Makkari (comics)
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Makkari is a member of the Eternals, a fictional race of superhumans in the Marvel Comics universe. He was created by writer-artist Jack Kirby in the 1976-1978 comic book series The Eternals.
Marvel continuity was later retconned so that the mythological god Mercury, introduced as a Marvel protagonist in Red Raven Comics #1 (Aug. 1940; "Mercury In the 20th Century" by artist Kirby and writer Martin A. Bursten, pen name "Burstein") was, in fact, Makkari.
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[edit] History
Makkari is the son of Verona and Mara. He is a member of the Eternals' Technologist's Guild and is skilled at designing and building high-speed vehicles.
Makkari has involved himself in Earth's affairs more often than most Eternals. He was taught philosophy by Plato. He rescued Sersi from "Nero's big bonfire"; and later spent some time as the charioteer of Darius I of Persia. He witnessed the Trojan War, the reign of Vlad the Impaler, and the Alamo.
In the 1940s he worked on Earth, per Zuras request, under the aliases "Hurricane" and "Mercury" (an example of retcon, these Golden Age characters were not originally supposed to be related), and fought Warlord Kro and Deviant Mutates alongside the Monster Hunters, a team he formed using his identity as National Security Agent Jake Curtiss. Later on, he taught Elvis Presley a few guitar tricks.
Following the dis-banding of the Monster Hunters, Makkari was convinced by Pixie to join the First Line as "Major Mercury".
Art by Rick Berry.
Makkari was with the Eternals who introduced themselves to the students at City College during the Fourth Host of the Celestials. He accompanied Ikaris in his battles against the Deviants, and participated in the defeat of Ghaur. He became friends with Quasar when he enlisted Quasar to help him save Master Elo, who was tutoring Makkari in how to channel his cosmic energy into more speed; he later worked in Quasar's office under the alias "Mike Khary." He was killed in Quasar #21, but returned to life in "Quasar" #25, as part of an agreement struck between Eternity, Death, Infinity and Oblivion. He participated in a race against the Runner, one of the Elders of the Universe, and won. However, he soon found he had become so fast that he could no longer move in synch with the rest of the universe. Maelstrom later attempted to seize more power by draining the kinetic energy from Makkari, but Maelstrom was ultimately defeated by the other Eternals.
[edit] Eternals mini-series (2006)
Makkari is featured in the Marvel mini-series Eternals, written by Neil Gaiman and penciled by artist John Romita, Jr. The Eternals are the victims of memory and reality manipulation by Sprite, and have thus forgotten their true identities. Makkari believes himself to be a young doctor named Mark Curry. By issues #2 and #3, he finally begins to experience his powers of super-speed. However, Sprite tricks Curry into opening a passageway to the long-dormant Celestial underneath San Francisco, and in doing so incapacites Curry. The story is on-going.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Although in most of his appearances Makkari has the typical powers of an Eternal, his obsession with speed, starting in the Quasar series, causes him to focus most of his body's Cosmic Energy into enhancing his running speed. As a result, he lost his ability to fly and many of his other powers have been weakened in the process. At present he can run at near light speed for extended periods, but his physical strength (while still far greater than human) has been reduced by half, and he seemingly cannot project energy or manipulate matter.
Makkari sometimes wears a protective crash helmet, though he does not truly need it.
[edit] Notes
Other characters have used the previous names of Makkari such as Mercury and Hurricane. These include:
- In the Old West, Harry Kane took the name of Hurricane in the 1870s. He was the former agent of Iron Mask and stole a magic potion from a witch doctor and drank it after it was struck by lightning. He first appeared in Two Gun Kid #70.
- Albert Potter, a failed meteorologist became Hurricane after he was mutated trying to use an experimental device to diffuse a hurricane. He sought revenge on the world but was defeated by Captain Britain and imprisoned in Darkmoor. He first appeared in Captain Britain vol. 1 #3
- One of the Dark Riders was known as Hurricane who first appeared in Cable vol. 2 #17. He was killed by Wolverine in Wolverine vol. 2 #100.
- Hermes was called Mercury in Thor vol. 1 #129.
- A member of the Elements of Doom is called Mercury who first appeared in Thunderbolts #7.
- A nanotech creation of the sentient Cerebro was called Mercury that first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #360.
- The most recent character to be called Mercury is Cessily Kincaid, a student of the Xavier Institute and former member of the Hellions. She first appeared in New Mutants vol. 2 #2.
- An amalgamation of Quicksilver and the Flash was known as Mercury. He first appeared in JLX #1.
[edit] Bibliography
- Avengers vol. 1 #246-248, 308-310
- Eternals vol. 1 #5-6, 8-18
- Eternals vol. 2 #1-12
- Eternals: Apocalypse Now
- Eternals: Herod Factor
- Fantastic Four Unlimited #10
- Infinity Gauntlet #2
- Iron Man Annual #6
- Iron Man vol. 1 #179
- Marvel Universe #4-7
- Marvel Universe: The End #5-6
- Marvel: Lost Generation #2, 5
- Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Golden Age 2004
- Quasar #11-17, 19-21, 25-28, 35-40, 43, 47, 58
- Silver Surfer Annual vol. 3 #1
- Strange Tales vol. 1 #67
- Tales of Suspense vol. 1 #7
- Thor Annual #7
- Thor vol. 1 #287-289, 291-292, 300-301
- Eternals #1-3 (limited series; Jun. 2006 - Nov. 2006)
[edit] As Mercury
identity used during the 1930 and 1940s
- Red Raven Comics #1
[edit] As Hurricane
Identity used in late 1930s. He claimed to be the son of Thor
- Captain America Comics #1-11
- Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Golden Age
[edit] As Major Mercury
Identity used as part of First Line in the late 1960s
- Marvel: Lost Generation #5
