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VERMIN THE VILE

Real Name: Vermin the Vile

Identity/Class: Extraterrestrial (race unrevealed)

Occupation: Ruler

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Scavage, Turn Key

Enemies: Gorkels (Wise One, others), Omnus, Planet Terry, Princess Ugly, Robota

Known Relatives: Vulgar the Vile (father), Queen Hilda (wife), the Hood (Vulgar the Vile II, son), Princess Ugly (niece)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Planet Gorkel

First Appearance: Planet Terry I#2 (May, 1985)

Powers/Abilities: Vermin the Vile is a manipulative and technological genius who uses his skills for bullying and selfish reasons. He utilizes and can fly spacecraft, and has small flying open-cockpit laser craft. He used the Mayhem Maker machine and similar devices, which control adverse localized geographical environmental effects. He is faithfully served by his intelligent vulture Scavage.

Height: 5'11" (by approximation)
Weight: 170 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Black
Hair: Black

History:

(Planet Terry I#11 (fb)) - Scientific genius Vermin the Vile and wife Hilda had a son. They used a space lifecraft as a temporary cradle but an argument over the boy's name resulted in the lifecraft launching into space. Vermin refused to search in favor of continuing his experiments while his mother went into space to seek her baby.

(Planet Terry I#2 (fb) - BTS) - Princess Ugly ruled the religious and agrarian Gorkels on their home planet, but eager to take power, her unpopular uncle Vermin the Vile kidnapped and locked her up sedated in his citadel. Leaderless, the overly superstitious waited on a savior.

(Planet Terry I#2) - Visitors Planet Terry, Omnus and Robota were sent to rescue the princess. Vermin's loyal vulture Scavage spotted them and warned Vermin, who then engaged his Mayhem Maker machine, creating natural obstacles like binding vines and volcano before imprisoning them in a waterspout's giant bubble. The trio escaped and crept into the citadel while Vermin angrily tried to fix his machine. The trio forced Vermin's lackey Turn Key to free the princess. But once the princess awakened, the Mayhem Maker went berserk and the citadel exploded after everyone rushed to escape. Vermin was carried away by Scavage.

(Planet Terry I#10) - Thinking Terry could be his own son, Vermin faked a video message to lure him back to planet Gorkel. After Terry met with the princess and Gorkels, Scavage stole the Gorkels' sacred book. Vermin demanded Terry be handed over for the book to be returned and then spitefully set off an earthquake using a new machine. Vermin also created an android of Princess Ugly to help capture Terry but it malfunctioned. Terry, Omnus, Robota and the real princess chased Vermin back to the ruler's castle (formerly held by Vermin) where he shocked them all when he claimed being Terry's father.

(Planet Terry I#11) - Demanding proof, they were taken down to Vermin's secret lab basement where he claimed Terry was "born." He showed video footage of Vermin and wife placing a baby resembling Terry in a lifecraft (just as Terry had been) plus other coincidences. A "V" birthmark seemed sufficient evidence and Vermin took Terry away from the influence of his friends to foster nasty behavior. Back at his old dilapidated castle, Vermin intended to have Terry aid him in conquering Gorkel. The next day, he took Terry up in laser crafts to harass Gorkels but his efforts backfired because of Terry's kind nature. Vermin hypnotized Terry into attacking the Gorkel Royal Guard but the defense bumped Terry's head and he came to his senses. Watching on a spy screen, Vermin swore vengeance.

(Planet Terry I#12) - Terry went into space to find his "mother"; Vermin contacted him and demanded he return and then gave chase when Terry refused. Vermin found Terry with local pirate the Hood holding Hilda hostage. Vermin's interference let the Hood steal Terry's spaceship and Terry chided Vermin. Eventually Terry caught the Hood and Vermin confronted Hilda, each demanding custody of Terry until it was revealed that the Hood was their real son, Vulgar the Vile II. Rejecting his mother's good nature, Vulgar embraced the villainy of Vermin, hitting his father to prove his Vile heritage and they raced off together.

Comments: Created by Lennie Herman, Warren Kremer, Jon D'Agostino.

This profile was completed 7/25/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Vermin the Vile has no known connections to:

Scavage

Scavage was Vermin the Vile's loyal vulture. It was intelligent and could speak. Scavage's wings were strong enough to carry Vermin when flying. It also displayed shapechanging ability into other bird types for stealth missions. Scavage slept in a bed near Vermin.

(Planet Terry I#2) - Disguised as a red parrot, Scavage patrolled the jungle area protecting Vermin's citadel. Encountering Planet Terry, Omnus and Robota, Scavage flew back, transforming along the way, to report to Vermin. It stayed by Vermin's side as he tried to stop the trio's rescue of Princess Ugly. Scavage carried Vermin to safety in the ensuing citadel's destruction.

(Planet Terry I#10-12) - Scavage watched as Vermin lured Terry back to the planet. Vermin then had Scavage shapechange into a small bluebird to infiltrate the Gorkel castle to kidnap Terry, but this failed and Scavage made off with the Gorkels' sacred book instead. Soon after, Scavage was shocked by Vermin's public claim that he was Terry's father. Scavage intimidated Terry when he stayed overnight at Vermin's old castle. Scavage accompanied Vermin in his pursuit of Terry when the Vile one kept thinking Terry was his son, but disappeared when it was revealed that the pirate the Hood was Vermin's real son.

 

--Planet Terry I#2 (10-12

Turn Key

Turn Key was one of the dungeon staff of Vermin the Vile's citadel (erroneously called the "Domed City" when it should have been the "Doomed City"). Hard of hearing, he was in charge of keeping rightful ruler Princess Ugly locked up. Planet Terry, Omnus and Robota arrived to rescue her and bullied him into unlocking the room. Planet Terry broke the" evil spell" by awakening the princess and the citadel residents (including Turn Key) were overjoyed. However, all had to evacuate as the citadel soon exploded.

 

 

 

 

 

--Planet Terry I#2

images: (without ads)
Planet Terry I#2, p16, pan1 (main image)
Planet Terry I#10, p3, pan6 (headshot)
Planet Terry I#11, p10, pan6 (in laser craft)
Planet Terry I#12, p2, pan3 (Scavage, perched)
Planet Terry I#10, p9, pan5 (Scavage, flying)
Planet Terry I#2, p18, pan3 (Turn Key)

Appearances:
Planet Terry I#2 (May, 1985) - Lennie Herman (writer), Warren Kremer (pencils), Jon D'Agostino (inks), Sid Jacobson (editor)
Planet Terry I#10 (January, 1986) - Dave Manak (writer), Warren Kremer (pencils), Jacqueline Roettcher (inks), Sid Jacobson (editor)
Planet Terry I#11 (February, 1986) - Dave Manak (writer), Warren Kremer (pencils), Jacqueline Roettcher & Jon D'Agostino (inks), Sid Jacobson (editor)
Planet Terry I#12 (March, 1986) - Dave Manak (writer), Warren Kremer (pencils), Jacqueline Roettcher & Jon D'Agostino (inks), Sid Jacobson (editor)

First posted: 09/19/2021
Last updated: 09/18/2021

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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