N'Kantu, the Living Mummy
Encyclopedia
N'Kantu the Living Mummy is a fictional
supernatural
hero in the Marvel Comics
universe
. He first appeared in Supernatural Thrillers
#5 (Aug. 1973), created by Steve Gerber
and Rich Buckler
.
#5 (Aug. 1973) introduced the character in a standalone story set in Cairo, Egypt, "The Living Mummy". N'Kantu the Living Mummy returned two issues later in "The Return of the Living Mummy" by the same team, who brought the character to New York City
. With the cover logo reading "Supernatural Thrillers featuring The Living Mummy", the series ran from #7 to the final issue, #15 (June 1974 - Oct. 1975). With issue #8, the creative team became writer Tony Isabella
and artist Val Mayerik, occasionally credited as co-plotter. John Warner
wrote or co-wrote the final two issues, with Tom Sutton
drawing the finale. Len Wein
scripted #10 from an Isabella-Mayerik plot.
n tribe called the Swarili, of the nation of Swarilis. When he became 21 years old, N'Kantu had to undergo the Test of the Lion, proving himself to be worthy of being called a warrior. Succeeding in this trial also meant that someday N'Kantu would be worthy to succeed his father as king. Months later, his father died in his sleep, and N'Kantu became the chieftain of the Swarili tribe.
Returning from a hunt, N'Kantu found that his village had been ransacked and the entire tribe of Swarili rounded up by Egyptians
as slaves. N'Kantu fought to rescue his people, but was overwhelmed and captured by the Egyptian soldiers.
N'Kantu and the Swarili were then taken to Egypt, and put to work building monuments to the current Pharaoh, Aram-Set. Recognized as the strongest, and most dangerous of the Swarili, N'Kantu was isolated and forced to work the hardest in an attempt to break his spirit. But at night he and the other Swarili people plotted a rebellion, though unbeknownst to them their plotting was reported to Aram-Set and his chief priest, Nephrus. At the completion of the current monument project, the Egyptians took their slaves into its catacombs in preparation for a mass execution. But N'Kantu signaled for the revolt and the Swarili slaughtered their would-be executioners.
N'Kantu slew Aram-Set with his spear, and then turned to Nephrus, but the evil priest had prepared, and he sprayed N'Kantu in the face with a mysterious paralyzing liquid. N'Kantu was then strapped and bound to a special altar, his body wrapped in papyrus
, and his blood was drained and replaced with an unknown alchemical
preservative
. N'Kantu, who was somehow conscious through the entire ordeal, was then placed inside a stone sarcophagus
.
, who ordered him to find the ruby scarab. While searching, he battled Professor Abdol, the Living Pharaoh
. N'Kantu then battled the Elementals, and vanquished them with the aid of the Scarab he had found. During later travels N'Kantu befriends Ulysses Bloodstone
. Some time after that N'Kantu is kidnapped by the Grandmaster
for the Contest of Champions
, but the Grandmaster doesn't consider him worthy enough to be a combatant and so N'Kantu returns to Earth.
N'Kantu later teams up with the Thing
and his girlfriend Alicia Masters against General Hassan, another descendant of Nephrus, preventing him from obtaining the Spirit Gem. After this, he returns to the desert where he began searching for the Bloodgem. However, when Captain America
and his "partner" Diamondback
are after the gem as well, they convince N'Kantu to hand over the fragments he had found.
Later, N'Kantu is approached to join the Shock Troop organization. They help free Quasar from the Darkforce
entity known as Quagmire
, and disband afterward. Later he gets into a fight with the evil Rakses and has to team up with Elsa Bloodstone
, the daughter of his old ally. After defeating this villain, N'Kantu spends some time guarding the mystic Orb of Ra. During this time, N'Kantu is approached by Nick Fury
and is convinced to join his group of Howling Commandos
, and they fight against the powerful Merlin
in Area 13.
event. He was apprehended and transported to an extra-dimensional prison, "Fantasy Island", which is located in the Negative Zone
.
N'Kantu has since been seen in his prison cell, secured to a slab and surrounded by flames. Iron Man
, when questioned about this, stated that some detainees require special security measures. He was later released when Hulkling
impersonated Hank Pym and used his voice to unlock all the cells of imprisoned heroes.
N'Kantu later appeared as a member of the Legion of Monsters alongside Morbius, the Living Vampire
, Werewolf by Night
, Manphibian
, and Man-Thing
.
N'Kantu is able to sense mystical energy and the use of magic, he can also sense and recognize Nephrus' descendants.
While he is capable of speech, his body no longer produces saliva and so N'Kantu can only do so with great difficulty and discomfort due to the dryness of his mouth and throat. He is proficient with ancient Swarili, Egyptian and English.
The Living Mummy possesses an extreme sensitivity to any dehydrative process which interferes with the preservative fluid in his veins. It is unknown whether or not prolonged exposure would result in death, or immobility until his body regenerated more of the fluid. After attaining the Orb of Ra, the preservatives that fill his body either are disposed of, or are now irrelevant. It is unknown how this affects his speech, if at all.
The Living Mummy has the combat skills of the Swarili warrior class, some of which are enhanced by his mummified condition; others of which are diminished.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
hero in the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
. He first appeared in Supernatural Thrillers
Supernatural Thrillers
Supernatural Thrillers was a horror fiction comic book published by Marvel Comics in the 1970s that adapted classic stories of that genre, including works by Robert Louis Stevenson and H.G. Wells, before becoming a vehicle for a supernatural action series starring an original character, The Living...
#5 (Aug. 1973), created by Steve Gerber
Steve Gerber
Stephen Ross "Steve" Gerber was an American comic book writer best known as co-creator of the satiric Marvel Comics character Howard the Duck....
and Rich Buckler
Rich Buckler
Rich Buckler is an American comic book artist and penciller, best known for his work on Marvel Comics' The Fantastic Four in the mid-1970s and, with writer Doug Moench, co-creating the character Deathlok in Astonishing Tales #25...
.
Publication history
Supernatural ThrillersSupernatural Thrillers
Supernatural Thrillers was a horror fiction comic book published by Marvel Comics in the 1970s that adapted classic stories of that genre, including works by Robert Louis Stevenson and H.G. Wells, before becoming a vehicle for a supernatural action series starring an original character, The Living...
#5 (Aug. 1973) introduced the character in a standalone story set in Cairo, Egypt, "The Living Mummy". N'Kantu the Living Mummy returned two issues later in "The Return of the Living Mummy" by the same team, who brought the character to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. With the cover logo reading "Supernatural Thrillers featuring The Living Mummy", the series ran from #7 to the final issue, #15 (June 1974 - Oct. 1975). With issue #8, the creative team became writer Tony Isabella
Tony Isabella
Tony Isabella is an American comic book writer, editor, artist and critic, known as the creator and writer of Marvel Comics' Black Goliath, DC Comics' first major African American superhero, Black Lightning, and as a columnist and critic for the Comics Buyer's Guide.-Marvel Comics:Before he joined...
and artist Val Mayerik, occasionally credited as co-plotter. John Warner
John Warner (comics)
John Warner is an American comic book writer and editor, known for his stories of horror and the supernatural.Warner's most prolific period in the comic book field was from 1973–1979...
wrote or co-wrote the final two issues, with Tom Sutton
Tom Sutton
Tom Sutton was an American comic book artist who sometimes used the pseudonyms Sean Todd and Dementia...
drawing the finale. Len Wein
Len Wein
Len Wein is an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics' Swamp Thing and Marvel Comics' Wolverine, and for helping revive the Marvel superhero team the X-Men...
scripted #10 from an Isabella-Mayerik plot.
Origin
N'Kantu was born over three thousand years ago, son to T'Chombi, a chief of a Northern AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n tribe called the Swarili, of the nation of Swarilis. When he became 21 years old, N'Kantu had to undergo the Test of the Lion, proving himself to be worthy of being called a warrior. Succeeding in this trial also meant that someday N'Kantu would be worthy to succeed his father as king. Months later, his father died in his sleep, and N'Kantu became the chieftain of the Swarili tribe.
Returning from a hunt, N'Kantu found that his village had been ransacked and the entire tribe of Swarili rounded up by Egyptians
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
as slaves. N'Kantu fought to rescue his people, but was overwhelmed and captured by the Egyptian soldiers.
N'Kantu and the Swarili were then taken to Egypt, and put to work building monuments to the current Pharaoh, Aram-Set. Recognized as the strongest, and most dangerous of the Swarili, N'Kantu was isolated and forced to work the hardest in an attempt to break his spirit. But at night he and the other Swarili people plotted a rebellion, though unbeknownst to them their plotting was reported to Aram-Set and his chief priest, Nephrus. At the completion of the current monument project, the Egyptians took their slaves into its catacombs in preparation for a mass execution. But N'Kantu signaled for the revolt and the Swarili slaughtered their would-be executioners.
N'Kantu slew Aram-Set with his spear, and then turned to Nephrus, but the evil priest had prepared, and he sprayed N'Kantu in the face with a mysterious paralyzing liquid. N'Kantu was then strapped and bound to a special altar, his body wrapped in papyrus
Papyrus
Papyrus is a thick paper-like material produced from the pith of the papyrus plant, Cyperus papyrus, a wetland sedge that was once abundant in the Nile Delta of Egypt....
, and his blood was drained and replaced with an unknown alchemical
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
preservative
Preservative
A preservative is a naturally occurring or synthetically produced substance that is added to products such as foods, pharmaceuticals, paints, biological samples, wood, etc. to prevent decomposition by microbial growth or by undesirable chemical changes....
. N'Kantu, who was somehow conscious through the entire ordeal, was then placed inside a stone sarcophagus
Sarcophagus
A sarcophagus is a funeral receptacle for a corpse, most commonly carved or cut from stone. The word "sarcophagus" comes from the Greek σαρξ sarx meaning "flesh", and φαγειν phagein meaning "to eat", hence sarkophagus means "flesh-eating"; from the phrase lithos sarkophagos...
.
Later adventures
Three thousand years later, now in modern times, the paralyzing fluid finally wears off and N'Kantu escapes from his tomb. Deranged from being paralyzed in a dark tomb for several millennia, he digs himself free and goes on a rampage in Cairo, Egypt. He later recovers from his insanity and discovers Doctor Alexi Skarab, one of Nephrus' surviving descendants. N'Kantu was electrocuted into unconsciousness. His lifeless body is shipped to a New York City museum, where he is revived. He is teleported to the dimension of the ElementalsElementals (Marvel Comics)
The Elementals is a fictional organization in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:The Elementals first appeared in Supernatural Thrillers #8 , and were created by Tony Isabella and Val Mayerik....
, who ordered him to find the ruby scarab. While searching, he battled Professor Abdol, the Living Pharaoh
Living Monolith
The Living Monolith is a fictional character, a supervillain in the . He first appeared in X-Men #54 .Abdol was the Living Pharaoh while in his normal appearance, but once he obtained enough cosmic energy, he would increase in mass, size, and power, thus becoming the Living Monolith.Abdol has...
. N'Kantu then battled the Elementals, and vanquished them with the aid of the Scarab he had found. During later travels N'Kantu befriends Ulysses Bloodstone
Ulysses Bloodstone
Ulysses Bloodstone is a fictional character, an immortal monster-hunter in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:John Warner has explained the development of Ulysses Bloodstone: "Len Wein and Marv Wolfman came up with the spark that would become Bloodstone—the premise of a man who fights...
. Some time after that N'Kantu is kidnapped by the Grandmaster
Grandmaster (comics)
The Grandmaster is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. who first appeared in The Avengers #69. He is one of the ageless Elders of the Universe and has mastered most civilizations' games of skill and chance.-Fictional character biography:...
for the Contest of Champions
Contest of Champions
Contest of Champions is a three-issue comic book limited series published from June to August 1982 by Marvel Comics. The series was written by Mark Gruenwald with art by John Romita, Jr. and Bob Layton.-Publication history:...
, but the Grandmaster doesn't consider him worthy enough to be a combatant and so N'Kantu returns to Earth.
N'Kantu later teams up with the Thing
Thing (comics)
The Thing is a fictional character, a founding member of the superhero team known as the Fantastic Four in the Marvel Comics universe. He was created by Jack Kirby and Stan Lee in The Fantastic Four #1...
and his girlfriend Alicia Masters against General Hassan, another descendant of Nephrus, preventing him from obtaining the Spirit Gem. After this, he returns to the desert where he began searching for the Bloodgem. However, when Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
and his "partner" Diamondback
Diamondback (comics)
Diamondback is the name of four fictional characters appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Diamondback first appeared in Captain America #310 , written by Mark Gruenwald and illustrated by Paul Neary.-Willis Stryker:The first Diamondback was a foe of Luke Cage...
are after the gem as well, they convince N'Kantu to hand over the fragments he had found.
Later, N'Kantu is approached to join the Shock Troop organization. They help free Quasar from the Darkforce
Darkforce
-Description:It is a powerful, extra-dimensional energy that can be manipulated in slightly different ways by a handful of beings that are attuned to it. There are slight yet inconclusive hints that it may be a corruptive influence of some kind and perhaps even sentient...
entity known as Quagmire
Quagmire (comics)
Quagmire is a fictional character, owned by Marvel Comics who is a native of the universe of the Squadron Supreme. He first appeared in Squadron Supreme #4 Quagmire (Jerome Meyers) is a fictional character, owned by Marvel Comics who is a native of the universe of the Squadron Supreme. He first...
, and disband afterward. Later he gets into a fight with the evil Rakses and has to team up with Elsa Bloodstone
Elsa Bloodstone
Elsa Bloodstone is a fictional character, appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She first appears in Marvel's Bloodstone mini-series of 2001 written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning...
, the daughter of his old ally. After defeating this villain, N'Kantu spends some time guarding the mystic Orb of Ra. During this time, N'Kantu is approached by Nick Fury
Nick Fury
Colonel Nicholas Joseph "Nick" Fury is a fictional World War II army hero and present-day super-spy in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by artist Jack Kirby and writer Stan Lee, Fury first appeared in Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1 , a World War II combat series that portrayed the...
and is convinced to join his group of Howling Commandos
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos
Nick Fury's Howling Commandos was an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. Running six issues before its cancellation and cover-dated December 2005 to May 2006, the series featured a fictional team set in the Marvel Universe, consisting of supernatural characters employed as a unit...
, and they fight against the powerful Merlin
Merlin (Marvel Comics)
Merlin is the name of multiple fictional characters in the Marvel Universe.-Fictional character biography:The first Merlin of the Marvel Universe is apparently the figure of Arthurian legend, hailing from 6th century A.D. Britain. He was born in Carmarthen, Wales. He was a powerful sorcerer who...
in Area 13.
Civil War
Soon afterward, N'Kantu was seen as one of the heroes against the Super-hero Registration Act which was forged during the Civil WarCivil War (comics)
Civil War is a 2006-2007 Marvel Comics crossover storyline built around a self-titled seven-issue limited series written by Mark Millar and penciled by Steve McNiven, which ran through various other titles published by Marvel at the time...
event. He was apprehended and transported to an extra-dimensional prison, "Fantasy Island", which is located in the Negative Zone
Negative Zone
The Negative Zone is a fictional setting, an antimatter universe depicted in publications from Marvel Comics, most frequently in Fantastic Four and Captain Marvel. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, it first appeared in Fantastic Four #51 .-Fictional description:The Negative Zone in the Marvel...
.
N'Kantu has since been seen in his prison cell, secured to a slab and surrounded by flames. Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
, when questioned about this, stated that some detainees require special security measures. He was later released when Hulkling
Hulkling
Hulkling is a fictional comic book superhero and a member of the Young Avengers, a team of superheroes in the Marvel Comics universe. Hulkling's character is patterned on the Hulk...
impersonated Hank Pym and used his voice to unlock all the cells of imprisoned heroes.
Post-Civil War
N'Kantu returns to Egypt and recovers the Orb of Ra. He then summoned the spirit of Nephrus hoping to get him to restore him to full life or to let him die. Nephrus was unable to do that, but it did attract Anubis when Nephrus' spirit was drawn from his realm. N'Kantu agreed to become Anubis' agent to kill people and send their souls to him in exchange for N'Kantu moving on to the afterlife.N'Kantu later appeared as a member of the Legion of Monsters alongside Morbius, the Living Vampire
Morbius, the Living Vampire
Morbius, the Living Vampire, is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and penciler Gil Kane, the character, a living human suffering from vampiric abilities resulting from scientific rather than supernatural means, first appeared as...
, Werewolf by Night
Werewolf by Night
Werewolf by Night is a fictional character, an antiheroic werewolf in the Marvel Comics universe. The Werewolf by Night first appeared in Marvel Spotlight vol...
, Manphibian
Manphibian
Manphibian is a fictional character from the Marvel Universe who first appeared in Legion of Monsters #1. It has some resemblance to the "Gill Man" seen in Creature from the Black Lagoon.-Fictional character biography:...
, and Man-Thing
Man-Thing
The Man-Thing is a fictional character, a monster in publications from Marvel Comics. Created by writers Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow, the character first appeared in Savage Tales #1 , and went on to be featured in various titles and in his own series, including...
.
Powers and abilities
As a result of the transfusion of an unknown embalming fluid by the Egyptian high priest Nephrus, N'Kantu has superhuman strength and durability. He is highly resistant to many forms of attack. Although his skin is almost rock-hard in consistency, his wrappings are extremely vulnerable to fire. His blood has been replaced with an alchemical preservative that has allowed him to exist for over three thousand years. He also has no need for food, water, oxygen, or sleep.N'Kantu is able to sense mystical energy and the use of magic, he can also sense and recognize Nephrus' descendants.
While he is capable of speech, his body no longer produces saliva and so N'Kantu can only do so with great difficulty and discomfort due to the dryness of his mouth and throat. He is proficient with ancient Swarili, Egyptian and English.
The Living Mummy possesses an extreme sensitivity to any dehydrative process which interferes with the preservative fluid in his veins. It is unknown whether or not prolonged exposure would result in death, or immobility until his body regenerated more of the fluid. After attaining the Orb of Ra, the preservatives that fill his body either are disposed of, or are now irrelevant. It is unknown how this affects his speech, if at all.
The Living Mummy has the combat skills of the Swarili warrior class, some of which are enhanced by his mummified condition; others of which are diminished.
Television
- N'Kantu the Living Mummy appears in The Super Hero Squad ShowThe Super Hero Squad ShowThe Super Hero Squad Show is an American cartoon series by Marvel Animation. It is based on the Marvel Super Hero Squad action figure line from Hasbro, which portray the characters of the Marvel Universe in a cartoonish super-deformed-style...
episode "This Man-Thing, This Monster." He is shown to be the leader of an army of mummies that work for DraculaDracula (Marvel Comics)Dracula is a fictional character, a comic book supervillain appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. He is based on the vampire Count Dracula from the novel of the same name by author Bram Stoker, and is also influenced by Universal Studios' version of the character.-Publication history:A...
. He carries Werewolf by Night's girlfriend Ellen away.
Video games
- N'Kantu appears in Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds in Jill ValentineJill Valentineis a fictional character in the Resident Evil survival horror series by Capcom.Jill is one of the two protagonists of the original Resident Evil game, where she was introduced as a member of the Raccoon Police Department's Special Tactics And Rescue Service , trapped in a secret research complex of...
's ending. He attacks her and BladeBlade (comics)Blade is a fictional character, a superhero/vampire hunter in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer Marv Wolfman and penciller Gene Colan, his first appearance was in the comic book The Tomb of Dracula #10 as a supporting character.The character went on to alternatively star and co-star...
along with other Marvel monsters.
External links
- Living Mummy at Marvel Universe
- Living Mummy at the Marvel Directory