Kaluu is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Kaluu
Kaluu as depicted in Mighty Avengers (vol. 2) #11 (June 2014). Art by Greg Land (penciller), Jay Leisten (inker), and Frank D'Armata (colorist).
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceStrange Tales #147 (August 1966)
Created byStan Lee
Dennis O'Neil
Bill Everett
In-story information
Alter egoKaluu
SpeciesHuman
Team affiliationsThe Mighty Avengers
AbilitiesMastery of magic

Publication history

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The character first appeared in the story "From the Nameless Nowhere Comes... Kaluu!" in Strange Tales #147 (Aug. 1966).[1] The first five pages were written by Stan Lee, with Denny O'Neil writing the other half of the story (credited as "Our Vacationin' Sorcerer" and "Our Sorcerer's Apprentice", respectively), and Bill Everett provided all the art.[2]

Fictional character biography

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Kaluu was born over five hundred years ago in the mystic city of Kamar-Taj in the Himalayan Mountains. He and the Ancient One trained in magic together and worked to eliminate disease, poverty, and suffering from Kamar-Taj. He later conquered Kamar-Taj using his magic and paralyzed the Ancient One with a magical bolt before being forced to flee to the dimension of Raggador.[3]

Centuries later, Kaluu escapes and attempts to steal the Book of the Vishanti before being defeated by Doctor Strange and sealed in a separate dimension.[4][5]

Kaluu later escapes, reforms, and becomes a businessman, ally of Doctor Strange, and member of the Mighty Avengers.[6][7][8][9]

Powers and abilities

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Kaluu has the ability to manipulate magical forces for a vast number of effects, including levitation, teleportation, energy projection, conjuration of small physical objects, physical transformation of objects, and the tapping of extra-dimensional energy by invoking entities or objects of power existing in dimensions tangential to Earth's through the recitation of spells. He has used this skill to render himself immortal. He also has the powers of mesmerism, thought-casting, illusion-casting, and astral projection.

According to the back story of the character, Kaluu is possibly the most powerful living human black magician. Kaluu's magic derives not only from personal, universal and dimensional powers: he has powers gained through the tapping of the life forces of living beings and the manipulation of the environment in certain ways that have destructive side effects.

Kaluu has used mystical means to render himself immortal. He does not age, but he can be killed by external means.

Kaluu is a master of various Asian martial arts, but prefers not to engage in physical combat. He has extensively studied sorcery and possesses vast knowledge of black magical lore.

Kaluu formerly wore an eye-patch covering his left eye, though this eye has since been restored.

References

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  1. ^ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 202. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
  2. ^ "Strange Tales #147". Grand Comics Database.
  3. ^ Bill Everett, Denny O'Neil (w), Bill Everett (p). "The Origin of the Ancient One!" Strange Tales, no. 148 (Sept. 1966). Marvel Comics.
  4. ^ Bill Everett, Denny O'Neil (w), Bill Everett (p). "If Kaluu Should Triumph..." Strange Tales, no. 149 (Oct. 1966).
  5. ^ Bill Everett, Roy Thomas (w), Bill Everett (p). "The Conquest of Kaluu!" Strange Tales, no. 150 (Nov. 1966).
  6. ^ Strange Tales vol. 3 #8-10
  7. ^ Strange Tales vol. 3 #14-17
  8. ^ The Mighty Avengers vol. 2 #4
  9. ^ Captain America and the Mighty Avengers #1
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