Devil Dinosaur (Earth-78411)
From Marvel Database
Contents |
History
Origin
In Devil Dinosaur #1, Kirby in the "Dinosaur Dispatches" letters column (see image) states that the original intent was for Moon-Boy and Devil to be an early human and dinosaur from Earth's past. Kirby writes: "After all, just where the Dinosaur met his end, and when Man first stood reasonably erect, is still shrouded in mystery." Writers subsequent to Kirby have approached the character’s origin in various ways. Some have followed Kirby’s lead and portrayed the character as being from the prehistoric past of the main Marvel continuity, Earth-616, while others have depicted Devil as hailing from either an alien planet or a planet located in an alternate reality. Marvel’s most recent publications list Devil’s home of origin as "Dinosaur World Earth-78411", a primitive Earth-like planet existing in one of the many alternate universes contained within the Marvel Multiverse.
History
Devil Dinosaur #1-9 (April – December 1978): The original Devil Dinosaur series chronicling Devil and Moon-Boy's adventures in Dinosaur World. In a flashback in issue number one, the story of Devil's origin is told. The young Devil Dinosaur was nearly burned to death by a tribe of Killer-Folk, hostile beings native to his planet, but was rescued by Moon-Boy, a young member of a rival tribe, the Small-Folk. Exposure to the Killer-folk's fire activated a mutation in the dinosaur which gave him powers greater than others of his species and turned his skin from olive green to flame red. Devil Dinosaur is fiercely loyal to his constant companion Moon-Boy and seems more intelligent than the average dinosaur (as they are portrayed in the comic).
Godzilla King of Monsters #21-22 (April - May 1979): Godzilla rampages through the Marvel Universe (Earth-616). In an attempt to stop the monster, S.H.I.E.L.D. shrinks Godzilla with Pym Particles and attempts to teleport him via a time machine to the prehistoric past. However, Godzilla's radiation distorts the time machine so that he is transported to the alternate universe of Dinosaur World instead. While there he briefly unites with Moon-Boy and Devil against a common foe before being pulled back to the main Marvel continuity.
The Thing #31 (January 1986): In a nod to the Godzilla story above, the Thing of the Fantastic Four travels to a Pacific island where "Devil Dinosaur: The Movie" is being produced. During the Thing's visit, Godzilla appears. After battling and destroying a robot Devil Dinosaur used in the film, Godzilla disappears once again into the ocean. Devil Dinosaur does not actually appear in this story, but the comic is significant in that it contains the first mention of Devil after the character's original creation period in the late 70s.
Fallen Angels #4-8 (Limited Series, April - November 1987): Ariel, an extraterrestrial mutant with teleportion powers, teleports the Fallen Angels to Dinosaur World where the group convinces Devil and Moon-Boy to join their team and return with them to Earth-616. Devil and Moon-Boy are returned to their own universe when the Fallen Angels disband.
Marvel Comics Presents #161 (August 1994): During a conflict between Slapstick and his time manipulating foe, Doctor Yesterday, Devil and Moon-Boy are briefly teleported to Earth-616.
Marvel Comics Presents #174 (February 1995): In the midst of a tussle between Technet and Lockheed inside Excalibur's lighthouse, Devil and Moon-Boy are once again briefly transported to Earth-616.
Ghost Rider Vol 3 #81-82 (January – February 1997): The sorceress Jennifer Kale, in an attempt to return Howard the Duck to his homeworld, inadvertently teleports Devil Dinosaur and Moon-Boy into her New York apartment. The disoriented dinosaur rampages through the city before being subdued by Ghost Rider.
Devil Dinosaur Spring Fling #1 (June 1997): In this tale from the duo's days on Dinosaur World, a renegade Skrull flees to Devil's planet and uses his shape shifting ablilities to impersonate the late leader of the Killer-Folk, Seven Scars.
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 1998: Stranded in modern day Earth-616 after their teleportation there by Jennifer Kale, the pair is hypnotized into joining the Circus of Crime. After being rescued by Spider-man, Devil and Moon-Boy are relocated to the Savage Land.
Marvel Monsters: Devil Dinosaur #1 (December 2005): A one-shot comic drawn and co-written by Eric Powell in which young Celestials transport the Hulk back in time to combat Devil.
Heroes for Hire #9-10 (April - May 2007): The Heroes for Hire mercenaries go on a mission to retrieve Moon-Boy from the Savage Land and encounter Devil Dinosaur in the process. Devil is found fiercely guarding a nest containing a clutch of eggs that apparently he himself has laid and the dinosaur abandons Moon-Boy to ensure their safety. The discrepancy between this development and his previously presumed male sex is noted by the mercenaries, who can only speculate as to the cause of the change.Other versions
- In the alternate universe of Earth X (Earth-9997), the skeletal remains of Devil and Moon-Boy are on the Blue Area of the Moon.[3]
- In the Mutant X alternate universe, a version of Devil Dinosaur who bears Daimon Hellstrom's trident and "Moon Knight Boy" are members of Earth-1298's version of the Lethal Legion.
- In the Nextwave series, Devil Dinosaur is revealed to be the head of two organizations with ties to terrorism, the Beyond Corporation© and S.I.L.E.N.T., both which he created due to his growing hatred of "monkeys". Devil is depicted as having the power of speech and states: "Moon-Boy hated me. Moon-Boy had to die. Moon-Boy tasted bad and gave me considerable rectal distress.". Devil's uncharacteristic behavior in the Nextwave series and also the fact that Moon-Boy, who is said to be dead, shows up later on friendly terms with a non-speaking Devil Dinosaur in Heroes for Hire has given rise to speculation about whether the Nextwave stories should be seen as occurring in the main Marvel continuity or not.
Powers and Abilities
Powers
All the powers of a dinosaur.
Paraphernalia
Equipment
Owns an oversized gun, smoking jacket, and champagne glass.
Links
- Appearances of Devil Dinosaur (Earth-78411)
- Character Gallery: Devil Dinosaur (Earth-78411)
- Images that feature Devil Dinosaur (Earth-78411)
- Fan-Art Gallery: Devil Dinosaur (Earth-78411)
- Quotations by Devil Dinosaur (Earth-78411)
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