Kraken (Marvel Comics)

Kraken is a name or title shared among several characters in Marvel Comics. While the original Kraken is the creature of the same name, the rest have been people who have used the name as their persona. The creature and one of the characters has appeared in other media.

Publication history

The first Kraken made multiple appearances in Marvel continuity, including The Avengers #27 (April 1966, Marvel Comics),[1] Tales to Astonish #93 and Sub-Mariner #27 (July 1970),[2] before returning years later in the second issue of the limited series Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America (#1 - 5, June-Aug. 2007).,[3] and in The New Invaders #4 from April 2014.

A Kraken appeared in the short story "When Strikes The Kraken!" in Kull The Destroyer #17 (Oct. 1976),[4] and was reprinted in Chronicles of Kull 2: The Hell Beneath Atlantis and Other Stories.[5] Another Kraken (a gigantic squid) debuted in the black and white Bizarre Adventures #26 (May 1981).[6][7]

A creature called The Black Kraken debuted in the short story "Red Shadows and Black Kraken!" (based on the 1968 fantasy novel Conan of the Isles written by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter featuring Robert E. Howard's hero Conan the Barbarian. The story is republished in the graphic novel Conan of the Isles.[8]) in Conan The Barbarian Annual #7 (1982).[9]

Another version of the Kraken (four-armed and reptilian in appearance) debuted in Marvel Comics Presents #121 (Jan. 1993). It returned in Marvel Action Hour featuring the Fantastic Four #2-4 (Dec. 1994-Feb. 1995) and in the one shot title Namora #1 (Aug. 2010); it would later be featured in the video game Marvel Ultimate Alliance.[10] A Kraken (a horned squid creature) appeared in the 2009 one-shot comic Sub-Mariner Comics: 70th Anniversary Special.,[11] while another (a house sized crab/octopus hybrid) appeared in Fantomex Max issues #2 and #3.[12] This Kraken was modified into a remote controlled cyborg to protect an underwater base of a brilliant scientist. Another Kraken (serpent-like in appearance) appeared in Jean-Grey #3.[13] in 2017.

Two additional versions possessed ties to Greek mythology. The first served the Olympian Gods and debuted in the one shot Chaos War: God Squad #1 (Feb. 2011)[14] before returning in Incredible Hulk #622 (April 2011).[15] The second Kraken appeared in the four-part limited series Wolverine/Hercules: Myths, Monsters & Mutants. Spirited away by the god Poseidon after a defeat by Greek hero Perseus, the creature is revived in modern times by King Eurystheus to battle the heroes Hercules and Wolverine.[16]

Fictional character biography

Sea monsters
Kraken
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceTales to Astonish #93 (July 1967)
Created byRoy Thomas
Dan Adkins

The original Kraken is based on the mythical creature of the same name. Within the Marvel Universe, it is established that the creature can be called upon through the use of the Proteus Horn.

During the Hyborian Age following the Great Cataclysm, one black Kraken lurked near the Barachan Islands. Sailing nearby while investigating the massive kidnappings, Conan the Barbarian was attacked by the Black Kraken. Conan was able to use his axe to slash one of the Black Kraken's eyes which caused it to drop Conan. The Black Kraken's other eye is then slashed by Conan enough to blind it as it disappears underwater.[17]

The creature has been called upon by Commander Kraken to fight Namor on one occasion.[18]

The creature at one point went up against Wolverine and Hercules.[19]

Daniel Whitehall
Kraken
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceSecret Warriors #11 (Feb 2010)
Created byBrian Michael Bendis
Jonathan Hickman
Stefano Caselli
In-story information
Alter egoDaniel Whitehall
Team affiliationsZodiac
Great Wheel
HYDRA

Daniel Whitehall is a British Intelligence agent who was part of The Great Wheel of the Zodiac, collaborating with other major agents such as Nick Fury, Dum Dum Dugan and Baron Strucker. They were later betrayed by two other agents Viktor Uvarov and Vasili Dassaiev.[20] Whitehall then continued as Kraken, a dangerous Hydra operative who for years remained a mystery. Many S.H.I.E.L.D. agents lost their lives trying to unearth information regarding the Kraken with little to no success. He also trained many of the most well known Hydra agents including Viper.[21] Whitehall continued to aid up and coming meta humans such as Tomi Shishido by giving him the God Killer Sword turning him into Gorgon as well as transforming an unknown Hydra agent into the Inhuman parasite Hive.[22]

Whitehall later came to Strucker to inform him that he was dying and that he was retiring as the Kraken.[23]

While waiting to die in a London hospital, Jake Fury visited him and revealed that he knew everything. He took Whitehall's Kraken armor and then killed him.[24]

Jake Fury
Kraken
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearance(as Jake Fury): Strange Tales #159 (Aug 1967)
(as Kraken): Secret Warriors #1 (Mar 2011)
Created by(Jake): Jim Steranko
In-story information
Alter egoJacob "Jake" Fury
Team affiliationsZodiac
Great Wheel
HYDRA
Notable aliasesFlip Mason, Count Julio Scarlotti, Nick Fury

Jacob "Jake" Fury was born in New York City. As a young man, he came to resent his brother Nick Fury.[25] As the original Scorpio, he operated as a spy, terrorist, and criminal. Using his secret identity as Scorpio, he first battled Nick at a Las Vegas S.H.I.E.L.D. base.[26] He again battled his brother in Manhattan, then disguised himself as Nick Fury to infiltrate the New York S.H.I.E.L.D. base, although his real identity was then discovered by his brother.[27] Nick Fury later went undercover as Scorpio, and took his brother's place in the Zodiac, who battled the Avengers.[28] Disguised as Jacque LaPoint, Jake played a minor role in the Zodiac's attempt to kill all Manhattan residents born under the sign of Gemini (save for Zodiac's Gemini).[29] He attempted to kidnap Kyle Richmond, and battled the Defenders.[30] Scorpio constructed a set of android Zodiac members to serve him, in his base at Belleville, New Jersey. However, his plan was thwarted by the Defenders, and he committed suicide through self-inflicted gunshot wound in despair.[31]

In the final arc of the Secret Warriors series, it was revealed that Jake's death and much of his villainy was all part of a long-game plan of Nick Fury's. He remained underground and discovered the journals of Daniel Whitehall, the previous Kraken, and tracked him down to London. He took the costume and killed Whitehall and planted the seeds that would destroy Hydra and Leviathan from the inside.[24] As his final mission, he delivered a letter to Daisy Johnson revealing everything and disappeared.[32]

Secret Empire
Kraken
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceCaptain America: Steve Rogers #14 (May 2017)
Created byNick Spencer
Jesus Saiz
In-story information
Alter egoUnknown
Team affiliationsHYDRA

A third member of Hydra, also identifying himself as Kraken, was inducted by Elisa Sinclair, the new Madame Hydra and the former lover of Whitehall.[33]

Even with Hydra having taken over the United States during the "Secret Empire" storyline, this version had trouble trusting Steve Rogers, who had just come out as a Hydra agent.[34] He later encountered the Punisher who sided with Hydra. Punisher managed a holographic transmission between Kraken and Hydra Supreme Steve Rogers.[35]

Kraken joined Gorgon, Hive, and Viper in invading New Tian to retrieve the Cosmic Cube from Emma Frost.[36][37] Kraken and rest of Hydra were defeated by the Underground as the real Captain America defeated his Hydra Supreme counterpart.[38]

Powers and abilities

The Kraken armor worn by Daniel Whitehall enhances the wearer's strength and durability. The helmet also affects the wearer's mind as if they were getting a new personality.

In other media

Television
  • Daniel Whitehall appears on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which takes place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, portrayed by Reed Diamond.[39] This version is a German Hydra scientist named Werner Reinhardt, who briefly worked with the Nazis in WWII by conducting inhumane experiments on Inhumans to study a device called the Obelisk. After the Red Skull's defeat, he is captured by Peggy Carter's team and imprisoned for his crimes.[40] While he was imprisoned, he encountered a young Gideon and Nathaniel Malick, who informed them about their father's dedication to the ancient Inhuman Hive. Years later, Reinhardt was pardoned by Alexander Pierce and resumed his work. He experimented on the Inhuman Jiaying, who had not aged since the last time he saw her, and removed her organs and placed them in himself so he could be rejuvenated.[41] By the modern day, Reinhardt became "Daniel Whitehall" and continued to work for Hydra.[42] He comes in contact with Phil Coulson's team amidst his search for the Obelisk before joining forces with Calvin Zabo, who is in possession of it, despite being unaware he was Jiaying's husband.[43] After many encounters with S.H.I.E.L.D., Whitehall has one of his agents, Grant Ward, kidnap agent Skye after learning that she is Calvin and Jiaying's daughter and planned on torturing her. Once he discovers this, Calvin prepares to take his revenge on Whitehall, but the latter is shot dead by Coulson before he could fulfill it.[44] Whitehall returned in a flashback in the season five episode "Rise and Shine", as a guest teacher at the Hydra Academy.[45]
  • A version of Kraken based on the sea monsters appears in Ultimate Spider-Man vs. the Sinister Six.[46] This version is a giant squid that resides in an alternate cartoon pirate reality. In the episode "Return to the Spider-Verse" [Part 2], pirate versions of Howard the Duck, Rocket Raccoon, and Cosmo the Spacedog attempt to feed their former captain Web Beard as well as Spider-Man and Kid Arachnid to the Kraken. After the monster gets hit with debris and attacks Web Beard's ship, The Groot, the two Spider-Men help Web Beard and the mutineers settle their differences and join forces to defeat it.

Video games

A variation of the Kraken appears as a boss in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. Unlike most depictions of the Kraken in fiction, this version is a tall, green, four-armed, fish man creature. While in Atlantis, Loki unleashed the Kraken on the heroes, but they were able to defeat it and send it back to its lair.

References
  1. Stan Lee (w), Don Heck (p), Frank Giacoia (i), The Avengers #27 (April 1966), Marvel Comics
  2. Roy Thomas (w), Sal Buscema (p), Sub-Mariner #27 (July 1970), Marvel Comics
  3. Jeph Loeb (w), Ed McGuinness (p), Dexter Vines (i), Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America #2, "Anger" (June 2007), Marvel Comics
  4. Doug Moench (w), Alfredo Alcala (p), Kull The Destroyer #17, "When Strikes The Kraken!" (October 17, 1976), Marvel Comics
  5. Chronicles of Kull 2: The Hell Beneath Atlantis and Other Stories (2010), Dark Horse Comics ISBN 9781595824394
  6. Doug Moench (w), John Bolton (p), Bizarre Adventures #26 (May 1981), Marvel Comics
  7. Sekhmett Tharn - Kraken at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
  8. Roy Thomas (w), John Buscema (p), Conan of the Isles (1988), Marvel Comics, ISBN 9780871354839
  9. Roy Thomas (w), John Buscema (p), Conan The Barbarian Annual #7, "Red Shadows and Black Kraken!" (1982), Marvel Comics
  10. Jeff Parker (w), Sara Pichelli (p), Namora #1 (Aug. 2010), Marvel Comics
  11. Sub-Mariner Comics: 70th Anniversary Special
  12. "GCD :: Series :: Fantomex Max".
  13. "GCD :: Issue :: Jean Grey #3".
  14. Marc Sumerak (w), Dan Panosian (p), Chaos War: God Squad #1 (February 2011), Marvel Comics
  15. Greg Pak (w), Paul Pelletier (p), Danny Miki (i), Incredible Hulk #622 (April 2011)
  16. Frank Tieri (w), Juan Roman Cano Santacruz (p), Wolverine/Hercules: Myths, Monsters & Mutants #3-4 (July–August 2011), Marvel Comics
  17. Marvel Graphic Novel #42. Marvel Comics.
  18. Sub-Mariner #27. Marvel Comics.
  19. Wolverine/Hercules: Myths, Monsters & Mutants #3-4. Marvel Comics.
  20. Secret Warriors #25. Marvel Comics.
  21. Secret Warriors #15. Marvel Comics.
  22. Secret Warriors #11-12. Marvel Comics.
  23. Secret Warriors #13. Marvel Comics.
  24. Secret Warriors #16. Marvel Comics.
  25. Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #68. Marvel Comics.
  26. Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1. Marvel Comics.
  27. Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. #5. Marvel Comics.
  28. Avengers #72. Marvel Comics.
  29. Avengers #120-122. Marvel Comics.
  30. Defenders #46. Marvel Comics.
  31. Defenders #48-50, Marvel Comics.
  32. Secret Warriors #26-27. Marvel Comics.
  33. Captain America: Steve Rogers #14. Marvel Comics.
  34. Secret Empire #0-1. Marvel Comics.
  35. Secret Empire #2. Marvel Comics.
  36. Secret Empire #7. Marvel Comics.
  37. Captain America Vol. 8 #25. Marvel Comics.
  38. Secret Empire #9-10. Marvel Comics.
  39. Sciretta, Peter (July 25, 2014). "Three Join Marvel's Agents of SHIELD Season 2 Cast, Find Out Their Comic Book History [Comic Con 2014]". /Film. Retrieved March 31, 2018.
  40. Misiano, Vincent (director); Jed Whedon & Maurissa Tancharoen (writer) (September 23, 2014). "Shadows". Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2. Episode 1. ABC.
  41. Cheylov, Milan (director); DJ Doyle (writer) (November 18, 2014). "The Things We Bury". Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2. Episode 8. ABC.
  42. Roth, Bobby (director); Monica Owusu-Breen (writer) (October 7, 2014). "Making Friends and Influencing People". Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2. Episode 3. ABC.
  43. Dale, Holly (director); Brent Fletcher (writer) (October 21, 2014). "A Hen in the Wolf House". Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2. Episode 5. ABC.
  44. Zinberg, Michael (director); Jeffrey Bell (writer) (December 9, 2014). "What They Become". Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2. Episode 10. ABC.
  45. Bosho, Jesse (director); Iden Baghdadchi (writer) (March 30, 2018). "Rise and Shine". Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 5. Episode 15. ABC.
  46. Yoon, Young Ki (director); Kevin Burke & Chris "Doc" Wyatt (writer) (September 3, 2016). "Return to the Spider-Verse Part 2". Ultimate Spider-Man. Season 4. Episode 17. Disney XD.
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