KING GROOT

Real Name: Groot XXCVII

Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (Flora Colossus)

Occupation: Monarch of Planet X

Group Membership: None;
formerly S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Howling Commandos unit (Abominable Snowman, Bradley Beemer, Brother Voodoo, Clone of Frankenstein, Glob/Joe Timms, Gorilla Man/Ken Hale, Hellstorm, It the Living Colossus, Lilith, Living Mummy, Joshua Pryce, Clay Quartermain, Sasquatch/Walter Langkowski, Vampire by Night/Nina Price, Warwolf/Vince Marcus, Zombie/"John Doe", unidentified others), "the Collector's collection" (Droom, Fin Fang Foom, Gargantus, Goom, Grogg, Grottu, Rommbu, Taboo, Tragg, Vandoom's Monster)

Affiliations: Arbor Masters, Moloids, Monster Island monsters

Enemies: Beast (Henry McCoy), Collector (Taneleer Tivan), Leslie Evans, Fantastic Four (Mr. Fantastic/Reed Richards, Thing/Ben Grimm), Giant-Man (Henry Pym), Robert Hellsgaard, Hulk (Dr. Bruce Banner), Hunter of Monster Special Force, Merlin, X-Men (Magik/Illyana Rasputin, Shadowcat/Kitty Pryde)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: The Monster From Planet X

Base of Operations: Monster Island, sea of Japan;
   formerly Area 13, Pine Barrens, New Jersey;
   formerly the Negative Zone;
   formerly the Collector's museum, subterranean cavern beneath Canada;
   formerly Planet X (place of birth)

First Appearance: Tales to Astonish I#13/1 (November, 1960)

Powers/Abilities: Groot's body is composed of a wood-like substance, and through psychokinetic manipulation can draw wood from other objects to increase his size and strength or to rebuild his own body. Groot can command trees to come to life, uprooting themselves from the ground, and send them to attack others. His wood-like body was impervious to fire and most conventional weaponry. Sufficiently powerful explosives could shatter and destroy his form, but Groot can survive providing a sprig of his form endures. Over time, he can use this small part to regain his original form. In his initial appearance Groot was covered in luminous yellow glow, albeit not constant it's possible he only glowed when using some of his powers, for instance when he absorbed wood into himself.

Height: Variable
Weight: Variable
Eyes: Black
Hair: None

History:
(Tales to Astonish I#13/1 (fb) - BTS) - When Groot, monarch of Planet X, learned of mankind, he decided to collect an entire village of humans and bring them back to Planet X for scientists to study and experiment on.

(Groot I#6 (fb) - BTS) - Groot was one of many Flora Colossus sent to Earth to gather subjects for experimentation.

(Tales to Astonish I#13/1) - Groot arrived on Earth late one night, materializing in a forest near a small village. His arrival was noticed by biologist Leslie Evans and his wife Alice who spotted the luminous "object" descending from the dark sky, but didn't investigate because it was already too late. Groot used his abilities to force all wooden objects in the small village to "walk" towards him as if they had a life of their own. Groot absorbed all the objects, fences to barrels and trees, increasing his form to giant size. As he was doing so, he didn't notice the curious Leslie Evans was watching him from behind the bushes. Having collected enough nourishment to complete his task, Groot set out to the village where he was spotted by several humans who alarmed the local law enforcement. A barricade was set up on the edge of town where the townsfolk awaited the giant's arrival. Once Groot was there he finally spoke, revealing he planned to use his mastery over trees and plants to create a rooted net around and beneath the village, lifting it in its entirety into outer space and back to his home planet. Afraid of the extraterrestrial, the villagers opened fire but soon learned it was ineffective against Groot's hide.

(Tales to Astonish I#13/1 - BTS) - Meanwhile Evans had an idea how to stop the giant and returned to his lab.

(Tales to Astonish I#13/1) - Over the course of the next three days, Groot used his abilities to uproot the trees themselves and led them towards the town . When Groot finally reached the village Evans was ready for him. The scientist snuck behind the boasting alien and unleashed a large amount of termites he'd bred in his lab. The insects tore through Groot's exterior, eating at his very being. The shock of the attack sent Groot into a state of death-like suspension.

(Marvel Monsters: Monsters on the Prowl#1 (fb) - BTS) - Groot survived his encounter with Evans and was captured by the Collector, one of the Elders of the Universe obsessed with acquiring unique objects and beings. Deeming Groot unique enough, the Collector placed him in his bestiary in a cavern in Canada, there Groot joined a museum collection filled with a legion of giant monsters and other alien life forms.

(Marvel Monsters: Monsters on the Prowl#1) - Groot and the other monsters were freed from imprisonment by the Mole Man who had learned of the Collector's subterranean museum and wanted to claim the monster for himself. Mole Man dug a tunnel beneath the museum which triggered the total shutdown of the Collector's systems. However, neither Mole Man nor the Collector could prevent the monsters making their way to the surface world. Groot and the others made it all the way to New York where they went on a citywide rampage. They were defeated by a group of beast-like heroes; the Hulk, Beast, Giant-Man and the Thing. After their defeat Mr. Fantastic opened a portal to the Negative Zone, where the creatures were all dumped.

Marvel Monsters: From the Files of Ulysses Bloodstone - BTS) - Elsa Bloodstone read an article about Groot written by Jacob Hathaway. Hathaway also advised Elsa to contact Dr. Reed Richards and see if there was any correlation between this "Planet X" and the one alien Goom hailed from. (see comments)

(Incredible Hulk II Annual#5 - BTS) - Another would-be-conquerer, Xemnu the Titan had researched classified extraterrestrial files of the U.S. government, thus learning of Groot's time on Earth. Xemnu chose to built five robots resembling several monster-like creatures including Groot, Blip, Diablo, Goom and Taboo. Xemnu used these robots to battle the Hulk who eventually destroyed all of them.

(Marvel Swimsuit Special#2 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, Groot returned to Earth and relocated to Monster Island.

(Marvel Swimsuit Special#2) - Groot and a group of Moloids watched Aurora and Northstar frolicking on Monster Island while visiting with the Infinity Watch.

(Sensational Spider-Man#-1 - BTS) - Peter Parker dreamed that he was hunted by Groot and several other classic Marvel monsters on a fishing trip in the woods with his uncle Ben.

(Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Comics Magazine#11 - BTS) - Mr. Fantastic researched several monsters that had tried invading Earth, including Groot. Richards then chose four of them to recreate in an effort to battle the newly empowered Doctor Doom. The four were: Fing Fang Foom, Sporr, Blip and It the Living Colossus. Doom effortlessly destroyed the duplicates.

(Nick Fury's Howling Commandos#2) - Groot was tracked down by the Howling Commandos, S.H.I.E.L.D.'s supernatural squadron. When he tried to fight them, It the Living Colossus attacked and defeated him. S.H.I.E.L.D. then used Living Eraser technology to transport him back to their base.

(Nick Fury's Howling Commandos#4) - Secured in a cell, Groot listened to Gorilla-Man explaining the privileges he would enjoy as a member of their squadron.

(Nick Fury's Howling Commandos#5) - When the forces of Merlin attacked Area 13, the Commandos set Groot and the other giant creatures free hoping they would trample the invading army. Groot and the others ran through Merlin's dimensional portal and kept running. While the rest continued, Groot turned back and found the Commandos. Tired of running, he offered to join them. The group then began to move towards Merlin's base.

(Nick Fury's Howling Commandos#6) - Groot aided the Commandos in their assault on Merlin's forces.

(Punisher VIII#11 - BTS / Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider - Official Index to the Marvel Universe#7 - BTS) - Groot presumably spawned an identical offspring that stayed on Monster Island while he left Earth, returning to Planet X.

(Punisher VIII#11) - When Hellsgaard's monster exterminators the Hunter of Monster Special Force attacked Monster Island, Groot was among the creatures who fled in terror.

(Annihilators#1/2-2/2 (fb) - BTS) - After years away, the sapling who'd joined the Guardians of the Galaxy returned to Planet X, on arrival, he was arrested and tried for his crimes of deception and impersonating the king. The sapling Groot was found guilty of nineteen serious offences ("tree-son") and exiled to the Isle of Punishment where he began to serve his life sentence of being chained to a training post where he was guarded around the clock by a flock of cyborg Punishment Birds (woodpeckers).

(Annihilators#1/2) - Months later, Rocket Raccoon traveled to Planet X in search of his old friend Groot. After teleporting down to the planet from his friend Ace's spaceship, Rocket found himself in a forest with many trees, some of them huge, all around him. Seeking information about his friend, Rocket began calling out for "King Groot" and was quite surprised when (at least) twelve of the trees around him revealed themselves to be Flora Colossi, each one calling out, "I AM GROOT!" Unable to understand them because of their strong accents, Rocket pulled out a Timely Inc. device and instructed it to do a little translation work. As a Flora Colossus leaned over him, saying "I AM GROOT!", the device reported that he was saying his name was Groot but Rocket dismissed this because his Groot "wasn't a mile-high super redwood" and repeated that he was looking for King Groot. The Flora Colossus replied by saying "I AM GROOT!" again. The device translated this vocalization as a question as to why Rocket had disturbed the Inner Circle of the Arbor Masters and a statement that he was "King Groot, Groot XXCVII, Royal Loftiness of Planet X, Custodian of the Branch Worlds and Ruler of All He Shades." As Rocket reacted with disbelief, the device continued its translation, stating that His Highness believed that the Groot to whom Rocket was referring was one of the Tearaways, the youngsters who live their lives at a faster pace than the slow-growing matures, and that the sapling in question had run off some years back and had traveled the galaxy claiming that he was monarch of Planet X.

   When Rocket asked if Groot had come home again, King Groot said "I AM GROOT!" for a third time which the device translated as a reply that the sapling had returned and, on arrival, he had been arrested and tried for his crimes of deception and impersonating the king. As Rocket again reacted with surprise, the device revealed that the Groot sapling had been found guilty of tree-son and exiled, and that he was currently serving his life sentence, chained to a training post on the Isle of Punishment.

(Annihilators#1/2 (fb) - BTS) - Later, after helping Rocket Raccoon and the Undergrowth Resistance of Planet X to extinguish an out-of-control forest fire, the criminal Groot was given a full pardon by the Arbor Masters. King Groot (presumably) supported (or at least did not oppose) the granting of this pardon.

(Uncanny X-Men III#33 - BTS) - Groot returned to Monster Island in the sea of Japan.

(Uncanny X-Men III#33) - Groot was one of the many monsters who witnessed the arrival of X-Men Magik and Shadowcat. They had come to Monster Island to save a little mutant girl called Bo. After they found her, Groot and several other monsters decided to attack them. Fed up with having to fight monsters, Magik teleported herself, Kitty and Bo back to the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning.

Comments: Created by Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers.

Groot the Monarch of Planet X versus Groot of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

In Annihilators#1/2 (May, 2011) it was revealed that the Guardians of the Galaxy Groot wasn't the Monarch of Planet X, as he was punished for falsely claiming he was the monarch, we even got to see a sneak peek of the Tales to Astonish Groot. Then five years later in Groot I#6 (January, 2016) it was actually shown that the one destroying a town (the same image as the cover of Tales to Astonish I#13) was NOT the GOTG Groot. It was revealed Groot the Monarch of Planet X like many other Flora Colossus were ruthless and mad beings, very different from the kind-hearted Groot who ended up joining the Guardians of the Galaxy. That Groot was in fact horrified by the actions of other Flora Colossi such as the one seen in Tales to Astonish. Thus finally the Groot's were separated.

Only one Groot on Earth?

Given that Groot effectively duplicates himself, the Groot popping back and forth to Earth may neither be the original nor the one working with the Guardian. Rather, we may have a third Groot (or even third, fourth, etc.) responsible for some or all of the Earthly Groot sightings that took place subsequent to Groot's return to space.

The Wolverine, Punisher & Ghost Rider: Official Index to the Marvel Universe#7 (April, 2012) of all places had the following to say: "The treelike alien Groot from Planet X returned to space, as seen in Annihilation: Conquest - StarLord#1; however, his species reproduce identical offspring via budding, and are all called Groot. The one here (Punisher VIII#11) was presumably spawned before the "main" Groot left Earth following Nick Fury's Howling Commandos#6."

This means that it's well possible that there are in fact multiple spawns of the Monarch walking the Earth. For clarity's sake we've treated all of Groot's Earth-appearances as if they were the same.

These spawns could even be traced back to Groot's initial "adventure" on Earth. Although Groot went into a state of death-like suspension after the termites had attacked Groot could also have survived by separating a sprig of himself and hurling it away from his termite-infested original body.

Planet X

Over the years, several alien species have allegedly come from Planet X: Goom (Tales Of Suspense I#15/1, March, 1961) and his son Googam (Tales Of Suspense I#17/1, May, 1961). Although this remains unconfirmed, it's possible this race shares the world with the Flora Colossus. The Xantha race (Fantastic Four I#7, October, 1962), were also originally from Planet X, however, their homeworld was later called Xanth.

In the Marvel Cinematic Universe Groot's planet is called Taluhnia, (in print on screen as part of the Nova Corps file on him) as "humanoid plant inhabitant of Taluhnia." it's not unthinkable it will eventually be called the same in Reality-616.

Other comments

Groot's name was revealed in Annihilators#1/2 (May, 2011).

John Byrne paid homage to Groot's origin story by mimicking much of the premise in his Gormuu story in Fantastic Four I#271.

In the 1999 JLA Annual#3, there are some very familiar names being screamed. Here's the breakdown: the 1999 annuals from DC were a very nice homage to the Silver Age, utilizing two mainstays of that olden time: gorillas and weird transformations. There is a scene in the U.N. where the delegates are all turned into gorillas and start tearing the place up. What got me was the things they were yelling. They were all yelling the names of classic Kirby monsters! The monsters references include Groot, Mombu, Zzutak, Klaggu, Moomba, Goom and Krobaa. --- Doctor Worm

This Groot also appeared on Monsters Unleashed II#4 Home Variant cover.

The separation of the Groot/King Groot profiles were a joined effort by MarvellousLuke, Snood, Loki and Donald Campbell. I will try to create additional profiles on the Flora Colossus and a full profile on the Arbor Masters in the near future.

Original profile by Prime Eternal & Madison Carter, Arbor Masters subprofile by Donald Campbell

Profile rewritten and updated MarvellousLuke

CLARIFICATIONS:
Groot should not be confused with

• Groot, member of the Guardians of the Galaxy @ Annihilation: Conquest - Starlord#1


• Grott the Man-Slayer, one of Korvac's Minions of Menace @ Giant-Size Defenders#3
• Groote, Leonard, of Earth-MC2 @ Spider-Girl Annual 1999
• Groonk, Morlock resembling the Grinch @ Thor I#444
• Thing from Planet X, sentient plant creature @ Tales of Suspense I#3
• or any other "Groot" characters

Arbor Masters

The Arbor Masters are the elders of the Flora Colossi race. They are the custodians of the Branch Worlds as well as the teachers, protectors and monarchs.

In their role as teachers, they make their home in the Upper Canopy of Planet X and run the Coppice Schools. Exposure to sunlight allows them to emit the collected consciousness of generations of Arbor Masters as "photonic knowledge" which saplings absorb by photosynthesis. This method of eduction causes all Flora Colossi to have genius-level intellects.

In their role as protectors, the Arbor Masters also serve as Planet X's law enforcement and judicial systems. Any Flora Colossi who commit crimes are arrested, put on trial and, if found guilty, punished, often by exile.

The Monarch of Planet X rules as part of the Inner Circle of the Arbor Masters.

Years ago, the Arbor Masters dispensed their accumulated knowledge to a new class of saplings. When one of those saplings later violently attacked (and possibly killed) other saplings in defense of some Maintenance Mammals, the sapling (who would grow up to become part of the Guardians of the Galaxy) was taken into custody by three Arbor Masters clad in white clothing and was quietly banished from Planet X.

Years later, when this sapling returned to Planet X, he was arrested, tried and convicted of nineteen serious offenses, including impersonating the King Groot XXCVII. The Arbor Masters found him guilty of "tree-son" and exiled him to the Isle of Punishment in the Straits of Dire, there to spend his life sentence chained to a training post. The Arbor Masters authorized the cyborg punishment birds to employ the ultimate sanction, flame, in the event that they were unable to keep the criminal incarcerated.

Some months later, the Inner Circle of the Arbor Masters of Planet X were disturbed when a small alien life form (Rocket Raccoon) teleported down to their planet, coincidentally arriving in their midst. When the alien revealed that he was looking for King Groot, the monarch presented himself and in their ensuing conversation the alien learned that the "King Groot" who was his friend was the sapling who had been impersonating the real King.

Later, after the criminal Groot had been freed by his alien friend, and the duo and their allies in the Undergrowth Resistance had saved the forest from a fire started by a clown assassin hit-squad, the grateful Arbor Masters granted Groot a full pardon, and he and Rocket Raccoon left Planet X.

--Annihilators#1/2 (Guardians of the Galaxy III#14/2, Annihilators#1/2-2/2, Groot I#6

Leslie Evans

Leslie Evans was a biologist, working from his laboratory at home. Married to Alice, although their marriage wasn't a loving one as he was always looked down upon by his wife for being "unmanly".

Driving home from a party, Alice was on her usual subject, George Carter, a man she found wonderful and rugged, unlike Leslie. But as the couple neared their home they witnessed the arrival of King Groot to Earth in the form of a luminous object. Although Leslie was eager to investigate the wonderful phenomenon Alice persuaded her husband to return home as she was too tired. In the days that passed Alice learned of the most peculiar thing as two of their tree's and the neighbor's wooden fence had disappeared prompting Leslie to investigate which lead him to discover King Groot.

Seeing the wooden giant absorb all kind of wooden objects to grow he set out to warn the town's sheriff. A barricade was set up on the edge of town where Leslie and the townsfolk awaited the giant's arrival. Once Groot was there he finally spoke, revealing he planned to use his mastery over trees and plants to create a rooted net around and beneath the village, lifting it in its entirety into outer space and back to his home planet. Determined to stop the wooden giant Leslie vowed he would destroy him after which Groot tried to capture Leslie who was able to flee.

Leslie returned to his laboratory where his wife Alice was surprised to see her husband while the other townsfolk defended their town, even calling him weak and spineless. Leslie, however, found a way to stop the wooden giant by breeding termites in his lab which he then unleashed on Groot, successfully defeating him. Surprised by her husband, Alice fell into Leslie's arms asking for his forgiveness for being such a fool, promising to never complain again.

--Tales to Astonish I#13/1

Alice Evans

Alice was Leslie Evan's wife, although their marriage wasn't a loving one as she always looked down upon her husband for being "unmanly".

Driving home from a party, Alice was on her usual subject, George Carter, a man she found wonderful and rugged, unlike Leslie. But as the couple neared their home they witnessed the arrival of King Groot to Earth in the form of a luminous object. Although Leslie was eager to investigate the wonderful phenomenon Alice persuaded her husband to return home as she was too tired. In the days that passed Alice learned of the most peculiar thing as two of their tree's and the neighbor's wooden fence had disappeared prompting Leslie to investigate which lead him to discover King Groot.

Not long after, Alice was surprised to see her husband return to his laboratory while the other townsfolk defended their town, even calling him weak and spineless. Leslie, however, found a way to stop the wooden giant by breeding termites in his lab which he then unleashed on Groot, successfully defeating him. Surprised by her husband, Alice fell into Leslie's arms asking for his forgiveness for being such a fool, promising to never complain again.

--Tales to Astonish I#13/1

images: (without ads)
Tales to Astonish I#13, p1, pan1 (mainimage)
Tales to Astonish I#13, p4, pan5 (monologuing)
Tales to Astonish I#13, p7, pan5 (summoning the trees to his side)
Marvel Monsters: Monsters on the Prowl#1, p1, pan1 (trapped by the Collector)
Marvel Swimsuit Special#2, p26 (watching Aurora and Northstar)
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos#5, p8, pan4 (attacking Merlin's forces)
Annihilators#1, p41, pan2 (back on Planet X)
Guardians of the Galaxy III#14, p29, pan3 (Arbor Masters)
Tales to Astonish I#13, p3, pan3 (Leslie Evans)
Tales to Astonish I#13, p2, pan5 (Alice Evans)

Appearances:
Tales to Astonish I#13/1 (November, 1960) - Larry Lieber (writer), Jack Kirby (pencils), Dick Ayers (inks)
Incredible Hulk Annual#5 (November, 1976) - Chris Claremont & Len Wein (writers), Sal Buscema (pencils), Jack Abel (inks), Len Wein (editor)
Marvel Swimsuit Special#2 (January, 1993) - Dan Slott, Bob Washington (writers), Gary Barker, Chris Batista, Manny Galan, Kirk Jarvinen, Jeff Johnson, Rick Leonardi, Ron Lim, Joe Madureira, Cindy Martin, Walter McDaniel, Jordan Raskin, Darick Robertson, Ron Wagner (pencillers), Michael Bair, Steven Butler, Amanda Conner, Jan Duursema, Gary Frank, Steve Geiger, Lou Harrison, Adam Hughes, Klaus Janson, Steve Lightle, Kevin Maguire, Arthur Nicholas, Jason Palmer, George Perez, Joe Philips, Tom Raney, Tristan Shane, Andy Smith, Art Thibert, Dwayne Turner, Lee Weeks, Andrew Wildman, Steve Woron, Chris Wozniak, (pencillers/inkers), Ian Akin, Terry Austin, Matt Banning, Hector Collazo, Mark Farmer, Malcolm Jones III, Arthur Nocholas, Jimmy Palmiotti, Dan Panosian, Andrew Pepoy, Jordan Raskin, Jim Sanders III, Tom Smith, Brad Vancata (inkers), Mark Guenwald, Bobbie Chase, Evan Skolnick, Jack Abel, Flo Steinberg (editors)
Sensational Spider-Man I#-1 (July, 1997) - Todd Dezago (writer), Mike Wieringo (pencils), Richard Case (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Comics Magazine#11 (December, 2001) - Erik Larsen, Eric Stephenson (writers), Ron Frenz, Frank Fosco, Al Milgrom (pencillers), Bruce Timm, Mike Royer, Paul Ryan, Joe Sinnott (inkers), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Marvel Monsters: Monsters on the Prowl#1 (December, 2005) - Steve Niles (writer), Duncan Fegredo (artist), Jenny Lee & Mark Paniccia (editors)
Marvel Monsters: From the Files of Ulysses Bloodstone (2005) - Madison Carter, Jeff Christiansen, Sean McQuaid, Stuart Vandal, Eric J. Moreels, Ronald Byrd, Barry Reese (writers), Jeff Youngquist (editor)
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos#2 (January, 2006) - Keith Giffen (writer), Eduardo Francisco (penciler), Rob Campanelli (inker), Mark Paniccia (editor)
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos#4 (March, 2006) - Keith Giffen (writer), Derec Aucoin (artist), Mark Paniccia (editor)
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos#5 (April, 2006) - Keith Giffen (writer), Derec Donovan (artist), Mark Paniccia (editor)
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos#6 (May, 2006) - Keith Giffen (writer), Mike Norton (penciler), Derec Aucoin & Norman Lee (inkers), Mark Paniccia (editor)
Punisher VIII#11 (January, 2010) - Rick Remender (writer), Terry Moore (pencils, inks), Axel Alonso (editor)
Annihilators#1/2 (May, 2011) - Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (writers), Timothy Green II (artist), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Uncanny X-Men III#33 (April, 2015) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Kris Anka (pencils, inks), Mike Marts, Xander Jarowey (editors)
Groot I#6 (January, 2016) - Jeff Loveness (writer), Brian Kesinger (pencils, inks), Devin Lewis, Sana Amanat, Nick Lowe (editors)