ISUM
Real Name:
Isum
Occupation:
God of messengers and travelers
Legal Status:
Citizen of Celestial Dilmun
Identity: The general populace of Earth is unaware of the existence of Isum except as a mythological deity.
Other Aliases:
Endursaga (Early Sumerian name), Isimmud (Babylonian name), Hasamelis (Hittite
name), Imbaluris (Hattic name)
Place of Birth:
Marital Status: Married
Known Relatives:
Nanna
(father), Ningal (mother), Nusku, Usmu, Rundas (brothers), Shamash,
Ninazu, Ursanabi (uncles), Ninshubar (wife), Aya (aunt), Misharu, Kittu, Ninatta,
Kulitta (cousins), Hapantallis (cousin, deceased), Enlil
(grandfather), Ninlil (grandmother), Anu
(great-grandfather), Asherah
(great-grandmother), Gaea (ancestor, alias Ninhursag and Tiamat)
Group Affiliations: The Gods of Mesopotamia
Base of Operations:
Celestial Dilmun
First Appearance: Isum has not appeared in the Marvel or DC Universes
History: Isum is a member of an extra-dimensional race of beings known as the Anunnaki, who were worshipped as gods by the Ancient Sumerians and other Mesopotamian races that developed after the end of the Hyborian Age. The Anunnaki were ruled by Anu, who lead them to overthrow the subservience of their much older ancestors, but Anu was himself overthrown by his son, Enlil, who believed it was time for him to lead the gods. Anu departed the Earth for another dimension. When Hadad sought to overthrow Enlil, he was supported by Shamash, the sun-god, father of Isum. Enlil was overthrown and Hadad assumed rule as chieftain of the Mesopotamian gods.
When Enlil overthrew Anu, Isum delivered the news to Ea, the sea-god, that his brother, Anu, had been overthrown. Ea, meanwhile, supported his nephews' siege in order to try and reclaim the throne. Forced into exile, Enlil sought out the sea-goddess Upelluri to sire a son to stand by him when he returned later to retake his throne. This son would be called Ullikummis and Enlil had Isum deliver the infant to the Isirru, demonic entities in the underworld, to conceal him until he was strong enough. There is no indication to suggest that Isum was aware in his duplicity in Enlil's future plans. When Enlil returned with the giant Ullikummis to try and retake rule of the gods, Isum delivered the news of Ullikummis's approach and rallied the gods to war. Enlil was successful in his retaliation, but Ea intervened again and gave Isum the weapon to deliver to Hadad to slay Ullikummis and retake the throne.
Hadad eventually surrendered the throne to Marduk, son of Ea, who became the patron god of the Babylonian Empire. The gods loyal to Anu meanwhile became known as the Igigi as they departed Earth to preside in the other-dimensional realm of Celestial Dilmun, named for a region of modern Bahrain. Isum carried messages from Celestial Dilmun to Earth and back again as his brother, Usmu, stood guard at the gates of the city. Worship of the Mesopotamian gods eventually fell into decline as the Greek armies invaded, leading to enmity with the Olympian gods until recent. Isum and Hermes of the Olympian gods have antagonized each other for years, but they actually harbor respect for each other in the spirit of rivalry.
Isum's current activities are unrevealed.
Height: 5' 8"
Weight: 345 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black
Strength Level: Isum possesses superhuman strength enabling him to lift
(press) 25 tons under optimal conditions.
Known Superhuman Powers: Isum possesses the conventional physical attributes
of the Anunnaki or Mesopotamian gods. Like all of the Anunnaki, he is extremely
long-lived, but he is not immortal like the Olympian gods. He has aged at am
exceptionally slow rate since
reaching adulthood and cannot die by any conventional means. He is immune to all
Earthly diseases and is resistant to conventional injury. If he were somehow
wounded, his godly life force would enable him to recover with superhuman speed. It
would take an injury of such magnitude that it dispersed a major portion of his
bodily molecules to cause him a physical death. Even then, it might be possible for
a god of significant power, such as Anu, Ea or Enlil or for a number of
Mesopotamian gods of equal power working together to revive him. Isum also possesses
superhuman strength and his Anunnaki metabolism provides him with far greater than
human endurance in all physical activities. (Anunnaki flesh and bone is about three
times as dense as similar human tissue, contributing to the superhuman
strength and weight of the Mesopotamian gods.)
Isum is faster and quicker than the majority of the Mesopotamian gods. He can run at speeds approaching the speed of light, giving him the illusion of teleporting and materializing. He is virtually inexhaustible; his body being sustained by mystical energies. Unlike other messenger gods, such as Hermes and Hermod, Isum finds he must slow down to make turns and maneuverability, rendering him to decrease his speed to a point he can be seen, making him vulnerable to be seen even at top speed. Otherwise, his ability to run beyond the range of sight seems to just barely exceed that of Hermes.
Abilities: Isum is a capable warrior in unarmed combat.
Comments: Isum has yet to appear in Marvel or DC Comics.
Clarifications: Isum is not to be
confused with:
Last updated: 06/08/08