Wraith (Zak-Del) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Kyle Hotz, Wraith first appears in the prologue of Annihilation: Conquest as a vision, with his first physical appearance being in Annihilation Conquest: Wraith #1.

Publication history

Wraith first appeared in Annihilation: Conquest: Wraith #1 (2007) and was created by Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Kyle Hotz. Wraith returned in Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw's 2019 relaunch of Guardians of the Galaxy.

Fictional character biography

Wraith is the son of Kree scientist Sim-Del, who created a power source sufficient to "light an entire galaxy". Kree society banished him, but he continued his work, using the power source to turn his barren planetoid into a paradise. The Kree then killed him, his wife, and all traces of his work. However, his son was sent off on an escape ship. He is later found and adopted by the Nameless, an offshoot of the Kree who were possessed by the parasitic Exolons. Subsequently, Wraith seeks revenge against the Kree and obtains a polymorphic weapon. During the Annihilation event, Wraith is kidnapped by Ronan the Accuser, who seeks to harness his power and infects him with Phalanx. After escaping, Wraith enlists the help of Super-Skrull and Praxagora to battle the Phalanx and absorbs the Phalanx-infected Supreme Intelligence. Praxagora is later possessed by Ultron before Wraith uses the Exolon to purge him and the Phalanx-infected Kree. After Gamora kills Thanos in Infinity Wars, Wraith attends Thanos's funeral and witnesses Starfox showing all the guests a recording of Thanos stating that he uploaded his consciousness into a new body before his death. Later, Wraith works with Starfox to find Knull, the primordial deity who created the Klyntar and the Exolon, to remove the Exolon from his body. Eventually, Wraith tracks down Knull, who mortally wounds him. However, he learns that Knull has an opposite, a god of light, and travels to Earth to tell Eddie Brock before dying.

Powers and abilities

Wraith is an experienced fighter and possesses an unidentified polymorphic weapon which can take on a variety of forms, including a gun, a whip, a small blade, and binoculars. As a Kree, Wraith possesses greater natural attributes than a human and resistance to disease, with the former being further enhanced by Exolon. By summoning swarms of Exolon, he can strike fear into his opponents and absorb souls.

In other media

Television

Wraith appears in Guardians of the Galaxy, voiced by Jeff Bennett. This version seeks revenge against Gamora, who he blames for his father's death.

Video games

Collected editions