JUDGE KRAY-TOR
Real Name: Kray-Tor
Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (Judan), possible mutate
Occupation: Currently member of the Soul Gem Community, formerly Judge of the Universal Church of Truth (UCT),
Affiliations: Currently Soul Gem community, formerly UCT
Enemies: Count Abyss;
formerly Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange), Drax the Destroyer, Adam Warlock and other "heretics"
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: The Grand Inquisitor, Brother Kray-Tor
Base of Operations: Currently the pocket dimension within the Soul Gem;
formerly courtroom on Sirus X (Homeworld).
First Appearance: Strange Tales I#180 (June, 1975)
Powers/Abilities: Like all Judans, Kray-Tor continually generated anti-gravitons from his brain to support his massive weight. He displayed the power to fire a beam of energy that caused Adam Warlock to sink within the floor. He also glowed with energy when he prepared to execute Warlock. The full extent of his powers is unknown. It is unknown whether all Judans have these powers, or if they were unique to him.
History:
Nothing is known
of Kray-Tor's life before he became a Judge in the UCT's court
system. He was, however, a true believer in the Church's
mission, and not merely a hypocrite.
(Strange Tales I#180) - After failing to
terrorize information from the Matriarch, Adam Warlock was
dropped into a dark pit. When the lights came on, he found
himself in a courtroom with the "honorable" Judge
Kray-Tor presiding. The trial proved to be rigged however:
Warlock's defense attorney did not even have a mouth.
Warlock finally tired of the coerced witnesses and false
accusations and began busting up the courtroom and everybody in
it. Finally he was left alone with Kray-Tor. The
Judge blasted the floor with an energy beam that caused Adam to
sink, and not even Warlock's soul gem could reverse the
pull. Kray-Tor pronounced the death sentence and began
to glow with energy. Warlock decided to remove the kid
gloves, claiming to see that Kray-Tor was truly evil, and
willingly used the gem to steal Kray-Tor's soul. However,
in the rush of memories that Warlock absorbed, he saw that
Kray-Tor truly believed that he was doing what was right.
Furthermore, Warlock saw that he proved himself to be
a villain by willingly stealing a soul.
(Avengers Annual I#7, Marvel
Two-In-One Annual#2) - Kray-Tor was part of the
hospitality committee that welcomed Warlock into soul world.
He was seen in the background as Adam began to realize and
appreciate the peace within Soul World. 
(Infinity Countdown: Adam Warlock#1 (fb)) - Kay-Tor and Autolycus were present in Soul World during a calm moment with Adam Warlock, Pip, Gamora and Drax.
(Silver Surfer III#46) - Kray-Tor was present when the Silver Surfer and Drax the Destroyer entered the Soul World to convince Adam Warlock to return to the Earth Dimension to oppose Thanos. He happily welcomed them to the Soul World, although he did end up serving as a punching bag for Drax until the others calmed him.
(Silver Surfer III#48) - Kray-Tor was present when Adam Warlock made the decision to leave Soul World and join the battle against Thanos.
(Warlock: Rebirth#2) - Adam Warlock's soul ended up in Soul World again after Eve Warlock took the Soul Gem from him. Doctor Strange's astral form tried to convince him to leave Soul World, but Adam had no intention to and Kray-Tor picked up Strange to protect Adam from him.
(Warlock: Rebirth#3) - Strange broke free, but Kray-Tor kept fighting him until he was trapped within the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak. With Kray-Tor defeated, Strange managed to convince Adam Warlock to merge his soul with his body again.
(Infinity
War I#6) - Autolycus was present when the Magus was sent
to Soul World. The Magus sought to create an army from the
inhabitants of Soul World, but found that since he was only an
aspect of a soul, he had no substance in the Soul World. In fact,
Autolycus and Kray-Tor walked right through him without ever
knowing he was there.
(Infinity Crusade I#4) - Autolycus and Kray-Tor welcomed Adam Warlock when he returned to Soul World to a short visit to talk to Magus about the Goddess.
(Warlock and the Infinity Watch#33) - The villain Count Abyss took the Soul Gem from Adam Warlock, and used his powers to terrorize the natives of Soul World, sending their reality into a maelstrom of chaos. Ultimately, Adam Warlock was able to access the Soul Gem, and used Kray-Tor to subject the evil Abyss to the soul of a virtuous man. Not only did Kray-Tor's soul cause Abyss agony, but it also made him unrecognizable to the Zalkor, the source of his powers. Before Abyss could expel Kray-Tor's soul, Warlock found, attacked, and defeated him. Kray-Tor was returned to Soul World, but he was tormented by his own exposure to the evil of Abyss. He fled from the company of the rest of the Soul Gem community, cursing the comfort they offered him.
(Warlock and the Infinity Watch#37) - Kray-Tor's agony continued, and began to spread to the rest of Soul World, like a virus.
Comments: Created by Jim Starlin.
I've always liked Kray-Tor's look. He's one of the most visually interesting characters Starlin's created. I'd like to see more Judans in order to flesh out the full extent of their powers.
I don't remember seeing any resolution to Kray-Tor's torment.--Snood
Markus Raymond added the missed Infinity Crusade appearances and the ones from 2018-2023.
Profile by Chuck D and Snood. Update by Markus Raymond.
Clarifications:
Kray-Tor, the Grand Inquisitor, has no known connections to:
images: (without ads)
Strange Tales I#180, p11 (main)
Strange Tales I#180, p18, pan1 (energy beam)
Strange Tales I#180, Cover (vs. Adam Warlock)
Avengers Annual I#7, p34, pan2 (in Soul World)
Silver Surfer III#46, p3 (full body)
Warlock and the Infinity Watch#33, p14, pan5 (soul used by Adam Warlock against Abyss)
Appearances:
Strange Tales I#180 (June, 1975) - Jim Starlin (writer/artist), Alan Weiss (inks), Len Wein (editor)
Avengers Annual I#7 (1977) - Jim Starlin (writer/pencils), Joe Rubinstein (inks), Archie Goodwin (editor)
Marvel Two-In-One Annual I#2 (1977) - Jim Starlin (writer/pencils), Joe Rubinstein (inks), Archie Goodwin (editor)
Silver Surfer III#46 (February, 1991) - Jim Starlin (writer), Ron Lim (pencils), Tom Christopher (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Silver Surfer III#48 (April, 1991) - Jim Starlin (writer), Ron Lim (pencils), Tom Christopher (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Infinity War I#6 (November, 1992) - Jim Starlin (writer), Ron Lim (pencils), Al Milgrom (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Infinity Crusade I#4 (September, 1993) - Jim Starlin (writer), Ron Lim (pencils), Al Milgrom (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Warlock and the Infinity Watch#33 (October, 1994) - John Arcudi (writer), Pat Olliffe (pencils), Bob Almond (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Warlock and the Infinity Watch#37 (February, 1995) - John Arcudi (writer), Pat Olliffe (pencils), Keith Williams (inks), Craig Anderson (editor)
Infinity Countdown: Adam Warlock#1 (April, 2018) - Gerry Duggan (writer), Michael Allred (artist), Laura Allred (colorist), Jordan D. White (editor)
Warlock: Rebirth#2-3 (July-August, 2023) - Ron Marz (writer), Ron Lim (pencils), Don Ho (inks), Romulo Fajardo Jr. (colorist), Darren Shan (editor)
First Posted: 08/02/2002
Last updated: 03/03/2026
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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