BZZK'JOH

Real Name: Bzzk'Joh

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Megrim) demon-hybrid nutjob empire-ruler guy

Occupation: Conqueror, ruler

Group Membership: Leader and creator of the Imperium Emporium

Affiliations: "Cuke-Spawn"+ giant housefly + Ape-Shaker (creations);
     presumably the Band of the Bland (Black Hole/Morton Kribbee, Sitting Bullseye/Oliver Bedwette, Spanker/Fred Hovel, Tillie the Hun/Matilda von Tromp), le Beaver (Pierre Dentfris), Black Talon (Thibodaux Boudreaux), Dr. Angst (Floyd Mangles), Jackpot, Jokester, Greedy Killerwatt, Kong Lomerate, Maller, Pro-Rata, Puffin, Quizling, and Wally Sidney (see comments);
    unrevealed relationship with Brotherhood of Evil Prepositions (Amonger, Arounder, Betweener, Of, Underneather, Withiner), Galactongue

Enemies: Crimebuster (Frank Moore), Dakimh the Enchanter, Howard the Duck, Janus the Golden Angel, Jennifer Kale, Lectronn, Man-Thing (Ted Sallis), NAAC-P30, Korrek the Barbarian, TuTu;
    presumably Andy the Angel, Chirreep, Jennifer Kale, Korrek, Master C'haaj, Hemlock Shoals, Claude Starkowski (see comments);

Known Relatives: Sombra (mother), insane warrior (father); unidentified siblings

Aliases: "Berserk Joe" (that's how his name is pronounced; and how Gerber identified him within his unpublished script)

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
    formerly the Deathstore, located in the center of the Universe;
    formerly the extradimensional region Megrim

First Appearance: Howard the Duck I#22 (March, 1978)

Powers: Bzzk'joh is supposed to have "power beyond measure, " but he himself never demonstrated any spectacular abilities. 

    Perhaps his power was the creation and control of the Emporium itself.

    He is also quite crazy

 

History: (Howard the Duck I#22 (fb)) - Bzzk'joh is a native of the dimension of Megrim, which is ruled by its immortal demon queen, Sombra. Every millennium or two, Sombra abducts the most savage of warriors from their homeworlds and bring them to Megrim to engage in a battle that only one would survive. The "winner" would become Sombra's mate, and would die as a result--she is a succubus, and drains their soul. From this hideous and deadly union, invariably issues a child suffused with power beyond measure. Sombra looses that child on the universe to wreak havoc and whatnot.
Sombra's nature is not precisely evil, but more aptly described as humorless. Her offspring have historically tended less to violence than to spiritual anesthesia. Once matured, Sombra's offspring can be halted only by an equally powerful force dedicated to joy.
    This millennium, something went awry. This time, the lone warrior to survive the tournament did so only because he was too insane to stop fighting even though he'd been hacked and stabbed within an inch of his life. This lunatic gladiator was more than happy to sacrifice his life for a chance to get busy with Sombra. This child, Bzzk'Joh, has inherited both his mother's depressive tendencies and his father's madness.

(Howard the Duck I#23 (fb) - BTS) - Bzzk'Joh, now the head of the Imperium Emporium, sought to take over the multiverse, raze the current plane of existence, and replace it with a strip-mall.

(Howard the Duck I#22 - BTS) - As Joh's madness began to spread throughout the universe, he sent a number of bizarre creations to attack those who might oppose him. Sensing Howard the Duck's destiny to save the universe, Bzzk'Joh sent the Ape-Shaker & Housefly to slay him.

(Howard the Duck I#22) - The ghost of Dakimh (recently slain by Mortak), accompanied by the Man-Thing, located Howard and transported him to his castle in the Land Between Night and Day, reintroducing him to his brief former allies Jennifer Kale and Korrek the Barbarian. Howard had no interest in any mission to save the universe, but after his negative emotions sent the Man-Thing into a frenzy, Howard calmed down. Dakimh then revealed Joh's origins in the Waters of Eternity. However, Dakimh himself could not actively participate (being dead and all) and vanished, telling Jennifer Kale, Korrek, and the Man-Thing, "The Duck shall lead you!" Howard remained disinterested, not seeing the point in saving the universe, but then another Joh agent, the Cuke-Spawn, attacked and Man-Thing saved him. Seconds later, Joh used the Waters of Eternity as a portal, appeared suddenly and abducted Jennifer--threatening to shave her head if any tried to rescue her.

(Howard the Duck I#23) - As Bzz'Joh teleported away, Jennifer released a magical blast that activated Dakimh's druid-droids, who led the warriors to the ship, the Epoch Weasel. Under the guidance of the droids, they headed for the center of the Universe to his base. However, the Weasel was badly damaged by an assault of an Imperium Emporium delivery truck. The Weasel managed to lose the truck "on the upgrade", jumping to another dimension. They "borrowed" a new ship from the Hollywok Canteen and managed to break in to the Death Store, just as Joh had begun to tickle Jennifer mercilessly. Korrek, the Man-Thing, and the droids fended off attacks by the perfume-wielding Counter Corps, jumbo paper clips from Stationery, the muscle men of Sporting Goods, and the Dearth Vapors. Howard again accessed the Farce and assaulted Joh, accusing him of having no sense of humor. Joh was devastated and collapsed to the ground in tears. The heroes escaped as Tutu activated every item in the Toy Department simultaneously--causing the Death Store to explode.

(Civil War Battle Damage Report: Lectronn (fb) - BTS) - Lectronn was on his way to attend the Defenders for a Day event but diverted when he helped Crimebuster (Frank Moore) and Janus the Golden Angel rescue bystanders from the mystic debris of a cosmic crisis called Star Waaugh (see comments).

(Steve Gerber's unpublished script for Howard the Duck#1 "Secret Crisis II" (fb) - BTS) - Bzzk J'oh was transported -- along with Dr. Angst and the Band of the Bland (Black Hole, Sitting Bullseye, Spanker, Tillie the Hun), le Beaver, Black Talon, Dr. Bong, Jackpot, Jokester, Greedy Killerwatt, Kong-Lomerate, Maller, Pro-Rata, Puffin, and Quizling -- to within a giant fire hydrant-like construct in an interdimensional space between Reality-616 and Reality-791021 (mirroring the storyline generated by the dark matter-powered Poporb of Krylorian techno-artist Chirreep).

    In addition to this  construct, a motorhome (specifically a Winnebago)-like structure -- containing Andy the Angel, Dakimh the Enchanter, Jennifer Kale, Korrek the Barbarian, Man-Thing, Master C'haaj, Hemlock Shoals, Claude Starkowski -- was also present.

(Steve Gerber's unpublished script for Howard the Duck#1 "Secret Crisis II") - After Howard the Duck encountered the Winnebago group, Hemlock Shoals identified the hydrant group. Dakimh noted that, apart from their evil, they seemed to have little in common...except that they all wanted Howard dead. 

    The monstrous mouth known as Galactongue subsequently appeared and disgorged an entire galaxy. As the contents formed a planet with an immense office building, the Brotherhood of Evil Prepositions (Amonger, Arounder, Betweener, Of, Underneather, Withiner) then arrived and challenged both groups to "Play both ends against the middle, and all you desire shall be yours."

    Both groups were transported to the office building on the planet formed from contents disgorged by Galactongue; the Black Hole''s group arrived in the boardroom.

(Steve Gerber's unpublished script for Howard the Duck#1 "Secret Crisis II") - Bzzk J'oh was at the end of the table, on the opposite side of the presiding Kong Lomerate, standing on his head in his chair. 

(Steve Gerber's unpublished script for Howard the Duck#1 "Secret Crisis II" - BTS) - Kong Lomerate led the villains in a plot to destroy the other group.

    Bong, presumably along with some of the others, targeted Andy the Angel, Dakimh the Enchanter, Jennifer Kale, Korrek the Barbarian, Man-Thing, Master C'haaj), Hemlock Shoals, and Claude Starkowski, while Kong led Maller, Jackpot, and Greedy Killerwatt to attack Howard and Chireep, who had followed Howard.

Comments: Created by Steve Gerber, Val Mayerik, and William Wray.

    Most of the story (in case its not painfully obviously), entitled "Star Waaugh", was an obvious parody/homage of Star Wars, which was a new release around the time that HtD#22 was written.

    When I first wrote this entry, I noted that I would be interested to see Gerber tell the story of some of Sombra's other children. Sadly, Steve Gerber has since passed on, but you never know if and/or when someone might be inspired to tell the tale.

    The Waters of Eternity were also called the Waters of Infinity.

    Gerber's unpublished Howard the Duck story

CLARIFICATIONS:
Not to be confused with:

The Ape-Shaker (or as I'd have called him, Salty Kong) has no known connection to:

The Imperium Emporium was the "empire" of Bzzk'Joh. His agents in the Emporium were in the process of buying up property all over the galaxy, in every dimension. "Within hours, as bees reckon time, we shall bulldoze the universe and build on its ruins--a shopping center unrivalled in its crassness!"

The Death Store is the base of Bzzk'Joh and the Imperium Emporium. It was based in the center of the Universe. It was an immense, planet-sized mall. Although it had extensive security measures, irregularities in its bookkeeping department provided a vulnerable window. Each of its departments had its own defense systems, such as the perfume-wielding Counter Corps, jumbo paper clips from Stationery, the muscle men of Sporting Goods, and the Dearth Vapors. The Death Store exploded when Tutu activated every item in the Toy Department at once.

--Howard the Duck I#23

 

 

The Dearth Vapors (parodies of Donny and Marie Osmond, musicians who had a show back in the seventies--which I am proud to have never seen...) were one of Bzzk'Joh's final weapons. Their excessive sweetness could cover their victims in thick, suffocating layers of saccharine. The Man-thing reacted violently to their oppressiveness niceness and shattered the sugary coating with which they had bound he and Howard. Donny and Tortuga were terrified by the Man-Thing, and, well, you know how that goes...

--Howard the Duck I#23

 

 

 

 

The Emporium's delivery trucks served as their attack/defense vessels. While initial salvos from men's furnishings, such as small appliances and jewelry, were of little threat, heavier objects, such as housewares from Mezzanine or home appliances, such as refrigerators and air conditioners could do some serious damage. 

--Howard the Duck I#23

 

 

 

 

In addition, the trucks could release their Customer Service Representative--the ultimate fusion of sonic and psychological warfare.

--Howard the Duck I#23

 

 

 

 

Big Mack was based at the Hollywok Canteen. He's a mean one. He used to be an editor until he learned he could inflict more pain and humiliation in the dimensional transport business. He was unwilling to supply a ship to Korrek since he had no way to pay him. Korrek attacked and slew him (he pulled the top bun off--I'd guess that killed him--I'm not sure if the lettuce was a vital organ or not).

--Howard the Duck I#23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bzzk'Joh's dad is an unidentified warrior who won Sombra's tournament of death only because he was too crazy to know he was almost dead. He willing impregnated Sombra and died happy. Wug, indeed!

--Howard the Duck I#22 (fb)

 

 

 

 

 

The "Cuke-Spawn" attacked Howard when he went to the fridge to see what Dakimh had to eat. The fury of the pickled cucumber that walks like a man proved too much for the Duck, but fortunately, whatever knows brine gets shredded at the hands of the Man-Thing, and so the bog beast saved Howard. Dill was not actually named, but just shouted a variety of types of pickles, such as "Ko-Chur", "Zweet", and "Rehl-Liissh!"

Howard the Duck I#22

 

 

 

 

 

The Epoch Weasel was Dakimh's ship. He was the original owner, and even though it sat in the garage for the better part of 20, 000 years, it was still under warranty by Atlantis R. V. Sales. While NAAC-P30 operated the craft, he assured Korrek that "A moron could do it... Perhaps, you'd care to co-pilot...?" It's cruising speed was "Bat out of Hell", but for additional bursts of speed, the "Shake a Leg" function could be accessed. (No "Ludicrous Speed," though).

--Howard the Duck I#23

 

 

 

 

 

The Farce is the binding energy of the Universe, which permits one to "yok it up in the face of death."

--Howard the Duck I#22 (Howard the Duck I#22-23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A giant housefly was another of Bzzk'Joh's creations, sent to attack Howard. Howard smashed it with a guitar, killing it.

--Howard the Duck I#22

 

 

 

 

The Hollywok Canteen is an extradimensional pitstop. It is populated by Californians, who are friendly enough as long as you fit in with them by acting vapid and self-centered. They became hostile when Korrek attacked Big Mac. It wasn't that he had hurt their friend, but more the fact that he had actually done something--"That's not laid-back, man." Fortunately, Howard accessed the Farce and fought back. The Californians collapsed under the weight of their own pretensions-their inability to accept the ultimate ridiculousness in themselves and the cosmos.

--Howard the Duck I#23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Megrim is a fiery dimension ruled by Sombra. It is some sort of mystic realm, usually accessed by magic, but little else has been revealed about it.

--Howard the Duck I#22 (fb)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NAACP-30 is a druid-droid, the magical equivalent of a robot. 

2222 (TuTu for short) is its complementary unit. CP-30 guided the heroes in their pursuit of Bzzk'Joh, while TuTu proved able to access the computer systems of the Emporium and cause all kinds of good damage.

--Howard the Duck I#23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ape-Shaker (or "Salty Kong" maybe?...sounds good to me) was one of the beings sent by Bzzk'Joh to attack those who might oppose him.


It was a giant salt-shaker with ape-like limbs. It attacked Howard, forced him to the ground, seasoned him liberally, and the jumped off the roof, committing suicide (ripping its central cylinder in half and dumping its salty contents onto the ground).

--Howard the Duck I#22

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sombra 

(Howard the Duck I#22 (fb)) - Sombra is the immortal demon queen of the realm Megrim. 

    Every millennium or two, Sombra abducts the most savage of warriors from their homeworlds and bring them to Megrim to engage in a battle that only one would survive. The "winner" would become Sombra's mate, and would die as a result, as she is a succubus and would drin their soul. 

    From this hideous and deadly union, invariably issued a child suffused with power beyond measure. Sombra loosed that child on the universe to wreak havoc and whatnot. 

    Sombra's nature is not precisely evil, but more aptly described as humorless. Her offspring have historically tended less to violence than to spiritual anesthesia. Once matured, Sombra's offspring can be halted only by an equally powerful force dedicated to joy. 

    This millennium, something went awry. This time, the lone warrior to survive the tournament did so only because he was too insane to stop fighting even though he'd been hacked and stabbed within an inch of his life. This lunatic gladiator was more than happy to sacrifice his life for a chance to get busy with Sombra. This child, Bzzk'Joh, has inherited both his mother's depressive tendencies and his father's madness.

--Howard the Duck I#22 (Howard the Duck I#22 (fb), Howard the Duck I#22

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

images:
Howard the Duck I#23 - cover

Appearances:
Howard the Duck I#22 (March, 1978) - Steve Gerber (writer), Val Mayerik (pencils), William Wray (inker), Steve Gerber (editor)
Howard the Duck I#23 (April, 1978) - Steve Gerber (writer), Val Mayerik (pencils/inks), Steve Gerber (editor)
 unpublished Howard the Duck story by Gerber - 1985
Civil War Battle Damage Report (May, 2007) - Ronald Byrd and Anthony Flamini (writers), Scott Kolins (artist), Mark D. Beazley (assistant editor), Jennifer Grunwald & Jeff Youngquist (editors)

First Posted: 04/25/2002
Last updated: 12/18/2021

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

All characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!

Back to Characters