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Garokk

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Garokk
Garokk as depicted in X-Men #115 (November 1978). Art by John Byrne.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceAstonishing Tales #2 (Nov. 1970)
Created byRoy Thomas (writer)
Jack Kirby (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoUnknown (first body)
Kirk Marston (second body)
SpeciesHuman mutate
PartnershipsZaladane
Magneto
Notable aliasesThe Petrified Man, Lazarus, Terminus
AbilitiesEnergy and matter manipulation
Shape-shifting
Telepathy
Superhuman strength, stamina and durability
Immortality

Garokk (/ˈɡærɒk/; also known as the Petrified Man) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

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Garokk first appeared in Astonishing Tales #2 (Nov. 1970) and was created by Roy Thomas and Jack Kirby.[1]

Creation

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Roy Thomas explained in an interview the creation of the character stating,

"So, the Petrified Man clearly is similar to elements in the later Burroughs Tarzan novels where he'd have some kind of weird character that Tarzan would encounter. And Tongah was like a combination of Tarzan's native buddies that he would occasionally have. And it was also reference to one of my favorite series from Gold Key Comics Turok, Son of Stone. And so, Turok... Tongah... there was an element of that."[2]

Fictional character biography

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Garokk was originally an unnamed sailor from Great Britain whose ship, the H.M.S. Drake, crashed on the shores of Antarctica in the 15th century. A warm ocean current carried him to the Savage Land, where he encountered the Sun People, who worshiped the sun god Garokk. After drinking from a cup under a statue of Garokk, his body is transformed into immortal, organic stone.

After being chased off by the Sun People, the sailor returns centuries later and discovers that they are waging war as a form of worship to him. Now known as the Petrified Man, he encounters Ka-Zar and works with him to stop the Sun People, but subsequently goes insane and believes himself to be Garokk. However, Ka-Zar drains him of his powers, causing him to age rapidly and die.[3]

Zaladane, the leader of the Sun People, later captures adventurer Kirk Marston and resurrects Garokk in his body. In subsequent appearances, Garokk battles Ka-Zar and the X-Men on numerous occasions, with one seeing him temporarily transform into a half crystal, half molten lava form after falling into a thermal shaft.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Powers and abilities

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Garokk possesses a stone-like body that gives him immortality and superhuman physical abilities. He can additionally project energy blasts from his eyes, create dimensional portals, and possesses limited telepathy and the ability to manipulate matter on a molecular level.[citation needed]

Other versions

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An alternate universe variant of Garokk from Earth-928 appears in 2099: World of Tomorrow, where he possesses the Sorcerer Supreme Mlle Strange.[11]

In other media

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Garokk as depicted in X-Men: The Animated Series.

Garokk appears in the X-Men: The Animated Series two-part episode "Savage Land, Strange Heart", voiced by an uncredited actor. This version was previously defeated by the High Evolutionary and imprisoned in the Earth.[12][13]

Garokk appears in X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, voiced by Dwight Schultz.[14]

References

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  1. ^ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 145. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
  2. ^ Thomas, Roy (July 2023). "Alter Ego" (144): 7. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ Astonishing Tales #2-5. Marvel Comics.
  4. ^ The Uncanny X-Men #115-116. Marvel Comics.
  5. ^ The Uncanny X-Men #149. Marvel Comics.
  6. ^ The Uncanny X-Men Annual #12. Marvel Comics.
  7. ^ Ka-Zar Annual '97
  8. ^ Ka-Zar vol. 2 #20. Marvel Comics.
  9. ^ Avengers vol. 5 #12. Marvel Comics.
  10. ^ Avengers vol. 5 #13 (Aug. 2013). Marvel Comics.
  11. ^ 2099: World of Tomorrow #2-6
  12. ^ Sims, Chris (February 3, 2014). "The X-Men Episode Guide 3×09: 'Savage Land, Strange Heart, Part One'". Comics Alliance. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  13. ^ Sims, Chris (February 10, 2014). "The X-Men Episode Guide 3×10: 'Savage Land, Strange Heart, Part 2'". Comics Alliance. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  14. ^ "Garokk Voice - X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse (Video Game)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved August 25, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
[edit]
  • Garokk at Marvel Wiki
  • Garokk at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
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