THE GROONK

Real Name: Unknown

Identity/Class: Human mutant

Occupation: Homeless sewer dweller

Group Membership: Morlocks

Affiliations: Cindy Lou; Max; the other tunnel dwellers

Enemies: Thor (Eric Masterson)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: The tunnels beneath New York

First Appearance: Thor I#444 (February 1992)

Powers/Abilities: The Groonk is exceptionally strong, and proved able to go toe-to-toe with Thor (Eric Masterson) for a short time. While his strength class range is unknown, he shows to be Class 25 or so. The Groonk also has the ability to emit a powerful ray from his eyes, which has the ability to down Thor and temporarily sap him of his strength. The Groonk has limited speech (and likely intellect), and can only say it’s own name.

History: (Thor 444) - While Christmas shopping, Eric Masterson ran into a woman who had just had a present stolen from her recent purchases. Changing into Thor, Masterson chased the thief down, but was eluded by him when the Groonk took refuge in the sewer system. Later on, Thor happened upon the Groonk stealing another gift from a pedestrian, and this time was taken by surprise, as the Groonk fired his eye-beams at Thor, knocking him out of the sky. A battle ensued that took the two into a shopping mall, where they tore apart walls and pillars. The Groonk then noticed a small dog wearing a fake antler, and picking the dog up, escaped again into the sewer systems.

Thor followed the creature into the tunnels, where he was attacked by several of the Groonk’s fellow tunnel dwellers. However, soon after, a young girl named Cindy Lou called out for everyone to stop fighting. After explaining that The Groonk was their guardian, after they had found him wandering in the tunnels, Cindy Lou told Thor how the Groonk had taken her reading Dr. Seuss’s How The Grinch Stole Christmas too literally, and had gone out to get presents for his friends. The tunnel dwellers offered to give all of the presents back, but pleaded with Thor not to turn the Groonk into the authorities. Thor then left the creature for Cindy Lou and the others to look after.

Comments: Created by Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz.

The Groonk is obviously inspired by Dr. Seuss’s Grinch (they even dedicate the issue to Seuss).

One might guess that Cindy Lou's last name could be "Hugh."

Exactly what the Groonk is is never explained.  Given that it was originally found wandering the New York tunnels, it could very well be a surviving Morlock.  If so, that would most likely make it a mutant.  - The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe 2006 confirmed that Groonk is indeed a Morlock.

PROFILE BY MADISON CARTER

CLARIFICATIONS:

THE GROONK should not be confused with: 

• Grok of Earth-Killraven (Andre Frost clone) - Freemen, wounded by mutate lamprey, killed by Skar, @Amazing Adventures II#21
• Gronk - Maelstrom's Minions, @ Marvel Two-In-One#71
• Groot, a tree-like alien invader, @ Tales To Astonish I#13

Max, Cindy Lou's dog, has no known connection to:

• Max the Rottweiler, pet of the Punisher, @ Punisher II#54
• ULTRA-MAX - computer virus created by Max E. Mumm
    --Punisher Annual#5
• MAX - Fortisqian, pilot of Halley's comet, remade Stephan Beckley into Comet Man after he was destroyed by “comet’s” exhaust, sanity affected by exposure to human television
    --Comet Man#1
• MAX ?? – creator of Future Max, skilled youthful inventor, has degenerative nerve disorder, boyfriend of Beatrice
    —Web of Spider-Man Annual#1
• MAX ?? - mechanic, hired Hulk
    --Incredible Hulk II#427
• MAX of Earth-NU - technology designed by professor swenson,used for armor for spitfire and the troubleshooters
    -Man-Amplified eXperiment,MACS--Spitfire and the Troubleshooters#1 (New Universe)
• MAX of Earth-NU (Maximus Argath) - Far Place --Justice#13 (New Universe)
• MAX - the line of non-code approved comics--Alias#1
• MAXIE ?? - see MAXIE SCHIFFMAN--Amazing Fantasy I#15
• other "Max" characters

Cindy Lou, Max and the Tunnel Dwellers

Cindy Lou is a small homeless child who was among those who "adopted" the Groonk after finding it. It was her reading to the Groonk that inspired its crime spree. Max, the dog, is apparently Cindy Lou’s, or another of the tunnel people, and has been dressed up to resemble the dog from Seuss’s book. The rest of the tunnel dwellers are left unnamed.

--Thor I#444 (444(fb)-BTS, 444

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Last updated: 09/26/07

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