CAPTAIN STYX

Real Name: Styx

Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial

Occupation: Space raider, pirate, ship's first officer

Group Membership: Thanos-Thralls, Nebula's space pirates

Affiliations: Nebula, Thanos

Enemies: None

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile in space aboard Sanctuary III

First Appearance: Silver Surfer III#38 (June, 1990)

Powers/Abilities: Captain Styx was an experienced starship commander. He had no visible mouth and possibly communicated through a form of telepathy.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 6')
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 170 lbs.)
Eyes: Black
Hair: Black

History:

(Silver Surfer III#38) - Styx was the first officer of Sanctuary III when the ship was under the command of Nebula. When Nebula's grandfather Thanos returned to Sanctuary III to reclaim it, he lit Nebula on fire. Addressing Styx, Thanos informed him the crew had a "holy mission" to destroy life and placed Styx in command of Sanctuary III during his absences. When the cosmic being Death summoned him, Thanos departed Sanctuary III with Styx in charge.

(Silver Surfer III#45) - After obtaining the six Infinity Gems, Thanos returned to Sanctuary III to check on the progress of Styx's "holy mission." Styx informed him that word of Thanos' return to life had spread throughout the stars and "every malcontent, pirate, merc, nihilist, psychotic and religious zealot in the galaxy" had rushed in to join his "flock." Styx was also pressing what he called "infidels" into Thanos' service, saying those people required "a little disciplinary reinforcement." Sanctuary III now included a massive fleet of warships and support vessels, which Styx boasted could "easily" take on most intergalactic forces and that no planetary defenses could stand against them.

    As Thanos had become virtually omnipotent, he had little use for the Thralls but told Captain Styx he'd make them his personal guard. Styx confessed many of the men in the armada had hoped for more active duty. To placate them, Thanos used the Infinity Gems to conjure up a massive pile of treasures to give to the men and cautioned Styx to never question one of his decisions again.

    Suddenly, Thanos sensed Nebula was still alive aboard Sanctuary III. He teleported himself and Captain Styx to where the ship's bosun Mantrax had hidden Nebula after Thanos lit her on fire. Thanos sensed Nebula's imminent death and used the Infinity Gems to restore her to life - as what was essentially a walking corpse. Thanos slew Mantrax for being loyal to Nebula, then the demon Mephisto appeared to speak with Thanos. Thanos ordered Captain Styx to find suitable quarters for Nebula on Sanctuary III, then attended to Mephisto's arrival.

Comments: Created by Jim Starlin and Ron Lim and Tom Christopher.

   

   

   

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Captain Styx should not be confused with:

images: (without ads)
Silver Surfer III#45, page 3, panel 2 (main)
Silver Surfer III#45, page 6, panel 3 (face)

Appearances:
Silver Surfer III#38 (June, 1990) - Jim Starlin (writer), Ron Lim (penciler), Tom Christopher (inker), Craig Anderson (editor)
Silver Surfer III#45 (January, 1991) - Jim Starlin (writer), Ron Lim (penciler), Tom Christopher (inker), Craig Anderson (editor)

First posted: 10/09/2026
Last updated: 09/28/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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