CENTAURON

Real Name: Centauron

Identity/Class: Genetically engineered animal

Occupation: None

Group Membership: Changelings (Centauria, Centaurio, Leoninus, Minotaurus, Neptunus, Siren, Viperus, Woodgod)

Affiliations: Centauria, Centaurio, Rick Jones, Minotaurus, Neptunus, Betty Ross, Siren, Fred Sloan, Woodgod

Enemies: Leoninus, General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross

Known Relatives: Centaurio (father), Centauria (mother)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: The Changelings' mountain village hideout in Colorado, USA

First Appearance: Incredible Hulk II#249 (July, 1980)

Powers/Abilities: Centauron had a centaur-like body in which his lower torso resembled that of a horse, including four hooved feet and a tail. His strength and endurance were higher than those of a human.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 8'1")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 1400 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Orange-brown with brown mane

History:

(Incredible Hulk II#252 (fb)) - The genetically engineered being Woodgod, lonely as the only one of his kind, used the research notes left behind by his father to create beings similar to himself, altering animals into roughly humanoid forms and dubbing them Changelings. Centauron was created from a normal horse and he was among the first of the Changelings; his parents Centaurio and Centauria were likewise transformed into Changelings. Centauron was considered a "young" Changeling compared to his peers. He dwelled with them in their hideout in the Colorado mountains, far from human eyes.

(Incredible Hulk II#252 (fb) - BTS) - When the Changeling Viperus went missing, Centauron joined the search party and ventured into the Colorado woods in search of his fellow Changeling.

(Incredible Hulk II#248 - BTS) - While wandering through the woods of Colorado Centauron had the mistfortune to be spotted by the trigger-happy General Thaddeus Ross, who was looking for the Hulk. Ross shot Centauron but Centauron fled before Ross could get a good look at him.

(Incredible Hulk II#249) - Wounded and bleeding badly, Centauron shambled into a cabin inhabited by Rick Jones, Fred Sloan and Betty Ross.

(Incredible Hulk II#251) - Before Rick, Fred and Betty could move to help Centauron, Woodgod entered the cabin and insisted only another of Centauron's own kind could assist him. When General Ross and Doc Samson came to the cabin, Woodgod took Ross as a prisoner along with Rick, Fred and Betty.

(Incredible Hulk II#252) - Woodgod and the other Changelings loaded Centauron aboard a wagon where Neptunus tended to his care while they returned to their home. Neptunus was afraid Centauron would die from his wounds. Arriving back in their village hideout, Woodgod tended to Centauron's wounds with his best scientific knowledge. As Siren was bringing a healing potion to Woodgod, Leoninus distracted her and dropped poison into the potion. When Woodgod administered the poisoned potion to Centauron, it accelerated his decline, poisoning him to death. Leoninus used Centauron's death as an attempt to justify displacing Woodgod as the Changelings' leader, claiming his human heritage made him unlike the other Changelings.

(Incredible Hulk II#253) - Centauron's lifeless body remained in the village as Woodgod fought the Changelings who sided with Leoninus. When Siren realized Leoninus must have poisoned the potion she brought for Centauron, most of the Changelings turned against Leoninus, including Centaurio and Centauria, who mourned the loss of their son.

Comments: Created by Bill Mantlo and Steve Ditko.

    Although General Ross was seen firing his gun in Incredible Hulk II#248, his target wasn't seen; Centauron then appeared in the following issue, wounded; it took two more months for Betty, Fred and Rick to react to him entering the cabin, and a few more pages to confirm he's who Ross had shot at. Marvel-time is a funny thing!

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Centauron should not be confused with:

• CENTAURAN race - residents of Centaurus, create and/or transform things with a thought, levitate, multiple tentacles and two antennae--Mystery Tales#15
• CENTAURAN race - orange skinned, space-faring extraterrestrials--Tales of Suspense I#45
• CENTAURI (Centaurus, Karsh(d) ) - Microverse, quadrupedal humanoid equines, allied with Shaitan against Aegypta--Micronauts I#22/2
• CENTAURIA - Microverse, Death Squad, female centaur--Micronauts I#35
• CENTAURION - Olympian demi-god, agent of Bellona, sent to battle Kyllian, defeated by him--Dr. Strange III#54/2
• CENTAURIAN race - blue skinned humanoids, red dorsal fin, tribal, worship elemental spirits, use Yaka arrows--Marvel Super-Heroes II#18
• CENTAURIUS - Inhuman--Inhumans I#1
• CENTAURS - Olympian creatures--Journey into Mystery Annual I#1
• or any other 'Centauron'