Inhumans are a group of superheroes who appear in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. They are a race of genetically modified humans who have extraordinary abilities and powers. They live in a hidden city called Attilan, where they are ruled by a royal family. The most prominent members of the royal family are Black Bolt, the king whose voice can cause destruction; Medusa, the queen who can control her long hair; Karnak, the strategist who can find the weakness in anything; Gorgon, the warrior who can create shockwaves with his hooves; Crystal, the princess who can manipulate the elements; and Maximus, the mad brother of Black Bolt who wants to overthrow him.

Inhumans were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1965, and have appeared in various Marvel comics and media since then. They have been featured in their own comic book series, as well as in crossover events with other Marvel heroes such as the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, and the X-Men. They have also been adapted into animated series, video games, and live-action television shows. The most recent adaptation was a 2017 TV series that aired on ABC and was co-produced by IMAX. The series received negative reviews from critics and fans, and was canceled after one season.

Inhumans are part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), a shared universe of films and TV shows based on Marvel comics. They were first introduced in the MCU in the second season of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., where it was revealed that some humans have Inhuman genes that can be activated by a substance called Terrigen. Since then, several Inhuman characters have appeared in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., such as Daisy Johnson, Lash, Yo-Yo Rodriguez, and Hive. In 2022, Anson Mount reprised his role as Black Bolt in the MCU film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, where he encountered an alternate version of himself from another reality.

The history of the Inhumans is a long and complex one, spanning millions of years and countless events. Here are some of the most important milestones in their evolution and development:

The origins of the Inhumans date back to the very earliest days of Homo Sapiens living on Earth. The alien Kree had established an outpost near Earth more than a million years ago for their war with the shape-shifting Skrulls. When the Kree saw the rise of Homo Sapiens on Earth, they recognized their potential for genetic experimentation. They abducted some of the primitive humans and altered their DNA with Kree genes, creating a new hybrid race that they called the Inhumans. The Kree hoped to use the Inhumans as soldiers in their war, but they soon abandoned the project when they realized that the Inhumans had developed a genetic trait that made them immune to further manipulation: the X-Gene.

The Inhumans were left to fend for themselves on Earth, where they faced hostility and persecution from their human cousins. They eventually discovered a substance called Terrigen, a rare mineral that had been left behind by the Kree. The Inhumans learned that by exposing themselves to the Terrigen Mists, a gaseous form of Terrigen, they could activate their latent X-Gene and unlock their true potential. This process, known as Terrigenesis, granted them various superhuman abilities and powers, but also often altered their physical appearance and sometimes caused deformities or mutations. The Inhumans developed a culture and a society based on Terrigenesis, where each individual had a unique role and status according to their abilities.

The Inhumans also realized that they needed to protect themselves from the outside world, which feared and hated them for their differences. They built a hidden city called Attilan, where they could live in peace and isolation. Attilan was ruled by a royal family, descended from the first Inhuman king, Randac, who had discovered Terrigenesis. The royal family consisted of Black Bolt, the king whose voice could cause destruction; Medusa, the queen who could control her long hair; Karnak, the strategist who could find the weakness in anything; Gorgon, the warrior who could create shockwaves with his hooves; Triton, the amphibian who could breathe underwater; Crystal, the princess who could manipulate the elements; and Maximus, the mad brother of Black Bolt who wanted to overthrow him.