SARU-SAN

Real Name: Saru-San

Identity/Class: Sub-species of humanity (Atlantean/Homo mermani)

Occupation: Court jester/court fool

Group Membership: Barbarian hordes of Attuma

Affiliations: Attuma, Dr. Dorcas, Ikthon, Kor-Konn, Betty Dean Prentiss, Tiger Shark,

Enemies: The Atlantean race, Diane Arliss, Dr. Doom, Hydro-Men, Dr. Jennings, Stingray, Sub-Mariner, Triton

Known Relatives: None known

Aliases: None known

Base of Operations: Formerly Skarka

First Appearance: Sub-Mariner I#4 (August, 1968)

Powers/Abilities: Saru-San was a weak member of the hordes of Attuma.  Like all of his race, he could breathe underwater, but he had no strength or powers to speak of.  Saru-San seemed to be slightly mad and somewhat prophetic.  He 'advised' Attuma and boosted morale for battling troops.

History: (Sub-Mariner I#4) - Within Attuma's subsea stronghold, Saru-San acted as Attuma's court fool or jester.  Attuma sought to enslave the nomadic Atlanteans, and sent scouts out to find them.  After word arrived that the Atlanteans had been found, Saru-San commended Attuma on his brilliance in battle tactics, but Attuma quickly silenced Saru-San.  When Attuma proclaimed he would defeat the Sub-Mariner in their next meeting, Saru-San told Attuma to be careful what he wished for.  Attuma told Saru-San to still his tongue before Attuma stilled it for him.  When Attuma blinded Gorgul as an example of what happened to those who defied him, Saru-San warned Attuma that Gorgul's blindness may end before Attuma's own, causing Attuma to scoff.  Saru-San compared Attuma's effort against the Atlanteans to Krang and Byrrah, both of whom had failed in their attempts.  After Attuma enslaved the Atlantean race, Saru-San continued to taunt Attuma in front of his prisoner, Lord Seth. After Kor-Konn brought a captive Namor before Attuma and Saru-San, Saru-San taunted Attuma that his wish to battle Namor had come true.  While Attuma battled  Namor in electric-powered armor, Gorgul was able to destroy the armor's power source, giving his life and leading to Attuma's defeat.  Saru-San reflected over Attuma's own blindness over Gorgul's body.

(Sub-Mariner I#31) - After Attuma captured a group of surface men, including Diane Arliss, he used them as bait to entrap Namor, Stingray, and Triton.  Saru-San watched excitedly as Attuma explained his plans to use an Earth-borer, designed by Ikthon, against the surface world to the captive heroes.  Saru-San convinced Attuma to pit the three heroes against each other in an arena, but the heroes teamed up and escaped, defeating Attuma's hordes.  Attuma seemingly perished when the Earth-Borer exploded.

(Super-Villain Team-Up I#1 (fb)) - When Attuma allied with Dr. Dorcas and Tiger Shark, he led his forces in capturing the Hydro-Men.  Only one, Dr. Jennings, escaped. 

(Super-Villain Team-Up I#1) - When Dr. Jennings contacted Namor, Kor-Konn led a force, including Saru-San, to defeat Namor.  Namor quickly defeated them.

(Super-Villain Team-Up I#2) - After Attuma and his allies defeated Namor, Saru-San gloated over this victory to Dr. Jennings, who surprised Saru-San by punching him and then escaping.  When Saru-San awoke, he rushed off to report to Attuma, hoping that he would not be held accountable for the escape.  Attuma was not shocked by the news.  Later, Dr. Doom attacked and Dr. Dorcas murdered Namor's love, Betty Dean Prentiss.

(Super-Villain Team-Up I#3) - While Kor-Konn led his men against Dr. Doom and an enraged Namor, Saru-San spent time on the sidelines ridiculing Doom in an effort to boost morale among the troops.  He made Doom look like a foppish, weak fool who was afraid of Kor-Konn.  After Doom defeated Kor-Konn by hitting two missiles together, he confronted Saru-San, who begged for his mercy.  Doom soothed Saru-San with words, then entreated Saru-San to repeat Doom's actions with the missiles.  Saru-San did, and the blast apparently killed him instantly. 

Comments: Created by Roy Thomas, John Buscema, and Frank Giacoia.

Saru-San seemed to be created simply to fill in the 'villainous fool' role for the big-bad-villain to spout off mean phrases at, a role that seemed important in the sixties (i.e. Toad with Magneto, etc.).  If he wasn't around, who else could Attuma call a 'vainglorious cretin' or a 'brainless block?'  Saru-San fulfilled a very Shakespearian role with his mad prophecies that turn out to be true.

Profile by Chadman

Clarifications:

Saru-San has no known connections to anyone not mentioned in this profile.

images:

Sub-Mariner I#31, p14, pan1
Sub-Mariner I#4, p4, pan1

Sub-Mariner I#4 (August, 1968) - Roy Thomas (writer), John Buscema (penciler), Frank Giacoia (inker), Stan Lee (editor)
Sub-Mariner I#31 (November, 1970) - Roy Thomas (writer), Sal Buscema (penciler), Mike Esposito (inker), Stan Lee (editor)
Super-Villain Team-Up I#1 (August, 1975) - Tony Isabella (writer), George Evans (penciler), Frank Springer (inker), Len Wein (editor)
Super-Villain Team-Up I#2 (October, 1975) - Tony Isabella (writer), Sal Buscema (penciler), Fred Kida (penciler/inker), Len Wein (editor)
Super-Villain Team-Up I#3 (December, 1975) - Jim Shooter (writer), George Evans (penciler), Jack Abel (inker), Marv Wolfman (editor)

First Posted: 12/20/2005
Last Updated: 12/08/2006

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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