Raa of the Caves
Encyclopedia
Raa is a fictional character appearing in Marvel Comics
. He first appeared in Fantastic Four Annual #25 as a member of The Anachronauts
(Apocryphus, Deathunt 9000, Ssith, Tyndar, Wildrun (aka Red Wolf), and Sir Raston). He was created by writer Mark Gruenwald
and penciler Herb Trimpe
.
Annual #22).
After being defeated by Kang the Conqueror
in battle, he swore his allegiance to him and became a member of his hand-picked soldiers, supposedly the "greatest warriors of the ages," The Anachronauts. His first major battle as an Anachronaut was against the combined forces of the Fantastic Four
and the Avengers
. He and his teammates were defeated and forced to retreat.
With Kang being temporarily out of the picture due to his actions in Avengers
Annual #21, Terminatrix assumed command of The Anachronauts and Kang's city-state headquarters of Chronopolis.
His second major mission as an Anachronaut was a time traveling one, having to travel back to the days of Camelot to ensure the creation of the Ebony Blade
. A while after this adventure, Deathunt 9000 informed Terminatrix that The Anachronauts, including Raa, were resigning, having only sworn allegiance to Kang and not her. Kang eventually returned and brought Raa and The Anachronauts under his control once again.
When Chronopolis came under attack by Immortus
and his armies some time later, Raa and The Anachronauts defended the city-state with their lives. Raa was killed along with all The Anachronauts, except Wildrun, by a "time-twisting explosion" trying to get to where Terminatrix died.
. This would give him superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, and senses. It would also make him virtually immortal.
Annual #25 that for each instance he time traveled an alternate reality was created. Raa could very well be an alternate version of Ulysses Bloodstone
. They are both very similar in appearances and they both have a fragment of the Bloodgem embedded in their chest (or what appears to be one, in Raa's case).
When Kang traveled back in time to search of his "greatest warriors," he came upon Bloodstone and challenged him to a fight. Having never seen such a being before, Bloodstone may have thought him to be a monster or being sent by Ulluxy'l Kwan Tae Syn to retrieve the fragment of the Bloodgem. When Bloodstone lost the battle with Kang, Kang gave him the choice of death (him probably having the technology to do so) or to swear allegiance to him forever. Bloodstone reluctantly agreed, not wanting to die without exacting his revenge on Syn and seeing it as an opportunity to search of Syn.
This is where it could go many ways. (1) Kang could see Bloodstone's revenge motive (either at that time or after a while) and he wiped his memory of the whole Syn incident, (2) During training or a battle Bloodstone could have had a severe head injury resulting in a memory lose, or other such events. These events would be the only way both characters are the same because Raa never talks of Syn throughout his appearances nor does he seem to state anything about the gem in his chest or of anything "supernatural" before his time with Kang.
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...
. He first appeared in Fantastic Four Annual #25 as a member of The Anachronauts
Anachronauts (comics)
The Anachronauts are group of fictional warriors existing in the Marvel Universe that serve Kang the Conqueror as his personal guard. The Anachronauts were brought together by Kang, after having bested each of them in personal combat and extracting their allegiance to him. They are from various...
(Apocryphus, Deathunt 9000, Ssith, Tyndar, Wildrun (aka Red Wolf), and Sir Raston). He was created by writer Mark Gruenwald
Mark Gruenwald
Mark E. Gruenwald was an American comic book writer, editor, and occasional penciler. Gruenwald got his start in comics fandom, publishing his own fanzine, Omniverse, which explored the concept of continuity...
and penciler Herb Trimpe
Herb Trimpe
Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe Herbert W. "Herb" Trimpe (b. May 26, 1939, is an American comic book artist and occasional writer, best known for his work on The Incredible Hulk and as the first artist to draw for publication the character Wolverine, who later became a breakout...
.
Fictional character biography
Very little is known about the past of the man known as Raa. He was once a skilled hunter of the tribe known as the Hill Dwellers living thousands of years ago (speculated because of his comment about battling sabertooths in AvengersAvengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
Annual #22).
After being defeated by Kang the Conqueror
Kang the Conqueror
Kang the Conqueror is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Avengers #8 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
in battle, he swore his allegiance to him and became a member of his hand-picked soldiers, supposedly the "greatest warriors of the ages," The Anachronauts. His first major battle as an Anachronaut was against the combined forces of the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
and the Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
. He and his teammates were defeated and forced to retreat.
With Kang being temporarily out of the picture due to his actions in Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
Annual #21, Terminatrix assumed command of The Anachronauts and Kang's city-state headquarters of Chronopolis.
His second major mission as an Anachronaut was a time traveling one, having to travel back to the days of Camelot to ensure the creation of the Ebony Blade
Ebony Blade
The Ebony Blade is a fictional enchanted sword in the Marvel Comics universe. Though many have used the sword, it is most readily identified with the Black Knight.-History:...
. A while after this adventure, Deathunt 9000 informed Terminatrix that The Anachronauts, including Raa, were resigning, having only sworn allegiance to Kang and not her. Kang eventually returned and brought Raa and The Anachronauts under his control once again.
When Chronopolis came under attack by Immortus
Immortus
Immortus is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. He is the future self of Kang the Conqueror, and first appeared in Avengers #10, and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
and his armies some time later, Raa and The Anachronauts defended the city-state with their lives. Raa was killed along with all The Anachronauts, except Wildrun, by a "time-twisting explosion" trying to get to where Terminatrix died.
Powers and abilities
Raa appears to have a fragment of the Bloodgem embedded in his sternum, much like the hero Ulysses BloodstoneUlysses 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...
. This would give him superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, and senses. It would also make him virtually immortal.
Equipment
Raa is almost never seen without his trusty spear, although he has been known to use a laser pistol.Speculation
Kang stated in Fantastic FourFantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
Annual #25 that for each instance he time traveled an alternate reality was created. Raa could very well be an alternate version of 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...
. They are both very similar in appearances and they both have a fragment of the Bloodgem embedded in their chest (or what appears to be one, in Raa's case).
When Kang traveled back in time to search of his "greatest warriors," he came upon Bloodstone and challenged him to a fight. Having never seen such a being before, Bloodstone may have thought him to be a monster or being sent by Ulluxy'l Kwan Tae Syn to retrieve the fragment of the Bloodgem. When Bloodstone lost the battle with Kang, Kang gave him the choice of death (him probably having the technology to do so) or to swear allegiance to him forever. Bloodstone reluctantly agreed, not wanting to die without exacting his revenge on Syn and seeing it as an opportunity to search of Syn.
This is where it could go many ways. (1) Kang could see Bloodstone's revenge motive (either at that time or after a while) and he wiped his memory of the whole Syn incident, (2) During training or a battle Bloodstone could have had a severe head injury resulting in a memory lose, or other such events. These events would be the only way both characters are the same because Raa never talks of Syn throughout his appearances nor does he seem to state anything about the gem in his chest or of anything "supernatural" before his time with Kang.