RUKA
Real Name: Ruka
Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Earth-78411/Dinosaur World) "Big One" (giant)
Occupation: Child
Group Membership: Big Ones/Giant Folk
Affiliations: Unidentified father
Enemies: Devil Dinosaur, Moon Boy
Known Relatives: Unidentified father (Giant)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Somewhere outside of the Valley of Flame, Dinosaur World
First Appearance: (eyes only)
Devil Dinosaur#2 (May, 1978);
(full) Devil Dinosaur#3 (June, 1978)
Powers/Abilities: Though only a "cub," Ruka was a giant; he was large enough to keep Moon-Boy on a leash like a pet, and fit him into one hand. He presumably had superhuman strength, simply due to his size. He was also an obnoxious, not-so-little brat--I'd guess he was about eight-years old (see comments), assuming the Big Ones age at a comparable rate to humans.
Height: Unrevealed (15'; by approximation, see
comments)
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Brown
Other distinguishing features: With the exception of his face,
hands, and feet, his entire body was covered with brown fur.
History:
(Devil
Dinosaur#2 - BTS) - On Dinosaur World, the child Ruka was one of a race
of giant proto-humanoids who lived near the volcanic Valley of Flame. He
was apparently separated from his father while his father was hunting,
and he ended up in the Valley of Flame. Hiding behind the foliage, he
spied upon Moon Boy and Devil Dinosaur, and observed them as they were
laying down to sleep.
(Devil Dinosaur#3) - Ruka's father began attacking the Valley of Flame, leaving a path of carnage and destruction in his wake, and shouting a mysterious word: "RUKA". Fearing that their valley had been invaded by a demon, Moon Boy went off alone to investigate, to find out for himself what they were up against. After discovering the Giant, and watching him swing around a stegosaurus like a baseball bat, Moon Boy left to tell Devil, only to be snatched up by the hand of Ruka; the giant child put Moon Boy on a leash to use as a plaything. When Moon Boy warned Ruka that his friend Devil ruled the valley, he responded, "Ruka laughs at this Devil-Beast!". Making the connection between Ruka's name and the word the Giant shouted, Moon Boy realized that it wasn't a demon threat he was dealing with, but just a concerned father searching for his son. Screeching like "a stricken lizard," Moon Boy attracted a group of hungry pteranodons, then used the distracting chaos to slip his leash and escape, with Ruka hot on his heels.
As they ran through the jungle, the pair reached a nearby marsh, where Devil had cunningly led Ruka's father and knocked him in. When the Giant began to sink in the inescapable ooze of the bog, Ruka tried to rescue his father, but couldn't reach him. Not wanting either of the giants to die, Moon Boy explained to Devil what was going on, at which point the dinosaur snapped off a tree with his jaws, then generously extended it to the trapped Giant's hand and pulled him to safety.
Afterward, Ruka demanded his father punish Devil for nearly killing him; but instead, as the Giant picked up his wayward son, he promised punishment for the one who deserved it. As his father carried him back home, Ruka vowed to get revenge on Moon Boy, but the Giant promised that a truce would be kept with Devil Dinosaur and Moon Boy.
Comments: Created by Jack Kirby.
Ruka's father might have thought him lost, but he was actually quite close--close enough to grab Moon-Boy, who'd just been watching Ruka's "Sire". I don't doubt Ruka heard his father calling, he just didn't want to go home yet, and he was having too much fun. After Ruka's scaring his father (who was probably imagining his son in some terrible danger, as parents naturally do), and nearly getting him killed, just so Ruka could have some fun, I bet his backside was sore for quite a few nights after his little "adventure"!
Comparing his size to his father, I'd estimate Ruka to be a little older than an eight-year old--maybe more like 10-12 years old.--Ron Fredricks
New images by Ron Fredricks.
Profile by Darc_Light.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Ruka has no known connection to:
images: (without ads)
Devil Dinosaur#3, p13, pan2 (Ruka puts leash on Moon Boy)
Devil Dinosaur#3, p13, pan6 (Ruka [background] hears Moon Boy screeching)
Devil Dinosaur#3, p17, pan3 (Ruka, picked up by his father)
Appearances:
Devil Dinosaur#2-3 (May-June, 1978) - Jack Kirby (writer/pencils/editor), Mike Royer (inks/letters), Petra Goldberg (colors), Archie Goodwin (consulting editor)
First posted:
Last updated: 08/28/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
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