Mindless Ones
| Mindless Ones | |
|---|---|
 A Mindless One | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Strange Tales #127 (December 1964) |
| Created by |
Stan Lee (writer) Steve Ditko (artist) |
| Characteristics | |
| Place of origin | Dread Dimensions |
| Inherent abilities |
Superhuman strength and resistance to injury Energy projection |
The Mindless Ones are fictional monsters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Their first appearance was in Strange Tales #127.
They are extra-dimensional creatures summoned via magic to do the bidding of others (they have no will of their own). They appear to have a thick, roughly humanoid shape standing taller than most men and a hide that appears to be made of rock. They have no faces to speak of except a single glowing eye. They have savage dispositions and minimal intelligence.
Publication history
The Mindless Ones first appeared in Strange Tales #127 (December 1964), and were created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.
The Mindless Ones have also appeared in Darkhawk #19-20 (September–October 1992), Sleepwalker #17 (October 1992), Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #82 (October 1995), Marvel Boy Volume 2, #5-6 (December 2000, March 2001), Fantastic Four #70 (August 2003), Amazing Spider-Man #57-#58 (November 2003), Amazing Spider-Man #500 (December 2003), and Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #7-8 (November 2006), among other comics.
Fictional history
Long ago, the wizard King Olnar sat on the throne of the Dark Dimension. He is visited by Umar and Dormammu, siblings of a race of magical energy beings called the Faltine. During this time, Olnar melds the Mindless Ones' home dimension to the Dark Dimension. They rampage throughout the lands, killing many, including Olnar, and almost slaying the two Faltine. The siblings create a barrier to keep them contained.
From that point they are most often seen in the employ of Dormammu, who develops an ability to slightly control their actions.[1] They have also been utilized by others such as Doctor Doom, Dr. Midas (in the pages of Marvel Boy) and a fellow Faltine named Rorkannu (in Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E.).
Dr. Doom uses them after gaining high levels of magical power via a deal with demonic entities. The Mindless Ones are utilized to beat on Ben Grimm, a member of the Fantastic Four, in a test of Grimm's durability.[2]
Sleepwalker
When Spider-Man is banished to the Dark Dimension by a brainwashed Portal, he is attacked by a group of Mindless Ones. To rescue him, Darkhawk and Sleepwalker battle the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and break Sauron's control over Portal so they could retrieve Spider-Man. A gang of Mindless Ones follow Spider-Man through the portal leading back to Earth, but the three heroes beat the monsters back and drive them back through the gateway before Portal seals the way.[3]
Amazing Spider-Man
In another, separate incident,[4] they invade and destroyed much of New York City's famed Times Square. A force that consists of Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Cyclops, Thor, Iron Man, Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Girl and the Human Torch help stop them, mainly by creating barriers. It is revealed this is the first instance Spider-Man has encountered these creatures. The Mindless Ones are temporarily defeated when Mr. Fantastic creates a machine that manipulates their magical energies, drawing them back to where they came from. This, unfortunately, results in the temporary return of Dormammu. Dr. Strange confronts the evil wizard. A punch from a single Mindless One sends Spider-Man straight into the magic Strange is utilizing, resulting in a time travel trip. Spider-Man sees a future where the Mindless Ones have reduced Times Square to rubble and killed Ben Grimm and Thor. A future Mary-Jane is chased by a batch of Mindless Ones and despite Spider-Man's efforts, she is killed.[5]
Further time-travel allows Spider-Man to prevent the usage of the machine in the first place. Doctor Strange's magic is what banishes the Mindless Ones, leaving Times Square damaged but still standing.[6]
Around this time, a single Mindless One appears as a minion of the villain Dr. Midas.[7]
Nextwave
Rorkannu, who physically resembles Dormammu and claims to be lord of the Dank Dimension, is stated to control a group of Mindless Ones. Emerging from a portal in a public restroom, they rampage through a small Colorado town, killing everyone they see, then wearing their clothing and behaving like them.[8]
The group known as Nextwave slays the Mindless Ones. Rorkannu, in a monologue, reveals he is summoning the army because he feels their lack of distinguishing features and similar temperaments make them suitable to replace the human race. His lair is discovered by the hero known as the 'Captain'. His summoning circle is destroyed. Rorkannu himself is severely beaten and left to an uncertain fate.[9]
Cable and Deadpool
The Mindless Ones appeared in an issue of Cable & Deadpool in which Deadpool and Bob, Agent of HYDRA encounter them in their own dimension. The two are being manipulated by Doctor Strange. The Mindless Ones alternately attack and worship the two protagonists, evidently mistaking the light from a glow stick for some sort of magical power, and revering whoever it seemed to be emanating from. Deadpool and Bob end up causing the deaths of several Mindless Ones as a needed sacrifice to close down a magical catastrophe threatening innocent lives.[10]
Captain Britain and MI13
Plokta, a Duke of Hell, decided to conquer the world exponentially from a tower block in Birmingham. He used the collected magical energy of people captured within its rooms to create an army of Mindless Ones, but was eventually stopped by Captain Britain and MI13. Plokta was revealed to be the original creator of the Mindless Ones, responsible for them within the hierarchy of Hell.[11]
Nova
They are also referenced here as Neutron Slaves. They were used to mine Neutron Stars and many other ultra-dense gravity sites. They rebelled against their slave masters and began manufacturing a drug called "Krush" from the surface of Neutron Stars. They are members of the Black Hole Sons and it seems they are led by a being called The Mind who is currently held prisoner in a Nova Corps ship.[12]
Original Sin
During the Original Sin storyline, a Mindless One was wrecking New York and smacking the Thing around. Spider-Man shows up to give Thing a hand. Spider-Man recognizes the Mindless and realizes that they are not supposed to be telepathic. The Mindless One screams in agony over the things he is seen and the things he has done. Thing realizes he is wielding the Ultimate Nullifier and tries to talk the Mindless One down. However, it doesn't work and the Mindless shoots himself with it. By this time, Nick Fury and the Avengers arrive. Captain America wants the Ultimate Nullifier left alone until it is contained and Fury declares the battle zone a murder scene. Elsewhere, a group of villains realize the other Mindless Ones are evolving.[13]
Powers and abilities
Mindless Ones are capable of firing energy from the hole that makes up their faces. They are superhumanly strong and resistant to injury, although their exact power levels vary from appearance to appearance.
In other media
Film
- In the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Doctor Strange, Kaecilius and his zealots are transformed into Mindless Ones by Dormammu as part of his confrontational agreement with Doctor Strange.
Television
- The Mindless Ones appear in The Super Hero Squad Show episode "Enter Dormammu." They are summoned by Dormammu after he is freed from the Dark Dimension. They also appear in another episode as antagonists in a video game being played by Wong and Doctor Strange.
- The Mindless Ones appear in the Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. episodes "Stranger in a Strange Land" and "Hulking Commandos".[14][15]
- The Mindless Ones appear in the Ultimate Spider-Man episode "Cloak and Dagger". Dormammu has been using Cloak to serve as a gateway for the Mindless Ones to invade Earth.
- The Mindless Ones appear in the Avengers Assemble episode "Widow's Run." Due to the effect that the Infinity Gems have on reality, the Mindless Ones emerged from the portal to the Dark Dimension with Dormammu causing the Avengers and Doctor Strange to fight them. They are sent back to the Dark Dimension by Black Widow using the powers of the Infinity Gems. They later reappear in the episode "The New Guy" under the command of the Red Skull, who made a pact with Dormammu to defend himself from Thanos's fury.
Video games
- The Mindless Ones appear as enemies in the Marvel: Avengers Alliance Facebook game. They first appear in Chapter 2: The Iso Effect, Mission Three: Step Into The Shadows, as one of the teams the player can defeat to face Bullseye. It is not required to defeat them, however, unless the player is aiming to unlock the epic boss of that area, Elektra. They go on to appear in Chapter 7: Mission Five, Chapter 9: Mission Six, Chapter 10: Mission Four and Special Operation 4: Mission Two.
References
- ↑ Doctor Strange #25 (1991)
- ↑ Fantastic Four #500 (October 2003)
- ↑ Darkhawk #19-20, Sleepwalker #17 (October 1992)
- ↑ Amazing Spider-Man #57-#58
- ↑ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 2, #58 (November 2003)
- ↑ Amazing Spider-Man #500
- ↑ Marvel Boy Volume 2, #5-6
- ↑ Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #8
- ↑ Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #8 (September 2006)
- ↑ Cable & Deadpool #47 (January 2008)
- ↑ Captain Britain and MI13 #6-9
- ↑ Nova #29-30
- ↑ Original Sin #1
- ↑ "Stranger in a Strange Land". Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. Season 1. Episode 20. March 30, 2014. Disney XD.
- ↑ "Hulking Commandos". Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. Season 2. Episode 3. October 19, 2014. Disney XD.