PLAGUEOSAUR

plagueosaur-7614-faceplagueosaur-7614-mainReal Name: Unrevealed (it may be called called Plagueosaur, or it may be one of a species of Plagueosaurs)

Identity/Class: Alternate reality (Reality-7614) extraterrestrial (Hailailae/"Witchworld");
    active circa 15,000 years in the relative future

Occupation: Fauna

Group Membership: None known

Affiliations: None known

Enemies: Rocky Raccoon, Prince Wayfinder

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: A forest on an island or otherwise coastal land on the planet Hailailae (aka     "Witchworld"), Tau Ceti, Milky Way Galaxy

First Appearance: Marvel Preview#7 (Summer, 1976)

plagueosaur-7614-prof

Powers/Abilities: The Plagueosaur is a smoldering powerhouse, apparently possessing a rocky exterior and spewing flames from ports on each shoulder and elbow, as well as from each finger and thumb.

    It did not appear to spew flames from its toes. plagueosaur-7614-fight

    It had a long tail that ended in a point, which may have been used for balance and/or as a weapon.

    Despite its rocky exterior, the Plagueosaur had muscle and other internal structures, and it was apparently fit for both eating (by humanoids) and for ritual sacrifice for magical purposes. 

    Guarding a field of Doonboggle flowers, it would attack those who plucked the flowers.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 8-12')
Weight: Unrevealed (difficult to estimate given unidentified composition, but likely around 3000 pounds.)
Eyes: Unrevealed (black-and-white comic, but apparently black or dark, possibly with opaque lenses
Hair: None

History:

(Marvel Preview#7 (fb) - BTS) - The Plagueosaur dwelled within a forest on an unidentified landmass on the planet Hailailae, also known as Witchworld. It guarded a field of Doonboggles.

(Marvel Preview#7 - BTS) - Prince Wayfinder -- the last survivor of the world Ithacon, colonized long ago by humans who had evacuated the dying Earth -- landed on Witchworld and traveled to the coastal world in search of game upon which to feed.

(Marvel Preview#7) - Wayfinder encountered Rocky Raccoon, who advised him that he was plucking Doonboggles and that "any pup knows that Doonboggles are guarded by the Plagueosaur!" This announcement coordinated nicely with the arrival of the enraged Plagueosaur.

plagueosaur-7614-implode    Sidestepping the creature's initial charge, Wayfinder was angry that Rocky had not warned him, but Rocky advised him, "One should look before one plucks, as it were!"

    Wayfinder replied, "Blast you, Raccoon!" But Rocky corrected him, "Not me, old man. It! You must blast it! Like so!!"

    Rocky's blast struck the Plagueosaur in the arm or mid-section and hurt the creature, causing it to roar in pain, but it did not stop it from charging Wayfinder anew.

    Leaping above the creature and landing on its back, Wayfinder drove his blade into its back, and the blade's sonic charge built within its scaled body. Finding no means of egress, the blade's energies caused a massive implosion that slew the Plagueosaur and left it in pieces.

(Marvel Preview#7 - BTS) - The Sorceress Kirke, who allegedly ruled the forest, arrived alongside of her animal-men knights, and she ordered her Sir Cat to claim the Plagueosaur's carcass, which she intended to use for sacrificial purposes.

    Wayfinder and Rocky battled the knights, but ultimately Kirke subdued them with a force blast, claimed the meat for her purposes and instructed her fallen foes to come with her knights peaceably or die.

Comments: Created by Bill Mantlo and Keith Giffen.

    The Sword in the Star series was meant to be the a 10-12 issue back-up series in the planned bi-monthly black-and-white Starlord (by Steven Englehart) magazine. However, the magazine never happened, and both Starlord and the Sword-in-the-Star appeared in Marvel Preview#4. While Starlord ended up getting more issues down the line (Chris Claremont would pick up the series, and you can check out Starlord here), the Sword in the Star got a second appearance in Marvel Preview#7, at least in part because Bill Mantlo had already written the second part when he was told that the magazine was canceled, the story was going to be in Marvel Previews and to hold off on any future episodes.
    Bill Mantlo used Wayfinder and the Sword in the Star in his Micronauts series, but Kirke and Witchworld have never been seen again, to the best of my knowledge.

    Tragically, Bill Mantlo suffered severe brain damage from a closed head injury (essentially too much swelling of his brain with an intact skull), and he is severely limited and certainly no longer able to write.
    Our appreciation goes out to Bill and his work with the obscure, especially in resolving plotlines. 

    There are some cool text features by Bill Mantlo in Marvel Preview#4 and #7 that discussed how Wayfinder was meant to be a modern day Ulysses, and how Bill drew heavily on various myths and legends.

    Rocky Raccoon was apparently a contribution of Keith Giffen, and is an homage to the Beatles' song of the same name. Rocket (Raccoon) was almost certainly inspired by that character, and the Official Handbooks of the Marvel Universe has listed Marvel Preview#7 as Rocket's first appearance...it's just not clear to me how to connect the dots. I think they are likely alternate reality counterparts, but, again, the story behind Rocky Raccoon's presence on Witch-World and his transportation to Halfworld in the modern time period of Reality-616 (and subsequent loss of his British accent) will likely never be known, either.

    Kirke originally had a sub-profile in the Earth-7614 ("Sword in the Star") profile, originally published 8/10/2004.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Plagueosaur should be distinguished from:


images: (without ads)
 Marvel Preview#7 (Sword in the Star story), pg. 14, panel 3 (main);
       pg. 15, panel 3 (profile);
          panel 4 (vs. Wayfinder);
          panel 7 (face);
       pg. 16, panel 1 (implosion)
Appearances:
 Marvel Preview#7 (Summer, 1976) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Keith Giffen (artist), John Warner (editor)

First posted: 09/04/2025
Last updated: 09/04/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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