
He’s over 1200 years old! He has rotting flesh! He sacked Rome! He is so obscure even other comic book die-hards have no clue who is! Am I starting to sound like a hipster yet?
His name is Terror and he starred in the aptly named Terror Inc. In the mid to late eighties Marvel experimented with the supernatural in the comic books. Blade, Dracula, and a Ghost Rider resurgence led the charge. While I absolutely love Ghost Rider, and it pains me that jack hole Nicholas Cage was in the movies, none could hold a torch Terror. Terror had the most unique and grossest super power I’ve ever seen. He stole people’s body parts!
As I mentioned before he has constantly rotting flesh. This is due to what else? Magic! Terror’s origins start off with him as a Visigoth sacking Rome. A Magic user is so appalled by the savagery of the Goths she releases a demon to fight the Visigoths. Terror kills the demon of course, but there in lies the trap! The demon passed a part of itself onto Terror as a curse. Because of this, Terror’s flesh is constantly rotting and he is forced to find replacement parts. Pretty cool huh? His hand even secrete a type of acid so is makes ripping people’s parts off easier. He can even rip off his own head and place it upon someone else’s body! Of course there it gets awesomer. Whatever you were in life, say a diesel mechanic, once Terror places your body part upon himself he gets all your talents. Yep! Lop off your hand, attach to self, fixing engines seconds later! My favorite scene of this was when he had to do an autopsy. He is reviewing everything he needs. knife? check. Facemask, check. Coroner, check. Lying on a tray was two hands and a nose. SWEET. Of course there was a downside to this.
Along with gaining talents Terror also gained personality traits for a while. AND he gained the subjects memories. Imagine to be forced to vividly relive another’s greatest and darkest memories all at once. I could not think or a worse curse! The memories of someone else you have to live through, and then having them slowly slip away as the flesh rots. By far some damn good story telling.
I bring him up because there are rumors of Marvel making an animated movie about Terror that would be rated R. Doubtful the Fourth Reich known as Disney would allow this, but a guy can dream! (Oh, and sorry for the lateness of this. Walked the roomie’s pooch before the rain, then we both fell asleep on the couch. Oh, and for tomorrow’s post get your tissues ready. I will be one upset Evil Doctor tomorrow.