Garokk

Garokk
Garokk as depicted in X-Men #115 (November 1978). Art by John Byrne.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceAstonishing Tales #2 (Nov. 1970)
Created byRoy Thomas (writer)
Jack Kirby (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoUnknown (first body)
Kirk Marston (second body)
SpeciesHuman mutate
PartnershipsZaladane
Magneto
Notable aliasesThe Petrified Man, Lazarus, Terminus
AbilitiesEnergy and matter manipulation
Shape-shifting
Telepathy
Superhuman strength, stamina and durability
Immortality

Garokk (/ˈɡærɒk/; also known as the Petrified Man) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a resident of the Savage Land and an enemy of the X-Men and Ka-Zar, and possesses a stone-like body and matter-manipulating abilities.

Garokk has made limited appearances in media outside comics. An uncredited actor voiced him in X-Men: The Animated Series, while Dwight Schultz voiced him in X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse.

Publication history

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

Creation

Roy Thomas explained in an interview the creation of the character stating,

"So, the Petrified Man clearly is similar to elements in the later Burroughs Tarzan novels where he'd have some kind of weird character that Tarzan would encounter. And Tongah was like a combination of Tarzan's native buddies that he would occasionally have. And it was also reference to one of my favorite series from Gold Key Comics Turok, Son of Stone. And so, Turok... Tongah... there was an element of that."[2]

Fictional character biography

Garokk was originally an unnamed sailor from Great Britain whose ship, the H.M.S. Drake, crashed in Antarctica in the 15th century. A warm ocean current carried him to the Savage Land, where he encountered the Sun People, who worshiped the sun god Garokk. After drinking from a cup under a statue of Garokk, his body is transformed into immortal, organic stone.

After being chased off by the Sun People, the sailor returns centuries later and discovers that they are waging war as a form of worship to him. Now known as the Petrified Man, he encounters Ka-Zar and works with him to stop the Sun People, but goes insane and believes himself to be Garokk. However, Ka-Zar drains him of his powers, causing him to age rapidly and die.[3]

Zaladane, the leader of the Sun People, later resurrects Garokk. In subsequent appearances, Garokk battles Ka-Zar and the X-Men, with one battle having him transform into a molten crystal form after falling into a thermal shaft.[4]

Powers and abilities

Garokk possesses a stone-like body that gives him immortality and superhuman physical abilities. He can additionally project energy blasts from his eyes, create dimensional portals, and manipulate matter on a molecular level.[citation needed]

Other versions

An alternate universe variant of Garokk from Earth-928 appears in 2099: World of Tomorrow, where he possesses the Sorcerer Supreme Mlle Strange.[5]

In other media

Garokk as depicted in X-Men: The Animated Series.

References

  1. ^ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 145. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
  2. ^ Thomas, Roy (July 2023). "Alter Ego" (144): 7. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ Astonishing Tales #2-5 (October 1970 - April 1971)
  4. ^
    • X-Men (vol. 1) #115-116 (November - December 1978)
    • X-Men #149 (September 1981)
    • Uncanny X-Men Annual #12 (October 1988)
    • Ka-Zar '97 one-shot (November 1997)
    • Ka-Zar (vol. 3) #20 (December 1998)
    • Avengers (vol. 5) #12 (July 2013)
    • Avengers (vol. 5) #13 (August 2013)
  5. ^ 2099: World of Tomorrow #2-6 (October 1996 - February 1997)
  6. ^ Sims, Chris (February 3, 2014). "The X-Men Episode Guide 3×09: 'Savage Land, Strange Heart, Part One'". Comics Alliance. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  7. ^ Sims, Chris (February 10, 2014). "The X-Men Episode Guide 3×10: 'Savage Land, Strange Heart, Part 2'". Comics Alliance. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  8. ^ "Garokk Voice - X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse (Video Game)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved August 25, 2024. 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.
  • Garokk at Marvel Wiki
  • Garokk at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe