Gargantua (comics)

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caption=
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Gargantua
real_name=Edward Cobert
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Defenders" #126 (Dec 1983)
creators=Alan Kupperberg and J.M. DeMatteis
alliance_color=background:#cccccc
status=
affiliations=S.H.I.E.L.D. Secret Empire Masters of Evil
aliases=Leviathan
powers=Size-shifting|

Gargantua (Edward Cobert) is a fictional character and exists in the Marvel Universe. He first appeared in Defenders #126.

Fictional character biography

Edward Cobert started out as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and scientist working on an experiment called Project: Lazarus (or, the Olympus Project). The project went horribly wrong when he tested it on himself, causing Edward to be stuck in giant-size with a greatly limited intelligence. He went on a rampage until he was subdued by S.H.I.E.L.D., and was dubbed Leviathan. However, he escaped S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, and battled and was subdued by the Defenders. He was later freed from S.H.I.E.L.D. custody by Professor Power and the Secret Empire who arranged for his release and used him as a henchman, only to be defeated by the Defenders again. ["Defenders" #126]

The Secret Empire freed him again when the Defenders infiltrated the Secret Empire's HQ and he helped capture the Defenders. Even so, the Defenders escaped and overthrew the Secret Empire again. ["Defenders" #128]

Leviathan later became the guardian of another incarnation of the Secret Empire. As a henchman of Professor Power again, he battled and was defeated by the then-current Captain America (who later became known as the U.S. Agent) and Bucky (who later became known as Battlestar). ["Captain America" #338]

Edward Cobert later became a pawn of the Mad Thinker who gave him the new costumed guise of Gargantua. The Mad Thinker used Gargantua as a field agent, hoping that he would be publicly defeated by Wasp and Wonder Man (who were engaged at the time in high-profile protests against the government's first proposed legislation regarding superhero registration/regulation). As planned, they defeated Gargantua and Mad Thinker helped sway the public opinion against the legislation. ["Avengers Spotlight" #28]

Gargantua later became a part-time member of Doctor Octopus' Masters of Evil where they plotted to storm the Avengers Mansion while they were away. This was made easier when many of the superheroes were replaced with evil doppelgangers of them during the "Infinity War". The Masters of Evil were thwarted by the Guardians of the Galaxy who were visiting the Avengers Mansion at the time. Both teams had to work together to stop the doppelgangers. Gargantua was among the members who revolted against Doctor Octopus when he wanted to continue the fight against the Guardians. After Doctor Octopus fled, his Masters of Evil disbanded.

When it came to a small town that was renamed "Hulk", Gargantua joined Abomination and Titania into attacking it to lure out the Hulk. They retreated when they realized that the Hulk wasn't there.

In the JLA/Avengers crossover, Gargantua was among the villains pulled from time and space by Krona to guard his stronghold from the Avengers and the Justice League.

Powers and abilities

Thanks to artificial cellular enhancement, Gargantua possesses the ability to draw upon mass from another dimension in order to grow in stature and strength. Since his first appearance, he remains stuck at a minimum height of approximately 20-25 feet, giving him superhuman strength and durability. He possesses severely limited intelligence as a side effect of his physical transformation, leaving his IQ below normal.

Edward Cobert was a S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy graduate, and earned a PhD. in biochemistry before his transformation.

Bibliography

* (New) Defenders vol. 1 #126-128
* Captain America vol. 1 #338
* Avengers Spotlight #28
* New Warriors vol. 1 #36
* Guardians of the Galaxy #28-29
* Incredible Hulk Annual vol. 2 #19
* JLA/Avengers #4

References

External links

* [http://www.marvel.com/universe/Gargantua Gargantua] at Marvel.com
* [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/gargantualeviathan.htm Gargantua] at Marvel Appendix