Enemies: Dakimh the Enchanter, Howard the Duck, Jennifer Kale, Man-Thing, NAAC-P30, Korrek the Barbarian, TuTu

Known Relatives: Sombra (mother), insane warrior (father); unnamed siblings

Aliases: Berserk Joe (that's how his name is pronounced)

Base of Operations: The Deathstore, located in the center of the Universe; formerly Megrim

First Appearance: Howard the Duck I#22 (March, 1978)

Powers: Bzzk'joh was supposed to have "power beyond measure, " but he himself never demonstrated any spectacular abilities. Perhaps his power was the creation and control of the Emporium itself.

History: (HtD I#22(fb)) - Bzzk'joh is a native of the dimension of Megrim, which is ruled by its immortal demon queen, Sombra. Every millenium or two, Sombra abducts the most savage of warriors from their homeworlds and bring them to Megrim to engage in a battle that only one would survive. The "winner" would become Sombra's mate, and would die as a result--she is a succubus, and drains their soul. From this hideous and deadly union, invariably issues a child suffused with power beyond measure. Sombra looses that child on the universe to wreak havoc and whatnot.
Sombra's nature is not precisely evil, but more aptly described as humorless. Her offspring have historically tended less to violence than to spiritual anesthesia. Once matured, Sombra's offspring can be halted only by an equally powerful force dedicated to joy.
This milennium, something went awry. This time, the lone warrior to survive the tournament did so only because he was too insane to stop fighting even though he'd been hacked and stabbed within an inch of his life. This lunatic gladiator was more than happy to sacrifice his life for a chance to get busy with Sombra. This child, Bzzk'Joh, has inherited both his mother's depressive tendencies and his father's madness.

(HtD#22-23) - Bzzk'Joh, now the head of the Imperium Emporium, sought to take over the multiverse, raze the current plane of existence, and replace it with a strip-mall. As Joh's madness began to spread throughout the universe, a number of bizarre creations began to appear, attacking those who might oppose him. Dakimh summoned a group of warriors to stop Joh, and revealed Joh's origins in the Waters of Eternity. However, Dakimh himself could not actively participate (being dead and all) and vanished, telling Jennifer Kale, Korrek, and the Man-Thing, "The Duck shall lead you!" Joh, however, managed to use the Waters of Eternity as a portal, appeared suddenly and abducted Jennifer--threatening to shave her head if any tried to rescue her.
As Bzz'Joh teleported away, Jennifer released a magical blast that activated Dakimh's druid-droids, who led the warriors to the ship, the Epoch Weasel. Under the guidance of the droids, they headed for the center of the Universe to his base. However, the Weasel was badly damaged by an assault of an Imperium Emporium delivery truck. The Weasel managed to lose the truck "on the upgrade", jumping to another dimension. They "borrowed" a new ship from the Hollywok Canteen and managed to break in to the Death Store, just as Joh had begun to tickle Jennifer mercilessly. Korrek, the Man-Thing, and the droids fended off attacks by the perfume-wielding Counter Corps, jumbo paper clips from Stationery, the muscle men of Sporting Goods, and the Dearth Vapors. Howard again accessed the Farce and assaulted Joh, accusing him of having no sense of humor. Joh was devastated and collapsed to the ground in tears. The heroes escaped as Tutu activated every item in the Toy Department simultaneously--causing the Death Store to explode.

Comments: Created by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerik.

Most of the story (in case its not painfully obviously), entitled "Star Waaugh", was an obvious parody/homage of Star Wars, which was a new release around the time that HtD#22 was written.

I would be interested to see Gerber tell the story of some of Sombra's other children.

The Waters of Eternity were also called the Waters of Infinity.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Not to be confused with:
Bzzk'Dav, that other guy from the thing with the...not really.

Salty Kong has no known connection to:
Kong Lomerate, Monk Keys, @ Howard the Duck I#10, Magazine#7

The Imperium Emporium was the "empire" of Bzzk'Joh. His agents in the Emporium were in the process of buying up property all over the galaxy, in every dimension. "Within hours, as bees reckon time, we shall bulldoze the universe and build on its ruins--a shopping center unrivalled in its crassness!"
The Death Store is the base of Bzzk'Joh and the Imperium Emporium. It was based in the center of the Universe. It was an immense, planet-sized mall. Although it had extensive security measures, irregularities in its bookkeeping department provided a vulnerable window. Each of its departments had its own defense systems, such as the perfume-wielding Counter Corps, jumbo paper clips from Stationery, the muscle men of Sporting Goods, and the Dearth Vapors. The Death Store exploded when Tutu activated every item in the Toy Department at once.
--Howard the Duck I#23

The Dearth Vapors (parodies of Donny and Marie Osmond, musicians who had a show back in the seventies--which I am proud to have never seen...) were one of Bzzk'Joh's final weapons. Their excessive sweetness could cover their victims in thick, suffocating layers of saccharine. The Man-thing reacted violenty to their oppressiveness niceness and shattered the sugary coating with which they had bound he and Howard. Donny and Tortuga were terrified by the Man-Thing, and, well, you know how that goes...(Too bad he couldn't meet their real-life counterparts!)
--Howard the Duck I#23

The Emporium's delivery trucks served as their attack/defense vessels. While initial salvos from men's furnishings, such as smal appliances and jewelry, were of little threat, heavier objects, such as housewares from Mezzanine or home appliances, such as refrigerators and air conditioners could do some serious damage.
--Howard the Duck I#23

In addition, the trucks could release their Customer Service Representative--the ultimate fusion of sonic and psychological warfare.
--Howard the Duck I#23

Big Mack was based at the Hollywok Canteen. He's a mean one. He used to be an editor until he learned he could inflict more pain and humiliation in the dimensional transport business. He was unwilling to supply a ship to Korrek since he had no way to pay him. Korrek attacked and slew him (he pulled the top bun off--I'd guess that killed him--I'm not sure if the lettuce was a vital organ or not).
--Howard the Duck I#23

Bzzk'Joh's dad is an unnamed warrior who won Sombra's tournament of death only because he was too crazy to know he was almost dead. He willing impregnated Sombra and died happy. Wug, indeed!
--Howard the Duck I#22 (fb)

"Dill" attacked Howard when he went to the fridge to see what Dakimh had to eat. The fury of the pickled cucumber that walks like a man proved too much for the Duck, but fortunately, whatever knows brine gets shredded at the hands of the Man-Thing, and so the bog beast saved Howard. Dill was not actually named, but just shouted a variety of types of pickles, such as "Ko-Chur", "Zweet", and "Rehl-Liissh!"

The Epoch Weasel was Dakimh's ship. He was the original owner, and even though it sat in the garage for the better part of 20, 000 years, it was still under warranty by Atlantis R. V. Sales. While NAAC-P30 operated the craft, he assured Korrek that "A moron could do it... Perhaps, you'd care to co-pilot...?" It's cruising speed was "Bat out of Hell", but for additional bursts of speed, the "Shake a Leg" function could be accessed. (No "Ludicrous Speed," though).
--Howard the Duck I#23

The Farce is the binding energy of the Universe, which permits one to "yok it up in the face of death."
--Howard the Duck I#22 (Howard the Duck I#22-23

A giant housefly was another of Bzzk'Joh's creations, sent to attack Howard. Howard smashed it with a guitar, killing it.
--Howard the Duck I#22

The Hollywok Canteen is an extra-dimensional pitstop. It is populated by Californians, who are friendly enough as long as you fit in with them by acting vapid and self-centered. They became hostile when Korrek attacked Big Mac. It wasn't that he had hurt their friend, but more the fact that he had actually done something--"That's not laid-back, man." Fortunately, Howard accessed the Farce and fought back. The Californians collapsed under the weight of their own pretensions-their inability to accept the ultimate ridiculousness in themselves and the cosmos.
--Howard the Duck I#23

Megrim is a fiery dimension ruled by Sombra. It is some sort of mystic realm, usually accessed by magic, but little else has been revealed about it.
--Howard the Duck I#22 (fb)

NAACP-30 is a druid-droid, the magical equivalent of a robot.
2222 (TuTu for short) is its complementary unit. CP-30 guided the heroes in their pursuit of Bzzk'Joh, while TuTu proved able to access the computer systems of the Emporium and cause all kinds of good damage.
--Howard the Duck I#23

"Salty Kong" was one of
It was a giant salt-shaker with ape-like limbs. It attacked Howard, forced him to the ground, seasoned him liberally, and the jumped off the roof, commiting suicide.
--Howard the Duck I#22

Sombra is the immortal demonqueen of the dimension of Megrim. Every milennium or two she mates with the warrior who wins her tournament of death to produce a powerful offspring. Sombra is a succubus, and drains the soul from her mates, killing them. She suffers from depressive tendencies. Bzzk'joh is her only child that has been indentified as yet.
--Howard the Duck I22 (Howard the Duck I#22 (fb), Howard the Duck I#22

images:

Other appearances:
Howard the Duck I#23 (April, 1978) - Steve Gerber (writer), Val Mayerik (pencils/inks), Steve Gerber (editor)

Last updated: 08/02/02

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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