GRITHSTANE
Real Name: Grithstane
Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Weirdworld (presumably) Human)
Occupation: Wizard
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Nironus, Wax lackeys
Enemies: Swamp Serpents, Tyndall, Velanna
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: A cavern in the Region of Shadow, Weirdworld
First Appearance: Marvel Premiere#38 (October, 1977)
Powers/Abilities: Grithstane was a powerful sorcerer who could observe events elsewhere on Weirdworld through his Mirror of All Sight, and use the mirror as a means of teleportation to the scenes found within. He could also hover, animate rocks in order to fly people through the air and fire mystical bolts from his fingers. In place of his left eye was a mystical gemstone which could animate inanimate objects.
History: (Marvel Premiere#38 (fb) - BTS) - Grithstane had captured what he thought was a beautiful elfen woman, and wanted to make her his lover. Aware that he was a hideous man, Grithstane sought to regain his youth through magic.
(Marvel Premiere#38) - Spying the elves Tyndall and Velanna through his Mirror of All Sight, Grithstane decided to use them in his plot. Summoning up creatures made from wax candles, he had them bring the elves to him, and explained to Tyndall that he could regain his youth by bathing in the blood of a dragon. Supplying Tyndall with a leather pouch to hold the blood, he cast him to Klarn upon a piece of rock to there find and slay a dragon. However, while Tyndall was away the "elf" revealed itself to be a Swamp Serpent with Changer powers. The serpent devoured Grithstane.
Comments: Created by Doug Moench, Mike Ploog and Alex Nino.
After learning what humans were in Marvel Super Special#11, Tyndall and Velanna suspected that Grithstane was one.
Grithstane and Nironus were originally the names of characters from "Parchments of the Damned," the first novel which Moench wrote-- which was sold, but unpublished. Since the novel never reached the public, Moench kept using the names throghout his career.
Moench also reused the title "Parchments of the Damned" for a multi-part story in Dracula Lives#12, concerning the theft of Dracula's diary by the thief Durenyi.
by Prime Eternal
CLARIFICATIONS:
Grithstane of Weirdworld should not be confused with:
Nironus was Grithstane's loyal vulture companion. Grithstane constantly spoke to Nironus while making his plans, but Nironus never answered him - evidently because it was too bored to respond. Nironus witnessed the death of its master at the jaws of a Swamp Serpent, leaving it without a patron.
--Marvel Premiere#38
By summoning a mystical flame on to a set of candles then injesting the flame and wax into his stomach and spitting it out on to the points of a star, Grithstane was able to animate the wax using the energies released from the gemstone in his left eye. The wax creatures were sent out to capture Tyndall and Velanna so that Grithstane could use them in his quest for youth. They presumably became inanimate again when Grithstane had no further use for them.
The wax creatures could reshape their bodies, making them virtually immune to harm, and able to absorb opponents into their bodies and hold them prisoner.
--Marvel Premiere#38
Images taken from:
Marvel Premiere#38, page 11 (numbered), panel 4
Nironus- Marvel Premiere#38, page 11 (numbered), panel 3
wax lackeys- Marvel Premiere#38, page (numbered)
Last updated: 11/26/06
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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