Alien Species

Zaroffians are a humanoid alien species from the planet Sangerosia.[1]

Biology[]

Anatomy[]

Zaroffians are humanoids with turquoise skin, small dark red eyes, gills under their cheeks, and large lower jaws that are fused with their lips, similar to Detrovites.

Powers and abilities[]

Zaroffians possess enhanced strength, being able to fight on par with Appoplexians and Revonnahganders.

Zaroffians can blow ultrasonic whistles through their gills, allowing them to issue commands to non-sapient creatures such as Anubian Baskurrs and Panuncians.

Seeing as how they are proficient at hacking, it is implied that Zaroffians possess enhanced intelligence.

Zaroffians are quite agile, being able to avoid being hit by weapons fire.

Zaroffians are durable for their size, enough to be unfazed by a Talpaedan's attacks.

Weaknesses[]

Despite their enhanced strength, Zaroffians are physically weaker than Chimera Sui Generi, especially one with the same power level as Vilgax.[2]

Zaroffians can be affected by a Nemuina's sleeping dust. They also appear to be afraid of Nemuinas in general; this is likely due to being unable to defend themselves from their dream manipulation abilities.

Zaroffians are vulnerable to electricity, such as that generated by a Cerebrocrustacean.

A Zaroffian's ultrasonic whistle can be stuffed by strong adhesives, making them unable to use it.

Zaroffians can be immobilized by ice, such as that generated by a Necrofriggian's ice breath.

Being a sapient species, Zaroffians can suffer from mental side effects if they were to use the Nemetrix. This can be avoided if they were to have a Slime-Biot attached to both themselves and the Nemetrix.

Culture and society[]

In the past, Zaroffians worked as miners until they began dying due to the hostile and toxic environment of their planet.[1]

Language[]

Zaroffians speak using South African accents.[3]

History[]

Only a handful of Zaroffians have managed to successfully escape Sangerosia. The list of those who have reads like a "Who's Who" of the galaxy's most ruthless warlords, despots, and mercenaries. Of those Zaroffians, only one by the name of Khyber became a huntsman. However, it is currently unknown whether Khyber was either an indentured worker or one of the masterminds behind the whole operation.[1]

Notes[]

  • The name "Zaroffian" is an homage to the villainous big-game hunter character General Zaroff from Richard Connell's The Most Dangerous Game.
  • During the development of Ben 10: Omniverse, Khyber (the only Zaroffian seen on-screen) was known as Annihilus Stalk.[4]
    • Rather than using an animal to use the Nemetrix, Khyber would have wielded the device himself. At the time, the Nemetrix was referred to as the Predatrix and contained a spider-like transformation known as Araynieye.[5]
    • Khyber's final design was made by Derrick J. Wyatt. Early concept art for the character was inspired by Lord Chumley from The Transformers and Gemini from Thundarr the Barbarian.[2]
  • Khyber shares many similarities with the Yautja. Primarily, they both use bone fragments from their victims as either armor or weapons, have trophy rooms skilled with the skeletal remains of their prey, and travel between planets on huge spaceships.
    • A similarity that used to apply was that Khyber once had an Anubian Baskurr named Zed as a hunting dog during his earlier encounters with Ben Tennyson and Rook Blonko.
  • Although they are from different universes, a Zaroffian's strength is at a power level similar to Metahumans like Captain America.[2]
  • It is implied that the Omnitrix contains Zaroffian DNA. The crew may have thought of a name for the transformation at one point, but no one seems to remember it.[2]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 According to the Ben 10: Omniverse production bible
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 According to Derrick J. Wyatt
  3. According to David Kaye
  4. According to Dwayne McDuffie's proposal outline for Ben 10: Omniverse
  5. According to the script outline for the unproduced Ben 10: Omniverse episodes "Tangled Web" Parts 1 & 2