Lion-People of Ligra (Dr. Zog's Electro characters)

lion-people-ligra-mmh LION-PEOPLE
of Ligra

Classification: Semi-humanoid extraterrestrial race

Location/Base of Operations: Planet Ligra, Mandahl system, Milky Way galaxy

Known Members: Gor, Gur; apparent modern ruler;
many unidentified, including the Knights of Ligra and Queen Nara's eagle-riders

Affiliations: Electro, Queen Nara (Nara Gale), Professor Philo Zog; used giant eagles and oryx-beasts in combat

Enemies: Dragon-Men of Ligra (notably Jago and Zoor),
formerly Electro

First Appearance: (Mentioned) Marvel Mystery Comics#8 (June, 1940);
(seen/full) Marvel Mystery Comics#9/5 (July, 1940)

Powers/Abilities: The Lion-People of Ligra possess superhuman (enhanced human) strength, speed, and reflexes.

All Lion-People exhibit powerful jaw muscles and long canine teeth, and their fingers end in sharp, protractile claws.

His olfactory (smell) and auditory (hearing) senses are enhanced. Their large ears are particularly sensitive to high-frequency sound.

Their nocturnal (night) vision is enhanced due to increased numbers and function of rods in the retinae, while his color vision is likely diminished.

Highly sensitive vibrissa (whiskers) set deep within the facial skin also enhance their nocturnal perception.

Technology: The Lion-People possess advanced technological weaponry, such as their powerful Q-ray guns.

The Q-Rays appeared to be somewhere between a rifle and a bazooka/howitzer in conformation. They were relatively short, wide-barrelled weapons that required two hands to hold operate. They fired some sort of energy blast. While devastating to the Dragon-Men, the Q-Rays were ineffective against

Traits: The Lion-People are a technologically advanced society with a monarchical form of government, whose kingdom is defended by the chivalric Knights of Ligra.

Majestic in social interaction, they are savage in combat.

Males tend to serve as warriors, which females hunt and tend to the young; lionesses have exceptional predatory skills and they fiercely protect their cubs.

They have domesticated several animal species native to Ligra, including massive war-eagles and hoofed, horned oryx-beasts.

Both species are used as weapons and transport in combat.

Type: Bilaterally symmetric semi-humanoid leonine bipeds
Eyes: Two (on head; amber color seen)
Fingers: Four (plus opposing thumb)
Toes: Unrevealed (presumably five)
Skin color: Beige to yellow or light orange (possibly fur-covered) with a light brown to strawberry blond mane
Average height: Approximately 6'
Average weight: 250-300 lbs.
Other distinguishing features: Males possess distinctive manes that can vary in coloration from blond to black, but are most commonly auburn.

History:
lion-people-ligra-mmc9-eagle-riders-flight (Marvel Mystery Comics#8/6 (fb) - BTS / Marvel Mystery Handbook: Lion-People profile) - In the early 20^th century, British scientist Sir Ronald Gale flew his wife and their infant daughter, Nara, to planet Ligra in his stratosphere-plane, becoming the first humans to visit the planet.

The ferocious Dragon-Men soon slew Sir Ronald and his wife.

Nara was rescued and raised by the peaceful Lion-People, eventually becoming their queen upon reaching adulthood.

(Marvel Mystery Comics#9/5 (fb) - BTS) - The Lion-People's kingdom has amassed a large collection of precious stones and jewels that were coveted by the warlike Dragon-Men,

(Marvel Mystery Comics#8/6 (fb) - BTS) - The ferocious Dragon-Men of Ligra sought to overthrow Queen Nara and the peaceful Lion-People, the then-current ruers of Ligra.

(Marvel Mystery Comics#8/6) - BTS) <1937> - King Jago sent a number of Dragon-Men to Earth to capture the powerful terrestrial robot Electro. They also captured and controlled Electro's creator, Philo Zog.

(Marvel Mystery Comics#9/5 - BTS) - After Jago tortured Zog and forced his compliance, Jago sent a messenger to the palace of Queen Nara.

(Marvel Mystery Comics#9/5) - The Lion-Man Gor, aide to Nara, announced the arrival of Jago's messenger and allowed him to enter Nara's chambers.

After Nara read the message and noted her refusal to bow to Jago, she instructed Gor to summon the armies of Ligra to her palace.

(Marvel Mystery Comics#9/5 - BTS) - Learning of Nara's decision, Jago sent his warriors to attack the Lion-People. lion-people-ligra-mmc9-eagle-riders-fall

(Marvel Mystery Comics#9/5) - An army of Dragon-Men foot soldiers -- aided by eagle-riders and Electro -- soon assaulted Nara's palace, their bombs destroying its walls, and their death-rays killing hundreds.

The Lion-Men fought back with their Q-Rays guns; but Electro was unaffected by these, and he attacked the Lion-People, shattering a pillar and causing a massive collase the slew many Lion-Men.

Lion-Men eagle-riders swooped down on Electro, but the powerful robot grabbed them, crushed them, and hurled them into a pit.

The Lion-People then turned loose a pair of their horned oryx beasts, but Electro slew one, hurled it down into the pit, and then threw the other oryx-beast on top of the first one's horns.

(Marvel Mystery Comics#9/5) - Their path cleared by Electro, Jago and his powerful bodyguard, Zoor, rushed into Queen Nara's chambers. When Jago grabbed Nara, one of Nara's faithful Lion-Men (likely Gor) rushed to her aid and ordered Jago to stop, but Zoor swiftly flattened the Lion-Man.

(Marvel Mystery Comics#9/5 - BTS) - Taking Nara hostage, Jago departed with her atop his monstrous War-Eagle (amidst explosions, presumably indicating the Lion-People were firing on him in an effort to stop his escape), imprisoning her in his castle.

(Marvel Mystery Comics#9/5 (fb) - BTS) - Aided by Electro, the Dragon-Men defeated the Lion-People.

(Marvel Mystery Comics#9/5 - BTS) - Zog escaped his captors and directed Electro to attack the Dragon-Men and then to rescue Nara. When Jago and his guards attempted to flee in some craft, they were swiftly overtaken by Electro, who cast their craft into the water, apparently killing them.

(Marvel Mystery Comics#9/5) - A Lion-Man (likely Gor) watched as Nara made Professor Zog an honorary knight of Ligra (the highest honors in their land). Zog then noted he and Electro would return to Earth, but that she should not hesitate to call on them again if she needed them.

(Marvel Zombies Destroy! #1 (fb) - BTS) - In recent years, learning that the Nazi zombies of Earth-12591 had neared completion of a cross-dimensional battleship (Valhalla's hammer) with which they planned to invade and infest/infect/conquer Earth-616, A.R.M.O.R. (Alternate Reality Monitoring and Operational Response) gathered a number of agents to destroy the battleship and thwart the Nazi zombies' plot: Battlestar and/or Howard the Duck apparently gathered Gur.

(Marvel Zombies Destroy! #1) - Alongside the rest of the Ducky Dozen, Gur traveled to Earth-12591 and engaged the zombies. However, almost immediately after arriving, Gur was bitten by a zombie; after Gur turned into a zombie himself, Howard kicked him out of their ship, and he presumably was shattered beyond function after hitting the ground. lion-people-ligra-angotgan1p02

(All-New Guardians of the Galaxy Annual#1 (fb) - BTS) - Seeking a means to break through Earth's Planetary Defense Shield put in place via the manipulation from the reality-altered fascist Captain America-61311, the Guardians traveled to various worlds in deep space.

Gamora traveled to Ligra and engaged the Lion-People's apparent king in combat in some sort of gladiatorial arena setting.

(All-New Guardians of the Galaxy Annual#1) - The Lion-...king noted that Gamora had honored him with great combat, but he nonetheless refused to aid the people of Earth.

Comments: Created by Steve Dahlman.

Apologies for the scans...the blurring edges are due to pages curving as the hardcover Marvel Masterworks can't be fully flattened. The curving of the pages also caused some rotation of the images, and it wasn't until I had already cropped and placed 90% of the images that I remembered how to rotate the images by degree to straighten them out.

Queen Nara is called Empress Nara in Marvel Mystery Comics#8/6

    In Marvel Mystery Comics#8, the Lion-People were listed as the "present rulers of Ligra"

    The giant eagles and oryx-beasts will get sub-profiles in the upcoming Ligra profile.

    John Holstein noted that Fee-Lon, the leonine member of the starship Bird of Prey, could be one of the Lion-People of Ligra. And for pointing out the Beastmen of Redstone.
    ...which reminded me of Big Leo, another leonine extraterrestrial...

    The 1937 date for Electro and Zog's trip to Ligra comes from the Marvel Mystery Handbook, but it is based on the story in Marvel Mystery Comics#8/6, which notes that Sarpo was sent to prison by Electro and Zog for looting towns during the Great Ohio Flood. The story in that issue follows shortly thereafter, as Sarpo gets word to his men to seek vengeance by making Electro help their criminal efforts. Thanks to Anthony Flamini for pointing this out.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_River_flood_of_1937

    Thanks to Donald Campbell for pointing out the All-New Guardians of the Galaxy Annual#1 appearance.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Lion-People have no known connection to:

LION of NEMEA - see NEMEAN LION--Hercules III#1
LION of SHEM - see AKHIROM--Savage Sword of Conan I#36
LION ( ) - criminal, trapped Sun Wukong, who later returned as Monkey King and dropped him in the same trap--Fear Itself: Monkey King#1
LIONFANG (Alejandro Cortez) - battled Luke Cage, left with spinal injuries, incorrectly reported to have been killed by Scourge of the Underworld-3, ran drugs for Woodward Himes. Mentally control lions, tigers, etc., transmit his knowledge to them, able to gain their enhanced abilities in exchange; restricted to a wheelchair--Hero for Hire#13
LION GOD of the Hyborian era - god--Savage Sword of Conan#101
LION GOD (Sekhmet/Hathor) - Ennead, son of Atum, brother of Bast, worshipped in African, possessed Mr. Umbala--Avengers I#112
LION GOD - Broadway musical, performance interrupted by the Ultimator --Avengers Annual 1999
LIONHEART (Kelsey Shorr Kirkland Leigh) - Avengers, mother of Jenny and Martin, ex-wife of Richard, daughter of Mrs. Shorr, face lacerated in past home assault, died trying to protect Captain America from Thunderball (possessed by agent of Morgan le Fay), resurrected and given title and powers by Braddock, chose Sword of Might, returned to defeat Morgan le Fay, but not allowed to reveal true nature to children, assaulted Captain Britain for his role in her losing her children, allied with Albion until convinced to turn against his destructive path by Excalibur--New Excalibur#4
LIONHEART ( ) - Brute Force, cybernetically enhanced lion--Brute Force#1
LIONHEART - Weapon X's Brute Force, cybernetically enhanced lion--Weapon Plus: World War IV#1/2
LIONHEART 3442 (Lady Anula, Lord High Protector, Major Oak, Methinx, Tuck, Yorick) - Tuck's planet--Death's Head II#3
"LION KING" - lion mutated to gain human intelligence and mind-control powers--Journey into Mystery I#83/3
LION KING - alias of the alien Bommbu--Journey into Mystery I#60/1
LIONMANE (general Lo Chien) - mutant, led group of pirates in attack on Madripoor to regain statue of Mulan, raised money in order to make himself the most powerful of new Chinese warlords following dissolution of current government. enhanced strength, nearly impenetrable skin
--Heroes for Hire I#18
LION THRONE - Halwan's ruling throne, served for over 100 years by one family of bodyguards--
lions - guardians of the Tower of the Elephant--Conan the Barbarian I#3
Beastmen of Redstone of Reality-791 - genetically engineered humanoid-leonids--Marvel Previews I#18
other "lion" characters, groups, etc.

Gor has no known connection to:

GOR, LAMILM- extraterrestrial, ship sought for repossession by Interplaneteur Inc--Warlock I#15
GORE ( ) - transmitted death via radio, aided by Harry, Slim, and Mark; encountered Thunderer--Daring Mystery Comics#8
GORE, AL - former Vice-POTUS under Bill Clinton
GORE, ELMER "Sex and Violence" - mercenary affiliated with Anton Pretorius against Black Panther--Marvel Comics Presents I#13/2
GORR - Kronan--
GORR the GOLDEN GORILLA - agent of High Evolutionary, briefly transformed into immense gorilla and rampaged in New York until restored to normal form and intellect, led Fantastic Four to battle between Galactus and High Evolutionary, former prisoner on Stranger’s laboratory world, freed by Quasar. Greatly enhanced strength--Fantastic Four I#171
GORR, Captain - unidentified extraterrestrial race, led invasion of Earth, intended to force humanity's surrender via demonstrating their superior technology, retreated after failed to impress/intimidate Vicki Lund, who was blind and assumed them to be kids playing games--Strange Tales I#49/2
other "Gor" characters

Gor

Gor was an aide and/or bodyguard to Queen Nara.

(Marvel Mystery Comics#9/5) - The Lion-Man Gor, aide to Nara, announced the arrival of Jago's messenger and allowed him to enter Nara's chambers.

After Nara read the message and noted her refusal to bow to Jago, she instructed Gor to summon the armies of Ligra to her palace.

(Marvel Mystery Comics#9/5) - When Jago grabbed Nara, one of Nara's faithful Lion-Men (likely Gor) rushed to her aid and ordered Jago to stop, but Zoor swiftly flattened the Lion-Man.

--Marvel Mystery Comics#9/5

Note: It is not confirmed to be Gor that rushed to Nara's aid only to be flattened by Zoor. It just seems likely

We have no idea what happened after Zog departed. I like to think she married a nice Lion-Man and that they had hybrid human-Lion-People kids. Maybe Gur, seen in Marvel Zombies Destroy, is one of her descendants. Or not.

images: (without ads)
Marvel Mystery Comics#9/5, pg. 3, panel 2 (Gor, standing at attention);
       pg. 4, panel 5 (Q-Rays);
       pg. 5, panel 1 (Eagle-Riders in flight);
          panel 2 ( (Eagle-Riders falling);
          panel 3 (oryx-beasts attack);
          panel 4 (oryx-beasts slain);
          panel 6 (rushing to Nara's aid);
All-New Guardians of the Galaxy Annual#1, story pg. 1, panel 2 & 3 (Lion-Person (king) battling Gamora)

Appearances:
Marvel Mystery Comics#8/6 (June, 1940) - Steve Dahlman (writer, penciler, inker), Joe Simon (editor)
Marvel Mystery Comics#9/5 (July, 1940) - Steve Dahlman (writer, penciler, inker), Joe Simon (editor)
Marvel Mystery Handbook: 70th Anniversary Special: Lion-People
Marvel Zombies Destroy! #1 (July, 2012) - Frank Marraffino (writer), Mirco Pierfederici (artist), Jake Thomas (editor), Mark Paniccia (senior editor)
All-New Guardians of the Galaxy Annual#1 (2017) - Chad Bowers and Chris Sims (writers), Danilo S. Beyruth (artist), Kathleen Wisneski (assistant editor), Darren Shan (editor)

First posted: 04/04/2020
Last updated: 06/30/2020

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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