Alien Species
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The Galvan (alternatively known as the Galvin) are an extraterrestrial species of bipedal frog-like beings from the planet Galvan Prime.[1]

Biology

Anatomy

The Galvan are small frog/Grey-like bipedal creatures standing between four to six inches (~ 10 to 15.24 cm) with sharp teeth and grey skin. Normal Galvan have green or orange eyes and Galvan from Dimension 23 have blue eyes, whereas Albedo and Dark Matter have red eyes.

Infant Galvan look like tadpoles in the sense that they have tails and lack legs, but grow legs and shed their tails at a time they call "wisdom feet".[2]

Each Galvan has two brains, a primary brain for their intellect and a secondary brain for motor functions.

Ecology

Galvan are insectivores, and therefore mostly eat insects.[2]

The Galvan's natural predator is the functionally extinct Omnivoracious.

Lifespan

Galvan have an immense lifespan of thousands of years.[3] This is exemplified when Azmuth, a Galvan of considerable age, says he expects to "only" live another 3,000 years.

Powers and abilities

Known for evasion rather than confrontation and lacking any actual combat prowess, Galvans have developed intellectual capacities far beyond those of neighboring species. With their intelligence, Galvans are capable of building advanced devices from spare parts, understanding the functions of any technology with a mere glance, and repairing even the most complex machinery.

Even if faced with something unfamiliar to them, Galvans can learn it very quickly. After all, their intelligence extends beyond technology and biology.[2]

With the microscopic pads that cover their bodies,[4] their slimy skin allows Galvan to stick to almost any surface. They also have soft flexible bones that allow them to squeeze into tight spaces or spring quickly from danger.[1]

Galvans can breath underwater because they possess gills, making them amphibious.[2]

The Galvans have long prehensile tongues, which lets them catch objects at a distance.

The energies generated by a Galvan's mind lead to an acceleration of synaptic activity.[5]

Despite their small size, Galvans are durable enough to withstand being thrown against a wall. For Omni-Enhanced Galvan, their natural durability is increased thanks to their rock-like armor.

Galvans are strong enough to carry Human-sized objects with their hands.

Due to the alterations Kevin Levin has made to the Antitrix, Dark Matter is more powerful (and most likely smarter) than ordinary Galvans. Unlike ordinary Galvans, he can shoot dark red fireballs from his hands that encase enemies in a similarly colored crystal and secrete a dark red cerebrospinal fluid[5] that he can manipulate to form crystal weapons.

Omni-Enhanced Galvans are larger in size and better suited for combat. Their non-solid limbs can stretch, bend, and regenerate if damaged. Thanks to the Fulmini energy that the arms are composed of, they can produce electrical shocks to stun enemies, infuse some of their energy to enhance weapons like swords, and project electrical shockwaves.

Weaknesses

Galvan must remain ever vigilant because size still matters in a dangerous galaxy, meaning they do not match physically with most species, including Humans and Chimera Sui Generi. As such, Galvan can easily injure themselves.

Similarly, a Galvan's small size can make them vulnerable to strong winds such as that generated by Trombipulor's Species.

Because of their sticky skin, it is equally difficult to grab a hold of Galvan.[1]

Galvan appear to be vulnerable to fire.

Despite possessing immense intelligence, Galvan can still make miscalculations. If their primary brains are to be removed, they can become stupider than usual.

Like other living beings, Galvan can be controlled by a Vladat's Corrupturas.[2]

If Dark Matter's cerebrospinal fluid is forcibly extracted from him, it will both cause great pain and incapacitate him. In addition, there is a limited extent to how much damage his crystal traps and weapons can take before cracking or shattering.

Omni-Enhanced Galvan lose their small size, and are therefore unable to enter small passages.

Culture and society

Galvans

A crowd of Galvans

Galvan are the smartest species in the Milky Way Galaxy,[2] and the universe's best engineers, technicians, and researchers.

The Galvan's intellect is apparently highly revered, as the Highbreed Supreme referred to Azmuth as a slightly advanced form of "pond scum". Amusingly, all Cerebrocrustaceans except Dr. Psychobos do not consider the Galvan to be their primary rivals.[2]

Nothing can quench either a Galvan's thirst for knowledge or their hunt to catalog all interstellar DNA.

As incessant collectors of technology, Galvan can enter and operate virtually any machine, even if they have never seen it before.[6]

There are some Galvan that live outside the cities of Galvan Prime that have less tech-focused lives.[2]

The Galvan admire the Planchaküles' industriousness and skill, but prefer not to hang out with them too much after work.[2]

Despite appearances, Atomix's Species does not have any connections with the Galvan.[2]

Technology

Galvan technology is very eco-friendly and works in harmony with nature. Even their domiciles are a grown techno-organic fungus.[2]

Known inventions of the the Galvan include the Potis Altiare, anti-gravity projectors used by Polymorphs, the Null Void and its native Null Guardians, Rook Blonko's Proto-Tool, universal translators, and a rebuilt version of their own planet (dubbed Galvan MK 2).

Azmuth has created the Omnitrix technology, the Galvanic Mechamorphs, Primus and the Codon Stream, the Volaticus biopsis, the Skeuomorph, and the Ascalon.

Religion

Primitive Galvan used to worship technology gods, such as the one that Azmuth's bio-suit (from when he first met Ben Tennyson and Tetrax) was based on.[4]

Galvan are very loyal to keeping their top research and technology a secret from other species, as they would rather die than just give it up unless there is a good reason for it. This is demonstrated with the need for the Potis Altiare to help Ben defeat a To'kustar known as "Evil Way Big".

Notable members

  • Grey Matter: An Omnitrix transformation used by Ben Tennyson.
    • Brainfrog: An alternate version of Grey Matter used by the Ben Tennyson of Dimension 23.
    • Grey Matter (Gwen 10): An alternate female version of Grey Matter used by the "What-If" Gwen 10.
    • Grey Matter (Race Against Time Timeline): An alternate version of Grey Matter used by the Ben Tennyson of the Race Against Time Timeline.
    • Grey Matter (Ben 10,000 Timeline): An alternate adult version of Grey Matter used off-screen by the original Ben 10,000.[7]
    • Grey Matter (Ken 10): An alternate version of Grey Matter used by Ken 10.
  • Azmuth: The creator of the Omnitrix and leader of the Galvan.
    • Azmuth (Dimension 23): An alternate version of Azmuth from Dimension 23.
    • Azmuth (Dimension 27998.3): An alternate version of Azmuth from Dimension 27998.3.
    • Azmuth (Benzarro's Dimension): An alternate, undead version of Azmuth from Benzarro's Dimension.[2]
    • Azmuth (Nega Ben's Timeline): An alternate version of Azmuth from Nega Ben's timeline, who got wiped out by a rogue Celestialsapien that had been coerced by Maltruant.[2]
    • Azmuth (Argitrix Dimension): An alternate version of Azmuth from the Argitrix Dimension.[2]
  • Albedo: Azmuth's former assistant and the creator of the Ultimatrix.
  • Blukic: One of the two Plumber tech support specialists for the Plumbers' base on Earth.
    • Blukic (Ben 10,000 Timeline): An alternate future version of Blukic.
  • Driba: One of the two Plumber tech support specialists for the Plumbers' base on Earth.
  • Chadzmuth: Driba's cousin and an intergalactic defense attorney.
  • Luhley: A Galvan Plumber and Driba's girlfriend.
  • Duffy: A Galvan nurse, Luhley's cousin, and Blukic's girlfriend.
  • Ujin: A Galvan who guarded the Temple of the Sky for eons in South America.
  • Zennith: Azmuth's ex-girlfriend
  • Azmuth's family: Azmuth's father has been seen, and it is confirmed that he also has a great-aunt, an unknown sibling, and three nephews.[2]
  • Other notable Galvan include Fergi, Y-it, an unnamed major, an unnamed teacher, and various soldiers.

Half-qualifiers

  • Dark Matter: A mutant hybrid equivalent of Grey Matter used by the Kevin Levin of Dimension 27998.3.
    • Kevin 11/Devlin 11: 11-year-old Kevin Levin of the Prime Timeline transformed into an amalgamation of Ben Tennyson's first set of 10 aliens, including Grey Matter. Devlin Levin can transform into an identical amalgamation.
  • No Watch Ben: An alternate version of Ben Tennyson from a universe without an Omnitrix transformed into Grey Matter using the Prime Timeline Omnitrix.
  • Diamond Matter: A Biomnitrix transformation comprised of Galvan and Petrosapien DNA.
  • Grey Arms: An Omnitrix fusion comprised of Galvan and Tetramand DNA.
  • Amalgam Ben: The Ben Tennyson of Dimension 27988.3 transformed into an amalgamation of his first 10 aliens, including Grey Matter.
  • Monster Kevin/AntiVilgax: The Kevin Levin and Vilgax of Dimension 27998.3 transformed into amalgamations of every alien available in the Antitrix, including Dark Matter.

History

Once regarded as pets, their owners eventually realized the Galvans had enhanced intelligence. From there, things rapidly changed.

The Galvan built an armada of sentient drones that probed the cosmos, searching for alien civilizations, scientific anomalies, and singularities that only advanced Galvan minds could comprehend.

With the immense amount of DNA information they collected from the universe, the Galvan uploaded them into Galvan Prime's central computer, ensuring that Galvan Prime would forever remain the center of research to the DNA of the universe.

Galvan have visited Earth countless times over the course of millennia. According to Azmuth's father, the Galvan built Stonehenge as a practical joke.

During ancient Egyptian times, two Galvan assisted Humans and Tetramands with the construction of the pyramids until their bumbling caused them to be expelled.

In Nega Ben's timeline, the Galvan were wiped out by a rogue Celestialsapien that had been coerced by Maltruant at some point after the creation of their universe's Omnitrix.[2]

Gallery

Notes

  • The name "Galvan" is based on Italian physicist Luigi Galvani, who discovered the electrical impulses of living organisms by performing experiments on frogs; it was first used on-screen by Azmuth in the film Ben 10: Secret of the Omnitrix whereas its alternate spelling "Galvin" was first used by Albedo in the Alien Force episode "Good Copy, Bad Copy".
    • The meaning behind the Galvan name is made more significant by the fact that they are frog-like.
  • During the development of the original series, Grey Matter was envisioned as a larger-scaled humanoid resembling the stereotypical Area 51 alien due to its grey skin and giant pupilless eyes. His name was also spelled as one word (i.e. Greymatter).
    • At a later stage of production, Grey Matter had a bigger and differently shaped head surrounded by a black helmet. His uniform was once a yellow-orange hue. This design was scrapped because it was deemed to be scary for kids.[8]
    • Grey Matter's Omniverse design was made by Derrick J. Wyatt.[2] Additionally, the concept of Grey Matter having a rounded head with slanted eyes would apparently inspire the female Galvan design featured in that show.
  • Since the eyes of the Galvan are so big, there is very little space in their head for a brain, which is ironic as they are the most intelligent species in the galaxy.
  • Some Galvan might be interested in studying magic, but it is a subject that they probably frown upon.[2]
  • It apparently does not rain on Galvan Prime, as implied when Azmuth mentioned how Earth has wonderful weather during a rainstorm.
  • In the original series, it was stated that female Galvan sport hair while male Galvan do not.[9] This has been retconned in subsequent series, as none of the female Galvan shown on-screen have hair.
  • Had Omniverse been extended beyond 8 seasons, there would have been a new version of the Negative 10 team comprised of villainous counterparts to Omnitrix aliens. One of these aliens would have been a Galvan colored like a poisonous frog, though he would not be the team's leader.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 According to Grey Matter's lenticular bio card from Bandai's Ben 10 toyline
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 According to Derrick J. Wyatt
  3. According to Dwayne McDuffie
  4. 4.0 4.1 According to the trivia version of the film Ben 10: Secret of the Omnitrix
  5. 5.0 5.1 According to Duncan Rouleau
  6. According to the trivia version of the episode "Hunted"
  7. According to the trivia version of the episode "Ken 10"
  8. According to Dave Johnson
  9. According to the trivia version of the episode "Gwen 10"
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