Mongul#Son of Mongul

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{{Infobox comics character

| character_name = Mongul

| image = Mongul.png

| caption = Mongul as depicted in DC Comics Presents #28 (December 1980). Art by Jim Starlin (pencils), Romeo Tanghal (inks), and Jerry Serpre (colors).

| publisher = DC Comics

| debut = DC Comics Presents #27 (November 1980)

| creators = Len Wein (writer)
Jim Starlin (writer/artist)

| species = Unknown

| homeworld = Warworld

| alliances = (Mongul)
Injustice League
Superman Revenge Squad
Suicide Squad
(Mongul II)
Sinestro Corps

| partners = Hank Henshaw

| powers =

Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, and durability
Near-invulnerability
Teleportation
Energy projection
Heat vision
Anatomical liberation
Skilled hand-to-hand combatant
Genius-level intellect
Access to Warworld

|cat = super

|subcat = DC Comics

|villain = y

|sortkey = Mongul

}}

Mongul ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|ɒ|ŋ|g|əl}}) is a supervillain appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Writer Len Wein and artist Jim Starlin created the first version of the character, who debuted in DC Comics Presents #27 (November 1980).{{cite book |last=Rovin |first=Jeff |author-link=Jeff Rovin |title=The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains |date=1987 |publisher=Facts on File |isbn=0-8160-1356-X |location=New York |page=232}} Jerry Ordway created the second version, who first appeared in The Adventures of Superman #454 as the lord of Warworld. He was later embellished by Peter Tomasi and Scot Eaton in Showcase '95, #8. He is based on the Mongol Empire's founder Genghis Khan and his successors, hence his name. The character was given an origin story in Green Lantern #23.2 by his co-creator Jim Starlin and artist Howard Porter as homage to the writers who participated in developing the character. He has become one of Superman's most enduring enemies belonging to the collective of adversaries that make up his rogues gallery.

Debuting in the Bronze Age of Comic Books, Mongul has been featured in other DC Comics-endorsed products such as animated series, video games, a direct-to-DVD film, and merchandise such as action figures and trading cards.

Publication history

Mongul debuted in the title DC Comics Presents and was created by writer Len Wein and artist Jim Starlin.{{cite book|last=Manning|first= Matthew K.|editor-last = Dolan|editor-first = Hannah|chapter= 1980s|title = DC Comics Year By Year A Visual Chronicle|publisher=Dorling Kindersley |year=2010 |isbn= 978-0-7566-6742-9 |page= 188 |quote = Artist Jim Starlin displayed his penchant for portraying powerful cosmic villains with the debut of Mongul, a new threat to plague Superman's life, in a story written by Len Wein.}} Starlin often receives credit as creator of the character, but Wein in an interview stated: "Well, [Mongul] had Starlin visuals, but he was my creation". Wein said he conceived Mongul specifically as a villain to physically challenge Superman.{{cite book |last1=Eury |first1=Michael |title=The Krypton Companion |date=2006 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=9781893905610 |page=138}} Starlin commented on the character as well stating, "When I went over to DC... I went over and created Mongul and he was definitely supposed to be Thanos in the DC universe"{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dOFRxg-p6Y&t=2575s | title=Jim Starlin Biographical Interview 2024 part 1 by Alex Grand | website=YouTube | date=8 November 2024 }}

Fictional character biography

Mongul is the ruler of his species until he is overthrown and forced to flee his planet.DC Comics Presents #28 (December 1980) He is the leader of Warworld, a mobile weaponized satellite, and has battled Superman on numerous occasions.DC Comics Presents #27 (November 1980)DC Comics Presents #36 (August 1981)DC Comics Presents #43 (March 1982)Superman Annual #11: "For the Man Who Has Everything" (September 1985)

Following the Crisis on Infinite Earths continuity reboot, Mongul is reintroduced as the ruler of the Warworld empire.{{cite book |last1=Greenberger |first1=Robert |author-link=Robert Greenberger |title=The Essential Superman Encyclopedia |last2=Pasko |first2=Martin |author-link2=Martin Pasko |date=2010 |publisher=Del Rey |isbn=978-0-345-50108-0 |pages=265–267}} In Underworld Unleashed, Neron kills Mongul after he refuses his offer of power.Underworld Unleashed #1 (November 1995) Following Mongul's death, his son Mongul II succeeds him as ruler of Warworld, and later obtains a Sinestro Corps ring.Showcase '95 #8 (September 1995)Green Lantern Corps (vol. 2) #19-20 (February - March 2008)

Image:SinestroDefeatsMongul.jpg and Christian Alamy.|left]]File:Mongulgibbson2.png and Peter Steigerwald.]]

= ''The New 52'' =

In The New 52 continuity reboot, Mongul I is resurrected and attacks the Sinestro Corps.Green Lantern (vol. 5) #23.3 (November 2013)Action Comics (vol. 2) #34 (August 2014)Sinestro #9 (March 2015)Sinestro #10 (April 2015) After being deposed by Sinestro, Mongul allies with the Pale Vicors, a group who loot planets and nullify their inhabitants' emotions.Sinestro #18 (February 2016)

In the Superman: Villains one-shot (May 2020), Mongul is killed and succeeded by his son, Mongul MDCCXCII.{{Cite web |last=Matadeen |first=Renaldo |date=March 5, 2020 |title=A Major Superman Villain Just Died... and He's a Bigger Threat Than Ever?! |url=https://www.cbr.com/superman-mongul-death-replaced/ |access-date=November 17, 2024 |website=CBR |language=en}}

Powers and abilities

Mongul possesses immense superhuman physical abilities comparable to Superman. Furthermore, he can teleport, generate energy blasts, possesses limited telepathy and telekinesis, and wields a chest-mounted cannon.Sinestro #21 (May 2016)Green Lantern (vol. 4) #8 (March 2006)Batman/Superman #7 (March 2014) For a time, he was also part of the Sinestro Corps and possessed the ability to create energy constructs and empower himself via fear.Sinestro #1 (June 2014) As a Pale Vicor, Mongul can negate the powers of the emotional spectrum and generate a protective aura.Sinestro #20 (April 2016)

In other media

=Television=

File:Mongul (Batman. The Brave and the Bold).jpg

Mongul appears in the DC Animated Universe series Justice League and Justice League Unlimited, voiced by Eric Roberts.{{cite web |title=Mongul Voices (DC Universe) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/characters/DC-Universe/Mongul/ |access-date=October 6, 2019 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
Mongul appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold, voiced by Gary Anthony Williams.
Mongul appears in Young Justice, voiced by Keith David.
Mongul appears in the Justice League Action episode "Galaxy Jest", voiced by John DiMaggio.

=Film=

Mongul appears in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, voiced by Bruce Timm.
Mongul appears in Justice League: Warworld, voiced by Robin Atkin Downes.

=Video games=

Mongul appears in Superman: The Man of Steel, voiced by J.S. Gilbert.
Mongul appears in Superman Returns, voiced by Todd Williams.
Mongul appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold – The Videogame, voiced again by Gary Anthony Williams.
Mongul appears as a character summon in Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure.{{Cite web |last=Eisen |first=Andrew |date=October 2, 2013 |title=DC Characters and Objects - Scribblenauts Unmasked Guide |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/scribblenauts-unmasked/DC_Characters_and_Objects |access-date=August 1, 2024 |website=IGN |language=en}}
Mongul appears as a playable character in Lego DC Super-Villains, voiced by Fred Tatasciore.

Reception

In 2009, Mongul was ranked as IGN's 41st Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.{{cite web |title=Mongul is number 41 - IGN |url=http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/41.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121094431/http://comics.ign.com/top-100-villains/41.html |archive-date=January 21, 2011 |access-date=January 27, 2011 |website=IGN}}

References

External links

[http://supermanica.kinlok.nu/wiki/index.php/Mongul Supermanica: Mongul] Supermanica entry on the Bronze Age version of the character.
http://idol-head.blogspot.com/search/label/Mongul In-depth history of the character.

Category:Characters created by Jim Starlin

Category:Characters created by Len Wein

Category:Comics characters introduced in 1980

Category:DC Comics aliens

Category:DC Comics characters with accelerated healing

Category:DC Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability

Category:DC Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds

Category:DC Comics characters who can teleport

Category:DC Comics characters with superhuman strength

Category:DC Comics extraterrestrial supervillains

Category:DC Comics male supervillains

Category:DC Comics psychics