Black Bolt

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Black Bolt


Black Bolt from the cover of Fantastic Four vol. 1, #46.
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Fantastic Four vol. 1, #45
Created by Jack Kirby
Characteristics
Alter ego Blackagar Boltagon
Affiliations Inhuman Royal Family, Illuminati
Abilities Superhuman strength, stamina and agility
Flight
Hypersonic scream
Molecular manipulation

Black Bolt (Blackagar Boltagon) is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe, king of the offshoot of humanity known as the Inhumans. Black Bolt was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and first makes a cameo appearance in Fantastic Four Vol. 1, #45.

Contents

[edit] Fictional character history

Black Bolt is the son of two formerly pre-eminent Inhumans - Agon, head of the ruling Council of Genetics, and Rynda, director of the Prenatal Care Center . In accordance with Inhuman standard practice, Black Bolt is subjected to the mutagenic Terrigen Mist while still an embryo. As an infant, he demonstrates the ability to manipulate energy, particularly the ability to generate quasi-sonic energy through his voice. To protect the community, Black Bolt is placed inside a sound-proofed chamber and given an energy-harnessing suit. Agon then tutors his son in how to control his powers, until permitted to re-enter society as a young man - having vowed never to speak. [1]

Only a month after being awarded his freedom, Black Bolt discovers his younger brother Maximus in the process of making a pact with emissaries of the alien Kree, the race whose genetic experiments first created the Inhumans. Black Bolt uses his powers to stop an escaping Kree vessel, but due to his inexperience miscalculates, causing it to crash and accidently kill several members of the Council of Genetics - including his parents. [2] Despite his guilt, Black Bolt reluctantly accepts rulership of the Inhumans, and together with his cousins Medusa, Gorgon, Karnak, Triton and Crystal, they form the Royal Family, with giant pet bulldog Lockjaw completing their entourage. Black Bolt eventualy marries his cousin Medusa [3] and they have a son called Ahura. [4]

Black Bolt has made several significant decisions in his time as ruler, including relocating the Inhuman city of Attilan several times (from the ocean floor to the Himalayas, [5] and later to the Blue Area of the Moon [6] and finally outer space [7]), dismantling the Genetic Council's power [8] and freeing the Alpha Primatives, the slave caste of Attilan. He has also successfully fended off several attempts by both Maximus [9] and the Kree [10] to seize power and destroy the Royal Family.

While the Inhumans choose to live in segregation, Black Bolt and the other members of the Royal Family have come into contact with modern age superheroes time and again. Some of Black Bolt's feats include smashing a machine devised by the time-travelling Kang to imprison the Avengers; [11] defeating the Sphinx; [12] aiding Fantastic Four member the Thing against mutated villain Graviton; [13] defusing a missile launched at Attilan by the villain Maelstrom [14] and empowering heroine Dazzler so that she could defeat the Absorbing Man. [15]

On several occasions Black Bolt has also required the aid of the heroes - to assist with the defeat of robotic villain Ultron; [16] an escape for the Inhumans from Earth's harmful pollutants [17] and from captivity by Maximus. [18]

When the mutant Quicksilver steals a canister of Terrigen crystals from Attilan, Black Bolt and the rest of the Royal Family attempt to retrieve them. The US military, however, want the crystals and attack the Inhumans. Believing the stolen crystals should be returned to Attilan, Black Bolt issues a warning to the United States concerning further acts of aggression, thereby alienating the Inhumans further. [19]

Main article: Civil War

Although a one-time member of the superhero council the Illuminati, Black Bolt rejects the Superhuman Registration Act and refuses to become involved. Courtesy of ally Sentry, Black Bolt is still monitoring the situation. [20]

[edit] Powers and abilities

Black Bolt uses his hypersonic scream in Marvel Team-Up Vol. 1, #11. Art by Jim Mooney
Enlarge
Black Bolt uses his hypersonic scream in Marvel Team-Up Vol. 1, #11. Art by Jim Mooney

Black Bolt's powers are the result of electron manipulation. The speech center of Black Bolt's brain contains an organic mechanism able to generate an as yet unknown type of particle which interacts with ambient electrons to create certain phenomena determined by mental control. Through electron gathering and manipulation, Black Bolt can increase any aspect of his physical nature, including his strength, speed, stamina and resistance. He can channel his power into single devastating punch called "The Master Blow", which is strong enough to momentarily drive back even a being with the Thing's level of strength. [21] This act, however, leaves Black Bolt exhausted and he must recover afterwards. Black Bolt can also harness the electrons for matter transformation, the controlled projection of energy and flight.

Black Bolt's most prominent offensive weapon is his voice, as a hypersonic shout can level a city. [22] It once took Black Bolt's whisper to stop an enraged Hulk after he had defeated the entire Inhuman Royal Family. [23] Due to the extreme danger posed by his voice, Black Bolt has undergone rigorous mental training to prevent himself from uttering a sound, even in his sleep.

[edit] Alternate versions

[edit] Ultimate Black Bolt

Main article: Ultimate Marvel

The Ultimate Black Bolt has the same abilities and limitations as his mainstream counterpart, and uses his abilities to decimate Attilan after it is infiltrated by the Fantastic Four. [24]

[edit] Earth X

Main article: Earth X

Set on Earth-9997, Black Bolt releases the Terrigen Mist into Earth's atmosphere, granting powers to all humanity. [25]

[edit] Other appearances

[edit] References

  1. ^ Thor Vol. 1, #148 - 149
  2. ^ Avengers Vol. 1, #95 (flashback)
  3. ^ Fantastic Four Vol. 1, Annual #18
  4. ^ The Inhumans Graphic Novel (1988)
  5. ^ The Inhumans Vol. 2, #12
  6. ^ The Fantastic Four Vol. 1, #240
  7. ^ The Inhumans Vol. 3, #1
  8. ^ Fantastic Four Unlimited #2 (1993)
  9. ^ Inhumans Vol. 1, #5 - 6 + The Fantastic Four Vol. 1, #240 + Avengers Vol. 1, Annual #12
  10. ^ The Inhumans Vol. 3, #1 - 4
  11. ^ Marvel Team-Up Vol. 1, #11
  12. ^ Fantastic Four Vol. 1, Annual #12
  13. ^ Marvel Two-In-One Annual #4
  14. ^ Marvel Two-In-One Vol. 1, #72
  15. ^ Dazzler Vol. 1, #19
  16. ^ Fantastic Four Vol. 1, #150
  17. ^ The Fantastic Four Vol. 1, #240
  18. ^ Avengers Vol. 1, Annual #12
  19. ^ Son of M # 1 - 6
  20. ^ Civil War #1 - 7 (2006 - 2007) Note this series has yet to finish.
  21. ^ Fantastic Four Vol. 1, #46
  22. ^ Thor Vol. 1, #148
  23. ^ Hulk Vol. 1, Annual #1
  24. ^ Ultimate Fantastic Four Vol. 1, Annual #1
  25. ^ Earth X #0 - 12 (1999 - 2000)

[edit] External links

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