VALULU
Real Name: Valulu
Identity/Class: African god (see comments)
Occupation: Stone god (see comments)
Group Membership: The Vodu
(gods of Africa)
Affiliations: Local tribe, Benli
Enemies: Jim Harrington,
Hugo (last name
unrevealed)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Seakomo (island), Africa
(see comments)
First Appearance: Astonishing I#11/6 (Spring,
1952)
Powers/Abilities: Valulu possesses the
conventional attributes of an attributes of an African god with
superhuman strength, dexterity, endurance and extended lifespan. He
appears to made of hardened stone of unrevealed composition. Despite an
apparent inert stance, he unblinkingly remains constantly aware of his
surroundings and administers brutal justice upon wrongdoers. Of note is
that his followers worship him using regular beatings of tom-tom drums
and he has an altar with a large lone ruby, which is his sacred emblem.
Height: 6'9 "
(by approximation)
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: None (stone cavities)
Hair: None
History:
(Astonishing I#11/6 (fb) - BTS) -
Through unrevealed means, Valulu the stone god settled on the African
island of Seakomo and stood unmoving on an altar with a shiny ruby. He
was venerated by the islanders who worshiped him with festivals with
tom-tom drums. The island had deposits of diamonds, eventually
attracting the attention of white industrialists Jim Harrington and
Hugo, who had local Benli as their cultural translator.
(Astonishing I#11/6) - The islanders celebrated a
festival honoring Valulu. Harrington and Hugo were both tired of the
heat and insects on the island and sought distraction watching the
festival. They looked at the altar, their greedy eyes immediately drawn
to the ruby, but Benli urged them away. Harrington wanted to be rid of
his business partner and hatched a plan; using Harrington's coat as a
disguise at night, he stole the ruby while Harrington was passed out
drunk, then put the sacred ruby in the coat's lining. The next morning,
the angry islanders searched the industrialists' hut and found the planted
evidence. Harrington was judged guilty and quickly executed, his body
incinerated at the altar. That night, Valulu stepped from his altar and
entered Hugo's hut and, with an unflinching visage, strangled Hugo.
Comments: Created by uncredited writer & Bob Fujitani.
So who is Valulu? He seems to be minor deity at best
and unusually confined to an island. He's also referred to as "Valulu
the Stone God" so maybe he was the god of stonemasons or miners. That
Valulu is confined to an island suggests he may be exiled (with the
ruby an imprisonment key?) or maybe he is simply a protector of the
island and its inhabitants.
It's not explicitly stated that it's Africa, it's
only implied from the islanders' appearance and diamond mine. And no,
Seakomo doesn't exist in our world.
The story was reprinted in Chamber of Chills#18/2 (September 1975).
This profile was completed 8/31/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Profile by Grendel Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS
:
Valulu has no known connections to:
Benli was a local and the cultural translator and
negotiator between the Seakomo islanders and the white mine owners.
When Jim
Harrington and greedy Hugo showed interest in the sacred ruby that was
part of Valulu's altar, Benli warned them away. Later, as Hugo went to
steal the ruby at night wearing Harrington's jacket, Benli was fooled
by Hugo's disguise. The next day, suspicion for the ruby's theft fell
on the white miners and Hugo wickedly directed Benli to investigate
Harrington's belongings where they found the planted jewel.
--Astonishing I#11/6
Jim Harrington joined Hugo on the African island of
Seakomo managing a diamond mining operation. However, he grew tired
of the heat and the islanders' drumming as part of their worship of
their god Valulu, and he resorted to drinking, often passing out. With
Hugo, he saw the sacred ruby on Valulu's altar and followed local
guide Benli's advice to leave it alone. But greedy Hugo wanted to be
rid of Harrington and took Harrington's coat as disguise to steal the ruby before planting it in
Harrington's coat. The next day, Hugo told Harrington to get
new supplies from the mainland but Hugo also evilly guided Benli's
suspicions to Harrington. His coat was searched by the angered
islanders and, judged guilty from the planted evidence, Harrington was
mercilessly
incinerated at the altar with only cinders and charred bones left. Hugo
scattered his ashes in the wind.
--Astonishing I#11/6
images:
(without ads)
Astonishing I#11/6, p2, pan3 (main image)
p5, pan7 (headshot)
p2, pan4 (side view)
p2, pan4 (Benli)
p1, pan1 (Harrington)
Appearances:
Astonishing I#11/6 (Spring, 1952) - uncredited writer, Bob Fujitani
(pencils & inks), Stan Lee (editor)
This profile was completed 08/31/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.
First posted: 09/08/2021
Last updated:
09/06/2021
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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