| Kraken (Comic Books) | |
|---|---|
A Kraken attacks Wolverine and Hercules: Wolverine/Hercules: Myths, Monsters & Mutants #4 (Aug. 2011). Art by Juan Roman Cano Santacruz. |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics; Marvel Comics; Independents |
| First appearance | Adventure Comics #56 (Nov. 1940) |
| Created by | Various |
The Kraken is a name given to several aquatic monsters inspired by the legend of Kraken[1] and several characters that have appeared primarily in DC Comics and Marvel Comics publications.
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Three versions appeared during the Golden Age of Comic Books: the first in Adventure Comics #56 (Nov. 1940), a second, land-based version existing on the planet Venus in Flash Comics #81 (March 1947) and a third variation capable of speech that claimed to be the actual Kraken from ancient folklore who battled the hero Captain Marvel in Whiz Comics #155 (June 1953).
Two versions appeared during the Silver Age of Comic Books: a giant octopus encountered by the Challengers of the Unknown in Showcase #12 (Jan.-Feb 1958), and the second being a giant squid summoned by the hero Aquaman in Aquaman #34 (July-Aug. 1967). Wonder Woman #247 (Sept. 1978) and #289 (March 1982) featured additional versions, and in Wonder Woman vol. 2 #75 (June 1993) the character encountered a version complete with tiara in a dream dimension. In Aquaman #1,000,000 (Nov. 1998), the eponymous hero of the title encounters one of the "Krakens of Vexjor", a race of huge tentacled reptilian sea monsters that inhabit Earth's oceans in the 853rd Century. Woman Woman and Aquaman also encounter a young Kraken in Issue #1 (Aug. 2011, DC Comics) of the limited series Flashpoint: Wonder Woman and the Furies.
Secrets of the Sinister House #13 (Sep. 1973) featured a vampire called the Kraken who survives the nuclear annihilation of humanity only to be trapped in a post-apocalyptic future with no human blood for nourishment. Kraken was also the name of a crime syndicate that appeared in The Brave and the Bold #138 (Nov. 1977). Two extraterrestial villains called Kraken have appeared, the first being an orange-skinned minor villain in Supergirl vol. 2 #18 (April 1984) and the second an ongoing character who debuted in Green Lantern vol. 4 #25 (Jan. 2008).
Minor characters include Prince Kraken, an Atlantean warrior,[2]The Kraken Brothers (Hal Kraken and Kris Kraken),[3] Mr. Kraken, the aide-de-camp of villainess Roulette[4] and King Kraken, a physically powerful if deformed villain that has encountered Batman on several occasions.[5]
The first Kraken made multiple appearances in Marvel continuity, including The Avengers #27 (April 1966, Marvel Comics),[6] Tales to Astonish #93 and Sub-Mariner #27 (July 1970),[7] before returning years later in the second issue of the limited series Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America (#1 - 5, June-Aug. 2007).[8]
A Kraken appeared in the short story "When Strikes The Kraken!" in Kull The Destroyer #17 (Oct. 1976),[9] and was reprinted in Chronicles of Kull 2: The Hell Beneath Atlantis and Other Stories.[10] Another Kraken (a gigantic squid) debuted in the black and white Bizarre Adventures #26 (May 1981).[11][12]
A creature called The Black Kraken debuted in the short story "Red Shadows and Black Kraken!" (based on the 1968 fantasy novel Conan of the Isles written by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter featuring Robert E. Howard's hero Conan the Barbarian. The story is republished in the graphic novel Conan of the Isles.[13]) in Conan The Barbarian Annual #7 (1982).[14]
Yet another version of the Kraken (four-armed and reptilian in appearance) debuted in Marvel Comics Presents #121 (Jan. 1993). It returned in Marvel Action Hour featuring the Fantastic Four #2-4 (Dec. 1994-Feb. 1995) and in the one shot title Namora #1 (Aug. 2010).[15]. Another Kraken (a horned squid creature) appeared in the 2009 one-shot comic Sub-Mariner Comics: 70th Anniversary Special.[16]
Two additional versions possessed ties to Greek mythology. The first served the Olympian Gods and debuted in the one shot Chaos War: God Squad #1 (Feb. 2011)[17] before returning in Incredible Hulk #622 (April 2011).[18] The second Kraken appeared in the four-part limited series Wolverine/Hercules: Myths, Monsters & Mutants. Spirited away by the god Poseidon after a defeat by Greek hero Perseus, the creature is revived in modern times by King Eurystheus to battle the heroes Hercules and Wolverine.[19]
A villain adopted the name of Commander Kraken debuted in Sub-Mariner #27 (July 1970) and battled several of Marvel's heroes before finally being killed in Captain America #319 (July 1986). An elite assassin and member of the terrorist organization HYDRA also used the name and debuted in Secret Warriors #2, March 2009. Writer/artist Jonathan Hickman stated in an interview with Comic Book Resources that ""Kraken" is a new character. The other HYDRA character with that name [Commander Kraken] was "a real b-list character and pretty lame. Our Kraken...has a long and elaborate history and we're going to be delving into that in a major way".[20]
The Ultimate Marvel imprint title Ultimate X-Men featured an "Agent Kraken", acting as a bodyguard to the President of the United States.[21]
Champion Comics #5 (March 1940, Harvey Comics), Monster Hunters #10 (Oct. 1977, Charlton Comics) and Indiana Jones and the Sargasso Pirates #2 (Jan. 1996, Dark Horse Comics), all featured versions of the Kraken.
Two one-shot publications featured characters bearing the name: a villain called "Dr. Kraken" in Web-Man #1 (1993, Argosy Communications Inc.) and a hero called Diego Hargreeves with the alias "Kraken" in Umbrella Academy #1 (2007, Dark Horse Comics). 2000 AD #583, (July 1988, Fleetway Publications) also featured the debut of a character called Judge Kraken.