GIACOMO MONTESIGIACOMO MONTESI
Occupation: Custodian of the Darkhold;
rank of Monsignore within the
Roman Catholic Church
Affiliations: Templar Knights (Jean du Plan du Carpin, William of
Rubruques),
worshipped the Judeo-Christian-Islamic God
Enemies: Chthon and his agents, Varnae and his army of vampires; unidentified human agent of Varnae
Known Relatives: Paolo Montesi (father, deceased), "Raffaela" Montesi (mother, deceased; see comments), Marcello Montesi (son,
deceased), Luciano Montesi (descendant, presumably deceased), Giuseppe Montesi
(descendant, deceased), Vittorio Montesi (descendant), Victoria Montesi (adoptive
descendant); presumptive wife unidentified; various unidentified daughters-in-law, granddaughters-in-law, etc.
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: The Vatican, Rome
First Appearance: Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#12/2 (December 1989)
Powers/Abilities: Giacomo
had extensive knowledge of the theology and the Catholic church, as well as
vast occult knowledge.
His
strong religious faith allowed him to read the Darkhold without being corrupted
by it.
Giacomo's lifespan was elongated by his proximity to the Darkhold.
Height: 5'7"
Weight: Approximately 180 lbs.
Eyes: Dark (presumably brown)
Hair: White (possibly darker in youth)
History:
(Doctor
Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#12/2) - Giacomo Montesi was the son of Paolo Montesi and
was born in the late 12th century (c.
1190?), the very day his father was killed by the vampire-lord Varnae. His mother died in childbirth.
(Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#13/2) - Inheriting his father's role as custodian of the Darkhold, Giacomo swore to use the Darkhold to destroy vampires, but he discovered that the parchment containing that precise incantation (which would later become known as the “Montesi Formula”) was missing from the copy of the scrolls in his possession; he eventually came to the conclusion that it had likely been taken East during the Hyborian Age (see comments) and that it must be in Tibet.
At some point, Giacomo also correctly determined that the parchments
were in the hands of the Nine Wise Men of Kamar-Taj.
Giacomo
organized several expeditions towards Tibet, often led by Knights Templar:
In 1246, such a mission was led by Jean du Plan du Carpin.
In 1253, another such mission was led by William of Rubruques.
With his questors having found the hidden city of Kamar-Taj high in the Himalayas, circa 1350 AD, Giacomo was finally allowed the chance to send emissaries to Kamar-Taj.
However, before a trade could be made for the missing scrolls with the Nine Wise Men of Kamar-Taj...
Giacomo was murdered (c. 1360 AD) by an unidentified assassin in Varnae’s employ.
He had, however, fathered a son, Marcello.
Comments: Created by Jean-Marc Lofficier & Roy Thomas,
and David & Dan Day.
If
Giacomo was born c. 1190 and was murdered c. 1360, he was 170-years-old when he
died; it is obvious that contact with
the Darkhold had extended his natural lifespan.
The
Darkhold parchments (then called the Chthon Scrolls) were seen in the Hyborian
era, in Conan the Barbarian I#244 + 245—Snood.
Paolo
Montesi's wife was not shown on panel, nor was she named as anything
other than the mother of his son. However, as Paolo was both a deeply
religious man and he had been given dispensation to marry to sire
children, this was almost certainly his wife. As not taking a husband's
last name was not common at the time, I would think her last name was
almost certainly Montesi. Jean-Marc Lofficier confirmed this and he
provided the name Raffaela for her. At the time of this profile,
however, that information has yet to see print in a Marvel Comic.
By the same token, Giacomo presumably was almost certainly married to a
woman who likely took his last name and was the mother of Marcello.
However, as this wife wasn't even mentioned, we didn't seek to provide
a name for her.
--Snood
This profile was completed 5/08/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Jean-Marc Lofficier, with assistance from Snood (text editing) and Loki (digital image supplier).
CLARIFICATIONS:
Giacomo Montesi known connection to:
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#12/2, last page, last panel;
#13/2, pg. 24 (p1 of 2nd story), panel 2 (adult Giacomo; main);
pg. 25, panel 1 (dispatching expeditions to Tibet)
panel 3 - death of Giacomo.
Appearances:
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#12/2 (December, 1989) - Roy Thomas,
Jean-Marc & Randy Lofficier (writers), David & Dan Day
(artists), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#13/2 (January, 1990) - Roy Thomas,
Jean-Marc & Randy Lofficier (writers), David & Dan Day
(artists), Ralph Macchio (editor)
First posted: 09/12/2021
Last updated: 09/10/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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