Skaar

Skaar is a fictional superhero that appears in comics published by Marvel Comics, usually as a supporting character to Hulk. He is the son of the Hulk and the extraterrestrial Caiera, who conceived him during the "Planet Hulk" storyline. Created by writer Greg Pak and artist John Romita, Jr., he first appeared in What If? Planet Hulk #1 (cover-dated Dec. 2007).

Publication history

Skaar first appeared in What If? Planet Hulk #1 (Dec. 2007). Skaar then appeared canonically in World War Hulk #5 (Jan. 2008) a miniseries written by Greg Pak, and illustrated by John Romita, Jr. He subsequently starred in his own ongoing series by Pak, Skaar: Son of Hulk, which ran for 12 issues from 2008^[1] to 2009.^[2][3][4]

Following the "Planet Skaar" story arc, which resulted in Skaar's arrival on Earth, the book's title changed with issue #13 to Son of Hulk, after which new writer Paul Jenkins focused on Hiro-Kala, another son of Bruce Banner. The series ran until issue #17.^[5] The story of Hiro-Kala that begins in these issues continue in a mini series that ties into the Realm of Kings event, Realm of Kings: Son of Hulk.^[6]

When Greg Pak took over writing chores on The Incredible Hulk with issue #601, Skaar allied himself with a de-powered Bruce Banner.^[7]

The character would then appear in the Skaar: King of the Savage Land limited series by writer Rob Williams.^[8]

Skaar began appearing as a regular character in the Dark Avengers series, beginning with Dark Avengers #175.

Fictional character biography

Skaar is the progeny of the Hulk and of Caiera the Oldstrong, who conceived Skaar during the Hulk's time on Caiera's home planet, Sakaar. After Caiera's death, and the Hulk's departure from Sakaar, Skaar emerged from a cocoon, appearing to be the age equivalent of a human preteen. A year later he resembles a human teenager, and subsequently, an intelligent adult, in both appearance and intelligence.^[9] He also demonstrates himself to be a fierce and capable warrior, and becomes the enemy of Axeman Bone. He later gains the power of the stone-based "Oldstrong", which allows him to draw energy from the planet himself, and comes to be seen by some on Sakaar as a savior. Though Skaar is able to communicate with the spirit of his dead mother, Caiera, she is troubled by his becoming a killer instead of a bringer of peace to their people. To address this problem, she summons the Silver Surfer to the planet, who removes Skaar's Oldstrong power before Skaar can kill Axeman Bone, and informs him that the planet-eater, Galactus, who travels the universe consuming planets for sustenance, is approaching Sakaar. The Surfer offers Skaar the chance to use the Oldstrong power to evacuate the planet, not only saving his people, but becoming a hero to the universe, as the planet harbors enough energy to satiate Galactus' hunger for a hundred thousand years.^[10] However, after the Surfer restores Skaar's Oldstrong power, Skaar destroys the evacuation ships, and tells the Surfer that if he does not spare Sakaar, he will use the Oldstrong power to increase Galactus' hunger, and endanger more planets, including ones that Surfer has saved. After the Surfer informs the planet that their safety will lead to the death of countless other planets, he leaves Sakaar. Caiera denounces Skaar for his decision, and exiles him from the planet, absorbing the Oldstrong power from him and waits for Galactus to consume her.^[11]

Skaar arrives on Earth with the sole desire to kill his father, the Hulk. After coming into conflict with the United States military, and other characters such as the Fantastic Four and the Warbound, he confronts the Hulk, though not the version who was present on Sakaar. After Hulk engages Skaar in battle, he effortlessly beats him, though their fight creates a fissure that endangers a nuclear power plant. Skaar ceases his attack when he realizes that this Hulk is not the "War Hulk" version that conceived him, who is the one he truly wishes to kill, and prevents the fissure from endangering the power plant. He declares Earth to be his new home.

Skaar later encounters Bruce Banner, who has been robbed of the ability to become the Hulk by the Red Hulk. Skaar then reiterates his desire to kill the Hulk, but not in Banner's form, since they truly are separate personas. Bruce offers to teach Skaar how to kill the Hulk, should he ever return, though this is a ruse to allow Banner to monitor Skaar, and impart fatherly wisdom in the hope of turning the savage warrior into a hero. Skaar demonstrates his ability to use cunning as well as his physical strength by hurling the villain Juggernaut into outer space.^[12] Subsequent lessons by Banner include encounters with Wolverine, Wolverine's son, Daken,^[13] Victoria Hand, Moonstone,^[14] a mutated Marlo Chandler,^[15] Tyrannus, the Mole Man and his army of Moloids.^[16]

After defeating the Moloids, Skaar is proclaimed a hero, and a parade is given in his honor. After a confrontation with the Red Hulk that angers Banner, Banner teleports to the country of Latveria, supposedly to transform in private. During a subsequent battle between the Hulk and the Latverian villain Doctor Doom, Skaar intervenes, having teleported to Latveria with Banner's teleportation technology, as he does not wish Doom to rob him of the ability to kill Hulk. Doom overpowers Skaar with magic, reverting him to his human form, and reveals that this Hulk was a robot. Banner then arrives and rescues his son, seeing him in his human form for the first time, but Skaar rejects Banner's affection, believing that Banner cares only for his deceased wife. Concluding that Banner schemed to provoke Skaar's discovery of his teleporter in order to prompt him to come to Latveria for another "lesson", Skaar reiterates his desire to someday kill him as the Hulk.^[17]

During the "Fall of the Hulks", "World War Hulks," and "Dark Son" storylines, Skaar comes to the aid of the Avengers by battling the Red She-Hulk,^[18] in a story that involves the villainous group the Intelligencia turning scores of people in Washington, D.C. into Hulks, including the genius Amadeus Cho, and capturing Banner.^[19] During the course of the story, Banner re-emerges as the Green Scar, and Skaar, finally granted the confrontation he had longed for, attacks him. During the course of their battle, Hulk rescues a number of innocent bystanders endangered by their fight. Skaar reacts to this compassion by ceasing his assault, but Hulk continues his, causing Skaar to revert to human form. These actions remind Hulk of Banner's own abusive father, and as a result, Hulk reverts to human form himself, and embraces his son, who accepts his love.^[20] Skaar sets out on a journey with his father, sister, first cousin once removed Jennifer Walters, Rick Jones, and Betty Ross, after which he senses his brother Hiro-Kala approaching Earth.^[21]

During the "Chaos War" storyline, Skaar helps his father and his friends in their fight against the forces of Amatsu-Mikaboshi.^[22] When Brian Banner is discovered to have also been brought back from the dead after what happened to the death realms and becomes a Guilt Hulk/Devil Hulk hybrid, Skaar helps his father fight Brian Banner.^[23]

Skaar accompanies Hulk and the Warbound to the Savage Land when they are contacted by Ka-Zar regarding the death of some of the Sakaarians that were living there.^[24] They discover that the insectoid Miek is involved in a plot to use Sakaarian bodies to store his hatchlings.^[25] When Skaar refuses to allow Hulk to harm the hatchlings, Miek then attempts to drug Skaar. Following Miek's ostensible death, Skaar remains in the Savage Land to keep an eye on the remaining Sakaarians.^[26]

Skaar is seemingly recruited by Norman Osborn to join the second incarnation of the Dark Avengers.^[27] His first fight with the team went against him when the New Avengers discovered them.^[28] After the Dark Avengers reveal that they have captured Captain America and are planning to capture the other Avengers and put them on trial, Skaar turns on his teammates.^[29] It is revealed at that point that Skaar is actually a double agent. Skaar subsequently frees Captain America while the New Avengers defeat the remaining Dark Avengers.^[30]

Powers and abilities

Skaar has powers inherited from both his parents. Like the Hulk, his father, he has superhuman endurance, regenerative abilities, and superhuman strength and durability, which, like his father, increases when he is enraged, although he is not as strong as the Savage Hulk persona. He can boost his strength further with old power-a synthesized form of the Power Cosmic, in one instance having absorbed the energy of an entire city.^[31] Iron Fist is able to daze him with a powerful chi-punch.^[32] He can revert to a human form when calm or otherwise incapacitated. However, in his case, his other form is half-human, half-Oldstrong. From his mother, Caiera, he has the powers of an Oldstrong, emerging from his birth cocoon able to walk and talk within moments, and he can draw power from the planet and harden his body.^[33] Having been born within the depths of a lake of lava Skaar is resistant to intense heat.^[34]

Other versions

In the 2007 What If? storyline "What if Caiera the Oldstrong had survived the destruction of Sakaar instead of the Hulk?", a 21-year-old version of Skaar appeared near the end, partially seen and obscured by shadows.

In other media

Skaar appears in the animated TV series Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., in which he is voiced by Benjamin Diskin. He is a main character and a member of team S.M.A.S.H. He first appears in the episode "Doorway to Destruction Part 1".^[35][36] In the first season finale, when the agents of S.M.A.S.H. find themselves on Skaar's homeworld of Sakaar, Hulk and Skaar find themselves in a cave where Skaar made pictograms depicting his long-forgotten past. An orphan with no memory of his real parents, Skaar was taken in by a kind family. When The Leader appeared and began to conquer Sakaar, Skaar tried to fight back, but was captured and brainwashed into the mad genius' personal enforcer, being made to go so far as to attack his village and foster family.

Collected editions

The series the character has appeared in have been collected into individual volumes:

References

External links

• Skaar at the Marvel Universe wiki
• Skaar at the Grand Comics Database
• Skaar at the Comic Book DB
• Best Shots Extra: Skaar: Son of Hulk #1. Newsarama. June 10, 2008