dakimh-enchanter-ohotmude-main DAKIMH the ENCHANTERdakimh-enchanter-ohotmude-face

Real Name: Dakimh

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Land Between Night and Day) human spirit; magic-user;
    pre-Cataclysmic era, Hyborian era, modern era (and presumably all era in between, although only those confirmed/shown are listed)

    former citizen of unspecified location in the Thurian continent;
    former citizen of pre-Cataclysmic Atlantis

Occupation: Wizard, guardian of the Multiverse;
    former trainer of Jennifer Kale;
    former disciple to Zhered-Na

Group Membership: Formerly the Cult of Zhered-Na;

Affiliations: 2-2-2-2, Agamotto, Chris Claremont, Steve Gerber, Mr. Graybar, Agatha Harkness, Howard the Duck, humanity in general, Jennifer Kale, Khalid Inshallah, Korrek, Maftra, Man-Thing (Ted Sallis), Margali of the Winding Way, Mechamage, NAAC-P30, Jules St. Thomas, Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff), Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Valka, Zhered-Na, Zokk;
    formerly acted as an associate with the king of Sandt and Mongu;
    limited association with the Assemblage of Avatars (Akoos the Red Wizard, Lady Linnea, Rotath, Sorrow, Teyanoga, Thulsa Doom, Tuzun Thune, Lord Varnae (still human at the time), and the spirit of C'Thunda);
    posed as an ally of the emperor of Sandt and Mongu;
    presumably Andy the Angel, Chirreep, Hemlock Shoals, Master C'haaj, Claude Starkowski (see comments);
    he invoked Ergard (Moons of Ergard) and Maalock for power; the true natures of these places/beings/whatever are unrevealed

Enemies: Bzzk'Joh, Congress of Realities, demons of Sominus, D'Spayre, Roland Duhl, Dweller-in-Darkness, Ego, guardian of the dark domain, Kidney Lady, Klonus, the Kree race, Mortak, Danielle Nicolle, Scavenger (Robert Nicolle), Tai (indirectly), Thog, Yopp (indirectly);
    presumably the Band of the Bland (Black Hole/Morton Kribbee, Sitting Bullseye/Oliver Bedwette, Spanker/Fred Hovel, Tillie the Hun/Matilda von Tromp), le Beaver (Pierre Dentfris), Black Talon (Thibodaux Boudreaux), Brotherhood of Evil Prepositions (Amonger, Arounder, Betweener, Of, Underneather, Withiner), Dr. Angst (Floyd Mangles), Galactongue, Jackpot, Jokester, Greedy Killerwatt, Kong Lomerate, Maller, Pro-Rata, Puffin, Quizling, and Wally Sidney (see comments)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Dave (as bartender at McSharran's Pub, Manhattan)
    "Whiskers" (nickname from Howard the Duck);
    "Gran'pa" (nickname from Spider-Man when he could only see Dakimh's illusory self)

Place of Birth: Atlantis

Place of Death: Citrusville, Florida

Base of Operations: His Castle in the Sky in the Land Between Night and Day dimension; Therea;
    his corpse was buried on the outskirts of the swamp outside Citrusville, Florida;
    formerly Sandt;
    formerly unspecified location in the Thurian continent;
    formerly Atlantis;

First Appearance: (Adventure into) Fear#14 (June, 1973)

Powers/Abilities: Once one of Earth's most powerful sorcerers, Dakimh derived power from three sources: Egocentric magic, personal powers of the soul, body, and mind derived from developing one's psychic reserves (such as mesmerism and thought-casting); Ecocentric magic, powers gained by mentally tapping into ambient universe's magical energies and employing it for specific purposes; and Exocentric magic, powers gained through invoking mystic principalities, entities or objects of power, often existing in other dimensions.

    Dakimh possesses a greater knowledge and mastery of the mystic arts, surpassed notably by Earth's Sorcerer Supreme, at least, but few others; however, his memory and mental clarity faded somewhat in extreme age. He sometimes didn't think to perform an action that could have protected his allies until after the fact. He is of genius intellect, although he is somewhat eccentric.
    He specifically followed the training of Zhered-Na, although this training and this form of magical practice is poorly defined. He is also a practitioner of pre-Cataclysmic Atlantean alchemy and has some knowledge of medical treatments.

    Dakimh has only demonstrated a few abilities, but these are likely a fraction of his powers. He can project mystical bolts of force, form protective shields, transform matter, communicate telepathically, mesmerize others, cast illusions, form life-draining energy cages around others, and transport himself and others across space and/or between dimensions. At least under some circumstances, he can grant his allies wings to enable them to travel swiftly through a realm.
    He can form a white whirlwind to engulf demons (at least) within a certain range and banish them back to their native realm; it is unrevealed whether he could send large numbers demons or other beings to any location of his choosing.
    One at least one occasion, when Jennifer Kale was imprisoned in another dimension, he caused her to seemingly melt into water that then poured from the ceiling within his Castle, reforming her from the toes up as it hit the ground.
    Dakimh trained Jennifer Kale how to mystically bind a defeated opponent in a cocoon and then to banish such cocoons and their occupants to the "dark reaches of space"; presumably he could perform this feat as well.
    He was experienced with crystallomancy, experiencing visions via viewing through a mystic crystal.
    Dakimh lived for over 20,000 years, aging very slowly, presumably via mystic enhancement via Zhered-Na.
    At least in extreme age, he did not demonstrate any significant physical abilities and was relatively physically weak, slow, and frail

    Dakimh possesses an extensive occult library containing numerous tomes of mystic knowledge. He can research matters further in his library, although this can be time-consuming.

    He possesses various magical artifacts, such as his enchanted crystal, which allows him to see across dimensions and to glimpse the future. He can use his powers to cause the images of past and present events throughout the Multiverse to appear in his Waters of Eternity pool within his castle.

    Dakimh's Castle in the Sky and the landmass upon which it is located appear to float perpetually, not requiring his energies to maintain this position.

    Dakimh had access to the Epoch Weasel starship.

    Since the death of his mortal form, Dakimh can only remain on the material planes for limited time periods, although the amount of time he can spend on any one plane at any one time seasons to vary under unspecified circumstances. However, if he exceeds these limitations, his spirit would likely perish, preventing him from further accessing mortal planes.

Height: 5'8" (likely taller in his prime)
Weight: 145 lbs. (likely heavier in his prime); he may be immaterial as a spirit, although he seems to physically contact and interact with others, presumably indicating he can, at least temporarily, achieve solid form.
Eyes: Blue (they look pretty clearly brown in his first appearance, but Dakimh can certainly cast illusions)
Hair: White (likely darker in his prime)

History:

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z (hardcover) Vol. 7: Appendix: Magic (from the journals of Ian McNee) (fb) - BTS) - Around 19,000 BC when conflicts broke out again among the four surviving Elder Gods -- Chthon, Gaea, Oshtur, and Set -- Agamotto summoned their representatives to Atlantis for the legendary Assemblage of Avatars. The summit was attended by all the greatest sorcerers of the ancient era -- including Zhered-Na with her apprentice Dakimh, as well as Akoos the Red Wizard, Lady Linnea, Rotath, Sorrow, Teyanoga, Tuzun Thune, Thulsa Doom, Lord Varnae (still human at the time), and the spirit of C'Thunda -- but very little was accomplished.

((Adventure into) Fear#15 (fb) - BTS) - Dakimh was one of the residents of the Atlantean colony on the mainland Thurian continent.

((Adventure into) Fear#15 (fb)) - When sorceress-priestess Zhered-Na arrived on Thuria after being exiled from Atlantis, Dakimh was one of those gathered by her as her disciples in a cavern temple.

    From Zhered-Na, these disciples learned of her god, Valka. She told them of two spirit worlds lying at opposite ends of infinity: Therea, where the gods dwelled; and Sominus, dark domain of demons. While foretelling of the pending Cataclysm that would sink Atlantis, Zhered-Na warned them of a demon invasion that would occur long after, but advised them of a savior that would bear the aspect of a monster (she showed the a drawing of the Man-Thing, who would exist 20,000 years later).

((Adventure into) Fear#15 (fb) - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#16 / Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#33 (fb) - BTS) - Guided by Agamotto, Zhered-Na prepared Dakimh to carry on her fight, mystically extending his lifespan so that he aged at an extremely slow rate..

(Howard the Duck I#22 (fb) - BTS) - Dakimh purchased the Epoch Weasel from Atlantis R.V. Sales as its original owner.

((Adventure into) Fear#15 (fb)) - When the Cataclysm occurred and the Earth began to tremble, the disciples panicked, but Zhered-Na assured them that they had nothing to fear, as no harm would come to their land. However, the superstitious townspeople blamed the sorceress for causing the tremors, and they moved to slay her. As her killers rushed in, Zhered-Na told her disciples to flee so they could take her message to all of mankind.

    Zhered-Na was slain and her body and the temple were burned, and only a few disciples escaped, but they preserved her scrolls and her teachings.

((Adventure into) Fear#15 (fb) - BTS / Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#33 (fb) - BTS) - The last of the ancient disciples of Zhered-Na, Dakimh carried on her fight.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#16) - Dakimh made his base in the Castle in the Sky, a palace standing on ground floating in the air about a world in another dimension known as the Land Between Night and Day.

(Howard the Duck I#22 (fb) - BTS) - Dakimh kept the Epoch Weasel in a garage-like chamber within his Castle in the Sky in the Land between Night and Day.dakimh-enchanter-doc33-dspayre

(Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#33 (fb) - BTS) - Over the ensuing millennia, Dakimh engaged in many battles with D'Spayre, a creation of the Dweller-in-Darkness after his mystical imprisonment by Zhered-Na. Neither could ever quite gain the upper hand over the other, but each struggle enabled the Dweller to absorb a bit more fear, bringing him ever closer to the day of his release.

((Adventure into) Fear#15 (fb) - BTS) - By the modern age, only a single copy of the Tome of Zhered-Na remained in existence, protected by a spell to prevent even the demons from destroying it.

(Howard the Duck II#1/3 (fb) - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition#21: Dakimh / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Kidney Lady)  - Dakimh contended with the deranged witch known as the Kidney Lady, and their struggles were magically written in her mystic tome, The Human Kidney: Seat of the Soul," which listed her as an arch-foe of Dakimh.

(Man-Thing I#22 (fb)) - Seconds after Marvel editor Roy Thomas hired writer Steve Gerber to write the Man-Thing's stories for Marvel, Dakimh appeared to Gerber in his St. Louis apartment, telling Gerber he had been chosen by fate to play a crucial role in the destiny of the universe, and that he had been selected to guide Gerber. Advising Gerber that his words would share a story of great anguish and triumph, Dakimh explained that he would be Gerber's muse, sharing with him events affecting the "Man-Object," and together they would "paint a portrait of a man's innermost being." Gerber thought Dakimh crazy until he related the story of the Man-Thing's first encounter with the demon Thog , aka the Nether-Spawn (circa Fear#11).dakimh-enchanter-mti22-gerber

(Man-Thing I#22 (fb) - BTS) - Two months later, Dakimh appeared to Gerber in his new apartment in New York, telling him about the Man-Thing's encounter with Wallace Corlee and Mark Jackson (circa Fear#12).

((Adventure into) Fear#15 (fb) - BTS / Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#16) - As the time of the demon invasion approached, Dakimh resolved to test the power of the Man-Thing and the spirit of Jennifer Kale (granddaughter of the leader of a modern day Cult of Zhered-Na based near the swamps outside Citrusville, Florida) "were the ones."

((Adventure into) Fear#14) - As the modern-day Cult of Zhered-Na cast the spell to summon the Mists of Maalock to recover the Tome of Zhered-Na, Dakimh apparently guided the mists to summon the Man-Thing and Jennifer Kale (who were both in proximity to the site from which the Cult cast the spell) to the extradimensional realm Sandt where they were bound in mystic chains through which the Man-Thing could not ooze.

    Noting the Tome's absence from Earth no longer prevented netherworld demons from invading Earth, Dakimh told his prisoners they had to die, as the Man-Thing's nature threatened the demon invasion, and Jennifer's connection to the Man-Thing made her equally dangerous. Nonetheless, he gave them a chance at survival, if the Man-Thing could vanquish Sandt's champion in the arena.

    With a wink of his left eye, Dakimh then transported the Man-Thing to the center of the arena, and himself and Jennifer Kale to the special booth beside Sandt's emperor. Dakimh advised the king that the fearsome "man-object" should provide great sport, although he assured the king the creature would not be a match for their champion. When Jennifer argued that the Man-Thing would win, Dakimh explained that the creature could barely think and that it's only link with sanity was the girl in their possession. At the king's urging, the gladiator Mongu entered the arena, swiftly knocked down the witless Man-Thing, and then attempted to execute the creature. When Mongu became terrified and succumbed to the Man-Thing's burning touch upon finding the creature's swamp-like form unharmed, Dakimh convinced the emperor the wisest course of events would be to return the Man-Thing and Jennifer to Earth lest they suffer Mongu's fate. As Dakimh sent them back, Jennifer noticed and was curious about a glint in his eye...

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#16) - Dakimh was now convinced that the Man-Thing was the creature Zhered-Na had prophesied would act as a savior from the demons of Sominus and that Kale would be a worthy successor to Zhered-Na herself.

((Adventure into) Fear#15 (fb) - BTS) - As a group of residents of Citrusville, Florida assaulted the Man-Thing, Dakimh made it appear that the Man-Thing had perished in order to save his life.

((Adventure into) Fear#15) - Dakimh appeared before Jennifer Kale, revealing the nature and reasons for his deceptions, and telling her that he was taking them on a far trek to the farthest end of the cosmos to retrieve the Tome of Zhered-Na. When Jennifer questioned what she could do, Dakimh told her she could help if she dared; when she agreed to do whatever was needed, Dakimh transformed her garb to be that of a priestess (very similar to that of Zhered-Na's). As the Man-Thing revived, Jennifer asked if he/it understood, but Dakimh told her it mattered not, and he then transported them across the dimensional void. Finally, Dakimh led them into what appeared to be a burning orb, but once inside, he showed them the altar holding the Tome, which she only had to seize; however, he dared go no farther, advising Jennifer that she and the Man-Thing must do it alone.

    As Jennifer reached for the Tome, the tiny elf Yopp appeared, heralding the arrival of Sominus; the chamber's floor and walls crumbled to reveal the dark domain, a flaming realm wherein Jennifer's cult-leader grandfather, Joshua Kale, her brother, Andrew, and other cult members were bound. Dakimh was nowhere to be seen at this point.

((Adventure into) Fear#15 - BTS) - Jennifer eventually picked up the Tome, transporting herself and the other people in Sominus back to Earth, where the Man-Thing defeated the guardian of the dark domain, which seemingly ended the threat of the demon invasion as well as severing the Man-Thing's link to Jennifer.

(Man-Thing I#22 (fb) - BTS) - Dakimh materialized before Gerber again, telling him of the demon plague; by this time, Gerber's doubts had faded.

(Man-Thing I#22 (fb) - BTS) - Dakimh told Gerber of the Man-Thing's repeated encounters with the builder F.A. Schist who wanted to drain the swamp.

(Man-Thing I#22 (fb) - BTS) - Dakimh told Gerber of the Man-Things encounter with Wundarr (circa Fear#17).

((Adventure into) Fear#19 (fb) - BTS) - As recent activity in the swamp had disturbed the Nexus of Realities, many people from various realities were transported to and from their own worlds and into others; among these were Jennifer Kale and Korrek, the warrior prince of Katharta, both of whom were transported to the Land Between Night and Day. Jennifer believed she was dreaming.

dakimh-enchanter-advfear15-lev((Adventure into) Fear#19) - Dakimh appeared in Jennifer Kale's bedroom seconds after Korrek, warrior of the dimension Katharta, had confronted Jennifer and then fled when others appeared. While Jennifer noted that she could always count on Dakimh to vanish when he was needed and asked if he was the cause of this chaos, Dakimh explained the disturbing of the nexus of realities as the cause. If reality collapsed, an infinite number of alternate universes might collide, causing a plague of insanity to sweep across the cosmos that no one would survive. Dakimh further proposed to make Jennifer his apprentice and impart his 20,000 years of knowledge to her; he assured her she had the talent, and then he asked if she had the courage and the desire to embark on such a venture. When she asked her grandfather, Joshua, and he gave his permission, Dakimh praised his wisdom and noted that he must sense, as Dakimh did, that her name may one day be as hallowed as Zhered-Na's own. Dakimh then teleported them both away.

    Within Dakimh's Castle in the Sky, Dakimh explained to Jennifer how she had indeed been traveling between Earth and the Realm Between Night and Day during her sleep; similar things were happening to beings from all the planes of existence. As he opened a tome and warned her of the Congress of Realities who sought to gain dominion over all realities unless they stopped them, a bomb crashed through the castle wall. After the wall shattered, a stunned Jennifer found Dakimh again missing, and she was captured and taken away by the Overmaster (Thog)'s forces under the lead of Warlord Akilla.

(Howard the Duck II#1/3 (fb) - BTS) - When Howard the Duck arrived on Earth via the cosmic axis' shift, the Kidney Lady sensed his arrival, and she realized that Howard was an agent of Dakimh. She created her Chair-Thing to oppose Dakimh's agent.

(Man-Thing I#1) - As the Man-Thing, Korrek, and Howard the Duck battled the Overmaster's demons in the Citrusville swamp, Dakimh appeared in a burst of amber light and then, with a pass of his hand, summoned a white whirlwind that roared through the swamp, sweeping the entire demon horde into its vortex. With a second hand gesture, Dakimh caused the whirlwind to implode, sending the demons within "to your final rest in the flaming pits of Sominus."

    Dakimh then gathered Howard, Korrek, and Man-Thing to tell them of their urgent mission; to ease Howard and Korrek's suspicions, he explained that they had been chosen by fate to aid him by drawing them to the Man-Thing's swamp. Dakimh then transported himself and his three new allies to the Land Between Night and Day, one dimension "below" the Congress of Reality's realm.

    With another spell, Dakimh recovered Jennifer, causing her to seemingly melt/transform into water within the Congress of Realities and then reform from fluid pouring from his ceiling. As Jennifer reformed, Dakimh introduced her as their fifth member and praised the gods of Therea for permitting her safe return.

    Dakimh then explained how the current reality crisis was causing the normal structure of realities to collapse on themselves, with interdimensional junctures being created where any two realities touched. Dakimh then gestured, transporting the group to the base of a set of stairs leading them to the Congress' reality. The stairs led to a winding ribbon and then to stepping stones: Despite Dakimh's warning that neither Korrek nor Howard had magical powers to protect them, Howard tripped and fell off one of the stepping stones to his seeming death (he didn't die, but rather returned to Earth; but he nonetheless wasn't around for the rest of the conflict).

    Advising Korrek from going after Howard lest he suffer the same fate, Dakimh subsequently granted Korrek a mystic helmet to protect him from similar threats, and to allow him to continue the next leg of their journey through a space devoid of all air and light; as they continued their journey, Dakimh blamed himself for the duck's loss, accepting that he would have to live with that forever.

    As the group approached a giant arrow representing the cosmic axis and prepared to set it aright, the Overmaster and the forces of the Congress of Realities arrived and continued on into Therea. Noting his people would need wings to catch their foes, Dakimh granted them all wings. As they entered Therea, Korrek asked if this spell would not have saved the duck, and Dakimh admitted that he had not thought of it, acknowledging that age had dulled his wits.

    Moments later, their wings dissolved as they arrived in Therea, and Dakimh thanked the heavens as they still had time, and that the palace was inviolate and the gods well and safe. Noting the cloud of dust approaching the apparent palace. Dakimh informed Jennifer that she was wrong, but that they still needed to stop the Overmaster before he, too, learned the truth.

    With a wink, Dakimh transported himself and his allies into the path of the Overmaster's car at the drawbridge entrance of the god's palace. Noting he had only stopped because he wished to see Dakimh humbled by his victory, the Overmaster ordered Dakimh out of the way. However, Dakimh informed the Overmaster that his conquest was a sham until he defeated the nexus guardian, the Man-Thing. Revealing himself to be Thog, the Netherspawn, the Overmaster noted their previous locations as the cause of his defeats, ordering his legions forward as he tackled the Man-Thing.

    As the Man-Thing fought Thog and his agents, Jennifer asked Dakimh if this was the palace of the gods, where were the gods, and why weren't they here, helping to defend their own palace. Dakimh told her he couldn't answer her yet except to tell her that it was not the nature of the gods to do that.

    After the Man-Thing defeated Thog, Dakimh explained to his allies that the true palace was actually a humble cottage surrounded by nature and peace, and that the gods were actually a pair of dogs, watching over a seeming peasant couple.

    As the Man-Thing reached forward and touched one of the god-dogs, the four visitors were returned to their realms. Back in his Castle in the Sky, Dakimh advised Jennifer that they must resume their lessons at once as his time was short.

(Man-Thing I#22 (fb) - BTS) - Dakimh told Gerber of the struggles against Thog and the Congress of Realities (circa Fear#19 & Man-Thing I#1).

    Dakimh continued to relate the Man-Thing's adventures to Gerber (see comments).dakimh-enchanter-gsmt3-research
(Giant-Size Man-Thing#3 (fb) - BTS) - Dakimh taught Jennifer a spell to bind another in a mystic cocoon and then banish the cocoon and its occupant into the dark reaches of space.

(Giant-Size Man-Thing#3 (fb) - BTS) - Happening to check in Korrek, Dakimh and Jennifer found Korrek had been imprisoned by the warlord Mortak and wizard Klonus.

    As he was engaged in some urgent crystal-gazing, Dakimh then sent the Man-Thing to the realm of Katharta to rescue Korrek.

(Giant-Size Man-Thing#3 (fb) - BTS) - Dakimh's crystal-gazing revealed that he himself would perish in the course of opposing Klonus' plot.

(Giant-Size Man-Thing#3 - BTS) - After Man-Thing had freed Korrek, Dakimh transported them both to just below his castle.

(Giant-Size Man-Thing#3) - After Jennifer Kale had led the pair into the castle, Dakimh greeted them and treated Korrek's wounds (at the hands of Serpent-Hawks) and then allowed Korrek several hours to relax and recover.

    At dinner, at Dakimh's request, Korrek explained how Klonus and Mortak had led the slaughter of his parents and people before capturing Korrek himself and holding him for a year. Korrek then asked Dakimh if he would help him gain vengeance, but Dakimh told Korrek told that he had to do some investigations to determine if he was able. Jennifer joined Dakimh in his study as he began his research in one of his tomes. Discovering that Katharta had neither natural resources, nor any strategic military outpost value, Dakimh determined that its only value was Korrek himself, or perhaps whoever was Katharta's prince.

    Jennifer realized Dakimh had been upset by what he had learned in his crystal-gazing, but Dakimh told her she would be told all she needed to know at the proper time. He then led Jennifer to his alchemy lab, where he was saddened to see that the Man-Thing had mindlessly destroyed one of his experiments; nonetheless, he left it behind to go to Korrek.

    Meanwhile, via a crystal he had attuned to Korrek's aura, Klonus looked in on Korrek and identified him and his allies as those they must destroy in order to rule Katharta and achieve godhood.

    Dakimh then received a telepathic summons from Klonus to meet him and Mortak in combat on Earth. Telling his allies that Klonus could wreak havoc on Earth if they refused, Dakimh then shared that his visions had shown him that one of them would not survive the confrontation; with a wink, he teleported them all to Citrusville where Klonus and Mortak (along with an animated statue of the dragon guardian of Zokk's heaven, Sibarthu). Dakimh then told Jennifer to be brave and to remember all he had taught her, and she would not fail him or herself.

    Klonus then struck Dakimh with a bolt of blue lightning, which Dakimh deflected with a shield of golden force. Meanwhile, Jennifer summoned Korrek's fire sword so he could battle Mortak, and Sibarthu engaged the Man-Thing.dakimh-enchanter-gsmt3-klonus

(Giant-Size Man-Thing#3 (fb) - BTS) - Dakimh snared Klonus in a cage of crimson energy that sapped his life force, while Klonus sent a choking ring of mystic vapor around Dakimh. Unable to dispel the vapors without allowing the cage to dissolve and thus freeing Klonus, Dakimh struggled with Klonus to outlast each other, but Dakimh's 20,000 year old body ultimately gave out, and he suffered a massive heart attack of some kind and collapsed.

    Instructing Jennifer to take his hand, he transferred what remained of his psychic energies into her. He weakly told her not to fail him, and she assured him that he had taught her well. As Jennifer faced off against Klonus, however, the Man-Thing lumbered up behind Klonus and smashed him in the back of the head, knocking him out.

    Jennifer returned to Dakimh's side, telling him of their victory, but as she prepared to call an ambulance, he informed her that he had known that he was the one who would die, although he had not known the outcome of the battle. Telling Jennifer not to shed tears for him but to help Korrek, he perished.dakimh-enchanter-mti22-grave

(Giant-Size Man-Thing#3) - After Korrek had defeated Mortak, Jennifer used the spell Dakimh had taught her to encase Klonus and Mortak in mystic cocoons and banish them to the dark reaches of space.

    As Jennifer didn't yet know how to send Korrek home, Korrek picked up Dakimh and followed Jennifer to her grandfather's house.

(Man-Thing I#22 (fb) - BTS) - Dakimh's body was committed to the Earth at the edge of the swamp -- attended by Korrek and Jennifer, Joshua, and Andrew Kale -- and the grave was marked with the sign of Zhered-Na.

    None of those present were aware that when Dakimh died, the good of his spirit ceased to be one of the forces fueling the sun of Therea; as the sun briefly blinked out of existence, and the instant its pure light faded, Thog created a dimensional portal and fled Therea.

    Realizing Dakimh had perished and that now only the Man-Thing stood in his path, Thog resolved a plot to strike the Man-Thing in its vulnerable empathic nature. To this end, Thog had the Nightmare Boxes created, utilizing Danielle Nicole, Robert Nicolle, and Roland Duhl in his plot to plunge the world into madness.

(Man-Thing I#22 (fb) - BTS) - Dakimh continued to exist on a higher plane as a being of pure spirit/mind.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#16) - Dakimh could appear for limited times in the material dimensions, such as Earth and the Land Between Night and Day.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#16) - Dakimh continued to train Jennifer Kale

(Man-Thing I#22 (fb) - BTS) - "A friend of Dakimh" brought a Nightmare Box, which he had taken as the Man-Thing had battled some of Thog's demons, to Gerber. Thog's demons soon retrieved the box and sucked Gerber into it.

(Man-Thing I#22 (fb)) - After Thog had transferred the Man-Thing into the Nightmare Box as well, Dakimh's spirit appeared before the Man-Thing and Gerber, informing them of the nature of the threat they faced and instructing them to keep their emotions in check so that, their reason/ration would disrupt the collective Boxes energies.

    They did so, and when Thog placed the final Nightmare Box (in which they were contained) at the top of the pyramid of Nightmare Boxes, the pyramid imploded, drawing Thog, his cohorts, and all of Sominus (and allegedly "all of the centillions of beings from all of the uncountable worlds" in the cosmos) inside of it. Further, all of those beings were rendered temporarily insane within the Nightmare Boxes, leaving only Dakimh, Gerber, the Man-Thing, and Thog sane. The nature of the real within the Nightmare Boxes' imploded pyramid (notably its lack of natural laws) limited Dakimh's powers, and he and Gerber could only stand and watch as the Man-Thing grappled with Thog. Ultimately, Thog panicked and perished in flames at the Man-Thing's touch.

(Man-Thing I#22 (fb)) - Dakimh was occupied with the reordering of the planes of existence, presumably involving restoring everyone within this imploded realm to their rightful places (or, perhaps confirming this was the case).

(Man-Thing I#22) - After Gerber awakened in his apartment and wrote a letter detailing his recent adventures as well as his resignation from writing the Man-Thing's adventures, Dakimh (alongside the Man-Thing) arrived in his apartment, pleased to see he was unharmed. Acknowledging and accepting Gerber's decision, Dakimh shook his hand and thanked him for all he had done, noting that mayhap their paths would cross again someday.

(Man-Thing I#22 (fb) - BTS) - Dakimh vanished in a wisp of smoke, taking the Man-Thing with him.

(Howard the Duck I#22 (fb) - BTS) - Dakimh presumably summoned Korrek to his Castle to oppose the threat of Bzzk'Joh (or maybe he had Jennifer Kale do it).

(Howard the Duck I#22) - Alongside the Man-Thing, Dakimh confronted Howard the Duck atop his New York apartment building, just after Howard had fought off attacks by the monstrous Salty Kong and Housefly. Dakimh re-introduced himself, noting that he was actually Dakimh's ghost as he was "technically deceased, but no matter..." Informing Howard the time had come for him to fulfill the role destiny had chosen for him and that he must reunite with his former compatriots to save the universe, Dakimh transported Howard, himself, and the Man-Thing to his Castle in the Sky, where Korrek and Jennifer awaited. When Howard raged at being forced into this, the Man-Thing's empathic nature was disturbed, and Dakimh advised Howard to regain his composure to calm the Man-Thing (and to prevent him from unwittingly harming Howard).

    When Howard had calmed down, Dakimh explained that the recent attacks on Howard were caused by their foe -- who sensed Howard's special destiny -- and that Howard would be killed if he did not join forces to oppose this being. Within Dakimh's castle, he had Jennifer use her mystic powers to open a stone door to the Waters of Eternity, which Dakimh mystically caused to reveal the origins, nature, and threat of their foe, Bzzk'Joh. Telling the group that Howard would lead them and that they must make contact with the Farce, the binding energy of the universe that permits one to yok it up in the face of death, Dakimh vanished.

(Howard the Duck I#22 (fb) - BTS) - As explained by Jennifer, Dakimh had to return to Therea, as his soul would perish if he remained in the material world too long.

    Bzzk'Joh subsequently emerged from the Waters of Eternity and abducted Jennifer.

(Howard the Duck I#23 - BTS) - Howard, Korrek, and the Man-Thing, guided by the druid-droids NAAC-P30 and 2-2-2-2, rescued Jennifer and defeated Bzzk-Joh.

(Howard the Duck I#24 - BTS) - Via a different interdimensional craft, Jennifer, Korrek, and Man-Thing returned Howard to his apartment.dakimh-enchanter-mtu68-illusorydakimh-enchanter-mtu68-bound

(Marvel Team-Up I#68 (fb)) - The Fear-Lord demon D'Spayre appeared suddenly (either within Dakimh's castle or perhaps within the Kale house in Citrusville), catching Dakimh and Jennifer unaware.

(Marvel Team-Up I#68 (fb) - BTS) - D'Spayre captured the sorcerers, binding them to a mystic tower near the Nexus of Reality (to outsiders, the tower appeared as a wooden cabin, as Dakimh and Jennifer appeared as conventionally garbed locals). He then used his power in an effort to twist their souls to his shaping so that they would become his servants.

    At some point, the Man-Thing opposed D'Spayre to no avail. The Man-Thing was subsequently captured by circus owner Amos Jardine and put on display. Dakimh predicted the Man-Thing would return.

    Dakimh and Jennifer fought hard for weeks, but to no avail, as D'Spayre's tower leeched from them life and hope. Eventually, they realized that if they were not freed, they would not live to see the next sunrise (or, apparently, continue as beings with the will to appreciate it.

(Marvel Team-Up I#68) - The next day, Spider-Man, having freed the Man-Thing and returned him to his swamp (and apparently having had his plane shot out of the sky by D'Spayre during the approach), approached the cabin, leading to a conflict in which D'Spayre swiftly subdued both Spider-Man and the Man-Thing. Dakimh identified himself, noting himself as a force for good, described their recent fates, and urged Spider-Man that the fate of the world hung in the balance. Though Spider-Man could not see the tower, he accepted this danger and attacked D'Spayre anew; noting Spider-Man's courage, Dakimh admitted to Jennifer that while he prayed it would be enough, he feared otherwise. As Dakimh and Jennifer both succumbed further to despair, D'Spayre grew in power and caused Spider-Man to be paralyzed by fear. However, when the D'Spayre caused the attacking Man-Thing to be repeatedly burn from his own fear, Spider-Man rallied to help him, battering D'Spayre and inspiring hope in Dakimh and Jennifer, each of which weakened D'Spayre.

    Dakimh and Jennifer escaped their bonds (and the illusions faded) as D'Spayre collapsed in defeat, and Dakimh stopped Spider-Man's assault, showing him that his foe had fallen. Dakimh and Jennifer then combined their powers to shatter D'Spayre's tower, further breaking his power. When Spider-Man formed a web-umbrella to shield them from the towers falling shards, Dakimh praised him as a man of infinite resources. When Spider-Man asked for an explanation, however, Dakimh told Spider-Man to call it a dream if he liked, but that he couldn't say more about that. As he and Jennifer vanished in a flash, Dakimh noted: "The paths of fate are wondrous to behold, my friend. Perhaps we'll meet again someday. Until that time, know that you have the eternal thanks of..." (his voice was cut off by their departure).

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#16) - Dakimh and Jennifer magically exiled D'Spayre to another dimension.

(Man-Thing II#11 (fb) - BTS) - Dakimh touched the dreams of Marvel Comics writer Chris Claremont with tales of the Man-Thing, which Claremont then related in the Man-Thing comic book.

(Man-Thing II#11 (fb) - BTS) - Dakimh was captured by Thog's agent John Daltry using the Magus Sword and imprisoned in a cavern in Sominus alongside Chris Claremont, Jennifer and Joshua Kale, Margali and Jimaine (aka Amanda Sefton) Szardos, and Sorcerer Supreme Dr. Stephen Strange and his apprentice/lover Clea.dakimh-enchanter-mtii-dave

(Man-Thing II#11 (fb)) - Dakimh and the other remained imprisoned as Barbra Bannister arrived, after which John Daltry used the Magus Sword to summon Thog. After Thog transformed the Man-Thing back into Ted Sallis to eliminate its threat, Claremont was transformed into a new Man-Thing. Ultimately, Man-Thing again incinerated the terrified Thog, after which Dakimh (along with the others) added his power to Strange's, restoring Claremont and returning the Man-Thing's form and nature to Sallis.

(Man-Thing II#11) - As the bartender "Dave," Dakimh served drinks to Claremont, who had been disturbed by his experiences and decided to stop writing Man-Thing. "Dave" bade Claremont farewell. He advised anyone who had heard the tale (the readers) to weep not for Ted Sallis, for he knew nothing of his fate and that his ordeal marked a rite of passage in the rising and advancing of his spirit. Predicting that Sallis would eventually re-emerge having attained his full potential as a human being and that there was hope, Dakimh bade those reading farewell.

(Steve Gerber's unpublished script for Howard the Duck#1 "Secret Crisis II" (fb) - BTS) - Dakimh was transported -- along with Andy the Angel, Jennifer Kale, Korrek the Barbarian, Man-Thing, Master C'haaj, Hemlock Shoals, Claude Starkowski -- to within a motorhome (specifically a Winnebago)-like construct in an interdimensional space between Reality-616 and Reality-791021 (mirroring the storyline generated by the dark matter-powered Poporb of Krylorian techno-artist Chirreep).

(Steve Gerber's unpublished script for Howard the Duck#1 "Secret Crisis II") - After Andy the Angel inadvertently flattened Howard while rapidly opening the door and was then attacked by Howard in response, Dakimh urged Howard to desist, assuring him of Andy's innocence. Dakimh's voice caused Howard to notice the others in the recreational vehicle (RV). After Hemlock Shoals pointed out the arrival another vehicle/conveyance in the interdimensional space, and Claude noted it to be a fire hydrant, Dakimh explained that it, like their "RV," this was an artificial construct, crafted to resemble a common object. Pressing his fingertips to his temples, Dakimh mystically probed the "fire hydrant," sensing its inhabitants to be Dr. Angst and the Band of the Bland (Black Hole Sitting Bullseye, Spanker, Tillie the Hun), le Beaver, Black Talon, Bzzk J'oh, Dr. Bong, Jackpot, Jokester, Greedy Killerwatt, Kong-Lomerate, Maller, Pro-Rata, Puffin, Quizling, and Wally Sidney. Dakimh noted that, apart from their evil, they seemed to have little in common...except that they all wanted Howard dead.

    As Howard attempted to depart and met up with Chirreep, the monstrous mouth Galactongue appeared and disgorged an entire galaxy. As the contents formed a planet with an immense office building, Dakimh noted with concern the objects streaking toward them: The Brotherhood of Evil Prepositions (Amonger, Arounder, Betweener, Of, Underneather, Withiner) then appeared and challenged both groups to "Play both ends against the middle, and all you desire shall be yours."

    Both groups were transported to the office building on the planet formed from contents disgorged by Galactongue; Dakimh's group arrived in the mailroom.

(Steve Gerber's unpublished script for Howard the Duck#1 "Secret Crisis II") - When Howard left the group in disgust, Jennifer Kale gave Dakimh a worried look about both their lives and the duck's sanity. Dakimh shrugged, "Who can say."

(Steve Gerber's unpublished script for Howard the Duck#1 "Secret Crisis II" - BTS) - Kong Lomerate led the villains in a plot to destroy the other group.

    Bong, presumably along with some of the others, targeted Andy the Angel, Dakimh the Enchanter, Jennifer Kale, Korrek the Barbarian, Man-Thing, Master C'haaj (sp?), Hemlock Shoals, and Claude Starkowski, while Kong led Maller, Jackpot, and Greedy Killerwatt to attack Howard and Chireep, who had followed Howard..

(Over the Edge#2 (fb) - BTS) - Jennifer Kale took a sabbatical from her studies to try to enjoy a normal life in Berkley, California; she told Dakimh that this would make her a more rounded person, and he accepted this.dakimh-enchanter-maxsec3

(Maximum Security#3) - Dakimh -- alongside Agatha Harkness, Mechamage, the Scarlet Witch (Wanda Maximoff), Margali of the Winding Way, Khalid Inshallah, and Jules St. Thomas -- was one of the sorcerers gathered to banish Ego from Earth.


dakimh-enchanter-ohotmume-mainComments: Created by Steve Gerber, Val Mayerik, and Chic Stone.

    Dakimh's earlier wink and the glint in his eye (noticed by Jennifer) hinted that he wasn't the evil sorcerer whose role he played in (Adventures into) Fear#14.

ERGARD - referenced/invoked by Dakimh the Enchanter; "by the moons of Ergard"
    --[(Adventure into) Fear#14

    Dakimh consistently called the Man-Thing "Man-Object."

    I had Dakimh listed as appearing in Nick Fury's Howling Commandos#6, but in re-reading the issue, the only guy even close to Dakimh in appearance actually looks exactly like Gandalf (from Lord of the Rings).
    We had discussed this back in the handbooks before doing the Howling Commandos profile and the writer and/or artist confirmed that it was indeed Gandalf.
    Thanks to Loki and Madison Carter for researching/reviewing this issue for me.

    Stories related to Gerber between Man-Thing I#1 and Giant-Size Man-Thing#3 include: Man-Thing I#2-6, 7, ManTh#8, Giant-Size Man-Thing#1, Master of Kung Fu I#19, Daredevil I#113,114, GS Man-Thing#2, and Man-Thing#9-14.

    Stories related to Claremont between Man-Thing II#1-11 include: Man-Thing II#1-4, Dr. Strange II#41, ManTh5, Howard the Duck Mag7/2(fb), 6/4, 7, 7/2, 7/3, Savage She-Hulk I#8, ManTh6-10, Uncanny X-Men#144, ManTh#11 (fb)

    Dakimh had OHotMU profiles in Deluxe Edition#16 and the Master Edition#21

    Gerber's unpublished script:

    Steve Gerber named Dakimh after writer and editor David Anthony Kraft (1952 - 2021). Kraft would often offer Gerber plot ideas to help him meet last minute deadlines on Howard the Duck and other Marvel books he worked on in the mid 70s. 'Dakimh' is actually an acronym for 'David Anthony Kraft Is My Hero'. -- Norvo

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Dakimh should be distinguished from:

images: (without ads)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#16: Dakimh - main image
    third page (face close-up)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition#21: Dakimh - main image
Fear#19, pg. 11, panel 5 (levitating);
Giant-Size Man-Thing#3, pg. 18, panel 1 (research);
       pg. 26, panel#1 (vs. Klonus);
Marvel Team-Up I#68, pg. 8, panel 3 (civilian disguise);
       pg. 9, panel 2 (prisoners of Dakimh);
Man-Thing II#11, last page, panel 6 (as Dave, hatless)
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#33/2, pg. 3, panels 5-8 (vs. D'Spayre);
 Maximum Security#3, pg. 9, panel 4 (combining power with other mages against Ego)

Appearances:
(Adventure into) Fear#14 (June, 1973) - Steve Gerber (writer), Val Mayerik (penciler), Chic Stone (inker), Roy Thomas (editor)
(Adventure into) Fear#15 (August, 1973) - Steve Gerber (writer), Val Mayerik (penciler), Frank McLaughlin (inker), Roy Thomas (editor)
(Adventure into) Fear#19 (December, 1973) - Steve Gerber (writer), Val Mayerik (penciler), Sal Trapani (inker), Roy Thomas (editor)
Man-Thing I#1 (January, 1974) - Steve Gerber (writer), Val Mayerik (pencils), Sal Trapani (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Giant-Size Man-Thing#3 (February, 1975) - Steve Gerber (writer), Alfred Alcala (art), Roy Thomas (editor)
Man-Thing I#22 (October, 1975) - Steve Gerber (writer), Jim Mooney (artist), Len Wein (editor)
Howard the Duck I#22 (March, 1978) - by Steve Gerber (writer/editor), Val Mayerik (artist), and William Wray (inker).
Howard the Duck I#23 (April, 1978) - by Steve Gerber (writer/editor) and Val Mayerik (artist)
Howard the Duck I#24 (May, 1978) - by Steve Gerber (writer/editor) and Gene Colan (artist)
Marvel Team-Up I#68 (April, 1978) - by Chris Claremont (writer), John Byrne (penciler), Bob Wiacek (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
Man-Thing II#11 (July, 1981) - Chris Claremont (writer), Val Mayerik (penciler), Bob Wiacek (inker), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
Howard the Duck II#1/3 (October, 1979) - "From Hell it cometh...Chair-Thing" - by Bill Mantlo (writer), Gene Colan (penciler), Dave Simons (inker), Rick Marschall (editor)
unpublished Howard the Duck story by Gerber - 1985
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#16: Dakimh (June, 1987) - Peter Sanderson (writer/researcher), Brent Anderson (penciler), Josef Rubinstein (inker), Gregory Wright (assistant editor), Marc McLaurin & David Wohl (editorial assistant), Mark Gruenwald (editor/designer)
Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme#33 (September, 1991) <second story/Book of the Vishanti: A Gathering of Fear) - Roy Thomas & Jean-Marc L'Officier (writers), Larry Alexander (penciler), Tim Dzon (penciler), Mike Rockwitz (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition#21: Dakimh
Over the Edge#2 (December, 1995) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Robert Brown (penciler), Mike Witherby (inker), James Felder (inker)
Maximum Security#3 (January, 2001) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Jerry Ordway (penciler), Will Blyberg, Mark McKenna, Paul Ryan (inkers), Marc Sumerak (assistant editor), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z (hardcover) Vol. 7 (2009): Appendix: Magic (from the journals of Ian McNee) - David Sexton (writer), Jeff Christiansen (head writer/coordinator), Madison Carter, Mike Fichera & Stuart Vandal (coordination assistants), Jeff Youngquist & Jennifer Grunwald (editors)

First posted: 04/7/2019
Last updated: 03/17/2022

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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