CONSTABLE
PRYOCONSTABLE
PRYO
Real Name: Pryo (it is unrevealed whether this is
his first name or surname, or if he even has more than one name)
Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (unrevealed race)
Occupation: Constable
Group Membership:
Constables/police force of Halvacenter
Affiliations: Reluctantly assisted Captain Marvel (Genis-Vell), Glib Arkanian, Steck'ee, Zoog
Enemies: Indirectly the
Magus;
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: The constabulary of Halvacenter, Calculex, unrevealed star system, unrevealed
galaxy
First Appearance: Captain Marvel IV#33 (August, 2002)
Powers/Abilities: A short and stocky man, Pryo
presumably had some combat training and carried various weapons.
He patrolled Halvacenter in a large vehicle, presumably armed with various weapons.
His threats of violence were presumably
backed up with technological weapons.
History:
(Captain
Marvel IV#33 (fb) - BTS) - Having been reduced to an immaterial
form after escaping the Soul Gem, the Magus (Adam Warlock's dark
aspect) traveled to Halvacenter on the planet Calculex and began
absorbing the life forces of others, taking that ephemeral energy and
converting it to the physical. The Magus slew hundreds, storing their
bodies in the
Pits (the old below-city power generator stations that were shut down
permanently once fusic energy came in) out of which he was
based.
Halvacenter's port city nature, where so many people came and
went, allowed so many disappearances to occur without being noticed.
Running out of space in the Pits, the Magus began discarding the corpses on the streets. Reva Centrella's corpse was recovered and identified by the local constabulary (despite it appearing to be severely dessicated or otherwise virtually unrecognizable); she was believed to have been the first victim of what became known as the "Lurky Man" (from a childish rhyme, "Look away, look in fright, the Lurky Man is coming tonight").
Her corpse was placed in a preservation
chamber, as were eleven others, subsequently slain and discovered.
Whether in response to the killings or
otherwise, a curfew was established in Halvacenter
Sensing that Captain Marvel (Genis-Vell) would investigate his murders and commune with Reva's spirit, the Magus sent a message along with instructions to meet him alone, and also told him that he had something Genis wanted: "Or rather...I will. And by now I do."
(Captain Marvel IV#33 (fb) - BTS) - The Magus
subsequently abducted Genis' friend
and sometime lover Steck'ee, and he included images of him with her in
the message for Genis, advising Genis that his cosmic awareness would
allow him to be aware of what he would do to Steck'ee if acted contrary
to his instructions.
(Captain Marvel IV#33 (fb) - BTS) - Having learned that the "Lurky Man" had abducted his friend and sometime lover Steck'ee, Captain Marvel (Genis-Vell) investigated, alongside his and Steck'ee's friends Zoog and Glib Arkanian.
(Captain Marvel IV#33) - Discovering this trio
in the city while on patrol in his giant vehicle, Pryo shone a bright
light and used his loudspeaker, informing them that they were in
violation of curfew and commanding them to step back with your hands in
the air "or you will be rendered less
alive than you are at present!"
He continued, "By order of Constable Pryo...which would be me...you will state your name and reason for being out here, or you will suffer the consequences."
After Genis replied that he was Captain Marvel and was looking for someone in authority so he could help with their serial killer problem, Pryo was surprised to hear the name and responded, "Are you smoking me?" When Genis reaffirmed his identity, Pryo told him that he thought he would be taller...and deader.
After Pryo questioned his claim to be the famous
Kree warrior while looking decidely un-"Kree-ish" (as Genis had a
"cosmic awareness" face, with his skin mimicking space, including
stellar patterns), Genis clarified that he was the son of that warrior
and identified himself as Genis-Vell. The name sounded familiar to
Pryo, who noted his record of crimes including drunk and disorderly,
public drunkeness, stim abuse and non-payment of rent and then added
that his possessions had been confiscated by the state.
Pryo then questioned whether Genis' new con was
to pretend to be his father and to be a hero, and when Genis asserted
that he was a hero, Pryo asked if he had any idea how ridiculous that
sounded. Confirming that he considered that every day of his life,
Genis asked Pryo if he wanted his help or not.
Pryo responded, "A kra-vaat (Calculus slang meaning jerk or perhaps @$$holelike) you is going...is going to help me? Don't make me laugh."
Genis retorted that bodies were piling up and
people were fleeing Halvacenter like it was a plague city, asking if
those things did make Pryo laugh. He continued that they had a killer
walking the streets, and, as far as he could tell, the constabulary had
done nothing to capture him. After Genis sarcastically questioned
whether the investigation was going so well that they could afford to
turn down any offer to help, Pryo considered a moment before asking
what he thought he could do, and Genis told him that he wanted to see
the bodies.
After Pryo brought Genis and his friends to the constabulary's morgue containing the bodies of the victims they had collected, Genis spoke verbally to Rick Jones, with whom he was telepathically connected. Pryo questioned whether Genis was talking to him, and when Genis told him it was a long story with which he did not want to bore him, Pryo replied," Good."
Pryo then showed Genis the dessicated corpse of
Reva Centrella, noting her to be the first of the victims of the
individual being referred to as the Lurky Man and explaining that name
as being from a childish rhyme that the "vidhoppers" used because they
felt they needed to call him something for their broadcasts; "Apparently
'murderer' isn't sufficient."
When he showed Genis a picture of Reva from when she was still living,
he noted that he would not have recognized her without having been
told. After Pryo added that there had been eleven subsequent victims,
all in the same condition, Genis told him to open her stasis tube. Pryo
asked why, and Genis told him to just do it, and Pryo complied.
As Genis used his cosmic awareness to commune
with Reva's spirit, projecting glowing light into her face, Pryo
started to insist that he cease at once, at which point the glowing
face Reva sat up, shocking Pryo and the others; Pryo exclaimed, "Flark!"
(Captain Marvel IV#33 - BTS) - Genis then witnessed Reva's demise and received the Magus' message.
(Captain Marvel IV#33) - After recovering,
Genis noted the killer was in the Pits and indeed had Steck'ee. As he
prepared to depart, Pryo told him that this was an official matter and
that he could not just let him...but Genis cut him off, telling him
that he could not stop him. When Pryo asked who he was going after,
Genis told him it was the Magus, the evil future self of Adam Warlock.
(Captain Marvel IV#34 -
BTS) - Genis temporarily defeated the Magus and rescued Steck'ee.
Comments: Created by Peter David and ChrisCross.
I'd like to know more about
Pryo and his race, but falling Peter David's tragic passing, I doubt
that it forthcoming.
This profile was
completed 05/26/2025, but its publication was delayed as it was intended
for the Appendix 25th anniversary's celebratory event.
Profile by Snood.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Constable Pryo should be distinguished from:
 
Constable
Pryo drove around Calculex in this large vehicle, which
appeared to have three tires on each side. It could project bright lights and project his voice in a loud and commanding manner. Pryo exited the vehicle via a descending ramp. It likely had various offensive and defensive capabilities. --Captain Marvel IV#33 |
 |
First posted: 09/06/2026
Last updated: 05/26/2025
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel
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