Grey Gargoyle

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Grey Gargoyle

Thor fights the Grey Gargoyle for the first time in Journey Into Mystery #107 (vol. 1, Aug. 1964). Art by Jack Kirby.
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Journey Into Mystery #107 (vol. 1, Aug. 1964)
Created by Stan Lee
Jack Kirby
In story information
Alter ego Paul Pierre Duval
Team affiliations Masters of Evil
AIM
Notable aliases Paul St. Pierre
Abilities Ability to turn anything to stone with touch
Superhuman strength and durability

The Grey Gargoyle (Paul Pierre Duval) is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #107 (vol. 1, Aug. 1964) and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Contents

[edit] Fictional character biography

Paul Pierre Duval was a French chemist and lab assistant who gained his powers by accidentally spilling an unknown concoction on himself. Imbued with a living granite body and a touch that could turn anything to stone, Duval turns to a life of crime. Duval eventually grows bored and seeks a new goal: immortality. Naming himself the Grey Gargoyle, Duval finds and confronts Thor, believing that Thor's hammer Mjolnir is the secret of his immortality. Thor, however, defeats the Grey Gargoyle,[1] and then once again several months later.[2] The Grey Gargoyle goes on to fight a number of superheroes beginning with Iron Man.[3] The Grey Gargoyle next attempts to steal "Element X," and battles Captain America, the Falcon, and Nick Fury.[4] He battles Captain America and Spider-Man before being launched into deep space.[5] He is revealed to have been rescued by the alien starship the Bird of Prey and was made their captain. However, he allies with Thor against the crew of the Bird of Prey in an attempt to return to Earth.[6] He returns to Earth to fight the Avengers,[7] and years later again as part of the fourth Masters of Evil.[8] The Grey Gargoyle is later discovered to be living under the false identity of sculptor Paul St. Pierre, and schemed to make a fortune in the art world by selling persons transformed to stone as authentic sculptures, before this scheme is foiled by Iron Man.[9] The Grey Gargoyle is then employed by Doctor Doom to neutralize the Incredible Hulk, who humiliates the Grey Gargoyle by breaking his arm.[10]

The Grey Gargoyle later attacks She-Hulk[11] and then the Thing, and after turning the Thing to stone is defeated by the rest of the Fantastic Four.[12] The temporary transformation allows the Thing the ability to now change between his stone and human form at will. After another bout with Thor[13] the Grey Gargoyle is incarcerated, and is later seen as an escapee of the Raft prison.[14]

Duval attempts to hire the law firm of Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway to pursue a case against Thor Girl, but the case is disrupted by the Eternal Starfox. [15] The Grey Gargoyle then battles the heroine Spider-Woman, before being defeated by Ms. Marvel, and sent to prison.[16] The Grey Gargoyle is among the villains recruited to join the Hood's crime syndicate.[17]

[edit] Powers and abilities

During an experiment Duval spilled an unknown organic chemical compound on his right hand, causing a mutagenic reaction that permanently transformed the hand into living stone. As a result, Duval can turn any matter touched with his "stone" hand to a similar substance. The effect lasts for approximately one hour. Duval can also use the effect to transform himself into a being of living stone - with no loss of mobility - possessing superhuman strength and durability. Duval is not invulnerable in granite form, having had an arm broken by the Hulk.

Magical objects are apparently impervious to the stone effect, as when Duval grasped the sword of the Black Knight, it was unaffected and the Gargoyle was reverted back to human form. [18]

Duval also has a master's degree in chemistry.

[edit] Other media

[edit] Television

[edit] Video games

[edit] References

  1. ^ Journey Into Mystery vol. 1, #107
  2. ^ Journey Into Mystery vol. 1, 113
  3. ^ Tales of Suspense vol. 1, #95 - 96
  4. ^ Captain America vol. 1, #139 - 142
  5. ^ Marvel Team-Up #13
  6. ^ Thor vol. 1, #257 - 259
  7. ^ Avengers vol. 1, #190 -191
  8. ^ Avengers vol. 1, #271
  9. ^ Iron Man vol. 1, #235 - 236
  10. ^ During Acts of Vengeance - Incredible Hulk vol. 1, #363 - 364
  11. ^ Sensational She-Hulk vol. 2, #27
  12. ^ Fantastic Four vol. 2, #38 - 39
  13. ^ Thor vol. 2, #47
  14. ^ New Avengers vol. 4, #1
  15. ^ She-Hulk #10, Oct 2006
  16. ^ Civil War: The Initiative (April 2007)
  17. ^ New Avengers #35 (2007)
  18. ^ Avengers #271 (Sep. 1986)

[edit] External links

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Marvel Comics' Thor
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Balder • Beta Ray Bill • Frey • Hercules • Jane Foster • Heimdall • Hermod • Hoder • Idunn • Karnilla • Odin • Sif • Thunderstrike • Tyr • Valkyrie • Vidar • Volla • Warriors Three (Frigga • Hogun • Volstagg) • Zeus • Olympians 
Villains:
Absorbing Man • Ares • Destroyer • Ego the Living Planet • Lorelei  • Enchantress • Executioner • Fafnir • Fenris Wolf • Grey Gargoyle • Hela • Kurse • Loki • Mangog • Midgard Serpent • Pluto • Radioactive Man • Surtur • Ulik • Wrecking Crew • Ymir • Zarrko 
In other media:
The Marvel Superheroes (television, 1966) • The Incredible Hulk Returns (live-action film, 1988)
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