MON-TEE

Real Name: Unrevealed, possibly Mon-Tee

Identity/Class: Extratemporal (Reality-691, ca. 31st century AD) extraterrestrial (race unrevealed)

Occupation: Game show host

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Emperor Goozot, Super Death Sweepstakes production crew, Zinnia

Enemies: Hulk (Bruce Banner), Yondu Udonta, the emperor's former wife

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: "Fat-face" (nickname used by Hulk)

Base of Operations: Goozot's capital city (see comments)

First Appearance: Defenders I#28 (October, 1975)

Powers/Abilities: Mon-Tee possessed no known superhuman abilities. An experienced host and gifted showman, he was the star of the lethal Super Death Sweepstakes, a TV program he presented with panache and flair despite its often gruesome outcome. Slightly overweight and untrained, Mon-Tee was not the best physical fighter.

Height: 5'9" (by approximation)
Weight: 190 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

History:
(Defenders I#28 (fb) - BTS) - Mon-Tee was a popular television host on the alien world ruled by Emperor Goozot. He hosted the Super Death Sweepstakes, a beloved show in which contestants had to fight for their lives against outlandish, deadly menaces picked by panelists. The show was taped in an arena turned studio and broadcast live across the planet. Crowds watched the show on giant screens to bet and cheer on the proceedings.

(Defenders I#28 - BTS) - Following their arrest and pacification by Zinnia, the Hulk and Yondu Udonta were sentenced by Emperor Goozot to participate in the Super Death Sweepstakes. Goozot had Zinnia deliver them to the studios where the Hulk was dressed in appropriate, gladiatorial garb to compete.

(Defenders I#28) - When it was time for Super Death Sweepstakes, Mon-Tee launched into his opening monologue. He welcomed all the "ladies and germs" watching, promising them "one heckuva show" as the still pacified Hulk and Yondu were brought on stage and introduced as "the Badoon's gifts: Mister Green and Mister Blue."

(Defenders I#28 - BTS) - As Mon-Tee continued the show, outside the first bets were placed on the new contestants.

(Defenders I#28) - Mon-Tee asked the panelists to "choose a death" for Mr. Blue. They selected death by impalement, which Mon-Tee felt was a "TER-rific" choice. Mon-Tee explained that Yondu was to be teleported away to a nearby soundproof room where a trio of robotic, spear handed "stage hands" were ready to skewer him. Mon-Tee gave a blow by blow account of Yondu's fight against the robots. When he ultimately proved victorious and was teleported back to the studio, Mon-Tee played it up as a magnificent event, while quickly ordering the guards to surround the potentially dangerous Yondu.

(Defenders I#29) - Mon-Tee asked the panelists to select a death for Mr. Green. Before they could vote, Emperor Goozot interrupted the show by bringing in a new contestant: one of his former wives who he had seen lusting after the Hulk. The Emperor decided she was to share in Mr. Green's fate, and Mon-Tee made sure she was teleported away to the same frozen wasteland as the Hulk found himself in. Mon-Tee provided color commentary to the Hulk's encounter with a small army of giant robot ants. Hulk fought a few of them but then tried to jump away with the shivering girl, only to hit a forcefield erected around the arctic arena. Mon-Tee appeared in the sky as a hologram, explaining to the increasingly angry Hulk that jumping away was against the rules: contestants either win or die where they stand. Hulk then decided to completely demolish the remaining horde of robotic assailants. With his enemies destroyed, Hulk was automatically returned to the studio where Mon-Tee was whooping it up, asking the crowd to applaud the fact this episode had an unprecedented three surviving contestants. But Mon-Tee was surprised to find the raging behemoth was no longer an obedient thrall. Hulk picked up the host, assuring "Fat-face" he was going to make him feel very bad. Before Hulk's blow could connect, he and Yondu were teleported away by Doctor Strange causing Mon-Tee to unceremoniously land on his behind on live television.

Comments: Created by Steve Gerber (writer), Sal Buscema (pencils), Frank Giacoia & John Tartag (inks).

Mon-Tee is more than likely based on and named after Monty Hall (1921 - 2017), the Canadian born American TV-personality famous for the classic game show Let's Make A Deal.

The actual name of Emperor Goozot's planet has not been revealed.

Profile by Norvo.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Mon-Tee should not be confused with:

• Any other "Mon-Tee" or game show host characters

images: (without ads)
Defenders I#29, p10, pan3 (mainimage)
Defenders I#28, p10, pan2 (closeup)
Defenders I#29, p11, pan6 (attacked by the Hulk)

Appearances:
Defenders I#28 (October, 1975) - Steve Gerber (writer), Sal Buscema (pencils), Frank Giacoia & John Tartag (inks), Marv Wolfman (editor)
Defenders I#29 (November, 1975) - Steve Gerber (writer), Sal Buscema (pencils), Vince Colletta (inks), Marv Wolfman (editor)

First Posted: 03/22/2018
Last Updated: 03/22/2018