Black Bolt

Superherobox|


caption=Black Bolt on the cover of "Silent War" #1 (Jan. 2007).
Art by John Watson.
character_name=Black Bolt
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Fantastic Four" #45 (Dec. 1965)
creators=Stan Lee
Jack Kirby
real_name= Blackagar Boltagon
species = Inhuman
homeworld = Attilan
alliances=Inhuman Royal Family
Illuminati
aliases=
supports =
powers=Superhuman physical attributes
Flight
Destructive hypersonic voice
Molecular manipulation|

Black Bolt is a fictional character that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in "Fantastic Four" #45 (Dec. 1965) and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Fictional character biography

Blackagar Boltagon is the son of two formerly pre-eminent Inhumans — Agon, head of the ruling Council of Genetics, and Rynda, director of the Prenatal Care Center. In accordance with Inhuman standard practice, Black Bolt is subjected to the mutagenic Terrigen Mist while still an embryo. As an infant, he demonstrates the ability to manipulate energy, particularly the ability to generate quasi-sonic energy through his voice. To protect the community, Black Bolt is placed inside a sound-proof chamber and given an energy-harnessing suit. Agon then tutors his son in how to control his powers, until permitted to re-enter society as a young man - having vowed never to speak. His younger brother Maximus attacks Black Bolt upon his release from confinement, in an attempt to prove that Black Bolt cannot control his sonic powers. ["Thor" #148 - 149 (Jan. - Feb. 1968)]

Only a month after being awarded his freedom, Black Bolt discovers Maximus in the process of making a pact with emissaries of the alien Kree, the race whose genetic experiments first created the Inhumans. Black Bolt uses his powers to stop an escaping Kree vessel, but due to his inexperience miscalculates, causing it to crash and accidentally kill several members of the Council of Genetics — including his parents. These events drive Maximus insane. ["Avengers" #95 (Jan. 1972)(flashback)] Despite his guilt, Black Bolt reluctantly accepts rulership of the Inhumans, and together with his cousins Medusa, Gorgon, Karnak, Triton, and Crystal, they form the Royal Family, with giant pet bulldog Lockjaw completing their entourage. Black Bolt eventually marries his cousin Medusa ["Fantastic Four" Annual #18 (1984)] and they have a son named Ahura. ["The Inhumans" Graphic Novel (1988)]

Black Bolt is later driven from Attilan by Maximus' creation, the Trikon, [Revealed in "Inhumans Special" #1 (Apr. 1990)] but later regains the throne and befriends the Fantastic Four. Maximus then traps Black Bolt within Attilan using a Negative Zone barrier, ["Fantastic Four" #45 - 48 (Dec. 1965 - Mar. 1966)] although Black Bolt manages to shatter the barrier, and leaves the Great Refuge to visit the outside world. ["Fantastic Four" #59 - 61 (Feb - Apr. 1967)]

Black Bolt has made several significant decisions in his time as ruler. When Triton was kidnapped by humans and subsequently escaped, Black Bolt decided to move Attilan. He relocated the Inhuman city of Attilan several times (from an island in the Atlantic to the Himalayas ["What If" #30 (Dec. 1981)] to the Blue Area of the Moon ["Fantastic Four" #240 (Mar. 1982)] to the raised city of Atlantis ["Atlantis Rising" #2 (1995)] to the Himalayas again ["The Inhumans" #12 vol. 2 (1989)] and even into outer space "The Inhumans" #1 - 4 vol. 3 (2000)] before returning to the Moon ["Fantastic Four" #54 (Jun. 2002)] , dismantling the Genetic Council's power ["Fantastic Four Unlimited" #2 (1993)] and freeing the Alpha Primitives, the slave caste of Attilan. ["Fantastic Four" #132 (Mar. 1973)] While Black Bolt has also successfully fended off several attempts by both Maximus ["Inhumans" #5 - 6 (Jun. - Jul. 1975) + "Fantastic Four" #240 (Mar. 1982) + "Avengers" Annual #12 (1982)] and the Kree to seize power and destroy the Royal Family, his reign has also been marked by a period of exile, ["The Inhumans: Untold Story" (1990)] voluntary abdication, ["Fantastic Four Unlimited" #2 (1993)] and rejection by his subjects.

While the Inhumans choose to live in segregation, Black Bolt and the other members of the Royal Family have come into contact with modern age superheroes time and again. Some of Black Bolt's feats include smashing a machine devised by the time-traveling Kang the Conqueror to imprison the Avengers; ["Marvel Team-Up" #11 (Jan. 1973)] defeating the Sphinx; ["Fantastic Four" Annual #12 (1977)] aiding Fantastic Four member the Thing against mutated villain Graviton; ["Marvel Two-In-One" Annual #4 (1979)] defusing a missile launched at Attilan by the villain Maelstrom ["Marvel Two-In-One" #72 (Feb. 1981)] and empowering heroine Dazzler so that she could defeat the Absorbing Man. ["Dazzler" #19 (Sept. 1982)]

On several occasions Black Bolt has also required the aid of the heroes - to assist with the defeats of robotic villain Ultron ["Fantastic Four" #150 (Sept. 1974)] and later the immortal mutant, Apocalypse, ["X-Factor" #65 - 68 (Apr. - July 1991)] and escapes for the Inhumans from Earth's harmful pollutants ["Fantastic Four" #240 (March 1982)] and captivity by Maximus. ["Avengers" Annual #12 (1982)]

Civil War

Although a one-time member of the superhero council the Illuminati (and current possessor of the Space Infinity Gem), Black Bolt rejected the Superhuman Registration Act and refuses to become involved. Courtesy of the hero Sentry, Black Bolt monitors the situation. ["Civil War" #1 - 7 (2006 - 2007) ]

When the mutant Quicksilver steals a canister of Terrigen crystals from Attilan, Black Bolt and the rest of the Royal Family attempts to retrieve it. The US military, however, wants the crystals and attacks the Inhumans. Believing the stolen crystals should be returned to Attilan, Black Bolt issues a warning to the United States concerning further acts of aggression, and eventually launches an offensive against the nation. Gorgon and others are captured during their foray, which prompts Black Bolt to personally head a team to rescue their fellow Inhumans and retrieve the crystals. While the mission is successful, Maximus takes advantage of the situation and overthrows and temporarily incarcerates Black Bolt. ["Son of M" #6 (Feb. - July 2006) ["Silent War" # 1 - 6 (Jan - Aug 2007)]

Black Bolt then seemingly suffers another serious setback when he is brutally beaten by the Hulk, who is seeking revenge on Black Bolt for his role in Hulk's exile from Earth. ["World War Hulk" #1 (July 2007)] However, it has subsequently been revealed that Black Bolt had been ambushed prior to the events of "World War Hulk", presumably on his way to an Illuminati meeting, and replaced by an alien Skrull agent. ["Secret Invasion: Inhumans" #3 ] The Skrull doppleganger was the one beaten by the Hulk, and is later killed by Namor. [ [Illuminati #5 (June 2007)] The true Black Bolt has been a prisoner of the Skrulls, who intend to use his voice as a weapon of mass destruction. ["Secret Invasion: Inhumans" #1]

War of Kings

Black Bolt and the Inhumans face the villain Vulcan and the Shiar Empire. [ [http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=17456 CCI: DnA and Rosemann on “War of Kings”] , Comic Book Resources, July 27, 2008] [cite web|last= Morse|first= Ben|title= SDCC '08: War of Kings|publisher= Marvel|date= 2008-07-26|url= http://www.marvel.com/news/comicstories.4329.SDCC_%7Eapos%7E08%7Ecolon%7E_War_of_Kings|accessdate= 2007-07-18] [Also indicated in "Marvel: Your Universe Saga" (September 2008).]

Powers and abilities

Black Bolt's powers are the result of electron manipulation. The speech center of Black Bolt's brain contains an organic mechanism able to generate a currently unknown type of particle which interacts with ambient electrons to create certain phenomena determined by mental control. Through electron gathering and manipulation, Black Bolt can increase any aspect of his physical nature to superhuman levels, including his strength, speed, stamina, and durability. He can channel his power into a single devastating punch called "The Master Blow". This act, however, leaves Black Bolt exhausted and he must recover afterwards. Black Bolt can also harness the electrons for matter transformation, the controlled projection of energy as concussive blasts or quasi-solid particle/electron fields, broadcasting jamming frequencies, and flight.

Black Bolt's most prominent offensive weapon is his voice, as a hypersonic whisper can level a city, ["Thor" #148 (Jan. 1968)] or awaken distant volcanoes and cause tremors on a continent on the far side of the planet. It has even been stated as capable of destroying a planet. It once took Black Bolt a mere whisper to stun the Hulk after the latter had defeated the entire Inhuman Royal Family. ["Hulk" King-Size Special #1 (1968)] Due to the extreme danger posed by his voice, Black Bolt has undergone rigorous mental training to prevent himself from uttering a sound, even in his sleep. The fork-like antenna on Black Bolt's forehead allows him to use his voice in a more channeled manner.

Other versions

Age of Apocalypse

Black Bolt and his family were slaughtered by Maximus, and then cloned by Maximus to serve as his personal guard. [39 issues across 1995 - 1996]

Earth X

Set on Earth-9997, Black Bolt releases the Terrigen Mist into Earth's atmosphere, granting powers to all humanity. ["Earth X" #0 - 12 (1999 - 2000)]

Heroes Reborn

This version of Black Bolt and the Inhumans worship statues of Galactus and his Heralds. ["Heroes Reborn: Fantastic Four" v2. #1 - 13 (1995 - 1996)]

House of M

In this incarnation, Black Bolt appears as an ally of Black Panther. ["House of M" #1 - 8 (Jun. 2005 - Jan. 2006)]

Marvel Zombies

Black Bolt initially appears as one of the surviving heroes but is later "zombified". ["Marvel Zombies" #1 - 8 (2003)]

Mutant X

This version of Black Bolt leads a team of Inhumans and Eternals into battle against the Beyonder and Dracula. ["Mutant X" #1 - 32 (Oct.98 - Jun 01)]

Ultimate Black Bolt

The Ultimate Black Bolt has the same abilities and limitations as his mainstream counterpart, and uses his abilities to destroy Attilan after it is infiltrated by the Fantastic Four. ["Ultimate Fantastic Four" Annual #1]

Other media

Television

* Black Bolt appeared in the 1994 "Fantastic Four" TV series.

Video games

* Black Bolt appears as a non-player character in the console game "".

References

External links

* [http://marvel.com/universe/Black_Bolt Black Bolt] at Marvel.com
* [http://marvel.com/universe/Black_Bolt_%28Ultimate%29 Ultimate Black Bolt] at Marvel.com
* [http://www.marveldatabase.com/Black_Bolt Marvel Database Project] entry for Black Bolt