Prometheus (Marvel Comics)

Last updated

Prometheus is the name of two fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first one is based on the Greek Titan of the same name while the second one is member of the Pantheon.

Contents

Publication history

The mythological Prometheus first appeared in The Avengers #282 and was adapted by Roger Stern and John Buscema.

The Pantheon version of Prometheus first appeared in The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #368 and was created by Peter David.

Fictional character biography

Prometheus (Olympian)

Prometheus
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance The Avengers #282 (August 1987)
Created by Roger Stern
John Buscema
In-story information
Team affiliations Olympians
AbilitiesSuper-Strength, Healing Factor, Precognition, Healing Powers

Prometheus is one of the Titans of Greek Mythology and the son of Iapetus. His siblings included Atlas, Menoetius, and Epimetheus. When their uncle Cronus' rule is challenged by Zeus, Prometheus and Epimetheus side with the Olympians while Atlas and Menoetius side with Cronus. With the help of Prometheus and Epimetheus, the Olympians defeat the Titans. Prometheus and Epimetheus take an interest in mankind and become the joint rulers in Phthia. Prometheus later learns various skills from Athena that concern Zeus. When Prometheus takes fire from the Gods and teaches the humans how to cook, Zeus has Kratos and Bia bind Prometheus to a pillar in the Caucasian Mountains using chains that were forged by Hephaestus. Zeus also has an eagle peck out Prometheus' liver which grows back every night. Zeus offers to shorten his life of being chained to a pillar if Prometheus gives him the vision of the prophecy that will one day dethrone Zeus. Seven generations later, Hercules comes across Prometheus during his 12 Labours when on his way to the Amazons. Hercules kills the eagle and then frees Prometheus. Zeus is at first against this, but decides to end Prometheus' punishment. Prometheus foresaw this event and vows to repay Hercules one day. [1]

In the modern era, Hercules is injured in a fight with Baron Helmut Zemo's Masters of Evil where Black Mamba drugs Hercules causing him to charge into battle. When Zeus (who was unaware that the Masters of Evil were responsible for Hercules ending up in a coma) has Neptune abduct Namor and bring him to the Underworld, Prometheus manages to heal Namor after he escaped Cerberus and made it across the Phlegethon River. He then directs Namor to where the other Avengers are being held, which happens to be the Garrison of the Accursed at Fortress Tartarus. [2] Afterwards, the Avengers make their way to Mount Olympus, where Prometheus speaks to them while they are in the woods. Zeus catches up to the Avengers while Doctor Druid heals Hercules' brain, Prometheus then declares that the battle between man and gods has begun. [3] While Zeus continues his fight with the Avengers, Hera sides with Prometheus and Hermes. Prometheus heals Captain America and Doctor Druid before proceeding to try his luck into healing Hercules, where Doctor Druid and Apollo have failed. Under the advice of Hermes, Prometheus calls upon Gaea's help to do so while Thor and Captain Marvel continue their fight with Zeus. When Captain Marvel attempts to attack Zeus, the blinding light he gives off distracts Prometheus, which causes Hercules to be revived in a state of paranoia, in which he attacks Prometheus. [4] However, Doctor Druid manages to fully heal Hercules' mind. After Zeus' attack was halted, Prometheus arrives, showing signs of aging with some of his hair turning white. Prometheus then attends a reception on Mount Olympus. Before teleporting the Avengers away, Prometheus warns the Avengers that there will be many challenges to come to them and that mankind will be sorely tested by one of them. [5]

Prometheus (Pantheon)

Prometheus II
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #368
Created by Peter David
In-story information
Team affiliations Pantheon
Abilitiesimmortality, tracker

Prometheus is a member of the fictional super hero family, Pantheon. The Pantheon is led by Agamemnon, the father of all its super-powered members. Prometheus is born with a deformed face that looks burned. He drives a very high tech vehicle created by the Pantheon engineers, called the Argo, and debuted trying to kidnap Bruce Banner (the Hulk's alter-ego).[ volume & issue needed ]

He later assists the Hulk by transporting his wife, Betty Banner. He expects her to react badly to his burnt face, but instead she insults his smoking habit.[ volume & issue needed ]

Prometheus is characterised as an excellent tracker, even over interstellar distances. He uses this as part of a mission to help his fellow Pantheon member, Atalanta. While rescuing her, they learn that Agamemnon had gained his resources by selling out his future descendants.[ volume & issue needed ]

Because of this, Agamemnon is captured and put on trial. Having been revealed to be mad, he unleashes his 'Endless Knights', cyborgs made of his dead children. During the battle, the Hulk entrusts Prometheus with the safety of Betty.[ volume & issue needed ]

Powers and abilities

The Olympian version of Prometheus has super-strength, a healing factor, and precognition.

The Pantheon Prometheus has expert tracking skills. Like the other Pantheon members, Prometheus possesses a healing factor.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titans</span> Order of divine beings in Greek mythology

In Greek mythology, the Titans were the pre-Olympian gods. According to the Theogony of Hesiod, they were the twelve children of the primordial parents Uranus (Sky) and Gaia (Earth), with six male Titans—Oceanus, Coeus, Crius, Hyperion, Iapetus, and Cronus—and six female Titans, called the Titanides or "Titanesses" —Theia, Rhea, Themis, Mnemosyne, Phoebe, and Tethys. Cronus mated with his older sister Rhea, who then bore the first generation of Olympians: the six siblings Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, Hestia, Demeter, and Hera. Certain descendants of the Titans, such as Prometheus, Atlas, Helios, and Leto, are sometimes also called Titans.

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

Zeus is a fictional deity, appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is based on the god Zeus in Greek mythology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympians (Marvel Comics)</span> Fictional comic book species

The Olympians are a fictional species appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. These characters are based on the Twelve Olympians/Dii Consentes and other deities of Classical mythology. During the beginning of the 1960s, the exploits of the Asgardians Thor and his evil brother Loki demonstrated that an updating of ancient myths could again win readers. In 1965, Stan Lee and Jack Kirby introduced the Olympians in Journey into Mystery Annual #1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pluto (Marvel Comics)</span> Fictional deity in the Marvel Comics Universe

Pluto is a fictional deity appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is based on the Greco-Roman god of the same name.

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

Ares is a fictional character, a deity appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is based on the Greek god of the same name. He first appeared in Thor #129 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Ares has commonly appeared as an enemy of Thor and Hercules and starred in his own self-titled series in 2006.

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

Hercules is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Debuting in the Silver Age of Comic Books, the character is based on Heracles of Greek mythology. Since his first appearance, he has been a perennial member of the superhero team the Avengers.

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

Hercules is a fictional Olympian god in the DC Universe based on the Greek demigod and hero of the same name.

The Olympian Gods are characters based upon Classical mythology who appear primarily in Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel and Aquaman comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titans of Myth (comics)</span>

The Titans of Myth are mythological deities who appear in the Teen Titans and Wonder Woman comic book series by DC Comics.

Pantheon is a fictional organization appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Peter David, the Pantheon first appeared in The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #368, and was a large part of that book's supporting cast from issue #379 to issue #426.

<i>The God Beneath the Sea</i> 1970 novel by Leon Garfield

The God Beneath the Sea is a children's novel based on Greek mythology, written by Leon Garfield and Edward Blishen, illustrated by Charles Keeping, and published by Longman in 1970. It was awarded the annual Carnegie Medal and commended for the companion Greenaway Medal (Keeping) by the British Library Association. Pantheon Books published a U.S. edition with illustrations by Zevi Blum in 1971.

Athena is a fictional deity appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. She is based on the Greek Goddess of the same name.

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

Hera is a fictional deity appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is based on the Greek Goddess of the same name. Hera first appeared in the pages of Thor #129, written by Stan Lee and drawn by Jack Kirby.

Hermes is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Hermes is the Olympian God of transitions and boundaries in Greek religion and mythology. Hermes first appeared in Thor #129 and was adapted by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

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

Neptune, also called Poseidon, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is based on the Roman God with the same name and his Greek counterpart. Neptune is the god of the sea in the Olympian pantheon, and the patron god of Atlantis. Neptune first appeared in Tales to Astonish #70 and was adapted by Stan Lee and Gene Colan.

Mythic Warriors is a 1998-2000 anthology animated television series, which featured retellings of popular Greek myths that were altered so as to be appropriate for younger audiences, produced by Nelvana and Marathon Media. Two seasons of episodes were produced in February 8, 1998 and March 14, 1999; then aired as reruns until May 21, 2000, when CBS' abolition of its Nelvana-produced children's programming in favor of Nick Jr. and later, Nickelodeon content resulted in its cancellation. The series was based on the book series Myth Men Guardians of the Legend written in 1996 and 1997 by Laura Geringer and illustrated by Peter Bollinger.

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

Typhon is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is most commonly associated with the hero Hercules. He is based on the legendary monster of the same name.

<i>The Incredible Hercules</i> Marvel comic book series

The Incredible Hercules was an ongoing comic book series written by Greg Pak and Fred Van Lente and published by Marvel Comics. The series starred the mythological superhero Hercules, his sidekick Amadeus Cho, the seventh-smartest person in the world, and half-sister Athena.

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

Zeus is a fictional deity in the DC Comics universe, an interpretation of Zeus from Greek mythology. His appearances are most significant in stories of Wonder Woman. With the 2011 relaunch of DC Comics dubbed The New 52, Zeus has received a prominent role in the Wonder Woman mythos, as he is now the biological father of Wonder Woman through Hippolyta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Titans in popular culture</span>

The familiar name and large size of the Titans have made them dramatic figures suited to market-oriented popular culture.

References

  1. Greek Myths
  2. The Avengers #282. Marvel Comics.
  3. The Avengers #283. Marvel Comics.
  4. The Avengers #284. Marvel Comics.
  5. The Avengers #285. Marvel Comics.