Affiliations: Former agent of Korvac and the Prime Mover

Enemies: Galactic Guardians (Firelord, Hollywood, Phoenix, Spirit of Vengeance, Martinex T'Naga, Replica), Guardians of the Galaxy (Charlie-27, Nikki, Starhawk, Martinex T'Naga, Yondu Udonta, Vance Astro), Mainframe of 31st century Earth-691;
    Namor the Sub-Mariner, Grandmaster, & Thor of Earth-616;

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Mister Teju (in Guardians of the Galaxy Annual#2

Base of Operations: Mobile throughout the universe in 31st century reality-691;
    formerly the Stockpade;
    formerly an unidentified planet;
    possibly originated on the planet Tayp (second from the sun) in the Kormuk system, Milky Way galaxy

First Appearance: Giant-Size Defenders I#3 (January, 1975)

Powers/Abilities: As a Reptoid, Teju is a semi-humanoid reptilian covered with dense green scales (yellow on his underside) that enable him to withstand the blows of Namor the Sub-Mariner. He can stand erect or walk on all fours, has superhuman strength and sharp teeth, and can use his tail as a powerful weapon. He speaks with a hisssssss...."Sssir! Sssomeone comesss!"

History:
(Giant-Size Defenders I#3) - Teju was selected to be part of Prime Mover's minions in his game of wits against the Grandmaster. Alongside Dumog he was sent to a world full of exploding volcanic holes to fight against Namor the Sub-Mariner and Daredevil. Teju took Namor's strongest blows (which became progressively weaker due to the volcano's dry heat) and then slapped Namor with his tail, tearing a hole in the moisture-preserving suit Namor wore. When Daredevil perished in battle with Dumog, Namor furiously punched Teju, but began to stagger from weakness and dehydration. Teju swatted him to the ground, then proceeded to liteally beat him helpless victim to a pulp.
    After the Prime Mover lost the battle to the Grandmaster, Daredevil and Sub-Mariner were restored to life and health.

(Thor Annual#6 (fb) - BTS) - Korvac sent out probes through time and space to recover long-lost devices and artifacts, as well as to recruit a number of lieutenants, his Minions of Menace: Brahl, Dumog, Grott, Korvac, Teju, and Tork.

(Thor Annual#6) - Teju informed Korvac of an approaching ship (the Guardians of the Galaxy's Freedom's Lady), and Korvac directed a meteor storm to destroy it. When Korvac commanded Teju to confirm destruction of a ship they had encountered, Grott taunted Teju's servitude, and Teju smashed Grott with his tail. Grott fired back a psychic blast at Teju, and the rest of the Minions began fighting amongst themselves. Korvac commanded them all to stand down and then revealed his plot to cause Earth's sun to go nova and siphon the power into his equipment so he could use it to establish his own empire.
    When Teju noted the ship's returned, Korvac ordered defense drones to destroy it. The Guardians and their guest, Thor of Earth-616, set their ship on auto-pilot and beamed down to Korvac's world where the Minions of Menace confronted them. Teju slapped down Charlie-27, and Dumog saved Teju by snatching one of Yondu's Yaka arrows out of the air with a tentacle, but ultimately Vance Astro forced Teju to knock himself out with his own tail. The rest of the Minions were dispatched as well, while Thor and Starhawk foiled and drove off Korvac.

(Guardians of the Galaxy#21 (fb) - BTS) - Teju was imprisoned in the prison planet, Stockade.

(Guardians of the Galaxy#21) - Teju was broken out of Stockade by Brahl.

(Guardians of the Galaxy#23 - BTS) - Dumog, Brahl, and Tork met Grott, recruiting him to help fulfill Brahl's master plan.

(Guardians of the Galaxy Annual#2 (fb) - BTS) - Brahl re-formed the Minions of Menace as the Intimidators. Somehow obtaining a chip encoded with the sum total of Korvac prior to his traveling to the modern era of Earth-616, Brahl brought the chip and the Intimidators to the planet Klattu, home of the immense computer Mainframe (the alternate future counterpart of the Vision). The hooked up the chip and activated it, draining virtually every last erg of power from Mainframe. A simultaneous infection with the powerful computer virus Ultra-Max rendered Mainframe unable to resist them.

(Guardians of the Galaxy Annual#2) - The team that would become the Galactic Guardians (Firelord, Hollywood, Spirit of Vengeance, Martinex T'Naga, Replica) confronted the Intimidators in hopes of saving Mainframe. The Intimidators proved no match for their assailants: Hollywood punched out Teju, and after a short struggle Martinex trapped Dumog, Grott, Teju, and Tork within chunks of ice. The soon-to-be Guardians were unable to stop Brahl before he could complete the Korvac program, but they managed to overload Korvac and free Phoenix (Girard) who made short work of Korvac.
    Mainframe recovered, and the heroes decided to stay together as the Galactic Guardians.

Comments: Created by Steve Gerber, Len Wein, Jim Starlin, Dan Adkins, Don Newton, & Jim Mooney.

    Teju was WAY tougher when he fought Namor, though Namor was weakened by the volcano's heat. Still, I'd suspect that Teju might have been power enhanced at that time by the Prime Mover.
    Possibly just artistic license, but in that story, Teju had only toe toes, but three in Thor Annual#6. The OHotMU: Appendix to alien races pictured Reptoids with three toes, but listed them as having four toes. Three toes is what he's usually shown with.

    It is not 100% confirmed that Teju or that anyone else from Giant-Size Defenders#3 is from 31st century reality-691. However, following the conclusion of their manipulation by the Prime Mover, Dumog, Grott, Korvac, & Teju showed up next in 31st century reality-691; further, except Korvac, none of the others were ever seen anywhere else besides 31st century reality-691, nor was there ever any hint that they were time-displaced.
    Korvac does say that he recruited his lieutenants (the Minions of Menace) from across time and space.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
No KNOWN connections to:

• other reptilian characters

images: (without ads)
Giant-Size Defenders I#3, p17, pan1 (full length, punched by Namor)
        p18, panel 3 (swatting Namor with tail)
        p21, panel 13 (face)

Appearances:
Giant-Size Defenders I#3 (January, 1975) - Steve Gerber, Len Wein, & Jim Starlin (writers), Jim Starlin (penciler),  Dan Adkins, Don Newton, & Jim Mooney (pencilers/inkers), Roy Thomas (editor)
Thor Annual#6 (1977) - Len Wein & Roger Stern (writers), Sal Buscema (pencils), Klaus Janson (inks), Len Wein (editor)
Guardians of the Galaxy#21 (February, 1992) - Jim Valentino (writer/pencils), Steve Montano (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Guardians of the Galaxy#23 (April, 1992) - Jim Valentino (writer), Mike Texeira (art), Craig Anderson (editor)
Guardians of the Galaxy Annual#2 (1992) - Jim Valentino (writer), Herb Trimpe (pencils), Steve Montano (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)

Last updated: 08/05/07

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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