LIZARD-BIRDLIZARD-BIRD
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Unrevealed origins (perhaps a Deviant creation/mutate, a magical being, an extraterrestrial, or maybe something completely different);
presumably originating from the distant past;
possibly alternate reality
Occupation: Unrevealed
Group Membership: None known
Affiliations: Unrevealed
Enemies: Apparently a number of humans
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None known
Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
seen only in some city/town, presumably on Earth
First Appearance: Strange Tales I#88 (September, 1961)
Powers/Abilities: The Lizard-Bird has wings extending from the lateral aspect of each of its pectoral limbs. It has clawed hands with at least three digits (it was not clear whether or not an opposing thumb existed. The wings extended laterally down to the level of the distal antebrachium / proximal carpus, with apparent spines/ridges running down the wings (which are commonly the phalanges in other winged creatures). The wings appeared to extend proximally from the axilla ("armpit") with the lower back, tail, and/or proximal distal limb (perhaps down to the stifle/genu/knee joint).
It has a long tail, ending in a triangular prominence, which may have aided in balance navigation, and apparently three anterior-facing toes on each foot. It may or may not have had a posterior-facing toe and/or a calcaneal protuberance that can flex to aid in gripping footholds. It appeared to have paired nares ("nostrils") superior/dorsal to its mouth, which was not in the form of a beak.
It appeared to have a leathery, reptilian hide, and it did not appear to have feathers (notably, at the time of the story's publication in 1961, it was not known that some dinosaur species, flighted or otherwise, had feathers).
It had a larger pointed caudal/posterior projection centrally from its skull and then smaller, paired horn-like structures on either side, also apparently pointing in a caudal/posterior direction.
Despite its immense size, the Lizard-Bird can fly, and it can crush jet planes in its hands.
Its flight speed, duration, maximum-load, etc., along with pretty much everything else about it, are unrevealed.
Height: Unrevealed (approximately 100', with a 250' wingspan)History:
(Strange
Tales I#88 (fb) - BTS) <circa 1960> - Comic book artist Frank
Johnson created a number of characters for various comic books (including Amazing Adventures, Journey into Mystery, Strange Tales, and Tales to Astonish,
starting with the giant Mad Martian.
Comments: Created by Stan "The Man" Lee, Jack "The King" Kirby, and "Sturdy" Steve Ditko.
So...allegedly, the Lizard-Bird was just a fictional character created
by Frank Johnson within a story, which would make it "metafiction." In
the Marvel Megaverse (at least), however, we know that -- in an
infinite Multiverse -- every story, dream, scenario, etc. is mirrored
in some reality.
However, without knowing any
more about the character/events involved with the Lizard-Bird, it is
difficult to say whether those events take place in an alternate
reality (which may or may not be in the same reality as other
"fictional" creations of Frank Johnson, like the Mad Martian and the Glob, plus the other characters not as clearly visible in the gallery of covers
they show), or perhaps they eventually occurred in Reality-616 at some
point, and Frank was having glimpses of the future.
Without knowing
more, I am reluctant to provide a reality designation.
Analyzing the story/character, as we have just one panel to go with, it's hard to say too much. Physical features are discussed above.
It is described as a nightmare creature from the prehistoric past.
Being from the past and being described as a lizard-bird certainly makes it seem like some sort of pterosaur.
However, the creature was clearly lacking a beak, and it appeared much more like a winged lizard than pterosaurs of which I've seen depictions or descriptions (then again, our knowledge of these creatures from the past is always developing).
Given its appearance in grabbing jet planes in its "hands," it seemed to be much larger than the 50' wingspan Quetzacoatlus, which was one of the largest species of pterosarus at the time.
That being said, many species exist in various Marvel realities far larger than real world counterparts...
I think it more likely something else, such as:
A Deviant mutate
A species that evolved in the Savage Land
An alien brought to Earth from another world or dimension
A modern lizard mutated by science and mistaken for a creature from the past
Where did the encounter occur?
Apparently in a town or city with large building and to which jet fighters could easily travel.
The fact that an American writer wrote the story makes the likelihood of it having taken place somewhere in the United States of America likely, although far from certain.
Was it malevolent?
The cover painting makes it look that way, but covers don't always match the story.
Maybe it was benevolent, but its size and appearance made others assume it to be hostile?...and/or someone shooting it made it lash out?
Maybe someday we'll learn the true story of this "Lizard-Bird."
As
all three creators are, sadly, deceased, it would take some other
writer to just pick up on this one panel from a 1961 comic and run with
it.
It COULD happen...
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The Lizard-Bird should be distinguished from:
Appearances:
Strange Tales I#88 (September, 1961) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), Steve Ditko (inks)
First posted: 12/05/2022
Last updated: 12/05/2022
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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