VANDOOM'S MONSTER

Real Name: Inapplicable

Identity/Class: Artificial being (pre-modern era to modern era)

Occupation: Rampager

Group Membership: "The Collector's collection" (Droom, Fin Fan Foom, Gargantus, Goom, Grogg, Groot, Grottu, Rommbu, Taboo, Tragg)

Affiliations: Kid Kaiju (Kei Kawade);
temporarily Abominable Snowman, Blip, Bruttu, Crawling Creature, Creature from Krogarr, Creature from the Black Bog, Fin Fan Foom, Googam, Goom, Gorgilla, Green Thing, Insect Man, Klagg, Kraa, Metallo, Mole Man (Harvey Elder) , Monsteroso, Monsteroso, Monstro, Monstrom, Moomba, Nova (Sam Alexander), Oog, Orrgo, Pildorr the Plunderer, Quogg, Rommbu, Sporr, Thing that Crawled by Night, Tim Boo Ba, Ulvar, Zetora, Zzutak
formerly the Collector (Taneleer Tivan), a group of Skrulls

Enemies: Beast (Henry McCoy), Collector, Giant-Man (Hank Pym), Hulk (Bruce Banner), Justice League, Leviathon Tide (Leviathon Mother, others), Martians, Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards), Thing (Ben Grimm);
formerly Guardians of the Galaxy (Drax, Gamora, Groot, Rocket Raccoon, Star-Lord/Peter Quill), Thor (Jane Foster)

Known Relatives: Ludwig Vandoom (creator)

Aliases: Vandoom, Van Doom's Monster (see comments)

Base of Operations: Monster Island;
   formerly the Negative Zone;
   formerly the Collector's zoo, beneath Canada;
   formerly an unidentified village in Transylvania

First Appearance: Tales to Astonish I#17/1 (March, 1961)

Powers/Abilities: Vandoom's Monster was an immense wax statue which came to life when struck by a lightning bolt; it was of superhuman size, and possessed superhuman strength and endurance. It was invulnerable to the type of conventional harm employed by most stereotypical enraged/frightened European villagers, such as torches and pitchforks, and it was seemingly immune to the effects of ultra-gamma rays employed by Martian invaders.

Height: 25' (see comments)
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Orange

History:
(Tales to Astonish I#17/1) - In order to bring in business at his run-down wax museum, Ludwig Vandoom constructed an immense wax figure of a shaggy monster--so large was the figure that he had to cut a hole in the roof of the building to accommodate its head.

   The grotesque wax figure upset local villagers, who tried to stop the monster from being completed, but Vandoom was within his legal rights to build it on his property. However, not long after its completion, a lightning storm raged in the Transylvanian town; the monster wax figure was struck by lightning and came to life, then it burst through the museum's structure. It soon lumbered about, frightening the villagers who beheld it.

   The villagers quickly mobilized a mob and chased the monster, although they seemed unable to harm it. However, Martians simultaneously invaded Earth, striking first in Transylvania at that very town. Realizing that only the monster could save them from the Martians, Vandoom convinced his creation to help them, and the monster attacked the alien invaders. The Martians unleashed a powerful ultra-gamma ray upon it, but the monster was seemingly immune to its effects. The monster tore through the Martian warriors, forcing them to flee Earth. The monster had saved the planet, but had spent all its energy in doing so, and it fell down as though it were dead. Feeling a wave of sympathy for the creature, the villagers offered to bury the monster on their sacred mountain and help Ludwig Vandoom build a second one for his museum.

   In the end, Vandoom's Monster was rebuilt in his wax museum. The monster was the museum's star attraction, having people from around the world visit after hearing the legend of its selfless tale; but still, Vandoom couldn't help but wonder what might happen should it be struck by lightning again.

(Marvel Monsters: From the Files of Ulysses Bloodstone and the Monster Hunters#1 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, either the original "dead" monster, or the second one built by Vandoom, was brought (back) to life (see comments).

(Marvel Monsters: Monsters on the Prowl#1 (fb) - BTS) - Vandoom's Monster was captured by the Collector and placed in his zoo beneath Canada.

(Marvel Monsters: Monsters on the Prowl#1) - After an attack on the Collector by the Mole Man resulted in freeing the creatures, Vandoom's Monster was among many of the specimens to go on a rampage through New York City. They were defeated by a group of heroes that included the Hulk, the Beast, the Thing and Giant-Man. Mr. Fantastic had the Thing open a portal to the Negative Zone, where the creatures were all dumped.

(Marvel Monsters: From the Files of Ulysses Bloodstone and the Monster Hunters#1 (fb) - BTS) - Vandoom's Monster returned to Earth, and somehow made its way to Monster Island (aka Monster Isle), where the Mole Man was more than happy to add it to his army.

(Fantastic Four I#347) - A group of Skrulls landed on Monster Island, only to be terrified by the sight of Vandoom's Monster fighting with another unidentified monster. The Skrulls attached neural disruptors on Vandoom's Monster and all of the other creatures on the island, then sent them out into the world to lure their target De'Lila out of hiding.

(Fantastic Four I#348) - Under the control of the Skrulls, Vandoom's Monster ravaged Moscow.

(Fantastic Four I#349) - Vandoom's Monster returned to Monster Island, and was called forth by the Mole Man to destroy the Skrulls, the Fantastic Four and several other people who were present.

(Warlock and the Infinity Watch#7) - Vandoom's Monster was present on Monster Island, while the Mole Man discussed having Adam Warlock make his home there.

(Silver Surfer/Warlock: Resurrection#1) - Vandoom's Monster (along with Tricephalous and Skreeal) was present when the Silver Surfer visited Warlock.

(JLA/Avengers#1) - Vandoom's Monster was among the creatures of Monster Island who opposed the Justice League of America during their search for the Ultimate Nullifier.

(Franken-Castle#21) - Vandoom's Monster was on Monster Island when the Punisher (Frank Castle) came to the island to heal.

SECRET WARS III HAPPENED

(Monsters Unleashed II#2) - Presumably summoned by the Inhuman Kid Kaiju, Vandoom's Monster appeared in the bay of San Diego, California. The Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor believed Vandoom's Monster was just another Leviathon and attacked him; Thor subsequently knocked out Vandoom's Monster with Mjolnir. A short time later, a horde of monsters was summoned by Kid Kaiju to aid against the Leviathons.

(Monsters Unleashed II#3) - Vandoom's Monster joined the fight against the Leviathons. Earth's heroes watched the monsters summoned by Kid Kaiju defeat the Leviathons. After the battle, Vandoom's Monster and the other monsters were teleported back from where they came.

(Monsters Unleashed II#4) - In New York City, Vandoom's Monster fought alongside Nova against a Leviathon.

(Monsters Unleashed II#5) - Vandoom's Monster was easily defeated by the Leviathon Mother. After the Leviathon Mother was defeated by Kid Kaiju's own creations, Vandoom's Monster was among the last monsters to teleport back to its place of origin.

Comments: Created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers.

Some sources have the name of the creator as Van Doom, but it is officially Vandoom now. The creature itself was called simply "Vandoom" in Marvel Monsters: Monsters on the Prowl#1.

A monster who looks just like Vandoom's Monster appears among the Mole Man's creatures seen in Fantastic Four I#349 and Warlock and the Infinity Watch#7. I suppose it's possible that the monster later returned to life and went to live on Monster Island, but it might just be a look-alike mutate. (Note: This is now canon that the creature seen on Monster Island is, in fact, the Vandoom Monster).

The monster seen after the first story is in fact one of the two Vandoom creatures, either the buried one or the second one brought to life (I prefer the theory that the original woke up, dug himself out of his grave and made his way to the Island -Prime). Also, he appeared in Sensational Spider-Man#-1 as a pawn of the demon Nightmare in Peter Parker's dream.

A few theories about the monster from Kyle Sims:

The country that was once known as Transylvania, home of Dracula and the backdrop for this story, is now known as Romania.

This story, which originally appeared in Tales To Astonish I#17, was reprinted in the trade paperback Monster Masterworks.

Big thanks to MD Carter for originally allowing me to borrow images from his website, The Monsters of Jack Kirby.

A lifeless statue brought to life by lightning striking it? Maybe there's some connection to the Monsters of Bald Mountain.--John Kaminski

Vandoom's Monster had a brief profile in Marvel Monsters: From the Files of Ulysses Bloodstone and the Monster Hunters#1: Monster Island, where his height was mentioned as being 25 feet tall.

And for the record, the monster wax figures created by Ludwig's father Heinrich Vandoom included the Frankenstein Monster, Dracula, the Wolf Man, and the Mummy--these figures more resembled the classic Universal Studios movie monsters of the 1930-40s rather than their Marvel Universe counterparts.--Ron Fredricks

Ludwig's great-grandson Victor became a mad scientist and eventually fled from Transylvania to Lichtenbad as seen in U.S.Avengers#4 (May, 2017). He is the reason why I place the origin of the monster into the pre-modern era (around the time the story was published), but it could also have occurred earlier.
--Markus Raymond

New and additional images by Ron Fredricks.

Profile by Prime Eternal. Updates by Kyle Simns & Markus Raymond.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Ludwig Vandoom ("The Man Who Made a Creature") should not be confused with, and has no known connections to:

Ludwig Vandoom

Ludwig was the son of Heinrich Vandoom, a famed wax sculptor in Transylvania; Heinrich had created wax replicas of "the greatest monsters in literature" (see comments), which were displayed in his wax museum, and they had brought him wealth and fame.

But by the time Ludwig took over the business, the museum, had fallen upon hard times because tourists found the old monster figures to be dull and commonplace; as a result, Ludwig became impoverished, and his wife Helga was forced to take in other people's washing and sewing so they could earn enough money to live.

Ludwig decided to create a massive wax figure of a creature to get the public's attention. He crafted his giant monster against the protests of local citizens, and constructed it so that its head rose through the roof of the museum. After a lightning strike brought the monster wax figure to life, Ludwig tried to convince the villagers not to harm it, because scientists could study it and learn the secret of life; but regardless, the angry villagers blamed Vandoom for having built the monster, and he was beaten by the mob.

However, while Helga attended to her husband's injuries, Martians invaded Transylvania. Ludwig realized that only the monster could save them, and convinced his creation to attack the aliens. The monster succeeded in beating the Martian invaders, but then collapsed, as lifeless as when it was made.

With help from the repentant villagers, Vandoom constructed a new monster in his museum, where it became an immensely popular attraction, bringing him the business he had desired.

--Tales To Astonish I#17/1

images: (without ads)
Tales to Astonish I#17/1, p6, pan3 (main image - Vandoom's Monster breaks out of wax museum; Ludwig Vandoom [bottom right corner])
Tales to Astonish I#17/1, p8, pan1 (headshot - Vandoom's Monster)
Monsters Unleashed II#2 p19, pan1 (Vandoom's Monster arises from San Diego Bay)
Monsters Unleashed II#4, p4, pan1 (Vandoom's Monster and Nova battle Leviathon)
Tales to Astonish I#17/1, p2, pan5 (Ludwig Vandoom looks upon his father's wax figures of Wolf Man, Frankenstein Monster, Dracula, and Mummy)
Tales to Astonish I#17/1, p2, pan8 (Ludwig Vandoom decides to make a creature)
Tales to Astonish I#17/1, p10, pan1 (Helga attends to beaten Ludwig Vandoom)
Tales to Astonish I#17/1, p13, pan6 (Ludwig Vandoom)
Tales to Astonish I#17/1, p13, pan7 (Helga & Ludwig Vandoom in wax museum with second monster figure)

Appearances:
Tales To Astonish I#17/1 (March, 1961) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), Dick Ayers (inks), Stan Goldberg (colors), Artie Simek (letters)
Fantastic Four I#347 (December, 1990) - Walter Simonson (writer), Arthur Adams (pencils), Art Thibert (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Fantastic Four I#348-349 (January - February, 1991) - Walter Simonson (writer), Arthur Adams & Gracine Tanaka (pencils), Art Thibert & Al Milgrom (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Warlock and the Infinity Watch#7 (August, 1992) - Jim Starlin (writer), Tom Raney (pencils), Terry Austin (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Silver Surfer/Warlock: Resurrection#1 (March, 1993) - Jim Starlin (writer/artist), Craig Anderson (editor)
JLA/Avengers#1 (September, 2003) - Kurt Busiek (writer), George Perez (artist), Tom Brevoort & Dan Raspler (editors)
Marvel Monsters: Monsters on the Prowl#1 (December, 2005) - Steve Niles (writer), Duncan Fegredo (artist), Jenny Lee & Mark Paniccia (editors)
Franken-Castle#21 (November, 2010) - Rick Remender (writer), Dan Brereton (artist), Sebastian Girner (editor)
Monsters Unleashed II#2 (April, 2017) - Cullen Bunn (writer), Greg Land (pencils), Jay Leisten (inks), Mark Paniccia (editor)
Monsters Unleashed II#3 (April, 2017) - Cullen Bunn (writer), Leinil Francis Yu (pencils), Gerry Alanguilan & Michael Jason Paz (inks), Mark Paniccia (editor)
Monsters Unleashed II#4 (May, 2017) - Cullen Bunn (writer), Salvador Larroca (artist), Mark Paniccia (editor)
Monsters Unleashed II#5 (May, 2017) - Cullen Bunn (writer), Adam Kubert (artist), Mark Paniccia (editor)

First posted: 07/12/2003
Last updated: 04/11/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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