 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (December 2009) |
| Acanti | |
|---|---|
 The Acanti as depicted in Uncanny X-Men #166 (November 1982). Art by Paul Smith (penciller), Bob Wiacek (inker), and Lynn Varley (colorist). | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Uncanny X-Men #156 (April 1982) |
| Created by | Chris Claremont (writer) Dave Cockrum (artist) |
The Acanti are a race of fictional whale-like aliens appearing in American comic books 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 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.[1] They communicate through psionic sounds referred to as songs and can fly faster than the speed of light without assistance.[2][3][4]
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.[5][3]
After migrating to the Milky Way, the Brood enslave the Acanti to exploit their ability to travel at light-speed, transforming their bodies into living starships.[2] When the Prophet-Singer dies, the Soul is unable to leave his corpse until the X-Men free it.[3][6][5]
The Chitauri used the Acanti and the Starsharks to create the Chitauri Leviathans, which serve a similar purpose as living ships.[7]
In other media
- The Acanti appear in the X-Men: The Animated Series episode "Love in Vain".[8]
- The Acanti appear in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy.[9]
References
- ↑ Uncanny X-Men #156 (April 1982)
- 1 2 Belt, Robyn (July 28, 2020). "A Complete Guide to Marvel's Galactic Empires". Marvel. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
- 1 2 3 Asher-Perrin, Emmet; Templeton, Molly (December 16, 2022). "Avatar 2 Joins a Long, Storied History of Space Whales". Reactor. Retrieved January 12, 2025.
- ↑ Waid, Mark; Rodriguez, Javier (July 13, 2021). History of the Marvel Universe. Marvel. ISBN 9781302928292.
- 1 2 Uncanny X-Men #166 (February 1983)
- ↑ Uncanny X-Men #165 (January 1983)
- ↑ Thanos (vol. 2) #13 (January 2018)
- ↑ Kendall, Gene (April 7, 2018). "Which Classic Foes Couldn't Appear on X-Men: The Animated Series - And Why?". CBR. Retrieved May 24, 2025.
- ↑ Gullapalli, Vishal (October 30, 2021). "56 Marvel comic book references in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy". Polygon. Retrieved May 24, 2025.