archeopteryxarcheopteryx
Real Name: None
Identity/Class: Terrestrial bird-like
dinosaur;
active circa 150
million years B.C.
Occupation: Predator
Group Membership:
Affiliations: None
Enemies: A pair
of compsognathuses (or compsognathi), lightning
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: A lagoon in what is now
Bavaria, Germany
First Appearance: Dinosaurs, A Celebration: Volume One, Terrible Claws and Tyrants, first story (October, 1992)
Powers/Abilities:
The archeopteryx had wings and could glide and fly, although apparently
not well, but at least fast enough to overtake a dragonfly. It's wings
had claws extending from the terminal aspects of its phalanges.
It had a long, bony tail.
It had a beak with sharp teeth that could be used to catch and crush the exoskeleton of small prey.
Its feet ended in talons that
could be used to perch in small trees, walk or run quickly on the
ground and presumably to catch somewhat larger prey. It could also use
its talons to climb tree trunks.
History:
(Dinosaurs, A Celebration: Volume One, Terrible
Claws and Tyrants, first story) <150 million years ago> - As a
storm approached from a distance, the archeopteryx spotted a dragonfly,
after which it hungrily leapt from the tree branch.
Flying a little higher into the air, it then dove down, snatched the dragonfly into the air and crushed it with its teeth.
However, shortly after it alighted on the ground, a pair of compsognathus emerged from the shrubs and pursued the archeopteryx, intending to make it their prey.
The larger dinosaurs closed
in on the archeopteryx as it fled on foot until it reached a pool of
poisonous, alkaline salt water, at which point it leapt into the air
and took off, while its not-flighted pursuers raced around the water
after it.
Reaching a tree trunk, the archeopteryx climbed to a tree branch, and the compsognathi gave up and sought out new prey.
The storm reached the area soon
after, and rain poured down on the archeopteryx before light bolt
struck the tree.
|
The stunned archeopteryx
was knocked both unconscious and out of the tree by the
explosive
static charge, and it landed in the water where it swiftly
became
waterlogged and then drowned before sinking into the water. Within hours, the already dead bird-lizard was already disappearing under a fine layer of lime. Over the succeeding millions of years, it presumably left behind fossilized remains (see comments). |
I suspect the position of the archeopteryx's corpse was meant to mimic some archeopteryx fossil, perhaps the Berlin one. I'm not sure.
Dinosaurs, A
Celebration was an educational comic, with detailed discussions of
various types of dinosaurs separated by short stories about dinosaurs.
I read the first couple entries, which were very interesting, but I
figure the information is 30+ years out of date, and there are so many
new discovers and classifications.
As a
creator-owned story, this was more likely meant to represent the real
world (Earth-1218), rather than any super hero or other fictional
reality. However, there is also nothing to contradict it from having
occurred on Earth-616, so I am not going to designate an alternate
reality.
This profile was
completed 05/01/2025, but its publication was delayed as it was intended
for the Appendix 25th anniversary's celebratory event.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
The archeopteryx in this story should be
distinguished from:
First posted: 09/11/2026
Last updated: 05/01/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and
� 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you
like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com
Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!
