Magl

MAGL

Real Name: Magl

Class: Human

Occupation: Shaman

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Prehistoric Earth

First Appearance: Kong the Untamed #1 (June-July, 1975)

Powers: Magl knew the magical rituals associated with being a shaman.

History: (Kong The Untamed #1) - Magl was the shaman of a tribe led by Trog the One-Eyed. During a search for new hunting grounds Trog’s clan was ambushed by Beast Men, and Attu, one of his mates who was about to give birth fled to a nearby mountaintop. The moon was full, and Attu believed it was a sign that the moon goddess Lural was watching over her. Her son was born and she brought him to Magl. Her son had blonde hair like the legendary warrior Kong, and Magl believed her son was Kong reincarnated and destined to grow up to be a legendary warrior. Trog didn’t like the idea that his son could one day challenge him for leadership of the tribe, and raised his axe to kill the child. Attu staid his hand, and for defying him he banished both Attu and Kong from the clan. Magl sprayed them with powder made from bear teeth and declared them cursed. Attu found no tribe member willing to help her because they all feared Trog. Over the first few years of Kong’s life she taught him to forage and use medicinal herbs, and as a young boy Kong spied on hunters from his former tribe, learning their ways. From a distance Attu and Kong watched on as Karas challenged Trog for leadership of the clan. Trog killed his rival, and Attu told Kong about her belief that one day he would become a warrior mightier than Trog. Kong sought to prove himself, and stole a brand from the sacred fire Trog’s clan kept, an offense punishable by death were he to be caught, and Attu praised him. A few years later Kong practiced hunting, but was captured by the Beast Man Gurat. Beast Men always tried to kill their Cro-Magnon rivals on sight, so Gurat tied Kong up, cut his chest with a knife, and waited for big cats to be attracted to the smell of blood and devour him. Kong freed himself from the bonds, and lured Gurat into a pitfall trap. Gurat climbed out, but Kong was ready for him, and threw a sharp spear into his chest. Atta brought Kong before Trog, saying he’d earned their way back into the tribe with his show of bravery. Trog said he didn’t believe him, so Kong left to retrieve Gurat’s weapons and prove his deed. Gurat’s fellow Beast Men were waiting for Kong, and abducted him. Attu worried when her son hadn’t returned to Trog’s cave and went looking for him, again defying Trog, who said he’d kill her if she tried to find their son. The Beast Men had Kong tied up, and were getting ready to cook him, but Attu freed him, and they fled. The Beast Men threw spears at the fleeing mother and child, and one struck Attu in her leg. Attu told Kong to go on without her, but he refused, hiding with her on a nearby hillside. Kong left to find herbs that would stop her bleeding, but when he returned he found Attu dead, having been tortured and hung. The footprints leading away from the scene indicated Trog as the murderer and Kong vowed to make him pay.

(Kong The Untamed #3) - Kong and Gurat, now his blood brother, were hunting a boar, but a sabretooth tiger took their prey. Kong wanted to kill the sabretooth, but Gurat advised against it, and pointed out that a storm was brewing, so they sought shelter in a cave. Deep within the cave they witnessed Magl and Kong’s former tribe performing a ritual to appease their gods. The sabretooth made it’s lair in the cave and appeared, frightening off Magl and his tribe. Kong and Gurat happily feasted on the meat Magl had brought to offer the gods, but Magl and his men soon returned. Magl accused the pair of sacrilege, and his men were able to overwhelm Kong and Gurat. They brought the pair to Trog, who was amused that Kong wanted to kill him to avenge his mother. Trog offered to fight him one-on-one, and easily pummeled the boy. Trog ordered Kong and Gurat to be bound, and they were hung over a fire pit to be roasted alive. Magl pointed out that a nearby volcano was belching smoke, obscuring the moon, but as the smoke dissipated it revealed a full moon. Magl said it was a sign that Lural disapproved of her chosen warrior Kong being killed by Trog. Trog freed Kong, and told his son he’d give him a chance to prove himself, handing him a spear and telling him to kill Gurat. Kong threw the spear at the ropes that bound Gurat, freeing him, and they ran. Trog and his tribe pursued them, but the volcano erupted, spewing lava, and they scattered in terror.

Comments: Created by Jack Oleck & Alfredo Alcala.

Magl had a cameo in Kong The Untamed #5.