Zom

Zom
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Strange Tales #156 (May 1967)
Created by	Stan Lee and Marie Severin
In-story information
Alter ego	Zom
Species	Demon

Zom is a fictional character appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. He is a gigantic semi-humanoid demon who has clashed with Doctor Strange.

Fictional character biography

Zom was, according to his own words, "Created long ago" for no other purpose than to destroy. It is unknown who his creator was. After a presumably devastating rampage, Zom was imprisoned by several powerful magic users working together (including Dormammu, traditionally not a character prone to cooperating with anyone - although this was a long time ago). He was fitted with a "crown of blindness" and "manacles of living bondage", and trapped inside a huge amphora in another dimension by Eternity.

When Doctor Strange was confronted by Umar, years ago, her power threatened to overwhelm him. The Ancient One directed him to a distant dimension to retrieve Zom, as he was one opponent even she could not defeat. But while the ploy was successful in deflecting and banishing Umar, Zom now became the threat; in the end, the demon was dispatched by the Living Tribunal himself.

Following Zom's banishment, Strange magically stitched the Amphora back together and sealed it with a spell. A small fragment of Zom remained imprisoned inside the jar, which was kept safe by Doctor Strange; on one occasion, the "Zomling" managed to escape, but was eventually defeated and imprisoned again.

World War Hulk

When faced with the unstoppable rage of the Hulk during "World War Hulk", Doctor Strange resorted to invoking Zom's essence into himself by drinking the contents of the amphora. Since the Zomling was said to grow back into the full Zom once it had gathered sufficient mystical energy, and Strange referred to it as the true Zom during the invocation, it seems that this process has now been completed. In the following issue it was referred that seven S.H.I.E.L.D-employed mystics stated that he did indeed channel Zom's powers, and he severely battered and damaged the Hulk, but was eventually beaten. According to writer Greg Pak, "In Strange's defense, he didn't release Zom in the flesh the way he did back in the day -- instead Strange channeled Zom's power through his own body. That's probably one of the reasons the Earth remains on its axis. (For now, anyway...)"

Powers and abilities

Zom is one of the most formidable mystic entities in existence, referred to far exceed even Umar in terms of sheer mystical power. It once took the Living Tribunal to actually stop him (although Zom greatly feared the Tribunal, and the power difference is therefore not marginal).

His head was adorned by a long tuft of hair, like a topknot, which apparently acted as a perception shield, masking his presence from other sorcerers.

External links

• The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe