Mindless Ones

Last updated
Mindless Ones
Mindless One.jpg
A Mindless One
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Strange Tales #127 (Dec. 1964)
Created by Stan Lee (writer)
Steve Ditko (artist)
Characteristics
Place of originDread Dimensions
Inherent abilities
  • Superhuman strength, stamina, and durability
  • Energy projection

The Mindless Ones are fictional monsters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Their first appearance was in Strange Tales #127 (Dec. 1964). [1]

Contents

They are extra-dimensional creatures summoned via magic to do the bidding of others (they have no will of their own). They appear to have a thick, roughly humanoid shape standing taller than most men and a hide that appears to be made of rock. They have no faces to speak of except a single glowing eye. They have savage dispositions and minimal intelligence.

Publication history

The Mindless Ones first appeared in Strange Tales #127 (Dec. 1964), and were created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

The Mindless Ones have also appeared in Darkhawk #19-20 (Sept.–Oct. 1992), Sleepwalker #17 (Oct. 1992), Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #82 (Oct. 1995), Marvel Boy vol. 2, #5-6 (Dec. 2000, March 2001), Fantastic Four #70 (Aug. 2003), The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 2 #57-#58 (Nov. 2003), The Amazing Spider-Man #500 (Dec. 2003), and Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #7-8 (Nov. 2006), among other comics.

Fictional history

Long ago, the wizard King Olnar sat on the throne of the Dark Dimension. He is visited by Umar and Dormammu, siblings of a race of magical energy beings called the Faltine. During this time, Olnar melds the Mindless Ones' home dimension to the Dark Dimension. They rampage throughout the lands, killing many, including Olnar, and almost slaying the two Faltine. The siblings create a barrier to keep them contained.

From that point they are most often seen in the employ of Dormammu, who develops an ability to slightly control their actions. [2] They have also been utilized by others such as Doctor Doom , Dr. Midas (in the pages of Marvel Boy ) and a fellow Faltine named Rorkannu (in Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. ).

Dr. Doom uses them after gaining high levels of magical power via a deal with demonic entities. The Mindless Ones are utilized to beat on Ben Grimm, a member of the Fantastic Four, in a test of Grimm's durability. [3]

Sleepwalker

When Spider-Man is banished to the Dark Dimension by a brainwashed Portal, he is attacked by a group of Mindless Ones. To rescue him, Darkhawk and Sleepwalker battle the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and break Sauron's control over Portal so they could retrieve Spider-Man. A gang of Mindless Ones follow Spider-Man through the portal leading back to Earth, but the three heroes beat them back through the gateway before Portal seals it. [4]

Amazing Spider-Man

In another, separate incident, [5] they invade and destroyed much of New York City's famed Times Square. A force that consists of Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Cyclops, Thor, Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl and the Human Torch help stop them, mainly by creating barriers. It is revealed this is the first instance Spider-Man has encountered these creatures. The Mindless Ones are temporarily defeated when Mr. Fantastic creates a machine that manipulates their magical energies, drawing them back to where they came from. This, unfortunately, results in the temporary return of Dormammu. Dr. Strange confronts the evil wizard. A punch from a single Mindless One sends Spider-Man straight into the magic Strange is utilizing, resulting in a time travel trip. Spider-Man sees a future where the Mindless Ones have reduced Times Square to rubble and killed Ben Grimm and Thor. A future Mary Jane is chased by a batch of Mindless Ones and despite Spider-Man's efforts, she is killed. [6]

Further time-travel allows Spider-Man to prevent the usage of the machine in the first place. Doctor Strange's magic is what banishes the Mindless Ones, leaving Times Square damaged but still standing. [7]

Around this time, a single Mindless One appears as a minion of the villain Doctor Midas. [8]

Nextwave

Rorkannu, who physically resembles Dormammu and claims to be lord of the Dark Dimension, is stated to control a group of Mindless Ones. Emerging from a portal in a public restroom, they rampage through a small Colorado town, killing everyone they see, then wearing their clothing and behaving like them. [9]

The group known as Nextwave slays the Mindless Ones. Rorkannu, in a monologue, reveals he is summoning the army because he feels their lack of distinguishing features and similar temperaments make them suitable to replace the human race. His lair is discovered by the hero known as the 'Captain'. His summoning circle is destroyed. Rorkannu himself is severely beaten and left to an uncertain fate. [10]

Cable and Deadpool

The Mindless Ones appeared in an issue of Cable & Deadpool in which Deadpool and Bob, Agent of HYDRA encounter them in their own dimension. The two are being manipulated by Doctor Strange. The Mindless Ones alternately attack and worship the two protagonists, evidently mistaking the light from a glow stick for some sort of magical power, and revering whoever it seemed to be emanating from. Deadpool and Bob end up causing the deaths of several Mindless Ones as a needed sacrifice to close down a magical catastrophe threatening innocent lives. [11]

Captain Britain and MI13

Plokta, a Duke of Hell, decided to conquer the world exponentially from a tower block in Birmingham. He used the collected magical energy of people captured within its rooms to create an army of Mindless Ones, but was eventually stopped by Captain Britain and MI13. Plokta was revealed to be the original creator of the Mindless Ones, responsible for them within the hierarchy of Hell. [12]

Nova

They are also referenced here as Neutron Slaves. They were used to mine Neutron Stars and many other ultra-dense gravity sites. They rebelled against their slave masters and began manufacturing a drug called "Krush" from the surface of Neutron Stars. They are members of the Black Hole Sons and it seems they are led by a being called The Mind who is currently held prisoner in a Nova Corps ship. [13]

Mindless Ones are used when Dormammu invades the realm of Limbo, an area usually ruled by Illyana Rasputin. [14]

Original Sin

During the "Original Sin"' storyline, a Mindless One was wrecking New York and smacking the Thing around. Spider-Man shows up to give Thing a hand. Spider-Man recognizes the Mindless One and realizes that they are not supposed to be telepathic. The Mindless One screams in agony over the things he has seen and the things he has done. Thing realizes he is wielding the Ultimate Nullifier and tries to talk the Mindless One down. However, it doesn't work and the Mindless shoots himself with it. By this time, Nick Fury and the Avengers arrive. Captain America wants the Ultimate Nullifier left alone until it is contained and Fury declares the battle zone a murder scene. Elsewhere, a group of villains realize the other Mindless Ones are evolving. [15]

Several Mindless Ones, now with sentience, are seen assisting in a mystical teaching academy run by Doctor Stephen Strange. [16]

Powers and abilities

Mindless Ones are capable of firing energy blasts from the hole that makes up their faces. They are superhumanly strong and durable, although their exact power levels vary from appearance to appearance.

In other media

Television

Video games

The Mindless Ones appear as enemies in the Facebook game Marvel: Avengers Alliance .[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<i>Secret Wars</i> 1984–1985 Marvel Comics limited series

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars, commonly known as Secret Wars, is a 12-issue American comic book crossover limited series published from May 1984 to April 1985 by Marvel Comics. The series was written by Jim Shooter, with art by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton. It was tied in with a toy line and a role-playing game of the same name from Mattel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor Strange</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Dr. Stephen Vincent Strange is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in Strange Tales #110. Doctor Strange serves as the Sorcerer Supreme, the primary protector of Earth against magical and mystical threats. Strange was introduced during the Silver Age of Comic Books in an attempt to bring a different kind of character and themes of mysticism to Marvel Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleepwalker (comics)</span> Comics character

Sleepwalker is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Bob Budiansky and Bret Blevins, he first appeared in Sleepwalker #1. The character is named after his race and is the star of a self-titled comic book which ran for 33 issues, from June 1991 to February 1994, with one Holiday Special. All but two of the issues were written by Budiansky, with Tom Brevoort and Mike Kanterovich writing the Holiday Special and one fill-in issue. Dan Slott also contributed a humorous side story in issue #25.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dormammu</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Dormammu is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the character first appeared in Strange Tales #126. He is the brother of supervilainess Umar and the uncle of superheroine Clea who rules over the Dark Dimension. Dormammu is a recurring antagonist of the superhero Doctor Strange.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mephisto (Marvel Comics)</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Mephisto is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Silver Surfer #3, and was created by Stan Lee and John Buscema and based on Mephistopheles: a demon character from the Faust legend, who has sometimes been referred to as Mephisto. Introduced as a recurring adversary of the Silver Surfer and Ghost Rider, Mephisto has also endured as one of Spider-Man's most prominent adversaries, being responsible for Norman and Harry Osborn's respective transformations into the Green Goblin and Kindred; and for the superhero's loss of his marriage to Mary Jane Watson, considering their future daughter Spider-Girl his archenemy. Mephisto has often come into conflict with Doctor Strange, Doctor Doom, Scarlet Witch and other heroes of the Marvel Universe, being responsible both for the creation of the Cosmic Ghost Rider and the descents of Phil Coulson and Otto Octavius into villainy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fin Fang Foom</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Fin Fang Foom is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character has been depicted as an extraterrestrial creature resembling a dragon. The character first appeared in Strange Tales #89, and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Later, the character becomes part of the superhero Iron Man's rogues gallery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baron Mordo</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Baron Karl Amadeus Mordo is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, commonly as an adversary of Doctor Strange. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #111. Baron Mordo is a gifted magician, especially adept in the black arts of magic, including summoning demons.

Clea Strange is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Clea first appeared in the Doctor Strange feature in Strange Tales #126. She is a sorceress, the disciple, lover, and eventual wife of Doctor Stephen Strange, and his third successor as Sorcerer Supreme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Machine Man</span> Fictional character appearing in Marvel Comics

Machine Man is an android superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Jack Kirby for 2001: A Space Odyssey #8, a comic written and drawn by Kirby featuring concepts based on the eponymous 1968 Stanley Kubrick feature film and Arthur C. Clarke's 1968 novel. Shortly thereafter, Machine Man spun off into his own Kirby-created series. He is a robot, the only survivor of a series, raised as a human son of scientist Abel Stack, who was killed removing his auto-destruct mechanism, and further evolved to sentience by a Monolith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trapster</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

The Trapster, also known as Paste-Pot Pete, is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Jack O'Lantern is an alias used by several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nightmare (Marvel Comics)</span> Fictional supervillain

Nightmare is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in Strange Tales #110 and was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The character is depicted most commonly as a major enemy of Doctor Strange and Ghost Rider. Nightmare is the ruler of a Dream Dimension and he is one of the Fear Lords. He is also part of the group called The Six Fingered Hand. He can drain the psychic energies from the subconscious minds of dreaming beings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umar (Marvel Comics)</span> Marvel Universe character

Umar is a fictional character appearing in publications by the American publisher Marvel Comics, usually in stories featuring Doctor Strange, for whom she serves as an adversary. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Bill Everett, the character first appeared in Strange Tales #150.

The comic book stories published by Marvel Comics since the 1940s have featured several noteworthy concepts besides its fictional characters, such as unique places and artifacts. There follows a list of those features.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hood</span> Marvel Comics fictional comic book supervillain

The Hood is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Brian K. Vaughan, and artists Kyle Hotz and Eric Powell, the character was introduced in his own self-titled limited series, which started with Hood #1. Robbins was originally a petty criminal, until an encounter with a Nisanti demon, which he defeated and robbed of its hood and boots, gaining superpowers in the process, such as levitation and invisibility. As "the Hood", he became a well-known figure in the New York City criminal underworld, and eventually formed his own crime syndicate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Satannish</span> Comics character

Satannish is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sanctum Sanctorum (Marvel Comics)</span> Fictional building used by the comic book character Doctor Strange

The Sanctum Sanctorum is a fictional building appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, as the residence and headquarters of Doctor Strange. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, the building first appeared in Strange Tales #110. It is located at 177A Bleecker Street in New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood. This is a reference to the address of an apartment once shared by writers Roy Thomas and Gary Friedrich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fresh Start (comics)</span> 2018 relaunch of comic book publications by Marvel Comics

Fresh Start is a 2018 relaunch of comic book publications by Marvel Comics, following Marvel Legacy.

References

  1. DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 240. ISBN   978-1-4654-7890-0.
  2. Doctor Strange #25 (1991)
  3. Fantastic Four #500 (Oct. 2003)
  4. Darkhawk #19-20, Sleepwalker #17 (Oct. 1992)
  5. The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 2 #57-#58 (Oct. 2003)
  6. The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 2 #58 (Nov. 2003)
  7. The Amazing Spider-Man #500
  8. Marvel Boy vol. 2 #5-6
  9. Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #8
  10. Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #8 (Sept. 2006)
  11. Cable & Deadpool #47 (Jan. 2008)
  12. Captain Britain and MI13 #6-9
  13. Nova vol. 4 #29-30
  14. The Uncanny X-Men vol. 3 #5 (2013)
  15. Original Sin #1 (2014)
  16. Strange Academy #2 (2020)
  17. "Disney XD Announces October Programming Highlights". BroadwayWorld . September 29, 2014. Archived from the original on October 13, 2015. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  18. "Stranger in a Strange Land". Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. Season 1. Episode 20. March 30, 2014. Disney XD.
  19. "Hulking Commandos". Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. Season 2. Episode 3. October 19, 2014. Disney XD.
  20. Wood, Daniel (10 July 2014). "Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors 'Cloak and Dagger' review". Bam! Smack! Pow! . Archived from the original on February 7, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  21. Walker, Glenn (February 23, 2015). "Avengers Assemble S02 E12: Widow's Run". Biff Bam Pop!. Archived from the original on June 8, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2020.