REDWOODS
Classification: Extradimensional (Earth-87119)
sentient flora (Mutores)
Location/Base of Operations: Earth, notably
North America
Known Members: Redlen,
others
Affiliations: Earth Corps (Dr. Herman "Herc"
Armstrong, Dr. Edward Augutter, Dr. Derek Bright, Dr. Johnathon M.
Slattery (a.k.a. Liquidator)), Granites (Granock, others), Magnacore
Enemies: Inhumanoids (D'Compose,
Metlar,
Tendril),
Blackthorne Shore
First Appearance: Inhumanoids#1 (January, 1987)
Powers/Abilities: Redwoods are sentient flora
that appear like sequoioideae trees. They can twist and move their
"bodies" to use branches to hit objects and can willingly sever branch
limbs to drop onto targets, as well as stretch branches. Likewise, they
can fall their complete form onto the ground. They can use their roots
as feet for movement or to pull away dirt and rocks. Generally most
appear as trees, but some appear near humanoid with greater control
over their form and can rapidly assemble themselves into larger form
from the ground up. Redwoods show two eyes and a mouth, but it's
unrevealed if this is simply to communicate with humans and animals.
Like other plants, Redwoods require sunlight and fertile soil for
sustenance, so they cannot go undrground into dark rocky terrain.
Redwoods have low-level magical
abilities that help them commune with others and ascertain the motives
of other life forms. When grouped, they can generate mystical mist to
communicate via a dream-like state of the observer. Likewise, branches
can be combined with mystical light to communicate via pictures.
Traits: Redwoods are communal in nature and
appear to communicate telepathically/mystically. They appear to rely on
one leader and respond in a coordinated fashion. They are focused on
their sole goal of stopping the dire Inhumanoids and will ally
themselves with others who also seek to stop their foes. Redwoods
generally hide from other life forms until a bond of trust has been
formed.
Type: Sentient flora
Eyes: Two
Fingers: Inapplicable
Toes: Inapplicable
Skin color: Variable (bark)
Average height: (variable, usually around 30')
History:
(Inhumanoids#2 (fb)) - [The exact origins of the
sentient flora Redwoods is unrevealed.] Millennia ago, three giant but
malevolent Inhumanoids (D'Compose, Tendril and Metlar) fought Mutores
(elemental humanoid creatures including the rock-like Granites and
tree-like Redwoods).
(Inhumanoids#2 (fb)) - Eventually a team of Redwoods
trapped D'Compose in sunlight and toppled him into an amber pit. Metlar
and Tendril were similarly trapped by other Mutores.
(Inhumanoids#1 (fb) - BTS) - D'Compose struggled
against his amber prison while Redwoods stood guard. Eventually it was
discovered by campers in the current era in what was now the Big Sur
National Forest in California, USA.
(Inhumanoids#1) - Thought to be a dinosaur skeleton
completely encased in amber, D'Compose was exhumed. Guarding Redwoods
tried unsuccessfully to block humans transporting the amber block away.
Later,
D'Compose and Tendril escaped elsewhere and set about to free their
leader Metlar.
(Inhumanoids#2) - The heroic
team Earth Corps
investigated the monstrous Inhumanoids. Earth Corps member Dr. John
Slattery (a.k.a. Liquidator) went to the forest. He called to the trees
to communicate and was quickly surrounded by rapidly growing branches
and the sudden growth of Redlen, the Redwood leader. Initially menacing
him, Liquidator declared their naivety in unintentionally freeing
D'Compose. This gave Redlen pause and the trees chanted a mystical
wind-like tune that revealed Liquidator's thoughts as pure. Surrounding
him in a mist-like reverie, Redlen revealed the war-fraught history
between the Mutores and Inhumanoids. Liquidator declared he would help
stop the Inhumanoids and raced back to his colleagues.
(Inhumanoids#3) - In their armored suits, the Earth
Corps tracked D'Compose and Tendril underground. D'Compose trapped the
humans under a rockslide.
(Inhumanoids#3/Inhumanoids#4 (fb)) - Somehow aware of
Earth Corps' predicament (perhaps via root-based communal
commuication), from above ground, Redlen pulled
aside rocks and rescued them, stretching branches into rope-like
tendrils
before D'Compose could reach them.
(Inhumanoids#3) - Safe above ground, Earth Corps
sought the Redwoods' help, but Redlen declared the first war was fought
with magic, now it is fought with machines. Mystically chanting,
branches and plant needles wove together and the Redwoods revealed the
nefarious Metlar's location deep underground. The Redwoods then went
silent and Earth Corps left to stop Metlar.
Comments:
Marvel version created by Jim Salicrup, James W. Fry, Joe DelBeato.
Adapted from Flint Dille's work
(original screenplay).
At one point, Redlen is called Redlan by Earth Corps
member Liquidator. I'll put that down to an accent or
mispronunciation...?
Unfortunately, The
Inhumanoids
comic series, published under Marvel's Star Comics imprint (despite
stating "to be continued!"), ended there
without resolution, but is (mostly) an adaptation of the animated
series five-episode storyline "The Evil That Lies Within" by Flint
Dille (original screenplay), wherein the Inhumanoids are eventually
neutralized. I'd hazard a guess
that the expected fifth issue has unfinished (and unpublished) artwork
out there.
The original Inhumanoids cartoon had a
wide array of characters (see the Wikipedia page),
some not included in the comic, and included action figures.
It seems that Hasbro hoped to revive the Inhumanoids
as part of their combined universe (with G.I.Joe, Transformers, etc.),
but discovered they apparently no longer held the rights to the
characters or name.
In real life, redwood trees (or sequoioideae)
are coniferous trees that include the largest and tallest trees in the
world.
Profile
by Grendel
Prime.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Redwoods have no known connections to:
- any other "Redwood" characters/races
Redlen
Redlen was the leader of the Redwoods, who fought the
dire Inhumanoids (D'Compose, Tendril and Metlar). Redlen was among the
Redwoods guarding D'Compose, which had become trapped in amber, but in
the current era, humans unwittingly transported away the monster and he
escaped with Tendril. Heroic Earth Corps member Dr. John Slattery
(a.k.a. Liquidator) went to the forest to investigate, but was
confronted by Redlen. Liquidator declared human naivety in
unintentionally freeing D'Compose. This gave Redlen pause and the trees
chanted a mystical wind-like tune that revealed Liquidator's thoughts
as pure. Surrounding him in a mist-like reverie, Redlen revealed the
war-fraught history between the Mutores and Inhumanoids. Later, Redlen
rescued Earth Corps when they were trapped by D'Compose underground and
afterward mystically showed them where the nefarious Metlar was located
deep underground.
--Inhumanoids#1 (2-4
images: (without ads)
Inhumanoids#2, p9, pan3 (main image)
Inhumanoids#1, p3, pan6 (eyes glaring at humans)
Inhumanoids#2, p18, pan3-4 (mist test)
Inhumanoids#2, p18, pan5 (Redlen, main)
Inhumanoids#3, p13, pan4 (Redlen tendrils "Redlan!")
Appearances:
Inhumanoids#1 (January, 1987) - Jim Salicrup (writer), James W. Fry
(pencils), Joe DelBeato (inks), Eliot Brown (editor)
Inhumanoids#2 (March, 1987) - Jim Salicrup (writer), James W. Fry
(pencils), Joe DelBeato (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Inhumanoids#3 (May, 1987) - Jim Salicrup (writer), Jose Delbo
(pencils), Art Thibert (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Inhumanoids#4 (July, 1987) - Jim Salicrup (writer), Carmine Infantino
(pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
First Posted: 04/25/2025
Last updated: 04/25/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let
me know.
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