GOD OF THE DEAD
Real Name: Unknown
Identity/Class: Human Magic User
Occupation: Necromancer
Affiliations: the dead, Grateful Undead
Enemies: Cable (Nathan Christopher Summers), Ghost Rider (Dan Ketch/Noble Kale), Grateful Undead (because they left his ways)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: He who dwells beneath the Cathedral of the Dead
Base of Operations: Cathedral of the Dead (cavern beneath Brooklyn)
First Appearance: Marvel Comics Presents#96/3 (1991)
Powers/Abilities: He was able to resurrect dead people, possessed superhuman strength and psychic powers (telepathy, telekinesis). All his powers were somehow connected to him being an seemingly immortal magic user.
History:
(MCP#97/3 (fb) ) - A long time ago the God of the Dead was a necromancer
who used the dead for his evil purposes. He began a new life beneath the
surface among the dead. He received power and understanding, and as the latter
grew he renounced his evil past. He became like a God to a small race who
dwelled beneath the earth. He preached to this race about respecting and
worshipping the dead.
BTS - The God of the Dead slept among the thousands of skeletons and a monster in the Cathedral of the Dead, but he wasn't forgotten over the centuries. When he awakened a chosen Bride was given to him to give him the chance to pay homage to the dead. His teachings were misinterpreted by the Priests and his former followers turned into assassins in his name.
(MCP#90/3 - 95/3 - BTS) - The God of the Dead was on the brink of awaking again and waited for his Bride.
(MCP#96/3) - He teleported Cable, Ghost Rider, his bride and the Warriors of the Dead into the Cathedral of the Dead. He pulled all Warriors except their leader into the bones and rose in an armor of bones from the Cathedral of the Dead and stood before his enemies.
(MCP#97/3) - He was attacked by Ghost Rider and Cable who tried to protect the girl from the God. The God couldn't understand why the heroes tried to save the girl from him. He told them that she was to become his bride. They destroyed his helmet and saw that the God was human. The God told the heroes that he just wanted to pay homage to the dead and was surprised when he saw a warrior in the archaic garb. He read the mind of the Warrior and learned that the Grateful Undead left his good ways and became death merchants as assassins. Now he wanted to stop this insanity of the Grateful Undead. He gave the innocent girl choice to decide if she wanted to live or die and told the heroes to leave. The Cathedral of the Dead crumbled behind the heroes.
Comments: Created by Howard Mackie and Guang Yap
More thoughts on the God of the Dead and his followers can be found here
CLARIFICATIONS: God of the Dead should not be confused with:
Cathedral of the Dead should not be confused with:
Cathedral of the Dead
Only the chosen were allowed to see the Cathedral of the Dead. It was a sacred place for the Grateful Undead. A monster lived beneath the bones and also their God lived there. It became a place for sacrifices and rituals. It was destroyed by the God when he learned that the Grateful Undead had left his good ways and became assassins.
--Marvel Comics Presents#92/3 (93/3, 96/3-97/3
images:
God of the Dead full: Marvel Comics Presents#97, barcode side, p1, pan1
God of the Dead face: Marvel Comics Presents#97, barcode side, p5, pan3
Cathedral of the Dead: Marvel Comics Presents#92, barcode side, p4, pan4
Last updated: 03/02/04
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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