What the D’ast? Morg

(Editor’s note: This is another in a series of irregularly-scheduled columns by Managing Editor Byron Brewer, mainly dealing with Marvel Cosmic and its many denizens. Mr. Brewer’s opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CosmicBookNews.com. He welcomes both raves and opposing views.)

By Byron Brewer

In all deference to the imagination of the World Devourer Galactus, Morg is the one Herald I have never gotten. Sure, like all the others, he is imbued with Big G’s Power Cosmic and is a badass, but the Marvel U. already had a Herald with a big broad ax (Terrax) and plenty who were on the shifty side. Why Morg?

Well, his name is at least correct, because I believe this Herald has “died” more than almost any save Air-Walker. Morg became a Herald of Galactus after his previous sentinel, Nova (Frankie Raye), was expelled for sparing suitable but inhabited planets from his hunger. Somewhere thereafter, during the consuming of his latest world, Galactus was confronted by Morg, a court executioner who had betrayed his own race by executing his own people for those that had defeated them. In the presence of the World Devourer, Morg showed no fear; instead exhibiting a respectful defiance. Impressed with Morg’s demeanor and wary after losing several Heralds to attacks of conscience (“Beyond emotion,” riiiight), Galactus decided to employ this most brutal and remorseless specimen as his latest sentinel.

Morg gladly accepted the task of being Galactus’ Herald and, as a weapon, Morg wielded a double-edged battle ax, previously used by him in his executioner duties!

It was when the Silver Surfer went to meet Nova on occasion that he first learned of her dismissal and encountered instead Morg. After informing the Surfer of this replacement, Galactus told the Surfer to leave; however, the Surfer refused to go without seeing Nova, resulting in a battle with Morg. After fighting Morg and noticing his heartlessness, the Surfer decided to go find Nova and the rest of Galactus’ former Heralds and have them join him in another battle against Morg.

Heralds found by the Surfer included Firelord, Terrax, Nova and Air-Walker, whom they had to unearth from his grave and reassemble. During this time, Morg discovered a well on the planet Bastian to which he had lead Galactus, and in this well were waters containing “mystical power.” Morg immersed himself in the pool, which enhanced his powers exponentially before he returned to his master and the planet was destroyed. The assembled Heralds confronted Morg together, and Terrax used the fact that they were not able to defeat him to convince the Surfer to instead try to get help from Galactus.

While the Surfer was gone, Air-Walker was severely damaged (not again!) and Morg killed Nova by blasting her in the back when he was thought to have been beaten. Galactus was not pleased with this, so he removed the Power Cosmic that he had imbued in Morg, leaving him with only the power he’d gained from the pool he’d discovered. In his weakened state, Morg was killed by Terrax.

Months later, Big G resurrected Morg to give him a second chance. Morg then sought out his missing ax and later sought revenge against Terrax, but in their battle they were ambushed by robots working for Tyrant and were taken captive. Morg, along with fellow captives Silver Surfer, Terrax, Gladiator, Beta Ray Bill, Jack of Hearts and Ganymede, fought back against Tyrant but were easily defeated until the appearance of Galactus disrupted the battle. Morg had been incapacitated in the battle, like all those involved, save for the Surfer. Tyrant stated that everyone there could go free, except for Morg, for no other reason than to spite the World Devourer.

Tyrant imprisoned Morg and continued to siphon off his Power Cosmic and store it into his orbs. Eventually Morg escaped and went back to his master and served as Herald again for a brief time. In a battle between Galactus and Tyrant, Morg found the Ultimate Nullifier and used it to melt most of Tyrant’s body then betrayed both masters by cutting off his own arm while he tried to escape the final nullification blast (Tyrant’s drone attached itself to the Nullifier and Morg’s arm, thus not allowing Morg to separate himself from the Nullifier). The Nullifier exploded, destroying Galactus’ ship and all aboard. Morg and Tyrant were presumed dead.

Morg apparently did free himself from the Nullifier, but despite his speed he was caught in the fringe of the device’s detonation and gravely wounded. The mystic might of the planet Bastian in addition to his Power Cosmic slowly healed the Herald from even this severe damage. Still weakened, Morg was later captured by Annihilus’ forces as the Annihilation Wave made its way across the 616 Universe. Morg was later confirmed dead as Annihilus failed to retrieve the Power Cosmic from his corpse.

The rule of thumb in the Marvel Cosmos is never count a good (or even not so moral) former Herald of Galactus down. You are liable to see the ax-swinging mania any time (and we’re not talking about Terrax).