KOR
Real Name: Kor
Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (race unknown, see comments); (1950s)
Occupation: Possible explorer
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: None
Enemies: Mason
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: An unidentified tropical island on Earth; originally from another unidentified planet
First Appearance: Mystery Tales#45/3 (September, 1956)
Powers/Abilities: Although appearing human, Kor was an alien who was amphibious, having both lungs and gills, which allowed him to breathe on land and in water.
Kor was also equipped with a spaceship that was capable of interstellar travel before it ran out of fuel and crashed.
History: (Mystery Tales#45/3 - BTS) - Kor was traveling through space when his ship ran out of fuel, forcing him to crash-land on a tropical island on Earth.
(Mystery Tales#45/3) - Kor's arrival was seen by Mason and the island's inhabitants. The superstitious natives were frightened by the fiery crash, thinking that perhaps their gods were angry. But Mason ordered them back to the pearl beds, where he made them search for pearls for him, and even punched one of them for good measure.
The peaceful Kor emerged from the jungle and introduced himself, then asked Mason if it was really necessary for him to strike the man. Kor showed Mason his wrecked spacecraft, although Mason didn't believe that he was really from another world. But Mason made it clear to Kor that he was the boss of the island.
After two weeks on the island, Kor felt pity for the natives, whom Mason mercilessly bullied to work and scavenge for pearls. Kor spoke to Mason about this, and Mason angrily threatened Kor; but not liking violence, Kor refused to fight Mason because it was not the solution.
Although the natives liked and respected Kor, they feared Mason more. But Mason saw potential problems being caused by Kor's presence, so he decided to do something about it. Figuring that because the sea was the natives' whole world and they would admire a man who was at home in it, Mason challenged Kor to a contest -- the two men would dive for pearls in front of the natives to show them who could stay down the longest. Although Kor was reluctant to accept Mason's challenge ("The contest isn't fair, but..."), he eventually acquiesced.
The two dived into the water and began collecting shells, but then Mason swam over to Kor and held him down -- he figured that when the natives had to haul Kor out half-drowned, they would lose all respect for him.
After two minutes underwater, Mason's lungs were ready to burst. Just as he thought Kor had finally passed out, Mason saw that Kor was still fine despite the time they had both been underwater.
As Mason blacked out, Kor carried him out of the water and back to the natives. When he revived onshore, Mason saw that his reign on the island was over, but he asked Kor how he was able to survive without air for so long. Kor explained to him that on his home planet, there was no land, but nature had been kind and had also given Kor's people gills! (Kor: "I said that the contest wasn't fair, Mason!").
Comments: Created by an unknown writer and Robert Q. Sale.
I'd speculate that perhaps Kor was a member of the Monster from the Lost Lagoon's race, the Quon -- the Monster and his mate both used a potion that gave them human forms, so perhaps Kor used the same potion so his appearance wouldn't frighten the inhabitants of Earth.
Kor could be a member of the human looking amphibious Venusians like Timely Comics' Queen Jarna & her Lavarites (Marvel Mystery Comics#25-26 (11-12/41) Sub-Mariner story) and/or Vanza (a Venusian in Daring Comics#10 (Winter 44-45 ) Sub-Mariner story.
...and they
could all be from a colony that is linked to the race of water-breathing
Caucasians whose War Council member ruler (page 5 panel 6), delegate( page 6
panel 1), and military is seen among the Legions of the Sea (page 30 panel 7
---named by Namor)[ Human Torch#5b( Fall/41)].
The
Queen of the
Sub-Sea Realm could be linked to them also (perhaps she comes from a
different colony or she might be an exile).
--John Holstein
And a BIG Thank You to Wolfs-Head Comics for scanning this story for me!
Profile by John Kaminski
CLARIFICATIONS:
Kor has no known connections to:
Mason has no known connections to:
Mason ruled over the natives of a tropical island with an iron fist, making them dive for pearls. He claimed he could outdive, outswim, and outfight any other man on the island. When the alien Kor's spaceship crashed on the island, Kor began to get the respect of the natives; Mason saw that as a threat to his rule, so he challenged Kor to a contest, but it didn't turn out the way he wanted.
--Mystery Tales#45/3
images:
Mystery Tales#45/3, p4, pan2 (main image)
Mystery Tales#45/3, p4, pan6 (head shot)
Mystery Tales#45/3, p2, pan3 (body shot)
Mystery Tales#45/3, p3, pan1 (Mason)
Appearances:
Mystery Tales#45 (September, 1956)
First Posted: 05/26/2007
Last updated: 03/30/2014
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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