Further clarifications on certain characters:

AVENGERs OF THE 1950s: In the Avengers Forever limited series they were seemingly ret-conned out of existence. However, in a personal communication with Kurt Busiek (on Avengers Message Board), he specifically stated that he did not wipe the Avengers of the 1950s from existence. One alternate timeline containing them was wiped out. The group may well have existed in the mainstream past, but they just weren't called the Avengers. He suggested the name: "The G-Men"

DEATHLOK

• Deathlok the Demolisher, Luther Manning, a native of the alternate timeline of Earth-Deathlok (Earth-7484), was the product of Project: Alpha Mech, and transformed into a Cyborg by Hellinger, @ Astonishing Tales#25
  • Deathlok Exact Medical Replica of Earth-7484
  • Deathlok robot (Roxxon)
• Deathlok, John Kelly, who became Siege, @ Marvel Comics Presents#62, Deathlok II#19
• Deathlok, Michael Collins, the former pacifist placed into the Deathlok cyborg by Cybertek, @ Deathlok I#1
• Deathlok, Jack Truman, a cyborg created by SHIELD, @ Uncanny X-Men#371, X-Men II#91
• Deathlok, Larry Young, mind-switched into the cyborg by Truman, @ Deathlok III#11
• Luther Manning, of Earth-616, who was given the original form and powers of Deathlok the Demolisher by Timestream, @ Deathlok II#25
• Hellinger's Luther Manning clone, from Earth-Deathlok, which was converted into the first of his Doomsday Mechs,
  @ Astonishing Tales#33
• The CIA's Luther Manning clone, also from Earth-Deathlok, which was given the memories of Deathlok the Demolisher. It is this clone which was sent to Earth-616 to retrieve Deathlok the Demolisher, @ Astonishing Tales#34, Captain America I#287
• Durok the Demolisher, a warrior created by Loki using the Odinring, @ Thor I#191
• Demolisher, a robot used by Drexel Cord, @ Iron Man I#2
• Demolition Man, aka D-Man and Demolition Dunphy, Dennis Dunphy, @ Thing I#28, Captain America I#328

DEATH's HEAD-time travel makes this confusing. I don't use a time suffix (ie. 2020), because both Death's Heads from the future spent time there. This is the system I use (I'll also try to refer to them by their other identities)

• Death's Head, Paxton Page, father of Karen Page, @ Daredevil I#56
• Death's Head (Paxton Page imposter). Death-Stalker posed as Page to unnerve Daredevil, @ Ghost Rider II#18
  (some sources refer to him as Death's Head II)
• Death's Head, the Freelance Peacekeeping Agent (FPA or FLPKA). The star of the first Death's Head series. His mind was cannibalized into Minion. He originated in Earth-Transformers MUK, then went to 8162, but also spent a lot of time in 2020, @ Transformers (Marvel UK)#113
• Death's Head, aka Minion and Hood, the creation of AIM 2020, who cannibalized the mind of the freelance peacekeeping agent and over 100 others. He starred in the 1990s limited series and short-runned ongoing series. Most sources refer to him as Death's Head II, which can make things confusing, @ Death's Head II (Marvel UK) #1

ELDER GODS
A frequent source of confusion/contention, even amongst the writers for the Appendix:

• The Elder Gods of the Marvel Universe refers specifically to those being present during the formation of Earth (and are thus billions of years old), who apparently originated from Earth as well. These include Chthon, Gaea, and Set, among a few others. Most of these being degenerated into demons, and are considered Class One demons.
  The vast majority of these Elder Gods/Demons were slain by Demogorge, the offspring of Gaea and the Demiurge, a powerful god-like force, which sought to cleanse the Earth to allow humanity to develop. Gaea alone was allowed to remain on Earth, while a few, such as Chthon and Set, managed to escape extra-dimensionally.
• The Elder Gods of the Hyborian Era: The Hyborian Era stories make numerous references to the Elder Gods--not referring to the ones described above. Perhaps it is more appropriate not to capitalize "elder", as these may be gods considered ancient during Hyborian Era (roughly 12, 000 to 8, 000 BC, and possibly as far as from 16, 000 to 5, 000 BC). While these stories are mostly derived from material created by Robert E. Howard, Howard's idea of the history of the Earth is not necessarily the same as the Marvel Universe. These are NOT the same as the true Elder Gods, who had been banished from Earth (except Gaea) long before the Hyborian Era. These Gods are not clearly defined, but have been hypothesized to be Asura, Bel, Crom, Ishtar, Mitra, Ymir and a few others of the gods of various pantheons, most of whom are descended in some part from Gaea. The Gods should be referred to as the "Elder Gods of the Hyborian Era" or the "Primal Gods" to provide distinction from the true Elder Gods.
• The Elder Race(s): In the Marvel Universe, a number of seemingly human races have been described that existed after the rule of Earth by demonic races, but prior to the age of man. How long ago this was is anyone's guess. It would certainly predate pre-Cataclysmic Atlantis, which came into prominence @ 20, 000 BC. A few examples/members of this race, or these races, would include: The Silent Ones, the Demolater, Tuzun Thune, Kharon, and possibly Thulsa Doom. Whether this race is human, or descended from some other god or demon is unknown, but they are definitely distinct from the original Elders Gods.
      In addition, this term has also been used to refer to the races which ruled humanity in the past, such as the Wolf Men, Serpent Men, Spider-People, demons, harpies, etc. These terms/classifications are not necessarily mutually exclusive. This latter group of beings, mostly spawn of the Elder Gods and their offspring, can be more definitively described as the Elderspawn (thanks to Ronald Byrd).
• The Old Ones: Lovecraft's stories have a separate group of elder Gods, who represent pre-human demons that ruled the Earth in the distant past. Shuma-Gorath, Cthulu, etc. are in this class. Lovecraft's work has served as a basis for many storylines and characters in the work of REH and in the Marvel Universe as well. The term "Elder Gods" is often used to describe them in the Hyborian Era stories, and even in modern era stories. However, again, these are NOT the same classification of characters as the true Elder Gods. Lovecraft's history is NOT the same as the Marvel Universe's. In the MU, these beings are considered Class III demons, and are thought to have extra-dimensional origin. They may well be older than Earth, making them older than the true Elder Gods. However, some specific nomenclature is necessary to avoid confusion.
• The N'Garai: This is a race of demons who ruled the Earth in eons past. As confirmed in Marvel Comics Presents#145+146, they are the spawn of Chthon. Whether this is in the literal sense, their being his actual children, or figurative, created by him magically, hasn't been clarified. However, the fact that they are connected to one does not qualify them as true Elder Gods. They were likely spawned by Chthon AFTER he fled from Earth (or perhaps they were dormant until after Demogorge left and then hatched later. They may be contemporaries from the Old Ones, but they are believed to be a separate entity.
  Several writers have referred to the N'Garai when using the term Elder Gods--most notably Chris Claremont, who did this consistently throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
• The term Dark Gods has been used in exchange for Elder Gods, and carries the same degree of confusion. Various beings, such as Psyklop worship Dark Gods who are undefined. (discussed above). Belasco's Dark Gods have been defined as the N'Garai. In general, the term Dark Gods would seem to most likely apply to EITHER the N'Garai or the Old Ones, although it is almost never clarified, and in some cases may represent different beings altogether.
   
• In addition, the Lovecraftian Old Ones should be distinguished from:
  The Old Ones of Atlantis, the people of Suma-Ket, who are more clearly defined as the Unforgiven Dead, @ Namor#34, 35
      who should be distinguished from:
• The People of the Black Sea, also banished from Atlantis due to their religious beliefs.
   
• and the above Dark Gods should be distinguished from:
  The Dark Gods, such as Perrikus and Zelia, who relatively recently assaulted Asgard, @ Thor II#4
   
• Also, since we've discussed Class One and Class Three Demons:
  Class Two Demons are those who appear to have originated from/on Earth, but come from a period much later.
  These include the Hell-Lords, such beings who rule realms of Hell, and some of whom play at the role of "Satan." The classic examples of these are Mephisto, Satannish, Thog, etc. In addition, the demon servants of these beings are also considered Class Two demons.
      --The above classification system, introduced in the OHotMU, says nothing about power, but refers instead to time and place of origin.
  Further, there are no known connections known to:
• Elders of the Universe, the Grandmaster, Collector, etc. These beings are extra-terrestrials who are the last of their races, many of whom may be older than the planet Earth; the Collector was first seen in Avengers I#28
• other Elders, such as those that created the Bloodgem, @ Rampaging Hulk I#4/2
  
  --although the unidentified groups/beings below could conceivably be part of one of the above groups.
• The Ancient, members of "the first race of vampires", @ Blade: Vampire Hunter II#1, 2
• The Ancients, a group of Lemurian telepaths who stole and hid the Serpent Crown,
      @ Sub-Mariner I#10, Daredevil Annual#4B/5
• The Ancients, an extra-terrestrial race who created some hybrid earth-extraterrestrial corn, @ Incredible Hulk III#21
• The Ancient One, Dr. Strange's mentor, Strange Tales I#111/2
• or any other "Old," "Ancient," or "Elder" beings, groups, etc.

GHOST RIDER-based on current description (as of 9/13/01, and since I don't want to try to keep changing all the files every time there's a ret-con), I use the following system. However, in most cases, I'll refer to the human host/alter ego as well.

Ghost Rider/Kale-refers to the character featured in Ghost Rider (third series). Formed from the spirit of Noble Kale. There are supposed to have been numerous hosts throughout the ages, only a few of whom are known.

• Noble Kale
• Ghost Rider of World War I, @ GR III#89(fb)
• Mike Parrish, @ Before the Fantastic Four: The Storms#3--though this appears to have been Zarathos--see that profile for discussion.
• Naomi Kale, @ Ghost Rider minus 1 -- who may have preceded Parrish.
• Dan Ketch, @ Ghost Rider III#1

Ghost Rider of the West is referred to as the Phantom Rider (in the Appendix, anyway), and has also been known as the Night Rider, among others aliases.

• Carter Slade, who usually possesses his descendent 5, @ Ghost Rider I#1
• Jamie Jacobs, the former assistant of 1, who took up the identity when 3 refused, and was promptly killed in action, @ Western Gunfighters#7
• Lincoln Slade, the brother of 1, he's the guy who went nuts and kidnapped Mockingbird, @ Western Gunfighters#7
• Reno Jones, formerly one of the Gunhawks, who took up the identity while fighting to save Wonderment, Montana,
  @ Blaze of Glory#3
• Hamilton Slade, in the modern era, he is possessed by the spirit of Carter and possesses spectral powers when in action,
  @ Ghost Rider II#56

Ghost Rider/Blaze/Zarathos, is the combined form of Zarathos and Johnny Blaze. He was the star of the Ghost Rider (second series) comic, @ Marvel Spotlight I#1
Blaze has since appeared as the Ghost Rider again, apparently bonded once again to Zarathos, @ Ghost Rider IV#1 (Hammer Lane).
Parrish may actually have briefly been the predecessor to Blaze in this union.

Ghost Rider/Vengeance, Mike Badalino, who briefly took the name when Dan Ketch was believed to be dead, @ Ghost Rider III#47

Ghost Rider 2099 1.0, a computer program that believed itself to be the mind of Zero Cochraine, @ GR2099#1

Ghost Rider 2099 2.0, the actual mind of Cochraine, which didn't gain control of the Ghost Rider robot until later, @ GR2099#25.

Razor-Fist

• The original Razor-Fist was an assassin for Carlton Velcro, @ MoKF#29, who was cut down by Velcro's guards while targeting his enemies. He had blades in place of both hands, and should be distinguished from:
• Razor-Fist brothers, also employees of Velcro, each of whom had a blade in place of one hand, @ MoKF#105
      Razor-Fist  had the blade in place of his left hand. It was he who was sent after Pavane, but was subdued by she, Shang, and Leiko. After this defeat, he had his right hand replaced by a blade as well, and it is he who had been seen in all subsequent appearances of Razor-Fist, @ MoKF#105.
      Razor-Fist had the blade in place of his right hand. He fought Shang-Chi and Leiko alongside Velcro, but was shot and killed by Velcro when he got carried away during the struggle, @ MoKF#105
• The were also two duplicates of Razor-Fist (I), robots created by Dr. Doom, I believe as part of his tournament against the Prime Mover, @ MoKF#59
• Razorfist, Marco San Antonio, has no connection to any of the above characters, @ Thor I#497
• Razorblade, aka the Slasher and Buzzsaw, of the Fangs, @ Avengers I#130, Captain America I#419
• Razor Cut, of Trash, with diamond-hard and razor sharp skin+teeth, @ Power Pack I#31
• any other "Razor" or "Fist" characters

SATAN - in Marvel Comics, numerous characters have claimed to be the biblical Satan, and it is difficult to distinguish which is which. In addition, other sources have claimed that the various major demons (Baphomet, Mephisto, Satannish, Thog, etc.) are a manifestation of Satan. Whenever possible, I try to count them by their other name. For example:

    Satan, when referring to the Son of Satan/Daimon Hellstrom/Hellstorm, and Satana, should refer to the demon who was ultimately named as Marduk Kurios, in the Hellstorm series. As confirmed in the Fantastic Four Encyclopedia, in the more recent Hellcat series, Hellstorm duped Hellcat into believing he was actually the son of Satannish. See the Marduk profile for the tirade from Hell on this subject).

    Satan, when referring to Johnny Blaze, Zarathos, and their union as Ghost Rider (see above), should refer to Mephisto, who was shown to be behind their transformation.

    -- Satan has also been described along the lines of "Call me Legion, for we are many." Lots of demons have claimed to be Satan. In addition to Mephisto and Marduk Kurios, Thog and Satannish have been described as aspects of Satan in some stories. However, I would have thought that a separate, single demon was the one who impregnated Victoria Wingate Hellstrom. It is possible that that demon was a composite of two or more demons, including Marduk and Satannish.

• SATAN (Marduk Kurios)--Marvel Spotlight I#12
• SATAN - see MEPHISTO--Silver Surfer I#3
• SATAN - see SATANNISH--[Strange Tales I#144], Dr. Strange I#174
• SATAN - see Thog--(Adventure into) Fear#11
• SATAN - see LUCIFER - demon, fallen angel, led army that repulsed the N'Garai from Heaven prior to his fall
      --[Marvel Preview#7/text(fb)), Punisher IV#4(fb)]
• SATAN - see Beelzeboul--Terror, Inc.#1
• SATAN - see AZAZEL--Uncanny X-Men#432
• "SATAN" of the Elder Earth - demon, tricked Argon into following his hound into Hell and then captured him, released Chane
   --Savage Sword of Conan#64/3
• SATAN - see Hellstorm--Hellstorm#16?

see also Demons and the MASTER LIST entry on demons for a more complete list

SCOURGE-lost of different versions and individuals within versions:

• Scourge of the Underworld refers to the program (and its agents) instituted by the Angel/Tom Halloway to assassinate superhuman criminals. Since there's no other good way to identify them, I refer to its agents by a number following the name of the group, ie.
  Scourge I-1, unnamed, responsible for the majority of the original killing streak, @ Iron Man I#194
  Scourge I-2, unnamed, killed Hammer+Anvil, Wraith I, and Scourge I-1, @ Amazing Spider-Man I#277
  Scourge I-3, unnamed, used as agent of Red Skull, @ Captain America I#347
  Scourge I-4, Decker, killed I-2, captured by USAgent, killed by I-7, @ Captain America I#362/2
  Scourge I-5, aka Priscilla Lyons/Vagabond, stalked by others after refused to kill Matador, assisted by USAgent, @ USAgent I#1
  Scourge I-6: Caprice, presumably killed Titania I, @ Thing#33, first confirmed appearance @ USagent#4 (as scourge)
  Scourge I-7: Bloodstain, @USAgent I#4

For the others, a more simple clarification is possible

• Scourge, commander McHeath, who assassinated Cell Combattre, @ Marvel Fanfare I#28
• Scourge, Jack Monroe, @ Thunderbolts#34
• Scourge, team of mercenary assassins, @ Wolverine II#154
• Scourge 8162, a murderer of criminals, patterned after Mercy, @ Dragon's Claws#6
• Scourge, of the Araknoids, the Bane of a race of spider-people, @ Knights of Pendragon II#6

  ---

Serpent Men

• The Serpent Men ,a race of snake-headed humanoids, who were the enemies of Omm and the Spider People, were the original offspring of Set, active back in pre-cataclysmic Atlantis, most wiped out by Kull, and later Conan and his son Conan (Conn), @ Kull the Conqueror I#2.
  They should be distinguished from:
• The Serpent Men of Starksboro, were the human followers of Set, servants of Sligguth, Ebora, N'Gabthoth and others, natives of the town of Starksboro, who took on reptilian characteristics, and some even became hosts for the spirits of the original Serpent Men,
  @ Marvel Premiere#4.
• The Serpent Men, aka Snake Men, humans mutated by a chemical from Tyrannus, that mutated them into semi-reptilian form, under the control of himself, Ghaur, Llyra, and the other major players in Atlantis Attacks. A prototype of this serum was used by Viper against Washington, DC, and temporarily mutated Ronald Reagan,
  @ Captain America I#344, Spectacular Spider-Man Annual#9
• The Serpent Men of Snake Dance, warriors of the Apache tribe who fell under Snake Dance's influence and fought for him, @ Marvel Spotlight I#8
• Man-Serpents (not Men-Serpent), also known as the Sons of Set, who were giant snakes with a human head, and Medusa-like snakes in place of hair, which diverged from a common race along with the Serpent Men,
  @ Conan the Barbarian I#7
• The Sons of the Serpent, a modern era hate group, which has had a number of incarnations, starting back in Avengers I#32
• The Soldiers of the Serpent of Earth-MC2, an alternate future incarnation of the Sons of the Serpent, @ ANext#4
• The Children of Ishiti, aka the Snake People, are yet another race presumably descended from Set,
  @ Conan the Barbarian I#145
• The Snakes of Many Colors, which are a large and powerful intelligent, and even magically skilled serpents, many of whom dwelled in the Unknown Land, @ Savage Sword of Conan#193.
• The Snake Man created by Teyanoga, @ Kull and the Barbarians#2
• The Lizard Men, a reptilian race, presumably of Deviant origin, @ Tales to Astonish I#24, Marvel Universe#6
• The Lizard Men of Tok, who dwell in Sub-Atomica, @ Fantastic Four I#16
• The Lizard People, aka the Saurians, such as Serpentyne, @ Ms. Marvel#20,
    more recently seen in the X-Treme X-Men: Savage Land limited series.
• The Reptile Men of the Savage Land, @ Marvel Super-Heroes II#19
• The Dino Men, dinosaurs gene-spliced with Wolverine's DNA, created by Oonagh Mullarkey, @ Codename: Genetix#3
• The Saur-Lords, dinosaurs evolved by the High Technician, @ Captain America I#414
• The Dragon Kings of Lemuria, who fought Thongor, @ The Wizard of Lemuria, Creatures on the Loose#26

SHIELD

• SHIELD I is the Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-enforcement Division, which is the original branch, formed right around the start of the modern era, @ Strange Tales I#135.
  This branch was gradually infiltrated by the Deltites, and ultimately dismantled
• SHIELD II is the Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate, which is the branch organized by Nick Fury shortly after the collapse of its precursor, @ Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD II#1.
  This branch was formed in 1989, real world time, and so pretty much any story after that point, unless in flashback, would be using this version.
• SHIELD, or more preferably intergalactic SHIELD, is the Society of Higher Interstellar Education and Logistical Development. It is a research division, and its attempts to replicate the power of the Phoenix Force led to the empowerment of Bonita Juarez, Firebird, as detailed in Avengers Spotlight#24/2.
  This is pretty much the only story involving this group, so almost every other story will be referencing one of the first two groups.
• SHIELD 2099 is not actually an acronym (meaning it is not a word made from an abbreviation), but rather just took the name to draw on the reputation of the older organizations. It was established by Doom while he was acting president, and served as an enforcement agency, @ Doom 2099#29
• and of course a bunch of alternate dimensional versions that may be detailed under their own entries at some point
• other actual Shields and weapons are unrelated to any of these groups unless otherwise stated

Star of Bethlehem

VIETNAM "WAR" in the Marvel Universe - see also these comments from the Punisher characters page

Wise Men (of the Biblical account)

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