SKRULLS of
KRAL
Membership: Boss Barker and his harem and gang, Floyd Donahue, Lippy Louie and his gang, Napoleon G. Robberson, Rocco, Whitey
Purpose: Living out a lifestyle in
mimicry of that of 1930s era Earth, specifically Chicago
Actually, it's more extensive than this, but this profile focuses on this sub-section (see comments)
Affiliations: "Machine Gun" Martin
(idol);
prince Dezan, Raksor, Skrull Slave-master
Enemies: Fantastic Four, Myrn,
Zabyk
Cat-Man, Magno-Man, Primitoid, Rhinogron, Taxtor, Thing, Torgo (former slaves, many
others unidentified)
Base of Operations: Planet Kral IV,
Andromeda Galaxy (in an the outermost inhabited section of what
is referred to as the Skrull Galaxy (see comments));
Floyd Donahue works aboard the Big Casino
First Appearance: Fantastic Four I#91 (October, 1969)
Powers/Abilities: Like all Skrulls, the Krallians can assume any physical form within a certain range of their own mass. They all take the appearance of Prohibition Era America humans, and their weaponry, while as advanced as any others in the Skrull repertoire, is also in the form of the equipment of that era. Their weapons appear to be tommy guns, and they ride around in what appear to be 1930s era automobiles, biplanes, or zeppelins.
In addition to their sonic disruptor, the Krallians utilized other equipment to control their slaves, including: Slave-Collars, which release an incapacitating neuro-ray on command; a Hypno-Glow generator, which can force those exposed to it to obey others; and Brain-Blast Guns.
History:
(Fantastic Four I#91(fb)) - In the early 1930s, a murderer known as "Machine Gun" Martin broke out of prison on Earth. He managed to elude the pursuing guards just long enough for him to be found by a Skrull slave ship. Martin thought he had discovered an escape vehicle, but was instead taken to the planet Kral as a slave. However, the Skrulls of Kral were fascinated by the gangster and films taken by the Skrull slavers (and presumably actual movies monitored, recorded, or stolen by the Skrulls). The mannerisms of Martin and the people of Earth of that time period began to spread rapidly, and before long the entire planet had adopted the styles, manners, and speech of the gangster era.
Gangs of mobsters ruled the area, and they eventually decided to settle disputes regarding territory, profits, etc. by fighting champions in the gladiatorial ring. Skrull slavers gathered champions from around the galaxy, and mobsters purchased and trained these slaves, and used them to fight the champions of rival mobsters. These gladiatorial combats were referred to as the Great Games.
They used a sonic disruptor, which could be targeted at and potentially destroy any of the slaves' home planets, to force the slaves to do their bidding.
(Fantastic Four I#91-93) - The Earth's Thing was captured by a Skrull slavemaster and brought to Kral, where he was purchased by Boss Barker. The Thing was trained against a number of aliens by Slave-Keeper Napoleon G. Robberson. The Thing ultimately faced Torgo, the champion of Barker's rival, Lippy Louie, but when the Thing's allies--the Fantastic Four--arrived and destroyed the sonic disruptor, the Thing was able to convince Torgo to lead the slaves to rise up and overthrow their former masters.
(Marvel Two-In-One#45(fb)) - Many of the gangsters involved with the gladiatorial combats were slain in the uprising. Boss Barker survived by impersonating a corpse. Sometime afterwards, Barker got his revenge on Torgo, decapitating the Mekkan and keeping his head as a trophy.
(Marvel Two-In-One#45) - Barker and some of his agents traveled to Earth to gain revenge on the Thing, but also fought the Kree Captain Mar-Vell, and was ultimately apparently slain by Torgo, who had only been inert and released an energy blast at his enemy.
(Avengers Annual#14 (fb) - BTS) - Floyd Donahue, owner of the Big Casino, allied himself with Raksor and Prince Dezan in order to stop the mad plot of Zabyk and Myrn.
(Avengers Annual#14) - Donahue encountered the Avengers and used a seemingly routine power stone refueling to smuggle Raksor, Dezan, and the Avengers aboard the Imperial Power Asteroid. There they defeated Zabyk, then the heroes of Earth allowed Myrn's weapon (the Hyper-Wave Bomb) to be activated, trapping every Skrull in the universe in the form that each was currently inhabiting.
(Spider-Man Team-Up#2) - Krallian space biplane pilots fired on the Silver Surfer when he wandered too close to the Big Casino. When the Surfer boarded the zeppelin, Donahue apologized to him, but the Surfer suddenly remembered someplace else he had to be, and took off.
COMMENTS: Created by Stan "The Man" Lee and Jack "King" Kirby.
The comments from the Official Marvel Index to the Fantastic Four for issue#91 indicate that while #91 refers to Kral as the outermost planet in the Skrull Galaxy, #92 refers to it as deep within the Skrull galaxy. These descriptions are not necessarily contradictory and may indicate that the outer portions of the Skrull Galaxy are devoid of habitable worlds. In addition, the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#12 indicates that the Skrulls dwell within the Andromeda Galaxy. Their empire has at times comprised such a large portion of it that it has been referred to as the Skrull Galaxy.
The Marvel Universe#12 also reveals that the Kral system contains ten worlds, which have been converted into an amusement and resort center for the idle rich of the empire. The ten worlds feature recreations of certain alien cultures' habitats. The only planet in this system seen thus far is Kral IV. This planet boasts replica cities of Prohibition Era American cities, as well as a replica of a medieval Earth village. The Kral system is the permanent site of the galactic gladiatorial tournaments.
The whole Gangsters of Kral storyline always reminded me of two episodes of the original "Star Trek" TV series:
Given that both of these episodes were first broadcast before the FF story was published, were Lee/Kirby perhaps "inspired" by the TV series?
--John Kaminski
The entry covers the conventional, prohibition
era Skrulls of Kral. The other, medieval section, seen in Fantastic Four I#173+174, is more questionable. Maybe I'll add more on it later, but I'm getting tired. I can't even muster up the energy to say why it doesn't seem right to connect it to Kral IV, or why...ah, nevermind.
;)
I feel like I missed an appearance or two, but I can't recall them. Anyone?
I'm also certain I missed a few background
Krallians referred to by name. Oh well.
How 'bout that Floyd Donahue? Is he supposed to look like Humphrey Bogart or what? Maybe even like Rick, from Casablanca?
CLARIFICATIONS:
No known connection to:
Floyd Donahue has no known connection to:
The Skrull slave-master has no known connection to:
The Big Casino has no known connection to:
The Great Games have no known connection to:
The Cat-Man has no known connection to:
The Magno-Man has no known connection to:
Rhinogron has no known connection to:
Floyd Donahue
The head of the Big Casino, he is much more cooperative than your average Skrull. Seeing when fighting was futile, he cooperated with the Avengers when their agenda dovetailed with his in helping Raksor and Dezan stop Zabyk and Myrn. He told the Avengers they could call him Mr. Donahue, but after talking to the Wasp he told her that SHE could call him Floyd. He was similarly diplomatic with the Silver Surfer. However, whether he is actually benevolent or just knows when it is good to behave, is unclear.
--Avengers Annual#14 (1985) (Spider-Man Team-Up#2
Lippy Louie
A gangleader, he was the rival of Boss Barker, and he employed Torgo as his champion. He tried on more than one occasion to off Barker before the big contest, but always denied his involvement when questioned. He was presumably slain when the slaves revolted.
--Fantastic Four I#91 (92, 93
Skrull slave-master
This is not a name, but rather a title, and there are likely many others with the same job. This guy, anyway, arrived on Earth, impersonated Reed Richards, and used a nerve ray gun to capture the Thing. He brought the Thing to Kral, and sold him to an agent of Boss Barker. The Fantastic Four later located his ship in orbit of Kral, boarded it, and then forced the slave-master to lead them to Ben. When the slaves of Kral revolted, the Fantastic Four made certain that the slave-master was one of the ones to face justice. He was presumably slain by the slaves.
--Fantastic Four I#89 (90, 91, 93
Big Casino
The zeppelin-like ship of Floyd Donahue, it travels throughout the Kral system. It serves as a port to bi-plane-like fighter ships, but is also literally a big casino, and likely hotel for the wealthy and soon to be not-so-wealthy.
--Avengers Annual#14 (1985) (Spider-Man Team-Up#2
Sonic Disruptor
The weapon with which the Krallians controlled their slaves, it could target and destroy the home planet of any who resisted their masters. It was destroyed by the Fantastic Four, allowing the slaves to revolt against their masters with impunity.
--Fantastic Four I#92 (93
If the Skrulls have weapons like this, then you'd think that the Earth would have been wiped out many moons ago. I guess it's not worth the loss of good stories!
The Skrulls of Kral used warrior-slaves to fight for their masters to settle disputes between their rival ganglords. A variety of weapons, including the sonic disruptor, insured their cooperation. When the disruptor was destroyed, Torgo led them to rebel and slaughter their former masters.
It is unclear whether the Krallians have ever reinstituted their slave combat, but the Kral system remained the site for galactic gladiatorial combat.
--Fantastic Four I#91 (92, 93
Cat-Man and Primitoid
These two slaves served as the first combatants in the final gladiatorial slave-war before the big revolt. The Cat-Man was victorious, and the Primitoid was listed as probably slain. It is unclear if either or both of these are mutates or members of unidentified alien races.
One would guess that the Cat-Man had superhuman speed, agility, strength, claws, etc.; while the Primitoid may have been savage and had great strength, yet limited intellect and fighting skill.
--Fantastic Four I#92 (93
Magno-Man
Apparently bred by the Skrulls, he possessed the ability to manipulate opponents via magnetic force. He faced the Thing in a training session designed to humiliate the human. He smashed the Thing through a wall and then pinned him to the ground, but the Thing knocked him off his feet by smashing the group and then pounced on him before he could regain his wits.
--Fantastic Four I#92
He also faced the Thing in a trial combat, and was defeated. It is unclear whether he is a mutate or a member of an unidentified alien race.
He presumably possesses superhuman strength and durability.
--Fantastic Four I#92
One of the Tekton race, he grew up on the jungle planet of Tekton. He was the first of the slaves to face the Thing in trial combat. Their struggle seemed equal (though the Thing complained that his slave collar was sapping his strength), until Taxtor used his tail to toss him through the air. The bout was halted, as the Thing had learned his lesson.
Taxtor possesses superhuman strength and durability and a prehensile tail.
--Fantastic Four I#91
MEDIEVAL SECTION
(“Dark
Knight of Astralon”, king + knights) - Allegedly a section of Kral IV patterned after a medieval village on Earth. They encountered the Human Torch and Gorr (who were seeking a world that Galactus could consume) and tricked them into a mock gladiatorial combat, slew the last surviving member of an intelligent herbivorous race in the form of a dragon, revealed themselves as Skrulls, and then apparently left the planet as there was no longer any challenge for them.
--Fantastic Four I#173 (174
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Other appearances:
Fantastic Four I#89-93 (August-December, 1969) - Stan Lee (writer/editor), Jack Kirby (pencils), Joe Sinnott (#89-92) & Frank Giacoia (#93) (inks)
Fantastic Four I#173-174 (August-September, 1976) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor), John Buscema (pencils), Joe Sinnott (inks)
Marvel Two-In-One#45 (November, 1978) - Peter Gillis (writer), Alan Kupperberg (pencils), Mike Esposito (inks), Roger Stern (editor)
Avengers Annual#14 (1985) - Roger Stern (writer), John Byrne (pencils), Kyle Baker (inks), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Spider-Man Team-Up#2 (March, 1996) - Roger Stern & George Perez (writers), Tom Grindberg (pencils), Bill Anderson (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Last updated: 11/25/03.
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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