History:
(Micronauts I#56 - BTS) - In his mad efforts to violently subjugate the Microverse, Baron Karza crafted the battle-beetles to attack the Insectivorids of Kaliklak.
Classification: Extradimensional (Microverse) giant attack insects
Location/Base of Operations: Spore moon near Kaliklak, Microverse;
Known Members: None named
Affiliations: Baron Karza (creator)
First Appearance: Micronauts I#56 (January, 1984)
Powers/Abilities: Battle-beetles were huge black beetles with giant mandibles that dripped acid,
and with six giant legs that could crawl across even vertical surfaces. They also were capable of short range flight on giant, strong wings that were otherwise folded behind the hard carapace. They were about 8' in length and 4' high (relative size), and chattered loudly. They displayed non-sentient intelligence (instinctual only). They had enhanced durability and natural winged flight over limited distances. They had basic agility but super-stamina. Their acid-laced mandibles weakened structures, including metal, and allowed them to break through barriers to attack.
They hatched from brown pods fired from a green spore orb; these pods could withstand entry into Kaliklakian atmosphere. Once the pods embedded themselves, they released small roots that dripped acid, which was corrosive enough to penetrate a ship's hull. There was one battle-beetle per pod.
Although not actually proven, it is alleged that they were mutated creations of Baron Karza as the creatures bore the hallmarks of Karza's weapons and genocidal strategy.
Traits: Battle-beetles were highly destructive, vicious and aggressive, seemingly "programmed" to attack Insectivorids and Insectivorid structures, particularly the Nest and its Hatchery. They were borne from a large green spore moon, which seemed to be mobile, inside brown pods before hatching where the pod fell. Their attack pattern was to overwhelm their victims with sheer numbers.
History:
(Micronauts I#56 - BTS) - In his mad efforts to violently subjugate the Microverse, Baron Karza crafted the battle-beetles to attack the Insectivorids of Kaliklak.
(Micronauts I#56) - At the suggestion of Bug, the Micronauts (Acroyear, Bug, Fireflyte, Huntarr, Marionette, Arcturus Rann) journeyed to Kaliklak in Bioship. There, they encountered the green spore moon as it fired many pods at the pink planet. Bioship identified the spore moon as organic, but not indigenous to that sector of space. Bioship drifted into the path of the rain of pods and was struck by several of them. The brown pods spread their roots, which dripped highly corrosive acid that pierced the hull and allowed the chittering battle-beetles to attack. The Micronauts battled the massive beasts and eventually destroyed all the boarders.
Acroyear, Bug, Huntarr and Marionette arrived on the surface of Kaliklak. Marionette could see via binoculars a vast number of pods hatch and attack the population, which Bug noted had few soldiers as Karza had already wiped many of them out. The four Micronauts met up with Treefern and her band of rebels, with Treefern identifying the battle-beetles as a major threat, for if the cocooned new Queen of Kaliklak died before hatching, then no new Insectivorids would be born. They then all traveled on the backs of huge battle-bats to the Nest, considered the heart of Kaliklak. There a massive swarm of battle-beetles attacked the Insectivorids, killing indiscriminately all they encountered. The battle-beetles pushed further into the Hatchery, destroying many of the future generations of Bug's world before they could hatch. The Micronauts, as well as Treefern and her rebels, then attacked, incredibly outnumbered, but still blasting at the battle-beetles. The Micronauts and their Insectivorid allies then fought on further, targeting the Royal Tower, as did the battle-beetles. The Micronauts and Treefern held their ground around the royal egg, which finally hatched. The battle-beetles' focused assault was thwarted. The Micronauts then petitioned the newborn Queen to aid them in their fight against Karza, but were denied as the battle-beetles continued to swarm and devastate the planet elsewhere.
Comments: Created by Bill Mantlo (writer), Butch Guice (pencils) and Kelley Jones & Sam Grainger (inks).
It is hoped that the Micronauts attacked the spore moon afterwards to quell the number of battle-beetles attacking Kaliklak.
Clarifications:
Battle-beetles have no known connection to:
images:
Micronauts I#56, p.22, panel 1 (attacking hatchery)
Micronauts I#56 (January, 1984) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Butch Guice (penciler), Kelley Jones & Sam Grainger (inkers), Bob Harras (editor)
Last updated: 06/18/06
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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