ANSKAR

Real Name: Anskar

Identity/Class: Extra-dimensional (Polemachus) humanoid

Occupation: Priest, rival of Arkon

Group Membership: Priests of Polemachus

Affiliations: His fellow priests and followers

Enemies: Arkon, Astra, The Avengers, Thundra

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: The extra-dimensional world of Polemachus

First Appearance: Avengers I#358 (January, 1993)

Powers/Abilities: Anskar did not appear to have any unusual abilities, although he is a persuasive individual, able to get a crowd behind him. He was able to fire a blast from his staff capable of stunning Thundra, though it is not known if the power came from him or from his staff. 

History: (Avengers I#358 (fb)) - The world of Polemachus faced an unprecedented danger when the energy rings that gave the world  life began to flare out of control. In desperation, the masses, led by a priest named Anskar, turned to the ancient ways of Polemachus for an answer, and decided to appease the gods through a human sacrifice. All of the daughters of the noble families were gathered, and Astra was chosen by Anskar to be sacrificed to the gods. However, Thundra and Arkon, rulers of Polemachus, believed that human sacrifice was barbaric, and took Astra and fled to Earth.

(Avengers I#358) - Upon learning that Arkon, Thundra, and Astra had fled and were nowhere to be found, Anskar naturally assumed (correctly) that they had fled to the planet Earth for refuge. Anskar located Arkon, Thundra, and Astra and teleported them back to Polemachus, unintentionally bringing the Avengers along as well. Anskar imprisoned the Avengers in an energy field, and struck down Thundra with a blast from his staff. Anskar tried to persuade Arkon into killing Astra, telling him it was the only way to quiet the wrath of the gods and the cries of the people. Astra was once again willing to give up her life if Arkon willed it, but the Vision managed to convince Anskar and Arkon to give the Avengers twenty-four hours to try and fix the problems with the energy rings. Anskar hesitantly agreed.

(Avengers I#359) - Anskar continued to whip the masses into a frenzy, crying for Arkon to save them by sacrificing Astra. Anskar pressured Arkon to make the sacrifice, asking him if he had gone completely deaf to his people's cries. However, the Avengers were successful in saving Polemachus by leeching off the excess energy from the energy rings. The heroes celebrated that now Astra would not need to be sacrificed, but Anskar had other ideas, and stabbed Astra in the back, killing her. Anskar claimed that the Avengers had only succeeded because it was the will of the gods, and the gods still needed their gift. Then, in a fit of rage, Sersi struck at Anskar and incinerated him with an energy blast from her eyes.

Comments: Created by Bob Harras, Steve Epting, and Tom Palmer

Profile by Stunner

Clarifications: Anskar should not be confused with

images: Avengers I#358 page 20 panel 6

Appearances:
Avengers I#358-359 (January-February, 1993) - Bob Harras (writer), Steve Epting (pencils), Tom Palmer (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)

Last updated: 09/27/04

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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