Klaatu (comics)

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caption = Klaatu in "Incredible Hulk" vol. 2 #136 (Feb 1971). Pencils by Herb Trimpe, inks by Sal Buscema.
comic_color = background:#ff8080
character_name = Klaatu
publisher = Marvel Comics
debut = "Incredible Hulk" #136 (Feb 1971).
creators = Roy Thomas, Herb Trimpe
alliance_color = background:#c0c0ff
real_name =
alliances =
species = Herm
aliases = The Behemoth From Beyond Space
powers = energy absorption

Klaatu is a fictional Marvel Comics alien. He first appeared in "The Incredible Hulk" vol. 2 #136 (Feb 1971). His character history was a thinly veiled pastiche of Moby Dick. [The story of Klaatu's reappearance in "The Incredible Hulk" vol. 2 #307 is titled "Call me Ishmael, Call Me ... Hulk!"] Klaatu's origin story is reprinted in "The Essential Incredible Hulk Volume 3". ["The Essential Incredible Hulk Vol. 3", ISBN 0-7851-1689-3]

Fictional character biography

Klaatu was once attacked by the Andromeda Starship, in a manner reminiscent of terrestrial whaling. Klaatu destroyed the craft carrying a young "oarsman" who was badly burned as a result, requiring nearly half his body to be reconstructed with cybernetics. This young man grew up to become the obsessed Captain Cybor, who would stalk Klaatu for the rest of his life as captain of the Andromeda Starship.

On Earth, in New York City during a power shortage, the Hulk jumped to the top of the Empire State Building, as he sensed a disturbance there. At the top of the building the Hulk saw the Andromeda Starship and a harpoon-wielding Xeron the Star-Slayer, while an immaterial Klaatu emerged from the building itself, causing a complete blackout in the city. A confused Hulk attacked Klaatu, to no effect, and the creature disappeared, telling the Hulk it was going to consume all the electricity of the city.cite book | last = Sanderson | first = Peter | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = The Marvel Comics Guide to New York City | publisher = Pocket Books | date = 2007 | location = New York City | pages = 49-51 | url = | doi = | id = | isbn = 1-14653-141-6] Xeron, irritated at the Hulk for causing him to lose his quarry, knocked him unconscious with an energy harpoon. Upon waking, the Hulk was attacked by the ship's first mate, the Abomination. ["The Incredible Hulk" vol. 2 #136 (February 1971)]

The Andromeda Starship later confronted Klaatu again, and Xeron and Cybor were able to mortally wound the creature before their own ship was severely damaged in the process. While Xeron tried to save the ship and its crew, Cybor fell onto the creature's back as it drifted into space and apparently into the sun, presumably to both their deaths, while the Andromeda Starship appeared stranded in space. ["The Incredible Hulk" vol. 2 #137 (March 1971)]

Years later it is revealed that Klaatu was not killed, but rejuvenated by the sun's energies, and had saved Xeron and Cybor and the Andromeda Starship. The Hulk encountered him again in the Crossroads, an interdimensional nexus in which the Hulk was then trapped. The Hulk, in a more feral state of mind, attacked Klaatu, again to no effect. Klaatu departs before the arrival of the Andromeda Starship, which is still pursuing Captain Cybor's vendetta, and which captures the Hulk, and then follows Klaatu into "Ocean World". ["The Incredible Hulk" vol. 2 #306]

The Andromeda Starship confronts Klaatu again, but must break off the attack when the Hulk wakes up and starts tearing the ship apart. The starship again finds Klaatu, and again apparently mortally wounds it with several energy harpoons. Angered, the creature destroys the ship, killing its entire crew. The Hulk takes pity on Klaatu, however, and removes the energy harpoons from its body, presumably saving its life. ["The Incredible Hulk" vol. 2 #307]

Notes

References

* [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/klaatuhu.htm Klaatu] at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe