With the story of "Planet Hulk" being part of the newest Thor film I thought it would be fun to explore one of the key characters of that story arc. A character who's resemblance may seem familiar, but is an interesting character regardless. Today's Z-Lister is Marvel's Korg.
When writing the "Planet Hulk" arc for "Incredible Hulk Vol. 3 #93" in 2006, writer Greg Pak and Carlo Pagulayan needed to create a diverse cast of alien characters and were inspired by classic Marvel creations. Korg was one example. You see in 1963's "Journey Into Mystery #83" Thor The God of Thunder fought invaders from planet Kronan. The Kronanites had a stone complexion that made then look like The Thing of The Fantastic Four. So for his 2006 story, Greg Pak reached into the Marvel pantheon and pulled out one of these stone aliens and named him Korg. Korg was apparently one of the invaders that fought Thor, but after he and his kind left the planet he and his brother Margus were taken and forced to fight in an interstellar gladiatorial arena. Korg was soon forced to kill his own brother in combat.
When The Hulk arrived on the gladiator planet he rallied Korg and four other gladiators into helping him overthrow The Red King and gain their freedom. Victorious, Hulk turned the planet into a peaceful place for he and his friends to live happily. However, The Hulk and his friends-The Warbound-were tricked into believing the heroes of Earth killed Hulk's alien wife and they waged war on Earth. Korg had followed Hulk to the bitter end, only to discover they were all mislead by one of their own Warbound. Korg and the others surrendered themselves to SHIELD, but after some earthquakes they escaped underground.
Korg and The Warbound would attempt to redeem themselves by saving the human population from being turned into Hulks by MODOK. They also stopped The Leader from spreading Gamma radiation across the world, but this adventure cost the life of Hiroim. Hiroim was a member of The Warbound and their time fighting side-by-side had caused Korg and Hiroim to fall in love. Though it was considered same-gender, Korg's race don't have genders. After Korg helped The Hulk defeat a revived Abomination and free Doctor Strange from demonic possession, one of Hulk's allies used a magic gem to revive Hiroim and the two of them decided to retire from combat and live out their days together.
Korg is interesting in that he started off as a typical 60's alien monster. A one-and-done target for the main character to smash. But thanks to some historical knowledge he was naturally tied into the rest of the Marvel Universe and went further than anyone could have thought back in the 60's. Plus it is interesting that one of Korg's most respected allies is friends with Korg's greatest fear, Thor. His tragic story and heartwarming conclusion make Korg another short, unsung success story in comic books and proves that a lot of thought and care can come out of something as simple as a rock-man.
Thanks for reading!
Who would win, Korg or The Thing? Comment below!
When The Hulk arrived on the gladiator planet he rallied Korg and four other gladiators into helping him overthrow The Red King and gain their freedom. Victorious, Hulk turned the planet into a peaceful place for he and his friends to live happily. However, The Hulk and his friends-The Warbound-were tricked into believing the heroes of Earth killed Hulk's alien wife and they waged war on Earth. Korg had followed Hulk to the bitter end, only to discover they were all mislead by one of their own Warbound. Korg and the others surrendered themselves to SHIELD, but after some earthquakes they escaped underground.
Korg and The Warbound would attempt to redeem themselves by saving the human population from being turned into Hulks by MODOK. They also stopped The Leader from spreading Gamma radiation across the world, but this adventure cost the life of Hiroim. Hiroim was a member of The Warbound and their time fighting side-by-side had caused Korg and Hiroim to fall in love. Though it was considered same-gender, Korg's race don't have genders. After Korg helped The Hulk defeat a revived Abomination and free Doctor Strange from demonic possession, one of Hulk's allies used a magic gem to revive Hiroim and the two of them decided to retire from combat and live out their days together.
Korg is interesting in that he started off as a typical 60's alien monster. A one-and-done target for the main character to smash. But thanks to some historical knowledge he was naturally tied into the rest of the Marvel Universe and went further than anyone could have thought back in the 60's. Plus it is interesting that one of Korg's most respected allies is friends with Korg's greatest fear, Thor. His tragic story and heartwarming conclusion make Korg another short, unsung success story in comic books and proves that a lot of thought and care can come out of something as simple as a rock-man.
Thanks for reading!
Who would win, Korg or The Thing? Comment below!
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