a pointed interest in developing a sense of nobility and decency in his creations, most notably the [[New Men (Marvel Comics)|New Men]].

At times the High Evolutionary has feigned indifference to the fate of others when his own safety is at stake, only to reveal a considerably more benign agenda later (see the ''Annihilation: Conquest'' series). More frequently, he has shown a sympathetic and protective concern for the defenseless: on several occasions he has gone to considerable lengths to protect young children, including the critically ill [[Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)|Jessica Drew]],<ref>''Spider Woman'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> [[Scarlet Witch|Wanda]] and [[Quicksilver (Marvel Comics)|Pietro Maximoff]],<ref name="Avengers #186">''The Avengers'' #186. Marvel Comics.</ref> and Pietro's daughter [[Luna (comics)|Luna]].<ref>''Quicksilver'' #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> He gave Magda shelter from the elements without hesitation,<ref name="Avengers #186"/> risked death to fight Galactus over Counter-Earth,<ref name="Fantastic Four #175"/> and literally begged Ka-Zar not to poison the Earth's biosphere with Isotope E out of compassion for the suffering it would cause.<ref>''Ka-Zar'' vol. 4 #14. Marvel Comics.</ref> He tried to aid Magneto in reversing the effects of M-Day.<ref name="Uncanny X-Men #507"/> He delayed an attack on the Silver Surfer to allow him time to save the life of [[Cybermancer|Suzi Endo]], who would briefly become his herald.<ref>''Silver Surfer'' vol. 6 #1 (2011). Marvel Comics.</ref>

Though made personally wealthy by uranium deposits, the High Evolutionary has also provided for a generous financial trust for the people of [[Transia]], ensuring economic stability for the nation.

==In other media==
===Television===
[[Image:Highevolutionaryunlimited.jpg|250px|right|thumb|The High Evolutionary as he appears in ''Spider-Man Unlimited''.]]
* The High Evolutionary appears in ''[[X-Men: The Animated Series]]'', voiced by [[Robert Bockstael (actor)|Robert Bockstael]].<ref>{{cite episode |title=Family Ties |series=[[X-Men: The Animated Series]] |network=[[Fox Broadcasting Company]] |airdate=May 4, 1996 |season=4 |number=17 |credits=}}</ref> This version seeks to create a superior generation of New Men by using [[Mutant (Marvel Comics)|mutant]] DNA to transform humans into bestial beings instead of experimenting on animals.
* The High Evolutionary appears in ''[[Spider-Man Unlimited]]'', voiced by [[Richard Newman (actor)|Richard Newman]].<ref name="btva">{{cite web |date= |title=High Evolutionary Voices (Marvel Universe) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/Marvel-Universe/High-Evolutionary/ |access-date=December 21, 2019 |website=Behind the Voice Actors |type=A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information}}</ref> This version believes a greater genetic diversity heightens survival traits. Disgusted with humans' behavior on Earth, he departed for [[Counter-Earth (comics)|Counter-Earth]] to begin anew sometime before the series, only to find the same destructive tendencies in their humans. In response, he created a new society with human/animal creatures loyal to him called Beastials, which went on to replace humanity as the dominant species as well as elite Beastials called the Knights of Wundagore capable of leading [[Machine Man|Machine Men]] as law enforcers. In the present, the High Evolutionary's society is disrupted by the arrival of [[John Jameson (character)|John Jameson]], [[Spider-Man]], [[Eddie Brock|Venom]], and [[Cletus Kasady|Carnage]] before he is eventually defeated by Spider-Man, the Counter-Earth [[Green Goblin]], and a human rebellion led by his granddaughter Karen O'Malley.
* An alternate reality incarnation of the High Evolutionary appears in ''[[The Super Hero Squad Show]]'' episode "The Devil Dinosaur You Say! (Six Against Infinity, Part 4)", voiced by [[Jonathan Frakes]].<ref name="btva"/> This version hails from "Dinosaur World", an alternate reality populated primarily by dinosaurs.
* The High Evolutionary appears in the ''[[Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.]]'' episode "Future Shock", voiced by [[Corey Burton]].<ref name="btva"/> This version hails from a possible future where a gamma meteor struck the Earth and regressed humanity to a primitive state, allowing him to turn them into Animal Men. After accidentally ending up in his time, the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. eventually turn him into a baby before returning to the present. In the episode "Enter the Maestro", the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. destroy the gamma meteor that created the High Evolutionary's time.
* The High Evolutionary appears in ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy (TV series)|Guardians of the Galaxy]]'', voiced by [[Nolan North]].<ref name="btva"/>

===Film===
[[File:Chukwudi Iwuji 2022.jpg|thumb|[[Chukwudi Iwuji]] in costume as the High Evolutionary at Comic Con 2022.]]
The High Evolutionary appears in ''[[Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3]]'', portrayed by [[Chukwudi Iwuji]].<ref name="SDCC2022" /><ref name="IwujiCast" /> This version is a long-lived alien geneticist and the founder and CEO of the intergalactic bio-engineering company OrgoCorp. Seeking to improve what he considers lower lifeforms, he created the Humanimals of [[Counter-Earth (comics)|Counter-Earth]] from Earth animals, the [[Sovereign (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Sovereign]], and Half-worlders such as Batch 89, which included [[Rocket (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|89P13 / Rocket]]. After  Rocket demonstrates intelligence and technical proficiency in solving a problem with his Humanimals, the High Evolutionary tries to harvest Rocket's brain for further study and incinerate the rest of Batch 89. Rocket leads them in an escape, but all save for him are killed by the High Evolutionary and his Recorders. The High Evolutionary pursues Rocket until he is defeated by the [[Guardians of the Galaxy (Marvel Cinematic Universe team)|Guardians of the Galaxy]]. After Rocket chooses to spare his creator's life while rescuing his experiments, [[Drax (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Drax]] carries the High Evolutionary from his exploding ship to be imprisoned on [[Knowhere (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Knowhere]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gunn Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/status/1659608908913336322 |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref>

===Video games===
The High Evolutionary appears in ''[[Marvel: Avengers Alliance]]''. This version created "Iso-Saurs" while experimenting on dinosaurs with Iso-8 crystals.

===Miscellaneous===
The High Evolutionary appears in the novel ''Avengers: Everybody Wants to Rule the World'' by [[Dan Abnett]].{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}

==References==
{{Reflist|35em}}

==External links==
* {{Marvelwiki|high-evolutionary|High Evolutionary}}
* [http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/h/highevolutionary.htm High Evolutionary] at the Marvel Directory
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091027095704/http://www.geocities.com/marvel_villain/evolutionary/evolutionary.html High Evolutionary] at the Villains of Marvel Comics

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