Talos | |
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![]() Talos as seen in the interior panel of Incredible Hulk #419 Art by Roger Cruz | |
Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #418 (June 1994) |
Created by | Peter David (writer) Gary Frank (artist) |
In-story information | |
Species | Skrull |
Place of origin | Tarnax IV |
Team affiliations | United Front |
Notable aliases | Talos the Untamed Talos the Tamed Jonathan Richards |
Abilities | Super-strength Enhanced durability |
Talos the Untamed is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Peter David and artist Gary Frank, the character debuted in The Incredible Hulk #418 (June 1994). The character is a well known member of the Skrulls due to not being able to shapeshift. He was a member of the United Front.
Ben Mendelsohn portrayed a reimagined version of Talos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Captain Marvel (2019) and Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), and in the Disney+ miniseries Secret Invasion (2023).
The character was created by Peter David and Gary Frank and first appeared in The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #418 (June 1994). He was introduced as a guest at Rick Jones's wedding, where he and other villains were invited by Impossible Man as a prank. In the following issue it is revealed he cannot shapeshift and that he was captured by the Kree in the Kree–Skrull War. [1] [2] [3]
He returned during the Annihilation event, mainly in the four issue tie-in Annihilation: Ronan (2006). He joined the United Front, alongside characters like Star-Lord, Nova and Gamora. [4] [1]
He made his last appearances in the 2015 ongoing of Howard the Duck , where he infiltrated Earth with an actual, physical human disguise using an alter ego he called "Jonathan Richards". [2]
Talos, considered a Mutant by his people, is a Skrull born unable to shapeshift. He makes up for it by becoming one of the most feared Skrulls on his planet, earning the title "Talos the Untamed" due to his savage and sinister nature. After the Kree captured him, Talos refuses to commit suicide in the hopes of gaining glory for his survival. Instead, he was ridiculed and renamed the more humiliating "Talos the Tamed." [5]
Talos later attends the wedding ceremony of Rick Jones and Marlo Chandler, courtesy of the Impossible Man. [6] He battles the Hulk and in an attempt to reclaim glory from his people. When the Hulk discovers Talos' intentions, he ceased fighting him. Talos left in frustration, but the Skrulls found his attempt to battle him impressive. [7]
Talos was called to the planet Godthab Omega by Glorian, where he battles Devos the Devastator. [8] They are both captured and imprisoned when the Annihilation Wave attacks, allowing the two to escape. [9] Talos encounters Ronan the Accuser, whom he hated for being a Kree, but was forced to heed his warning about leaving the planet. [10]
Talos is once again humiliated, this time by his own people, when Queen Veranke refuses to allow him to partake in the Skrull's "Secret Invasion" due to him lacking the ability to shapeshift. [11]
Talos later joins the United Front to fight the Annihilation Wave. [12]
Talos approaches Howard the Duck under the alias of Jonathan Richards and manipulates him into retrieving the Abundant Gems, less powerful versions of the Infinity Gems. [13] He is defeated by Howard and his friend Tara Tam and apprehended by the Fantastic Four. [14]
Following the events of Empyre , Hulkling dispatches Talos, among others, to investigate inactive Kree and Skrull bases. Talos discovers that Knull is preparing to attack Earth. [15]
Unlike his Skrull brethren, Talos is incapable of shapeshifting and has been branded as having a genetic defect by his people. [1] [11] To make up for this, he has been granted superhuman strength and durability and can hold his own against the likes of the Hulk. He possesses a cybernetic eye after losing his biological eye in combat. [16]
Talos appears in media set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), portrayed by Ben Mendelsohn. This version is able to shapeshift, has a wife named Soren (portrayed by Sharon Blynn) and a daughter named G'iah (portrayed by Auden L. Ophuls and Harriet L. Ophuls as a child, and by Emilia Clarke as an adult), and is the leader of a faction of Skrull refugees attempting to escape a genocidal war waged by the Kree.
Talos appears as a playable character in Marvel Puzzle Quest as part of the Captain Marvel film tie-in update. [25]