Weakest of the GREAT BEASTS?

[Tawmis]

Ranaq the Devourer.

The one that emerged from... Scrambled Eggs. Yes. Scrambled Eggs.

We never see him after Talisman dispatches him do we? Not ever again among the Great Beasts, though he was supposedly one of them? Shaman speculated that Talisman possibly destroyed Ranaq the Devourer...

But if memory serves me right... he never appears again? And he's not in Chaos War... when they show the Great Beasts...

[Tawmis]

Oh, just Wiki'ed him... apparently: The character subsequently appears in Alpha Flight (vol. 1) #38 (September 1986) ...

Well since I am re-reading it... I will get to it again.
But what happened that he never appears with the Great Beasts again?

Wiki also noted:
Neooqtoq, The Ravager is referenced in Incredible Hercules #119 (September 2008). Neooqtoq is described as the "deadliest" of the Great Beasts. Although the beast itself does not appear, Snowbird assumes its form to battle the slave gods of the Skrulls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skrull).

If so - how come this Neo one doesn't appear with the Great Beasts in Chaos War?

[Le Messor]

The implication is that, by the time of AF #24, the GB's had been whittled down to the few you usually see together. Ranaq had been destroyed (which kinda negates or is contradicted by #38.)

I noticed he was missing, even though in the image of Reilly Brown's studio I could see he'd been drawing him.

- Le Messor
"I can handle reality in small doses, but as a lifestyle it’s much too confining."
~ Lilly Tomlin

[cmdrkoenig67]

Oh, just Wiki'ed him... apparently: The character subsequently appears in Alpha Flight (vol. 1) #38 (September 1986) ...

Well since I am re-reading it... I will get to it again.
But what happened that he never appears with the Great Beasts again?

Wiki also noted:
Neooqtoq, The Ravager is referenced in Incredible Hercules #119 (September 2008). Neooqtoq is described as the "deadliest" of the Great Beasts. Although the beast itself does not appear, Snowbird assumes its form to battle the slave gods of the Skrulls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skrull).

If so - how come this Neo one doesn't appear with the Great Beasts in Chaos War?

My guess is that Neootoq is among the destroyed Beasts...Snowbird can take the form of dead Great Beasts (she took Tanaraq's form after she killed Walter). I'm not sure why Ranaq shows up again in #38...I also don't know if it was a mistake, either on Mantlo's part (as there were certainly many) or on the part of the artist (one possible clue might be if Ranaq has any speaking lines in the issue).

Dana

[cmdrkoenig67]

The implication is that, by the time of AF #24, the GB's had been whittled down to the few you usually see together. Ranaq had been destroyed (which kinda negates or is contradicted by #38).

I noticed he was missing, even though in the image of Reilly Brown's studio I could see he'd been drawing him.

- Le Messor
"I can handle reality in small doses, but as a lifestyle it’s much too confining."
~ Lilly Tomlin

Right...Snowbird (or somebody, I can't recall for sure) in Byrne's run claimed that there were only 7 surviving Beasts....Kolomaq wasn't seen in issue #24, because he was trapped (by Snowbird) on Earth...Ranaq wasn't seen then, because he was supposedly destroyed (Tanaraq too).

Dana

[Tawmis]

My guess is that Neootoq is among the destroyed Beasts...Snowbird can take the form of dead Great Beasts (she took Tanaraq's form after she killed Walter). I'm not sure why Ranaq shows up again in #38...I also don't know if it was a mistake, either on Mantlo's part (as there were certainly many) or on the part of the artist (one possible clue might be if Ranaq has any speaking lines in the issue).
Dana

Wait - didn't Snowbird take Tanaraq's form in order to rip out Sasquatch's heart?

[-K-M-]

Either Kariooq, The Corruptor or Tolomaq, The Fire Beast are the weakest

Ranaq had some impressive feats, and he didn't come from scrambled eggs


Wiki also noted:
Neooqtoq, The Ravager is referenced in Incredible Hercules #119 (September 2008). Neooqtoq is described as the "deadliest" of the Great Beasts. Although the beast itself does not appear, Snowbird assumes its form to battle the slave gods of the Skrulls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skrull).

If so - how come this Neo one doesn't appear with the Great Beasts in Chaos War?

We have seen other Great Beasts other then Neo as well, recently in the Snowbird one-shot and in Wolverine, Thor and Over-The-Edge


Ranaq had been destroyed (which kinda negates or is contradicted by #38).

I noticed he was missing, even though in the image of Reilly Brown's studio I could see he'd been drawing him.

- Le Messor
"I can handle reality in small doses, but as a lifestyle it’s much too confining."
~ Lilly Tomlin

He wasn't destroyed we see him again during the Pestilence story.



Wait - didn't Snowbird take Tanaraq's form in order to rip out Sasquatch's heart?

Yes, but when she became mortal I believe she could only turn into Sasquatch form (not Tanaraq's true form) as we have seen in Omega Flight true Tanaraq is different then Sasquatch Tanaraq.

[Tawmis]

Ranaq had some impressive feats, and he didn't come from scrambled eggs


Technically... no. He didn't "come" from Scrambled Eggs. But when he first took his form that WE saw... it was from Scrambled Eggs. And Shaman was like, "Yeah, Mr. officer, that makes sense, that he would come from Scrambled Eggs." (The issue was almost comical...) I mean, it's something right out of ghostbusters.



We have seen other Great Beasts other then Neo as well, recently in the Snowbird one-shot and in Wolverine, Thor and Over-The-Edge


Snowbird... one shot?




Yes, but when she became mortal I believe she could only turn into Sasquatch form (not Tanaraq's true form) as we have seen in Omega Flight true Tanaraq is different then Sasquatch Tanaraq.

Which is weird... at least to me. Since none of the others, save for Mr. Scrambled Eggs, never really changed their form.

[Le Messor]

Either Kariooq, The Corruptor or Tolomaq, The Fire Beast are the weakest

Tawmis was quoting the Byrne issues (Shaman?) in saying Ranaq was the weakest - because he took mortal form.


We have seen other Great Beasts other then Neo as well, recently in the Snowbird one-shot and in Wolverine, Thor and Over-The-Edge

There's been discussion about the numbers on this forum. I believe I went with the '7 only' theory, but was proved wrong. Which backs you up here.


He wasn't destroyed we see him again during the Pestilence story.

That's #38, that we're discussing, isn't it?


Yes, but when she became mortal I believe she could only turn into Sasquatch form (not Tanaraq's true form) as we have seen in Omega Flight true Tanaraq is different then Sasquatch Tanaraq.

True- due to a technicality, she could become the amalgam of Sas and Tanaraq, which was created in Canada, not either Walt or Tanaraq themselves.


Technically... no. He didn't "come" from Scrambled Eggs. But when he first took his form that WE saw... it was from Scrambled Eggs. And Shaman was like, "Yeah, Mr. officer, that makes sense, that he would come from Scrambled Eggs." (The issue was almost comical...) I mean, it's something right out of ghostbusters.

Hee hee hee... I just wrote into a novel a line where a snowed-under London looked like a lot of marshmallow had dropped on it from a ravaging monster...
(It won't make the final cut.)


Snowbird... one shot?

Perhaps the romance one-shot that had a Snowbird story? But it's up to K-M to answer.


Which is weird... at least to me. Since none of the others, save for Mr. Scrambled Eggs, never really changed their form.

They each had very different powers and M-Os.

- Le Messor
"I can prove you're not here." [Rattles off a list of places that the other person is not] "So, if you're not in any of those places, you must be somewhere else, right?"
"Right."
"Well, if you're somewhere else, then you can't be here!"
~ Abbot and Costello"

[Phil]

Snowbird... one shot?

Marvel Heartbreakers #1 (http://www.alphaflight.net/content.php?153-Review-Astonishing-Tales-Snowbird-(Digital-Comic)-and-Marvel-Heartbreakers-1)

[Garry/Al-Fan]

The implication is that, by the time of AF #24, the GB's had been whittled down to the few you usually see together. Ranaq had been destroyed (which kinda negates or is contradicted by #38.)

I noticed he was missing, even though in the image of Reilly Brown's studio I could see he'd been drawing him.

- Le Messor
"I can handle reality in small doses, but as a lifestyle it’s much too confining."
~ Lilly Tomlin


Snowbird ripped out Somon's heart, in The Great Beasts' own realm (AF# 24), but he's back! And he's supposed to have control over all of the others! And (but?) they lie! A point that Snowbird tried her damnedest to get the rest of the team to realize.

Ranaq needs a body to inhabit, which makes him the weakest if he takes a mortal/human form. What if he takes a demon-god or Wendigo form, how weak would he be?

And why didn't The Beasts (however many of them there are) want to make their last stand in their own realm (besides the fact of making Hell of Earth and tiring out Alpha Flight)?

[Tawmis]

Ranaq needs a body to inhabit, which makes him the weakest if he takes a mortal/human form. What if he takes a demon-god or Wendigo form, how weak would he be?


You know. In hindsight... that isn't true... about him needing a body. What the heck body was it that he "had" when he appeared 100 years in the past? The demonic thing? And Scrambled Eggs... isn't exactly a body... before he jumped to the human hosts....



And why didn't The Beasts (however many of them there are) want to make their last stand in their own realm (besides the fact of making Hell of Earth and tiring out Alpha Flight)?

They explained it. They're more powerful on Earth.

[cmdrkoenig67]

Wait - didn't Snowbird take Tanaraq's form in order to rip out Sasquatch's heart?

yes...But she took his form later in the series too, after Byrne left.

Dana

[Tawmis]

yes...But she took his form later in the series too, after Byrne left.

Dana

Aye, but you had said:
My guess is that Neootoq is among the destroyed Beasts...Snowbird can take the form of dead Great Beasts (she took Tanaraq's form after she killed Walter).

What I was asking - didn't she take Tanaraq's form BEFORE she killed Walter? I thought she shifted into Tanaraq in order to rip out Walter's heart (thus killing him)?

[Legerd]

Aye, but you had said:
My guess is that Neootoq is among the destroyed Beasts...Snowbird can take the form of dead Great Beasts (she took Tanaraq's form after she killed Walter).

What I was asking - didn't she take Tanaraq's form BEFORE she killed Walter? I thought she shifted into Tanaraq in order to rip out Walter's heart (thus killing him)?
The stated reason she could take Tanaraq's form at all was because it was an amalgamation of him and Walter, which occurred in the Arctic, thus creating Sasquatch. Since she can take on the form of any animal born in the Canadian Arctic she was able to copy his. Technically, her being able to copy dead Great Beasts is a retcon of her power.

[cmdrkoenig67]

Aye, but you had said:
My guess is that Neootoq is among the destroyed Beasts...Snowbird can take the form of dead Great Beasts (she took Tanaraq's form after she killed Walter).

What I was asking - didn't she take Tanaraq's form BEFORE she killed Walter? I thought she shifted into Tanaraq in order to rip out Walter's heart (thus killing him)?

Yes, she did...I'm a wingnut...I forgot that part.

As Legerd says above, Snowbird could take the form of Sasquatch, due to him being a combo form of Walter and Tanaraq (born/created in Canada)...And yes, Snowbird taking the form of dead Beasts is a retcon...Since she shouldn't technically be able to take on the form of Neootoq (unless that form was somehow created on Canadian soil).

Dana

[-K-M-]

Technically... no. He didn't "come" from Scrambled Eggs. But when he first took his form that WE saw... it was from Scrambled Eggs. And Shaman was like, "Yeah, Mr. officer, that makes sense, that he would come from Scrambled Eggs." (The issue was almost comical...) I mean, it's something right out of ghostbusters..

I don't think the "eggs" were Ranaq, just a side affect of his powers. Also keep it mind as noted by Shaman "its replicating itself at an impossible rate, it must be functioning as a dimensional interface, siphoning energy from the spirit plane and instantly converting that energy into ectoplasmic matter" and if unchecked could become two-directional, draining from the plant entirely. That's some pretty powerful eggs


Snowbird... one shot?.

Marvel Heartbreakers #1 (http://www.alphaflight.net/content.php?153-Review-Astonishing-Tales-Snowbird-(Digital-Comic)-and-Marvel-Heartbreakers-1) as Phil indicated, which has two new Great Beasts in it. Plus all the demon hordes (Surtur's army) were called Great Beasts in the Omega Flight mini. There is still lots left apparently.



Which is weird... at least to me. Since none of the others, save for Mr. Scrambled Eggs, never really changed their form.

The Great Beasts use avatars, Sasquatch is to Tanaraq what Snowbird's dad is to Tundra.

[-K-M-]

Tawmis was quoting the Byrne issues (Shaman?) in saying Ranaq was the weakest - because he took mortal form.

I'm aware, but Byrne also said there were just 7 Great Beasts and we know that isn't the case.



That's #38, that we're discussing, isn't it?

Correct

[cmdrkoenig67]

I'm aware, but Byrne also said there were just 7 Great Beasts and we know that isn't the case.

It was the case at the time, it's just been ignored or retconned since (the same can be said of Ranaq being the weakest of the Beasts).

Dana

[Tawmis]

It was the case at the time, it's just been ignored or retconned since (the same can be said of Ranaq being the weakest of the Beasts).

Dana

Aye. I am re-reading - where was it stated that it was only 7? Was it in the comic somewhere or an interview?

[Le Messor]

Aye. I am re-reading - where was it stated that it was only 7? Was it in the comic somewhere or an interview?

So, it comes to this:
http://www.alphaflight.net/showthread.php?4508-Sojourn!-the-other-Great-Beast/page2

finally found that old thread.
Which says it was stated in #23 - last I heard, a couple of days ago, you were up to #22.

- Le Messor
"I cannot be fired. Slaves have to be sold"

[Tawmis]

So, it comes to this:
http://www.alphaflight.net/showthread.php?4508-Sojourn!-the-other-Great-Beast/page2

finally found that old thread.
Which says it was stated in #23 - last I heard, a couple of days ago, you were up to #22.

- Le Messor
"I cannot be fired. Slaves have to be sold"

I am on 27 now. And I will have to look at 22 again. I don't recall reading it was specifically seven. But then wasn't really looking for it either.

[Le Messor]

I am on 27 now. And I will have to look at 22 again. I don't recall reading it was specifically seven. But then wasn't really looking for it either.

23.

[Le Messor]

... which, it occurs to me, is right next to me.
Page 3, Panel 3: "Look now upon the form and substance of one of the last seven, of the Great Beasts."
(The emphasis is in the original.)

- Le Messor
"I cannot say that I don't disagree with you."
~ Groucho Marx

[Garry/Al-Fan]

You know. In hindsight... that isn't true... about him needing a body. What the heck body was it that he "had" when he appeared 100 years in the past? The demonic thing? And Scrambled Eggs... isn't exactly a body... before he jumped to the human hosts....

They explained it. They're more powerful on Earth.

It also stated that eggs represented life and the promise of life, so I think that Ranaq did inhabit hosts in the scrambled eggs, a minor point IMO, because Somon is the trickiest of the Great Beasts (as demonstrated in AF# 24), he lies by omission, and he used his "psychic death" technique in his own realm but didn't get a chance to use it on Earth.

Where do the Beasts go when they "die"? Especially now with "Death" inaccessible?

What isn't Somon telling?

[Tawmis]

Where do the Beasts go when they "die"? Especially now with "Death" inaccessible?
What isn't Somon telling?[/COLOR][/B][/SIZE][/FONT]

Well, that's answered in Chaos War: Dead Avengers.

They get caught between sleep/dream/nightmare/life/death.

[Le Messor]

Where do the Beasts go when they "die"? Especially now with "Death" inaccessible?

I think they play sax for an all-girl cabaret in New Orleans.

What's Thanos doing during all this? His would-be girlfriend must be Ma-aaad!

[Tawmis]

I think they play sax for an all-girl cabaret in New Orleans.

What's Thanos doing during all this? His would-be girlfriend must be Ma-aaad!

Oh. You have not been reading the THANOS IMPERATIVE, eh? (It's done now)... But it was before all this happened... and... it was... epic. GREAT comic writing.

[-K-M-]

Some gods that are killed are brought back as evil servants as shown in Chaos War: God Squad.

[Flightpath07]

So, just to be clear here, which came first; the chicken, or Ranaq the Devourer?