Man-Beast
Fictional Marvel comic book character
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Man-Beast (originally Super-Beast) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
| Man-Beast | |
|---|---|
 The Man-Beast as depicted in Thor #135 (December 1966). Art by Jack Kirby, Vince Colletta, Stan Goldberg, and Sam Rosen. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Thor #134 (Nov. 1966) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Jack Kirby |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Uplifted red wolf |
| Team affiliations | United Nations New Men Legion of Light |
| Partnerships | Exodus |
| Notable aliases | Super-Beast Rex Carpenter Hate-Monger |
| Abilities | Superior hand to hand combatant Superhuman strength, speed, durability and intelligence Enhanced senses Psychic powers Use of technological weapons and gadgets Ability to see into the infrared and ultraviolet range of the light spectrum |
Publication history
Man-Beast first appeared in Thor #134 (November 1966), and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby.[1] He is first referred to as "Man-Beast" in issue #135.
Fictional character biography
The Man-Beast was once an ordinary red wolf before being captured and mutated by the High Evolutionary - a being intent on creating an army of New Men from animals.[2][3] After being transformed, the wolf is pushed to physical and mental perfection and gains a hatred of all other forms of life.[3] The wolf, dubbed a "Super-Beast" by the High Evolutionary, escapes and uses his creator's genetic accelerator equipment to create an army of followers. The Super-Beast is defeated by Thor as he attacks the High Evolutionary, with the High Evolutionary launching the unconscious Super-Beast and the New Men into space in a rocket.[4]
The creature, now calling itself the Man-Beast, lands on Counter-Earth, a planet created by the High Evolutionary.[5][6] The Man-Beast, seeking to become a conqueror, poses as Counter-Earth's president, Rex Carpenter. The High Evolutionary sends Adam Warlock, who after a lengthy war defeats the Man-Beast and his followers.[7][8][9] During Warlock's battle with the Man-Beast, the High Evolutionary gives him the Soul Gem, which becomes his primary weapon.[5][10][11]
The Man-Beast manages to escape Counter-Earth and eventually finds his way to Earth. Disguised as the Hate-Monger, he sponsors the Legion of Light, a cult headed by Brother Power and Sister Sun. The Man-Beast is thwarted by Spider-Man, Razorback, and Flash Thompson. Caught in an explosion and buried under debris, the Man-Beast is nearly killed and takes many years to regenerate.[12]
The Man-Beast eventually re-emerges and allies with the Bi-Beast to battle Thor and Iron Man.[13] Defeated again, the Man-Beast later discovers the existence of the Infinity Gems and steals four of the gems from Adam Warlock. Warlock eventually stops the Man-Beast and is only prevented from killing him by Captain America.[14] The Man-Beast is defeated when the High Evolutionary, with the aid of Quicksilver, reverts the creature back into a red wolf.[15][16][5]
Powers and abilities
The Man-Beast is a red wolf evolved to the peak of physical and mental potential, possessing superhuman physical abilities and senses. He is a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and a powerful psychic capable of manipulating emotions, creating force fields, and generating antimatter fields capable of disintegrating positive matter.