Black Lama
Encyclopedia
Black Lama is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe
.
#53 (December 1972), and was created by Mike Friedrich
, George Tuska
, and Jim Starlin
.
The character subsequently appears in Iron Man #70-75 (September 1974-June 1975), #77 (August 1975), #80-81 (November-December 1975).
The Black Lama received an entry in the Marvel Legacy: The 1970's Handbook #1 (2006).
, the Red Skull
and even Fu Manchu to destroy all other major supervillains; the ultimate survivor would receive a shimmering golden globe, which, the Black Lama claimed, would bestow the user with the calm of mind and spiritual balance to finally realize their dreams, but they declined. The Lama made the same offer to MODOK
, the Mad Thinker
, the Mandarin
and the Yellow Claw
, and they accepted. In the ensuing struggle, the Mandarin perished, and the ultimate, surprising victor was outsider Gary Gilbert, the original Firebrand
.
He also incited the supervillains the Melter
, Whiplash
, and Man-Bull
to form the team the Death Squad
to vie for the Golden Globe of Power. The Death Squad fought Iron Man
at a comic book convention, but were decisively defeated.
Iron Man, who had come to realize that the Black Lama was a serious threat, and that all of his bizarre claims contradicted each other, intervened when the Lama bestowed the Golden Globe on Firebrand, and all three were drawn into another dimension together.
Here, the absurd truth was revealed: the Black Lama was a traveler from an alternate Earth, the king of one of many small kingdoms that exist there instead of the United States
of America. Not only that, he was actually the other-dimensional counterpart of Gerald Ford
, the then-president of the US. He had grown bored with his all-too-mundane life as king, and had sought excitement by traveling to another dimension via the Golden Globe. But the transition had driven him insane; in his delusional state, he had decided to make someone change places with him and send them back to his world; he believed this would restore his sanity.
Now back in his own dimension, King Jerrold turned out to be a perfectly agreeable sort, who helped Iron Man to return home, taking Gary Gilbert with him and finally ending the "War of the Super-Villains".
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...
.
Publication history
Black Lama first appeared in Iron ManIron 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,...
#53 (December 1972), and was created by Mike Friedrich
Mike Friedrich
Mike Friedrich is an American comic book writer and publisher best known for his work at Marvel and DC Comics, and for publishing the anthology series Star*Reach, one of the first independent comics...
, George Tuska
George Tuska
George Tuska , who early in his career used a variety of pen names including Carl Larson, was an American comic book and newspaper comic strip artist best known for his 1940s work on various Captain Marvel titles and the crime fiction series Crime Does Not Pay, for and his 1960s work illustrating...
, and Jim Starlin
Jim Starlin
James P. "Jim" Starlin is an American comic book writer and artist. With a career dating back to the early 1970s, he is best known for "cosmic" tales and space opera; for revamping the Marvel Comics characters Captain Marvel and Adam Warlock; and for creating or co-creating the Marvel characters...
.
The character subsequently appears in Iron Man #70-75 (September 1974-June 1975), #77 (August 1975), #80-81 (November-December 1975).
The Black Lama received an entry in the Marvel Legacy: The 1970's Handbook #1 (2006).
Fictional character biography
The Black Lama is an extra-dimensional mystic who attempted to set Earth's leading super-criminals at war with one another. To this end he invited (presumably among others) Doctor DoomDoctor Doom
Victor von Doom is a fictional character who appears in Marvel Comics publications . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #5 wearing his trademark metal mask and green cloak...
, the Red Skull
Red Skull
The Red Skull is a name shared by several fictional characters, all supervillains from the Marvel Comics universe. All incarnations of the character are enemies of Captain America, other superheroes, and the United States in general....
and even Fu Manchu to destroy all other major supervillains; the ultimate survivor would receive a shimmering golden globe, which, the Black Lama claimed, would bestow the user with the calm of mind and spiritual balance to finally realize their dreams, but they declined. The Lama made the same offer to MODOK
MODOK
MODOK is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #93 MODOK (acronym for Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing) is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character...
, the Mad Thinker
Mad Thinker
The Mad Thinker is a fictional character, a supervillain in the . He is a genius specializing in evil robotics and usually comes up with very elaborate infallible devious plans that unfold like clockwork....
, the Mandarin
Mandarin (comics)
The Mandarin is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain and the archenemy of Iron Man.In 2009, Mandarin was ranked as IGN's 81st Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.-Publication history:...
and the Yellow Claw
Yellow Claw
The Yellow Claw is a fictional comic book supervillain in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Al Feldstein and artist Joe Maneely, the character first appeared in Yellow Claw #1 , published by Atlas Comics, the 1950s predecessor of Marvel.-Publication history:While the...
, and they accepted. In the ensuing struggle, the Mandarin perished, and the ultimate, surprising victor was outsider Gary Gilbert, the original Firebrand
Firebrand (Marvel Comics)
Firebrand is the codename of three fictional supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. All three were normal humans inside powered armor and relied on fire-based weapons...
.
He also incited the supervillains the Melter
Melter
The Melter is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Tales of Suspense #47 and was created by Stan Lee and Sam Rosen.-Publication history:...
, Whiplash
Blacklash
Blacklash is the name of 2 characters from Marvel Comics.The best known Blacklash is Mark Scarlotti is an enemy of Iron Man.-Publication history:...
, and Man-Bull
Man-Bull
Man-Bull is a fictional character, a supervillain from Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Man-Bull first appeared in Daredevil #78-79 , and was created by Gerry Conway and Gary Friedrich....
to form the team the Death Squad
Death Squad (comics)
The Death Squad is a fictional team of technology-based supervillains in the Marvel Comics series Iron Man. They first appeared in Iron Man volume 3 #1.-History:...
to vie for the Golden Globe of Power. The Death Squad fought 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,...
at a comic book convention, but were decisively defeated.
Iron Man, who had come to realize that the Black Lama was a serious threat, and that all of his bizarre claims contradicted each other, intervened when the Lama bestowed the Golden Globe on Firebrand, and all three were drawn into another dimension together.
Here, the absurd truth was revealed: the Black Lama was a traveler from an alternate Earth, the king of one of many small kingdoms that exist there instead of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
of America. Not only that, he was actually the other-dimensional counterpart of Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
, the then-president of the US. He had grown bored with his all-too-mundane life as king, and had sought excitement by traveling to another dimension via the Golden Globe. But the transition had driven him insane; in his delusional state, he had decided to make someone change places with him and send them back to his world; he believed this would restore his sanity.
Now back in his own dimension, King Jerrold turned out to be a perfectly agreeable sort, who helped Iron Man to return home, taking Gary Gilbert with him and finally ending the "War of the Super-Villains".