WENDIGO
Real Name: Georges Baptiste
Identity/Class: Human (Canadian) mutate (supernatural)
Occupation: Forrest creature, cannibal; former college professor
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Abomination (Emil Blonsky), Marie Cartier, Henri Cluzot;
formerly Paul Cartier
Enemies: Alpha Flight (Shaman/Michael Twoyoungmen, Snowbird/Narya, Vindicator/James MacDonald Hudson), Hulk (Dr. Bruce Banner), Hercule Maris, Parnall family (Joe, Eileen, Tommy and a newborn baby girl), Madame Valery, Wendigo (Paul Cartier), X-Men (Nightcrawler/Kurt Wagner, Wolverine/James "Logan" Howlett)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: North Woods, Canada;
formerly University of Montreal, Canada
First Appearance: (Baptiste) Incredible Hulk II#162 (April, 1973); (Wendigo) Incredible Hulk II#181 (November, 1974)
Powers/Abilities: The Wendigo curse transformed Baptiste into a large muscular form covered with white fur and possessing fang-like teeth, clawed hands and feet, and a long powerful tail. Wendigo possesses extraordinary stamina and enhanced reflexes and speed. In the beginning Baptiste's human persona managed to surface from the Wendigo's mind and communicate telepathically with others. But later he reverted to a crude animal-like intellect. Baptiste was able to retain his human intelligence via the use of magic.
Height: (Baptiste) 6'; (Wendigo) 9'7"
Weight: (Baptiste) 190 lbs.; (Wendigo) 1800 lbs.
Eyes: (Baptiste) Blue; (Wendigo) Red
Hair: (Baptiste) Black; (Wendigo) White fur
History:
(Monsters Unleashed I#9/5 (fb)) - Georges Baptiste worked as a professor at the University of Montreal.
(Incredible Hulk II#162 (fb) - BTS) - Though they were aware of the curse of the Wendigo, Canadian George Baptiste and his friends Paul Cartier and Henri Cluzot went into the woods on a hunting trip. Some time later, they were attacked by a pack of wolves who lethally injured Cluzot. Taking refuge in a nearby cave, Baptiste and Cartier were stuck there for three days with Cluzot's body. On the fourth morning, Baptiste awoke to find the starved Cartier feeding on his friend. Tasting human flesh activated the curse and turned him into the Wendigo, who kept Baptiste in the cave as a new source of food.
(Incredible Hulk II#162 - BTS) - Through unrevealed ways, Cartier's mind actively lured the Hulk (Bruce Banner) to the Canadian woods. There, he ran into Cartier's sister Marie who was leading a search party to find Paul and the others. After she initially mistook Hulk for Wendigo, Marie explained the situation to the gentle giant who even offered to help out.
(Incredible Hulk II#162) - Baptiste watched as the Hulk eventually encountered the Wendigo near his cave and engaged the creature. In the end, Wendigo tossed both Hulk and Georges off a nearby cliff, but the emerald behemoth rescued Baptiste in time (even though he incorrectly assumed Georges was Marie's brother). Hulk returned him to Marie, who explained who Baptiste really was. After he had rested up, Baptiste revealed what had happened to him, Paul and Cluzot and how Cartier had become the Wendigo. Realizing what was going on, Hulk figured he still hadn't helped Marie and ran off to find and capture the Wendigo, figuring the doctors might be able to cure him. During their eventual confrontation, Cartier's mind reached out to the Hulk seconds before he finally succumbed to the Wendigo's bestial nature. Sensing Paul was gone, a disappointed Hulk let the creature stumble off into the woods unopposed.
(Incredible Hulk II#180 (fb) - BTS) - Unable to find peace with her brother's fate, Marie Cartier began to study dark magic and mystic rituals looking for a way to lift the Wendigo curse. She was reluctantly aided by the recovered Georges Baptiste who only agreed to go along with her plans because he secretly loved her. Marie eventually came up with the idea to transfer the Wendigo affliction to another host and decided on the Hulk because he was a monster already.
(Incredible Hulk II#180) - Georges found he was unable to persuade Marie to abandon her monstrous and inhuman plans. Therefore, he stood by while Marie used her newfound magical abilities to contact the Hulk. She succeeded in luring him to her, sweet talking the simple minded man monster while preparing him for the imminent transfer. When the Hulk succumbed to the narcotics she'd laced his food and drink with, Marie magically summoned the Wendigo who was equally docile and cooperative because of her spells. However, the Hulk had revived and upon seeing his former enemy grew furious and attacked. The fight destroyed Marie's humble home, even as Georges got her outside before it completely collapsed. They watched the two monsters duke it out from a safe distance and were as surprised as the dueling duo when Wolverine interrupted the fight (he had been sent by the Canadian government to locate and stop the Hulk).
(Incredible Hulk II#181) - The Wendigo was quickly knocked out, allowing Wolverine and the Hulk to face each other without any distractions. This allowed Marie to take custody of the monster, dragging it back to her nearby, wrecked hovel. Georges continued to plead with her to reconsider what he deemed her "unnatural, unholy and dangerous insanity" but she couldn't be persuaded. Marie exposed Wendigo to the vapors of slumber that would ensure he remained unconscious until they could capture the Hulk as well. Marie then went to work on a spell of subjugation that successfully incapacitated both Wolverine and the Hulk. Just as Marie and Georges got ready to bring in the Hulk back in to complete the ritual, he shifted back to Bruce Banner. This truly convinced Baptiste that what they were doing was wrong: cursing a monster was one thing, but another man? Marie tried to blackmail Georges by claiming he owed a debt to both Paul and her but that did not convince him. Mourning the loss of the girl he'd loved, Georges decided to go through with the ritual, offering his own body to take on the curse of the Wendigo. Mouthing the spell he'd heard Marie rehearse, Baptiste completed the transferal on his own, becoming the ravenous woodland monster and storming off into the wild. He left behind a thoroughly confused, newly freed Paul Cartier and his sister Marie, who succumbed to gentle madness when she realized the depths of Baptiste's love for her and the mistakes she'd made.
(Monsters Unleashed#9/5 (fb)) - Four months after transforming into the Wendigo, Baptiste wandered the frozen Canadian wasteland in the dead of winter. He happened upon a small town that he would occasionally enter to claim a new victim, returning a few days later to find another human being to eat. He claimed the life of one Hercule Maris whose bullets didn't even faze the creature.
(Monsters Unleashed#9/5) - Wendigo later returned to devour two others, destroying the town's radio equipment in the process to isolate the place even further. When he next came and took the beloved Madame Valery, the locals decided the best course of action was to burn the creature to death. They spent a considerable amount of their fuel to douse their church in gasoline, planning to lure the Wendigo in there. Before they were able to finish their preparations, Wendigo returned and entered the church. In the brief, ferocious struggle that ensued Wendigo endured serious burns that made him howl like the man he had once been before running off. Watching him go, the relieved citizens were saddened by the realization a man was trapped inside the form of a monster.
(Hostess Fruit Pie ad "The Twins of Evil") - The Wendigo and the Abomination teamed up and battled the Hulk, leaving their enemy unconscious. After they departed, two children found the Hulk, and fed him some of their Hostess snacks to help restore his strength. Once he recovered, Hulk left, crashing through the forest to find his two attackers.
(Uncanny X-Men I#140 (fb) - BTS) - Wendigo moved to the sprawling woods of Canada's Hudson Bay. There, he created a makeshift lair, which could be sealed off by a giant boulder. There he would lock up the people he captured before he ate them.
(Uncanny X-Men I#139 (fb)) - In the woods of Hudson Bay, Wendigo came across the Parnall family who were out on a camping trip. He savagely tore into the tent one night, seemingly killing father Joe on the spot while he destroyed their campsite.
(Uncanny X-Men I#140 (fb) - BTS) - Wendigo took Eileen Parnall and her newborn baby to his lair and trapped them there.
(Uncanny X-Men I#139 (fb) - BTS) - Eileen and Joe's young son Tommy managed to escape the onslaught. Wandering in the woods for days before he was found, Tommy told the authorities what had happened which led to Department H and Alpha Flight getting involved. With Aurora, Northstar and Sasquatch away on another mission, Vindicator took Shaman and Snowbird to locate their quarry. Shaman's magics brought them to a spot in the Hudson Bay woods where he sensed the Wendigo roamed. After a week of fruitless searching, they were surprised by the arrival of the X-Men Wolverine and Nightcrawler who had come to Canada to make amends with Alpha Flight following a recent conflict. It didn't take long for Wolverine to realize the Wendigo was responsible for the Parnall murders. The heroes decided to team up.
(Uncanny X-Men I#139) - Wendigo wandered into the camp where Alpha Flight was staying. The creature startled Nightcrawler who was outside getting some supplies from their pick-up.
(Uncanny X-Men I#140) - Wendigo immediately lunged at Nightcrawler, who used his acrobatics to avoid the creature's claws. Wendigo followed his prey into the woods where he eventually backed Kurt in a corner so he could grab him. Even though he was hurt by its claws, Nightcrawler still succeeded in teleporting free. In the end, Wendigo got so annoyed by his limber opponent he hit Nightcrawler with a massive blow that sent him flying towards the cabin where Wolverine and Alpha Flight were still discussing the best way to find the creature. The heroes quickly engaged Wendigo in combat, but both Vindicator and Shaman proved unable to withstand the powerful monster. When the Wendigo fled the scene, Wolverine and Snowbird used their tracking abilities to chase him. They watched him return to his lair, hungry and ready to eat Mrs. Parnall. Wolverine quickly attacked, freely giving into a berserker rage to tear into the enchanted creature. When he had temporarily stunned Wendigo, he tried to get Parnall and her baby to safety. But Wendigo recovered too quickly and resumed his attack. By that time, Nightcrawler and the other members of Alpha Flight had rejoined them. Sensing there was no other choice, Snowbird decided to assume the form of an actual wolverine, one of the most ferocious mammals known to man. In her animal form, she injured the creature to such a degree he went down for an extended period of time. Shaman used this time to prepare a mystical ritual that eventually freed Baptiste from the Wendigo curse. He didn't have long to enjoy his newfound freedom, Vindicator immediately placed Baptiste under arrest for the crimes he had committed as the Wendigo.
(Alpha Flight I#1 (fb)) - James MacDonald Hudson remembered how he had fought the Wendigo alongside the X-Men.
(X-Men Unlimited I#25 (fb)) - When Wolverine had seemingly perished (he had been replaced by a Skrull at the time), Nightcrawler recalled the time they had fought the Wendigo alongside Alpha Flight.
Comments: Created by Steve Englehart (writer), Herb Trimpe (pencils), Sal Trapani (inks).
Incredible Hulk II#181 has been reprinted in The Incredible Hulk and Wolverine#1 and 100 Greatest Marvels of All Time#3. Uncanny X-Men I#139/140 have been reprinted in Classic X-Men#45/46.
Georges Baptiste received partial entries in the Wendigo profiles in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#14, Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Master Edition#14, Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Hulk (2004), All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Premiere (HC)#13.
Wendigo's All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Premiere (HC)#13 handbook entry confirms that his Hostess Ad appearance indeed took place on Earth-616, and was Georges Baptiste in particular. Since than several Hostess Ad characters have appeared in regular continuity like Icemaster and Printout Man.
Bob Almond recognized the Hostess Ad artwork as that of John Romita.
Hostess Fruit Pie ad entry by Madison Carter.
Profile by Norvo & MarvellousLuke
CLARIFICATIONS:
This Wendigo is one of a line of similarly-inflicted beings, which include,
The Wendigo has no known connection to
Parnall family
(Joe, Eileen, Tommy and a newborn baby girl)
Canadian forest ranger Joe Parnall took his wife Eileen, oldest son Tommy and their infant girl on a camping trip into the secluded woods of Hudson Bay. Parnall was unaware the Wendigo was in the area. Late one night, the flesh eating monster attacked the campsite, easily killing and possibly feeding on Joe. Wendigo took Joe's wife and their baby back to his lair where he imprisoned them behind a giant boulder, planning to feed on them at some point. At the same time, Wendigo had overlooked Tommy Parnall who had stormed off during the attack and was eventually located by a bush pilot who took him back to civilization. After Tommy told the authorities what had happened to his family, the government sponsored heroes Alpha Flight were sent in to locate whoever was responsible. After a week, they were joined by the X-Men Wolverine and Nightcrawler who eventually encountered the Wendigo. After a fight, the exhausted creature rushed back to his lair to feed on Mrs. Parnall. He was stopped by Wolverine and Snowbird who had followed him. Wolverine got the surviving Parnalls to safety.
--Uncanny X-Men I#139 (Uncanny X-Men I#139 (fb), Uncanny X-Men I#140
images: (without ads)
Uncanny X-Men I#139, p22, pan1 (main image)
Incredible Hulk II#181, p11, pan7 (closeup)
Incredible Hulk II#181, p7, pan3 (begging Marie to reconsider)
Incredible Hulk II#181, p15, pan3 (first appearance as Wendigo)
Adventures Into Fear#31, Hostess Ad (Wendigo & Abomination)
Uncanny X-Men I#140, p5, pan1 (attacking Nightcrawler)
Uncanny X-Men I#140, p19, pan4,5 (cured)
Uncanny X-Men I#140, p17, pan1 (Joe Parnall)
Uncanny X-Men I#140, p17, pan4 (Tommy Parnell)
Uncanny X-Men I#140, p17, pan2 (Eileen Parnell)
Appearances:
Incredible Hulk II#162 (April, 1973) - Steve Englehart (writer), Herb Trimpe (pencils), Sal Trapani (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Incredible Hulk II#180 (October, 1974) - Len Wein (writer), Herb Trimpe (pencils), Jack Abel (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Incredible Hulk II#181 (November, 1974) - Len Wein (writer), Herb Trimpe (pencils), Jack Abel (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Monsters Unleashed#9/5 (December, 1974) - Chris Claremont (writer), Yong Mantano (pencils), Len Wein (editor)
Hostess Fruit Pie ad "The Twins of Evil" (Adventures Into Fear#31 (December, 1975) and other issues published that month) - John Romita (artist)
Uncanny X-Men I#139 (November, 1980) - Chris Claremont (writer), John
Byrne (writer, pencils), Terry Austin (inks), Louise Jones (editor)
Uncanny X-Men I#140 (December, 1980) - Chris Claremont (writer), John
Byrne (writer, pencils), Terry Austin (inks), Louise Jones (editor)
X-Men Unlimited I#25 (December, 1999) - Joe Pruett (writer), Brett Booth (pencils), Sal Regla (inks), Jason Liebig (editor)
Last updated: 08/15/15
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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