THE FORGOTTEN ONE

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Sub-species of humanity (Eternal) (Post-Hyborian Era to present)

Occupation: Hero, champion, adventurer, monster-slayer, former king

Group Membership: Avengers, Eternals of Earth

Affiliations: Achilles, Aeneas, Ajak, Buffalo Bill Cody, Celestials, King David, Enkidu, Fantastic Four, Firelord, Interloper, Karkas, Kro, Ninsun, the One Above All, Pegasus, Ransak the Reject, Siduri, Thor, Urshanabi, Utnapishtim;
formerly Sprite

Enemies: Anachronauts ("greenshirts"), Avatar of Cha'sa'dra, B'Gon, Brain Leeches, Bull of Heaven, Cha'sa'dra, Dagon, Deviants, the Dreaming Celestial, Druig, Ghaur, Growing Man, Humbaba, Immortus, Imperial Guard, Ishtar, Jinku, Kree, Kronans, Lava Men, Legba, Maelstrom's Minions, Makkari, Nanny, N'astirh, Neut, Orphan Maker, Puma, Shi'ar, Sprite, Super-Nova, Thena, Time-Keepers, U-Foes, Zuras

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Gilgamesh, Hero, Dragon-Slayer, Forgotten Nemesis (Deviant name), Guerreiro
mistaken for Hercules, Samson, Atlas

Base of Operations: A hut in Olympia, Greece
    formerly, Avengers Island, New York harbor
    formerly, the Mothership of the Celestial host
    formerly, Uruk (modern-day Iraq), circa 2750-2500 B.C.

First Appearance: Eternals I#13 (July, 1977)

Powers/Abilities: The Forgotten One possessed superhuman strength (class 100), stamina, durability, agility and reflexes. He possessed cosmic power which enabled him to control every molecule in his body, granting him virtual immortality and indestructibility. He could also fire cosmic energy from his eyes and hands, fly, teleport and rearrange the molecules of other objects.

At some point in his life, the Forgotten One was blinded by unknown means, but this injury was apparently healed. While he was blind, he would use his cosmic senses (and the aid of Sprite) to interact with his environment.

The Forgotten One was a master of various forms of armed combat, and could ably wield and forge swords, axes and spears. During his reign as king of Uruk, he wielded the axe "Might of Heroes" and the bow of Anshan. He often wore a suit of armor designed by Sprite to protect him in outer space.

Height: 6'5"
Weight: 260 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black

History: (Mesopotamian myth) - Gilgamesh was a mighty warrior who became the king of Uruk. Some people feared Gilgamesh because of his strength, and so the gods Anu and Aruru created the wildman Enkidu to challenge him. When Gilgamesh heard of Enkidu, he sent the harlot Shamhat to sleep with him, and afterwards, Enkidu was no longer welcome amongst the animals. As Enkidu went to seek out Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh was sent dreams of an axe and of a meteor by Ninsun which foretold the coming of Enkidu as a friend. Enkidu interrupted Gilgamesh as he was about to wed a goddess of love, and the two fought, only to find they were evenly matched. They then decided to become friends.

Seeing that Enkidu was down in spirits, Gilgamesh proposed that they battle Humbaba, not caring that Humbaba might kill him because he would at least be remembered for his deeds. Gilgamesh took up the axe "Might of Heroes" and the bow of Ansham, and visited Ninsun before departing on the adventure. Ninsun adopted Enkidu into her family, and had him swear to protect Gilgamesh. When they finally found Humbaba, they fought a terrific battle against him. Humbaba implored them to let him live, but Enkidu goaded Gilgamesh on, and they finally slew him. They then destroyed his forest.

The goddess Ishtar visited Gilgamesh, and offered to make him her lover, but Gilgamesh spurned her, being all too aware of how her previous lovers had met their dooms.

(Mesopotamian myth/Captain America Annual#11 (fb)) - Ishtar sent her Bull of Heaven after Gilgamesh, which he and Enkidu slew. As punishment, Enkidu was struck down by the gods, and grew ill. After 12 days of torment, Enkidu passed away, and Gilgamesh was overcome with grief.

(Mesopotamian myth) - Now fearing death, Gilgamesh decided to seek out Utnapishtim, to learn the secrets of immortality from him. In his journey he fought lions, and passed through the mountains of Mashu, guarded by man-scorpions. He visited with the wine-maker Siduri, who directed him to the ferryman Urshanabi as the only one who could ferry him across the ocean to Utnapishtim.

(Mesopotamian myth/Captain America Annual#11) - Along the way, Gilgamesh was attacked by the extraterrestrial Kronans, but was aided against them by Captain America, who had time traveled to that point in time. Captain America accompanied Gilgamesh as he crossed the ocean to Utnapishtim. Utnapishtim told Gilgamesh how he had survived the Great Cataclysm, and directed him to the Plant of Immortality, which grew at the bottom of the ocean. Gilgamesh dove to retrieve the plant, but was attacked by a monstrous sea creature. Captain America helped Gilgamesh against the creature, but it devoured the plant.

(Mesopotamian myth) - Urshanabi returned to Uruk with Gilgamesh, and Gilgamesh displayed his city's splendor to him.

(Thor Annual#17) - Gilgamesh was seen in Uruk by Thor (Eric Masterson) as he traveled through Kang's Chronopolis.

(Captain America Annual#11 (fb) - BTS) - At some point in his life, Gilgamesh came to realize that he was an Eternal, and thus, would not die. He continued to seek adventure, and performed many deeds.

(Thor I#287 (fb) - BTS) - The Forgotten One once claimed to have held the entire planet Earth aloft, and was thought to be the Titan Atlas by humans.

(Avengers I#300 (fb) - BTS) - At some point in his adventures, the Forgotten One flew the legendary winged horse Pegasus. He later recalled the steed to be difficult to fly.

(Thor I#291 (fb) - BTS) - During his adventures, the Forgotten One cleaned out the Augean Stables by diverting a river through the structure. As this had been one of the tasks assigned to the demi-god Hercules, the Forgotten One was mistaken for Hercules, and the son of Zeus spent many centuries wondering who had stolen his thunder.

(Avengers I#300 (fb) - BTS) - Around 1185 B.C., the Forgotten One befriended the Greek hero Achilles. Later, the Forgotten One helped the Trojan warrior Aeneas "set his standard upon the Palatine Hill," founding what would become the Roman Empire.

(Avengers I#300 (fb) - BTS) - Around the 10 century B.C., the Forgotten One befriended King David in Judah.

(Avengers Spotlight#35 (fb)) - At one point, the Forgotten One slew a dragon belonging to the sorcerer B'Gon. Although the Forgotten One never learned who the dragon's master was, B'Gon vowed vengeance.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#6 (fb) - BTS) - The Forgotten One befriended the Interloper, another Eternal who had little to do with the rest of their race.

(Avengers Spotlight#35 (fb) - BTS) - At one point in the late 19th century, the Forgotten One befriended Buffalo Bill Cody, and learned how to master horses.

(Eternals I#13 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, Zuras judged that the Forgotten One had meddled too often in the affairs of human and been too prideful. He had him banished to a small hut in Olympia.

(Eternals I#13) - When nearly the entire of population of Olympia merged into a Uni-Mind, only the young Eternal Sprite was left in the city. Sprite learned that the Deviants were going to launch an assault upon the Mothership of the Celestials, and sought out the Forgotten One for aid. The Forgotten One was reluctant at first, claiming that he was no longer a hero, but when Sprite observed that with Zuras gone, his edict was also gone, and he agreed to help. Sprite used his powers to give the Forgotten One a spacesuit, and transformed his hut into a spaceship. The Forgotten One pursued the Deviant craft, and had soon attracted the attention of the One Above All, greatest of the Celestial host. The One Above All teleported the Forgotten One to the Deviants' craft, the Deviant astronauts to a human shuttle, and the human astronauts to the Forgotten One's ship. The Forgotten One tore the Deviants' bomb apart, but the resulting explosion left him stranded in space. As he coasted through the stars, the One Above All reached his hand out of the Mothership and pulled him within.

(Thor I#287 (fb)) - The One Above All restored the Forgotten One to full health and named him "Hero." He lived amongst the Celestials for a time aboard the Mothership.

(Thor I#287) - When the Eternals were in danger of interfering with the Celestials, the One Above All dispatched Hero to Olympia to confront his people. He warned them to keep out of the Celestials' affairs, but the Eternals chose to attack him, only to be defeated. The Eternals' ally Thor then engaged Hero, and managed to hold his own until the One Above All teleported them both aboard the Mothership to continue their clash.

(Thor I#288) - Hero and Thor continued their battle, and Hero attempted to lift Thor's hammer Mjolnir, only to fail, and affording Thor an opportunity to strike him down.

(Thor I#289) - The One Above All teleported Hero and Thor back to Earth, and Hero removed his spacesuit, revealing that he was blind. Zuras soon learned how Sprite had allowed the Forgotten One to leave Olympia earlier, and Hero declared that he had only broken Zuras' orders so that he could save the Earth. Zuras decided to lift his edict against Hero, and placed he and Sprite into each other's care.

(Thor I#291-292) - When the forces of the Olympian gods went to war with the Eternals, Sprite led Hero into combat with Hercules, who finally learned that Hero was responsible for stealing his thunder so many centuries ago. The battle was ultimately halted when Odin, allied with Olympus, refused to continue the battle.

(Eternals II#2) - The Forgotten One cloaked himself and journeyed into Deviant Lemuria in order to observe Warlord Kro's actions.

(Eternals II#4) - The Forgotten One visited Kro on the bridge of his ship as he led a task force to the Pyramid of the Winds. After he repaired a defect in Kro's chair, Kro wondered who he was working for.

(Eternals II#5) - The Forgotten One helped Kro with his armor as he prepared to enter the Pyramid of the Winds.

(Eternals II#6) - After Kro returned from the Pyramid bearing the essence of the Dreaming Celestial, Nuncio Klarheit of the Deviant priesthood attempted to reclaim it from him, but the Forgotten One intervened to defend him. When more of the Eternals arrived, ultimately leading to a showdown when Thena came to Kro's defense, the Forgotten One stepped out of the shadows and struck Kro down so that the priesthood would leave him alone, allowing Thena an opportunity to bring Kro to safety.

(Eternals II#9) - The Forgotten One came to Olympia to confront Ikaris, but Ikaris accused him of being a Deviant collaborator, leading to a fight. When the Forgotten One explained that Ghaur intended to use the vial from the Pyramid to become a Celestial, Ikaris halted his attack. The Forgotten One observed as Ikaris challenged Thena for the mantle of Prime Eternal, and claimed the power from her.

(Eternals II#10) - The Forgotten One journeyed to Lemuria with the Eternals, disguised as Deviants, to find Thena and Kro and halt Ghaur's plot.

(Eternals II#11) - The Forgotten One joined his fellow Eternals in an assault upon the priesthood's temple, but they were unable to prevent Ghaur from claiming the Dreaming Celestial's power.

(Eternals II#12) - The Forgotten One returned to Olympia to join in a Uni-Mind with the other Eternals to halt Ghaur, but they were unable to complete the ceremony, lacking the right amount of Eternals. They followed Ghaur as he was forced to the tomb of the Dreaming Celestial to break it open, and joined with the Avengers in battling Ghaur. Finally, Thena rejoined the Eternals and with them and the Avengers formed a Uni-Mind which destroyed Ghaur. They then tore apart the armor Ghaur had worn, allowing the Celestial energies to dissipate.

(Avengers I#299) - The Forgotten One's meditations in Olympia were interrupted by Sprite, who summoned him to the presence of Thena. Thena informed the Forgotten One that New York was under assault by a demonic invasion force, and that they had need of a monster slayer. She asked him if he would take a name, and he responded "If the need arises." The Forgotten One forged a sword and suit of armor, then set out to New York. He came upon the Captain, Mr. Fantastic and Invisible Woman as they battled Nanny and the Orphan-Maker, who had placed Franklin Richards under their control.

(Avengers I#300) - The Forgotten One aided the heroes against Nanny and the Orphan-Maker, and was formally reintroduced to the Captain, reminding him of their battle against the Dreaming Celestial. Mr. Fantastic suggested that the Forgotten One call himself Gilgamesh, which the Forgotten One identified as one of his earliest names. Just as the Captain began to suggest that they reform the Avengers, Franklin Richards was stolen by the demon N'Astirh, and the heroes set after him. They were joined by Thor, and fought their way through the Growing Man and countless demons to rescue Franklin, finally bringing him home safely. Over Franklin's bed, Gilgamesh, the Captain, Mr. Fantastic, the Invisible Woman and Thor agreed to reform the Avengers.

(Thor I#402) - Gilgamesh watched with the other Avengers as Thor departed for personal reasons.

(X-Factor Annual#4/3) - Following the banishment of the demons, Gilgamesh cleaned up damage from the streets of New York. He was visited by FBI agents Farber and McNulty, who wanted to know what had gone on in New York, but he was not forthcoming with answers.

(Avengers I#301) - Gilgamesh assisted the Avengers in the relocation of Avengers Island by pounding an Adamantium mooring post into the island. After an emergency call from Starfox, alerting the team that Firelord had been captured by Super-Nova, a powerful Xandarian warrior. The five Avengers journeyed to Super-Nova's ship, and fought the Brain Leeches which guarded his vessel. Gilgamesh lost his helmet to one of the Brain Leeches. Further investigating aboard the ship, they found and freed Firelord, but were confronted by Super-Nova. Super-Nova accused them of being allies of Nebula, the woman who had destroyed Xandar, and set off to find her on Earth, destroying his ship as he departed.

(Avengers I#302) - Gilgamesh and the other Avengers were saved by the Invisible Woman, who transported them all back to Earth within one of her invisible force fields.

(Avengers I#303) - Gilgamesh joined the Avengers, Firelord, Fantastic Four and west Coast Avengers against Super-Nova, who was ultimately sent away by Mr. Fantastic, convincing him to use the Fantastic Four's time machine to search for Nebula.

(Avengers Annual#18/2) - Gilgamesh assisted the Avengers and Fantastic Four in clean-up operations following the battle.

(Avengers I#304) - Gilgamesh donned civilian clothes to join Captain America and Thor (as Steve Rogers and Sigurd Jarleson) at Ellis Island, where they reflected upon immigration, as Gilgamesh and Thor were both natives of other lands. When the Puma appeared pursuing the young mutant Charles Little Sky, the Avengers tried to help Charles, but Charles opened a portal which brought the U-Foes there. Gilgamesh joined his teammates in battling the U-Foes, and defeated Ironclad.

(Marvel Comics Presents#21/3 - BTS) - Gilgamesh was possibly among the Avengers summoned to the Antarctic by Paladin to help drive off a band of extraterrestrial invaders.

(Avengers I#305) - Gilgamesh attended a meeting of nearly all the Avengers in which Captain America formally removed the boundaries between east and west coast, declaring that they would be a single team from then on. After most of the Avengers had left, Gilgamesh joined Captain America, She-Hulk, Quasar, Black Panther and Thor in a training exercise. When Thor hurled his hammer at Gilgamesh, Gilgamesh attempted to lift it, but was not found worthy. Just then, Avengers Island was attacked by the Lava Men, and Gilgamesh joined his fellow Avengers in battling them, only to be overcome by sheer numbers. The Lava Men surrounded the Avengers, and encased them within a sphere fashioned from their own bodies, then rolled into the ocean.

(Avengers I#306) - The Avengers were joined by the Sub-Mariner, and carried into the presence of Jinku, the Lava Men's high priest. He revealed that during the assault of the demons on New York, the Avengers had slain Cha'sa'dra, the god of the Lava Men, and Jinku's people had been frozen into stone. He then unleashed a lava creature fashioned to serve as the avatar of Cha'sa'dra, and sent it to destroy them.

(Avengers I#307) - The Avengers engaged in battle with the creature, but could not withstand its power, until only Thor and Gilgamesh remained. Gilgamesh succumbed to warrior's madness and flung himself against the creature, determined to destroy it, only to be struck down by the creature, and rendered comatose. The Lava Men ultimately called off their attack when Jinku realized that his people still existed, and had mutated into a golden form.

(Avengers I#308) - The Lava Men returned the Avengers to Avengers Island, and they set to work to try and save Gilgamesh's life. Unable to treat him using any of their instruments, the Avengers brought him to Sersi, who was shocked to see a fellow Eternal brought so low. She determined that he would have to be brought to Olympia to be cured, but upon their arrival at Olympia, they found only a smoldering crater.

(Avengers I#309) - Sersi determined that Olympia had been transported somewhere else, and Thor learned it was located in the Negative Zone. The Avengers brought Gilgamesh there, only to find the city deserted, the entire population seemingly slain by Blastaar.

(Avengers I#310) - The Eternals proved to have survived Blastaar's attempt at destroying them, and aided the Avengers in defeating Blastaar. Thena then treated Gilgamesh's injuries and revived him, revealing that his long exile within Olympia had resulted in him being bound to the city, making him weaker when he departed. Because of this, Gilgamesh was forced to leave the Avengers.

(Avengers Spotlight#35) - Tired of performing feats of manual labor in Olympia, Gilgamesh was convinced by Sprite to journey into Paris with him in search of adventure. When Gilgamesh was attacked by the sorcerer B'Gon and his dragons, he managed to defeat him, and B'Gon fled. However, Gilgamesh received no credit for his actions because Sprite, disguised as Captain America, captured all of the headlines.

(Quasar#29) - Gilgamesh was one of several superhumans who had a cocoon placed on them by Her as she searched for a suitable mate. Gilgamesh journeyed to Avengers Headquarters with Ikaris to meet with other such afflicted heroes, and found that Hercules was also affected. Gilgamesh and Hercules decided to prove they were unfit for "motherhood," and engaged in combat, battling until they had destroyed the cocoons.

(Avengers Forever#12) - Gilgamesh (or possibly an alternate reality counterpart) was among the Avengers of the past, present and future summoned by Rick Jones to help oppose the forces of the Time-Keepers in the climax of the "Destiny War."

(Avengers I#345) - As Earth became involved in the Kree-Shi'ar war, Gilgamesh rejoined the Avengers to serve on their Earthbound force at Project: PEGASUS, guarding the Kree and Shi'ar agents who had been captured by the Avengers.

(Avengers West Coast#81) - When Nightside and Scintilla of the Imperial Guard set their ally Warstar free, Gilgamesh engaged them in combat, and aided She-Hulk in defeating Warstar. However, Captain Atlas escaped.

(Captain America I#400/2) - Gilgamesh was present with the other reserve Avengers as they received a communication from Peggy Carter, informing them of demands made by Captain America's enemy Flag-Smasher. The U.S. Agent and Falcon set off to deal with Flag-Smasher.

(Captain America I#401) - With the mission against the Kree and Shi'ar over, Gilgamesh attended a debriefing during which Captain America offered his resignation, only to be refused. Hercules and the Black Knight flew Gilgamesh back to Olympia.

(Fantastic Four Unlimited#10) - When Maelstrom's Minions invaded Olympia to capture Karkas and Ransak, Gilgamesh joined the Eternals present in attacking them. When the minions escaped with their friends, Gilgamesh remained behind to guard Olympia while the others set after the minions.

(Avengers I#391 (fb) - BTS) - Gilgamesh was transported away by Immortus, who had assumed the form of Kang and conscripted Gilgamesh to train the Anachronauts. Gilgamesh eventually escaped Immortus and fled to Earth to warn the Avengers. He began to age rapidly, despite his powers.

(Avengers: The Crossing) - Gilgamesh shambled towards Avengers Mansion, only to be assaulted by an army of Anachronauts. He was saved by the Avengers, who were startled by his appearance.

(Avengers I#391) - Giant-Man did his best to treat Gilgamesh, but could not comprehend what had afflicted him. Later that night, Neut, the weapons-master of the Anachronauts, was sent to hasten Gilgamesh's demise. He channeled unknown energies from his spear at Gilgamesh as he plunged it into his chest, killing him. He tried to warn the Avengers of who their enemies were, but died before he could finish his words.

(Eternals III#4 (fb) - BTS) - Sprite used the power of the Dreaming Celestial to transform all Eternals including Druig into humans with false identities and memories.

(Eternals IV#2 - BTS) - Gilgamesh worked as the wrestler "Guerreiro" in Goiana, Brazil.

(Eternals IV#3 - BTS) - Stoyanovich's men found Gilgamesh, but Ajak visited Stoyanovich and mentally forced him to tell Druig about Gilgamesh's whereabouts not before the next evening. Instead he took the info from Stoyanovich to meet Gilgamesh first.

(Eternals IV#3) - Ajak approached Gilgamesh and awakened a twisted version of Gilgamesh's Eternal memories wherein the likes of Zuras, Thena, Sersi, Makkari and Ikaris where Gilgamesh's enemies. When Gilgamesh awakened again Ajak told him to destroy all Eternals to save Earth.

(Eternals IV#4 (fb) - BTS) - Ajak warned Gilgamesh that Druig would come to him first.

(Eternals IV#4) - Gilgamesh attacked Druig and Legba as soon as they arrived in Goiana, Brazil. He crushed Legba's lungs and broke Druig's spine and then left.

(Eternals IV#5) - Gilgamesh beat up Makkari in Antarctica and left after he broke his back. Ajak finished off Makkari when Gilgamesh was gone by vaporizing him.

(Eternals IV#6) - Gilgamesh next destroyed the Activation Chamber, which resurrected deceased Eternals. Zuras failed to stop him, but Thena succeeded in slaying Gilgamesh, who died knowing that the Eternals weren't immortal anymore after the destruction of the Activation Chamber.

Comments: Created by Jack Kirby and Mike Royer.

    Although Hercules himself identified the Forgotten One as being responsible for cleaning the Augean Stables in Thor I#291, Hercules went on to claim responsibility for the feat in Avengers Annual#23. 

    In the myths, Gilgamesh was the son of the gods Lugalbanda and Ninsun, and was 3/4 god and 1/4 human.

    The retelling of the story in Captain America Annual#11 omits a sequence in which Gilgamesh damages Urshanabi's boat, and has to cut down 120 trees to use as poles to push them across the ocean. It also omits the part where Utnapishtim challenges Gilgamesh to remain awake for 6 days and 7 nights in order to learn his secrets, a test Gilgamesh failed. Also, the Plant of Immortality was devoured by an ordinary snake while Gilgamesh was on his way home, not by a giant snake immediately after he found it.

•  I think Hercules' memory was damaged during his mortal death and resurrection as a god...or just by the amount of alcohol he drinks. He has told multiple divergent accounts of the same story.
•     There is also a story of Gilgamesh in Tales of the Zombie#3. Whether this is the Eternal Gilgamesh, I'm not certain. I'll have to dig it out and read it. If so, it would likely represent a pre-modern era story, sometime prior to his being banished by Zuras.
• The "Anachronauts" that Gilgamesh was to have trained are most likely space phantoms, since their leader was not Kang, but Immortus impersonating him.
• I thought it said somewhere that the Forgotten One was also referred to as Beowulf in the past, though I can't remember where. This wouldn't necessarily mean that he was Beowulf, but rather that he might have been mistaken for this figure, too. There is some discussion of Beowulf on this page: Big Mother
• --Snood

by Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
Gilgamesh should not be confused with:

• Atlas, the Titan he has been mistaken for, @ Journey Into Mystery I#124
• The Forgotten, the Abominations, @ X-Man#20
• Forgotten Zone, where pantheons no longer associated with Earth dwell, @ Marvel Universe: The End#2
• Gilgamesh, the Eternal Warrior, @ Marvel Preview#12
• Hercules, the Olympian god he has been mistaken for, @ Journey Into Mystery Annual#1
• Hero, comic strip hero created by Jimmy Rogers, @ Venus#17
• Hero of the Day, servant of Kang robot, @ Incredible Hulk II#286

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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