Primus (Marvel Comics)

Primus is the name of three characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

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Arnim Zola's Primus first appeared in Captain America #209 and was created by Jack Kirby.

The alien Primus first appeared in Marvel Spotlight vol. 2 #4 and was created by Archie Goodwin and Steve Ditko.

The Flb'Dbi version of Primus first appeared in Fantastic Four #221 and was created by John Byrne.

Fictional character biography

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Arnim Zola's Primus

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Primus
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceCaptain America #209 (May 1977)[1]
Created byJack Kirby
In-story information
SpeciesAndroid
Team affiliationsThunderbolts
Notable aliasesSteve Rogers
AbilitiesShapeshifting

The first Primus is a shapeshifting bio-android, an artificial humanoid created by the mad scientist named Arnim Zola. Primus thinks independently, and has superhuman strength and can harden his body to stone-like consistency. He can also alter his shape, so as to resemble a specific human being exactly. Arnim Zola caused Primus to merge with Doughboy, which was another of his creations, and which could assume unusual shapes.[2] Primus can now turn himself into Doughboy and retain mental control of Doughboy while in the latter's form.[3]

Primus has been a foe of Captain America,[4][2][3] and the New Warriors,[5] and an ally of the Mad Thinker.[5]

Alien Primus

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Primus
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceMarvel Spotlight vol. 2, #4 (January 1980)
Created byArchie Goodwin
Steve Ditko
In-story information
Alter egoPrimus
AbilitiesTransformation into living shadow

Being born to alien parents of the planet Archko, Primus spent most of his childhood living there. At one point, he got attacked by the Screamers who killed his parents and wife Stara. Primus was revealed to have trained in the use of shadow powers originating from the Shadow Realm. He fled to Earth where he was found by the first Captain Marvel.[volume & issue needed] Together they defeated the evil Screamers, and Mar-Vell offered to help Primus get his life back in order, but Primus preferred to live alone.[6] What became of him next is unknown as Primus has not been seen since.

Flb'Dbi's Primus

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Primus
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceFantastic Four #221 (August 1980)
Created byJohn Byrne
In-story information
SpeciesFlb'Dbi
AbilitiesTelepathy

Primus led an exploratory colonization for the Flb'Dbi race which arrived on Earth over half a million years ago. After some time on Earth, a bizarre phenomenon occurred which reversed the Earth's magnetic poles rendering the Flb'Dbi's technonology inoperative. This meant that the Flb'Dbi would not be able to leave Earth until the polarity was restored. While the drones of the Flb'Dbi worked to find a way to restore the polarity, Primus and the rest of the Flb'Dbi placed themselves into a deep hypno-sleep to avoid boredom. 500,000 years later, the drones finally found a way to fix the polarity. Upon awakening from their hypno-sleep, Primus and the Flb'Dbi had no idea what had happened on Earth while they were sleeping. The Flb'Dbi then programmed their drones to construct a tower to accomplish the polarity reversal which started to have untold effects on the Earth. Mister Fantastic was unable to track the phenomena, but theorized that it was the result of the polar disruption. With his Fantastic Four teammates Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and Thing, Mister Fantastic headed to the North Pole. The Fantastic Four arrives in time to see a tower burst from the surface of the Flb'Dbi's polarity device. While Mister Fantastic, Human Torch, and Thing fought the Flb'Dbi's drones upon entering the polarity device, Invisible Woman encountered Primus and the Flb'Dbi where she learned of their story. Invisible Woman told them about the progress that Earth made. Not wanting to harm Earth's inhabitants, Primus deactivated the Polarity Towers which returned Earth to normal and then called off the drones that were fighting the Fantastic Four. Mister Fantastic then works to enable the Flb'Dbi's technology to adapt to Earth and function in its polarity. Once this was done, Primus and the Flb'Dbi boarded their ship and left Earth while Thing shattered the Polarity Towers so that nobody can use them for their own purposes.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains. New York: Facts on File. p. 271. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.[1]
  2. ^ a b Captain America #210 (June 1977)
  3. ^ a b Captain America #276 (December 1982)
  4. ^ Captain America #209 (May 1977)
  5. ^ a b New Warriors Vol. 1 #3 (September 1990)
  6. ^ Marvel Spotlight #4
  7. ^ Fantastic Four #221
[edit]
  • Primus I at Marvel Wiki
  • Primus I at Comic Vine
  • Primus II at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
  • Primus III at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe