GORGOLLA
Real Name: Gorgolla
Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (Stonian)
Occupation: Would-be-conquerer
Group Membership: Stonians (Royal family);
formerly S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Howling
Commandos unit
Affiliations: Monster Island's monsters (Abominable Snowman, Blip, Brute that Walks, Gog, Goom, It the Living Colossus, a Lizard Man of Tok, Moomba, Rorgg, Two-Headed Thing, Xemnu, Zzutak and one of the Flora colossus (like Groot))
Enemies: Bo, David Hartnell, Stonian rebels (possibly including Magnor), X-Men (Magik/Illyana Rasputin, Shadowcat/Kitty Pryde)
Known Relatives: Granitor (father)
Aliases: The Living Gargoyle, Prince Gorgolla
Base of Operations: Monster Island, sea of Okhotsk;
formerly possibly "Area 13," Pine Barrens, New Jersey;
formerly Himalayan base;
formerly Stonus Five, Stonus star system, Milky Way Galaxy
First Appearance: Strange Tales I#74 (April, 1960)
Powers/Abilities: Like all other Stonians, Gorgolla's body chemistry was silicon based, which offered increased strength and durability. His wings allowed flight, despite his rock-like hide. What set Gorgolla apart from most other Stonians was his increased height (20 feet while the average Stonian is only 6'0"). Another common Stonian trait is longevity, he has been alive for multiple centuries. Gorgolla used a Solar-Electromagnetic Instrument through which he could signal his slaves when it was time to strike.
Height: 20'
Weight: Unknown (due to silicon body chemistry)
Eyes: White, no visible irises
Hair: None
History:
(Astonishing Tales I#22 (fb) - BTS) - Prince Gorgolla was the son of King Granitor, ruler of Stonus V (who would, years later, lead his armies against the human-loving gargoyles).
(Strange Tales I#74 (fb)) - Centuries ago, Gorgolla led a Stonian invasion force comprised of Stonus V slaves to Earth where he planned to take over the world. He dispersed his army throughout the globe, ordering them to sit atop buildings as though they were merely decorations. Gorgolla himself waited inside a secret Himalayan base where he could monitor mankind's progress over the centuries.
(Strange Tales I#74) - Shortly after being discovered by a human named David Hartnell, Gorgolla determined that it was time to start the invasion. He activated the Solar-Electromagnetic Instrument that would signal his troops to swoop down and destroy the cities. Instead, his forces charged his Himalayan base and attacked him. After seemingly destroying Gorgolla, they informed the surprised Hartnell they themselves had been slaves. Adding that over the centuries they had learned of love and charity from humans and no longer wished to be warriors. Instead, they appointed themselves to become protectors of humanity.
(Astonishing Tales I#22 (fb) - BTS) - Hearing of his son's demise, King Granitor ordered a legion of assassins to hunt and kill the Stonians responsible for killing Gorgolla.
(Marvel Monsters: From the Files of Ulysses Bloodstone and the Monsters Hunters#1) - Elsa Bloodstone, daughter of famous monster hunter Ulysses, wrote a blog entry on Gorgolla in which she noted it was a snap to research this "beastie" (perhaps thanks to notes received from David Hartnell).
(Nick Fury's Howling Commandos#1 (Director's Cut)) - Gorgolla was revealed to be still alive. However, he had been forcibly recruited into S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Howling Commandos program which consisted of monsters and aliens in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody. Gorgolla was listed as an inactive operative.
(Uncanny X-Men III#33 - BTS) - At some point, Gorgolla relocated to Monster Island, sea of Okhotsk.
(Uncanny X-Men III#33) - Gorgolla was one of the many monsters who witnessed the arrival of X-Men Magik and Shadowcat and got into a fight with them. They had come to Monster Island to save a little mutant girl called Bo. After they found her, Gorgolla and several other monsters decided to attack them. Fed up with having to fight monsters, Magik teleported herself, Kitty and Bo back to the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning.
Comments: Created by Stan Lee (writer), Jack Kirby (pencils), Dick Ayers (inks).
Gorgolla called his race the Stonusians in Strange Tales I#74/1, this was not corrected in both reprints in Where Monsters Dwell#1 (1970) & #35 (1975). Gorgolla received a profile in Marvel Monsters: From the Files of Ulysses Bloodstone in 2005.
The main image was the cover for Strange Tales I#74 and Where Monsters Dwell#35, I personally consider it to be a beautiful image, however it is missing Gorgolla's trademark stone goatee.
Profile by MarvellousLuke
CLARIFICATIONS:
Gorgolla should not be confused with:
David Hartnell was an architecture
student whose summer assignment was to research the origins of
gargoyles. After two weeks of research, he discovered clues that led
him to the Himalayas. There he confirmed that a small tribe of Lamas in
Tibet did indeed have secret knowledge about the creatures' beginnings.
He then discovered a fortress deep in the mountains where he stumbled
upon Gorgolla, leader of the Stonian invasion force. He witnessed
Gorgolla awakening his soldiers in preparation for an all-out assault.
Much to both his and Gorgolla's surprise, the troops turned on their
leader because they had grown to love mankind. The Stonians told
Hartnell their story and allowed him to leave unharmed. After this
encounter, Hartnell decided it would be for the best if the world never
learned of Gorgolla. Upon returning to his school, he claimed he had
learned nothing new on the origins of gargoyles.
Years later it was revealed by Elsa Bloodstone that David Hartnell had
shared his adventure with the members of the Explorer's Club.
--Strange Tales I#74 (Strange Tales I#74, Marvel Monsters: From the Files of Ulysses Bloodstone and the Monsters Hunters#1 (fb) - BTS
Solar-Electromagnetic Instrument
Gorgolla had access to
a solar-electromagnetic instrument that could emit its impulses
throughout the world to instantly signal the Stonians who had taken
their posts upon Earth's buildings. Each Stonian carried a receiving
set. What happened to the machine after Gorgolla's demise is unknown.
It might very well still be in his Himalayan base, although considering
Gorgolla himself was taken by S.H.I.E.L.D. it's also more than a little
likely they took it for study or reverse-engineering.
--Strange Tales I#74
images: (without ads)
Where Monsters Dwell#35, cover (main image)
Strange Tales I#74/1, p4, pan2 (head)
Strange Tales I#74/1, p4, pan3 (on conquest)
Strange Tales I#74/1, p7, pan3 (attacked by other Stonians)
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos#1 (Director's Cut), p49, pan1 (redesign)
Strange Tales I#74/1, p2, pan4 (David Hartnell)
Appearances:
Strange Tales I#74/1 (April, 1960) - Jack Kirby (pencils), Dick Ayers (inks), Stan Lee (editor)
Marvel Monsters: From the Files of Ulysses Bloodstone and the Monsters Hunters#1 (2005)
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos#1 (Director's Cut) (January, 2006) -
Keith Giffen (writer), Eduardo Francisco (penciler), Mark Paniccia
(editor)
Uncanny X-Men III#33 (April, 2015) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Kris Anka (pencils, inks), Mike Marts, Xander Jarowey (editors)
First Posted: 03/21/2014
Last updated: 08/13/2015
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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