PAPA
SHORTY
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Human magic-user
Occupation: Houngan
Group Membership: Leader of unidentified cult
Affiliations: Mister Six (agent); Zombie (Simon Garth)--former pawn
Enemies: Phillip Bliss, Robert, Zombie
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: The Master
Base of Operations: Papa Shorty's Palace
of Black Magic
(an oum'phor (temple)) in New Orleans, Louisianna
First Appearance: Tales of the Zombie#5 (May, 1974)
Powers/Abilities: Papa Shorty possesses a number of magical abilities and skills, specifically in the art of voodoo, most of which are undefined. Though he possesses no legs, he can levitate. He is highly proficient with this ability, and when wearing a robe and levitating to what would be his full height, he can appear to be walking normally--"with the grace of a dancer, the stealth of a snake." He has knowledge of the occult, and he briefly possessed one of the Amulets of Damballah, enabling him to control the zombie Simon Garth, who wore its twin. In addition, he possesses the ability to raise the dead as zombies under his control, under some circumstances--possibly only while in possession of the Amulet.
He also commanded a small legion of loyal followers.
Height: 4'
Weight: 130 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black with gray streaks
History:
Papa Shorty was born without legs below mid-thigh. To compensate
for his physical limitations, he trained in the art of voodoo. He
came to head a large cult in a temple in New Orleans. One of his
followers was the New Orleans crimelord Mister Six.
(Tales of the Zombie#5(fb)-BTS) - At one of the Papa Shorty's rituals, Mr. Six took an interest in Lois Bliss.
(Tales of the Zombie#2-BTS) - Under the direction of Papa Shorty, Mr. Six sent two agents, Rafe and Mitch, to obtain a magic ring from the buried corpse of Joseph Travers. Mr. Six's men failed, and he worried that "the Master" would be most displeased
(Tales of the Zombie#5) - Papa Shorty had Mister Six send his
men to steal the Amulet of Damballah from its holder, one of the
Zombie's few "friends," Phillip Bliss. Mister Six had
his chauffeur, Robert, accompany him to Papa Shorty's Palace of
Black Magic, hoping to interest him in joining the cult. Mister
Six presented the Amulet to Papa Shorty, who celebrated with a
ritual involving the beheading of a chicken and the pouring of
its blood over a female cultist. Mortified, Robert fled. Fearing
that Robert would go to the police, Shorty took control of the
Zombie and had him kill Robert.
As sport, Shorty then reanimate Robert as a zombie and had him
battle Simon Garth's zombie. During the struggle, Bliss and his
friends broke into the Palace, hoping to reclaim the Amulet and
free the Zombie. However, despite the fact that Garth, unlike
other zombies, actually retained some emotions and memories, he
was unable to resist the power of the Amulet. Papa Shorty
commanded the Zombie to slaughter Bliss and his allies, and Garth
smashed his former friend's skull in. Shorty burst into
hysterical laughter, dropping the Amulet in the process. Freed of
Shorty's control, Garth was able to take his vengeance, and he
grabbed Shorty and hurled him into a stone statue, shattering his
skull as well.
Comments: Created by Steve Gerber and Pablo Marcos
Papa Shorty has an entry in Mystic Arcana: The Book of Marvel Magic.
CLARIFICATIONS:
No known connections to:
Appearances:
Tales of the Zombie#5 (May, 1974) - Steve Gerber (writer), Pablo Marcos (artist), Roy Thomas (editor)
Last updated: 09/07/02
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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