Garokk

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Garokk (/ˈɡærɒk/; also known as the Petrified Man) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2016)

Garokk first appeared in Astonishing Tales #2 (Nov. 1970) and was created by Roy Thomas and Jack Kirby.^[1]

Fictional character biography

Garokk was originally a

Zaladane later captured an adventurer called Kirk Marston and magically resurrected Garokk in the body of Kirk Marston using the ashes of the deceased previous Petrified Man. Marston's body quickly transformed into a duplicate of Garokk's own. With Zaladane, Garokk attempted to unite the Savage Land tribes by forcing them to erect a colossal city for them. Garokk and Zaladane fought the X-Men and Ka-Zar; Garokk was defeated by Cyclops and fell down into the city's thermal shaft.^[3] The X-Men believed Garokk to be dead. The X-Men's enemy Magneto later found Garokk, who had transformed: he was larger and half his body had turned into crystal while the other half became like molten rock, and his intelligence was dulled. Magneto forced Garokk to serve as the guardian of his Antarctic base. In this role, he fought the X-Man Storm, but again fell in a deep pit.^[4]

Again Garokk survived and he returned to his normal size and appearance. When the Savage Land was destroyed by the alien

Garokk returned years later as an enemy of Ka-Zar, but Ka-Zar defeated him.[6]^[7]

Garokk later appeared in the Savage Land, observing as the High Evolutionary took a number of newly mutated Zebra People children.^[8] He then led the Avengers to the High Evolutionary's hidden base.^[9]

Powers and abilities

A human is transformed into a manifestation of Garokk by the mutagenic effects of liquid from the fiery underground pool in the Savage Land. Garokk's skin and much, perhaps all, of his body tissue are transformed into organic, stone-like substances, giving him gray skin that seems rock-like and "petrified" in appearance. He has superhuman stamina and his petrified body also makes him difficult to injure. Garokk has the ability to project tremendous amounts of heat, light, and concussive force from his eyes. He can tap into other energy sources to replenish his own powers. Garokk has the ability to create dimensional warps with the energy projected from his eyes, and is capable of transporting an entire city through one of these dimensional portals. He has the ability to change his size and transform into a being of pure energy, and then back into his stone-like physical form at will^{[citation needed]}. Garokk can also manipulate matter on a sub-atomic scale; he could rearrange the very fabric of the Savage Land. He has a limited telepathic ability which allows him to learn of the activities of his worshippers through his dreams and his mental connection to his followers.

Garokk is immortal; he does not age, and even when his body is destroyed, he can be brought back to life. Immersion in the pool that gave him his powers will cause Garokk to revert to human form. He can be magically forced by

Other versions

2099: World of Tomorrow

Garokk appears beneath the Savage Land during the 2099: World of Tomorrow series, which ended the Earth-928 imprint of Marvel 2099. Mlle. Strange, the new Sorceress Supreme, battles Garokk, who transfers his petrified form into her body, returning to flesh and blood and claiming the title of Sorcerer Supreme.^[10] The series was cancelled, and the plotline was not resolved.

In other media

Garokk appears in the X-Men: The Animated Series two-part episode "Savage Land, Strange Heart".^{[citation needed]} This version was previously defeated by the High Evolutionary and imprisoned in the Earth. He worked with Zaladane in an effort to be free again, manipulating Sauron into hypnotizing Storm and empowering him. However, Sauron tried to absorb Garokk's energy causing an explosion that reverts Sauron to his human form and re-imprisons Garokk.

Garokk appears in X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, voiced by Dwight Schultz.^{[citation needed]} The X-Men find him looking for Destiny in the Savage Land. With the help of Mystique, the X-Men defeated him. He is later seen in a stasis cell in Avalon where he states that Mikhail Rasputin hired him to hunt Destiny in exchange for becoming ruler of the Savage Land.

References