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| Samhain | |
| Aliases: | He Who Would Live [1] |
| Notability: | Antagonist |
| Gender: | Male |
| Race: | Deity |
| Location: | Europe |
| Status: | Alive |
Samhain is a pagan deity of Celtic lore, who is also associated with neopaganism and Wicca. He is acknowledged in a Gaelic festival that signifies the end of the harvest season giving way to Winter. The celebration was honored on October 31st, which in modern Western culture has become synonymous with Halloween. As such, Samhain is often associated with the traditions of Halloween; in some cases personified as the spirit of Halloween.
Marvel Universe[]
Samhain dates back to Earth's prehistory when Neanderthal man gave form to their fears through depictions in cave drawings. Samhain arose as an aspect of not only fear, but death as well. In Ancient Egypt, he fed well from offerings of food and sustenance that the Egyptians gave to their dead. In Roman Briton, Druid priests worshipped Samhain, but were slain for their efforts. In the Middle Ages, men embraced the forces of the night at Notre Dame Cathedral in France.
At some point, Samhain's essence was trapped inside of a Druid tome, and there it remained for centuries. The tome ended up in sealed within the walls of Greymoor Castle in England. In the modern era, the tome was discovered by Captain America. [2] Not realizing what it was, he sent it along as a gift to his comrade in the Avengers, Wanda Maximoff, the Scarlet Witch. Wanda opened the book on All Hallows Eve', unwittingly setting Samhain's essence free. Samhain used his power to transform three trick-or-treaters into his demonic servants, sending them to battle the Scarlet Witch and her husband, the Vision, until such time that Samhain's full power had a chance to return. When Wanda realized that Samhain's power was still tied to the Druid tome, she cast it into the fireplace, destroying it. As the book was reduced to ashes, so too did Samhain's physicality dissipate. [3]
Abilities[]
- Immortality: As a pagan deity, Samhain is an immortal concept.
- Illusion generation: Samhain could create intense illusions that he could project into the minds of others.
Equipment[]
- Scythe: As a symbol of the end of the harvest, Samhain wielded a long scythe. The scythe possessed the ability to resist mystical effects.
Notes & Trivia[]
- The Marvel Comics version of Samhain was created by writer Bill Mantlo and artist Rick Leonardi.