(GREAT) DEVIL CORKERS
(Cavaranthus mazorus)
Classification: Semi-arachnoid (see comments) extraterrestrial (Sakaar) race (fauna)
Location/Base of Operations: Planet Sakaar, Tayo system, Fornax galaxy;
they were specifically noted to thrive in the plains and deserts of upper Vandro
Known Members: None named
Affiliations (under specific circumstances):
Brood-Sakaaran Native hybrids, Caiera the Oldstrong, Hiro-Kala, Mawkaw
Makong, Mole Man (Harvey Elder) and his mutates, Moloids, Old Sam,
Shadow Elders
formerly Hulk (Bruce Banner), Skaar
Enemies: Black Bolt (Blackagar Boltagon), Dr. Strange (Stephen Strange), Gorgon of the Inhumans, Governor of Wukar (Denebo Aruc III), Hulk, Miek, Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards), Princess Omaka, Red King (Angmo Asan), Sakaaran Imperials, Sakaaran Natives, Sentry (Robert Reynolds), Skaar, Tony Stark, Tyrannus
Aliases: Lava monsters
First Appearance: Incredible Hulk III#92 (April, 2006)
Powers/Abilities: The Devil Corkers are large and lethally powerful creatures.
They have 4-8 tentacle-like legs, the first pair of which may have terminate in pincer-like appendages; others have one of more of their forelimbs terminated in thickened stumps with multiple spikes extending around it and a sharp central talon.
Regardless, these forelimbs are
used for burrowing and assisting in prehending prey (and dragging such
prey into their mouths).
Some Devil Corkers possess jointed
limbs as well as tentacles, but some appear to possess only jointed
limbs or tentacles.
They have spiked projectile tongues (which, in some cases, possess a pair of sharp teeth) that can grasp and ensnare a target before pulling it into its mouth.
They have multiple sharp incisor-positioned teeth, which can grasp, bite through, or shred prey. They readily feed on various forms of fauna, as well as Natives, Imperials, and any other fleshy beings they come across.
They are large enough to swallow a
Hulk-sized being in a single gulp, but sufficiently powerful and
durable beings (such as the Hulk) may tear through and exit their
bodies.
Traits: The Devil Corkers are ferocious predators
Devil Corkers spend the majority
of their time burrowed under the sandy soil of the plains, biding their
time until unsuspecting prey traverses the ground above them. At that
point they burst forth from their subterranean dens, surprising and
typically capturing and consuming their prey.
Type: Semi-arachnoid
(see comments) creatures
Eyes: Eight (on head; solid black color seen)
Fingers: None
Toes: None
Skin color: Pink, purple, and red seen
Average height: Approximately 25' tall (much taller if they are supported by fully-extended tentacles)
History:
(Planet Hulk: Gladiator Guidebook#1: Sakaar: Wildlife: Great Devil Corkers) - The Cavaranthus mazorus
are an ancient species native to Sakaar who have evolved very little
over time. At some point, they came to be referred to, almost
exclusively, as Great Devil Corkers, or just Devil Corkers.
|
The Devil Corkers were both loathed and feared as one Sakaar's most ferocious land predators. They have earned their place in the nightmares of children throughout the Empire. Living in constant fear of the Devil Corkers, the Natives developed rules to never traverse the plains in groups of less than eight. (Incredible Hulk III#92 (fb) - BTS) - The Devil Corkers came to be known as Sakaar's most ferocious predators. (Planet Hulk: Gladiator
Guidebook#1: Sakaar: Wildlife: Great Devil Corkers) - The Devil Corkers
terrorized both Natives and Imperials. (Planet Hulk: Gladiator
Guidebook#1: Sakaar: Wildlife: Great Devil Corkers) - At some point,
the Empire tasked the Death's Head Warguard with the mission of
eradicating the Devil Corkers, the Empire later re-focused its
attention on the Emperor's War. Those Devil Corkers that the
Empire managed to capture alive were taken to the Great Arena to
entertain spectators at the Great Games.
(Incredible Hulk III#92 (fb) - BTS) - Denebo Aruc III, the Governor of Wukar, arranged for three of the Devil Corkers to be brought beneath the sands of the Great Arena prior to a gladiatorial battle. (Incredible
Hulk III#92) - When the Red King (Angmo-Asan) became bored during a
gladiatorial battle, Aruc announced the involvement of the Great Devil
Corker. As he described it, one of the creatures emerged from beneath the sands and began feeding on the nearby Natives, and then consumed the Hulk (who had been weakened by his arrival through the Great Portal); however, the Hulk then ripped out of the creatures' belly, killing it and splattering the Red King and Aruc. The other two Devil Corkers then rushed in, threatening the Natives, but the Hulk picked up an axe and decapitated both of the Corkers. . . (Incredible Hulk III#100) - As the Hulk, Caiera, Hiroim, Elloe Kaifi and their "red" Imperial allies approached the base of the Elders of the Shadow Priests, they were confronted by a quartet of the Devil Corkers. (Incredible Hulk III#101) - As the Hulk battled the Devil Corkers, the Shadow Elders called out that the Devil Corkers did not come to fight him but rather to find him.The Shadow Elders subsequently transported the Hulk, Caiera, and Hiroim within the vessel that had brought their people to Sakaar. |
.
|
. . (World War Hulk#4) - After the Hulk had captured Black Bolt (his mouth gagged), Dr. Stranger (his hands crushed to prevent their use in magical spells), Tony Stark (stripped of his armor), and Reed Richards and implanted them with slave discs, he forced them into a gladiatorial challenge in Madison Square Garden against a Devil Corker. When the creature crushed Strange in one of its tentacles, Stark grabbed a bladed weapon and severed that tentacle. The creature turned to face Stark. (World War Hulk: Front Line#4) - Stark grappled with the creatures tentacles. (World War Hulk#4) - Black Bolt fatally stabbed the Devil Corker in the head from atop its back. (World War Hulk: Front Line#4) - Stark, Black Bolt, and Strange stared at their fallen foe. |
 .(World War Hulk#5 - BTS / Incredible Hulk II#605 (fb)) - When the Sentry shattered the Stone Starship that had brought the Hulk, the Warbound, and their Sakaaran allies to Earth, portions of the ship shattered the ground and passed into the Mole Man's Subterranea. Amongst the creatures released into his domain were at least a pair of Devil Corkers, a Mawkaw Makong, and some of the Native-Brood hybrids (or Native Hivekings).  The Mole Man and his Moloids fled initially, but the injured creatures did not attack, and the Mole Man healed their injuries and earned their alliance. |
 .. . (Skaar: Son of Hulk#4/2) - In the wastelands a short distance from the camp of Axeman Bone, Hiro-Kala was in the process of taking a beating from a pair of Filian(?) Imperials (or perhaps one was beating him and the other was just taunting and laughing) when a Devil Corker suddenly appeared and apparently slew both Imperials. The creature suddenly collapsed next to Hiro-Kala, who noted and then removed a number of spears from above its eye. When a sandstorm approached almost immediately thereafter, the Devil Corker shielded Hiro-Kala and the Imperial woman who had argued against the Imperial men harassing Hiro-Kala. She was surprised that the thing that would normally be eating them was helping them instead. She wondered who the boy was that had brought this about. When the sandstorm subsided, the Devil Corker departed, leaving Hiro-Kala and the woman in peace. |
  (Skaar: Son of Hulk#4) - As one of the Shadow People
played drums and chanted atop a precipice, hoping to summon other
survivors to their caraban, Skaar -- appreciating that this would
summon both Axeman Bone and his priests as well as any nearby Devil Corkers nearby -- cast the drummer over the cliff. The drummer was caught by Princess Omaka, who carried him back to the top, where they and Skaar were confronted by at least five Devil Corkers. Skaar and Omaka subsequently attacked and slew the Corkers -- possibly aided by other armed refugees -- and then Skaar began eating one of the still-living creatures. It roared in pain and furiously tried to fight knock Skaar off with its tentacles, but he eventually incapacitated it. After the Corker fell, some of the Native-Brood hybrids began feeding on the fallen creature Skaar's savage display apalled some of the Shadow People, and one argued against the wisdom of "an animal like that" gaining the old power. Carrying a chunk of Corker meat, Omaka reminded them that Skaar had saved their lives and ended their starving. The Shadow People accepted the meat. When a sandstorm approached, Omaka tore a hole in the ventral surface of one of the Corkers and led the Shadow People to take shelter within its corpse. Skaar and some of the Brood-Native hybrids remained outside. |
|
(War
of Kings: Savage World of Skaar One-Shot#1 - BTS) - A Kree ship under command
of Gorgon of the Inhumans and a Shi'ar ship under the command of
Starbolt of the Imperial Guard were pulled through the Great Portal to
Sakaar.
After their ships crashed to
the ground and the rest of their crew perished, the Gorgon and Starbolt
were separated. (War
of Kings: Savage World of Skaar One-Shot#1) - While approaching a freshly deceased animal he
sought to consume, Gorgon was attacked by a Great Devil Corker that
sought to consume him instead. Wrapped in its tendrils, which pulled
him toward its maw, causing it to cry out and presumably release him. |
  (Incredible Hulk II#605 (fb)) - Over time, the Sakaaran
creatures dwelling in Subterranea grew restless and violent, proving
beyond the Mole Man's ability to control. (Incredible Hulk II#605 (fb) - BTS) - After Skaar came to Earth, the Mole Man realized that he needed to bring the Sakaaran creatures to him. (Incredible Hulk II#605 (fb) - BTS) - While the Mole Man plotted to have Skaar lead the Sakaaran monsters in an assault on the surface world, rival Subterranean warlord Tyrannus plotted to usurp control of the monsters for himself via Deviant technology. Tyrannus also apparently stole the technology that created the gammadome over the Stoneridge, New Mexico (aka Gammaworld). ((Incredible Hulk II#604 - BTS / Incredible Hulk II#605 (fb) - BTS) - As
the Mole Man led his terrestrial and Sakaaran mutates to invade the
surface of Manhattan, meeting opposition from the Fantastic Four (Human
Torch, Invisible Women, Mr. Fantastic, Thing), Tyrannus apparently
replicated the gammadome over Manhattan, which attracted Bruce Banner
to bring Skaar there. (Incredible Hulk II#605) - Banner teleported himself
and Skaar into Manhattan. One of the Devil Corkers stood within an
alley as Skaar confronted the Mole Man, who then explained how the
Sakaaran creatures had come to Subterranea. Both groups of monsters
apparently accepted Skaar as their king, at which point Tyrannus
arrived and used Deviant-technology to mutate and/or control the
monsters. Skaar subsequently disarmed Tyrannus and then slew the
monsters, despite their being the brothers and sisters of the monsters
who had fought at his side when he was a child. In the process, Skaar apparently destroyed the gammadome as well. |
Comments: Created by Greg Pak, Carlo Pagulayan, and Jeffrey Huet.
The Gladiator Guidebook describes
the species as arachnoid, and certainly their eyes are very
spider-like. They have multiple legs extending from a central body, but
their anatomy varies between appearances, with some appearing to
possess only tentacles while some possess only jointed limbs.
Some appear closer to a cephalopod, such an octopus.
Some images make them appear to have a head separate from their body,
which would be arachnoid, but others show them with just a central
cephalothorax, and they look like some more like a tentacled jellyfish
than a spider.
Regardless, they are some sort of alien spider-like creatures.
I don't recall why there was a second gammadome over Manhattan. I've re-read Incredible
Hulk V#604-605 a few times, and I can't figure out what was going on.
I've summarized as best as I could, but if you can explain it better
and cite your sources, please let me know.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The (Great) Devil Corkers have no known connections to
images: (without ads)
Incredible Hulk III#92,
#100, last page, last panel (quartet with Shadow Priests);
#101, pg. 1 (Hulk vs. four Devil Corkers)
World War Hulk#4, pg. 21, panel 5 (purple Corker let out of containment);
pg. 23, panel 4 (Black Bolt stabbing Corker in head);
Skaar: Son of Hulk#4, pg. 4, panel 4 (confronting Skaar, Omaka, and Shadow Priest);
pg. 5, panel 1 (group of Corkers chasing Skaar, Omaka, and Shadow Priest);
2nd story, pg. 4, panel 1 (snagging barbarian beating Hiro-Kala);
War
of Kings: Savage World of Skaar One-Shot#1, pg. 13, panel 4 (confronting Gorgon);
pg. 14, panel 4 (kicked by Gorgon)
Incredible Hulk II#605, story pg. 2 (Corker in an alley);
pg. 6, panel 3 (Sakaraan creatures unleashed in Subterranea);
pg. 7, panel 1 (Sakaaran creartures at Mole Man's feet);
Appearances:
Incredible Hulk III#92 (April, 2006) - Greg Pak (writer), Carlo Pagulayan (penciler), Jeffrey Huet (inker), Nathan Cosby (assistant editor), Mark Paniccia (editor)
Planet Hulk: Gladiator Guidebook#1 (July, 2006) - Anthony Flamini & Greg Pak
(writers), Carlo Pagulayan, Aaron Lopresti, Ladronn, Ryan Sook, Alex Maleev,
Lucio Parrillo & James Raiz (resource artists), Jim Calafiore (new art), Jen
Grunwald & Mark D. Beasley (associate editors), Michael Short (assistant
editor), Jeff Youngquist (editor)
Incredible
Hulk II#100 (January, 2007) - Greg Pak (writer), Carlo Pagulayan (penciler), Jeffrey Huet (inker), Nathan Cosby (assistant
editor), Mark Paniccia (editor)
Incredible
Hulk II#101 (February, 2007) - Greg Pak (writer), Carlo Pagulayan with Gary Frank (pencilers), Jeffrey Huet with Jon Sibal (inkers), Nathan Cosby (assistant
editor), Mark Paniccia (editor)
World War Hulk#4 (November, 2007) - Greg Park (writer), John Romita Jr. (penciler), Klaus Janson (inker), Nathan Cosby (assistant
editor), Mark Paniccia (editor)
World War Hulk: Front Line#4 (November, 2007) - Paul Jenkins (writer),
Ramon Bachs & Shawn Martinborough (artists), Arbrona & Brennan
(assistant editors), Rosemann & Wacker (editors)
Skaar: Son of Hulk#4 (December, 2008) - Greg Pak (writer), Ron Garney
(penciler), Jordan D. White (assistant editor), Mark Paniccia (editor)
War
of Kings: Savage World of Skaar One-Shot#1 (August, 2009) - Christos N.
Gage (writer), Graham Nolan & Reilly Brown (pencilers), Nelson
DeCastro (inker), Jordan D. White (editor)
Incredible Hulk II#605 (February, 2010) - Greg Park (writer), Ariel
Olivetti (art; current story), Paul Pelletier (penciler; flashbacks)
& Danny Miki (inker; flasbhacks), Jordan D. White (assistant
editor), Mark Paniccia (editor)
First started 02/26/2015
First posted: 04/21/2024
Last updated: 04/21/2024
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and
© 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you
like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com
Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!
(Incredible
Hulk III#92 (fb) - BTS / Planet
Hulk: Gladiator Guidebook#1: Sakaar: Wildlife: Great Devil Corkers) -
Native to the plains of Upper Vandro, the Devil Corkers fed on the
insectoid Natives as their civilizations first arose in the Chaleen
Plains. 
(World
War Hulk#4 (fb) - BTS) - When traveling to Earth with the Warbound and
various beings from Sakaar, the Hulk brought a number of the the Devil Corkers with him.
.