slug-microverse-royal-attacked.jpg SLUG

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Microverse) humanoid (Homeworld's First Zone native)

Occupation: Rebel/resistance leader/member;
    former royal consort;
    former Underground commander for sector 7

Group Membership: Homeworld's Underground rebels/resistance (including Tril)
    former Royalist

Affiliations: Acroyears, Argon/Force Commander, Belladonna, Desert Demons (Margrace, Pharoid), Doc Samson (Leonard Samson), Kaliklak Insectivorids (Esmera), Knights of Neep, Micronauts (Acroyear, Biotron, Bug, Huntarr, Marionette, Microtron, Nanotron, Commander Rann), Oberon (horse), Ostras, Planetary Council, Shadow Priests/Time Travelers/Enigma Force, SHIELD (Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-Enforcement Division; notably Nick Fury), Spartak's Worldmind;
    formerly Homeworld's First Zone palace guards under Argon

Enemies: Baron Karza, Centauri (including Centaurus and Karsh), Dagon, DeGrayde, Dog Soldiers (notably Captain D'ark), Faceless Priests, Karza's forces (Antrons, Phobos, and Reptos were seen specifically; presumably Kronos and Membros and others as well), Phobos units, Shaitan, unidentified wealthy people using the Body Banks to their benefit;
    Argon under control of Baron Karza;
    formerly Belladonna

Known Relatives: T'al (father, deceased), mother (apparently deceased);
    briefly engaged to Argon

Aliases: Lady Slug

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
    formerly the Body Banks, First Zone, Homeworld, Microverse;
    formerly the royal palace, First Zone, Homeworld, Microverse;
    formerly the Underground rebel base of Sector 7, First Zone, Homeworld, Microverse

First Appearance: Micronauts I#4 (April, 1979)slug-microverse-m9-fighing

Powers/Abilities: Slug was accomplished rebel leader, courageous, defiant, inspirational, wise, and compassionate.

    She was skilled in armed and unarmed combat. She was notably an expert with a lasersonic pistol. She had time-tested battle instincts and swift reflexes.

    Slug was skilled in piloting her own personal hovercraft and she was also an experienced ostra-rider.

    Her original form was young, athletic, and beautiful, while after having her mind transferred into Belladonna's form, she was elderly and frail. Nonetheless, she retained her determination and fighting skills, easily overpowering Belladonna in Slug's original body. In Belladonna's aged form, she could accurately fire her blaster even with a dagger stuck through her forearm and after being punched in the face and knocked to the ground.

Height: Unrevealed
    In her original body, she was approximately 5'10" relative height in the Microverse (she looks a bit taller than Marionette), which would translate to perhaps 6" in Earth's dimension following conventional interdimensional transport
    For Belladonna's body, I'd estimate her at 5'5" and 5.6", respectively
Weight: Unrevealed
    In her original body, she was approximately 140 lbs. relative weight in the Microverse, which would translate to perhaps 1.3 oz (39 grams) in Earth's dimension following conventional interdimensional transport
    For Belladonna's body, I'd estimate her at 110 lbs. and 1.1 oz (33 grams), respectively
Eyes: Blue; (in Belladonna's body) brown
Hair: Black; (in Belladonna's body) white

History:
slug-microverse-infant(Micronauts I#4 (fb) - BTS / Micronauts I#14 (fb) - BTS) - The woman who would become known as Slug was a former royalist or born of royalists who was/were condemned to the Body Banks under Baron Karza's tyrannical rule of Homeworld.

(Micronauts I#46 (fb)) - While she still a baby held to her naked mother's chest in the Body Banks, her mother was chosen by Baron Karza to fulfill his remaining human desires.

    When Karza instructed a Dog Soldier to kill the child, the baby's father, T'al, rushed forward in an effort to save his wife and child, but Karza swiftly slew T'al, after which he instructed his Dog Soldier to bring the woman to his bed chambers and to remove her little slug from his sight.

(Micronauts I#46 (fb) - BTS) - Karza apparently had the mother discarded (presumably had slain and/or recycled in the Body Banks) when he was done with her.

(Micronauts I#24/2: Tales of the Microverse (fb)) - The young girl saw her family and friends die or disappear into Baron Karza's Body Banks.

(Micronauts I#46 (fb) - BTS) - Some time later, when the rebellion released the young woman from the Body Banks, they asked her name, and she told them "Slug."

(Micronauts I#4 (fb) - BTS / Micronauts I#14 (fb) - BTS) - Virtually abandoning her true name, the orphan became known only as Slug, and she eventually rose to leader of the underground rebellion forces for sector 7.

(Micronauts I#6 (fb) - BTS) - Ultimately seeking to liberate Prince Argon, Slug hid a disruptor in a place apparently internally to escape detection.

slug-microverse-incognito(Micronauts I#4) - As Karza's Dog Soldiers raided an underground rebellion base, with Major D'ark specifically noting that they were seeking a renegade, ex-royalist known to the rebellion only as Slug.

    Slug leapt to safety thanks to a warning from her allies just before they were slain by a Dog Soldiers blast. The Dog Soldiers continued, exterminating the base's inhabitants as a lesson to the rest of the population; realizing she would be skewered in the public square as a lesson to those who remained loyal to the royal family, Slug swiftly donned a fallen comrade's garments; thus unrecognized, she was captured with the few surviving rebels and led to Homeworld's surface.

    As they approached Baron Karza, D'ark noted how they were trying to ferret out information on Slug. A rebel named Tril vaulted over a vehicle, as he told D'ark they wouldn't have to look too far, ignoring the outcry from the real Slug. Subdued and brought to Karza, Tril claimed to be Slug, Underground commander for Sector 7, and told Karza to let the others go since he had what he wanted. Thanking the rebel for saving him the time and energy of a brain probe, Karza launched his right hand at "Slug," swiftly choking him to death while noting that his noble sacrifice was still useless as the rest of his comrades were still going to the Body Banks.

    Slug silently noted that Tril had given his life so that she might live to contact the Prince Argon, a prisoner of the Body Banks. As she and the rest of the prisoners were herded into transports, she damned Karza for the price he made them pay.

(Micronauts I#5) - Arriving at the Body Banks, Slug and the others were stripped of their clothes and waded through the purification bath to be deloused. As a Dog Soldier leered at her while she donned her antiseptic prison garb, Slug wondered what they'd say if they knew she was the rebel chieftain. slug-microverse-bodybanks-breakout

    As Slug began her efforts to locate Argon, hoping that he could rally the remnants of the Underground, she was shocked when he suddenly appeared, now in centaur-form thanks to unwilling manipulation in the Body Banks, armed with a blaster weapon and declaring his plans to gain vengeance on Karza. After Karza subdued Argon with an eyeblast, Slug rushed forward, angrily cursing Karza, but a Dog Soldier ordered her back with a blaster weapon and advised her to pray she hadn't drawn the master's attention to herself. However, she had indeed done so, and Karza then selected Slug to serve as a replacement body for the aging Duchess Belladonna.

(Micronauts I#5 - BTS) - Slug was hauled away to the depths of the Body Banks.

(Micronauts I#6) - Slug used her disruptor to melt the wall of Argon's cell and then she entered, telling him "Speak softly, man -- but speak the truth! Are you Argon, Force Commander of Homeworld?" After he confirmed this but lamented his transformation, Slug reminded him how Karza had done far worse to others whose only crime was to remain loyal to Argon. As she reminded him that the Underground needed its leader, the Dog Soldiers discovered her presence.
slug-microverse-m10-resist-full-small
    As Slug used the disruptor to blow another hole in the cell's wall so they could escape, stunning the Soldiers with the force, she warned that its use wouldn't go unnoticed. Inspired by Slug, Argon pulled her onto his back and took off.

     As they escaped, Argon questioned where she had hidden the disruptor, and when Slug explained that it was somewhere even the Dog Soldiers sometimes forget to check, he was impressed, noting that he liked her style.

(Micronauts I#7) - Riding on Argon's back, Slug located the rebels. Recognized only as intruder, she introduced herself and Argon, but the other rebels, considering that no one escaped the Body Banks, figured this to be a trap.

    However, one of the Shadow Priests, confirmed Argon's identity and urged that everyone hasten to escort him to a place of safety, where they would be told all they needed to know for the final battle.

(Micronauts I#8) - After noting that Karza's Dog Soldiers were searching for them and that not even this sanctuary was safe, Slug listened as Argon reviewed how Karza had used the Body Banks to enslave society, and as the Shadow Priest revealed that the Time Traveler had founded their order to foment rebellion in secret. The Shadow Priests then guided Argon to lead the rebellion as Force Commander.

(Micronauts I#9) - Slug fought alongside Force Commander as he led the rebels to assault the Body Banks, fighting their way past Dog Soldiers. When the Shadow Priests used their power to melt the Phobos units that were devastating their troops, Slug wondered why they hadn't used their power against Karza before. Argon suggested that they were waiting to reveal the extent of the Enigma Force's power until the arrival of Arcturus Rann.

(Micronauts I#10 (fb) - BTS) - Slug, Argon, and the rebels set the Body Banks aflame, while the Shadow Priests armed the people.

(Micronauts I#10 - BTS) - Karza was disturbed to see the Body Banks aflame.

slug-microverse-m10-resist-upper-lat(Micronauts I#10) - Slug stood by Argon as he ordered the cells to be opened to free those in the Pleasure Pits so they could help fortify the Body Banks before Karza's return. When a wealthy pair, who had utilized the Body Banks to maintain their existence, refused to stand with Argon's forces, asking what they could offer them, Slug answered, "A quick death, parasites!" as she blasted (and presumably killed) them.

Noting that the two had worn bodies that had belonged to her friends, Slug was pleased to have ended their centuries of existence at the cost of her people's suffering. Impressed, Argon noted that he had never met a woman like Slug, and he considered that she would make a great queen.

    As Phobos units approached, Slug and the others noted the return of Baron Karza's ship, which she feared signaled their death knell.

(Micronauts I#11) - Appreciating that the people rallied behind Argon as their Force Commander, Slug nonetheless realized they would all go down in defeat if the Enigma Force did not come to their aid that day, as had been predicted by the Shadow Priests. slug-microverse-resist-frontupper

She further considered that while she had prepared to face death her whole life, having met Argon she now wished to go on living. As Karza confronted Argon, taunting him with his prisoners Rann and Mari, Slug advised Argon not to let Karza divert his mind from the coming battle, as many more would die if Argon's forces were defeated.

    As Argon engaged Karza directly, Slug futilely tried to get a clear shot at Karza, but a Shadow Priest advised her that her weapon couldn't vanquish Karza any more than Force Commander could. Sure enough, Slug cried out for him as Argon fell before her, and she was pleased that he yet lived. She was further surprised as the Faceless Priests disrupted the shackles holding Rann and Mari and then dropped their robes, revealing themselves to be the Time Travelers, manifestations of the Enigma Force tied to Rann's millennium-long travels through the Microverse.

    As Rann engaged Karza, Slug explained to the arriving Mari what Karza had done to Argon. After Rann's victory, Slug pointed out the arrival of the Acroyears, who defeated Karza's Dog Soldiers/Siege Troops

(Micronauts I#12) - Slug stood by Argon's side, holding his hand as they stood beside Commander Rann, who reclined (due to his recent injuries) on a chair as Homeworld's people gathered and cheered his praises. Slug was thankful that Homeworld belonged to its people again and that the Microverse was free of Karza's domination. She and Argon expressed their plans to live a life in peace together.

(Micronauts I#13) - Slug and Argon met with Biotron, Mari, and Rann, acknowledging and accepting the Micronauts desire and plans to return to space. Slug noted that Homeworld was without a queen, but Argon suggested that it would not be that way for long if Slug was willing to give up rebellion for royalty.

(Micronauts I#14) - Sitting atop Argon's equine back, Slug saw off the Micronauts (Biotron, Mari, Microtron, and Rann) as they prepared to depart Homeworld via their ship the HMS Endeavor. The people cheered Slug and Argon, as well as Mari and Rann.

    Mari noted that with the rebellion over, Slug didn't need to keep her security alias, but Slug noted that it was the only name she'd known since being orphaned, and Argon added that she had chosen to keep that name until she became his queen and chose a more regal-sounding name.

    As the Micronauts departed, Slug noted that they had become virtually god-like legends to the people, and she wondered if they'd ever see the Micronauts again.

(Micronauts I#22/2: Tales of the Microverse (fb) - BTS) - As Homeworld's double moons had eclipsed its twin suns and a fiery rain fell over Homeworld's royal city, Slug noted -- from high atop the palace -- that the Body Banks alone were untouched by the flames. She also noted how Argon had left the palace after the firestorm had started.

(Micronauts I#22/2: Tales of the Microverse) - Slug tried to calm the palace guards who feared this unnatural event. She assured them it was a meteor shower and chided them for cowering so; noting that they showed more courage against Karza's forces, she ordered them back to their posts.

slug-microverse-royal-profile     As the guards departed, however, Slug considered that the storm was indeed unnatural, and she piloted her personal hovercraft to investigate. Landing just outside the Body Banks, she soon found a fallen guard, stationed there by Argon to secure the facility. Appreciating that someone had forced his way inside, she noted that she had hoped Argon had come to the Body Banks as only he could grant her rightful access to their interior. However, with his absence and her as the Queen-to-be, she chose to investigate anyway.

    Her lasersonic pistol in hand, she descended into the Banks' darkness, appreciating, despite the silence, that she was not alone. Warned by her instincts, she whirled and dodged a number of laser arrows fired by some of the desert-dwelling Centauri; as she dropped them with her lasersonic, she wondered what they were doing there and how they had penetrated the city's defense perimeter. She was shocked when Argon appeared, noting he had let them in. Argon further explained how Karza had altered his mind, implanting a post-operative suggestion to be activated at the proper signal: the rain of fire. When he told her that despite still recalling their feelings for each other that he had no choice but to serve his creator, Slug told him that Karza was dead. Blasting Slug unconscious, he dramatically asked her, "Is he?"

(Micronauts I#23/2: Tales of the Microverse (fb) - BTS) - Slug was carried in prone position, her arms bound behind her back and lying perpendicularly across Argon's back through the night into the vast Syanite desert in Homeworld's Sandzone. They were accompanied by Centaurus and another of the Centauri.

(Micronauts I#23/2: Tales of the Microverse) - Slug wondered who was Argon's master, unaware they were observed by Pharoid, Margrace, and the rest of their Desert Demons forces, who identified Slug as royalty, noting that she looked none too pleased with her fate, although she did not appeared to frightened, either. The Desert Demons resolved to rescue the captive, but waited until the Centauri were within an enclosed region, so they couldn't just run off in any direction in the desert.

    As Argon arrived in the grey oasis, he knelt before Shaitan, whom Slug instantly recognized. She argued that he was dead, slain in a blood feud on Spartak, but Shaitan explained that he had gained a form of immortality via the Body Banks. As he caressed Slug's head, she denounced him as a monster and instructed him not to defile her person with his obscene touch. Shaitan recognized her as well, noting her accomplishments and taunting her with the fact that Argon had Karza's pawn all along. They were interrupted as the Desert Demons attacked.
 
(Micronauts I#24/2: Tales of the Microverse) - As Shaitan ordered his Faceless Priestess to arrange his escape, Slug taunted him that she had been caught by surprise when she was captured, but not all of his base treachery would save him from the Aegyptians' wrath. Angered, Shaitan advised her that while Argon was necessary for the master's plans, she was not. However, as Shaitan reached for her throat (while her arms remained bound), he was distracted by Karsh, chieftain of the Centauri, who reminded Shaitan that he had promised to take him with him if his plans soured. After Shaitan slew Karsh (angered over his people's failure to provide defense and allowing Karsh to join them in death), Pharoid skewered Shaitan with his rapier.

(Micronauts I#24/2: Tales of the Microverse (fb) - BTS) - Karsh fell close enough to Slug that she could reach his laser crossbow.

(Micronauts I#24/2: Tales of the Microverse) - The unliving/undead/whatever Shaitan was unfazed by Pharoid's assault, but as Shaitan raised his blade to slay Pharoid, Slug blasted Shaitan's sword. Knocking Pharoid away with a swat, Shaitan departed to gather Argon and flee; he warned Slug that if she ever saw her betrothed again she would not recognize him.

(Micronauts I#25/2: Tales of the Microverse) - Alongside the Desert Demons, Slug explored the underground city Aegypta, encountering an immense statue of Karza prior to transformation into the armored despot. There Pharoid discussed the legends of Karza's transformation.

(Micronauts I#25/2: Tales of the Microverse - BTS) - Argon's body was taken over by Karza's life force, transforming to match Karza's form and power.

(Micronauts I#26/2: Tales of the Microverse (fb) - BTS) - Riding atop an Ostra, Slug and the Desert Demons arrived at the cavern in which Argon's empty Force Commander armor laid. They appreciated what had happened to Argon and that Karza was back (although he had already traveled to  Earth's dimension).

(Micronauts I#26/2: Tales of the Microverse) - Slug and the Desert Demons were present as Mari arrived there, having been unwittingly sent there from Earth's dimension by Karza when he fired a blast to "reduce her to atoms." Slug suggested they spare Mari knowledge of Argon's true fate, at least until they reached the royal city.

(Micronauts I#26/2: Tales of the Microverse (fb) - BTS) - Upon reaching the royal city, Slug presumably shared Argon's fate with Mari

(Micronauts I#26/2: Tales of the Microverse) <48 Xats after Mari's return to Homeworld> - The Planetary Council gathered on Homeworld to discuss how they might oppose Karza. Although Pharoid suggested that Slug, as Argon's betrothed, should address the Council, Slug yielded to hereditary queen Mari as she best knew Karza's threat from Earth's dimension. After Mari had revealed Karza's alliances and plots, she sought to bypass Karza's control of the Enigma Force by contacting the Shadow Priests directly, and Slug hung her head in despair as the Council witnessed that Karza held the Time Travelers in bondage.

(Micronauts I#28 (fb) - BTS) - As Karza's forces -- comprised of renegades, pirates, and scum from every race in the Microverse (Antrons, Phobos, and Reptos were seen specifically; presumably Kronos and Membros were involved as well) -- bombed the Mari-led revolutionary army, who had taken refuge in Karza's Body Banks to learn why Karza's armies were streaming there.

(Micronauts I#28) - Led by Mari, Slug joined Pharoid and the others in battling Karza's forces, during which Slug explained their reason for being there to Pharoid. Driven back to the edge of the Worldcore pit, they found one of Karza's Faceless Priests mystically holding open a portal allowing Karza and his forces to breech the Spacewall and access Earth at will.

(Micronauts I#28 - BTS) - Seeking vengeance for his betrayal by Karza, Shaitan sealed the Portal, trapping Karza's fleet in hyperspace, while allowing the assembled might of the Micronauts resistance forces through.

(Micronauts I#28) - Ships from Homeworld (carrying among them Mari, Pharoid, and Slug), Kaliklak, Neep, Spartak, and "other worlds too numerous to mention" -- arrived through the portal to reinforce the Micronauts and SHIELD.

    Ultimately, Acroyear -- completing using the force of Spartak's Worldmind after it was summoned by Shaitan -- and Queen Esmera of Kaliklak -- via her suicide sting -- defeated Karza and drove his mind out of Argon, who reverted to his original human form. Slug's elation at this was dimmed somewhat by the destruction of Spartak and of Rann being rendered comatose by the trauma of the Enigma Force, which had been linked to his mind, being torn from Karza and then retreating from reality.

(Micronauts I#29) - Slug, Argon, Pharoid, Cilicia, and Dagon were present at the mass ceremony on the SHIELD's Helicarrier's open deck, jointly mourning the deaths of numerous SHIELD agents, as well as Biotron (secretly destroyed by Dagon, one of Karza's robots posing as an Acroyear, and Karza's Dog Soldiers), Esmera, and Shaitan.

    As superhuman psychiatrist Doc Samson explained the dangers in sending Acroyear, Bug, Mari, and Microtron into Rann's mind with his Psychotron cannon -- specifically that Rann's nightmares would seem real and could kill them -- Slug asked Argon to beg Mari not to take the risk. Argon asked Mari to consider that their science on Homeworld might offer a safer cure, but Mari felt the degeneration in Rann's condition justified the risk. Slug was shocked when the beam caused the Micronauts to seemingly vanish.

(Micronauts I#29 - BTS) - The effort successfully revived Rann, while Microtron destroyed Dagon after he/it revealed its true loyalties. The Micronauts then returned to the Microverse.

(Micronauts I#30) - Back in the Royal Palace in Homeworld's First Zone, Slug was present as Rann showed and Microtron translated the subliminal message that had been inscribed deep within his brain and that had been found when the other Micronauts had traveled inside his brain. After Rann discussed the danger to the Microverse should the Time Travelers be destroyed, Slug -- noting that the Time Travelers were emissaries of the Enigma Force, the universal power that bound the very molecules of their Microverse together -- questioned whether they could be destroyed. Rann replied that he wouldn't have thought so had Karza not returned. Ultimately the group concluded that they must locate the three Keys mentioned in the message and use them to contact the Enigma Force.

    When the Royal City was rocked by planetquakes, Slug stood by Argon as he concluded that this marked the beginning of the great distress mentioned in the message. Argon then sent messengers to every corner of his kingdom to search for the Keys.

    As she prepared to depart alongside Argon, who rode Oberon, Slug explained to Mari that when Karza perished, both Argon and Oberon had reverted to normal.

(Micronauts I#34 (fb) - BTS) - Following the initiation of this quest, Slug noticed as Argon became progressively more irrational, seeing enemies where there were only friends; many were imprisoned. Slug initially hoped that his powerlust was but a temporary madness.

    Slug was horrified as Argon reopened Karza's Body Banks and she heard that his scientists had resumed genetic experimentation on anyone considered an "enemy of the realm."
(Micronauts I#33) - Slug stood by Argon as he expressed his displeasure that the Micronauts had recovered two of the three Keys to the Enigma Force but seemed unwilling to use them to protect his subjects. Rann replied that the Enigma Force's withdrawal seemed to have forced stale and stagnant cultures back on the road to progress, and that the people of the other zones deserved a right to decide their own fates.

(Micronauts I#34) - Slug sat silently astride Oberon (?; black) behind Argon as he confronted the Micronauts (Bug, Mari, Microtron, and Rann) whom had just been captured by his revolutionary guard (now uniformed like Karza's Dog Soldiers). When Argon ordered the Micronauts to be imprisoned under guard (joining the already captured Acroyear and Devil), Slug protested, noting that while she had not known his purpose in coming to Aegypta, she could not believe his betrayal of those who had ever served him faithfully. Argon assured her that he was just placing them under protective custody while his scientists fathomed the workings of the Keys to the Enigma Force, but also informed her that as king of Homeworld, the safety of the Microverse hung on his judgment, and he must rule as king, no matter how heartless his edicts may seem. Slug silently considered that power seemed to have gone to the head of the man she was to marry, if he was not outright insane.

    When Pharoid greeted Slug and Margrace, Margrace expressed his disgust at Pharoid's loyalty to Argon over the Micronauts and headed out to the desert, and Slug, riding on one of the Ostras, joined him.

    Slug subsequently joined Margrace in liberating the imprisoned Micronauts following a distraction instigated by Nanotron in the name of the Rebellion. Slug informed Rann that the Rebellion was active as all was not right on Homeworld and that Argon had grown progressively more irrational since the start of the quest for the Keys. They were soon joined by Pharoid, who shattered Acroyear's and Devil's bonds and explained to Slug that he had realized Argon had become a tyrant akin to Karza. slug-microverse-stasis

    Slug told Pharoid to do as he must as she and Margrace would hold the corridor against the Dog Soldiers who were sure to come, and who arrived seconds later; Pharoid considered how lovely Slug was and that she shouldn't be exposed to such danger.

(Micronauts I#34 - BTS) - As Slug, Margrace, Pharoid, and their Desert Demons took out the Dog Soldier sentries, the Micronauts confronted Argon, and Rann defeated him and reclaimed the Keys.

(Micronauts I#34) - As Slug and the Desert Demons rejoined the Micronauts, Mari informed Slug that there was no trace of the the noble man they had both loved; Slug agreed, noting that she wept for both of their losses.

    As the Micronauts departed, Slug and the Desert Demons stayed behind to delay Argon's pursuit.

(Micronauts I#34 / Micronauts I#35) - Argon and his Dog Soldiers soon emerged from Aegypta, and Slug and the Desert Demons confronted and engaged them.

(Micronauts I#35) - Noting Argon's eyes surprise in seeing her alongside the rebellion, Slug advised him that he should have expected her to oppose his despotic threat to Homeworld and the Microverse. When Argon told her he would have made her queen of the Microverse, she slammed her ostra into his steed, informing him she would not share his conqueror's couch. Coming to Slug's aid, Pharoid tackled Argon, but Slug appreciated that though the Desert Demons fought bravely, Argon's war-fleet's numbers would soon overwhelm them; nonetheless, she resolved that they would die that the Micronauts might succeed. slug-microverse-belladonna-transfer

(Micronauts I#35 (fb) - BTS) - Following Slug and the Desert Demons' defeat, Argon led his Dog Soldiers against the Micronauts at the Tomb of Prince Wayfinder. The Micronauts ultimately revived/released the Enigma Force and departed while Argon vowed vengeance.

 (Micronauts I#39 (fb) - BTS) - Slug was imprisoned in stasis in the Body Banks alongside Pharoid.

 (Micronauts I#39) - After Argon granted the aged Duchess Belladonna, whom he had made mistress of the Body Banks, the chance to choose any body she wanted, Belladonna chose Slug's. When Argon approved this due to Slug's siding with the rebels, Slug argued that Argon was not a man anymore as power had made him as cold and cruel as the armor he always wore. Noting that Slug was more right than she knew, Argon told Belladonna she could take Slug's form whenever she wanted.slug-microverse-belladonna-face

 (Micronauts I#43 (fb) - BTS) - Within the Body Banks, DeGrayde transferred Belladonna's brain into Slug's body and vice-versa.

(Micronauts I#41 - BTS) - Now wearing Slug's form, Belladonna greeted Argon, dancing before him and asking her to take her as his queen. Striking her down, Argon noted that he had no carnal desires, after which he removed his helmet, revealing he was now composed of energy.

  (Micronauts I#41) - Within the dungeons known as the Pleasure Pits, Slug, now in Belladonna's aged from, remained chained to the wall. As the guards taunted Pharoid, Slug encouraged him to not heed their taunts, as they must set an example as leaders of the rebellion. She further vowed, "Argon...may have taken by body -- my youth -- and given them to the evil old spider whose body I know inhabit...but I will defy him until death overtakes me! So swears the Lady Slug!"

 (Micronauts I#43) - With Argon announcing Slug as his queen (in order to crush the hopes of the rebellion), the returning Micronauts (Acroyear, Bug, Mari) were escorted by rebellion members to the shelter level Sanctuary, where they met with Margrace; they resolved to determine whether Slug was truly turning betraying them or not.slug-microverse-belladonna-shooting

 (Micronauts I#44 (fb) - BTS) - DeGrayde examined Slug in her aged Belladonna form within the Pleasure Pits, pronouncing her healthy and swearing to have her guard's head on a stake if anything happened to her while under his care.

 (Micronauts I#44 - BTS) - After Belladonna (in Slug's body) unsuccessfully tried to poison Argon, he briefly reverted her to her aged form to demonstrate his power over her.

(Micronauts I#44) - Moaning in agony and then lying deathly still, Slug (in Belladonna's body) lured her Dog Soldier guard in to check on her, at which point she suddenly raked his eyes with her nails, stole his lasersonic, blasted a fatal hole through his body, and then escaped her cell.

    She briefly stopped to tell the imprisoned Pharoid that she was going to gain revenge on those who stole her name and her youth, after which she would return to free Pharoid (whom she called "beloved").

 (Micronauts I#45 (fb) - BTS) - Slug (in Belladonna's body), arrived in Argon's royal chambers, armed with a pistol, where she encountered Argon and Belladonna (in Slug's body). Argon laughed in amusement as Belladonna and Slug struggled against each other.slug-microverse-belladonna-fight

 (Micronauts I#45) - Having returned to Homeworld with Acroyear and Bug and joined in assaulting Argon's forces, Mari arrived in Argon's chambers as Slug (in Belladonna's body; henceforth, unless otherwise noted, "Slug" refers to the mind of Slug in Belladonna's body) struck down Belladonna (in Slug's body; henceforth, unless otherwise noted, "Belladonna" refers to the mind of Belladonna in Slug's body), noting that despite her aged form she was still a fighter rather than a pampered pet as Belladonna was.

    However, when Slug pulled her pistol and announced that if she could not have the body that was rightfully hers, neither could Belladonna, Mari (assuming this to be the true Belladonna attempting to kill the true Slug) blasted the pistol out of her hands. Slug tried to explain that Mari didn't understand what was going on, but she was unable to prevent Mari from punching her down.

    Argon then taunted Mari, revealing how Slug and Belladonna's bodies had been switched, after which he revealed that he was now a being of energy. As Mari engaged Argon, the recovering Slug recovered her pistol and took aim again at Belladonna to punish her for everything she'd done. However, Argon then fired an energy dagger into Slug's right forearm, forcing her to drop her pistol.

    After Argon blasted Mari out of the window, Slug again picked up her pistol with her trembling right hand and nonetheless blasted Argon straight in the chest, vowing that there would be no wedding. Unfazed by the blast, Argon levitated Slug into the air (during which she dropped her blaster) and informed her that Belladonna would marry him in her body, while Slug's punishment would be to live and continue to age; perhaps he would allow her be Belladonna's handmaiden, advising her to use the body she had stolen to please her monarch.

 (Micronauts I#46 (fb) - BTS) - As Argon's Dog Soldiers arrived and Argon looked out the window to observe Mari's fate, Slug and Belladonna fled.

(Micronauts I#46 - BTS) - Learning this, Argon ordered his Dog Soldiers to find them.slug-microverse-belladonna-starscepter

(Micronauts I#46 - BTS) - In the royal palace's bowels, as Belladonna helped Slug down the stairs, Slug asked why she was helping since she it was her most fervent desire to kill Belladonna. Noting the horror she had experienced with Argon, Belladonna acknowledged her folly and begged Slug's forgiveness. After Slug shared her history, Belladonna asked how she could aid the rebellion, and Slug noted she could start by pulling the short sword from her right forearm (see comments), after they could discuss long-term plans.

 (Micronauts I#48 (fb) - BTS) - Slug and Belladonna took refuge in the Body Banks.

(Micronauts I#47) - Slug and Belladonna, the latter still holding the former for support following her injury, found Pharoid's star scepter. It shone brightly despite it having no power due to long being deprived from sunlight, and Slug hoped it would aid them in freeing Pharoid and forcing the Body Banks technicians in returning them to their rightful bodies again.

 (Micronauts I#48 (fb) - BTS) - Slug put her injured right arm in a sling.

(Micronauts I#48 - BTS) - DeGrayde informed Argon that they had determined Slug and Belladonna to be within the Body Banks, noting that anyone foolish enough to seek sanctuary there would soon be begging them to accept their surrender.

(Micronauts I#48) - Holding Pharoid powerless star scepter, Belladonna forced a guard (ignorant of the weapon's limitations) to tell them the location of DeGrayde's laboratory. After Belladonna had knocked out the guard by striking him in the back of the head with the scepter, the two women traveled to the lab, where Slug held the scepter and ordered the scientists to switch back her and Belladonna's bodies.

 (Micronauts I#49 (fb) - BTS) - Force Commander's agents recaptured Slug and Belladonna at the Body Banks before the transfer could occur, and they learned that the Micronauts and Slug's beloved Pharoid had been taken by the Death Squad as well.

(Micronauts I#49 (fb) - BTS) - Wedding plans were made for Argon and Slug (he would marry the woman who appeared to be Slug) with the goal of demoralizing the rebels and making them think the resistance had come to an end.

slug-microverse-belladonna-blasted (Micronauts I#49) - Slug stood silently by DeGrayde as Argon discussed the wedding, despairing that no one would be able to prevent the ceremony and wondering what would become of them, and of Homeworld. Argon then taunted Slug, noting that he felt her aged eyes upon him, and reminding her that it could have been her beside him this day, soon to become Homeworld's queen.

    Head bowed in defeat, Slug could only watch as Acroyear, Bug, and Pharoid faced DeGrayde's monstrous spider-creature in the Wedding Games. However, after Acroyear slew the creature, Huntarr and Mari joined in their allies in opposing Argon's Death Squad.

    Inspired by this, the people rose up and rushed the Dog Soldiers, calling for Force Commander's death. Slug urged Belladonna that the people must see their leader as the monster he was. Acknowledging this, Belladonna rushed forth and pulled off Argon's helm, exposing him as a non-human energy creature. However, as they people were appalled, Argon beseeched his people to forgive him, as he had not betrayed them but had been under the control of another. With that, Karza revealed his presence, tearing open and emerging from Force Commander's armor.

    Those in the arena collectively gasped, and Slug remained mere feet from Karza as Biotron and Arcturus Rann  arrived and challenged him.

(Micronauts I#50) - After Karza determined Rann to no longer possess the Enigma Force and thus to not be a threat, he picked up and began strangling both Slug and Belladonna. Slug denounced Karza as scum who had slain her parents, horribly destroyed the man she loved, and stole her youth. Amused, Karza acknowledged all of this but taunted that her spirit was not matched by her pale, pathetically frail body, so susceptible to nervous shock. He then blasted her with eyebeams, and she cried out in agony about her heart; Karza mocked her further, asking her, "Don't you mean Belladonna's heart?" He then dropped her from a height, although she apparently died before even hitting the ground.slug-microverse-belladonna-death

    Seconds later, Karza launched his right gauntlet; still holding Belladonna, it smashed her against the wall and then returned to his wrist after releasing her dead form (Slug's body) to fall to the ground.

    Enraged at Slug's death, Pharoid rushed Karza, but was swiftly slain as well.

Comments: Created by Bill Mantlo, Michael Golden, and Josef Rubinstein.

    Slug never got much time to enjoy peace and/or love, and she had a fairly brief time with Argon as his fiance. It wasn't long after Karza's defeat that Karza began to influence and control Argon (maybe from Micronauts I#12-22 were the "good times"). Then after Argon regenerated seemingly without Karza in #28, he had already begun to show signs of corruption again after the initiation of the quest for the Keys to the Enigma Force in Micronauts I#30 (as noted in her comments in #34), and she rejoined the resistance against Argon in that same issue. Soon after, she and Pharoid fell in love, but I don't know that they ever had a chance to act on that love. They were fighting Argon's forces until both being captured, after which Slug's mind was transferred into Belladonna's body. She considered Pharoid her lover, but she wasn't really reunited with him until their final battle against Karza.

    In #46, Slug asked Belladonna to help pull out the dagger Mari had thrown into her forearm the previous issue. However, while Mari had shot the blaster out of her hand and punched her out while believing her to be the true Belladonna, it was Argon that had thrown his shortsword into her forearm when she aimed her recovered blaster at him while he was struggling with Mari.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Slug should be distinguished from:

Belladonna should be distinguished from:

slug-microverse-father-frontslug-microverse-father-strangledT'al
(Micronauts I#4 (fb) - BTS / Micronauts I#14 (fb) - BTS) - The woman who would become known as Slug was a former royalist or born of royalists who was/were condemned to the Body Banks under Baron Karza's tyrannical rule of Homeworld.

(Micronauts I#46 (fb)) - While she still a baby held to her naked mother's chest in the Body Banks, her mother was chosen by Baron Karza to fulfill his remaining human desires.

    When Karza instructed a Dog Soldier to kill the child, the baby's father, T'al, rushed forward, calling Karza a monster and ignoring his wife's advice to stay back and not defy Karza.

    Amused at the proud husband and father who wished to spare the child, Karza launched his left gauntlet, using it to fatally choke the father, noting that the would satisfy himself by taking his life instead.

    The father sank beneath the waters as Karza reclaimed his gauntlet, instructing the Dog Soldier to bring the woman to his bed chambers and to remove her little slug from his sight.

(Micronauts I#46 (fb) - BTS) - Karza did with the mother what he wanted and then discarded her when he was done.

--Micronauts I#46
slug-microverse-mother-karza-selectmother-separatedmother
(Micronauts I#4 (fb) - BTS / Micronauts I#14 (fb) - BTS) - The woman who would become known as Slug was a former royalist or born of royalists who was/were condemned to the Body Banks under Baron Karza's tyrannical rule of Homeworld.

(Micronauts I#46 (fb)) - While she still a baby held to her naked mother's chest in the Body Banks, her mother was chosen by Baron Karza to fulfill his remaining human desires.

    When Karza instructed a Dog Soldier to kill the child, the baby's father, T'al, rushed forward, calling Karza a monster and ignoring his wife's advice to stay back and not defy Karza.

    Amused at the proud husband and father who wished to spare the child, Karza launched his left gauntlet, using it to fatally choke the father, noting that the would satisfy himself by taking his life instead.

    The father sank beneath the waters as Karza reclaimed his gauntlet, instructing the Dog Soldier to bring the woman to his bed chambers and to remove her little slug from his sight.

(Micronauts I#46 (fb) - BTS) - Karza did with the mother what he wanted and then discarded her when he was done.

--Micronauts I#46

Note: In one of the images, enough of the woman was exposed that the artist apparently felt like he needed to draw a pair of underwear on her. In the other two images (shown here), it seems clear that she is not wearing underwear.

    The same is true for T'al, there's one image (shown on the right) where there's a line like he's wearing briefs, but the location seems to be the purification bath area that Slug stripped down naked in Micronauts I#5 for "delousing."

images: (without ads)
Micronauts I#4, pg. 6, panel 5 (incognito);
    #6, pg. 11, panel 1 (Body Banks white uniform; freeing Argon);
    #9, pg. 7 (fighting alongside resistance)
    #10, pg. 7, panel 3 (resistance uniform; full; small);
       pg. 8, panel 1 (resistance, upper, lateral);
    #11, pg. 3, panel 2 (resistance uniform, upper body);
    #22/2, pg. 3, panel 3 (royal garb, profile);
       pg. 4, panel 1 (fired upon);
    #39, pg. 13, panel 3 (stasis);
    #41, pg. 10, panel 5 (face, swearing vengeance);
    #43, pg. 5, panel 4 (mind transfer);
    #46, pg. 15, panel 4 (Karza selecting Slug's mother);
       pg. 16, panel 2 (T'al rushing Karza);
          panel 3 (Karza's gauntlet strangling T'al);
          panel 5 (talking Slug from mother);
          panel 6 (Slug baby face)
    #48, pg. 13, panel 5 (holding star scepter)
    #50, pg. 12, panel 1 (strangled by Karza alongside Belladonna);
            panel 4 (blasted by Karza);
       pg. 13, panel 1 (falling dead)
slug-microverse-mn54-fallenallies    #54, last page, featurette on fallen allies

Appearances:
Micronauts I#4-7 (April-July, 1979) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Michael Golden (penciler), Josef Rubinstein (inker/embellisher), Al Milgrom (editor)
Micronauts I#8 (August, 1979) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Michael Golden (penciler), Bob McLeod (inker), Al Milgrom (editor)
Micronauts I#9-12 (September-December, 1979) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Michael Golden (penciler), Al Milgrom (inker/editor)
Micronauts I#13-14 (January-February, 1980) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Howard Chaykin (penciler), Al Milgrom (inker/editor)
Micronauts I#22/2 (October, 1980) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Pat Broderick (penciler), Armando Gil (inker), Louise Jones (editor)
Micronauts I#23/2 (November, 1980) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Pat Broderick (penciler), Danny Bulanadi (inker), Louise Jones (editor)
Micronauts I#24/2 (December, 1980) - Bill Mantlo (writer, co-plotter), Pat Broderick (penciler, co-plotter), Armando Gil (inker), Louise Jones (editor)
Micronauts I#25/2-26/2 (January-February, 1981) - Bill Mantlo (writer, co-plotter), Pat Broderick (penciler, co-plotter), Armando Gil (inker), Louise Jones (editor)
Micronauts I#28-30 (April-June, 1981) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Pat Broderick (penciler), Danny Bulanadi (inker), Louise Jones (editor)
Micronauts I#33-34 (September-October, 1981) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Pat Broderick (penciler), Danny Bulanadi (inker), Tom DeFalco (editor)
Micronauts I#35 (November, 1981) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Val Mayerik (penciler), Danny Bulanadi (inker), Tom DeFalco (editor)
Micronauts I#39 (March, 1982) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Steve Ditko (penciler), Danny Bulanadi (inker), Al Milgrom (editor)
Micronauts I#41 (May, 1982) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Gil Kane (penciler), Danny Bulanadi (inker), Al Milgrom (editor)
Micronauts I#43 (July, 1982) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Gil Kane (penciler), Danny Bulanadi (inker), Al Milgrom (editor)
Micronauts I#44 (August, 1982) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Gil Kane (penciler), Danny Bulanadi, Carl Potts, & Al Milgrom (inkers), Al Milgrom (editor)
Micronauts I#45 (September, 1982) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Gil Kane (penciler), Danny Bulanadi (inker), Al Milgrom (editor)
Micronauts I#46 (October, 1982) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Luke McDonnell (penciler), Danny Bulanadi (inker), Al Milgrom (editor)
Micronauts I#47 (November, 1982) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Mike Vosburg (penciler), Danny Bulanadi (inker), Al Milgrom (editor)
Micronauts I#48 (December, 1982) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Butch Guice (penciler), Danny Bulanadi (inker), Al Milgrom (editor)
Micronauts I#49-50 (January-February, 1983) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Butch Guice (penciler), Danny Bulanadi (inker), Al Milgrom (editor)
Micronauts I#54 (September, 1983) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Butch Guice (penciler), Bob Wiacek (inker of Micronauts memorial feature ), Ralph Macchio (editor)

First posted: 05/05/2019
Last updated: 01/13/2023

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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