M'Nagalah

M'NAGALAH

Real Name: M'Nagalah

Class: Great Old Ones

Occupation: Would-be universe conqueror

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: Kag’Naru (sibling), Rh’Thulla (sibling),

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Perdition, Appalachian Mountains, formerly a distant galaxy, billions of years ago to present

First Appearance: (cameo) Swamp Thing I #7 (November-December, 1973), (full) Swamp Thing I #8 (January-February, 1974)

Powers: M’Nagalah was an immortal, amorphous blob of tentacles and eyes that could manifest bodies using cancerous cells in others. He could communicate telepathically, and dominate the minds of others, and was especially talented at fostering feelings of fear and anger. His power grew as he consumed organic matter to grow physically larger.

History: (Swamp Thing I #8 (fb)) - M’Nagalah was a cosmic disease, whose destiny was to achieve his full mass before the universe was primed, which would allow him to rule all. He was laid low, and put in a cosmic prison, but began influencing Earth from his cell. He claimed to have had a hand in starting the rise of life on Earth, and on imbuing humankind’s ancestors with a brutal streak. Millennia later he gave the gift of his thoughts to H.P. Lovecraft, EdgarAllan Poe, and Ambrose Bierce. He was summoned to Earth by Abraham of the town of Perdition, who was trying to use black magic to replenish the mines his fellow villagers depended on. M’Nagalah manifested himself in the cancer in Abraham’s arm, and turned Abraham’s now cancer-ridden body into a basis for his new form. He was restricted to the mines where he’d been summoned, but mentally controlled the villagers into giving him sacrifices so he could grow larger.

(Swamp Thing I #8) - Villagers led the Swamp Thing right into M’Nagalah’s clutches after gaining his trust. M’Nagalah was delighted, hoping Swamp Thing would provide the sustenance he needed to attain full mass. Swamp Thing wrenched free a mine support beam and impaled the amorphous monster with it. This enraged M’Nagalah, who went into convulsions, bringing the entire mine down upon him. Swamp Thing was disgusted with the villagers for abusing his trust, but told them their days f worry were over. M’Nagalah started to manifest a new body in the cancer of Abraham’s grandson Jason.

Comments: Created by Len Wein & Berni Wrightson.

M'Nagalah had a cameo in Swamp Thing I #7.