| Zeus | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | (as Jupiter)Venus #5 (June 1949) (as Zeus)Journey into Mystery Annual #1 (October 1965) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Jack Kirby |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Zeus Panhellenios |
| Species | Olympian |
| Team affiliations | Olympian Gods Council of Godheads |
| Notable aliases | Jupiter, Jove (names given to him in ancient Rome), Taranis (Celtic name), Tinis (Etruscan name), Iupiter Optimus Maximus, Diespiter Optimus Maximus, Mister Z |
| Abilities |
|
Zeus is a fictionaldeity, appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The character is based on the godZeus inGreek mythology.
Russell Crowe portrays Zeus in theMarvel Cinematic Universe filmThor: Love and Thunder.
This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(November 2012) |
The comic version of Zeus is based on the god of the same name from Greek mythology. Zeus first appears inVenus #5 (June 1949), and was adapted byStan Lee andJack Kirby.[1]
Zeus is the youngest son of the TitansCronus andRhea, the children of sky godOuranos and elder goddess Gaea (also known as "Mother Earth").[2][3] The infant Zeus was secretly entrusted to his grandmother Gaea for safekeeping and hidden in the Caves of Dicte on Crete's Aegean Hill.[3]
After the Hyborian Age, the ancient Greek civilization began to rise, so Zeus made the Olympian gods known to them to gain their worship. During the war of Troy, Zeus battledThor who had accidentally been transported there. Hades deplored Zeus' decree, and challenged Zeus' supremacy many times.
Zeus breaks up a fight between Hercules and Thor with his thunderbolt,[4] but cannot break Hercules' contract withPluto.[5]
Zeus later battlesAmatsu-Mikaboshi, who had kidnappedAres' son Alexander, and is seemingly killed.[6] During the "Dark Reign" storyline, the spirit of Zeus is revealed to have been captured by Pluto, and held in Hades.[7] After being put on trial, Zeus willingly drinks from the RiverLethe, making him lose his memory and renounce his crown to Pluto.[8]
During the "Chaos War" storyline, Zeus,Hera, and Ares are among the dead characters that Pluto releases to help defend the underworld from Amatsu-Mikaboshi.[9] After Hercules defeats Amatsu-Mikaboshi, he restores Zeus along with the rest of the universe.[10]
While sleeping with another woman, Zeus was depowered by Hera because of his infidelity and womanizing. He regains his powers after helping Hercules defeatBaba Yaga, a witch who absorbs the magic of the artifacts to regain her youth.[11]
Following the events ofAvengers: No Surrender,Nyx escapes imprisonment and kills the Olympians, including Zeus.[12][13]
Zeus is once again reborn, with a much more aggressive and belligerent attitude, thanks to the eternal cosmic cycle of death and rebirth. He leads his fellow gods in a war of conquest and destruction, until they are stopped by theGuardians of the Galaxy.[14]
Zeus clashes with Thor once again thanks to the manipulations ofLoki, going so far as to fight alongside Nyx in an effort to get his revenge. Despite this, he is outmatched by the Allfather-empowered Norse god, and has his energies drained by Thor.[15]
Zeus appears inThor: Love and Thunder, portrayed byRussell Crowe.[23] This version is the leader of theCouncil of Godheads in Omnipotence City. In a deleted scene, he encountersThor at Jane's hospice and tells him how to use his thunderbolt.[24]