DIONYSUS

Real Name: None

Identity/Class: Artificial lifeform of extraterrestrial origin (Titan)

Occupation: "God of Wine"

Affiliations: Captain Mar-Vell, Drax the Destroyer, Eternals of Titan, Rick Jones, Gertie;
a band of Sprites;
formerly ISAAC (Central computer of Titan); Thanos (Creator);
Chaos, Elysius, ISAAC-Prime, Lord Gaea, Stellarax, Tartarus (ISAAC’s Agents)

Enemies: Formerly Captain Mar-Vell, Drax the Destroyer, Elysius, Eternals of Titan, Rick Jones, Gertie

Known Relatives: None known

Aliases: The Pitiable God of Lusty Joy

Base of Operations: A forest on Titan, one of Saturn’s moons

First Appearance: Captain Marvel I#60 (January, 1979)

 

 

Powers: Dionysus likely possessed some degree of superhuman physical powers, but the only combat action he ever saw was when he smashed a wine jug over Mar-Vell's head. He was a partying fool and had little interest in combat. He has a superhuman tolerance to alcohol and other mind-numbing drugs, but that still doesn't stop him from pushing the envelope every chance he gets. He drank a heavily drugged type of wine, which would incapacitate others with just a few sips.
He has the appearance of a satyr of Greek myth -- half-man, half-goat.

 


He was allied with a group of elf-like beings, the Sprites, presumably of similar origin to himself. These Sprites were perhaps two feet tall, and did not demonstrate any superhuman abilities. They were probably only as strong as a proportionally sized person, although they did work as a team. These Sprites were much more loyal to ISAAC than was Dionysus himself, whose "only Master is the Grape. The Wine."

 

History:
(BTS) - As part of a failsafe plot in case of his defeat, Thanos created hidden programming within ISAAC (Integral Synaptic Anti-Anionic Computer), the controlling force behind Titan, the base of a band of Eternals. After his defeat, ISAAC's programming kicked in and it initiated a plot to destroy all life on Titan and eventually in the universe. Using Titan's Life Wells, ISAAC created a number of warriors to implement the plot. One of these was Dionysus. All of the Eternals of Titan were defeated and captured by ISAAC and its agents.
Dionysus was given a band of Sprites as servants and allies.

(Captain Marvel I#60) - As Drax the Destroyer and Captain Mar-Vell scoured Titan in search of ISAAC and the imprisoned Eternals, they encountered Dionysus, playing his pipes and drinking his wine. After narrowly escaping a few death-traps (presumably set by the elves), they met up with Dionysus himself. Dionysus denied any allegience to ISAAC, and offered them some of his wine, which they insisted he try first. He was more than happy to down half of the jug, and so Drax took a swig, and passed it to Mar-Vell, who did the same. Drax then promptly passed out. Mar-Vell attempted to subdue Dionysis, who easily bypassed his stupor, and then shattered the wine jug over Marv's head (after finishing the wine, of course!).
The elves reminded Dionysus that they should slay Marv and Drax quickly, while they had the chance, but Dionysus would have no part of it: "I've better things to do. There are still 23 hours in the day, and five jugs on the board. I've no taste for killing -- just wine. If they want these two slain, let them do it in Paradise ."
The Sprites then carried Drax and Mar-Vell over to Paradise (Elysius' base), to let her finish the job...and Dionysus grabbed another jug of wine.

(Marvel Spotlight II#1) - As ISAAC continued to shut-down all life functions on Titan, Dionysus wept as his grape vines withered and his forest died.

(Marvel Spotlight II#2) - After ISAAC's defeat, Dionysus led the celebration, sharing what little wine he had left at a feast attended by all of the Eternals of Titan, Drax, Mar-Vell, and Rick Jones and Gertie.

Comments: Created by Doug Moench and Pat Broderick.

I don't know my mythology as well as some of the others at this site, but given that this guy was a satyr, and played the pipes, etc., I'd think Pan might have been a more appropriate name.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Dionysus is obviously named after, but is otherwise unconnected to:

The Sprites have no known connection to:

Appearances:
Captain Marvel I#60 (January, 1979) - Doug Moench (writer), Pat Broderick (pencils), Bruce Patterson (inks), Roger Stern (editor)
Marvel Spotlight II#1-2 (July, 1979) - Doug Moench (writer), Pat Broderick (pencils), Bruce Patterson (inks), Roger Stern (editor)

Last updated: 09/28/02

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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