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TENDRIL

Real Name: Tendril

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Earth-87119) Inhumanoid

Occupation: World conqueror

Group Membership: Inhumanoids

Affiliations: D'Compose, Metlar, Blackthorne Shore

Enemies: Earth Corps (Dr. Herman "Herc" Armstrong, Dr. Edward Augutter, Dr. Derek Bright, Dr. Johnathon M. Slattery), Granites (Granock, others), Magnacore (Pyrus, Crygen), Redwoods (Redlen, others), humans

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile on Earth-87119

First Appearance: Inhumanoids#1 (January, 1987)

Powers/Abilities: Tendril is a giant plant-based humanoid creature with no skeleton, but is tremendously strong and durable with a very cold body temperature. Tendril can stretch its limbs and generate new powerfully thick vines. Notably it can generate "clones" that follow its commands; it can command these to instantly wither into dust when they are no longer useful. Capable of speech, Tendril has limited intelligence and enjoys destruction, but fears fire.

Height: 55' (by approximation, somewhat variable)
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: Black iris, blue sclera
Hair: None

History:

(Inhumanoids#2 (fb)) - Millennia ago, three giant but malevolent Inhumanoids (Tendril, D'Compose and Metlar) fought Mutores (elemental humanoid creatures including the rock-like Granites and tree-like Redwoods). Eventually a team of Granites chained and sealed the destructive Tendril in a chamber far underground. Metlar and D'Compose were similarly trapped by other Mutores.

(Inhumanoids#1) - In the current era, the power-hungry Blackthorne Shore uncovered ancient documents concerning the banished Inhumanoids and sought to command them. He found Tendril's prison chamber over a mile down and covertly commanded oil drilling be undertaken, which freed Tendril. The Inhumanoid then lurched across the Golden Gate Bridge, causing chaos and crushing cars. Earth Corps, scientists with special technological suits, tried to stop it, and member Augutter managed to painfully extract a tissue sample from Tendril. It was briefly stunned by an electrical jolt when ripping up tram tracks. Recovering quickly, Tendril then helped D'Compose crack out of his restrictive amber chamber.

(Inhumanoids#2) - Tendril and D'Compose battled Earth Corps and the police before escaping underwater into the bay. When Earth Corps discovered their hiding hole, D'Compose and Tendril attacked. Blackthorne Shore secretly helped the two Inhumanoids. Meanwhile, Earth Corps member Dr. Derek Bright found Tendril's former prison, then met Redwoods who told him of the Inhumanoids' nefarious past. Bright promised to help them and told his colleagues, but Tendril attacked Earth Corps' headquarters with giant vines.

(Inhumanoids#3) - Bright used flame to turn back Tendril's destructive vines. Earth Corps then tracked Tendril and D'Compose to their underground lair. Tendril tried to crush them but slipped on ground frozen by the scientists. Granites joined the fray and fierce combat ensued while Earth Corps escaped.

(Inhumanoids#4) - Earth Corps regrouped to find Tendril (with two self-manifested clones) and D'Compose attacking the Granites' underground city, where they soon released their leader, Metlar. Even though Tendril's vines disrupted captor Magnacore's concentration, helping Metlar escape, Metlar spoke disparagingly of Tendril and ordered it to eliminate the clones. Blackthorne Shore, now armored with magnetic weaponry, trapped Metlar and forced the Inhumanoids' submission. But Tendril knocked over Blackthorne, freeing Metlar again, while Earth Corps scattered in disarray.

 

Comments: Marvel version created by Jim Salicrup (writer), James W. Fry (pencils), Joe DelBeato (inks). Adapted from Flint Dille's work (original screenplay)

Unfortunately, The Inhumanoids comic series, published under Marvel's Star Comics imprint (despite stating "to be continued!"), ended there without resolution, but is (mostly) an adaptation of the animated series five-episode storyline "The Evil That Lies Within" by Flint Dille (original screenplay), wherein the Inhumanoids are eventually neutralized. I'd hazard a guess that the expected fifth issue has unfinished (and unpublished) artwork out there.

The original Inhumanoids cartoon had a wide array of characters (see the Wikipedia page), some not included in the comic, and included action figures. At one point in the cartoon, Tendril apparently fell in love with a clone grown from its stolen sample.

It seems that Hasbro hoped to revive the Inhumanoids as part of their combined universe (with G.I.Joe, Transformers, etc.), but discovered they apparently no longer held the rights to the characters or name.

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Tendril has no known connections to:


images: (without ads)
Inhumanoids#1, p6, pan3 (main image)
Inhumanoids#4, p22, pan2 (headshot)
Inhumanoids#4, p18, pan4-5 (with clones)


Appearances:
Inhumanoids#1 (January, 1987) - Jim Salicrup (writer), James W. Fry (pencils), Joe DelBeato (inks), Eliot Brown (editor)
Inhumanoids#2 (March, 1987) - Jim Salicrup (writer), James W. Fry (pencils), Joe DelBeato (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Inhumanoids#3 (May, 1987) - Jim Salicrup (writer), Jose Delbo (pencils), Art Thibert (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Inhumanoids#4 (July, 1987) - Jim Salicrup (writer), Carmine Infantino (pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)


First posted: 10/22/2018
Last updated: 10/22/2018

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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