VALTORR

Real Name: Valtorr

Identity/Class: Extradimensional magic user

Occupation: Mystic entity

Group Membership: Octessence (Balthakk, Cyttorak, Farallah, Krakkan, Ikonn, Raggadorr, Watoomb)

Affiliations: Decay (Yoshiro Hachiman);
    invoked by the Ancient One, Baron Mordo, Cyrus Black, Clea, Doctor Strange, Howard the Duck, Tiboro and presumably other mystics;
    presumably Oshtur;
    see also the Catalogue of Correspondences for Oshtur from Ian McNee's reading of the First Tarot

Enemies: Unrevealed;
    spells used against numerous beings

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Valtor, Valthorr

Base of Operations: Extradimensional realm;
    possibly active on Earth in what would become the modern Taiwan.

First Appearance: (Invoked in-story) "Vapors of Valtorr" Strange Tales I#115 (December, 1963);
    "Vipers of Valtorr" invoked Strange Tales I#144 (May, 1966)
    (Seen) Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme#49 (January, 1993)

Powers/Abilities: The full extent of Valtorr's power remains unknown. Valtorr is an entity who grants magical power to those who invoke him, typically in spells. He typically adopts forms of and/or grants power in the form of gas ("Vapors of Valtorr") or snakes ("Vipers of Valtorr").

History: Valtorr 's origins are unrevealed. He was likely worshipped at some point on Earth, though whether he is closer to god or demon is open to speculation.

(Iron Man III#22 (fb)) - <Millennia ago> Eight great mystics, including Valtorr, gathered, and a disagreement arose as to which was the most powerful. To settle the argument, they entered into the Wager of the Octessence: Each created a totem, with each totem holding a fraction of its creator's vast power and possessing the ability to transform the first human who touched it into an Exemplar, a living embodiment of that power.

(Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme#48 - BTS) - As many other omnipotent beings, Valtorr was involved in the War of the Seven Spheres, a cyclic conflict between magic entities which would endure for 5000 years.

(Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme#49) - Valtorr was invoked by Dr. Strange and appeared before him alongside a number of other mystic beings, each of whom wanted to enlist Strange as a weapon in the War of the Seven Spheres, appealing to the Protocols of Servitude. To escape his would be controllers,  Strange pronounced the Enchantment of Emancipation, refusing to serve Valtorr or any other being in their war. 

(Iron Man III#22) - Yoshiro Hachiman followed a calling to the Temple of Valtorr in Tahiti, where he found the Verdant Vial of Valtorr, which transformed him into the Exemplar Decay.

Comments: "Vapors of Valtorr," and "Vipers of Valtorr" created by Stan Lee.
    Whirlwind form revealed by Len Kaminski, Geof Isherwoood, Bob Petrecca & Don Hudson (inks).
    Serpentine form revealed by Kurt Busiek & Roger Stern, Sean Chen, Rob Hunter, Rags Morales, Nelson & Eric Cannon..

    Valtorr could be considered Behind-the-Scenes in all of Decay's appearances, but I'll refer you to Decay's profile for that information.

    Writers say "millennia" all the time, as if they were really an ancient time. It's possible that it was hundreds of thousands of years ago, or even millions or billions.

Per David Sexton:

1. Entities can steal energy from an unwilling source by consuming the source entirely or by draining a portion of energy from the source. This exchange is one-way. The entity takes energy.
2. Entities can be given spiritual energy unconditionally in the form of worship. Statements of worship come in the, "I believe..." format. Worshippers may also petition for favors, etc., but this form of prayer is an affirmation of their belief and of the entities existence. The worshippers expect nothing in return. This exchange is also one way. The entity is given energy. 
3. An entity may grant energy to a petitioner in answer to an invocation or prayer. The mere act of being asked gives the entity power and so to encourage this action, some spiritual beings will grant power to an individual who invokes their name in the proper way. The entity may chose to ignore the request. I would theorize that the spiritual energy or "mystic potential" present in the petitioner plays a part in how often requests are granted. The invocation or prayers of an individual who has large amounts of spiritual energy would provide the entity with a more enticing exchange and they would be more inclined to answer them.

    Invoking powerful Entities to bolster and strengthen defenses, attacks, purposes and so on is quite logical. It could happen not only when a long verbal formula is spelled, but also with simple exclamations like "By the Fangs of Faralloh!" or "...by the fetters of red Cytorakk...".
    An incomplete list of Valtorr's invocations is reported below. The invocations of the Vapors of Valtorr, the Vipers of Valtorr and the Valtorr's Stings are reported in their relative spell profiles.

Doctor Strange I#180: Banishment (Abjuration)

By Hoggoth's grim clan,
by Valtorr's dread clime --
let arms and their man
now fade from this time!

By Faltine and Ikonn and dark Valtorr,
by Seraphim, Denak and Raggadorr--
by Dormammu, Watoomb and Cyttorak--
Agamotto be now hurled back!

Doctor Strange Sorcerer Supreme#48: Banishment (Abjuration)

Creatures wholly abhorrent to sight,
you err when you stray so far from the night.
To the void with you I do banish
before this world hears your discordant song.
By Valtorr, Cyttorak, and Satannish
I command thee hastily to -- begone!

Doctor Strange Sorcerer Supreme#49: Emancipation Incantation (Abjuration)

Satannish, Watoomb and Raggadorr Ikonn, the Seraphim and Cyttorak Agamotto, Oshtur and Muniporr Hoggoth, the Faltine, Valtorr and Denak! Those whom I named plus other I'v omitted whose who threatened my cherished liberty hark to this irrevocable decree: such enslavement will not be permitted your claims on my person I now reject all demands of servitude I must deny for your wisdom and might I've the utmost respect but the price for its use is far too high better the path I walk be mine alone hear now these words: let my fate be my own!

Defenders I#82: Exclamation: Valtorr's eyes!

Marvel Super Heroes III#14: Banish wraiths (Abjuration)

By Hoggoth's ever-grim host--
by Valtorr's dreaded clime--
let yonder ebony ghosts
now fade from out this time!

Marvel Super Heroes III#11: Strange dispelled a previous enchantment (Abjuration)

By the Vapors of great Valtorr,
which do all things conceal--
now let our forms congeal!  [spell...]
...
O, Valtorr, bathe us into thy ken--
and let us stand once more as men. [...dispel]

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Valtorr has no KNOWN connections to:

• Any other character with a similar name.

Images:
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme#49, p16, panel 2 (vapor form)
Iron Man III#22, p17, panel 5 (viper form)

Appearances:
Strange Tales I#115 (December, 1963) - Stan Lee (co-plot, dialogue, editor), Dick Ayers (co-plot, script), Dick Ayers (pencils), Dick Ayers (inks).
Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme#49 (January, 1993) - Len Kaminski (write), Geof Isherwood (pencils), Bob Petrecca & Don Hudson (inks), Mike Rockwitz (editor)
Iron Man III#22 (November, 1999) - Kurt Busiek & Roger Stern (writers), Sean Chen (pencils), Rob Hunter, Rags Morales, Nelson & Eric Cannon (inks), Bobbie Chase (editor)

First Posted: 10/24/2007
Updated: 05/31/2011
Updated: 12/14/2017
Updated: 07/30/2018
Last updated: 05/17/2021

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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