Shuma-Gorath
| Shuma-Gorath | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Marvel Premiere #5 (Nov 1972) (mentioned), #10 (on-panel) |
| Created by | Robert E. Howard (name), Steve Englehart (story) and Frank Brunner (art) |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Demon |
| Notable aliases | Lord of Chaos |
| Abilities |
Immortality Reality alteration Telepathy Teleportation Vast mystical powers |
Shuma-Gorath is a fictional character first mentioned in a short story by author Robert E. Howard, and later appeared in comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history
Shuma-Gorath is first mentioned in the Robert E. Howard short story "The Curse of the Golden Skull," in The Howard Collector #9, Spring 1967, which features the character Kull. A dying magician named Rotath invokes the "iron-bound books of Shuma-Gorath" in a curse against humanity. The character's first actual comic-book appearance was as an adversary for Doctor Strange in Marvel Premiere #3-9 (July 1972 - July 1973). The character subsequently reappears in Marvel Premiere #14 (March 1974): Shuma-Gorath appears on prehistoric Earth and is defeated by Sise-Neg; Doctor Strange #81 (February 1987); Strange Tales vol. 2 #4-15 (April 1987-April 1988) and crossover story Fantastic Four #314 (May 1988; Conan the Barbarian #252 (Jan. 1992), #258-260 (July–Sept. 1992), Marvel Knights #26-27 (March–April 2006), Wolverine: First Class #12 (February 2009); Invaders Now! #4-5 (Dec. 2010) and Journey Into Mystery #627 (Sept. 2011).
Fictional character biography
During Earth's pre-history Shuma-Gorath rules the world, and demanded human sacrifice until eventually banished by time-traveling sorcerer Sise-Neg.[1] The entity eventually returns during the Hyborian Age, but is imprisoned within a mountain by the power of the god Crom.[2] Shuma Gorath, however, continues to be an influence on Earth until returned to its home dimension by Crom.[3]
When the entity tries to return to Earth via the mind of the Ancient One, his disciple Doctor Strange is forced to kill him to prevent this.[4] Years later, Strange battles Shuma-Gorath in its home dimension, and although victorious, he gradually becomes a new version of the entity. Strange commits suicide to prevent this transformation and is resurrected by an ally.[5] Sorcerer Nicholas Scratch summons the entity to Earth but it is driven back by the combined efforts of Doctor Strange, Fantastic Four, the Salem's Seven, and villain Diablo due to being severely weak and hungry after its long slumber.[6] Shuma-Gorath is eventually revealed to be one of the four undying other-dimensional "multi-angled ones" guiding a metaphysical invasion from a dimension called the "cancerverse". Although attempting to destroy Death itself, the entity and its allies are rendered inert by the conceptual form of Death and subsequently trapped in the cancerverse when it is destroyed.[7] Shuma-Gorath survives and once again attempts to invade Earth but is repelled by the superhero team the Avengers with the Spear of Destiny.[8] During Infinity, Thanos' servant Ebony Maw manipulates Doctor Strange into summoning Shuma-Gorath to the streets of New York. The creature is met by Luke Cage and his new team of Avengers.[9]
Powers and abilities
Shuma-Gorath is an ancient force of chaos, the immortal, nigh-invincible and godlike ruler of nearly a hundred alternate universes, capable of energy projection; shapeshifting; teleportation; levitation; altering reality and sympathetic magic amongst many other feats. He is described as being vastly more powerful than other mighty demonic enemies of Strange such as Satannish, and Mephisto, and as capable of automatically destroying multiple galaxies through aura-pressure alone.[10]
In other media
Shuma-Gorath appears as a playable character in the Capcom fighting game Marvel Super Heroes and sequels Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter and Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes. Shuma-Gorath returned as a playable character in Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 as downloadable content.[11][12] Frank Perry voiced the character in Marvel Super Heroes, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter and Marvel vs. Capcom 2, and Paul Dobson in Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.[13]
References
- ↑ Marvel Premiere #14 (March 1974)
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #240 (Jan. 1991)
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #260 (Sept. 1992)
- ↑ Marvel Première #3-10 (July 1972 - Sept. 1973)
- ↑ Strange Tales vol. 2 #15 (June 1988)
- ↑ Marvel Knights 4 25-27 (Feb. - April 2006)
- ↑ Thanos Imperative #6 (Nov. 2010)
- ↑ Invaders Now! #5 (Apr. 2011)
- ↑ Mighty Avengers (vol. 2) #2 (October 2013)
- ↑ Strange Tales vol. 2 #14 (June 1988)
- ↑ "Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds Collector's Edition – with Bonus!". Gamestop. 2010-11-16. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
- ↑ "Marvel vs. Capcom 3: New Characters, Release Date, and Special Edition". Capcom. 2010-11-15. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
- ↑ "Voices of Shuma-Gorath". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
External links
- Shuma-Gorath at Marvel.com
- Shuma Gorath at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
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