Karnak (comics)

Karnak
Karnak fighting a Skrull in
Secret Invasion: Inhumans #2
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceFantastic Four #45 (December 1965)
Created byStan Lee (writer)
Jack Kirby (artist)
In-story information
Full nameKarnak Mander-Azur
SpeciesInhumans
Place of originAttilan
Team affiliationsInhuman Royal Family
Secret Warriors
Notable aliasesThe Shatterer
Abilities
  • Inhuman physiology:
    • Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, durability, agility, and reflexes
  • Master martial artist and hand-to-hand combatant
  • Ability to sense weak points

Karnak (/ˈkɑːrnæk/) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and debuted in Fantastic Four (vol. 1) #45 (1965) along with other members of the Inhuman Royal Family.[1]

The character Karnak Mander-Azur[2] was never exposed to the Terrigen Mists, so he never developed additional powers like other Inhumans, but he is a martial artist who can find the weakness in anything and then use his training and strength to exploit it. Although the Jack Kirby Collector described him as "a philosophical karate expert with nominal personality" in 2004,[3] subsequent writers have made use of his skill for puzzle-solving[4] and strategic-planning[5] in Inhumans' stories, leading to him being given his first solo series in 2015.[6]

Karnak made his live-action debut in the 2017 Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) television series Inhumans, portrayed by Ken Leung.

  1. ^ Buxton, Marc (September 5, 2015). "How Lee & Kirby's "Fantastic Four" Birthed the Marvel Universe, Part 2". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015. For nearly a year, Lee and Kirby teased and slowly built up to this, the first appearance of the Inhumans. ... Black Bolt, Karnak, Lockjaw and more premiered right here in one creative burst of energy, along with concepts like the city of Attilan and the Terrigen Mists.
  2. ^ "I am Karnak Manader-Azur from Attilan, Magister of the second Tower of Wisdom. I am Karnak the Shatterer." Karnak #2 (2016)
  3. ^ Cooke, Joe C. (19 Feb 2004). "An Inhuman Act". In Morrow, John (ed.). Collected Jack Kirby Collector, Volume 1. TwoMorrows Publishing. p. 209. ISBN 9781893905009.
  4. ^ Richards, Dave (April 1, 2015). "Soule Finds a Weakness in the Afterlife, Discusses Surprise "Inhuman" Return". Comic Book Resources. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  5. ^ Siegel, Lucas (September 20, 2013). "Oh, the INHUMANITY - Fraction & Lowe Break Down Marvel's New Status Quo". Newsarama. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  6. ^ Towers, Andrea (August 24, 2015). "Warren Ellis talks writing Karnak: 'How can you not take a crack at that?'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 13, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2015.