NECROMON
Real Name: Necromon
Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Netherworld of Otherworld) demon/magic user
Occupation: Ruler of his Netherworld, Would-be Conqueror
Group Membership: Nethergods
Affiliations: Served by numerous demons,
dragons, goblins, and trolls of his Netherworld, Doomwraiths, the
Iron Ogre, Mandrac, the evil Walkers (Balor, Cormac,
Gurien, Karadoc, Mordred, Scartac), and White Rider;
formerly Hungry Court (Crimson Countess/Jean Grey, Cockatrice Knight/Scott Summers, High Lord Lambert/Shiro Yoshida, Iron Priestess/Lorna Dane, Razorwolf/Laura Kinney, Twins Ravenous/Anna Marie LeBeau & Everett Thomas)
Enemies: Black Knight (Dane Whitman), Black Knight (Jacks Chopra), the warriors of Camelot, Captain Britain (Brian Braddock), Excalibur (Dr. Faiza Hussain), Merlyn, Arthur Pendragon, the Proud Walkers (Bran, Gael, Gamael, Gwent, Herne, Vortigen), X-Men (Cyclops/Scott Summers, Marvel Girl/Jean Grey, Polaris/Lorna Dane, Rogue/Anna Marie LeBeau, Sunfire/Shiro Yoshida, Synch/Everett Thomas, Wolverine/Laura Kinney)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: Netherking, Lord of Darkness, Lord of Death, impersonated Cormac
Base of Operations: Citadel of Necromon in Netherworld ("Hungry Land") of Otherworld dimension
First Appearance: (BTS) Hulk Comic#1/2 (Marvel UK, March, 1979); (seen) Hulk Comic#42/2 (Marvel UK, December 19th, 1979)
Powers/Abilities: Necromon had great mystic powers, although few of them were actually observed. He controlled a vast army of demons, goblins, and trolls. His powers seemed to fluctuate with time. He was evenly matched in a sword fight with Arthur Pendragon (perhaps Merlyn was augmenting Arthur's power to allow him to stand up to Necromon). He was ten feet tall and possessed prodigious strength (enhanced human to Class 10?). He could open portals to other dimensions with effort.
Height: 18' (variable)
Weight: 2 tons (variable)
Eyes: Red
Hair: Unrevealed
History:
Necromon's origins are
unrevealed, although he does appear to be a demonic being.
(Death of Doctor Strange: X-Men/Black Knight#1) - In the past the sword Excalibur in the Starstone held back demonic realms like Necromon's realm from claiming Earth, but after Arthur Pendragon pulled out the sword, the Hungry Land was pulled towards Earth. Instead of putting back the sword, Merlyn created a mystic barrier around Earth to protect it against other dimension. The barrier was kept up for centuries by the current Sorcerer Supreme.
(Hulk Comic#44/2 (fb) - BTS) - Necromon was an old enemy of the natives of the neighboring realm of Otherworld, and he sought to overtake that realm, as well as the planet Earth. He was always thwarted by great heroes like King Arthur and Merlyn.
(Hulk Comics#7/2 (fb) - BTS) - Centuries ago six of the Twelve Walkers turned their backs on humanity and became loyal to Necromon and the Nethergods.
(Hulk Comic#42/2-43/2 (fb) - BTS) - Knowing that the forces of Camelot would rally against them, Necromon sought to remove some of their champions as threats. Necromon caused madness and amnesia to overtake Brian Braddock, causing him to leap from a plane, and hide out in a remote cave.
(Hulk Comic#1/2, 3/2-5/2 - BTS) - He also sent one of his agents Mordred to slay the Black Knight and the amnesiac Braddock, but he failed with his rock monster.
(Hulk Comic#6/2-18/2 - BTS) - The two were soon assisted by Vortigen, one of the Proud Walkers, who helped Braddock regain his memory, and explained the nature of the attacks to them, his wolf Lupe, Moondog and the Elves archers against Necromon's agents such as Modred, trolls, the Iron Ogre, goblins and the Evil Walker Cormac.
(Hulk Comic#19/2-30/2 - BTS) - After Captain Britain was killed at the gate to Otherworld by the White Rider, his body was taken by Mandrac, Lord of the Slain. Black Knight and the elves followed Mandrac to Otherworld and retrieved Braddock's body while Merlyn took care of Mandrac. Merlyn resurrected Braddock while the Black Knight held Forest Trolls and Modred at bay. Defeat by his own magic Modred's mind got shattered.
(Hulk Comic#42/2) - Modred was found and brought before Necromon in his citadel. Having enough of being disappointed over and over again by Modred, Necromon had him sent to the deepest dungeon.
(Hulk Comic#45/2) - From his citadel Necromon observed through the Eye of Necros how Merlyn rallied the heroes Captain Britain, Black Knight and the elves against Necromon. After he was informed of the current whereabouts of his Evil Walkers, he ordered the Dragon-Master Karadoc to kill the Black Knight and his steed Valinor before he could reach Camelot.
(Hulk Comic#46/2, Incredible Hulk Weekly#47/2 - both BTS) - Karadoc's dragon Ashtoroth fell in battle with the Black Knight.
(Incredible Hulk Weekly#48/2) - From his citadel Necromon watched the Black Knight take Ashtoroth's Pearl and fell under its evil influence. Karadoc sought revenge for his dragon's death and Necromon put Black Knight's fate into his hands.
(Incredible Hulk Weekly#49/2-54/2 - BTS) - On his way to Camelot the Black Knight ran afoul Evil Walker Gurien's servant Gargantua, who guarded the path to Camelot. Black Knight captured him and gained entrance to Camelot. Moondog and his elves were on the run from the demons Maegog, Gog and their warriors, who besieged Camelot. Captain Britain, Merlyn, Black Knight and even Gargantua, who turned out to be a creation of Merlyn, joined the battle against them.
(Incredible Hulk Weekly#55/2) - Necromon created an illusion and posed as his Evil Walkers to put fear into the heroes of Camelot, but Moondog saw through his illusion. Necromon threatened Camelot that he would attack them soon.
(Incredible Hulk Weekly#55/2, 57/2-58/2, Incredible Hulk#59/2 - all BTS) - Captain Britain and Black Knight took off on Valinor to find King Arthur's tomb, but they were followed by Karadoc and his remaining dragons. Karadoc and Sarafand died in battle while Khârad Dur fled. Captain Britain and Black Knight found the tomb and King Arthur rose once again.
(Incredible Hulk Weekly#60/2) - Necromon assembled his army at his citadel for their attack on the weakened Camelot.
(Incredible Hulk Weekly#61/2) - Necromon ultimately led his warriors in an assault on Camelot and found their path obscured in mist by Merlyn, who gave him a chance to not go through with his attack. When the mist lifted Necromon and his army found themselves opposed by the returned Proud Walkers and Merlyn.
(Incredible Hulk Weekly#62/2) - While Merlyn, the Proud Walkers, and the warriors of Camelot battled his forces, Necromon scaled the wall of the castle. Arthur Pendragon and the Black Knight confronted Necromon.
(Incredible Hulk Weekly#63/2) - They drew Necromon him into a sword fight. Excalibur proved stronger than Necromon's sword, and King Arthur shattered his blade. The two warriors then backed Necromon into a threshold of the castle, and the Black Knight sent a spiked gate (portcullis) crashing down on him. Necromon stopped the falling gate, but while he was distracted, the two warriors charged forth and impaled him with both Excalibur and the Ebony Blade. Dying, Necromon used the last of his strength to destroy the castle of Camelot, causing it to fall into the abyss on the edge of Otherworld by destroying the bridge that held Camelot in place with the gate.
SECRET WARS III HAPPENED
(Death of Doctor Strange: X-Men/Black Knight#1) - The magic barrier around Earth fell when Doctor Strange died. The Hungry Land devoured London and transformed everything in the city, including the X-Men, who were there on a mission, to become part of the demonic realm. The X-Men became the loyal servants of Necromon--the Hungry Court. Black Knight (Chopra) went to the transformed London and found an ally in Excalibur (Hussain), but stubbornly tried to attack Necromon alone despite the warnings of her father Dane Whitman. She nearly fell victim to the Hungry Court, but was saved by Excalibur. After realizing that they immune against the effects due to their swords, Hussain and Chopra allowed the Twins Ravenous (the new identities of Rogue and Synch) to catch them and copy their immunity. Rogue then spread the immunity to the other X-Men and they all attacked Necromon along with Black Knight and Excalibur. Whitman learned the truth about Excalibur and the Starstone's original function and told his daughter to allow Excalibur to stab her. Black Knight (Chopra) jumped in front of Excalibur's next attack and got stabbed through the chest. The plan worked and Necromon and his realm were banished back to where they came from, but the sword Excalibur had to remain inside Chopra, which was accomplished without killing her by Hussain using her mutant ability to manipulate living tissue.
Comments: Created by Dez Skin, Steve Parkhouse, Paul Neary, and John Stokes.
In Marvel Super-Heroes II#17, Mordred speaks to "...the Nether Gods...They who gave my spirit the power to walk once more amongst men." Although none of them look quite like Necromon, I'd have to believe that these beings were from the Netherworld of Otherworld, and might have connections to him, or perhaps one could even be him, albeit in altered form.
Captain Britain was not present during the final battle. He had been sent back to Earth by Merlyn as his reward for helping to revive King Arthur. Perhaps Necromon used his powers to warp this spell, because Captain Britain ended up the crooked Earth of Mad Jim Jaspers.
As far as I can tell, Mordred (called Modred) in this story is the same man known as Mordred the Evil, the illegitimate son of King Arthur and the nephew of Morgan le Fay.
This series should be collected in a trade
paperback. It's very good, and VERY hard to find. It was a weekly
title printed on newsprint style paper.
It has since been collected in a Captain Britain Omnibus and the Captain Britain: Siege of Camelot TPB.--
Markus Raymond
And yes, in case you're wondering, it was originally in black and white.
The colored images come from Necromon's profile in OHotMU A-Z Hardcover#8.
Necromon can be considered BTS throughout the whole series.
Necromon has a full entry in Marvel Legacy: The 1980s Handbook.
Profile by Snood. Update by Markus Raymond (Death of Doctor Strange).
Clarifications: Necromon should not be confused with:
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Located atop a mountain in the Netherworld it was the home of Necromon and his army. Called the Hall of Silence by Merlyn it housed many warriors and a dungeon filled with prisoners. --Hulk Comic#42/2 (Hulk Comic#42/2, 45/2, Incredible Hulk Weekly#48/2, Incredible Hulk#60/2 |
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Necromon wore an amulet, the Eye of Necros, enabling him to observe distant events, even across interplanetary or inter-dimensional distances, as well as seeing into the hearts and minds of men. --Hulk Comic#45/2 (Hulk Comic#45/2, Incredible Hulk Weekly#48/2 |
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images:
Death of Doctor Strange: X-Men/Black Knight#1, p21, pan2 (main)
Incredible Hulk#61/2 (UK), p2, pan9 (head shot, colored version from handbook)
Incredible Hulk#63/2 (UK), p1, pan1 (full body, colored version from handbook)
Hulk Comic#42/2 (UK), p1, pan6 (cape)
Incredible Hulk#61/2 (UK), p2, pan6 (marching with army)
Incredible Hulk Weekly#48/2, p2, pan5 (Citadel of Necromon)
Hulk Comic#45/2 (UK), p2, pan1 (Eye of Necros)
Appearances:
Hulk Comic#42/2 (UK) (December 19th, 1979) - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor)
Hulk Comic#45/2 (UK) (January 9th, 1980) - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor)
Incredible Hulk Weekly#48/2 (UK) (January 30th, 1980) - Steve Parkhouse (writer), Paul Neary (pencils), John Stokes (inks), Dez Skinn (editor)
Incredible Hulk Weekly#55/2 (UK) (March 19th, 1980) - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (artist), Dez Skinn (editor)
Incredible Hulk#60/2 (UK) (April 24th, 1980) - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (artist), Dez Skinn (editor)
Incredible Hulk#61/2 (UK) (May 1st, 1980) - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (artist), Dez Skinn (editor)
Incredible Hulk#62/2 (UK) (May 8th, 1980) - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (artist), Dez Skinn (editor)
Incredible Hulk#63/2 (UK) (May 15th, 1980) - Steve Parkhouse (writer), John Stokes (artist), Dez Skinn (editor)
Death of Doctor Strange: X-Men/Black Knight#1 (March, 2022) - Si Spurrier (writer), Bob Quinn (artist), Tom Groneman (editor)
First Posted: 09/08/2001
Last updated: 10/10/2024
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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