| Shuma-Gorath | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Marvel Premiere #5 (November 1972) |
| Created by | Steve Englehart Frank Brunner |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Demon |
| Notable aliases | Lord of Chaos |
| Abilities | Energy projection Reality manipulation Shapeshifting Levitation Teleportation Vast mystical powers Immortality |
Shuma-Gorath is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history[]
Shuma-Gorath first appears as an adversary for Doctor Strange in Marvel Premiere #5 (November 1972), created by Steve Englehart and Frank Brunner. The character's name is taken from Robert E. Howard's short story "The Curse of the Golden Skull", which features a dying magician named Rotath invoking the "iron-bound books of Shuma-Gorath" in a curse against humanity.
Fictional character biography[]
During Earth's pre-history Shuma-Gorath ruled the world, and demanded human sacrifice until eventually banished by time-traveling sorcerer Sise-Neg.[1] The entity eventually returns during the Hyborian Age, but is imprisoned within a mountain by the power of the god Crom.[2] Shuma-Gorath continues to be an influence on Earth until returned to its home dimension by Crom.[3]
When the entity tries to return to Earth via the mind of the Ancient One, his disciple Doctor Strange is forced to kill him to prevent this.[4] Years later, Strange battles Shuma-Gorath in its home dimension, and although victorious, he gradually becomes a new version of the entity. Strange commits suicide to prevent this transformation and is resurrected by an ally.[5] Sorcerer Nicholas Scratch summons the entity to Earth but it is driven back by the combined efforts of Doctor Strange, the Fantastic Four, the Salem's Seven and villain Diablo.[6]
Shuma-Gorath is eventually revealed to be one of the four undying extra-dimensional "multi-angled ones" guiding a metaphysical invasion from a dimension called the "cancerverse". In attempting to destroy Death itself, the entity and its allies are rendered inert by the conceptual form of Death and subsequently are trapped in the cancerverse when it is destroyed.[7] Shuma-Gorath survives and once again attempts to invade Earth but is repelled by the superhero team the Avengers with the Spear of Destiny.[8]
During the 2011 "Fear Itself" storyline, Shuma-Gorath is among the demons to meet at the Devil's Advocacy to discuss the threat of the Serpent and what this means to them.[9]
During the 2013 "Infinity" storyline, Thanos' servant Ebony Maw manipulates Doctor Strange into summoning Shuma-Gorath to the streets of New York. The creature is met by Luke Cage and his new team of Avengers.[10] Blue Marvel arrives at the scene of the battle and flies through Shuma-Gorath's head, destroying its physical manifestation. Shuma-Gorath's astral body possesses a crowd of people in New York City and attempts to recreate itself on Earth. It is weakened through mystical attacks by Power Man and White Tiger and finally banished by Monica Rambeau, who penetrates Shuma-Gorath's eye as a ray of light and disperses the entity from within.[11]
The Last Days of Magic storyline describes Shuma-Gorath as responsible for destroying the home planet of the character Imperator, leader of the Empirikul, by sending a group of evil sorcerers after his family. This leads to the Imperator to dedicate his life to destroying magic in every universe.[12]
Later, during a battle, Dormammu states to Doctor Strange that he helped the Empirikul in finding Shuma-Gorath, who was defeated by the Imperator. Doctor Strange later banishes Dormammu to Shuma-Gorath itself, who was visibly wounded and seeking revenge.[13]
Powers and abilities[]
Shuma-Gorath is an ancient force of chaos, the immortal, nigh-invincible, and godlike ruler of nearly a hundred alternate universes, capable of energy projection, shapeshifting, teleportation, levitation, altering reality, and sympathetic magic among many other feats. He is described as being vastly more powerful than other mighty demonic enemies, such as Satannish and Mephisto, and is capable of automatically destroying multiple galaxies through aura-pressure alone.[14]
In other media[]
Video games[]
- Shuma-Gorath appears as a playable character in the fighting game Marvel Super Heroes, voiced by Frank Perry.[15]
- Shuma-Gorath appears as a playable character in the fighting game Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, voiced again by Frank Perry.[16]
- Shuma-Gorath appears as a playable character in the fighting game Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes, voiced again by Frank Perry.[citation needed]
- Shuma-Gorath appears as a playable character via downloadable content in the fighting games Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, voiced by Paul Dobson.[17][18][19]
- Shuma-Gorath is featured in the Doctor Strange virtual pinball game for Pinball FX 2.[20]
See also[]
- Shub-Niggurath
References[]
- ↑ Marvel Premiere #14 (March 1974). Marvel Comics
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #240 (Jan. 1991). Marvel Comics
- ↑ Conan the Barbarian #260 (Sept. 1992). Marvel Comics
- ↑ Marvel Première #3-10 (July 1972 - Sept. 1973). Marvel Comics
- ↑ Strange Tales vol. 2 #15 (June 1988). Marvel Comics
- ↑ Marvel Knights 4 25-27 (Feb. - April 2006. Marvel Comics
- ↑ Thanos Imperative #6 (Nov. 2010)
- ↑ Invaders Now! #5 (Apr. 2011)
- ↑ Journey Into Mystery #627. Marvel Comics
- ↑ Mighty Avengers vol. 2 #2 (October 2013). Marvel Comics
- ↑ Mighty Avengers vol. 2 #3. Marvel Comics
- ↑ Doctor Strange Vol. 4 #7
- ↑ Doctor Strange Vol. 4 #16
- ↑ Strange Tales vol. 2 #14 (June 1988)
- ↑ http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/arcade/b/mshshu.htm
- ↑ http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/arcade/a/mshsfshu.htm
- ↑ "Voices of Shuma-Gorath". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds Collector's Edition – with Bonus!". Gamestop. 2010-11-16. Archived from the original on 2012-10-02. Retrieved 2010-11-16.
{{cite web}}: ; deadurl - ↑ "Marvel vs. Capcom 3: New Characters, Release Date, and Special Edition". Capcom. 2010-11-15. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
{{cite web}}: - ↑ "Doctor Strange Pinball". Marvel.com. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
{{cite web}}:
External links[]
- Shuma-Gorath at Marvel.com
- Shuma Gorath at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
| Doctor Strange | ||
|---|---|---|
| Creators | Stan Lee • Steve Ditko | |
| Supporting characters | Ancient One • Avengers • Blade • Clea • Defenders • Ghost Rider (Johnny Blaze • Danny Ketch) • Moon Knight • Linda Carter • Spider-Man • Strangers • Topaz • Wong | |
| Enemies | Baron Mordo • Blackheart • D'Spayre • Death • Dormammu • Dracula • Dweller-in-Darkness • Enchantress • Kaecilius • Kaluu • Mephisto • Mindless Ones • Mister Rasputin • Nicodemus West • Nightmare • Satannish • Scarecrow • Shuma-Gorath • Silver Dagger • Umar • Yandroth | |
| Equipment | Book of the Vishanti • Cloak of Levitation • Eye of Agamotto | |
| Publications | Strange Tales • Doctor Strange • Doctor Strange: The Oath • Damnation | |
| Other media | Dr. Strange • Doctor Strange: The Sorcerer Supreme • Doctor Strange (soundtrack) • Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | |
| Disney parks | Doctor Strange: Journey into the Mystic Arts | |
| Related articles | Sanctum Sanctorum • Doctor Mordrid | |
| Mystical Marvel entities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mystical entities | Dormammu • Gaea • Living Tribunal • Octessence(Balthakk • Cyttorak • Farallah • Raggadorr • Valtorr) • Sise-Neg • Umar | |
| Demons | Adversary • Belasco • Blackheart • Daimon Hellstrom the Son of Satan • Dreamqueen • Dweller-in-Darkness • Ghost Rider • Gibborim • Hoss • Llan • Illyana Rasputin • Lilith, Mother of All Demons • Mephisto • N'astirh • Nightmare • Olivier • Satana the Devil's Daughter • Satannish • Set • Shuma-Gorath • Six-Fingered Hand • Surtur • Thog the Nether-Spawn • Zarathos | |
| Mystical objects | Bloodstone Gem/amulet • Book of the Vishanti • Casket of Ancient Winters • Cloak of Levitation • The Cornerstones of Creation • Crimson Dawn • Jarnbjorn • Crimson Gem of Cyttorak • Darkhold • Destroyer • Ebony Blade • Evil Eye of Avalon • Eye of Agamotto • La Fleur du Mal • Gungnir • Mjolnir • Norn Stones • Orb of Agamotto • Serpent Crown • Siege Perilous • Soulsword • Staff of One • Wand of Watoomb | |
| Related characters | Agatha Harkness • Ancient One • Baron Mordo • Brother Voodoo • Captain Britain • Clea • Dakimh the Enchanter • Daytripper • Demogoblin • Doctor Strange • Doctor Doom • Doctor Druid • Exemplars • Guillotine • Jennifer Kale • Juggernaut • Kaecilius • Kulan Gath • Merlyn • Mindless Ones • Modred the Mystic • Morgan le Fay • Nico Minoru • Pixie • Roma • Scarlet Witch • Selene • Shaman • Straw Man • Shiklah • Margali Szardos • Talisman • Topaz • Wiccan • Wong | |