The Inhumans may once upon a time have been test subjects of Kree experimentation, but ever since they broke free, their culture, religion and powers - everything they are - have been heavily influenced by the gene-altering process of Terrigenesis, and the presence of the Terrigen Mist.
On Attilan, Black Bolt, Medusa, and the entire Inhuman Royal Family have built a world where their gifts define them. They've had many wars over the years trying to protect the Terrigen Mist's powers, and there're plenty of reasons why they'd rather die defending them than let them fall into the wrong hands. We've put together 10 things you need to know about Marvel's Terrigen Mist so you can understand why it's so important.
10 Terrigen Is A Mineral Originally Found By The Kree
The Kree were once blue-skinned humanoids, but have had various evolutions of themselves over time. They are also extremely skilled in war, and have made significant technological advances. It was the Kree who first created the mineral known as Terrigen - a much less pure alternative to Primagen - to aid them in their dominance of the universe.
They ended up testing it on the people of Earth to create the race of meta-humans over 25,000 years ago, more familiarly known as the Inhumans. After an Inhuman geneticist used the work that the Kree had done, he was able to find crystallised Terrigen, thus working on advancing his race to fight off the Kree in case they ever returned.
9 It Comes From The Terrigen Crystals
The Inhuman scientist called Randac discovered the Terrigen Crystals on the surface of Earth's Moon. As a geneticist, Randac conducted various tests on the crystals to try and find how their properties could help his race. By doing so, he created something known as the Terrigen Mists, and was the first Inhuman exposed to it.
When the Terrigen Crystals come into contact with water that has been heated to the correct temperature, it creates the Terrigen Mist - a substance that is capable of changing the genes of the Inhumans to give them great power. Unfortunately, due to Randac wanting to expose the entire Inhuman race to the Mists, it ended up deforming many into hideous monsters.
8 The Terrigenesis Process
After the Terrigen Mist is created, it is pumped into flux chambers to create the process known as Terrigenesis. Since Randac turned many Inhumans into deformed monsters known as Alpha Primatives, countless tests were performed to make sure that this never happened again.
Terrigenesis has been perfected to a point where it is normally only used on Inhumans that are genetically ready or gifted, so that the kind of damage that happened when Randac abused the Terrigen Mists never happens again. However, like all bad things in the Marvel Comics Universe, its preservation doesn't always go according to plan.
7 The Genetic Council Oversee The Use Of The Terrigen Mists
Once Randac's experimentations went awry, the Genetic Council was formed so that his mistakes were never repeated in the future. They act separately to the Inhuman Royal Family, and also have the final say when it comes to the act of Terrigenesis, with their authority often outweighing that of the monarchy.
Not only do they preside over the use of the Terrigen Mists, they are also the main governing body in Attilan, and have great power over the legislation imposed on the Inhumans, as well as their justice system. They were formed of older and trusted members of the Inhumans. One of the first members of the Genetic Council was Agon, whose son is now the Inhuman King known as Black Bolt.
6 There Are Specific Rules For Those Who Can Be Exposed
Due to the damaging nature of prolonged exposure, and thousands of years of genetic testing, only certain individuals may be exposed to the Terrigen Mists. Normally, children aren't allowed to undertake Terragenesis, but in the instances they are, it is the parents who will make the decision (normally the father has the final say).
Humans aren't allowed to be exposed either, as it can do serious damage to them, including death. If an Inhuman has any kind of human DNA in their blood, they will also not be allowed to harness the gifts that the Terrigen Mists can offer. There is a strict genetic screening, with the Genetic Council having the final say.
5 It Is Highly Poisonous To The X-Men...
When Black Bolt set off the Terrigen Bomb in response to Thanos' assault on Attilan, it caused gargantuan amounts of Terrigen Mist to cover the Earth's atmosphere, in turn causing millions of humans who had latent Inhuman genes to undergo Terrigenesis, evolving and unlocking powers that had been dormant since birth.
Repercussions of Black Bolt's actions caused the Terrigen Mists to form two huge clouds. After their interaction with the atmosphere creating the disease known as M-Pox, they became highly toxic to mutants. Once the side effects of M-Pox became known to the X-Men, Beast fled to Attilan to try and find a cure for the deadly disease.
4 ...And Caused A War Between Them And The Inhumans
During Inhumans vs X-Men, many of the mutants were uncomfortable with the fact that Beast hadn't come up with a cure for M-Pox, and after Emma Frost destroyed one of the Terrigen Clouds, causing huge amounts of unrest between the Inhumans and the X-Men. Along with Old Man Logan, Storm, and Magneto, Emma Frost turned on Beast and led them to a war with the Inhumans.
Forge had built a machine to help destroy the cloud, but two of the NuHumans destroyed it. When the X-Men's reasons for the cloud's destruction became apparent to Medusa, she gave the order to have the last remaining cloud destroyed, despite its impact on the Inhumans.
3 Black Bolt Was Exposed To The Terrigen Mists In Utero
The most powerful of all Inhumans is Blackagar Boltagon, more commonly known as Black Bolt. His father was a top geneticist called Agon, and his mother, Rynda, was the Director of the Prenatal Care Center in Attilan. Once king and queen, they had Black Bolt, however, he was exposed to the Terrigen Mist whilst Rynda was pregnant.
This gave him unique powers that allowed him to cause devastating sonic energy whenever he spoke. At an early age, his parents tried to control his powers so that he didn't use them accidentally on the people of Attilan. He was placed in a sound-proof chamber and given a suit that could lessen his powers. From there he was trained to deal with the immense powers he gained whilst in his mother's womb.
2 Inhumans Aren't The Only Species Affected By It
If you know anything about the Inhumans, you'll know that their huge but loveable pooch has also been affected by the Terrigen Mists. Lockjaw is a loyal companion to the Inhuman Royal Family - especially Black Bolt - and has powers capable of traversing both time and space. Whilst he grew to be a huge help to the Inhumans, his beginnings were rather tragic.
In Black Bolt #5, it was shown how Lockjaw came to be. His mother was impregnated with her own clone's DNA, and as a result 5 puppies were growing inside her womb. Lockjaw was the only one who received powers, whilst the other 4 didn't form correctly. Before they were removed for further testing, Lockjaw teleported them away so no harm could come to them.
1 Terrigenesis Responds To An Inhuman's Thoughts
One theory on how Inhumans get their specific powers comes from the Silent War story arc. Professor Cartwright theorised that the Terrigen Mists bonded with the Inhumans' thoughts, giving those exposed to the Mists some control on what their powers might be after Terrigenesis.
If an Inhuman feared something more than they craved something, then their power would manifest itself as just that. Cartwright later proved this theory to be true, however, with him being human and not being equipped enough genetically, his dream to wield super strength like his hero Captain America eventually caused his muscular body to decay and fail.