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Ulik

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Ulik
Thor battles Ulik on the cover of Thor #252 (Oct. 1976).
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThor #137
(Feb. 1967)
Created byStan Lee (writer)
Jack Kirby (artist)
In-story information
Alter egoUlik
SpeciesRock Troll
Team affiliationsRoxxon Energy Corporation
Dark Council
Circus of Crime[1]
Notable aliasesTanarus: God of Thunder
AbilitiesSuperior hand to hand combatant
Superhuman strength, stamina and durability
Night vision
Use of pounders

Ulik is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He usually appears as an adversary of Thor. Ulik was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, and first appears in Thor #137 (February 1967).[2]

Debuting in the Silver Age of Comic Books, Ulik has appeared in over four decades of Marvel continuity, principally as a member of Thor's rogues' gallery. The character has also appeared in other Marvel-related products including animated television series, toys, and trading cards.

Publication history

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Writer Mike Conroy commented on Ulik's debut in Thor #137 (Feb. 1967): "In a strip as steeped in Norse mythology as Marvel's Thor, 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, the Asgardian troll Ulik became a perennial villain for the hero.[4]

Fictional character biography

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Ulik belongs to a race of Rock Trolls who live in the dimension of Asgard in Nornheim. Like all trolls, Ulik has an innate hatred of the Asgardians, as they were driven underground by King Odin and forbidden to live on the surface. Being the strongest of his kind, Ulik is commanded by Troll King Geirrodur to steal Thor's enchanted hammer Mjolnir, leading to an extended series of battles with him. Ulik proves to be a match for Thor, enhancing his already formidable strength with knuckle 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 foe Mangog, 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 love Jane 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 and Olympian ally Hercules.[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 the Warriors Three, Balder, and Sif. He battled a version of Thor called Red 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 created Mjolnir. He becomes the lead in Loki's attack on Asgard; this snowballs into the true Ragnarok. During this time, he is killed after Captain 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 by A-Bomb and Marlo 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 as Tanarus, the new Thunder God, endorsed by the All-Mothers of the Vanir (Freyja, Gaea, and Idunn). 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 the Minotaur of Roxxon. 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 alongside Malekith, 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]

In Spider-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]

Powers and abilities

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Ulik possesses superhuman strength, stamina and durability, and has the ability to see into the infrared 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.

Other versions

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In other media

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Television

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Video games

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Merchandise

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  • An action figure of Ulik was produced as part of Hasbro's Marvel Legends line in 2022.

References

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  1. ^ Lee, Stan (w), Kirby, Jack (p), Everett, Bill (i). "Ulik Unleashed!" Thor #173 (February 1970)
  2. ^ Brevoort, Tom; DeFalco, Tom; Manning, Matthew K.; Sanderson, Peter; Wiacek, Win (2017). Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History. DK Publishing. p. 121. ISBN 978-1465455505.
  3. ^ Conroy, Mike. 500 Comicbook Villains, Collins & Brown, 2004.
  4. ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains. New York: Facts on File. p. 356. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.[1]
  5. ^ Thor #137-139 (Feb.-April 1967). Marvel Comics.
  6. ^ Thor #151-154 (April–July 1968). Marvel Comics.
  7. ^ Thor #210-211 (April–May 1973). Marvel Comics.
  8. ^ Thor #237-239 (July-Sept. 1975). Marvel Comics.
  9. ^ Thor #252 (Oct. 1976). Marvel Comics.
  10. ^ Thor #413-414 (Jan.-Feb. 1990). Marvel Comics.
  11. ^ Thor #430-431 (March–April 1991). Marvel Comics.
  12. ^ Journey into Mystery #1-11 (1996-1997). Marvel Comics.
  13. ^ Thor vol. 2 #80-81 (2004). Marvel Comics.
  14. ^ World War Hulks #1. Marvel Comics.
  15. ^ The Mighty Thor #8 (November 2011). Marvel Comics.
  16. ^ The Mighty Thor #10 (January 2012). Marvel Comics.
  17. ^ The Mighty Thor #12 (March 2012). Marvel Comics.
  18. ^ Thor: God of Thunder 22. Marvel Comics.
  19. ^ Thor vol. 4 #2 (November 2014). Marvel Comics.
  20. ^ The Mighty Thor vol. 2 #1. Marvel Comics.
  21. ^ The Unworthy Thor #1 (2016). Marvel Comics.
  22. ^ The Mighty Thor vol. 2 #12 (2016)
  23. ^ War of the Realms #1. Marvel Comics.
  24. ^ War of the Realms #5 (2019). Marvel Comics.
  25. ^ Peterson, Matthew (February 5, 2024). "Spider-Boy #3 Review". Major Spoilers. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  26. ^ A-Next #1-5 (Nov. 2006-Jan. 2007). Marvel Comics.
  27. ^ Ultimate Comics: Thor #1. Marvel Comics.
  28. ^ a b c d "Ulik Voices (Thor)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved August 14, 2024. 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.
  29. ^ "SEGA Inks Actors Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston to Star in the Video Game Thor: God of Thunder". Business Wire. December 2, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2010.
  30. ^ ""My fury is endless! Trolls never surrender!" Ulik is forever a thorn in the side of Midgardians in #MARVELFutureRevolution". Marvel Future Revolution. Twitter. July 22, 2021.
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