PATRIARCHPATRIARCH
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Human variant (the Blood), magic user
Occupation: Agent of Zarathos; former leader of the Blood
Group Membership: The Blood, the Fallen
Affiliations: Zarathos; formerly the Spirits of Vengeance
Enemies: Midnight Sons (Blade, John Blaze, Frank Drake, Dr. Strange, Ghost Rider/Dan Ketch/Noble Kale, Hannibal King, Morbius, Vengeance)
Known Relatives: Possibly the Blood
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Currently unknown; formerly his ancestral home in Scotland; the catacombs below Cypress Hills Cemetery; the ruins of a former Tibetan monastery.
First Appearance: (Shadows, unnamed) Spirits of Vengeance#14 (September, 1993), (full appearance) Ghost Rider III#45 (January, 1994)
Powers/Abilities: Patriarch possesses an
unspecified level of power. He has superhuman strength (at least
enhanced human) and durability, as well as being immune to the
effects of disease and aging. He is able to open portals in space
and teleport people or objects across great distances. He uses
this power as an offensive weapon teleporting his opponents in
mid battle so that they attack or injure their own allies. He
also seems to enjoy teleporting a portion of a victim away,
leaving them in shock or terrible agony.
History: Patriarch's full origin is unrevealed. He is one of the Blood, and he may be 20, 000 years old or older. It is unclear whether he is actually the father of the other members of the Blood, the oldest, or whether he just became leader at some point.
(Ghost Rider III#42-43 (fb) - BTS?) - Patriarch was possibly involved in the ancient battles against Zarathos.
(Spirits of Vengeance#16 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, Patriarch became less and less involved with the other members of the Blood, and began living in isolation at his ancestral home
(Spirits of Vengeance#14) - Seer returns to the Nightclub and is chastised by that shadowy Blood representative (Patriarch?) for failing to return Ghost Rider and his piece of the Medallion of Power to him/them (the Blood).
(Ghost Rider III#45) - At the Nightclub, Seer receives a
psychic message from Caretaker, via Hannibal King. After learning
of the Fallen's plan to convert or kill the rest of the Blood,
she leads Ghost Rider and Vengeance to petition the aid of
Patriarch. Meanwhile, Ranter had arrived to coerce Patriarch into
joining the Fallen. Ghost Rider apparently destroyed Ranter, but
Patriarch refused to get involved. He bragged of his own power
and said that he alone chooses the side on which he lives, and
none may convince or coerce him. Ghost Rider, not so subtlely,
suggested that he choose wisely, and Patriarch threw them out of
his home.
After they left, Patriarch opened a portal to Zarathos, where he
revealed he had made his decision long ago, bowed a knee, and
pledged his loyalty to Zarathos and the Fallen. Caretaker, who
was a prisoner of the Fallen, was apparently quite demoralized by
Patriarch's actions.
(Marvel Comics Presents#145/1) - Patriarch pledged to the Fallen that the remaining members of the Blood would join them or die.
(Dr. Strange: Sorcerer Supreme#61)-Patriarch explained to Zarathos that while Salomé was one of the Fallen and had made their return to Earth possible, she valued her own self more than any of them. He recommended that they ignore her for the time being.
(Spirits of Vengeance#18)-Patriarch and the rest of the Fallen watched as Zarathos seemingly slew Ghost Rider/Ketch.
(Midnight Sons Unlimited#4)-Patriarch and the rest of the Fallen fought beside Zarathos against the Midnight Sons. The heroes were faring poorly until Blade obtained the enchanted sword Justicar, empowered by the blood of its former owner, Foundry. Fearing the sword's power, Patriarch attempted to teleport away, but Blade used the sword to disrupt his teleport field, leaving him vulnerable. Frank Drake used his "Exorcist" gun, Linda, to weaken Patriarch, and Blade skewered him with Justicar, apparently killing him.
Comments: Created by Howard Mackey and Ron Garney.
CLARIFICATIONS: None
images: (without ads)
Other appearances:
Spirits of Vengeance#14 (September, 1993) - Howard Mackie (writer),
Mike Manley (pencils), Jeff Albrecht & Ralph Cabrera (inks), Bobbie
Chase (editor)
Ghost Rider III#45 (January, 1994) - Howard Mackie (writer), Ron Garney (pencils), Chris Ivy (inks), Bobbie Chase (editor)
Marvel Comics Presents#145 (early January, 1994) - Chris Cooper
(writer), Reggie Jones (pencils), Fred Harper (inks), Richard Ashford
(editor)
Dr. Strange III#61 (January, 1994) - David Quinn (writer), Melvin Rubi (pencils), Fred Harper (inks), Evan Skolnick (editor)
Spirits of Vengeance#18 (January, 1994) - Howard Mackie (writer), Henry
Martinez (pencils), Bud LaRosa (inks), Bobbie Chase (editor)
Midnight Sons Unlimited#4 (January, 1994) - D.G. Chichester (writer),
John Hixson & John Bridges (pencils), Bill Anderson, Rich Rankin
& Scott Koblish (inks), Evan Skolnick (editor)
Last updated: 08/02/02
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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