Monday, March 3, 2008

1970's Flashback: Modred the Mystic


Modred the Mystic first appeared in Marvel Chillers #1. The character was created by Bill Mantlo, Yong Montano and Marv Wolfman.

Modred was originally a magician in the 6th century who had learned magic from the wizard Gervasse. Modred was engaged to Gervasse's daughter, Julia, and was set to become the apprentice of the wizard Merlin. However, Merlin had been replaced by an imposter (who would later go by the names of the Mad Merlin, the Maha Yogi, and Merlin Demonspawn), and Modred and Gervasse knew that this "Merlin" needed to be stopped. In order to gain the necessary power for this feat, Modred sought out the Darkhold (the book of black magic created by the Elder God Chthon). The Other, an emissary of Chthon, offered Modred great power at the cost of his soul. Initially Modred refused, but the Other mystically targeted Julia; and in order to protect her, Modred offered himself up to Chthon. His soul was subsequently corrupted, and Gervasse placed him in suspended animation, where he lay for centuries.

Modred was awakened in the modern day by Janet Lyton and Grant Whitaker, who led him to London. There, he was shot by the police and then attacked by the Other, which he defeated. Modred has alternated between being an anti-hero and a super-villain ever since.

1 comment:

Darci said...

Hi Chuck,
I think you want to revise Gervasse's daughter's name. It's Janice, not Julia.
HTH,
Darci
P. S. This appears to be an anachronism. Janice, an elaborated form of Jane, was first recorded in 1899. Julia would have been a better choice.