Crystar the Crystal Warrior

Real Name:  Prince Crystar

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Crystalium) mystically mutated humanoid

Occupation:  King of Crystalium

Group Membership: Crystal Companions, Royal House of Crystalium, loyal citizens of Galax, forces of Order

Affiliations: Ambara, Bekk, Great Council of Order, Ika, Kalibar, Koth, Ogeode, Shen, Stalax, Warbow, Dr. Strange (Stephan Strange), Nightcrawler (Kurt Wagner), Alpha Flight (Shaman (Michael Twoyoungmen), Puck (Eugene Milton Judd), Northstar (Jean-Paul Beaubier));
    Mary Jo Duffy, Ricardo Villamonte, Bob Harris (see comments)

Enemies: Chaos, Lavour, Malachon, Moltar, Zardeth, various unnamed Magma men (and women)

Known Relatives: Moltar (brother), Feldspar (uncle), unidentified parents

Aliases: Crys

Base of Operations: Crystalium, Galax and surrounding countryside, Dr. Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum

First Appearance:Marvel Age#1 (April 1983);
    (in continuity) Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#1 (May 1983)

 

 

Powers/Abilities: After his transformation he seemed to be infused with mystical energy. Aside from healing him from injuries sustained while human, his new crystal body has superhuman strength, was impervious to flame and the effects of magma, as well as being incredibly hard. It was, however, still capable of being injured via conventional weapons. He no longer needs to eat, sleep, or breathe.
    Even before his body was transformed into living crystal, Crystar was shown to be familiar with the Crystalium form of wrestling. He is also a fair swordsman. He wields a crystal sword and shield in battle.

 

Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 225 lbs.
Eyes: Blue crystal; formerly blue
Hair: Blue crystal; formerly blond

 

 

 

 

 

History: (Marvel Age#1) - Crystar and Moltar’s parents were killed during the first war between the Forces of Order and Chaos. With no will, and their uncle unaware of any formal statements concerning the twins and the state of the throne, it was decided that both boys would rule jointly. The twins grew into men, with Crystar usually taking command of any situation.

 

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#1 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, perhaps through an arranged marriage, Crystar was betrothed to Lavour.

 

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#8 (fb)) - In the closing days of the First Chaos War, Crystar and Moltar took a small division of men and investigated the sighting of a monster in a remote village. The demon was in fact a creature controlled by Chaos, although both brothers were unaware of who was doing the controlling. Despite heavy losses the brothers managed to overcome their adversaries, but both were saddened at the death of their friend Captain Heyatt.

 

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#1) - After the war ended, Chaos swore it would return, and that its emissary would bring untold strife and pit brother against brother. Several months passed and soon the twins were to be crowned joint kings when the wizard of Order, Ogeode, returned and told them the time of Chaos’s return was nigh. Crystar offered to side with Ogeode, despite the wizard’s claims that his power had been drained severely during the Order/Chaos war. When Zardeth, wizard of Chaos arrived, Crystar turned down his offer of joining forces, despite the wizard’s promise that at least with him, he could promise the safety of their people. When the day arrived for the coronation, Crystar and Moltar argued over which wizard to trust. The argument grew into a fight, which saw both Feldspar and Crystar injured, Crystar mortally so.

 

 

 

 

 

    With Moltar declaring himself sole ruler, he failed to see Lavour’s serving girl Ambara smuggle the injured men out of the throne room. Taking them both to the wizard Ogeode, the wizard proclaimed the young prince doomed. He also, however, said that there was a chance to save him. Conjuring up his Prisma-Crystal, the wizard of Order took control of the dying man and made him walk into it. Within its mystical energies the prince was transformed from a being of flesh into a man of living crystal. The members of the guard loyal to him followed suit and were also similarly transformed. Now a living embodiment of Order, Crystar led the attack against his brother Moltar (who had been transformed, along with Lavour, into living magma by Zardeth) and his Magma men. A hard fought battle raged throughout the city of Galax, but in the end it was Crystar’s forces that controlled the city.

 

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#2) - Feldspar, who had both wizards transform his body into a 50/50 blend of crystal and magma in a sign that he supported both his nephews, declared himself regent. Stalax, one of Crystar’s troops, was badly injured by Moltar during the fighting. His wound unable to heal properly, Crystar took the rest of forces to search for Ogeode’s home in hopes of finding something to heal the young warrior. Instead of finding a cure, the glass warriors found Ika, Ogeode’s daughter. Peer pressuring her into stepping into the Prisma-Crystal, Ika stepped into it and transformed in order to help the injured Crystal man. Her transformation was not complete, however, and when Crystar reached out to catch her the pair vanished in a blinding flash.

 

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#3) - The pair soon found themselves within the library of Dr. Strange. While Crystar stood amazed at (to him) the ornate and opulent use of wood, fabric, and paper around him, Dr. Strange worked on a way to send the pair back. After the rest of his warriors and Ogeode turned up (as well as several Magma Men), a brief fight broke out within Dr. Strange’s home. The Crystal Men were able to soundly beat the Magma Men using nothing more than Crystar’s cape and their diamond hard fists. After a brief discussion with the wizard, Dr. Strange was able to send all of his visitors back home with only minimal damage to his rugs.

 

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#4) - Moltar and an envoy of his men marched on the city. When Crystar and his men attacked, both his uncle and his brother quickly reprimanded him, as Moltar (as far as anyone knew at the time) was simply entering the city with peaceful intentions. Crystar and his men were quickly exiled from Galax(see comments).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#5) - Crystar, after a brief conversation with assistant editor Bob Harris and Jo Duffy (see comments), agreed to enter talks with his brother Moltar, with his uncle Feldspar acting as moderator. The talks were stalemating as Ika attempted to banish the forces of Chaos from the planet of Crystalium. Sadly Ika was only half-enchantress, and thus only succeeded in putting Zardeth and Moltar’s volcano base directly next to the Crystal Palace. After a brief skirmish between their respective forces, Crystar and Moltar agreed to a ceasefire, at least until their respective bases were put back in their proper place.

 

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#6) - Despite their exiled status, both Crystar and Moltar were still treated as princes by the Royal Court and called upon for matters of state, although not at the same time because of the neutrality of their uncle. It was during one of Crystar’s visits that the X-Man Nightcrawler, after accidentally transporting himself to Crystalium and being mistaken for a Chaos demon by the palace guard, was found by Crystar’s men. Crystar lead the chase for the misplaced X-Man, which ended with Nightcrawler being chased into Moltar’s camp and once again being confused for someone else. After a standoff, including a tense meeting with Crystar’s former fiancée, the proper explanations were made, and Nightcrawler was sent back to Earth.

 

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#7) - Ogeode received a vision of Malachon and his mountain people raiding Galax. Crystar and his men arrived just in time to stymie the horde and beat them back, but for their efforts they were chastised by the arriving Feldspar and again ordered to leave the city. It was after this the Crystal men took a boat (conjured up by Ogeode) and sailed to the Other Side of the Ocean to meet with the Council of Order in hopes of finding allies against the growing war with Choas. Crystar and Ambara’s relationship grew deeper at this time.

 

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#8) - On the anniversary of Captain Heyatt’s death, both brothers took a day of mourning and vowed not to fight each other on that day.

 

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#9) - While debating with the Council of Order, Zardeth and Malachon (disguised as Feldspar and a nameless Galaxian respectively) arrived on dragons and claimed to desire peace with the Crystal men. Crystar, alerted to the deception by Stalax, gathered his forces and met with the Chaos wizard and the Malachon barbarian in combat. The Council of Order suffered heavy losses, but Zardeth and his men were driven away.

 

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#10) - Crystar and his followers, as well as the newly transformed council member Bekk, sailed back to Galax in a last ditch effort to plead their case before Feldspar. Crystar went as far as swearing to renounce his claim to the throne if it meant peace could be had with his brother. Talks with his uncle grew heated, however, and once again Crystar and those loyal to him were ordered to the city limits. Crystar’s group was making plans of assault when Moltar’s forces attacked. Despite the losses suffered on the side of Crystar, the citizens of Galax managed to repel the invaders.

 

(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#11) - Again begging before his uncle, Crystar was once more thrown out. When Ogeode accidentally brought members of Alpha Flight to Crystalium, plans were made to launch an all-out assault on Moltar’s forces. A fierce battle raged throughout the mountain as Crystar saved the life of the captured Koth with the aide of Northstar and in the process slew Malachon. Moltar and Lavour meanwhile, were confronting Zardeth about the battle. When the Chaos wizard raised his hands to strike down the rebellious pair, Crystar arrived in time to run the evil wizard through. He was too late to prevent the wizard’s final spell, however, which turned Moltar back into a being of flesh and blood. Seeing the devastation around them, Moltar renounced his claim to the throne and made peace with his brother. Crystar made Ambara his queen and the people celebrated their new king.

 

 

 

Comments: Created by Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Macchio, John Romita, Jr., and Jim Shooter. Concept expanded on by Mary Jo Duffy and Ricardo Villamonte.

    Issue #4 was a bedtime story told by Kalibar to his children, so the events within and how they transpired is suspect.

    Issue #5 was part of Assistant Editors Month. The issue opens up with Crystar complaining about the sacrifices he’s made, with Bob Harris and Jo Duffy sitting around the office going: “Hmm, yeah, we could milk that exile thing for another issue at least.” Crystar is then shown to be back with his fellows and no one mentions if the preceding talks actually happened or if Crystar was just zoning out. Ricardo Villamonte was also shown as being in the office and he drew a soccer ball to keep Crystar busy while they talked.

    In the event you couldn’t tell, many of the names were supposed to represent minerals. Crystar = crystal, Ambara = amber, etc.

    In the Marvel Age preview, it was stated Crystar and Moltar’s parents had died a while before the series began, but in the flashback in issue #8, the king is referred to as being away on a campaign in the war.

    Perhaps this series is most remembered for the toy line made by Remco. Crystar has an entry in the Marvel Legacy 1980’s Handbook, but so far that has been it for the character. Anyone ready for Ultimate Crystar?

Profile by David Lawrence.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Crystar has no known connections to

images:
Crystar#1 cover
        p1 (human face)
        p34, panel 3 (original form)
    #5, p1 (later form)

Appearances: 
Marvel Age#1 (April 1983) (Promotional piece written by Peter Sanderson)
Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#1 (May 1983) - by Mary Jo Duffy (plot/script), Bret Blevins (pencils), Vinnie Colletta (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#2 (July 1983) - by Mary Jo Duffy (plot/script), Bret Blevins (pencils), Vinnie Colletta (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#3 (September 1983) - by Mary Jo Duffy (plot/script), Ron Frenz (breakdowns), Danny Bulanadi (finishes), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#4 (November 1983) - by Mary Jo Duffy (plot/script), Ricardo Villamonte (pencils), Dave Simons (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#5 (January 1984) - by Mary Jo Duffy (plot/script), Ricardo Villamonte (pencils), Dave Simons (inks), Bob Harris (editor)
Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#6 (March 1984) - by Mary Jo Duffy (plot/script), Ricardo Villamonte (pencils), Dave Simons (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#7 (May 1984) - by Mary Jo Duffy (plot/script), Ricardo Villamonte (pencils), Dave Simons (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#8 (July 1984) - by Mary Jo Duffy (plot/script), Ricardo Villamonte (pencils), Dave Simons (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#9 (September 1984) - by Mary Jo Duffy (plot/script), Ricardo Villamonte (pencils), Dave Simons (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#10 (November 1984) - by Mary Jo Duffy (plot/script), Ricardo Villamonte (pencils), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#11 (February 1985) - by Mary Jo Duffy (plot/script), Ricardo Villamonte (pencils), Ralph Macchio (editor)

Last updated: 11/17/06

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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