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Mangog

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Mangog
Mangog on the cover of Thor #155 (Aug. 1968). Art by Jack Kirby and Vince Colletta.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThor #154 (July 1968)
Created byStan Lee (writer)
Jack Kirby (artist)
In-story information
PartnershipsThanos
Notable aliasesOdin
AbilitiesSuperhuman strength, stamina, durability and endurance
Shapeshifting and energy projection via magic manipulation
Immortality
Self-resurrection
Empathic ability to feed on the hatred of sentient beings
Sin empowerment from the selfish acts of cruel gods

Mangog is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

The character first appeared in Thor #154 (July 1968) and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.[1]

Fictional character biography

Mangog debuted in a multi-issue storyline in the title Thor, and is depicted as being the sum total of the hatred of "a billion billion beings" of a mysterious alien race whose invasion of Asgard had been thwarted by Odin, the ruler of Asgard and the Norse gods.[2] Believed to be the last remaining member of this race and imprisoned beneath Asgard, Mangog is freed by the rock troll Ulik, who sees a warning on the prison door not to release the occupant but does so anyway hoping they will make a useful ally against Asgard. When Mangog is released, he easily defeats Ulik then storms Asgard intent on drawing the Odinsword from its scabbard which will end the universe. Odin's son Thor battles Mangog to a standstill until Odin defeats Mangog by breaking the Odinspell which had created Mangog as a living prison for his entire race. Restoring that race to physical form causes Mangog to fade away, seemingly into nothingness.[3]

Mangog reappears when freed by the god Loki, but was defeated when cut off from the source of its power.[4] Mangog was later aided by the traitorous magician Igron. Mangog assumes the form of an imprisoned Odin, and takes part of each Asgardian's lifeforce, weakening them, and plans to draw the Odinsword. After a series of skirmishes with Thor, the creature is defeated when Thor frees Odin.[5]

The character appears in the second volume of Thor as the servant of the Titan Thanos, who is seeking universal domination. Mangog is eventually destroyed by Thor (the character places his mystic hammer Mjolnir in the creature's mouth and blasts it internally) and Thanos (later revealed to have been a clone of Thanos in Infinity Abyss[volume & issue needed]) was defeated.[6] Later, Mangog is again destroyed by Thor, seemingly for good when Thor used the Odinforce to erase him from existence.[7]

However, the Mangog returns in the pages of the Thunderstrike mini-series when he is accidentally summoned by a mystical generator used by megalomaniac Adam Mann. When Thor wonders at his return asserting his previous destruction, the Mangog scornfully replies that hatred can be suppressed or rejected, but never destroyed. He is banished once again where he is cast into the fire of a distant star.[8]

Later, in The Mighty Thor, during a confrontation between the eponymous heroine and the gods of the Shi'ar, the latter - when vexed by Thor's allies - cause the so-called, and dreaded, "Ultimate Judgment" to be unleashed. The feared entity is revealed to be the Mangog, whose fury is stated to be unstoppable.[9] After a prolonged battle that decimates Asgard, the new Thor is able to defeat him by binding Mangog in Gleipnir - the chain once used to bind Fenris - and attach it to Mjolnir to hurl both Mjolnir and Mangog into the sun.[10]

Powers and abilities

Mangog possesses the strength, stamina, durability and endurance of a "billion billion beings",[11] considerably exceeding that of Thor, and has the ability to manipulate magic for energy projection and shapeshifting.

He appears to be immortal and ultimately indestructible, existing so long as hatred does, and indeed draws strength from hate itself, even that of his enemies.[12]

Having evolved into an independent abstract, Mangog now exists as the Judgement of the Gods. Making him much more powerful than ever before growing in might and in menace for every cruel or spiteful act committed in their eternal wake.[13] .

Other versions

Marvel Fanfare

In an alternate universe story in the title Marvel Fanfare, Mangog battles the Herald of Galactus, Silver Surfer.[14]

What If?

In the What If? story "What if Jane Foster Found the Hammer of Thor?", Thordis (Foster) and Don Blake are taken to Asgard by Sif to help stop Mangog's attempt to destroy the universe. Thordis ultimately stops him by summoning a storm that revives Odin from the Odinsleep, allowing him to dispatch Mangog.[volume & issue needed]

Ultimate Marvel

In the Ultimate Marvel universe, Mangog appears in Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #150, a story which is being told by Thor to the Ultimates about Spider-Man's heroism. Here, Mangog is a mortal sorcerer named Xandu who breaks into a museum and steals the lost eye of Avalon which transforms him into Mangog. Mangog is then defeated by Spider-Man and Thor and then reverts to a mortal.[15]

In other media

Television

  • Mangog appears in the Avengers Assemble episode "All-Father's Day", voiced by JB Blanc.[16] He has a history with Odin, who had barred him from entering Asgard. Upon finding out that the all-father is on Earth, Mangog interrupts Odin's duel with the Avengers in order to take revenge on him, using a sword named Rungnur which feeds off Odin's power. Odin manages to hold his own against Mangog until he managed to knock him down. Mangog then takes Odin's Gungnir in order to combine it with his own weapon. Thor and the rest of the Avengers had to work to disarm Mangog of his weapon. Once that was done, Odin reclaims Gungnir and has Heimdall open a portal to send Mangog to another location. Before disappearing into the portal, Mangog declares he will still get revenge on Odin.

Video games

  • Mangog is featured in the Thor: God of Thunder video game (which takes place before the events of the 2011 Thor film) voiced simultaneously by Steven Blum, Robin Atkin Downes, Mitch Lewis, Lisa Moncure, and Mari Weiss.[citation needed] It is revealed that Odin once created Mangog and bound him with Scabrite chains to prevent him from destroying anything else than what his will tells him. His chains broke free and the creature devoured the souls of the Vanir. Loki tricks Thor into releasing Mangog from his imprisonment as part of a plan to discredit his brother, but he is forced to help Thor return to Asgard when his own plan to destroy Mangog fails. Having defeated Mangog's invading allies to deprive him of the hatred that empowers him, Thor fights against Mangog with while Odin strikes Mangog with spears to damage his armor. As the fight concludes, Odin allows the souls that empowered Mangog to pass on to their reward and peace in the afterlife.
  • Mangog appears in Thor: The Dark World - The Official Game, voiced by Chris Phillips and Marc Thompson.[citation needed]

Board games

  • Mangog was included in the superhero-featuring board game Heroclix in 2017 as part of The Mighty Thor set of the collectible miniatures game.

References

  1. ^ Brevoort, Tom; DeFalco, Tom; Manning, Matthew K.; Sanderson, Peter; Wiacek, Win (2017). Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History. DK Publishing. p. 131. ISBN 978-1465455505.
  2. ^ Wells, John (2014). American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 198. ISBN 978-1605490557.
  3. ^ Thor #154-157 (July-Oct. 1968)
  4. ^ Thor #195-198 (Jan.-April 1972)
  5. ^ Thor #242 (Dec. 1975); 244 (Feb. 1975) 246-250 (April-Aug. 1976)
  6. ^ Thor vol. 2, #20-25 (Feb.-July 2000)
  7. ^ Thor vol. 2, #84 (Nov. 2004)
  8. ^ Thunderstrike vol. 2 #5
  9. ^ The Mighty Thor Vol. 5 #19
  10. ^ The Mighty Thor #705
  11. ^ Thor #157 (Oct. 1968)
  12. ^ Thunderstrike v.2 #5
  13. ^ The Mighty Thor #701
  14. ^ Marvel Fanfare #51 (June 1982)
  15. ^ Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #150
  16. ^ "Marvel's Avengers Assemble, "All-Father's Day"". 23 Mar 2014. Retrieved 30 Mar 2014.
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