Captain Ultra

For the Japanese television series and superhero, see Captain Ultra (TV series).
Captain Ultra
Captain Ultra
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceFantastic Four #177 (December 1976)
Created byRoy Thomas (writer)
George Pérez (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoGriffin "Griff" Gogol
SpeciesHuman mutate
Team affiliationsRevengers
Defenders
Initiative
Notable aliasesCaptain Ultra
Abilities
  • Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and durability
  • Super breath
  • Intangibility
  • Ultra-voice
  • Flight

Captain Ultra (Griffin Gogol) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Roy Thomas, George Pérez, and Joe Sinnott, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #177 (December 1976).[1][2] Captain Ultra has been a member of the Revengers at various points in his history.[3][4]

Development

Concept and creation

Roy Thomas asserted, "Captain Ultra was a parody character that George Perez and I made up for FF #177, in our own spoof of DC's auditions for the Legion of Super-Heroes (it had that quasi-legion of rejected heroes, remember?). We deliberately gave him what I've always called a "church-window" costume... one that has a zillion design pieces, and nearly as many colors, with nothing to really focus the eye. But of course, since he was a virtual Superman, we had to give him a "Kryptonite," so we made it fire, as a sort of homage to the Martian Manhunter. The joke was that the Frightful Four, if they had let him join, would have been going up against the Fantastic Four--with its Human Torch--aided by a man who passed out in the presence of any kind of flame."[5]

Publication history

Captain Ultra debuted in Fantastic Four #177 (December 1976), and was created by Roy Thomas, George Pérez, and Joe Sinnott.[6]

Fictional character biography

Griffin Gogol is a plumber who underwent psychological treatment and hypnosis to cure his smoking habits. Unbeknownst to him, his psychologist is an alien, and the hypnosis unlocks his innate superhuman abilities. Donning a clashing, colorful costume, Gogol became the superhero Captain Ultra. However, it is revealed he suffers from severe pyrophobia (fear of fire) as a side-effect.

Captain Ultra subsequently applies to join the Frightful Four. They eagerly accept him, but reject him after he faints in the presence of a match.[7] Ultra also works with the Defenders in New York, but never considers joining them.[8]

Soon after, he moves to Chicago. He has since had a minor career as a solo superhero, often teaming up with heroes like Thor to battle minor villains.[9]

Ultra overcomes his pyrophobia after undergoing therapy with Doc Samson and becomes a comedian.[10] His comedy career takes him across the country. Superheroics interfere with this, such as when the underground dirt creature Mud Pi kidnaps the citizens of Wash Basin, Texas. Captain Ultra manages to rescue them all.[11]

Captain Ultra becomes the leader for the Nebraska team of the Initiative program, part of a government-controlled superhero program. After his teammates Paragon and Gadget are killed, Captain Ultra briefly fights Iron Man to protect the rest of his group.[12] He is seen investigating the circumstances of Paragon and Gadget's deaths with Samson and Iron Man. During their investigation, it is revealed that there are two new Initiative recruits in the process of being fast-tracked to the Nebraska team, although Captain Ultra expresses irritation at the prospect of having to "babysit the punks".[13]

Captain Ultra is recruited by Wonder Man to join his Revengers. During the Revengers' attack on Avengers Mansion, he is scared off when Doctor Strange uses an illusion spell to make him believe he is on fire.[14] He and the rest of the Revengers are defeated by all three Avengers teams and remanded to the Raft. It is revealed that Captain Ultra joined the Revengers because he resents being disrespected despite having as much power as an Avenger.[15]

Powers and abilities

Captain Ultra acquired a range of superpowers through hypnosis by an alien. He possesses superhuman attributes, such as superhuman strength, speed, durability, and stamina. He also gained the psionic ability to become intangible at will, see through substances (X-ray vision), and the ability to project his breath forward with great concussive force — among others. Captain Ultra has the power of flight.

Reception

Critical response

Daniel Jurlan of Comic Book Resources ranked Captain Ultra 4th in their "15 Obscure Marvel Characters Who Deserve Their Own Movie" list.[16]

In other media

References

  1. ^ Stone, Sam (May 31, 2020). "The Revengers: What Is Marvel's Anti-Avengers Team?". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  2. ^ Bjork, Juliette (July 1, 2018). "The 20 Weirdest Marvel Characters That Even The MCU Couldn't Sell To Fans". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  3. ^ Ridgely, Charlie (November 9, 2017). "Who Are The Real Revengers?". ComicBook.com. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  4. ^ Allan, Scoot (April 2, 2022). "Every Team Venom Has Joined In The Comics". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  5. ^ ""Hero Envy" the Blog Adventures: THE ROY THOMAS MARVEL COMICS CHARACTERS, CONCEPTS AND CREATIONS PART 1". January 2020.
  6. ^ Morris, Jon (2015). The League of Regrettable Superheroes: Half Baked Heroes from Comic Book History. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Quirk Books. pp. 198–199. ISBN 978-1-59474-763-2.
  7. ^ Fantastic Four #177 (December 1976)
  8. ^ The Defenders #62-64 (August - October 1978)
  9. ^ Thor #336 (October 1983)
  10. ^ Marvel Comics Presents #50 (May 1990)
  11. ^ Marvel Holiday Special (January 1994)
  12. ^ The Invincible Iron Man #22 (November 2007)
  13. ^ The Invincible Iron Man #24 (February 2008)
  14. ^ New Avengers Annual (vol. 2) #1 (November 2011)
  15. ^ The Avengers Annual (vol. 4) #1 (March 2012)
  16. ^ Kurland, Daniel (January 23, 2023). "15 Obscure Marvel Characters Who Deserve Their Own Movie". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  17. ^ "Marvel Animation Age - Fantastic Four (2006)". July 12, 2007. Archived from the original on July 12, 2007. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  18. ^ a b "Captain Ultra Voices (Marvel Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
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