FOMORE

Classification: Extra-dimensionals/Immortals

Location/Base of Operations: The Dark Realm, formerly Torach (the ancent name of Tory Island) off Ireland

Known Members:(in the MU) Balor, Bres, Cethlann, Dulb, Elathan, Indech, Tethra,

Affiliations: Mordred the Evil, Morgan Le Fay

Enemies: Amergin, Avengers, Black Knight, Celtic Gods

Aliases: Fomor, Fomorians

First Appearance: Avengers I#225 (November, 1982)

Powers/Abilities: The Fomorians are a powerful extra-dimensional race with the ability to tap into and manipulate mystical and elemental powers. Many of them have superhuman strength and endurence of various levels with Balor exceeding all others in strength and power. Many of them have specialized abilities dedicated with the objects and concepts they represented; i.e. Tethra has acquatic traits and Indech resembles sentient mud.

Traits: Technically, the term Fomor represents family members of the Celtic Gods who are disfigured or hideous by human standards and/or are deities of extreme evil. Many of them resemble trolls, demons or cyclops. Some of them resemble handsome golden-skinned deities or are considered Fomorian for having malevolent intents.

History: (Celtic Myth) The Fomore are the children and descendants of the the Celtic God Nuadhu and the Earth goddess Gaea in her aspect as Danu, the Celtic mother-earth. The original spirits of Ireland, they withheld mortal colonization of the land for millenia until overthrown by their relatives and descendants the Tuatha da Danaan. One of the Danaans, Bres, however, surrendered Eire (Ancient Ireland) back to the Fomore. During a second battle, Bres and the Fomore were cast from Eire into the Dark Realm, a dimension beyond Otherworld/Avalon.

(Avengers I#225-226) The Fomore finally returned to Otherworld and laid siege to it. Hearing tales of the Avengers from the Twentieth Century from the Black Knight, the wizard Amergin brought them to Avalon to help defeat the Fomore. Bres, however, escaped to the Twentieth Century, but was soon captured by the returning Avengers.

(Power Man & Iron Fist#113) Bres broke loose at Project: PEGASUS where he had been detained. He terrorized the mutant criminal Solarr before having him killed. Bres was then defeated by Iron Fist.

(Black Knight I#3, 4) Balor, and possibly other members of the Fomore aided Mordred the Evil and Morgan le Fay in a plot to take over and reshape Earth.

(Marvel Comics Presents#30/4) The Fomor once more lay siege to Avalon, but were this time dispelled by Leir and Caber.

(Avengers III#1) Morgan Le Fay recruited the Fomore to delay the Avengers in her pursuit of the Twilight Sword, as Asgardian relic lost in England.

COMMENTS: The Fomore were worshipped as gods by the Fir Bholg tribes of Ancent Eire. The Fir Bholg warrior, Sreng, severing the hand of the Danaan ruler Nuadhu suggests that not all the Fir Bholg were willing to accept the Danaans as their new gods. (One reason for the confusion is that the Catholic Church in the 10th Century was rewriting many of the Celtic myths as they first transcribed them to paper. These myths were previously oral legends before civilization came to the area.)

Along with the Danaans, The Fomore were also ancestors of other Irish spirits such as leprechauns (Irish elves), faeries, pixies, kelpies and other such creatures of Celtic lore.

Profile by William Uchtman and Snood.

Clarifications: The Fomore should not be confused with:

• any other gods

• Balor, one of the Evil Walkers, @ Hulk Comic#45/2

BALOR- god of death, son of Buarasainech, was grandfather of the Celtic god Lugh. This hero later killed him at the Second Battle of Magh Tuiredh.
Balor, however, was returned to life to battle the Avengers in Avengers#225.
Balor is a giant with vast physical strength (Class 100) and durability. In addition, he can release devastating bursts of energy from his eye.
Balor has an entry in the OHotMU Master Edition.