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Hello and welcome to another edition of Marvel Snapshot! In this week’s character spotlight, I’ll be featuring another cosmic great with Terrax the Tamer! Currently in my other column, I’m writing about a Fantastic Four story that shows exactly what his origins are, so I’ll be brief with that part and lean more towards what he’s been up to since. Currently, well, he might be dead, so let’s get to the eulogy of Terrax! Oh, who am I kidding, he’ll probably be back next week! Terrax was created by Marv Wolfman and John Byrne in 1979 (FF #211).

Tyros, as was his birth name, is a ruthless killer bent on nothing but destruction. This was not always the case, though, as he was plucked from his home by Galactus, and turned into his new herald. Right away, he was pitted against the Fantastic Four, and this would be the most recurring enemy throughout his life. Initially, he was a willing servant of Galactus, but this wouldn’t last long. He always harbored feelings of anger towards Galactus for taking him against his will to serve him. He eventually betrayed Galactus and left his side, his herald no longer.
Terrax next met the one time X-Man Dazzler, and the two fought. Somehow…Dazzler won. Don’t ask me how a character that has powers that are best used at a glam rock concert beats a cosmic herald. Anyhow, next he came face to face with Rom the Spaceknight! He was defeated by Rom and his fellow Spaceknights, and then turned his attention back to Earth. He used his powers to levitate Manhattan into space to try and provoke the Fantastic Four into a brawl. He remained upset about the earlier defeat at their hands, but this time he used this leverage to make the Fantastic Four fight his former master, Galactus! Terrax ended up falling from space to Earth and almost died. While recuperating at a hospital, he was rescued by Doctor Doom. Doom helped the now depowered Terrax to regain a portion of his cosmic powers, but Terrax didn’t realize that this would come with a price. He could only live for about twenty-four hours, and then he would disperse into nothing. Doom did this so Terrax would help him beat the Fantastic Four, but in the end, he was not happy with the arrangement with Doom, so he attacked him. It took the efforts of the Silver Surfer and the Fantastic Four to stop him. He then exploded into nothingness.

Terrax is later reformed on a few different occasions. Once by a scientist looking to subjugate his powers, and another time by Grandmaster for one of his crazy galactic games. Terrax had a couple of battles against the New Warriors, and made a couple of appearances in Annihilation, as well. In that story, he was initially captured by Annihilus, but was then freed and seen with Paibok. The last Terrax was seen, was recently when Nova arrived on Terrax’s home planet of Birj, to warn everyone to leave because the planet was in terrible danger. Terrax scoffed at the idea that something was coming that he couldn’t handle, so he stayed. Moments later, the Phoenix Force smashed the planet into pieces.
Is he dead for real? Probably not, and I honestly hope he isn’t , because he’s quite a formidable foe for anyone! As usual, check out my recommended reading list along with some of Terrax’s best issues! See you next week!
Recommended Reading
Fantastic Four: In Search of Galactus – HC
Fantastic Four: The Trial Of Galactus – Tpb
Cosmic Powers #1-6 (1994)
Silver Surfer #73, 74, 75, 79, 80, 81, 82, & 97 (1987)
Annihilation vol. 1 – Tpb
Annihilation Silver Surfer – Tpb
Marvel Point One #1 (2010)

 
Billy Dunleavy
billy@comicattack.net