SOD(Reality-691, 31st century)
SOD
(Reality-691, 31st century)
Real Name: Sod (presumably...or it could have been a nickname)
Identity/Class: Alternate Reality (Reality-691) circa 31st century;
extraterrestrial (race unrevealed);
resident of Asylum
Occupation: Gardener
Group Membership: Mr. Slech's gang
Affiliations: Mr. Slech and his gang
Dr. Pazz-Ko, Dr. Roh-Ma (caretakers, although Sod may not have even known they existed)
Enemies: Guardians of the Galaxy (Charlie-27, Nikki/Nicholette Gold, Vance Astro/Vance Astrovik, and Yondu Udonta),
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: The planet Asylum, Milky Way galaxy, Reality-691 circa the 31st century
First Appearance: Marvel Presents#5 (June, 1976)
Powers/Abilities:
Apparently composed of grassy vegetation and possibly a mixture of
soil, etc., not unlike the Man-Thing. As such, he was presumably
resistant to conventional injury, including penetrating wounds and
blunt trauma, but susceptible to flames, etc. 
He carried a trowel and a pair of shears, which he imbedded in his shoulders when they weren't in use.
Sod was apparently an experienced gardener.
Sod carried poisons, presumably such as insecticides, to kill unwanted fauna in the forest, as well as a rifle, to kill larger pests, such as people.
Sod was
content to be a gardener, follow orders, and try to stay out of
trouble, although he did have an idea of things that might be of
interest to his boss.
Height: Unrevealed (he wasn't clearly shown in
comparison to the Guardians, but some images made him look larger, and
others smaller. I think he could be anywhere from 5' to 7' tall)
Weight: Unrevealed (depending on his
Eyes: Dark (possibly black or dark blue)
Hair: Brown grassy foliath
History:
(Marvel Presents#5 (fb) - BTS) - The planet Asylum was
established an unrevealed period of time ago to serve as a mental
institution for the most hopelessly neurotic specimens of
approximately fifty loosely confederated planets in its sector of
the Milky Way Galaxy. All interaction with outside influences
is strictly prohibited.
(Marvel Presents#5 (fb) - BTS) - Under unrevealed circumstances, Sod became a resident of Asylum, and he eventually became the gardener of crimelord Mr. Slech.
(Marvel Presents#5 (fb) - BTS) - With the Guardians of the Galaxy's ship damaged in battle with the entity Karanada, Martinex stayed on board to effect repairs-- as he could generate his own heat and survive without air -- and beamed the Guardians of the Galaxy (Charlie-27, Nikki, Vance Astro, and Yondu), beamed down to the nearby planet (unknown to them to be the planet Asylum). Martinex beamed them into this world's largest city, and their arrived on Mr. Slech's roof garden, which they initially mistook for a forest.
(Marvel Presents#5) - Discovering the quartet, Sod confronted them at gunpoint, telling them to halt as they were on private property. He noted that he didn't know how they got there or what they wanted, but that this wasn't unusual as he just the gardener and nobody told him anything. He continued that he didn't mind that as it wasn't his job to know, but he was supposed to keep pests out of the garden, and that included them. He then advised them that while he normally sprayed pests -- with poison or lead -- whatever -- he figured that the boss might like to inspect the four of them personally.
Instructing the Guardians to step lively, he brought them down the stairs to Mr Slech and announced that he had found them in the garden. When another of Slech's agents called the Guardians hitmen, Slech apparently agreed and told Sod that he had done nice work and would receive a bonus.
(Marvel Presents#5 (fb) - BTS) - Sod apparently returned to the garden as he wasn't seen when the confrontation between the Guardians and Slech and his men turned violent, after which the Guardians escaped.
(Marvel Presents#5 - BTS) - After encountering Martinex, Asylum's caretakers Drs. Pazz-Ko and Roh-Ma arranged the delivery of the equipment needed to repair their ship and transported the other Guardians back there after explaining the situationComments: Created by Steve Gerber, Al Milgrom, and Howard Chaykin
The whimsy of the situation (classic Gerber), was that the most insane people in the galaxy established a society very similar to that of modern (at the time of the story) Earth.
Sod, aka turf, is a name for the top layer of grass and soil, which can be removed in sheets and laid on to of soil.
Was Sod a member of a race of grass turf beings? Was he a unique mutate? What was Sod???? I needs to know!!!
Slech's race was identified as the Entemen, and the Pazz-Ko and Roh-Ma's as the Courga...the rest of the characters deserve love, too!
This profile was completed 6/27/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Sod originally was a sub-profile in the planet Asylum's profile, which was one of the profiles I had written before uploading and publishing the Appendix 09/02/2001. I wanted more Sod, back then, and this is apparently the only way I can get it!
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Sod should be distinguished from:
Marvel Presents#5, pg. 2, panel 3 (main, full with rifle);
panel 4 (face);
pg. 3, panel upper (turning Guardians over to Slech)
Appearances:
Marvel Presents#5 (June,
1976) - Steve Gerber (writer), Al
Milgrom (penciler), Howard Chaykin (inker), Marv Wolfman (editor)
First posted: 09/22/2021
Last updated: 09/21/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and
© 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you
like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com
Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!