Tundra (Marvel Comics)

Tundra
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Alpha Flight #1 (Aug 1983)
Created by	John Byrne
In-story information
Team affiliations	Great Beasts
Notable aliases	The Land Beast

Tundra is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer and artist John Byrne, the character first appeared in Alpha Flight #1 (August 1983). ^[1] He is a mystical spirit which inhabits an ever-growing mass of Canadian land in gargantuan semi-humanoid form, and is the enemy of the Inuit gods whom he trapped in another dimension. ^[2]

Publication history

Tundra debuted in Alpha Flight #1 (August 1983), was created by John Byrne. The character subsequently appeared in Alpha Flight #24 (July 1985), ^[3] #38 (September 1986), #55 (February 1988), and #64 (November 1988). ^[4] He appeared in X-Man #39-40 (July 1998), and Wolverine #172 (March 2002).

Fictional character biography

Tundra is the first of the Great Beasts confronted by Alpha Flight. ^[5] In a mystic ritual, a possessed Richard Easton traces a gigantic human shape in the barren land of Canada's Northwest Territories and then dons a metallic crown that summoned the spirit of Tundra. Easton's corpse animates, the land mimicking the corpse's movement, until Tundra rises in the shape of a humanoid mass of earth. According to Shaman, Tundra was supposed to be controlled by the mind of the human who summoned him, but because of Richard Easton's weakened state, Tundra's real personality quickly took over.^{[ volume & issue needed ]}

Opposing him was a difficult matter. For instance, the monster intended on causing destruction and could not be persuaded otherwise by Shaman or Snowbird. Furthermore, technological attacks on Tundra as those from Guardian caused violent tremors in the surrounding land that threaten to cause severe damage throughout Canada. While Sasquatch managed to temporarily wound him by tearing off large portions of body mass before he is brushed off, the arriving sibling superheroes, Northstar and Aurora, made better progress by creating a wind vortex around him to remove more mass. Realizing that naturally eroding Tundra is the only safe way to defeat him, Shaman magically created a rainstorm to wear down the monster. Although he ran out of atmospheric moisture to continue the deluge, the arrival of Marrina with her characteristic water spout transportation power supplied all the water Shaman needed to create a torrential downpour to finally destroy Tundra.^{[ volume & issue needed ]}

Tundra is arch-enemy to the Great Beast Kariooq, the Corruptor.^{[ volume & issue needed ]}

Chaos War

During Chaos War, Sasquatch summons the Great Beasts to Earth to kill Amatusu-Mikaboshi. Snowbird ends up freezing them, after which Mikaboshi impales them with his tendrils, preseumably killing them.^{[ volume & issue needed ]}

Powers and abilities

Tundra's powers stem from the land itself. He can summon mosquitoes, hurl boulders from his body, and increase his size by absorbing land mass. Since he is connected to the land, earthquake-style upheavals occur in the surrounding area when he is injured.

References

1. "Tundra (Great Beasts)". Marvunapp.com. October 30, 2018. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
2. Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains . New York: Facts on File. p. 354. ISBN   0-8160-1356-X.
3. Fulton, James (2019-03-19). "Retro Reviews: Alpha Flight #1-28 By John Byrne & More For Marvel Comics". Inside Pulse. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
4. Fulton, James (2019-04-30). "Retro Reviews: Alpha Flight #29-66 By Mantlo, Mignola, Ross, Lee, Brigman & Others For Marvel Comics". Inside Pulse. Retrieved 2024-12-03.
5. Alpha Flight #1. Marvel Comics.