GHAN
GHAN
Real Name: Ghan
Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Jotunheim; associated with Asgardian cosmology) Giant
Occupation: Warrior
Group Membership: Jotuns (Giants of Jotunheim; specifically the Storm Giants)
Affiliations: Loki Laufeyson
Enemies: Asgardians (notably Odin Borson and Thor Odinson)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: Gigantic One (from Loki)
Base of Operations: Jotunheim (one of the nine/ten worlds associated with the Asgardian cosmology)
First Appearance: Journey into Mystery I#115/2 (April, 1965)
Powers/Abilities: As a Jotun, Ghan was large
and strong (perhaps lifting 50 tons (see comments) and able to hurl boulders perhaps 10' in diameter), with superhuman durability and longevity
(enhanced lifespan/delayed aging, with a lifespan perhaps measuring
presumably at least millennia).
He briefly existed in the form of an eagle, but this was a temporary
magical transformation (or perhaps an illusion) from Loki, and there's
no evidence that he could assume that form at will.
In eagle form, he could fly.
Height: Unrevealed (most images made him appear to be about 25' tall)
Weight: Unrevealed (at a height of 6', he would look to be about
250 lbs.; at human density at 25' tall, he would be about 18,000
pounds, or 9 tons; some sources indicate that Jotuns are 3x human
density, which would make him more like 27 tons)
Eyes: Unrevealed (they are either shadowed or apparently closed when shown; I would guess brown, black, or gray)
Hair: Gray
History:
(Journey
into Mystery I#115/2 (fb) - BTS) - Hating Odin and the Asgardian gods
and supremely confident due to his gargantuan size, Ghan prepared to
attack Asgard.
Learning of Ghan's intent, the young Thor was placed in charge of a task force to battle the titanic invader. As Ghan approached, Thor urged the Asgardian warriors to stand fast as they would soon have the chance to prove their mettle.
(Journey into Mystery I#115/2) - Ghan hurled a massive boulder at the Asgardians, scattering them, but Thor used his mystic hammer, Mjolnir, to shatter the boulder. Watching from a safe distance, Loki, resenting Thor having been placed in charge of the mission rather than himself, began casting a spell with his mystic sword to ensure Ghan's victory.
However,
before Loki's spell could take effect, the Asgardians attacked with
arrows and spears, putting Ghan on the defensive. Finally, Ghan roared
in helpless rage and fled before the assault.
(Journey
into Mystery I#115/2 - BTS) - As the Asgardians used a catapult to
launch a vessel containing sleep fumes to cause Ghan to lose the will
to fight, Loki secretly transformed Ghan into an eagle, allowing him to
fly above the fumes. The Asgardians rushed forward to seize the giant
but found him to have vanished without a trace; Thor considered that
Ghan could only have vanished via magical spell, but as Ghan had no
such powers, he couldn't figure out who could have cast such a
spell.
Loki silently gloated, noting that this would be the first of many failures of Thor.
(Journey into Mystery I#115/2 (fb) - BTS) - As Thor and the others headed back to Asgard, Loki asked to stay behind and continue searching, earning him Thor's praise.
(Journey into Mystery I#115/2) - After the gods were out of site, Loki transformed the eagle flying over head back into giant form. Though he knew not the motives for which Loki would betray his own kind, Ghan told Loki that he was in his debt.
Loki assured Ghan that he would never forget and nor should Ghan, as the day would come when he would order Ghan to repay the debt.
As Ghan departed Loki considered that he had made his first alliance
with the forces of evil, beings who would come to his aid when he made
his final bid to overthrow the rule of Odin, destroy Thor, and seize
the throne of Asgard.
Comments: Created by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Vince Colletta.
Loki repeatedly calls Thor his half-brother in this story. This is a common error, but Loki is Thor's foster or adoptive brother.
The omniscient narrator (Stan Lee, of course) refers to Ghan as"Most Deadly of the Storm Giants." I assume this is hyperbole, as we've seen bigger and stronger giants than Ghan, but I'd also take it to mean that he was more powerful than the average storm giant.
Obviously this was the early days when Thor had no idea of Loki's treachery, but Thor has a pattern of trusting and being betrayed by Loki...ad nauseum...
Ghan is not confirmed to have any other appearances, but perhaps he is one of the giants seen with the Forces of Evil allied with Loki against Asgard in Thor I#277-278 or other occasions.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Ghan should be distinguished from:
Appearances:
Journey into Mystery I#115/2 (April, 1965) - Stan Lee (writer, editor), Jack Kirby (penciler), Vince Colletta (inker),
First posted: 11/28/2021
Last updated: 11/28/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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