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Mongul

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Mongul (disambiguation).
Mongul
Mongul as depicted in DC Comics Presents #28 (December 1980). Art by Jim Starlin (pencils), Romeo Tanghal (inks), and Jerry Serpre (colors).
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceDC Comics Presents #27 (November 1980)
Created byLen Wein (writer)
Jim Starlin (writer/artist)
In-story information
SpeciesUnknown
Place of originWarworld
Team affiliations(Mongul)
Injustice League
Superman Revenge Squad
Suicide Squad
(Mongul II)
Sinestro Corps
PartnershipsHank Henshaw
Abilities
  • Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, and durability
  • Near-invulnerability
  • Teleportation
  • Energy projection
  • Heat vision
  • Anatomical liberation
  • Skilled hand-to-hand combatant
  • Genius-level intellect
  • Access to Warworld

Mongul (/ˈmɒŋɡəl/) is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Writer Len Wein and artist Jim Starlin created the first version of the character, who debuted in DC Comics Presents #27 (November 1980).[1] Jerry Ordway created the second version, who first appeared in The Adventures of Superman #454 as the lord of Warworld. He was later embellished by Peter Tomasi and Scot Eaton in Showcase '95, #8. He is based on the Mongol Empire's founder Genghis Khan and his successors, hence his name. The character was given an origin story in Green Lantern #23.2 by his co-creator Jim Starlin and artist Howard Porter as homage to the writers who participated in developing the character.

Debuting in the Bronze Age of Comic Books, Mongul has been featured in other DC Comics-endorsed products such as animated series, video games, a direct-to-DVD film, and merchandise such as action figures and trading cards.

Publication history

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Mongul debuted in the title DC Comics Presents and was created by writer Len Wein and artist Jim Starlin.[2] Starlin often receives credit as creator of the character, but Wein in an interview stated: "Well, [Mongul] had Starlin visuals, but he was my creation". Wein said he conceived Mongul specifically as a villain to physically challenge Superman.[3]

Fictional character biography

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Bronze Age (1980–1985)

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Mongul is the ruler of his species until he is overthrown and forced to flee his planet.[4] In his first appearance, Mongul kidnaps Superman's friends Lois Lane, Jimmy Olsen, and Steve Lombard and threatens to kill them unless the hero brings him a key to activate Warworld.[5] Mongul is rendered unconscious by the mental strain from using Warworld, but escapes before the heroes destroy it.[4]

Mongul then tries to conquer Throneworld, the home planet of Prince Gavyn / Starman. He murders Gavyn's sister and obtains a Sun-Eater that he attempts to use to destroy Earth's sun before the Justice League of America and Legion of Super-Heroes stop him.[6][7]

In "For the Man Who Has Everything", Mongul attacks Superman on his birthday and imprisons him in a dream world using the Black Mercy plant. Batman, Robin, and Wonder Woman defeat Mongul and use the Black Mercy on him.[8]

Modern Age (1985–present)

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In the Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity reboot, Mongul is reintroduced as the ruler of the Warworld empire.[9] Mongul captures Superman, who works with Mongul's champion Draaga to defeat him. Mongul later destroys Hal Jordan's hometown of Coast City, leading to his transformation into Parallax. In Underworld Unleashed, Mongul is killed by Neron after refusing his offer of power.[10]

Sinestro regains his Corps (Green Lantern (vol. 4) #46, art by Doug Mahnke and Christian Alamy).

Son of Mongul

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Mongul II as depicted in Green Lantern Secret Files and Origins 2005, art by Dave Gibbons and Peter Steigerwald.

Following Mongul's death, his son Mongul II succeeds him as ruler of Warworld and battles Superman to prepare him for the threat of Imperiex. In the prelude to Blackest Night, Mongul obtains a Sinestro Corps ring and seizes control of the Corps before Sinestro imprisons him in the Yellow Lantern power battery.[11]

The New 52

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In The New 52 continuity reboot, the original Mongul is resurrected and attacks the Sinestro Corps.[12][13][14][15] After being deposed by Sinestro, Mongul allies with the Pale Vicors, a group which loots planets and nulifies their inhabitants' ability to feel emotions.[16][17][18]

Powers and abilities

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Mongul possesses immense superhuman physical abilities comparable to Superman. Furthermore, he can teleport, generate energy blasts, possesses limited telepathy and telekinesis, and wields a chest-mounted cannon.[5][6][7][14][15][18][19][20][21] For a time, he was also part of the Sinestro Corps, having access to all that it entailed; i.e., the ability to create fear-based energy constructs and gain power from the fear of others.[15][22][23] As a Pale Vicor, Mongul can negate the powers of the emotional spectrum and generate a protective aura.[17]

In other media

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Television

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Mongul as depicted in Batman: The Brave and the Bold.

Film

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Video games

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Reception

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In 2009, Mongul was ranked as IGN's 41st Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.[26]

References

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  1. ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Supervillains. New York: Facts on File. p. 232. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
  2. ^ Manning, Matthew K. (2010). "1980s". In Dolan, Hannah (ed.). DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle. Dorling Kindersley. p. 188. ISBN 978-0-7566-6742-9. Artist Jim Starlin displayed his penchant for portraying powerful cosmic villains with the debut of Mongul, a new threat to plague Superman's life, in a story written by Len Wein.
  3. ^ Eury, Michael (2006). The Krypton Companion. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 138. ISBN 9781893905610.
  4. ^ a b DC Comics Presents #28
  5. ^ a b DC Comics Presents #27
  6. ^ a b DC Comics Presents #36
  7. ^ a b DC Comics Presents #43
  8. ^ Superman Annual #11: "For the Man Who Has Everything"
  9. ^ Greenberger, Robert; Pasko, Martin (2010). The Essential Superman Encyclopedia. Del Rey. pp. 265–267. ISBN 978-0-345-50108-0.
  10. ^ Underworld Unleashed #1 (November 1995)
  11. ^
    • Superman (vol. 2) #153 (February 2000)
    • Infinite Crisis #1 (December 2005)
    • Green Lantern (vol. 4) #7 (February 2006)
    • Blackest Night: Tales of the Corps #1 (September 2009)
    • Green Lantern Corps (vol. 2) #20 - #40 (March 2008 - November 2009)
    • Green Lantern (vol. 4) #46 (November 2009)
  12. ^ Green Lantern (vol. 5) #23.3
  13. ^ Pak, Greg (w). Action Comics (vol. 2) #34 (August 2014), DC Comics.
  14. ^ a b Sinestro #9
  15. ^ a b c Sinestro #10
  16. ^
    • Sinestro #18 (February 2016)
    • Action Comics #979 - #984 (July - September 2017)
    • Dark Nights: Metal #1 (October 2017)
    • Dark Days: The Casting one-shot (September 2017)
  17. ^ a b Sinestro #20
  18. ^ a b Sinestro #21
  19. ^ Green Lantern (vol. 4) #8
  20. ^ Batman/Superman #7
  21. ^ Sinestro #9-10
  22. ^ Sinestro #1
  23. ^ Sinestro #18-20
  24. ^ a b c d e f g "Mongul Voices (DC Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 6, 2019. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
  25. ^ Eisen, Andrew (October 2, 2013). "DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide". IGN. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  26. ^ "Mongul is number 41 - IGN". Comics.ign.com. Archived from the original on 2011-01-21. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
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