Captain Ultra
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| Captain Ultra | |
 Captain Ultra |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Fantastic Four Vol.1 #177 (December 1976) |
| Created by | Roy Thomas George Pérez Joe Sinnott |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Griffin Gogol |
| Abilities | Flight Superhuman strength Superhuman durability X-ray Vision |
Captain Ultra (Griffin Gogol) is a fictional character, a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Fantastic Four #177 (December 1976) and was created by Roy Thomas, George Pérez and Joe Sinnott.
Captain Ultra was also one of the aliases used by The Captain.
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[edit] Fictional character biography
When an elderly psychologist couldn't afford to pay plumber Griffin Gogol, he offers to cure Gogol's smoking habit via hypnosis. However, as Gogol later learned, the psychologist was an extraterrestrial, and the hypnosis unlocks Gogol's innate superhuman potential. Donning a clashing, colorful costume, Gogol became the superhero Captain Ultra; however, it is revealed he suffers from severe pyrophobia (fear of fire).
Captain Ultra's first appearance is as an applicant to the supervillain team called the Frightful Four; he is at first enthusiastically accepted by the other three villains, ecstatic at his large array of powers. However, when one of them began to light a cigarette in celebration, Captain Ultra faints in the presence of the match; he is promptly rejected.[1]
An unauthorized television program informs Gogol of the super-hero team the Defenders. Captain Ultra is one of a large group to investigate by traveling to the Richmond Riding Academy on Long Island. There he works with a small group to stop a crime spree back in New York. Like most of the other applicants, he is not pleased with the Defenders and never really petitions the core group for membership.[2]
Soon after, he moves to Chicago. He has since had a minor career as a solo superhero, often teaming up with heroes like Thor to battle minor villains.[3]
He eventually overcomes his pathological fear of fire thanks to years of extensive therapy under the superpowered psychiatrist, Doc Samson. Gogol began a new career as a stand-up comedian, and battled Ekl'r, the Demon Without Humor.[4] His comedy career takes him across the country. Super-heroics intefere with this, such as when the underground dirt creature 'Mud Pi', kidnaps his entire potential audience, the citenzry of 'Wash Basin', Texas. Captain Ultra manages to safely rescue them all. [5]
[edit] The Initiative
Griffin then became the leader for the Nebraska team of the Initiative program, part of a government controlled superhero program. After Paragon, one of his team, kills fellow teammate Gadget, Griffin briefly fought Iron Man to protect the rest of his group[6] He is seen investigating the circumstances of Paragon and Gadget's tragic deaths with Doc Samson and Iron Man. During the course of their investigation it is revealed that there are two new Initiative recruits in the process of being fast-tracked to the Nebraska team, although Captain Ultra expressed irritation at the prospect of having to "babysit the punks".[7]
[edit] Powers and abilities
Captain Ultra's powers were released through hypnosis by an alien, giving him the power of flight, superhuman strength, endurance, durability, and reflexes. He also gained the psionic ability to become intangible at will, see through substances (X-ray vision), and the ability to project his breath forward with great concussive force — among others. He can apparently tap his 'ultra-potential', enabling him to manifest a wide variety of mental and physical 'ultra-feats', and once even told an 'ultra-joke'.
[edit] In other media
[edit] Television
Captain Ultra made a cameo appearance in the 2006 Fantastic Four TV series episode "The Cure." In that episode, Ben Grimm's "condition" had been cured, and the team was auditioning possible replacements. In a scene reminiscent of his introduction with the Frightful Four, Captain Ultra was considered a top candidate for his powers until Johnny Storm "lit up" his thumb while giving a thumbs-up gesture, causing Captain Ultra to faint and be summarily rejected.[8]
