The Guardians of the Galaxy is the latest project due out from Marvel Studios later this summer. One of the characters in the movie was teased in the closing credits of Thor: The Dark World. Volstagg and Sif deliver the Aether to the Collector.
Identity: Taneleer Tivan
The Collector is Taneleer Tivan, a member of the Elders of the Universe. The Collector is one of the rare individuals who do not age. The reasons for the ageless nature of the Collector are unknown. It is suspected that Tivan has a rapid ability to replace his cells at an incredible rate. The cellular replacement allows Tivan to live for an extreme length of time.
Powers and Abilities
As one of the Elders of the Universe The Collector is basically immortal and has been alive since the dawn of time. He is almost completely immune to injuries and this has allowed him to be nearly invincible. Tivan believes that he will live as long as he retains the will to live. This drove Tivan to find an overarching purpose for his life, building an immense collection of living things and artifacts to keep life from becoming extinct.
No true superhuman powers
The Collector has no true superhuman powers other than long life. He is extremely intelligent and has the use of advanced alien technology from around the universe. Tivan travels the galaxy searching for rare items and life forms that he might be able to collect and protect.
The Collector seeks to gain objects of power rather than gain superpowers for himself. He has a massive collection of rare items that hold amazing powers. This collection gives Tivan a massive arsenal of weapons and devices that make him a real threat to any who oppose him.
Star ship that can store all of the collection
The Collector has a starship that is used as a storage facility for the massive collection he has massed over the millennia. The ship has a variety of technological and defensive advancements that make it ideal for protecting the collection.
All of this leads to a question, Why did Odin entrust him with the Aether? The Collector is not the typical villain. He may steal things and kidnap alien species but with the intent to preserve and protect them. Odin may have known that the Collector would protect the Aether rather than letting it fall into the wrong hands. The issue is that the Collector is now attempting to collect all of the Infinity Stones. Whatever role the Collector will play in the Marvel Universe, fans will discover more details as the movie approaches. The Guardians of the Galaxy will arrive in theaters August 1 2014.
