gregzor-8116-facegregzor-king-8116-ds9-full KING GREGZOR

Real Name: Gregzor Dylogo

Identity/Class: Alternate Reality (Reality-8116) extraterrestrial (unidentified but grossly human race);
    lived and died approximately 1 million A.D.

Occupation: King;
    former Prince

Group Membership: Monarchy  

Affiliations: Royal Cyborg Guardians, Entrance Guards (Mach 7), unidentified corporate powers;
    forced alliance with Dreadstar and Company (Syzygy Darklock, Vanth Dreadstar, Oedi, Skeevo Phlatus, Willow/Willow 327);
    formerly worked uncomfortably with Z;
    allegedly hundred of planets lived under his rule

Enemies: Barons of Industry, the Instrumentality (notably the Lord Papal), Z;

Known Relatives: Nellor (uncle, deceased);
    Prince Namtac (second cousin);
    the presence of a second cousin would imply common great-grandparents with different relations in generations thereafter, but we'll stick with those confirmed in-story

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
    formerly the Royal Palace, Jewelcity, Jewelworld, Empirical Galaxy, Reality-8116;

First Appearance: Marvel Graphic Novel#3: The Metamorphosis Odyssey Book Three: Dreadstar (1982)gregzor-8116-full-aboveview

Powers/Abilities: Gregzor had minimal experience in maintaining an immense interstellar empire, but he followed Vanth Dreadstar's plans to help bring about a peaceful resolution to the war.

    He was indistinguished as a combatant, spy or rule.

    Although a coward and easily manipulated, he was sensitive to the plight of the underprivileged, and he did wish to do the right things for his people.

    Rebuilt as a cyborg, he had (presumably) metal bionic/mechanical components to much of his body, notably his chest, arms and legs, granting him enhanced strength and durability. However, Z had complete control of his systems, and Z could control whether he could even think for himself. Z could grant him the ability to think but keep him completely immobilized.
    He apparently had flesh-toned coloring of his hands, as he clearly had a mechanical torso/shoulder region, with no blood supply to organic hands.
    He may have been only an organic head supported by a robotic body, although he had enough of an organic system to bleed when injured.

Height: 5'9"
Weight: 190 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown, including goatee

History:
(Dreadstar Guidebook) - Prince Gregzor lived a life of luxury on Jewelworld, home of the Monarchy, which it had ruled for twelve centuries.

(Marvel Graphic Novel#3: The Metamorphosis Odyssey Book Three: Dreadstar (fb) - BTS) - Presumably concerned that his nephew Gregzor, who was next in line for the throne, might be tempted to kill him if he knew to much, King Nellor never shared with Gregzor what was going on or how he ran the Monarchy.

(Dreadstar I#9 (fb)) - Planning long-term vengeance on Vanth Dreadstar, the Zygotean Z-7458 joined the royal forces of the Monarchy.

(Dreadstar I#9 (fb)) - Swiftly rising through the Monarchy's ranks, Z (as he identified himself) soon became head of the empire's intelligence service, which gave him the resources needed to monitor Vanth. 

(Marvel Graphic Novel#4: Dreadstar / Dreadstar I#9 (fb) - BTS) - Coming across an old report on the Instrumentality's efforts to produce super-soldiers from hybrid cat-men, Z kept secret that the cat people had turned out to be peaceful farmers, and he instead convinced King Nellor that the cat people were the greatest threat the Monarchy had ever faced.

(Marvel Graphic Novel#4: Dreadstar - BTS / Dreadstar I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Upon Nellor's orders, Monarchy forces slaughtered the village of the cat people, killing them all, as well as Vanth's wife, Delilah; only Vanth, who was out visiting with the alien mystic Syzygy Darklock, and the young cat man Oedi survived.gregzor-8116-pourdrink

(Marvel Graphic Novel#4: Dreadstar - BTS / Dreadstar I#1 (fb) - BTS) - As Z had planned, Vanth vengefully slew Nellor, leaving the Monarchy's rule to Gregzor, a weak ruler Z would be easily able to control or override.

(Marvel Graphic Novel#3: Dreadstar (fb) - BTS) - Gregzor inherited the role of king. Later that evening, via his ally Syzygy Darklock's spell of molecular transport, Dreadstar accessed Gregzor's chambers.

(Marvel Graphic Novel#3: Dreadstar) - Gregzor ranted out loud, cursing his uncle as an old fool for getting himself killed without ever preparing him to take on the mantle of Monarchy. He further commented that his uncle never realized what a coward he (Gregzor) was. Pouring himself a drink, he discussed that the poor Monarchy was in for a bit of rough sailing, as it was saddled with a spineless king with no previous experience who...

    ...and Dreadstar interrupted, noting "talks to himself." The surprised  Gregzor exclaimed, "Who?!" and Dreadstar told him, "Your uncle knew me as death! I can be the same for you, or I can be a friend, and peace for your empire. The choice is yours."

    Dreadstar continued that he would aid the inept Gregzor in his task of ruling the realm, and that they would start by putting an end to the Monarchy's was with the Instrumentality. Dreadstar then shared the plans he and Syzygy had drawn up, a step-by-step program for putting an end to hostilities and getting their economics in order.

    First, by placing their forces in the manner described, they could consolidate their position, set up impregnable defenses, and put an end to the continual senseless slaughter that was currently taking place. The Monarchy would be surrendering some unimportant planets, but those that they retained would be safe from invasion and able to supply the realm's every need.

    Secondly, Dreadstar noted his plans for a government-run work and training program which Gregzor was to immediately institute. While this plan would severely deplete the royal coffers, it would allow a switch from a wartime to peacetime economy with none suffering any drastic effects like starvation or heavy unemployment.

    Gregzor argued that the corporate powers would kill him if he tried to put this plan to operation, but Dreadstar assured Gregzor that he would protect him. Dreadstar further informed Gregzor that he would be visiting a number of the most important corporate leaders of the realm over the next few nights and that he would see to it that they understand that under their plan they would suffer a couple years of reduced profits, but that after that, business would start booming for them like never before. And not only would they gain in the long run, but so would the workers.

gregzor-8116-face-profile    However, Dreadstar warned that any who opposed their plans would die. Gregzor confirmed that Dreadstar had made himself clear, after which Dreadstar made his last point, that he did not officially exist and wished it to remain so; as far as the rest of world was concerned, Gregzor would be the king and would be in charge. As Dreadstar teleported away via Syzygy's spell, he advised Gregzor that he would be nearby if needed, keeping an eye on things and offering suggestions every so often. Not really having any choice, Gregzor accepted his terms, but he told Dreadstar that he wanted to do what was right and he considered that with Dreadstar's aid, maybe he could...however, he then realized that Dreadstar was gone, although his plans and papers remained.

    Dropping to his knees, Gregzor knew that Dreadstar would return and that there was nothing he could do to prevent it.

(Dreadstar#1 (fb)) - Dreadstar coerced Gregzor to order the Monarchy's forces back to an impenetrable defensive line that Dreadstar laid out.

(Marvel Graphic Novel#3: The Metamorphosis Odyssey Book Three: Dreadstar) - Vanth subsequently met with Syzygy, agreeing to join his crusade to end the war but insisting that they would follow his lead. They also discussed that others would join their struggle.

(Dreadstar#1 (fb) - BTS) - For a few short months, the Monarchy-Instrumentality War came to a halt, as the Instrumentality found it impossible to breech the wall of Monarchy Space Fortresses. The death toll dropped.

(Epic Illustrated#15/4: Dreadstar (fb)) <A week before the main story> - Aboard the Lightcutter II, Syzygy, Vanth and Oedi encountered the twisted shell of a Monarchy space fortress, which had once been the realm's mightiest weapon, and Syzygy concluded that the Instrumentality had finally gained the hand in the war between the two empires. At Vanth's query, he advised that they abandon the Monarchy to its own resources and hope it survived long enough for them to put Plan M into operation. When Oedi asked about this Plan M, Syzygy instructed him that it was unspeakably dangerous and the less he knew about it, the better, especially if captured.

(Dreadstar I#5 (fb) - BTS) - After the Barons of Industry wrested power from the Monarchy's King Gregzor, becoming the two rulers of the realm while leaving him a relative figurehead, they placed Z as Gregzor's vizier.

(Dreadstar I#5 (fb) - BTS) - Seeing Z performing unspecified acts, Gregzor considered him a man of great power and for unexplained reasons came to believe that Z came from outside the galaxy.

(Dreadstar I#5 (fb) - BTS) - The military began following Z.

(Dreadstar I#4 (fb) - BTS) - Despite being ruler of the Monarchy, King Gregzor feared the mysterious man called Z.

(Dreadstar#4 (fb) - BTS / Dreadstar#5 (fb) - BTS) - Seeing weakness in Gregzor, the financial barons wrested power from him and forced the mysterious man known only as Z to become the vizier of King Gregzor, and the military soon after began follow Z.
    Gregzor appreciated that he was just a figureheard.
    Z swiftly became the third most person that Gregzor feared (after the Lord Papal and Dreadstar).

gregzor-king-8116-poison    The Lord Papal initiated Plan Hammer, gathering all of the Instrumentality's destroyers at a predesignated rendezvous point; the Hand of Darkness was sent to Jewelcity to assassinate Gregzor, throwing the Monarchy into chaos as various parties sought to succeed him, which would delay the installation of the tele-drives, at which point all of the destroyers would teleport across the galaxy to Jewelworld and destroy the entire planet.

    Z or other Monarchy sources learned of the plot to assassinate Gregzor in preparation for a mass attack on Jewelworld.

(Dreadstar#4) - Dreadstar contacted Gregzor with plans to deliver twenty interstellar teleportation drives -- which they had constructed after liberating one from the Instrumentality -- noting that these were the devices that the Instrumentality had been using to trash their space forces. After Dreadstar noted that the devices came with no cost or strings, Gregzor suspected this to be a trick, but Z advised him that Dreadstar was a schemer and that the fall of the Monarchy might be detrimental to his plans.

    As Dreadstar and his associates arrived in Jewelcity, Z ordered the Royal Cyborg Guardians to attack them, allegedly to test if they were the part of the plotted Instrumentality-planned assassination of Gregzor of which they had learned, but presumably actually so Z could observe them in combat. During this conflict, Z commented to Gregzor on the fighting abilties of Dreadstar's band. When h realized that Dreadstar's band was striking only to disable and that they appreciated that they were being tested, Z called a halt to the fighting. Gregzor remained silent as Z discussed the matter of the testing with Dreadstar. Z subsequently asked Dreadstar and his associates to protect Gregzor from the assassination attempt, which would be followed up with an Instrumentality mass assault on Jewelworld. Dreadstar agreed in exchange for a battle cruiser to replace their space trawler.

    The Hand of Darkness infiltrated the royal palace, killing and impersonating a guard and then killing and impersonating a server, who delivered a poisoned goblet of Gregzor's usual drink to the king. However, Oedi detected both the would-be assassin's different scent and the poison he carried, and he stoppedGregzor from consuming it.

(Dreadstar#4 - BTS) - The Hand of Darkness fell off a ledge to his apparent death in battle with Oedi.

(Dreadstar#4) - The shocked Gregzor told Oedi he had saved his life, and Oedi replied that it was his job. Gregzor further noted that he had saved the Monarchy from destruction despite having had so much for which to hate it (specifically as Gregzor's father and predecessor, King Nellor, had ordered the slaughter of Oedi's people on Caldor). Gregzor asked how the realm could ever repay him, and Oedi walked away as he noted, "You can't."

(Dreadstar#5) - As work on the Beauty -- the battle cruiser (renamed from Queen Saleenor III) given to Dreadstar per their previous deal -- finished up, Gregzor asked Vanth to accompany him. They traveled to one of Jewelcity's six slum sectors, where Gregzor noted the people there to be the wretches who don't fit into the royal system. "Their lot in life is an unbearable existence and an early death. That is why the Monarchy hides them away." When Dreadstar asked if he couldn't help them, Gregzor told him that much had changed the reign of his predecessor and that he had proven to be a weak king who had allowed the Barons of Industry to wrest his power from him. He further noted that he believed what he suspected to be Dreadstars goal -- bringing about the downfalls of both the Instrumentality and the Monarchy -- to be just, as any government who damned a third of its population to these conditions did not deserve to survive. He further told Vanth that not only would he not oppose this goal but that if there was anything he could do to help him...gregzor-king-8116-ds7-full

    At Dreadstar's query, Gregzor explained that he didn't know much about Z, but that he suspected that he had come outside of the galaxy and that the financial barons had forced him on him as vizier, after which the military started following him. He described Z as "a man of great mystery and great power. The things I've seen him do...that one-armed bastard scares the Hell out of me."

    The idea that Z came from outside of the galaxy and had only one arm made Vanth suspect Z to be Aknaton, and he recommended Gregzor and he head back to the palace.

(Dreadstar I#6) - After Dreadstar and Company revealed their messianic agent, Maxilon, secretly a robot designed to provide an alternative to the Instrumentality religion, Gregor asked, "Who can he be?" Z replied "An answer to a prayer." He further told Gregzor that Dreadstar had figured out to fight religion without creating martyrs. Z further noted that Dreadstar was a genius and a skilled tactician, but that Maxilon was likely a smokescreen of little import.

(Dreadstar I#9 (fb) - BTS) - Z plotted to destroy the Monarchy Dreadstar had supported so as to leave the galaxy at the mad hands of the Lord Papal and the Instrumentality.gregzor-king-8116-ds7-shot

(Dreadstar I#7) - After Gregzor dropped a cassette of information from the palace balcony to the waiting Oedi, Z caught him in the act and shot him through the chest. Z then told him that the time had come her the two of them to gain Z's long-sought vengeance on Vanth Dreadstar.

(Dreadstar I#9 (fb) - BTS) - Z had Gregzor rebuilt as a cyborg under his control.

(Dreadstar I#8 (fb) - BTS) - Z had all of the Monarchy's destroyers save one assigned to high-priority missions in distant parts of the galaxy, leaving only one on duty near Jewelworld.

(Dreadstar I#8 - BTS) - Z met with the Lord Papal and his operatives on the barren planet JRW-3, supplying him with "cassettes" containing all the information he would need on destroyer deployments, troop strengths, planetary fortification specs, in order to allow the Instrumentality to destroy the Monarchy.

    In return, Z only asked that the Papal would not bomb Jewelcity's royal palace during the Instrumentality's conquest of Jewelworld as he (Z) would be inside that structure, performing another service for the Papal: Killing Vanth Dreadstar.

(Dreadstar I#8 - BTS) -  Having reviewed the tape on the Monarchy's military strengths and deployments Gregzor had passed to him, Oedi noted that Z had radically deployed the royal fleet to leave the Monarchy's defenses paper thin, especially around Jewelworld.

    Seeking to confront Z and gather information, Dreadstar accompanied Oedi on his mission to Jewelworld to get an update from Gregzor; they were flown, presumably in the Lightcutter II or III by Skeevo. They gained safe entry through defenses via Oedi's communications cassette, which identified him asGregzor's second counsin Prince Namtac.

(Dreadstar I#8) - After Oedi received the cassette from Gregzor, Z confronted Oedi. While Oedi fled, Z shot him through the leg, arm, and side of the chest; Oedi hit the ground at his feet.

(Dreadstar I#8 (fb) - BTS) - Intending to draw Dreadstar into a confrontation, Z explained to Oedi how he wanted him to reach Dreadstar with the tape and then to tell Dreadstar that he (Z) would be waiting at the palace for him.

gregzor-king-8116-ds9-ambush(Dreadstar I#8 - BTS) - The wounded Oedi relayed the message to Dreadstar, who took him back to the ship to treat his wounds.

    Reviewing the tape, Dreadstar learned of Z's strategically leaving Jewelworld vulnerable and shutting down half the planet's defense systems for overhauling, as well as of Z's meeting with the Lord Papal, indicating that Jewelworld was going to be invaded imminently. gregzor-king-8116-ds9-cyborgchest

    Dreadstar had Skeevo flight Oedi back to Plexorus for further treatment, and he resolved to warn Gregzor and kill Z.

(Dreadstar I#9) - As Dreadstar fought his way past Gregzor's imperial cyborgs, Z mockingly noted to Gregzor how Dreadstar was fighting to kill, that the Monarchy would be crushed by day's end and that, with Gregzor's aid, Dreadstar would be one of the last casualties.

    Z subsequently attacked Dreadstar, but as they fought Gregzor rushed in, ordering the fight to stop and exclaiming this all to be a terrible mistake. As Dreadstar tried to protect Gregzor, the king dealt a series of unexpected blows to Dreadstar via his cyborg strength-enhanced form, stunning him and knocking his sword from his hand so that Z could smash him unconscious against the wall with a final blast.

(Dreadstar I#9 (fb) - BTS) - Z had Dreadstar bound to a device that would release a high-voltage charge into his body whenever any pressure was applied to the structure.

(Dreadstar I#9 - BTS) - Syzygy and the others attempted to come to Vanth's rescue, but they found the region around Jewelworld filled with the Instrumentality's invasion force, and they were forced to warp away to avoid destruction. Hoping Vanth could survive and escape on his own, his allies returned to Plorexus.

gregzor-king-8116-ds10-dying(Dreadstar I#9) - When Dreadstar revived, Z discussed how he had lifted his mental domination over Gregzor to allow him to speak and to witness what was happening but otherwise kept him immobilized; and how the restraints would prevent Dreadstar's breaking free.

    Noting as the Instrumentality began its assault on Jewelworld, Z revealed his Zygotean nature to Dreadstar and then related his history and his plots.

    Wishing for Dreadstar to view the Monarchy's destruction, Z left him trapped in the device and set a nuclear bomb to detonate within the hour, while he (Z) would be safely outside Jewelworld's atmosphere, waiting to witness and relish Dreadstar's end.

(Dreadstar I#10 (fb) - BTS) - Z slaughtered all Monarchy agents he encountered as he made his way to the hangar.

(Dreadstar I#9 - BTS) - A ship shot down in the battle between the Instrumentality and Monarchy forces crashed into the palace royal, collapsing the ceiling/level above Dreadstar and Gregzor on them.

(Dreadstar I#10) - The freed and recovered Dreadstar disabled the nuclear weapon. Seeing the crippled Gregzor, Vanth prepared to take off after Z, but Gregzor asked him not to leave him like this. Vanth then carried Gregzor back to his palace bed, from which Gregzor noted his failings and his lack of training and inexperience. The dying Gregzor asked Dreadstar to promise to make Z pay for his treason, and Dreadstar readily promised to do so.

(Dreadstar I#10 (fb) - BTS) - Dreadstar confronted and ultimately slew Z brutally.

    The Monarchy soon after fell to the Lord High Papal's forces.

Comments: Created by Jim Starlin.

Dreadstar / Reality-8116 primer

    We know that Syzygy Darklock used a spell of molecular transport to help Dreadstar get out of the palace without getting shot, but I think it is likely that Syzygy also facilitated Dreadstar's traveling from Nellor's quarters to Gregzor's.

    I'm working my way through the Dreadstar series, but it will be a while...many of the profiles linked from this one are only just begun...

    This profile was posted on Jim Starlin's 76th birthday.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Gregzor should be distinguished from:
Prince Namtac

The second cousin of King Gregzor

(Dreadstar#8 - BTS) - Oedi used a communications cassette that identified him as Namtac to get him safe access to Jewelworld

--Dreadstar#8

Note: To the best of my knowledge, nothing else was revealed of Namtac. He was most likely off Jewelworld when Oedi used his identity, or the deception would more likely have been discovered.

images: (without ads)
Marvel Graphic Novel#3: The Metamorphosis Odyssey Book Three: Dreadstar, pg. 41, panel 1 (full; view from above);
          panel 2 (face);
          panel 3 (pouring drink);
          panel 4 (face; profile);
Dreadstar#4, pg. 24, panel 1 (warned of poisoned drink)
    #7, pg. 20, panel 8 (full);
    #9, pg. 2 (full);
       pg. 9, panel 4 (ambush Vanth);
       pg. 15, panel 2(cyborg chest);
    #10, pg. 1 (missing arm, dying)

Appearances:
Marvel Graphic Novel#3: The Metamorphosis Odyssey Book Three: Dreadstar (1982) - Jim Starlin (writer/artist), Archie Goodwin & Jo Duffy (editor)
Dreadstar#4 (May, 1983) - Jim Starlin (writer, artist), Jo Duffy (associate editor), Archie Goodwin (editor), Jim Shooter & Al Milgrom (consulting editors)
Dreadstar#5 (July, 1983) - Jim Starlin (writer, artist), Jo Duffy (associate editor), Archie Goodwin (editor), Jim Shooter & Al Milgrom (consulting editors)
Dreadstar#6 (September, 1983) "Seige" - Jim Starlin (writer, penciler), Joe Rubinstein (inker), Jo Duffy (associate editor), Archie Goodwin (editor), Jim Shooter & Al Milgrom (consulting editors)
Dreadstar#7 (November, 1983) "Mindtrap" - Jim Starlin (writer, penciler), Joe Rubinstein (inker), Jo Duffy (associate editor), Archie Goodwin (editor), Jim Shooter & Al Milgrom (consulting editors)
Dreadstar#8 (January, 1984) "Betrayal" - Jim Starlin (writer, penciler), Jo Duffy (associate editor), Archie Goodwin (editor), Jim Shooter & Al Milgrom (consulting editors)
Dreadstar#9 (March, 1984) "Confrontation" - Jim Starlin (writer, artist), Jo Duffy (associate editor), Archie Goodwin (editor), Jim Shooter & Al Milgrom (consulting editors)
Dreadstar#10 (May, 1984) "Maniac" - Jim Starlin (writer, artist), Jo Duffy (associate editor), Archie Goodwin (editor), Jim Shooter & Al Milgrom (consulting editors)

Dreadstar Guidebook (February, 2021) - Robert Greenberger (writer), Ron Marz (editor)

First started 02/19/2024
First posted 10/08/2025
Last updated: 10/02/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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