Sovereign

For other uses, see Sovereign (disambiguation)

Sovereign
Home Planet	Sovereign
Appearances
Movie	Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
TV Series	What If...?
Book	Avengers: Infinity War: The Heroes' Journey (flashback)

"Every citizen is born exactly as designed by the community. Impeccable, both physically and mentally. We control the DNA of our progeny, germinating them in birthing pods."

―Ayesha^[src]

The Sovereign are a highly advanced, genetically engineered galactic race created by the High Evolutionary. They are the inhabitants of the planet of the same name.

History

Creation

The "Perfect" Species

The High Evolutionary had previously been successful in experimenting on lower life forms. Taking another route, he ended up creating the Sovereign, a race of gold humanoid beings who considered themselves at a higher plane than everyone else. His creation led the Sovereign to be in his debt.

Mistaken Allies

Hiring the Guardians

"Careful what you say around these folks. They are easily offended. The cost of transgression is death."

―Star-Lord^[src]

Ayesha meeting the Guardians of the Galaxy

The Sovereign had their homeworld attacked by a rampaging Abilisk that intended to devour the planet's power source. Believing it to be beneath them to fight it themselves, their leader Ayesha hired the Guardians of the Galaxy to kill the beast in exchange for Nebula, who was captured by the Sovereign for attempting to steal Anulax Batteries.

Chasing the Guardians

Ayesha being told about the delaying conflict

"What is the delay, Admiral?"
"High Priestess, the batteries... they are exceptionally combustible, they could destroy the entire fleet."
"Our concern is the slight against our people. We hired them and they steal from us? It is heresy of the highest order."
"All command modules, fire with the intent to kill."

―Ayesha and the Sovereign Admiral^[src]

After paying the Guardians for killing the Abilisk with Nebula, the high priestess Ayesha asked their leader, Peter Quill, about his heritage. After being paid a rude remark by Rocket Raccoon, several Sovereign advanced to arrest the Guardians. After the Guardians had left, the Sovereign realized that Rocket had stolen several Anulax Batteries. With this, they activated and dispatched the Omnicrafts to attack the Guardians.

Engaging in a massive space battle with the Milano, all of the Drones were destroyed while chasing the Milano through the Quantum Asteroid Field. However, another fleet that had chosen to go around the asteroid field attacked and severely damaged the Milano before being completely destroyed by Ego.

Ayesha and her people offer Yondu Udonta a job

Ayesha and her escort traveled to the Iron Lotus, on planet Contraxia, to hire Yondu Udonta and his Ravagers to capture the Guardians.

The Sovereign were contacted by the Ravager Taserface, telling them the coordinates to Yondu Udonta and the Guardians of the Galaxy. He told them to inform Yondu that he was the one who tipped them off. When he told them his name, however, the Sovereign just broke out laughing.

Battle on Ego's Planet

The Sovereign arrive on Ego

"Uh... Captain?"
"What is it, Kraglin?"
"You remember that Ayesha chick?"
"Yeah, why? Oh, hell!"

―Kraglin Obfonteri and Yondu Udonta^[src]

The Sovereign followed up on Taserface's tip and tracked the Guardians to Ego. Entering the planet's core, the Drones attacked the Guardians, heavily damaging their ship under heavy fire. Rocket caused the laser drills to rearrange themselves to fire on the Sovereign, only for the power to cut out due to a hit to the engine. Nebula plugged her cybernetics into the battery to repower the ship. Yondu Udonta then fired on the Sovereign, destroying the entire fleet. The Laser Drill was destroyed by a final shot from the last ship, causing Quill, Udonta, and Nebula to bail out.

Adam

Next Step in Evolution

Adam's birthing pod

"That, my child, is the next step in our evolution. More powerful, more beautiful, more capable of destroying the Guardians of the Galaxy. I think I shall call him... Adam."

―Ayesha to her Sovereign Chambermaid^[src]

The High Priestess Ayesha had mobilized massive means to capture the Guardians of the Galaxy during both the Escape from the Sovereign Fleet and the Battle on Ego's Planet, leading the Sovereign to find their resources heavily depleted. However, Ayesha did not give up on the idea of exacting revenge on the Guardians. She decided to create a new and "better" type of Sovereign and christened the new creation Adam.

Tasked by High Evolutionary

By 2026, High Evolutionary's greed to obtain subject 89P13 had reached his max. Therefore, he tasked Ayesha with retrieving the Guardian of the Galaxy. This plan involved letting Adam out of his coccoon too quickly, which Ayesha cautioned High Evolutionary about. This led Adam, also known as the Warlock, to be very immature.

A Failed Mission

Adam Warlock flies to Knowhere

Adam Warlock set off to find Rocket and was able to infiltrate Knowhere. However, the Guardians of the Galaxy did not take this softly and valiantly fought back. Warlock ended up fatally blasting Rocket before flying off injured. When Warlock returned, he and Ayesha were berated by High Evolutionary, who was mad at Warlock for not only failing his mission, but possibly killing Rocket.

Orgoscope

Adam Warlock with Ayesha

Adam Warlock and Ayesha soon went to Orgoscope, hearing of a break in. As they interrogated members of the Orgoscope, they also talked to a member of the United Ravagers. The member, Fitz-Gibbonok, was not talking so Ayesha ordered Warlock to scare him. Due to his maturity, however, Warlock ended up obliterating Fitz-Gibbonok. Although Ayesha was furious, Warlock still ended up taking Fitz-Gibbonok's pet, Blurp, as his own.

Death of the Monarch

Adam Warlock attempts to save Ayesha

On Counter-Earth, Ayesha and Adam Warlock arrived to find the Guardians of the Galaxy. While Ayesha stayed on the ship, Warlock looked around the planet. Suddenly, he realized the real danger and found out that High Evolutionary was destroying the planet. Warlock quickly flew back to Ayesha, trying not to get killed by the explosions himself. However, he was too late as Ayesha was blown up along with the planet.

Creation of Adam

Adam Warlock changes his ways

While the Guardians of the Galaxy took down High Evolutionary and Arête Laboratories, Adam Warlock struggled to find his purpose. It was not until he saw the Guardians' heroic efforts when he realized his potential. As the laboratory blew up, Star-Lord was caught in space, close to dying. Warlock suddenly arrived and grabbed Star-Lord, leading him to the safe ship and saving his life. As the Guardians rejoiced, Warlock hesitated before joining the hug.

A New Guardian

Adam Warlock

Adam Warlock as a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy

With his mother gone, Adam Warlock decided to join the Guardians of the Galaxy on Knowhere. There, he talked to Kraglin Obfonteri about his name, which Obfonteri disliked. However, Warlock decided to keep it. Sometime later, Warlock had joined the new Guardians and was on a planet when they were tasked with protecting the civilians under Rocket Raccoon's leadership.

Alternate Universes

Party on Earth

The Sovereign take a selfie with Thor

Learning of a party on Earth, Ayesha and her Priestesses attended. There, they took a selfie with Thor before going back to Sovereign.

Technology and Weapons

• Birthing Chamber
  • Birth Pods
• Anulax Batteries: they serve as the main power source for the planet and its people.
• Sovereign Mission Control Centre
  • Sovereign drone controls
    • Omnicrafts

Characteristic Traits

Sovereign have characteristic golden skin, hair, and eyes. They are genetically engineered and created in birthing pods. Sovereign are known for being very serious and straightforward. However, this lead them to become incredibly arrogant to consider them as superior to other races.

Notable Sovereign

Ayesha †

Sovereign Chambermaid

Zylak

Sovereign Admiral

Adam Warlock

Appearances

In chronological order:

• What If...? | Episode 1.07: What If... Thor Were an Only Child? (alternate universe)
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
  • Avengers: Infinity War: The Heroes' Journey (flashbacks; concurrent events)
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

Trivia

• The Sovereign share elements in common with different Marvel Comics characters:
  • The Enclave, a group of Earth scientists with the goal of creating a benevolent technocracy on Earth, who are responsible for the creation of Ayesha and Adam Warlock.
  • The Universal Church of Truth, a religious space empire who worshiped the Magus and exterminated anyone who rejected the Church's beliefs, such as the entire Zen-Whoberi population.
  • The Sovereign are created in pods, which is a direct reference to Adam Warlock and Ayesha, and their birth through cocoons.