Makkari (comics) 5559211 225903017 2008-07-15T23:02:14Z 69.182.106.217 /* Fictional character biography */ fixed other Whizzer link {{otheruses4|the Eternal|other comic book characters named "Mercury"|Mercury (comics)}} {{For|other "Hurricanes" in comics|Hurricane (comics)}} {{for|the Arab historian|Makkari}} {{Superherobox| <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics--> image=[[Image:Makkari 1.jpg|250px]] |caption=Variant to ''Eternals'' #2 (2006).<br>Art by [[John Romita, Jr.]] |comic_color=background:#ff8080 |character_name=Makkari |real_name=Makkari |publisher=[[Marvel Comics]] |debut=''Red Raven Comics'' #1 (Aug 1940) as Mercury;<br>''Captain America Comics'' #1 (March 1941) as Hurricane;<br>''Eternals'' #1 (1976) as Makkari. |creators=Jack Kirby |alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0 |alliances=[[Eternals (comics)|Eternals]]<br/>[[First Line (comics)|First Line]]<br/>[[Monster Hunters]] |aliases=Mike Khary, Frank Harper, Mark Curry, Jake Curtiss, Major Mercury, Hurricane, Mercury, Adam Clayton, Mac Curry, Michael Gray, Thoth |powers='''Formerly''':<br>Immortality<br>Superhuman speed, strength and durability<br>Accelerated [[healing factor]]<br>Cosmic energy manipulation<br>Energy blasts<br>Flight<br>Illusion generation<br>Matter transmutation<br>[[Telekinesis]]<br>Teleportation<br>'''Currently''':<br>Immortality<br>Superhuman strength and speed<br>Ability to communicate with the [[Dreaming Celestial]] |}} '''Makkari''', formerly known as '''Hurricane''' and '''Mercury''', is a member of the [[Eternals (comics)|Eternals]], a [[fictional character|fictional]] race of [[superhumans]] in the [[Marvel Comics]] [[Marvel universe|universe]]. He was created by [[writer]]-[[artist]] [[Jack Kirby]] in the 1976-1978 [[comic book]] series ''The Eternals''. [[Marvel Comics]] continuity was later [[retcon]]ned so that the character presented as the [[mythological]] [[god (male deity)|god]] [[Mercury (mythology)|Mercury]], introduced as a Marvel protagonist in ''[[Red Raven|Red Raven Comics]]'' #1 (Aug. 1940; "Mercury In the 20th Century" by artist Kirby and writer Martin A. Bursten, [[pen name]] "Burstein") was, in fact, Makkari. ==Publication history== Originally, Makkari was a relatively minor character in Jack Kirby's ''The Eternals''. [[Mark Gruenwald]] later reintroduced Makkari as a long-running supporting character in the ''[[Quasar (comics)|Quasar]]'' series. Makkari is featured as the main character in the Marvel [[limited series]] ''Eternals'', written by [[Neil Gaiman]] and penciled by artist [[John Romita, Jr.]] ==Fictional character biography== Makkari is the son of Verona and Mara, born in [[Olympia (comics)|Olympia]], capital city of the Eternals of Earth. He is a member of the Eternals' Technologist's Guild and is skilled at designing and building high-speed vehicles. Makkari has involved himself in [[Earth]]'s affairs more often than most Eternals. Under the name [[Thoth]], he taught writing to the [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptians]]. He was taught [[philosophy]] by [[Plato]]. He rescued [[Sersi]] from "[[Nero]]'s [[Great Fire of Rome|big bonfire]]"; and spent some time as the [[charioteer]] of [[Darius I of Persia]]. He witnessed the [[Trojan War]], the reign of [[Vlad the Impaler]], and the [[Battle of the Alamo|Alamo]]. In the 1940s he worked on Earth, per [[Zuras]]' request, under the aliases "Hurricane" and "Mercury" (an example of [[retcon]], these [[Golden Age of Comic Books|Golden Age]] characters were not originally supposed to be related), and fought Warlord [[Kro (comics)|Kro]] and [[Deviant (comics)|Deviant]] Mutates alongside the [[Monster Hunters]], a team he formed using his identity as National Security Agent Jake Curtiss. Later on, he taught [[Elvis Presley]] a few guitar tricks. Following the disbanding of the Monster Hunters, Makkari was convinced by [[Pixie (eternal)|Pixie]] to join the [[First Line (comics)|First Line]] as "Major Mercury". <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Makkari 2.jpg|thumb|left|220px|''Eternals'' #3 (2006).<br>Art by Rick Berry.]] --> Makkari accompanied [[Thena]] to New York City to help rescue [[Sersi]] and repulse the [[Deviant (comics)|Deviant]] invasion. He was with the Eternals who introduced themselves to the students at City College during the Fourth Host of the [[Celestial (comics)|Celestials]].<ref>''Eternals'' Vol. 1 #5-6</ref> He then returned to Olympia with [[Ikaris]] and [[Margo Damian]], where he encountered [[Sprite (Eternal)|Sprite]].<ref>''Eternals'' Vol. 1 #9</ref> He also participated in the [[Uni-Mind]] ritual.<ref>''Eternals'' Vol. 1 #11-13</ref> Alongside Ikaris and Sersi, he battled the [[Hulk Robot|Hulk robot]].<ref>''Eternals'' Vol. 1 #14-15</ref> Makkari then battled Ikaris, who was under the mental influence of [[Dromedan]].<ref>''Eternals'' Vol. 1 #16</ref> Makkari later battled [[Hermes (Marvel Comics)|Hermes]] of [[Olympus (Marvel Comics)|Olympus]].<ref>''Thor'' #291</ref> Makkari battled [[Maelstrom (comics)|Maelstrom]] alongside the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]]. Makkari elected to remain while the majority of Eternals departed Earth.<ref>''Avengers'' #247-248</ref> Makkari accompanied [[Ikaris]] on his mission to assemble the Eternals to wage war against the Deviants.<ref>''Eternals'' Vol. 2 #3-4</ref> Makkari then encountered Lord [[Ghaur]].<ref>''Eternals'' Vol. 2 #7</ref> Makkari accompanied the other Eternals to [[Lemuria (comics)|Lemuria]] to battle the Deviants.<ref>''Eternals'' Vol. 2 #10</ref> Makkari battled Ghaur alongside the Eternals, [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]], and the [[West Coast Avengers]], and participated in the defeat of Ghaur.<ref>''Eternals'' Vol. 2 #12</ref> Some time later, alongside the Eternals, Makkari fought the [[Super-Skrull]], and encountered the [[Silver Surfer]].<ref>''Silver Surfer Annual'' #1</ref> Makkari was later rescued by [[Quasar (comics)|Quasar]] when he began running rampantly.<ref>''Quasar'' #11</ref> He revealed that he had traded his other Eternal abilities for greater speed and endurance. He became friends with Quasar when he enlisted Quasar to go to Lemuria to help him save [[Master Elo]], who was tutoring Makkari in how to channel his cosmic energy into more speed.<ref>''Quasar'' #12</ref> He then accompanied Quasar to the [[Stranger (comics)|Stranger]]'s laboratory world. There, he encountered the [[Star-Dancer]], and battled Trikon, the [[Whizzer (comics)#Stanley Stewart|Whizzer]], and [[Gorr (comics)|Gorr]].<ref>''Quasar'' #17</ref> Makkari later worked in Quasar's office under the alias "Mike Khary." He participated in a marathon to the Moon sponsored by the [[Runner (comics)|Runner]], one of the [[Elders of the Universe]], and nearly won; he bested [[Quicksilver (comics)|Quicksilver]], [[Monica Rambeau|Captain Marvel]], [[Whizzer (comics)|Whizzer]], [[Speed Demon (comics)|Speed Demon]], [[Black Racer (comics)|Black Racer]], and [[Super Sabre (comics)|Super Sabre]], only to lose the race in the last moments by an amnesiac, dimensions-spanning human being (who was actually a thinly-disguised [[Barry Allen]]; the issue was actually an homage to the legendary [[Flash (comics)|Flash]] from the [[DC Comics]] universe<ref>[http://www.hyperborea.org/flash/quasar.html Quasar: Reborn to Run (Fast Forward)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>.<ref>''Quasar'' #17</ref> Makkari then became Quasar's roommate.<ref>''Quasar'' #19</ref> He was killed when his heart was stopped by Maelstrom,<ref>''Quasar'' #21</ref> but returned to life,<ref>''Quasar'' #25</ref> as part of an agreement struck between Eternity, Death, Infinity and Oblivion. However, he soon found he had become so fast that he could no longer move in synch with the rest of the universe. [[Maelstrom (comics)|Maelstrom]] later attempted to seize more power by draining the kinetic energy from Makkari, but Maelstrom was ultimately defeated by the other Eternals. In the recent ''Eternals'' miniseries, the Eternals are the victims of memory and reality manipulation by Sprite, and have thus forgotten their true identities. Makkari believes himself to be a medicine student named Mark Curry. By issues #2 and #3, he finally begins to experience his powers of super-speed. However, Sprite tricks Curry into opening a passageway to the long-dormant Celestial underneath San Francisco, and in doing so incapacitates Curry. During this time the [[Dreaming Celestial]] and Makkari began to talk in his dreams, and told him that it personally made him. By the end of the series he has become the Dreaming Celestial's [[prophet]]. ==Powers and abilities== Makkari is a member of the race of superhumans known as [[Eternal (comics)|Eternals]]. He possesses superhuman strength, speed, and reflexes. He can create cyclones by running in circles, and can run up walls and across water. Makkari's body eventually accumulates fatigue poisons and is susceptible to injury. Although in most of his appearances Makkari has the typical powers of an Eternal, his obsession with speed, starting in the [[Quasar (comics)|Quasar]] series, causes him to focus most of his body's Cosmic Energy into enhancing his running speed. As a result, he lost his ability to fly and many of his other powers have been weakened in the process. Makkari possesses none of the psionic powers of the average Eternal (levitation, ocular force projection, and molecular rearrangement), having purposefully readapted all his specialized cell enclaves to speed and running-related attributes. At present he can run at near [[light speed]] for extended periods, but his physical strength (while still far greater than human) has been reduced by half, and he seemingly cannot project energy or manipulate matter. Makkari sometimes wears a protective crash helmet, though he does not truly need it. He wears synthetic stretch fabric, specially treated to resist the rigors of high velocity movement. Makkari has great mechanical aptitude, and the ability to pilot most land and air vehicles. He has moderate experience at hand-to-hand combat; his fighting style incorporates his superhuman speed. He has finished the standard Eternal higher education, and underwent special tutoring in the applications of speed. ==Bibliography== *''Avengers'' vol. 1 #246-248, 308-310 *''Eternals'' vol. 1 #5-6, 8-18 *''Eternals'' vol. 2 #1-12 *''Eternals: Apocalypse Now'' *''Eternals: Herod Factor'' *''Fantastic Four Unlimited'' #10 *''Infinity Gauntlet'' #2 *''Iron Man Annual'' #6 *''Iron Man'' vol. 1 #179 *''Marvel Universe'' #4-7 *''Marvel Universe: The End'' #5-6 *''Marvel: Lost Generation'' #2, 5 *''Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Golden Age 2004'' *''Quasar'' #11-17, 19-21, 25-28, 35-40, 43, 47, 58 *''Silver Surfer Annual'' vol. 3 #1 *''Strange Tales'' vol. 1 #67 *''Tales of Suspense'' vol. 1 #7 *''Thor Annual'' #7 *''Thor'' vol. 1 #287-289, 291-292, 300-301 *''Eternals'' #1-3 (limited series; Jun. 2006 - Nov. 2006) ====As Mercury==== <small>identity used during the 1930 and 1940s</small> *''Red Raven Comics'' #1 ====As Hurricane==== <small>Identity used in late 1930s. He claimed to be the son of [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]</small> *''Captain America Comics'' #1-11 *''Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Golden Age'' ====As Major Mercury==== <small>Identity used as part of [[First Line (comics)|First Line]] in the late 1960s</small> *''Marvel: Lost Generation'' #5 ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *http://www.marvel.com/universe/Makkari [[Category:Golden Age superheroes]] [[Category:Marvel Comics characters who can fly]] [[Category:Marvel Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds]] [[Category:Marvel Comics characters who can teleport]] [[Category:Marvel Comics characters with accelerated healing]] [[Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength]] [[Category:Marvel Comics Eternals]] [[Category:Marvel Comics superheroes]] [[Category:Timely Comics characters]] [[fr:Makkari]]