JOSHUA KALE

Real Name: Joshua Kale

Identity/Class: Human magic user

Occupation: Former High Priest of the Cult of Zhered-Na

Group Membership: Cult of Zhered-Na

Affiliations: Barbra Bannister, Chris Claremont, Clea, Dakimh the Enchanter, John Daltry, Dr. Strange, Korrek, John Kowalski, Man-Thing, Margali of the Winding Way, Jimaine Szardos (aka Magik), Zhered-Na (indirectly)

Enemies: John Daltry, Barnaby Stone, Thog, demons of Sominus

Known Relatives: Naomi Kale (daughter), Jennifer Kale, Barbara Ketch (granddaughters), Andrew Kale, John Blaze, Daniel Ketch (grandsons);
     Illyana Kale, Noble Kale and pastor Kale, Magdelena (ancestors)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: A swamp in the Florida Everglades near Citrusville, Florida

First Appearance: (Adventure into) Fear#13 (April, 1973)

Powers/Abilities: Joshua had undefined magical abilities, such as the invoking of spells and the opening of interdimensional portals. He formerly held the Tome of Zhered-Na, one of the most powerful books of magic on Earth.

History:
(Adventures into Fear#13 (fb) - BTS) -  Joshua Kale came to lead the remnants of the ancient Cult of Zhered-Na out of Citrusville, Florida, taking possession of the Tome.

(Adventures into Fear#11 (fb) - BTS) -  Jennifer stole a mystic text which she thought was the Tome of Zhered-Na from her grandfather, Joshua, who was head of the Cult of Zhered-Na, intending to attempt a spell for the fun of it.

(Adventures into Fear#11 ) -  Jennifer, alongside her brother Andy, used the book, unwittingly summoning Thog and another demon to Earth, though they were driven off and destroyed, respectively, by the Man-Thing, as well as the burning of the Tome by Andy.

(Adventures into Fear#13) -  Joshua Kale told the other Cultists of the imminent invasion by the residents Sominus, which Zhered-Na had foretold 20,000 years before. However, when he prepared to read the details on the invasion, he found the Tome missing.  The Cult was most distressed and one of the members, Brainard, even accused Joshua of having stolen the Tome himself. Without the Tome, the Cult could not hold off the invasion.
    Jennifer described having burned the book, but Joshua revealed that it was not the Tome she had stolen, but some other book. Jennifer, Joshua, and Andy then drove into the swamplands to try to save their friend Jaxon, who had wandered in alone. However, Jaxon had been possessed by a demon of Sominus, and when they approached him, he cast an illusion that seemingly transported they and the Man-Thing to Sominus where they were confronted by Thog. Joshua recognized the whole thing as an illusion, but they were unable to dispel it from their minds until the Man-Thing recognized it as an illusion, too. As they returned to the swamp, the demon was exorcised from Jaxon.

(Adventures into Fear#14 ) -  As the world began to be driven mad by the opening of a portal to Sominus, Joshua gathered the Cultists and brought them deep into the Man-Thing's swamp to perform a ritual to recover the Tome. Kale called upon the Mists of Maalock, which transported both Jennifer Kale and the Man-Thing to the dimension of Sandt. There they encountered Dakimh, and though they failed to recover the Tome, they had passed Dakimh's test, earning his trust and support.

(Adventures into Fear#15) - Joshua, Jennifer, and Andrew witnessed as the Man-Thing ran amok in Citrusville before being seemingly destroyed by some locals with shotguns and a pick-up truck. Joshua gathered the Cult and detailed the full origins of Zhered-Na, her teachings, and her Cult. However, while Dakimh took Jennifer Kale and the Man-Thing on an extradimensional voyage, the demons of Sominus abducted Joshua and the Cultists and brought them to their realm. As Jennifer approached the Tome, Yopp, an elf demon from Sominus appeared and transported Jennifer, the Tome, and the Man-Thing (but not Dakimh) to Sominus. There Joshua guided her to touch the Tome, restoring them all (and the Tome) to Citrusville. The Guardian of Sominus was transported there as well, but out of its realm, it was easy prey for the Man-Thing.
    However, the Tome then vanished once again, apparently no longer needed with the invasion over. The Cult apparently dissolved as well.

(Adventures into Fear#16) - Joshua and his grandchildren were present at a rally to save the swamp from the Schist Construction Company, where he expressed concern over Jennifer, who just hadn't been the same since her link to the Man-Thing had been broken.

(Adventures into Fear#17) - Joshua was concerned when Jennifer began having nightmares.

(Adventures into Fear#18) - Joshua was present when Jennifer was plagued by a waking dream, which caused her to drop to the ground, screaming.

(Adventures into Fear#19) - Joshua comforted Jennifer after another nightmare. Later that night, he and Andy were drawn to the sounds of  Korrek in Jennifer's room, and their appearance drove off Korrek, who assumed them both to be wizards due to their strange garb (pajamas). The Kales were then confronted by Dakimh the Enchanter who told them of the threat to reality due to Thog. Joshua agreed to allow Jennifer to leave Earth's dimension to study under Dakimh.

(Man-Thing I#22 (fb)) - Jennifer, Joshua, and Andy Kale, as well as Korrek buried Dakimh at the edge of the Man-Thing's swamp, marking the grave with the sign of Zhered-Na.

(Dr. Strange II#41 (fb) - BTS) - Jennifer, Joshua, and Andrew were captured and imprisoned by Baron (Karl) Mordo.

(Dr. Strange II#41) - Mordo sought to sacrifice Joshua, Andrew, and ten others to a chaos demon, intending to have that demon summon its brethren to destroy Earth. Jennifer managed to reach the Man-Thing--who had had Ted Sallis' intellect restored, driven mad, and been ensorcelled by Mordo--before being consumed by the demon. However, the Man-Thing drove off the demon, and Dr. Strange restored the demon's victims to life.

(Man-Thing II#10) - Jennifer, Joshua, and Andy Kale, along with Barbra Bannister and John Kowalski, were assaulted by Barnaby Stone and his biker gang. The gang was defeated by the efforts of Andy, Kowalksi, and the Man-Thing.

(Man-Thing II#11 (fb) - BTS) - Joshua was one of the many sorcerers of Earth  (and Chris Claremont) abducted and imprisoned by John Daltry via the Magus Sword for the demon Thog.

(Man-Thing II#11) - When the Man-Thing destroyed Thog, Joshua and the others were freed.

(Witches#1 (fb) - BTS) - Joshua Kale was reported as deceased.

Comments: Created by Steve Gerber, Val Mayerik, and Frank Bolle.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
No known connection to:

 

images:
Adventures into Fear#13, p2, panel 2
    p3, panel 1

(Adventures into) Fear#11 (December 1972) - Steve Gerber (writer), Rich Buckler (pencils), Jim Mooney (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
(Adventures into) Fear#12 (February, 1973) - Steve Gerber (writer), Jim Starlin (pencils), Rich Buckler (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
(Adventures into) Fear#13 (April, 1973) - Steve Gerber (writer), Val Mayerik (pencils), Frank Bolle (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
(Adventures into) Fear#14 (June, 1973) - Steve Gerber (writer), Val Mayerik (pencils), Chic Stone (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
(Adventures into) Fear#15-19 (August, 1973 - December, 1973)
Man-Thing I#22 (October, 1975) - Steve Gerber (writer), Jim Mooney (pencils/inks), Len Wein (editor)
Man-Thing II#10 (May, 1981) - Chris Claremont (writer), Don Perlin (pencils), Bob Wiacek, Bruce Patterson & Frank Giacoia (inks), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
Man-Thign II#11 (July, 1981) - Chris Claremont (writer), Val Mayerik (pencils), Bob Wiacek (inks), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
Witches#1 (August - September 2004) - Brian Patrick Walsh (writer), Mike Deodato Jr. (artist), John Miesegaes (editor)

First Posted: 08/21/2004 Last updated: 10/16/2004

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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