Known Relatives: Demiurge (grandfather);
    Set (father);
     Chthon , Hyppus (uncles), Gaea, Issus, Oshtur (aunts), other Elder Gods;
     Damballah, Phorcys, Siapep, Sligguth, Yamato-no-Orich (brothers), Ishiti, Tartessus (sisters);
     extended family via Set and other Elder Gods

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Currently unknown;
    Previously an unnamed limbo dimension;
    Previously the planet earth (Moondragon's and other's minds);
    Previously Titan;
    Previously the planet Earth

First Appearance: (New) Defenders I#138 (December, 1984)

Powers/Abilities: The Dragon of the Moon contained untold capacities of power to reshape reality and to manipulate forces on a global scale. These powers were offered to mortals that he saw as worthy of his power, and he fed it to them by playing on their greed and insecurity. The more a human embraced the Dragon, the greater his power grew in the mortal sphere. The Dragon had incredibly long life. He manifested as an enormous and amorphous centipede-like presence over his victims, growing larger the larger his power got. It is presumed that the Dragon is immortal.

History:
(Marvel Tarot) - The Dragon of the Moon is the spawn of the Elder God Set.

((New) Defenders I#138 (fb)) - The Dragon claimed to kill the inhabitants of Titan before the Eternals inhabited it. It claimed to be a "force in the cosmos before the worlds were made and to have brought whole civilizations low."

((New) Defenders I#143 (fb)) - The Dragon said that the Lords of Light once took away his freedom.

((New) Defenders I#143 (fb)) - The Dragon learned of the Elder of the Universe known as the Runner.

((New) Defenders I#152 (fb))  - The Dragon of the Moon tried to take over the Earth centuries ago, and came into contact with Interloper of the Eternals. They battled several times. On at least one occasion, he lashed out with his full power, and it feigned destruction, secretly escaping to fight again another day.

(Defenders I#152 (fb) / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#8: Merlin (fb)) - The Dragon of the Moon allied itself with the forces of Mordred against Camelot. During the final battle between Arthur's forces and Mordred's, Arthur assisted the Interloper in defeating the Dragon, banishing it back into outer space; they imprisoned him on Titan, with special shields in place to keep him there.  It is ASSumed that Merlin played a major role in this battle, though he may have been limited by his own imprisonment at the hands of Nimue/Vivienne.
    The Interloper lost one of the only men he could call a friend, and "a light of the human spirit was plunged into darkness."

(Dr. Strange: Sorcerer Supreme#4 (fb)) - Unspecified Talismans of unknown origin, handed down from Sorcerer Supreme to Sorcerer Supreme, were used to keep the Dragon from ever coming back there on his own power.

((New) Defenders I#143 (fb)) - The Dragon claimed that he offered Thanos power, and Thanos took it.

((New) Defenders I#144 (fb) - BTS) - According to the Dragon, Thanos was once his pupil.

((New) Defenders I#138 (fb)) - The Dragon, from its prison on Titan, sensed the mind of a human girl being raised there, named Heather Douglas. When Heather began new areas of study, she sensed a "brooding, malevolent spiritual presence -hiding behind barriers." She sundered the barriers and confronted the Dragon. It began to invade her mind, but she rejected it until it tempted her with its age-old power, and told Heather that she couldn't stand against him. Because of the barriers still in place and her own great power, Heather was able to shut him out, but the Dragon had taken refuge, in some form, in her mind. She took on the name Moondragon, much to the chagrin of the Eternals, in commemoration of her victory. The Dragon's presence remained with Moondragon for years, scratching at the gates of her mind, its whispers penetrating into her mind unnoticed. Over time, her ideals were corrupted to some extent by the Dragon. ( see comments for more details on Moondragon's origins).

((New) Defenders I#145 (fb)) - The Dragon had chosen Moondragon as his vessel because she was fundamentally good and powerful, yet weak/corrupt enough and flawed with an arrogance he could exploit.

((New) Defenders I#129) - Moondragon first referred to herself as the Dragon of the Moon.

((New) Defenders I#129 - BTS) - To overcome the Secret Empire's psi-null field cubes, Moondragon had Gargoyle drain some of the other Defenders' life force and feed it into her. She transmuted it into psionic energy, which she used to destroy the apparatus holding them.

((New) Defenders I#137 - BTS) - The Gnostic wizard-controlled Gargoyle struck down Moondragon when she tried to reach him telepathically.  The Wizard later took over Isaac’s sight and realized the Defenders weren’t really demons but something much more frightening (including a space nebula (Cloud) , an ancient evil (the Dragon of the Moon in Moondragon), and an Asgardian death goddess (Valkyrie)).  A delirious Isaac warned Moondragon of the Dragon of the Moon’s influence on her, which he had seen inside her mind.

((New) Defenders I#138) - Moondragon was beginning to lose sight of her constant battle to triumph over the Dragon. As she battled with herself (considering accepting the Dragon's power to use it for noble purposes, but realizing this was the Dragon's temptation), the Dragon (or perhaps Moondragon's own subconscious) manifested as a demon and told her that she could never master both good and evil, and that she had no hope of triumph. It then switched its form to Mantis and psychically attacked her. "Mantis" knocked Moondragon through a door, into the same room as the Defenders.

((New) Defenders I#139) - The Defenders battled "Mantis" until Beast shook Moondragon out of her stupor, then "Mantis" disappeared.
    When Moondragon subsequently apparently redeemed herself by refusing to allow Asgardian trolls to remove her power-dampening headband, the headband fell off after the trolls' defeat.

(Defenders I#140-141) - Mutated gamma-spores infected Moondragon's body as she battled another spore-mutated creature.

((New) Defenders I#142) - Now sans headband, Moondragon felt peace, having accepted humility and trust. Infected with the Gamma Spores, Moondragon begin to get very ill. As she struggled against the pain, the Dragon whispered to her that she was dying.

((New) Defenders I#143) - The Dragon taunted Moondragon with memories of the death of her parents. It appeared to her in a mirror, but she pushed it away again. Both Gargoyle and Valkyrie sensed her struggle and realized that she must have the chance to overcome things herself, but that there was great danger if she failed.   
    Moondragon discovered the Gamma Spores ravaging her body (overtaking most of her respiratory, circulatory, and digestive system), and the Dragon offered to cure her. When she refused, knowing what the Dragon would do to her friends, he showed her with images of her friends rejecting her, and with her happiest memories. Not wanting to die, Moondragon finally conceded to the Dragon, and he cured her of the Gamma Spores. Now in possession of her form, the Dragon confronted the Angel, Gargoyle, and Valkyrie. He proclaimed his freedom, due to Moondragon's powers and her folly. The Dragon made the Gargoyle fight himself (making his newly regenerated hand attack him), struck the Angel blind, and seemingly killed the Valkyrie in a blast of power.

((New) Defenders I#145 (fb) - BTS) - Hoping that the Dragon-corrupted Moondragon could be slain, depriving the Dragon of its host and releasing Heather Douglas' soul, Odin granted power to the Valkyrie.

((New) Defenders I#144) - The Dragon consoled Moondragon's mind, stating that he'd take full responsibility for the death of the Valkyrie. Moondragon surrendered completely to the Dragon, fully releasing him on the world. When the Beast, Cloud, and Iceman returned, the Dragon blew up their ship (they were already off). The Dragon continued to taunt Moondragon as he traveled forward on a path of power, but was stopped by a giant manifestation of the Valkyrie (apparently backed by the power of Odin and Asgard). The Dragon, now in full form surrounding Moondragon, prepared to utilize the molten core of the earth itself against her. The fire from the core soared up to space, and destroyed parts of the atmosphere. Valkyrie quelled the flames with Earth, and called in the full Valkyrior. Even their power was insufficient to stop the Dragon, but Angel then flew Cloud into the substance of the Dragon. While he, being mortal, was swiftly cast out, Cloud continued and found the unprotected Moondragon. Cloud unleashed a lightning bolt, and the Dragon and Moondragon disappeared in a flash.

((New) Defenders I#145) - Moondragon, her heart and mind twisted, was flung through shadow across the world (perhaps Pakistan?). The Dragon no longer considered Moondragon a worthy vessel as she was twisted by black evil, but retreated to the back of her mind again. Moondragon, her face half ebon, checked in to a hotel in disguise, laying low.

((New) Defenders I#151) - Moondragon was aboard a ship in a terrible storm. A manifestation of the Dragon appeared over the boat, his power growing greater over her again. The Dragon appeared as two eclipsing suns in the sky as Moondragon attacked the Defenders, Interloper, and Manslaughter, threatening to destroy them.

((New) Defenders I#152) - The Dragon, through Moondragon, explained to each of the Defenders why they would be killed. Interloper revealed himself and the Dragon appeared in the sky above Moondragon in a fury. While Interloper battled the Dragon head on, the Defenders took on Moondragon. Manslaughter used his psychic link with Moondragon to project madness into her mind, and Moondragon fled, taking the Dragon with her.
    The Dragon struggled to take control of Moondragon again, but she resisted, fearful of being driven insane, until the Dragon arranged for her to gain greater power, instructing her to contact the Beyonder. The Beyonder invited Moondragon to be his disciple. Noting the ring on her finger, which he recognized as the disguised Dragon, he removed it from her, and then asked her if she wanted it back. She told him only if pleased him, "Throw it away if you want to." Deciding she should have a token by which she was known to be his (the Beyonder's), he returned the ring to her and granted her great power. Sensing her new power, she felt she could do anything and would cleanse the world of all evil, but the Dragon cast its influence on her again, and she decided to kill the Defenders.
    The Dragon, now in power again, used Moondragon to gain Gargoyle's trust, then cast Gargoyle's human soul out of his body, which it mutated and sent to attack the Defenders. Moondragon then tormented the Angel, the Beast, and Iceman by threatening the deaths of Candy Southern, Chris Larmouth, and Danny and Carol Faber.
    The Defenders were then transported to "the battleground" (on Earth or not) for the final battle with the Dragon. The Dragon focused on the battle, Interloper and Valkyrie gave up their immortal forms and channeled their power through Manslaughter and Andromeda at the Dragon. After a mighty blast, all four forms, the Dragon, Moondragon, and Gargoyle were gone, their bodies carbonized.
    At the last instant, Moondragon used the Beyonder's powers to cure Chris Larmouth, Carol Faber, and Danny Milligan, sure that had been the Beyonder's purpose in granting them power.

(Dr. Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #3 (fb)) - The Dragon of the Moon, and the four "deceased" heroes (Andromeda, Interloper, Manslaughter, Valkyrie), reappeared in an unnamed limbo dimension of spirits. The Dragon somehow gained control over the spirits, likely by tempting them with power, and battled the heroes with these spirits for a period of time.

(Dr. Strange II#81 - BTS / Dr. Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #3 (fb)) - The Talisman keeping the Dragon of the Moon from returning to Earth of its own power was apparently one of those destroyed by Dr. Strange to prevent Urthona from using its power

(Dr. Strange: Sorcerer Supreme#3) - After the four heroes overcame the Dragon's forces, the Vishanti spoke to the heroes, offering them a wish, Manslaughter wished they could return to the mortal world. The heroes were later reincarnated in human hosts by the power of the Vishanti, but when one of the intended hosts was delayed in getting their before the spirit transfer, the "circle" was broken, allowing the Dragon to escape back to Earth through that gap. Strange delivered the last intended host to the gathering in the hills of Central Wales, and the reincarnation was complete.

(Dr. Strange: Sorcerer Supreme#4) - The Dragon gained a stronghold over a group of racist skinheads in Manchester, England, and incited them to riot. Soon, Dr. Strange, the four heroes, and Dafydd ap Iowerth (who contained the spirit of King Arthur, the Pendragon) arrived. Strange shined the Eye of Agamotto on one of the men and got snared in a trap when the Dragon's true powers (his ability to play on the worst in human nature) was revealed. The Dragon's minions got stronger until ap Iowerth stopped them. Boasting, the Dragon moved on to another stronghold, controlling the Revolutionary Action Committee into starting fires and taking over a nuclear plant. When the heroes arrived again, the Dragon had them surrounded by the men he controlled, but Pendragon was able to pull the good out of the men and they rejected the Dragon. The Dragon manifested above the men, out in the open, and attacked Iowerth. He taunted the heroes as they physically attacked him. Their mightiest blows were in vain, and even Valkyrie's sword, Dragonfang, which caused it great pain, could destroy it. Dr. Strange had the heroes join hands and he christened them the Dragon Circle, giving them the same power the talisman had had (which kept the Dragon off of Earth). A giant sword appeared and fired at the Dragon, who shrank in power until he was the size of a centipede. Iowerth then crushed the Dragon of the Moon between his fingers.

(Marvel Tarot#1 - BTS) - Sorcerer Ian McNee read that the Dragon of the Moon was a direct offspring of the elder god, Set, along with many others.

(Annihilation: Conquest - Quasar#3 (fb) ) - Concerned about the increasing headaches she'd been having recently and fearing that the Dragon of the Moon had gained influence over her again, Moondragon visited the Priests of Pama and learned that the Dragon was indeed back. She learned that the only way to control it was to learn to embrace the evil influence instead of denying it.

(Annihilation: Conquest - Quasar#2) - During a battle with the Phalanx, Moondragon shockingly turned into a large black dragon and began destroying the Phalanx.

(Annihilation: Conquest - Quasar#3) - Moondragon wielded blue flame against her foes and quickly grew comfortable in her new bestial form, which could survive in space and still communicate telepathically.

(Annihilation: Conquest - Quasar#4) - Moondragon in dragon-form helped defeat the Phalanx invaders along with Quasar and the citizens of Terma. Afterwards they saved Adam Warlock from being turned into a Phalanx Select.

(Annihilation: Conquest#1) - Moondragon and Quasar watched Adam Warlock's return, but he wasn't happy because he was reawakened too soon. The trio fled with Adam Warlock's help from another Phalanx attack to the High Evolutionary, who had a base in the heart of Terma's star.

(Annihilation: Conquest#2) - There they were attacked by Ultron and the Phalanx. Moondragon was killed in battle by Ultron, who ripped out her dragon heart.

(Guardians of the Galaxy II#11 (fb) - BTS) - The Dragon was cast into Oblivion's realm, the Outer Void, to sleep and regain its strength.

(Guardians of the Galaxy II#11) - Trapped in the Outer Void, the Dragon of the Moon's sleep was disturbed by Maelstrom, who offered him Phyla and Drax. In return Maelstrom wanted the Dragon to help him leave Oblivion's realm.

(Guardians of the Galaxy II#12) - The Dragon woke up and Maelstrom dropped Phyla into its mouth. Wendell Vaughn, who was drawn to the Quantum Bands, and Drax fought it while Maelstrom laughed maniacally because he was sure the Dragon would show his gratitude for this meal.

(Guardians of the Galaxy II#12 (fb) - BTS) - Phyla made a deal with the Dragon and/or Oblivion himself (as Oblivion and Maelstrom had intended from the start) to become Oblivion's (or Death's) new avatar in exchange for allowing Phyla to resurrect Moondragon.

(Guardians of the Galaxy II#12) - Phyla, now calling herself Martyr, burst through the Dragon's gut with Moondragon in her arms. The Dragon exploded into a million bats and flew away.

Comments: Created by Peter B. Gillis, Don Perlin, Alan Kupperberg.

    The history of the Dragon of the Moon is closely tied to the history of Moondragon, which is recounted briefly. In fact, the Dragon of the Moon can be considered behind the scenes in every appearance of Moondragon before (New) Defenders I#152. Moondragon was born Heather Douglas and was in the car when her parents were killed by Thanos (her dad later became Drax the Destroyer). She was taken up the Titan to be raised with the Priests of Shao-Lom and trained there, and stood a chance of being the Celestial Madonna. While there, she excelled in her training in mind and body and began to probe the unknown, where she found and embraced the Dragon before rejecting it. The Dragon hid in the recesses of her brain and she spent the next several years battling to keep it submerged. When she "graduated" from the priests, she chose to take the name Moondragon, much to the Eternals' regret. She spent some time traversing the universe with the Elder Runner, and later recounted this as her happiest time. She came to Earth, looking to teach others happiness by showing them how much better her way of life was, considering herself a goddess. She called herself Madame MacEvil, taunting the evil presence in her mind. She later fraternized with the Avengers, and put them off constantly by acting superior. After some time on Titan with Hellcat, she came back to earth, and eventually ended up on the Ba-bani planet where she mentally controlled the entire planet into peace-keeping until the Avengers shut her down. She was taken before Odin for judgment and he sensed the Dragon in her, and put a mystical headband on her that would restrict her powers, and hoped that the lesson she would learn would teach her humility and allow her to reject the Dragon once and for all. With Valkyrie appointed to watch over her, she joined the Defenders and constantly worked to free herself from her headband. She telepathically made the male members of the team love her, which included Cloud who ended up getting hurt severely by this. She also attracted villains toward the team. Eventually she proved able to learn humility and the headband was lost. The Dragon played up on her guilt and insecurity, though, and found a way to be released more than once by taunting her with power. She was destroyed in the last battle. Later, she came back Dragon-free and has continued to struggle personally and heroically as a supporting member in several titles, including Quasar and Captain Marvel.

I think it might be worth mentioning that the Dragon of the Moon stated that Runner was "known" to him. "Runner is known to me: were he here now he would not save you...nor would he long remember your passing." he told Moondragon, in the New Defenders#143. I think that might indicate the Dragon of the Moon has a pretty large range of influence, since the Runner has only come to Earth twice in New Defenders#143 and Quasar#17(recorded, that is)...and I think he was in our solar system when he fought the Silver Surfer in Silver Surfer III#3. By the way, we're fine here, the storm just barely passed our area...--Michael King