TABOO
Real Name: Taboo
Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial
Occupation: Warrior, would-be conqueror
Group Membership: "the Collector's collection" (Droom, Fin Fang Foom, Gargantus, Goom, Grogg, Groot, Grottu, Rommbu, Tragg, Vandoom's Monster)
Affiliations: The Mole Man (Harvey Elder); formerly the Collector (Taneleer Tivan)
Enemies: The Collector (Taneleer Tivan), Lewis Conrad, Nova (Richard Rider), the Nova Corps (Fraktur, Morrow, Qubit, Ilani Rael, Malik Tracel)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: "The Thing from the Murky Swamp" (in story title)
Base of Operations: The
Negative Zone;
formerly the Collector's zoo beneath Canada;
formerly the Amazon;
formerly New York City;
formerly mobile in space;
formerly unidentified homeworld
First Appearance: Strange Tales I#75/1 (June, 1960)
Powers/Abilities: Taboo's body was composed of a thick, tar-like substance, and he could reshape himself into other forms. When blasted apart by explosions, the pieces of his body would eventually remerge into his original form. While separated, his body's parts were capable of independent movement and defense. He could also hurl pieces of himself at others as a projectile assault. Taboo possessed telepathy, which he used for all communication. He was also able to fly, possibly due to telekinesis, and could survive the vacuum of space.
History: (Strange Tales I#75/1 (fb)) - While journeying through space, Taboo's spacecraft developed problems, and he was forced to crash-land on the planet Earth, landing in the Amazon. Unable to depart Earth's atmosphere under his own power, Taboo remained in the Amazon, waiting for someone who could aid him. Over time, his presence caused a legend to develop among the native tribes of a swamp demon.
(Strange Tales I#75/1) - Taboo finally encountered adventure novelist Lewis Conrad and told him his story, claiming to be a peaceful alien. Conrad communicated Taboo's need for a device containing all of Earth's knowledge on his behalf, but when Taboo received it, he revealed that he intended to return with an invasion force to conquer Earth. As he flew away, a hydrogen bomb inside the device exploded, blasting Taboo into pieces -- for humanity had not been as trusting as they had appeared.
(Strange Tales
I#77/1) - However, over time Taboo's body reformed across the globe, until
he was finally fully reassembled in New York City. Taboo went on a
rampage against the
city's populace, but was halted when a craft from his homeworld
appeared. His people condemned his actions, calling him "sick," and
removed him from Earth, repairing all the damage he had done.
(Marvel Monsters: Monsters on the Prowl#1 (fb) - BTS) -
Taboo was captured by the Collector and placed in his zoo
beneath Canada.
(Mighty Avengers#1) - When the Mole Man led an army of monsters up into New York for a battle with the Avengers, Taboo was among those brought along but lay in hiding beneath the city.
(Nova IV#19) - Taboo finally emerged some time later and went on a rampage, but Nova and members of the Nova Corps were alerted to the danger by Project: PEGASUS. The Nova Centurions generated a gravimetric field which drove Taboo back below ground and into its lair.
(Hulk III#30) - Xemnu the Titan summoned a gigantic Martian, a Venusian, Zzutak, a Creature from Krogarr, a Blip, a Makluan and Taboo (or a member of his race) to kill the Hulk. When the Impossible Man witnessed how outmatched the Hulk was he merged him with the Red Hulk and they defeated Xemnu's monsters.
Comments: Created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers.
A duplicate of Taboo was created by Xemnu in Incredible Hulk Annual #5.
Both the writer of the story and Lewis Conrad say Taboo is made of mud ("living mountain of mud" & "mass of living mud").
--Gammatotem
Too bad Marvel Monsters: From The Files Of Ulysses Bloodstone And The Monster Hunters said that Lewis Conrad told his story to Ulysses Bloodstone, because on page 7 panels 1 & 6 of this story Lewis Conrad is with a party of officials (3 in total who resemble Ulysses Bloodstone, Mac Curry/Makkar & Doctor Druid). Perhaps Druid made Lewis Conrad forget who was with him. It would make sense for super-powered agents to accompany an H-Bomb and if necessary deal with a super powered alien, plus there was no way for the government to know if Taboo's telepathy was limited to communication and not mind reading (since the 3 officials knew they had an H-Bomb)---mind reading that Dr. Druid could have blocked.
--Gammatotem
Big thanks to MD Carter for allowing me to borrow images from his website, The Monsters of Jack Kirby. Updated main and image with three officials by Markus Raymond.
Profile by Prime Eternal Update by Markus Raymond.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Taboo should not be confused with:
Lewis Conrad
was a popular adventure novelist, one of whom's best-sellers was
"Arctic Adventure". While searching for inspiration for a new story in
the Amazon, he heard
the legends of a swamp demon, and sought out what proved to be Taboo.
When Taboo claimed to be a peaceful alien in need of assistance, Conrad
arranged for the world's powers to
aid him in escaping Earth, but when Taboo proved traitorous, they
exploded a hydrogen bomb from within the device they gave him. -Strange Tales I#75
(Marvel Monsters: From the Files of
Ulysses Bloodstone and the Monster Hunters#1) - Conrad related his tale
to Ulysses Bloodstone.
images: (without ads)
Strange Tales I#75, p4, pan1 (main)
Strange Tales I#75, p7, pan6 (Conrad and three officials)
Strange Tales I#75, p3, pan1 (Lewis Conrad)
Appearances:
Strange Tales I#75 (June, 1960) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), Dick Ayers (inks)
Strange Tales I#77 (October, 1960) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), Dick Ayers (inks)
Marvel Monsters: Monsters on the Prowl#1 (December, 2005) - Steve Niles (writer), Duncan Fegredo (artist), Jenny Lee & Mark Paniccia (editors)
Nova IV#19 (January, 2009) - Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning (writers), Wellington Alves, Geraldo Borges (pencilers), Scott Hanna, Nelson Pereira (inkers), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Hulk III#30 (April, 2011) - Jeff Parker (writer), Ed McGuinness (artist), Mark Paniccia (editor)
First Posted: 07/12/2003
Last updated: 08/11/2018
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
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