The Great Machine
L'EMPEREUR DU MONDE SOUTERRAIN
Real Name: Rene
(last name unrevealed)
Identity/Class: Human
Occupation:
Would-be supervillain
Group Membership:
Led army of rock creatures
Affiliations: Louise
(fiancee, last name unrevealed), rock creatures
Enemies:
Les Heroes de Paris
(Adamantine, Anais, Comte de Nuit, le Cowboy, Detective Fantome, le
Docteur Q, la Lumiere Bleue, le Vent); Thing (Ben Grimm)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations:
Paris, France
First Appearance:
Fantastic Four III#541 (November, 2006)
Powers/Abilities:
L'Empereur du Monde
Souterrain did not appear to possess any superhuman powers but wore a
headband that allowed him to control an army of subterranean rock
creatures. He also used the Great
Machine to burrow through underground rock and stone.
Height: (by
approximation): 5'7"
Weight: (by approximation): 200 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
History:
(Fantastic Four III#541 (fb) - BTS) - Rene, l'Empereur du Monde Souterrain, was turned down for a date by Louise. Determined to win Louise back and gain revenge for being dumped, l'Empereur du Monde Souterrain wrote a letter to Louise, promising to destroy the entire city of Paris, all for her love. Shortly thereafter, l'Empereur gathered togethered an army of subterranean rock creatures and the French superhero team, les Heroes de Paris, learned of l'Empereur's plans.
(Fantastic Four III#541) - L'Empereur du Monde Souterrain commanded his army of rock creatures toward the center of Paris using a series of underground tunnels and caves. Having recruited the American hero, the Thing, to aid them against l'Empereur, les Heroes de Paris arrived to halt l'Empereur's progress. Le Vent eventually managed to hurl the Thing onto l'Empereur's Great Machine, where l'Empereur announced that Paris deserved to fall and be destroyed for giving nothing but pain and disappointment. Looking face-to-face at l'Empereur, the Thing asked if l'Empereur had been turned down for a date, to which l'Empereur sadly replied yes. The Thing then explained that just because l'Empereur du Monde Souterrain was heartbroken did not mean he could go around destroying cities. The Thing then destroyed l'Empereur's Great Machine, causing a cave-in that les Heroes de Paris narrowly escaped. Shortly thereafter, the Thing brought l'Empereur from the rubble and, back above ground, l'Empereur was met by Louise, who could not believe that Rene had done all he had promised in the letter. More in love with Louise than ever, Rene proposed marriage to Louise, who accepted.
Comments: Created by J. Michael Straczynski, Mike McKone, Andy Lanning, Kris Justice and Cam Smith.
It was not clear if Rene was
l'Empereur du Monde
Souterrain prior to Louise's dumping of him or if he took on the
villainous identity after being dumped. His plot to destroy Paris was
certainly instigated by the dumping, but he could've been a supervillain
before choosing to destroy Paris.
Profile by Proto-Man.
CLARIFICATIONS:
L'Empereur du Monde Souterrain has no known connections to
The Great Machine was a gigantic burrowing machine used by
l'Empereur du Monde Souterrain. During his attack on Paris, l'Empereur
used the Great Machine to burrow underneath Paris but the Machine was
eventually destroyed by the Thing, causing a cave-in that buried the
Machine under tons of rubble.
Louise was a woman whom l'Empereur du Monde Souterrain wanted
to
date, but she turned him down. Angry, l'Empereur wrote a letter to
Louise promising to destroy Paris for her love. Upon l'Empereur's
defeat at the hands of the Thing, Louise came running up to l'Empereur,
explaining that she did not believe he could attempt to destroy Paris
to prove his love for her. Louise then professed her love for
l'Empereur, who proposed marriage to Louise. Louise happily accepted.
--Fantastic Four III#541
images:
(without ads)
Fantastic Four III#541, p20, pan5 (main
image)
Fantastic Four III#541, p17, pan4 (headshot)
Fantastic Four III#541, p16, pan1 (Great Machine)
Fantastic Four III#541, p21, pan2 (Louise)
Appearances:
Fantastic Four III#541 (November,
2006) - J. Michael Straczynski (writer), Mike McKone (pencils), Andy
Lanning, Kris Justice, Cam Smith (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Last updated: 08/22/14
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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