| Ulik | |
|---|---|
 Thor battles Ulik on the cover ofThor #252 (Oct. 1976). | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Thor #137 (Feb. 1967) |
| Created by | Stan Lee (writer) Jack Kirby (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Ulik |
| Species | Rock Troll |
| Team affiliations | Roxxon Energy Corporation Dark Council Circus of Crime[1] |
| Notable aliases | Tanarus: God of Thunder |
| Abilities | Superior hand to hand combatant Superhuman strength, stamina and durability Night vision Use of pounders |
Ulik is afictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. He usually appears as an adversary ofThor. Ulik was created byStan Lee andJack Kirby, and first appears inThor #137 (February 1967).[2]
Debuting in theSilver Age of Comic Books, Ulik has appeared in over four decades of Marvel continuity, principally as a member of Thor'srogues' gallery. The character has also appeared in other Marvel-related products includinganimatedtelevision series,toys, andtrading cards.
WriterMike Conroy commented on Ulik's debut inThor #137 (Feb. 1967): "In a strip as steeped in Norse mythology as Marvel'sThor, it was no surprise to come across a troll as big and mean as Ulik."[3] Created as a physical equal for the Thunder God, theAsgardiantroll Ulik became a perennial villain for the hero.[4]
Ulik belongs to a race of Rock Trolls who live in the dimension ofAsgard in Nornheim. Like all trolls, Ulik has an innate hatred of the Asgardians, as they were driven underground by KingOdin and forbidden to live on the surface. Being the strongest of his kind, Ulik is commanded by Troll KingGeirrodur to steal Thor's enchanted hammerMjolnir, leading to an extended series of battles with him. Ulik proves to be a match for Thor, enhancing his already formidable strength withknuckle dusters made of the metal uru (the same metal of which Mjolnir is composed). He nearly defeats Thor after going into the berserker state of mind but is mystically returned to his realm by Geirrodur when the Asgardians threaten to intervene. He then manages to trap Thor in his Don Blake form; after failing to summon Mjolnir, Blake tells him to strike his cane again. When Ulik does so, Blake suddenly grabs it, transforms into Thor, and defeats him.[5]
Ulik returns on a regular basis: in one instance, he was bested by Thor and thrown into a deep hole before accidentally waking Odin's former foeMangog, mistakenly believing that Mangog will help him destroy Asgard after reading an inscription on the prison door left by Odin;[6] aiding Geirrodur once again;[7] kidnapping Thor's mortal loveJane Foster;[8] and battling Thor for possession of a mystic artifact called the Ruby Eye.[9] The character has also travelled to Earth and battled both Thor andOlympian allyHercules.[10][11]
For a time, Ulik fought on the side of several Asgardians who had taken the forms of various humans on Earth. This group included Thor's companions theWarriors Three, Balder, and Sif. He battled a version of Thor calledRed Norvell and worked with his temporary allies to escape a Midgard-based technological conspiracy against lost Asgardians.[12]
Much later, maddened and feral, Ulik is given weapons made from the same forge which createdMjolnir. He becomes the lead in Loki's attack on Asgard; this snowballs into the true Ragnarok. During this time, he is killed afterCaptain America throws an iron hammer into his mouth.[13]
During the "World War Hulks" storyline, Ulik is resurrected and is shown to have gone on a multi-state drinking binge. He ends up destroying a train bridge with the disaster being averted byA-Bomb andMarlo Chandler's Harpy form. When Ulik starts choking Marlo, he is defeated by A-Bomb.[14]
After Thor dies during the "Fear Itself" storyline, Ulik replaces him asTanarus, the new Thunder God, endorsed by the All-Mothers of the Vanir (Freyja, Gaea, andIdunn). Exploiting a glamour charm given by Karnilla the Norn Queen and the circumstances of Thor's death, Ulik is able to retroactively place himself in Thor's place, rewriting history in the process. Only a few individuals like Karnilla and the current juvenile incarnation of Loki are aware of the deception.[15] Tanarus' blunt nature in contrast to the honor of the true Thor allows Heimdall and Sif to realize that something is wrong relatively quickly,[16] culminating in the returned Thor defeating "Tanarus" after his resurrection with relative ease.[17]
Ulik later shows up as a consultant to theMinotaur ofRoxxon. First, he helps Roxxon destroy Broxton, Oklahoma, right below Asgard,[18] then he offers advice and battle against the Frost Giants of Jotunheim. This failed as the Frost Giants take over the Roxxon facility.[19]
As part of the "All-New, All-Different Marvel," Ulik appears as a member of the Dark Council alongsideMalekith, the Minotaur,Laufey, and the Fire Demons.[20]
Ulik and some of his trolls later appear on the Moon where they are found and encountered by Thor. After an intense battle, Ulik and the trolls escape.[21]
The Mighty Thor #12 reveals a legend stating that Mjolnir was created during a confrontation with Ulik.[22]
During the "War of the Realms" storyline, Ulik was present with Malekith as he invades Midgard.[23]She-Hulk later fights Ulik and his fellow Rock Trolls.[24]
InSpider-Boy's solo series, Ulik is revealed to have a pet giant spider named Klöpp who was transported to Midgard after falling through a portal. After learning of this, Thor and Spider-Boy reunite the two.[25]
Ulik possesses superhuman strength, stamina and durability, and has the ability to see into theinfrared range of the spectrum, allowing complete night vision. He is also a superior hand-to-hand combatant. In battle, Ulik uses "pounders", metal bands forged from uru and worn over the hands like brass knuckles.
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