METARCHUS
METARCHUS
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Human variant (the Blood), magic user
Occupation: agent of Zarathos
Group Membership: The Blood, the Fallen
Affiliations: Zarathos; formerly the Spirits of Vengeance
Enemies: The Blood; Midnight Sons (Blade, John Blaze, Frank Drake, Dr. Strange, Ghost Rider/Dan Ketch/Noble Kale, Hannibal King, Morbius, Vengeance)
Known Relatives: possibly the Blood
Aliases: Caretaker, Stacy Dolan, Grifficane of the 3rd Circle, the Lernean Hydra, Modred the Mystic, Nataska from Opinicus, Truthsayer, Urizen, Zarathos (these and others she has impersonated)
Base of Operations: currently unknown; the catacombs below Cypress Hills Cemetery; the ruins of a former Tibetan monastery; an unnamed dimension
First Appearance: (Shadows) Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance#17 (December, 1993), (seen) Nightstalkers#15 (January, 1994), (named) Darkhold#16 (January, 1994)
Powers/Abilities: Metarchus is a metamorph, able
to alter her shape into virtually any form imaginable. To some
degree, she takes on the physical abilties inherent to a form she
adapts. She claims to have the attributes of every monster in the
history of the Earth. She is presumably immune to the effects of
aging and conventional disease.
She wears a collar from Zarathos that forces her to obey his
commands.
History: BTS-Long ago, Metarchus was one
of the Blood, who fought against the evil of Zarathos. She may
even date back as far as 20, 000 BC.
At some point, Metarchus turned from the Blood, and became one of
the Fallen, who instead worshipped and served Zarathos.
The Fallen were banished to an unnamed dimension in the distant
past, and Metarchus presumably was among them.
(Midnight Sons Unlimited#4 (fb) - BTS) - Centuries, or perhaps millennia ago, the Fallen assaulted a South American tribe (Incan? Aztec? Mayan?).
BTS - The Fallen regained access to Earth via the machinations of their own sorcerous ally, Salomé.
(Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance#17) - Several of the Fallen, including Metarchus, appeared in Cypress Hill Cemetary, rescuing Zarathos from defeat at the hands of the Midnight Sons.
(Nightstalkers#15) - Zarathos and the Fallen attacked the Midnight Sons briefly, then abducted Cretaker and invaded and took over Caretaker's former base below the cemetary. The Nightstalkers (Blade, Frank Drake, and Hannibal King) followed them, but Drake was trapped and the others for forced to temporarily flee.
(Ghost Rider III#45-BTS) - Patriarch joined the Fallen.
(Marvel Comics Presents I#145) - Metarchus and the Fallen observed as Patriarch and Zarathos plotted against the Blood and continued to torture Caretaker.
(Darkhold#16) -
The Darkholder Redeemers sought
out the Blood member Truthsayer, in the jungles of Central
America. Metarchus followed and attacked them, seeking to either
convert or slay Truthsayer. After some battle, Modred blasted and
destroyed Truthsayer, apparently to prevent her from revealing
the true nature of Victoria Montesi. He did so such that
Metarchus, who had taken Modred's form at the time, was blamed
for the murder. Metarchus escaped back to Zarathos' side.
(Marvel Comics Presents I#146) - Metarchus posed as Caretaker and drew the Midnight Sons in to "rescue" him, then attacked them, as well as Embyrre and Raydar, who had joined them. Metarchus was eventually overpowered, but managed to escape through a dimensional portal.
(Dr. Strange: Sorcerer Supreme#61) - Metarchus listened as Patriarch explained their connection to Salomé.
(Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance#18) - Metarchus observed Zarathos' apparent killing of Ghost Rider/Ketch.
(Midnight Sons Unlimited#4) - Metarchus, alongside Zarathos and the remaining members of the Fallen, engaged in final battle with the Midnight Sons. They fled back to a ruined Tibetan monastery to regroup, and then met up with the Midnight Sons at the South American jungle temple base of Foundry. Ultimately, Metarchus fell before Morbius and Drake after being badly injured by Blade wielding Foundry's magical sword, Justicar. Blade then skewered Metarchus, apparently killing her.
Comments: Created by Howard Mackie and...it's hard to tell...everyone who wrote and drew the "Siege of Darkness" had a part, I guess.
CLARIFICATIONS:
In the early appearances of the Fallen, it is exceedingly
difficult to tell Metarchus from Atrocity. I think that's
because no one had any idea who or what either of them were, and
jsut made it up as they went along.
Appearances:
Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance#17 (December, 1993) - Howard Mackie (writer), Henry Martinez (pencils), Bud La Rosa (inks), Bobbie Chase (editor)
Nightstalkers#15 (January, 1994) - Steve Grant (writer), Andrew Wildman (pencils), Frank Turner (inks), Chris Cooper (editor)
Ghost Rider III#45 (January, 1994) - Howard Mackie (writer), Ron Garney (pencils), Chris Ivy (inks), Bobbie Chase (editor)
Marvel Comics Presents I#145 (January, 1994) - Chris Cooper (writer), Reggie Jones (pencils), Fred Harper (inks), Richard Ashford (editor)
Darkhold#16 (January, 1994) - Chris Cooper (writer), Rurik Tyler (pencils), Bob Downs & Malcom Jones III (inks), Hildy Mesnik (editor)
Marvel Comics Presents I#146 (January, 1994) - Chris Cooper (writer), Reggie Jones (pencils), Fred Harper (inks), Richard Ashford (editor)
Dr. Strange: Sorcerer Supreme#61 (January, 1994) - David Quinn (writer), Melvin Rubi (pencils), Fred Harper (inks), Evan Skolnick (editor)
Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance#18 (January, 1994) - Howard Mackie (writer), Henry Martinez (pencils), Bud La Rosa (inks), Bobbie Chase (editor)
Midnight Sons Unlimited#4 (January, 1994) - D.G. Chichester (writer), John Hixson & John Bridges (pencils), Bill Anderson, Rich Rankin & Scott Koblish (inks), Evan Skolnick (editor)
Last updated: 08/02/02
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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