KOTH
Real Name: Koth
Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Crystalium) mystically mutated human
Occupation: Captain in Royal Guard
Group Membership: Royal Guard
Affiliations: Forces of Order, Alpha Flight (Shaman (Michael Twoyoungmen), Puck (Eugene Milton Judd), Northstar (Jean-Paul Beaubier)), Ambara, Crystar, Heyatt, Kalibar, Ika, Ogeode, Stalax, Warbow
Enemies: Forces of Chaos, Lavour, Moltar, Malachon, Zardeth
Known Relatives: Ranilla (wife)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Galax and surrounding countryside, Council of Order
First Appearance: Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#1 (May, 1983)
Powers/Abilities: Prior to his transformation, Koth was a well-trained member of the Royal Guard. After his transformation, he had increased strength and no longer needed to sleep, eat or breathe. In battle, he wielded a regular broadsword and sometimes a crystal war club, and when not fighting, he often played a flute-like instrument with some skill.
History:
(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#8 (fb) - BTS) - Koth, a mere captain in the Royal Guard, wooed the lady Ranilla and won her hand in marriage. The marriage surprised many, as Koth had a well-earned reputation as a cynic.
(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#8 (fb) - Koth was in the outlying countryside with his wife. Injured during a recent skirmish with the forces of Chaos, Koth and Ranilla both swore to live through the battle's end. When word came that Ranilla's home village was under attack, she bid her husband a tearful farewell and left. When the war party from the capital arrived, their forces were split into two; Heyatt and Koth were to move inland toward the villages while the twin princes would head toward the sea. On their way to the mountains, Koth was the first to spot Ranilla's home village in flames. Fighting his way through the demonic horde, he arrived as Ranilla slowly passed away from her wounds.
(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#1 - BTS) - Koth confessed what had happened to Warbow. Later, Koth took Ranilla’s body home for burial (see comments).
(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#1) - After the war, Koth’s cynicism increased. He often hid behind the facade of a carefree joker, but his close friends knew the truth. After the wizard Ogeode appeared and spoke of the upcoming battle with Chaos, Koth chose to leave the palace and go to "a certain club." He offered an invitation to Stalax, who refused. When Zardeth arrived at the palace, Koth was among the first to leap to the princes' defense. He reluctantly stood aside after Moltar ordered the captains away. After Crystar was wounded and Moltar declared himself ruler, Koth held a meeting with Stalax and Kaliber. When Ogeode appeared and offered them a chance to stop Moltar, they took up the wizard's offer. Transformed with the rest of the captains, Koth helped to repel Moltar’s magma forces.
(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#2) - After the fighting was over, Koth stayed with Crystar’s forces as they attended to the injured Stalax. Going with them to try and find a cure for the young captain’s wounds at Ogeode’s house, they were shocked to find Ika, Ogeode’s daughter. When the Wizard of Order informed her that she must become crystal in order to save Stalax’s life, she refused. Koth joined in the general browbeating until she broke down and agreed. When she and Crystar disappeared, Koth stared in disbelief at the scene.
(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#3) - Koth was among those who volunteered to go to Earth to rescue Crystar and Ika. He was impressed by the surroundings of Dr. Strange’s house, but refused Wong's offer of tea. He jokingly asked Wong to polish him instead. When several Magma Men arrived after them, Koth helped Crystar subdue them with minimal damage to Dr. Strange's home.
(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#4) - Koth was among the members of Crystar's forces who got into a fight with members of Moltar's forces. After being banished by Lord Feldspar, Koth said his goodbyes near Ranilla's statue.
(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#5) - Koth and Warbow stayed behind with the rest of the forces as Crystar and Moltar entered into talks. They both found out, much to their dismay, that their headquarters had, unknown to them, been merged magically with the Caverns of Chaos. Rounding a corner, they walked into a group of Magma Men. Warbow stayed behind and gave Koth enough time to escape back their side and warn the others. When the princes and their respective forces agreed to a truce while their headquarters were separated, Koth introduced himself to a lone Magma Woman and spent the time talking to her. When the bases were about to be put back in their proper places, Koth waved a fond farewell to the woman.
(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#6) - Koth was at the palace with Crystar when word came of a new Chaos demon (actually the displaced X-Man Nightcrawler) being spotted. He helped take part in the fight against Moltar and left with Crystar when the proper explanations were given.
(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#7) - Koth argued for returning to Galax when told of the attack by the Green Hill people. He fought against the barbarian hordes and sailed with Crystar and the rest when they journeyed towards the Great Council of Order.
(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#8) - Koth was mostly silent when Crystar explained the reasons for his day of mourning.
(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#9) - Koth fought bravely against the transformed Green Hill people.
(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#10) - The transformed priest Bekk was quick to insult the slumbering Koth when orders were given to cast off, unaware that Koth had busied himself that morning by trimming the sails, stocking the hold, and generally making the ship seaworthy. Returning to Galax, the party was attacked by the combined forces of the Magma Men and the Green Hill people. Fighting alongside Stalax, he protected Ambara as they were overrun. During the fighting, the rocks under his feet gave way and he fell over the side of the cliff.
(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#10 - BTS) - Unknown to his friends, Koth had not died, but had instead been captured by the retreating Magma Men.
(Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#11) - While spending the night in the dungeon, Koth passed the time by playing some music. When Moltar entered his cell and tried to apologize, Koth coolly rebuked him. When daylight came, Koth was led from his cell to an arena where all could see his death. However, before the killing blow could be delivered, the combined forces of Alpha Flight and Crystar’s group arrived. Koth was freed by the unnamed magma woman and helped join the fight against Chaos. When the battle was over, and both Zardeth and Malachon were dead, Crystar was declared king. Koth celebrated with his friends.
Comments: Created by Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Macchio, John Romita, Jr. and Jim Shooter. Concept expanded on by Mary Jo Duffy and Ricardo Villamonte.
Headstones and statues can be seen in issue #4, yet in issue #11, Crystar mentions of how the dead are thrown into an active volcano. Perhaps the stones are symbols, or maybe reminders? Of course, issue #4 was a bedtime story told by Kalibar to his children, so the events within and how they transpired is suspect.
All of Crystar's captain's were made into action figures, but they were not packaged the same as normal and came with deluxe sets. Koth came with an accessory set.
--Mark Beam
Extra special thanks to Madison Carter for clarifying this question - yes, Crystar and all related characters are in fact Marvel owned and created. You might remember these guys from the Remco toy line, but the toys were a tie-in to the comic and not vice versa.
Profile by David Lawrence.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Koth has no known connections to:
images:
(without ads)
Crystar#6, p11, panel 3 (full body)
Crystar#4, p3, panel 6 (human head shot)
Crystar#11, p12, panel 3(crystal head shot)
Appearances:
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), Bret Blevins (pencils), Vinnie Colletta (inks),
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), Bob
Harris (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),
Bob Harris (editor)
Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#10 (November, 1984) - by Mary Jo
Duffy (plot/script), Ricardo Villamonte (pencils and inks), Ralph
Macchio (editor)
Saga of Crystar the Crystal Warrior#11 (February, 1985) - by Mary Jo
Duffy (plot/script), Ricardo Villamonte (pencils and inks), Ralph
Macchio (editor)
First Posted: 02/16/2008
Last updated: 02/16/2008
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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