Cyttorak
Cyttorak is a comic supervillain who features in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
Biography
At some point, he joined the ranks of other mystical beings that were collectively known as the Octessence. (Iron Man v3 #22) This saw him exiled from Earth's dimension and he came to reside in a realm known as the Crimson Cosmos. (X-Men v1 #33) Following his banishment to the Crimson Cosmos, Cyttorak's power on Earth was limited due to being in that other dimension. In his desire to change this development, he tore off a piece of his chest and created the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak. (New Excalibur v1 #14) Millennia ago, he participated in the Wager of the Octessence when a disagreement emerged on which one of their number was the strongest. He crafted his own totem to create a champion to become one of the Exemplars where he tricked an order of monks into build a temple to house the gem. (Iron Man v3 #22) At an unknown point, the demon D'Spayre entrapped his sister Spite into the Crimson Cosmos where she ended up becoming a servant of Cyttorak. (X-Men Unlimited v1 #12) The crystal was kept at a temple that was built for the demon. (X-Men v1 #12) To protect the ruby, Cyttorak created the demon Xorak the Outcast who destroyed many travelers that sought the gem. After many years of victories, Xorak was confronted by a mystic known as the Ancient One who had sought to study the Crimson Gem. Xorak attacked the ancient mystic who ended up banishing the Outcast into the realm within the ruby. (X-Men v1 #33) Centuries ago, a group of heretical monks including Gomurr and his rival Tar sought to harness the power of Cyttorak but failed thus unleashing his most destructive aspect on Earth. The entity destroyed the monks and then every village in its path before they managed to contain the elemental Cyttorak in the mystical ruby. Their victory was incomplete as Cyttorak cursed the ruby prison swearing that anyone that touched it became a Juggernaut of Destruction that was a vessel for his unearthly power. It was left in the care of Gomurr and Tar where neither trusted the other in its safekeeping as they believed the other would succumb to the lure of the gems phenomenal power. After much argument, they agreed to bury the gem in a temple recessed in a cave and sealed the entrance under a mountain of rock. (X-Men Unlimited v1 #12)
The Crimson Screaming Masks of Cyttorak were artifacts of this entity that were traded to Dr. Stephen Strange and kept at his Sanctum Sanctorum. (The Spectacular Spider-Man v2 #207) At one point, Cyttorak gained a loyal servant named Jin Taiko who had become his Juggernaut and served his master well for decades. However, in time, the nearby village came to worship a different god with Cyttorak demanding that the settlement be razed to the ground. Taiko refused leading to a disassociation with Cyttorak who came to consider this Juggernaut as being disloyal and sought a replacement. (New Excalibur v1 #15)
A young Charles Xavier and his step-brother Cain Marko came upon a temple of Cyttorak. During this time, Marko was buried in the temple but managed to find the Gem of Cyttorak that transformed him into the Juggernaut. (X-Men v1 #12) He was commanded to rectify the failure of the previous holder in destroying the nearby village which Marko did without any reservation. (New Excalibur v1 #15)
Whilst travelling through the dimensions, Strange used a spell of Cyttorak to escape Ikonn only to draw the attention of Cyttorak who sought to conscript the Sorcerer Supreme into the War of the Seven Spheres. Doctor Strange called upon the power of the Seraphim who attempted to enlist him but Cytorrak attempted to snatch him but he was taken away by Watoomb leading to a conflict among the various entities for the Sorcerer Supreme. (Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme v1 #49)
Following his encounter with Onslaught, the Juggernaut Cain Marko had the Crimson Gem ripped from his chest and he became imprisoned within the ruby. Once there, Cyttorak commanded his servant Spite to bring Marko to him as he intended to take him as a vessel to escape the prison within the gem. Spite believed that her master would take her with him after he had freed himself but Cyttorak simply devoured the demoness. The god of destruction than overpowered Marko where he nearly possessed his body as a vessel but he was thwarted by the hidden aid of Gomurr and Tar. The two sorcerers helped empower the Juggernaut with the ruby's power which Marko used to shatter the colossal statue of Cyttorak that was an aspect of his form. With his defeat, the Juggernaut was freed from his imprisonment in the ruby and returned back to Earth. (X-Men Unlimited v1 #12)
By the time of the Skrull invasion, Cyttorak and other mystical entities came to find themselves trapped in a magical prison. Seeking aid, Pete Wisdom came to shatter the door that trapped them thus releasing the mystical beings and demons into the world. (Captain Britain and MI-13 v1 #3)
After the rise of the Serpent, the Juggernaut Cain Marko was transformed into Kuurth, Breaker of Stone of the Worthy. In an effort to stop him, Illyana Rasputin offered a plan to the X-Men where she transported them into the Crimson Cosmos to meet with Cyttorak. Though Cyttorak was pleased with his destruction, the X-Men informed him that his avatar no longer served him but served the Serpent instead. This led to Cyttorak stripping his favor from Cain Marko and offering it to one of the X-Men. Illyana was prepared to accept the power but her brother Colossus instead volunteered as he did not want the burden to fall on his sister. As a result, Colossus was transformed into the new avatar and Juggernaut. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #542) In the aftermath, he attended the Devil's Advocacy that consisted of high ranking demons that met together to discuss the threat of the Serpent. (Journey into Mystery v1 #627)
Misty Beck sought out the power of Cyttorak from the Crimson Brand located in an abandoned temple under the Mercury Rising hotel and recruited her father Quentin Beck to help her. However, she intended to sacrifice her father to claim the mark and its magic as the rite required the death of a loved one. Misty accidently died herself leading to her father gaining the power instead until the Scarlet Spider cut off his hand containing the brand. (Scarlet Spider: Ben Reilly v1 #19) After the destruction of Asgardia, the vault containing Odin's weapons were scattered across the realms. Among these were the Warlock's Eye that was taken by the disciples of Cyttorak at the Crimson Temple in Thailand. Thor came to the temple and took the Eye where he was forced to battle Cyttorak's champion Juggernaut. (Thor v5 #1) Due to Juggernaut's failure, Cyttorak came to doubt his champion's ability to serve him and thus had his followers subject Cain Marko to a dream binding to test his rage. Ultimately, he came to be pleased at Marko's response and that there was untapped rage within him that meant he could still serve as the Juggernaut with him urging Cain to continue to bring destruction to the lands. For his actions, Juggernaut vowed a reckoning with his 'master' for the trial he had put him through though Cyttorak remained within his realm in the Crimson Cosmos. (X-Men: Black - Juggernaut v1 #1)
The Crimson Cosmos was later attacked by the Three Mothers who left a trail of destruction in their wake. Unable to stop them, Cyttorak came to flee his realm whilst his subjects were decimated leaving only a single survivor to mourn the death of their people. (Death of Doctor Strange: Avengers v1 #1)
Overview
Personality and attributes
From time to time, he appeared as in an overly humanoid form though this was not his true visage. (Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme v1 #44) He was known by a number of epithets that included Cyttorak the Destroyer, the Crimson One, the Lord of Oblivion, and Master of the Raging Storm. (X-Men Unlimited v1 #12) Another of his titles included being known as Cyttorak the Invulnerable. (Uncanny Avengers v3 #28) Cyttorak was also known as the Rage-Father to his servants. (Thor v5 #1)
He was noted as being a legendary demon with many arcane studies on the entity. (X-Men v1 #32) According to the Ancient One, Cyttorak was said to be an evil being despite calling upon his power for spells. (Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme v1 #44)
The entity was said to be a demanding master who required his name to be spread throughout the world through endless violence and destruction. He was also not without his jealousies and did not brook his servants to serve another god. (New Excalibur v1 #15)
Cyttorak was noted to desire worshippers and trespassers in his realm that attracted his interest could be forced to become his priests. He stated that he cared only about his dimension the Crimson Cosmos and nowhere else. His only desire was that his fame grew and attracted more worshippers. Such fame could either be good or evil with both being the same to Cyttorak. (Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme v1 #44)
Powers and abilities
As an entity he was known as being a mixture of both god and demon. (New Excalibur v1 #14) The Crimson One was considered to be an multi-dimensional deity and a god of destruction who was power incarnate with him being regarded as a destroyer of worlds. (X-Men Unlimited v1 #12)
A direct tap to the demon god's power was an object that was called the Crimson Brand of Cyttorak that allowed a person to become among the most powerful beings on Earth if the mark was transferred to them. (Scarlet Spider: Ben Reilly v1 #19)
The Gem of Cyttorak was created from a piece of his chest that the demon had torn off his body. (New Excalibur v1 #14) Those that gained possession of the ruby were magically empowered by Cyttorak. (X-Men v1 #12) They became an earthly shadow of the magnificence of Cyttorak. (X-Men Unlimited v1 #12) It was said that there were eight such gems and that gathering them all allowed a person access to Cyttorak's realm in the Crimson Cosmos. (X-Men: Black - Juggernaut v1 #1)
Another artifact linked to him were the three mystical Screaming Masks of Cyttorak that were able to possess people and turn them evil whilst granting them superhuman strength. They gradually converted their host into a form of energy in order to initiate attacks. (The Spectacular Spider-Man v2 #207)
Following his banishment, he came to reside in another dimension that was called the Crimson Cosmos. (X-Men v1 #33) This was a nameless void that was situated between dimensions. (X-Men v1 #32) It was a world of timeless silence and in fact was without time. (X-Men v1 #33) It was a realm that was said to be a place where annihilation was prayer. Destruction was an offering to pilgrims whilst it served as a penance for heretics. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #542) This world was shaped to this liking and peopled it with creatures whose sole purpose was to dance and praise him. Inhabitants of this dimension did not age and thus were able to live forever. The cosmos was linked to him with the two serving as the source of the power of the Juggernaut. (Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme v1 #44)
In the mortal world, there were human followers that served as agents of Cyttorak and guardians of his temple with them wearing red masks along with ninja garb as well as equipped with blades. It was believed Cyttorak and his minions had the ability to exert an influence which brought negative thoughts and emotions to the forefront. Failure that risk capture or interrogation led to them committing mass suicide where their bodies simply disintegrated in energy. (New Excalibur v1 #15) The disciples of Cyttorak were faithful followers with some being noted as cannibals. (Thor v5 #1)
Among his servants were the Cyttora that resembled diminutive faceless versions of the Juggernaut which could be summoned by sorcerers where these minions were called for certain tasks. They were obsessed with strength and durability where they could be called leading to instinctively repair any items that had been broken or maligned. (Uncanny Avengers v3 #28)
Notes
- Cyttorak was first named by Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Alex Toth in Strange Tales v1 #124 (September, 1964) but he was first depicted by Roy Thomas and Geoff Isherwood where he made his first appearance in Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme v1 #44 (August, 1992).
- The character received an entry in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Update v1 #1 (2010) where he was identified under other aliases that included Cyttorak the Destroyer, the Lord of Oblivion and the Master of the Raging Storm.
Alternate Versions
- In Wolverine and the X-Men v1 #29 (2013), the Church of Cyttorak appeared in an alternate future timeline designated as Earth-13729 where they were operated as enemies of the X-Men.
In other media
Video games
- In Marvel: Avengers Alliance, Cyttorak was referenced in the setting of the Facebook video game with him being mentioned in the backstory for Juggernaut and various spells or artifacts calling upon his power being mentioned.
- In Marvel Heroes, Cyttorak was referenced a number of times in the MMORPG game with various items related to him appearing such as the Bands of Cyttorak, Crimson Armor of Cyttorak or the Circlet of Cyttorak.
- In Marvel: War of Heroes, Cyttorak was referenced in the backstory on the playable card Avatar of Cyttorak Colossus where it was said that Colossus gained his power after striking a bargain with the demonic being in the video game.
- In Marvel: Contest of Champions, Cyttorak was referenced in the video game in Juggernauts super attack which was called Avatar of Cyttorak.
Appearances
- Strange Tales v1: (1964)
- Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme v1: (1992)
- New Excalibur v1:
- Amazing X-Men:
- X-Men: Black - Juggernaut v1:
- Death of Doctor Strange: Avengers v1: (2021)
External Links
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