Gibborim (comics)

The Gibborim are a group of comic book characters in Marvel Comics' award-winning series, Runaways. They were created by author Brian K. Vaughan and artist Adrian Alphona. Debuting in Runaways #13 (March 2003), in a flashback sequence, the Gibborim are the last known survivors of an ancient race of six-fingered giants who ruled Earth before humanity's dawn, called "elder gods" by Witchfire, and possibly servants of the Judeo-Christian God. Their apparent goal is to wipe the Earth clean of all humanity and reshape the realm to create a new Eden to make their "holy Father" proud. They were the evil benefactors of the Pride. Averaging a rough height of 100 feet (30 m), the Gibborim despise all humans.

Origin

In 1985, the Gibborim call together six couples, who consisted of alien invaders, time-travellers, dark magicians, mad scientists, telepathic mutants and criminals. The Gibborim informed the couples that they wished to turn the world into the same peaceful utopia it had been millions of years before, but they did not have the strength. The Gibborim required the six couples' help ("a Pride") to wipe out the entire planet, and when they achieved their goal, six of the twelve who served them the best would be able to rule the world with them, while the other six would perish with the rest of the human race. The couples agreed, and formed The Pride. For 25 years the Gibborim had given The Pride wealth and had their powers enhanced so that they could rule over the entire City of Angels. Every year, The Pride gathered at the Wilder residence, using the excuse of an "annual charity fundraiser", while in reality, they would perform the "Rite of Blood", a ritual sacrifice of an innocent young female victim; the spirit of the victim would then be fed to the Gibborim in the "Rite of Thunder".