Raker

Raker
Alias	Grand Unifier
Other names	Churchman (by Drax) Grandpa (by Peter) Rooker, Router, Church Grandpa, Soaked Unifier (by Mantis) Uni-flarker, Grand Unicorn, Grand Humidity (by Rocket)
Profile information
Species	Humanoid
Origin	DSOR colony
Gender	Male
Eye color	Brown (natural) Gold
Relatives	Unnamed son
Occupation	Scientist Clergyman
Affiliation	Universal Church of Truth
Real-life information
Appears in	Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
Voiced by	Andreas Apergis
Debut	Guardians of the Galaxy #2 (2008)
See Raker at Marvel Database.

Raker is one of the main antagonists in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. As the Grand Unifier, he is the leader of the Universal Church of Truth that rose to prominence during the Galactic War. Raker is currently in search of a new "divine vessel" after their golden god disappeared long ago.

Background

Having lost his son to a disease, Grand Unifier Raker is an important leader in the Universal Church of Truth, a mysterious organization intent on bringing their so-called "Promise," an end to all grief and suffering, to the whole galaxy. He is often accompanied by two giant inquisitors who act as his bodyguards. A terrible accident made reconstruction of his body necessary.

Personality

At first glance, Raker appears agreeable and invites them to meet the Matriarch. Raker is fanatically adamant that the Fulfillment will bring an end and undoing to death and suffering. He is the only member of the Church who appears unaffected by the Promise (lacking the typical purple glow), although his zealotry more than compensates for this. Raker is an expert at manipulation as he was able to convince Adam Warlock to allow him to remove his soul stone and later convince Nikki Gold to become the Matriarch setting her up as a figurehead for his cult . Raker does have a somewhat softer side however as he truly loved his late son and partook in the promise just to resurrect him.

Gameplay

Making a minor apparance in Chapter 2: Busted, Raker becomes an important player in Chapter 8: The Matriarch, leading them—or more accurately, Peter Quill—to Sacrosanct's new Matriarch. In that same chapter, Gamora will go after Raker, and player must choose again between let her do so or stop her from going after Raker. If the first option, she'll bring one of Raker's arms afterwards and appreciate the trust to let her go after him alone.

In Chapter 15: Broken Promises, Raker serves as the second-to-last boss of the game. He yields the trophy "Faithless" upon defeat.

Records

• Galactic Compendium
• Criminal File

GRAND UNIFIER RAKER

Before he was Grand Unifier of the Universal Church of Truth, Raker was a chief scientist of a nomadic deep space mining colony. He and his people scoured the galaxy for precious resources, but on one ill-fated operation, dug up a deadly disease instead. Raker's "infallible" science failed him. His only son perished, as did most of his colony. Devastated, Raker searched for any light in the darkness.

Inexplicably, he found it in a man of incredible, illogical power—a "golden God" as it were--who healed the ailing colonists. Raker could not fathom how. He could only have faith. Together, he and his new "divine vessel" founded the Universal Church of Truth

During the Galactic War, Raker and his healer, whom the faithful simply called "Him," traveled the known worlds. Raker was His keeper, arranging the faith healing for those hurt by the ongoing conflict. And then, a second tragedy. News soon broke of the healer's violent, mysterious death. Meanwhile, war casualties kept lining up and Raker no longer had his divine vessel. He watched helplessly as his congregation broke and scattered.

Rumor has it that the Grand Unifier has been slowly gathering a new flock, traveling the galaxy in search of any miracle that can rekindle the church's former light.

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First appeared in Guardians of the Galaxy #2 (2008)
Writers: Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning
Artists: Paul Pelletier, Rick Magyar, Nathan Fairbarn
Cover Artist: Clint Langley
Editor: Bill Rosemann

RAKER

THREAT LEVEL: None
ALIAS: Grand Unifier
STATUS: In Custody
ORIGIN: Unknown

INDICTMENTS: Disturbing the Peace, Trespassing, Illegal Scavenging, Reckless Endangerment

NOTES: Raker, AKA "Grand Unifier," is the leader of the now defunct "Universal Church of Truth" — a little-known cult that rose to prominence during the Galactic War. Their figurehead, a supposed "golden god" with miraculous healing abilities, perished in the last year of the war. Since his death, the cult has fallen into obscurity.

Due to their lack of influence and limited membership, the Worldmind does not find Raker or the Universal Church of Truth to be a threat.

Raker's presence in the restricted area of space known as the Quarantine Zone has resulted in the generation of this file.

AFFILIATIONS: Universal Church of Truth

Gallery

Final concept by Frédéric Bennett.

In-engine render by Genci Buxheli.

Raker's ship in Chapter 2.

Character Bio Photo

Trivia

• The vibe of the character and its silhouette are slightly inspired by Bram Stoker's Dracula, directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
• Genci Buxheli was responsible for modeling and texturing Raker's outfit, arms, and beard. The face was done by Sebastien Legrain.