Forgotten One (comics)
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| Gilgamesh | |
 Art by Larry Leiber |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Eternals #13 (July, 1977) |
| Created by | Jack Kirby |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Unrevealed |
| Team affiliations | Eternals of Earth Avengers Agent of the Celestials |
| Notable aliases | Gilgamesh, Dragon-Slayer, Hero, Forgotten Nemesis, Hercules, Samson, Atlas, others unrevealed |
| Abilities | Superhuman strength, stamina, agility, reflexes, and durability Regenerative healing factor Flight Optic blasts Repressed aging Immunity to disease |
The Forgotten One (also known as Hero and Gilgamesh) is a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. He is a member of the near-immortal hidden race known as the Eternals. He was created by Jack Kirby in The Eternals (vol. 1) #13.
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[edit] Fictional character biography
During his millennia of activity, the adventurer and warrior Forgotten One has used the names of or been mistaken for numerous heroes of myth and legend, including Hercules and Gilgamesh. He became an outcast from his fellow Eternals when their ruler, Zuras, decreed that he had been too proud a meddler in the mortal world and confined him to a sector of Olympus. He was eventually convinced to come out of exile and journey to the mother-ship of the Fourth Host of the Celestials to assist the Eternals in battle against the Deviants by the Eternal called Sprite.[1]
After this battle, he was renamed Hero by the One Above All, the chief of the alien Celestials, who had created the Eternals and Deviants. After losing a battle with Thor, Hero and the other Eternals assisted Thor in battling the host of the Celestials to prevent them from destroying humanity. Hero also fought Hercules. [2]
Hero later became known as the Forgotten One. He helped the other Eternals in battle against Ghaur.[3]
Later, when the membership of the Avengers had been virtually emptied, the Forgotten One joined them for a time. He renamed himself Gilgamesh, donning a costume that resembled the hide of the Bull of Heaven and went to work as a monster-slayer. He assisted the Avengers in battles against the Growing Man, Nanny, the Orphan-Maker, and N'astirh's demons.[4] He participated in the Avengers' battled against Super-Nova,[5] and helped the Avengers battle the U-Foes.[6] He helped the Avengers fight the Lava Men, and was somehow severely injured during the battle.[7] Gilgamesh was brought to the Eternals' home of Olympia, which had temporarily fallen into the Negative Zone, for recovery of his injuries. There, he fought against Blastaar, who had temporarily disintegrated the other Eternals. Gilgamesh left the Avengers at that time, as his essence had been bound to Olympus.[8] He later recovered from his injuries, and defeated B'Gon the sorcerer, thereby winning a reputation as a hero on modern day Earth.[9] Gilgamesh was later seen among the superhumans selected by Her as potential mates.[10]
He returned to the Avengers Mansion during "The Crossing", a crossover, only to be killed by Neut, an agent of the time traveler Immortus, who was at the time disguised as Kang the Conqueror.
Despite his seeming immortality, Gilgamesh has not been seen since, and he is presumed deceased. A number of the characters seen in "The Crossing" were revealed to have been imposters (specifically, shapeshifting Space Phantoms) during the events of Avengers Forever. Consequently, many fans have speculated that the two Avengers who seemingly died in that crossover (Gilgamesh and Yellowjacket (Rita DeMara)) did not actually appear in that crossover, and hence did not die at all.
It should also be noted that in times past he has feigned his death for one reason or another such as when he originally "lived" as Gilgamesh in ancient times.
[edit] Powers and abilities
The Forgotten One is a member of the Eternal race, and possesses a number of superhuman abilities common to the Eternals, but has trained some of them far beyond the norm.
The Forgotten One possesses immense superhuman strength. While the exact limits are unknown, he is known as the, by far, physically strongest of all known Eternals, save for Thanos. His strength has been shown to rival that of Thor, and Hercules.
Like all other Eternals, The Forgotten One is virtually immortal. He hasn't aged since reaching adulthood and he is immune to all known diseases. Also, his body is highly durable and resistant to physical injury. He is capable of withstanding high caliber bullets, falls from great heights, powerful concussive forces, and temperature extremes without being injured. However, it is possible to injure him. He is in complete mental control over every molecule in his body, which allows him to regenerate any damaged or destroyed tissue. However, if his mental discipline over his body is broken, it is possible to permanently injure or kill him.
Other abilities he has in common with most other Eternals includes the power to levitate himself and fly at superhuman speed, projecting beams of concussive force or heat from his eyes and hands, and the manipulation of matter. However, to what degree these powers have been developed in comparison with other Eternals isn't known, but the first two have been stated as presumed to be average[citation needed]. He also has highly developed senses that helped to compensate for his former blindness, and is one of the most accomplished hand-to-hand combatants among the Eternals.
The Forgotten One is an extraordinary hand-to-hand combatant, which knowledge of most methods of combat known in ancient Earth civilizations. He is also an extraordinary hunter and tracker. He sometimes wears battle armor of unknown composition, and usually arms himself with simple hand weapons such as an axe, spear, or club.
[edit] Notes
Other characters have used the identity of either Gilgamesh or Hero. These include:
- The Eternal Warrior was called Gilgamesh in Marvel Preview #12.
- Jimmy Rogers created Hero to save him from monsters in Venus #17.
[edit] Bibliography
- Avengers Annual #18
- Avengers Spotlight #35
- Avengers vol. 1 #299-310, 345, 391
- Avengers West Coast #81
- Avengers: The Crossing
- Captain America Annual #11
- Captain America vol. 1 #400-401
- Eternals vol. 1 #13
- Eternals vol. 2 #2, 4-6, 9, 11-12
- Fantastic Four Unlimited #10
- Marvel Comics Presents #21
- New Mutants Annual 4
- Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #6
- Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: The Book of the Dead
- Quasar #28-29
- Tales of the Zombie #
- Thor Annual #17
- Thor vol. 1 #287-289, 291-292, 402
- X-Factor Annual 4
[edit] As Gilgamesh
- Thor Annual #17
- Avengers Spotlight #35
- Avengers vol. 1 #300
- Captain America Annual #11
- Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: The Book of the Dead
- Tales of the Zombie #3
- Thor vol. 1 #287, 291
[edit] As Hero
Identity used after he saved a Celestial mother-ship from Deviant astronauts
- Avengers vol. 1 #249
- Contest of Champions #1-3
- Thor vol. 1 #287-289, 291-292, 300, 350-351
