Centurious

Not to be confused with Centurius.

Centurious
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Ghost Rider #74 (Nov 1982)
Created by	J. M. DeMatteis and Bob Budiansky
In-story information
Team affiliations	Hood's Crime Syndicate
Notable aliases	The Man Without a Soul
Abilities	Immortality Practitioner of Magical Arts

Centurious is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.

Centurious was a servant of Mephisto and an enemy of Zarathos. In combating Zarathos, he became a regular foe of the first Ghost Rider.

Fictional character biography

In prehistoric times, the man who would come to be known as Centurious was the prince of an Amerindian tribe. He bargained his soul to Mephisto in order to combat the demon Zarathos and save the woman he loved, becoming a soulless immortal in the process.^[1] He lived many lifetimes and learned many things over the following centuries. In Ancient Egypt, he studied the mystic arts, and acquired the Crystal of Souls.^[2] He had many occupations, aliases, and wives in the years to come, including that of the owner of a Louisiana plantation.

In modern times, he first encountered and battled Johnny Blaze, the Ghost Rider.^[3] He used Reverend Dombue to control the town of Holly. Centurious battled the Ghost Rider again, trapping Johnny Blaze in the soul crystal.^[4] The soul crystal was shattered by the Ghost Rider, which freed John Blaze's soul from the soul crystal. Centurious and Zarathos were then trapped within the soul crystal, battling each other.^[5]

Years later, Centurious was revealed to have granted supernatural powers to Reverend Styge, the third Sin-Eater. Centurious disciplined Styge after his defeat by the second Ghost Rider, Daniel Ketch.^[6] Centurious set Steel Wind and Steel Vengeance against the new Ghost Rider and John Blaze.^[7] Hag, Troll, and Deathwatch were turned over to Centurious by Steel Wind and Steel Vengeance.^[8] He then set the Firm against Ghost Rider and Archangel. Centurious killed his minion Mr. Stern for disobeying orders, and captured Heart Attack. His identity as the head of the Firm was revealed,^[9] as was his face finally revealed.^[10] He again battled Ghost Rider, and formed an alliance with the Lilin.^[11]

After Centurious almost killed Dan Ketch's mother, Dan was enraged and turned into Ghost Rider. He battled Centurious and out of nowhere, a spirit-like body comes out of Centurious' chest. This spirit was Zarathos and it was revealed that Zarathos had been hiding inside Centurious all along. Zarathos was also the reason why Centurious had become very powerful. He lost a great amount of power after Zarathos left his body, but he still retained his former power. Lilith manipulated Zarathos by convincing him he was her son, and he joined her. Then Lilith declares that Centurious is useless and that she no longer needs him, now that she has Zarathos. Centurious is enraged and attacks Lilith. However Pilgrim, Lilith's son, uses his claws and slices his chest, greviously wounding him. Pilgrim wants him to suffer and waits for his other brother, Outcast, to finish Centurious off. Before that happens, Centurious attacks Lilith yet again, and Zarathos uses his energy to hurl Centurious in the sky. Everyone thinks he is dead after that.^{[volume & issue needed]}

In later issues, it was revealed that he wasn't dead. He was still recovering from the wounds he had received by the Lilin and Zarathos.^{[volume & issue needed]} John Blaze finds out that he's alive with the use of his psychic friend, Claire, and goes after Centurious, as does Steel Wind, when Blaze tells her he's alive.^{[volume & issue needed]} Blaze searches for him in the sewers and is captured by Centurious' demons.^{[volume & issue needed]} Blaze tries to attack with his knife but Centurious kicks it off and takes his gun from him too. Steel Wind returns just before Centurious can kill Blaze. Centurious asks her if she would like to do it instead. Steel Wind betrays Centurious and attacks him and his demons instead. He states that Mephisto may have taken his soul, but he took her humanity and killed her sister, Steel Vengeance. Before Steel Wind can kill him, Blaze intervenes and says that if she kills him, then she'll be giving her last piece of humanity to Centurious, thus making her an emotionless cold killer. She agrees, thanks Blaze and rides off. Blaze, however, can never forgive Centurious. He takes his gun and shoots Centurious in the head, seemingly killing him.^[12]

During the Siege storyine, Centurious appeared as a member of the Hood's crime syndicate.^[13]

Powers and abilities

Centurious was conferred with immortality upon selling his soul to Mephisto. Over his long life, he has become an adept practitioner of the mystic arts. He has the ability to manipulate the forces of magic to magically enhance his strength, durability, and stamina, to control the natural elements of earth, air, fire, and water, for the abilities of telekinesis, levitation, illusion-casting, and mental control of some lower animals and of humans under certain circumstances.

Centurious once used the Crystal of Souls, a power source for his abilities that imprisoned the souls of his victims.

Centurious is proficient in various hand-to-hand combat techniques learned over many ages, but prefers not to engage in physical combat.

References

1. ^ revealed in Ghost Rider Vol. 2 #77
2. ^ revealed in Ghost Rider Vol. 2 #80
3. ^ Ghost Rider Vol. 2 #74
4. ^ Ghost Rider Vol. 2 #80
5. ^ Ghost Rider Vol. 2 #81
6. ^ Ghost Rider Vol. 3 #18
7. ^ Spirits of Vengeance #7
8. ^ Spirits of Vengeance #9
9. ^ Ghost Rider Vol. 3 #37
10. ^ Spirits of Vengeance #10
11. ^ Spirits of Vengeance #11
12. ^ Blaze #13
13. ^ New Avengers #64

External links

• Centurious at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe