Avengers: No Surrender's Challenger Is The Original Grandmaster

WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for Avengers #679, by Al Ewing, Jim Zub, Mark Waid, Kim Jacinto, David Curiel and Cory Petit, on sale now.

Marvel Comics' weekly Avengers: No Surrender storyline is filled with many unsolved mysteries, not the least of which is the identity of the new character who has been embroiled in a cosmic game against the Grandmaster.

Under normal circumstances, the revelation of the Challenger's identity would take place months down the line. However, thanks to No Surrender's accelerated publishing schedule, it's only taken five weeks to learn who he really is. And, appropriately enough for a massive event like No Surrender, the big reveal manages to alter what we previously knew about a longstanding race of cosmic beings in the Marvel Universe, and also ties to one of the publisher's most ambitious crossover events, ever.

You Stole My Name!

As the Grandmaster and Challenger survey their game board following Johnny Storm's apparent death, the two begin to discuss why Earth was chosen as the location of their duel. According to Grandmaster, he chose Earth -- or as he nicknames the planet, the Avengers World -- because of its ability to stymie the Elders of the Universe at every occasion. Earth is the world that has tamed the Phoenix, bested the Mad Titan Thanos, and altered Galactus from the Devourer of Worlds to the Lifebringer. Therefore, its the perfect playing field for the two cosmic beings. The Grandmaster even goes so far as to goad the Challenger. "You call yourself the Challenger now," he said. "Don't tell me you're afraid of the challenge."

This seems to infuriate the Challenger, as he lifts the Grandmaster off the ground by his throat, screaming that his name was stolen. This is when we learn the Challenger was a member of the Elders of the Universe -- and Grandmaster's brother.

When you're gifted with immortality like the Grandmaster and Challenger, apparently the way to spend your free time is on the playing of games. Back then, Challenger went by the name of Grandmaster, leaving En Dwi Gast the only Elder without a signature moniker. For example, Taneleer christened himself "The Collector," and Ord Zyonyz "The Gardener."

However, En Dwi Gast took a liking to the Grandmaster title, and plotted against his brother to steal the name by winning a game with the stakes raised to their highest point ever. The winner would be the greatest gamer of all, while the loser would be barred from this reality until it ends. Of course, the man we now know as the Grandmaster won, and the Challenger was banished. This, of course, leads to the question of how the Challenger returned to this plane of existence.

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So we've established that the Grandmaster is a conniving thief who betrayed his brother and best friend just to win a game and steal a name. But what this doesn't answer is how Challenger was released from his seemingly never-ending exile. If you'll recall the final portion of Grandmaster and Challenger's bet, it involved the loser being "barred from this reality until it ends." Realities typically have the same lifespan as an immortal, but the Marvel Universe did recently see everything end in 2015's Secret Wars.

The event saw every alternate world in the Marvel Universe destroyed, only for them to be merged together in what became Battleworld, ruled by Doctor Doom. Secret Wars' conclusion resulted in one prime Marvel Universe, though other realities like the Ultimate Universe have started to creep back into existence. But as far as the Challenger is concerned, he has Secret Wars to thank for his freedom.

The Challenger is determined to not let this opportunity go to waste, and is even plotting to resurrect a fallen Avenger as his secret player to help him come out victorious over the Grandmaster. What we don't know is what the prize will be once a winner is determined between Grandmaster's Lethal Legion and Challenger's Black Order.

If Grandmaster is such a sore loser that he'd undermine one of his best friends-slash-family members, who's to say what he'd ask for if he won. The same can be said for Challenger, who is more than likely looking for some payback on the Grandmaster. In either case, it will likely spell bad news for the Avengers, and the Marvel Universe at large.

The next chapter of Avengers: No Surrender, Avengers #680, by Al Ewing, Jim Zub, Mark Waid, Kim Jacinto, David Curiel and Kim Jacinto, arrives this Wednesday, February 14.