Warbound

• Core Identity: The Warbound are a band of exiled alien warriors forged in the gladiatorial pits of the planet Sakaar, who became the unbreakable found family and sworn brothers-in-arms to the Hulk.
• Key Takeaways:
• Role in the Universe: The Warbound represent the first and only true family the Hulk ever chose for himself. They evolved from fellow slaves into a revolutionary army, and later, an interstellar force of vengeance, fundamentally altering the Hulk's status from a misunderstood monster to a king, conqueror, and leader. Their existence proved that the Hulk was capable of inspiring loyalty and building a community.
• Primary Impact: Their most significant impact was the instigation and execution of the World War Hulk event. Driven by grief and a desire for justice after the destruction of their home and families, they led an invasion of Earth and systematically defeated many of its most powerful heroes, holding the planet hostage and forcing a reckoning for the actions of the Illuminati.
• Key Incarnations: In the Earth-616 comics, the Warbound are a diverse group of grim, powerful, and complex warriors defined by tragedy and loyalty. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), only two members, Korg and miek, are featured, and they are reimagined primarily as comedic relief and affable sidekicks to Thor, lacking the tragic depth and revolutionary purpose of their comic counterparts.

The Warbound were conceived by writer Greg Pak and primarily designed by artists Carlo Pagulayan and Aaron Lopresti. They made their first collective appearance during the seminal storyline, Planet Hulk. The members were introduced sequentially as the Hulk fought his way through the gladiator arenas of Sakaar. While Korg appeared first in `The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #93` (May 2006), the group was fully assembled and named by `The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #95` (July 2006). Greg Pak's creation of the Warbound was central to the thesis of Planet Hulk: to explore who the Hulk could be if he was removed from the context of Earth and its heroes who constantly feared and hunted him. The Warbound were designed to be characters who wouldn't judge the Hulk for his rage; instead, they respected his strength and saw his fury as a tool for their collective liberation. Each member was given a distinct backstory rooted in loss, shame, or rebellion, making them kindred spirits to the exiled Hulk. This storyline, and the Warbound's role within it, was a massive critical and commercial success, revitalizing the Hulk's comics and leading directly into the blockbuster event World War Hulk, solidifying the Warbound's place as one of the most significant additions to the Hulk's supporting cast in the 21st century.

The formation of the Warbound is a tale of shared suffering forging an unbreakable bond. Their origin differs drastically between the primary comic universe and the cinematic universe.

The genesis of the Warbound lies in the betrayal of the Hulk by Earth's clandestine hero council, the Illuminati. Deeming him too great a threat to remain on Earth, they tricked the Hulk into a spaceship and exiled him to a predetermined peaceful planet. However, the ship's warp drive was damaged, causing it to crash-land on the brutal, hostile planet of Sakaar. Ruled by the tyrannical Red King, Sakaar was a world where strength was law. Weakened from the crash, the Hulk was captured and implanted with a slave disc, forcing him to obey his captors. He was thrown into The Maw, the empire's deadliest gladiator arena, for the entertainment of the masses. It was here, in the blood-soaked sands, that he would meet his future brothers- and sisters-in-arms. Each member was a captive with a reason to fight:

• Korg: A Kronan whose scouting party was defeated by Thor. He and his brother Margus were captured by the Red King's forces on their way home.
• Miek: A native Sakaaran “hiveling” whose entire hive was slaughtered by the Red King's army. He was cast into the arena as a disposable outcast.
• Hiroim the Shamed: A “Shadow Priest,” a member of a religious order dedicated to a prophecy of a savior, the Sakaarson. When he failed to fulfill the prophecy himself, he was branded a heretic and cast out, eventually becoming a slave.
• Elloe Kaifi: The daughter of a high-ranking Sakaaran Imperial who spoke out against the Red King's regime. After her father was executed for treason, she and her bodyguard were forced into gladiatorial combat.
• No-Name of the Brood: A rare Brood queen who was separated from her hive. Unlike her kin, she possessed a degree of individuality and was captured and enslaved.
• Caiera the Oldstrong: Initially not a member, Caiera was the Red King's loyal lieutenant and a master of the planet's tectonic “Old Power.” She was the Warbound's primary antagonist within the arena.

Forced to fight together as a team, the Hulk, Korg, Miek, Hiroim, Elloe, and No-Name quickly formed a powerful unit. The Hulk, initially reluctant to trust anyone, was repeatedly impressed by their loyalty and shared will to survive. They swore a pact, a slave oath, to stand by one another: “Where one goes, we all go.” This bond, forged in battle and defiance, was the true birth of the Warbound. Their victories in the arena made them folk heroes to the oppressed people of Sakaar. Eventually, they escaped the arena and led a full-scale revolution against the Red King. It was during this conflict that Caiera, witnessing the Red King's monstrous cruelty firsthand, defected and joined the Warbound. Together, they defeated the tyrant, and the Hulk, known to the people as the “Green Scar,” was crowned the new King of Sakaar, with Caiera as his Queen and the Warbound as his royal court.

The concept of the Warbound is drastically simplified and altered for the MCU, appearing primarily in `Thor: Ragnarok`. The team as a unified, grim fighting force does not exist. Instead, key members are re-contextualized as fellow gladiators on the junkyard planet of Sakaar, which is ruled by the hedonistic Grandmaster. In this continuity, only Korg and Miek are present. They are introduced not as the Hulk's sworn brothers, but as fellow prisoners who attempt to start a revolution that hilariously fails.

• Korg: Portrayed as an affable, soft-spoken Kronan revolutionary made of “perishable rock.” He befriends Thor after Thor is captured and sold to the Grandmaster. His backstory is comedic; he explains he was imprisoned for trying to start a revolution but didn't print enough pamphlets.
• Miek: A silent, insectoid creature with robotic limbs and blades. He is Korg's constant companion and appears to be a larva-like stage of his species. His role is purely for visual gags and support for Korg.

Unlike the comics, the Hulk (here known as the Grandmaster's “Champion”) is not a slave but a willing, celebrated fighter who enjoys the fame and adoration. He has no deep bond with Korg and Miek initially. The group that forms to escape Sakaar is not the Warbound but the “Revengers,” a team assembled by Thor consisting of himself, Hulk, Valkyrie, and later, Loki. Korg and Miek join this effort by leading a mass breakout of all the gladiators. Their relationship is one of friendly allies, not a deeply loyal family forged in life-or-death struggle. Their purpose is escape and helping the Asgardians, not vengeance or liberation.

The Warbound's purpose shifted dramatically with their circumstances, from survival to liberation, and ultimately to vengeance. Their structure was simple, based on loyalty and strength, with the Hulk as the undisputed center of their universe.

• Mandate:
• Survival: Initially, their only goal was to survive the gladiatorial games and earn their freedom.
• Liberation: After escaping, their purpose grew into a full-scale rebellion to free the people of Sakaar from the Red King's tyranny.
• Governance: As rulers of Sakaar, their mandate was to rebuild their broken world and create a lasting peace.
• Vengeance: Following the destruction of Crown City and the death of Queen Caiera, their sole, all-consuming purpose became to travel to Earth and exact justice from the Illuminati, the men responsible for sending the Hulk to Sakaar.
• Structure:
• Leader: The Hulk (Green Scar) was the absolute leader. His word was law, not through tyranny, but through the deep respect and love his Warbound held for him.
• Second-in-Command: Caiera the Oldstrong, as Hulk's Queen, acted as his primary advisor and strategist. Her knowledge of Sakaar and the Old Power was invaluable.
• Inner Council: The core members—Korg, Miek, Hiroim, Elloe, and No-Name—functioned as a council of trusted warriors and friends. Each brought a unique perspective and skillset to the group.

A silicon-based lifeform from the planet Ria, Korg possesses immense superhuman strength and durability, rivaling that of beings like The Thing. His rock-like body makes him incredibly resistant to physical harm. Despite his intimidating appearance, Korg is the heart of the Warbound, often acting as a calm, sensible, and deeply compassionate voice. He is a thoughtful warrior who values brotherhood above all else. He was forced to kill his own brother Margus in the arena when their slave discs activated, a trauma that cemented his hatred for enslavement and his loyalty to the Hulk, who promised him a world with no masters.

A native Sakaaran insectoid, Miek began as one of the weakest members of the group. Small and ostracized from his own kind, he saw the Hulk's strength as an inspiration. After a near-death experience, he entered a chrysalis and emerged in a massive, kingly form with a hardened exoskeleton and incredible strength. Miek's defining trait is his deep-seated trauma and rage over the death of his hive. This rage curdled into a fanatical devotion to the “Green Scar,” leading him to a dark conclusion: that the Hulk was at his best when he was angry and at war. This belief led Miek to secretly allow the Illuminati's damaged ship to explode, killing Caiera and millions of Sakaarans, to ensure the Hulk would never know peace and would be driven to wage war on Earth. This act makes him the ultimate traitor of the Warbound.

A former Shadow Priest and a master warrior, Hiroim was exiled for failing to be the prophesied savior of his people. He is stoic, wise, and deeply spiritual. His primary power comes from his connection to the Old Power, the tectonically-derived energy of the planet Sakaar. Initially, he could only channel this power through his rocky arm to become a formidable fighter. After Caiera's death, his connection deepened, allowing him to tap into vast geological forces. Hiroim often served as the Warbound's conscience and strategist, his wisdom tempering the group's rage. He ultimately sacrificed his life by absorbing the malevolent energy of Hulk's son, Hiro-Kala, to save the planet K'ai.

The daughter of a disgraced Sakaaran nobleman, Elloe is fueled by a fiery, revolutionary spirit. While she lacks the raw superhuman power of her comrades, she is an exceptionally skilled and agile warrior, proficient with various Sakaaran weapons. She is the most politically-minded of the Warbound and often the most skeptical. She was the first to question the Hulk's decisions and the first to advocate for open rebellion. Her unwavering belief in freedom and her refusal to bow to any authority, even the Hulk's at times, made her a vital and challenging voice within the group.

A queen of the parasitic alien race known as the Brood, No-Name was separated from her hive and developed a unique sense of individuality. She is a ferocious combatant, possessing all the typical Brood abilities: a chitinous exoskeleton, sharp claws and teeth, a prehensile tail, and superhuman strength. The Warbound were the first people to ever treat her as an individual rather than a monster to be slain. In return, she gave them her complete and unwavering loyalty, fighting fiercely to protect her adopted “sisters,” particularly Elloe.

A being born of the Shadow People of Sakaar, Caiera possesses an innate and powerful connection to the Old Power, allowing her to turn her skin to stone-like hardness, control the very planet beneath her feet, and draw immense strength from it. She was originally the loyal bodyguard of the Red King, bound by an honor debt. After witnessing his depravity, she betrayed him and joined the Hulk, recognizing him as the true Sakaarson of prophecy. She fell in love with the Green Scar, married him, and conceived his children. Her death in the destruction of Crown City was the catalyst for World War Hulk. Even after death, her spirit remained connected to Sakaar, and her legacy lived on through her powerful sons, skaar and Hiro-Kala.

In the MCU, the structure and mandate are nonexistent as the “Warbound” as a group never forms. Korg and Miek are simply part of the “Revengers” team of escapees.

• Korg: His primary ability is his Kronan physiology (rock body). His role is that of a friend, confidant, and comedic narrator for Thor's adventures. He provides exposition and lightens the mood.
• Miek: Primarily a non-combatant whose main purpose is comic relief alongside Korg. He communicates through gestures and occasionally writing.

• The Hulk (Bruce Banner): The Warbound's relationship with the Hulk is the most important of their existence. To them, he was not a monster, but a savior and a king. They loved and respected the “Green Scar” persona, the intelligent and powerful warrior-king, and were fiercely loyal to him. They gave him something Bruce Banner never could: acceptance. This relationship was complicated after World War Hulk, when Miek's betrayal was revealed and the Hulk surrendered, leaving them imprisoned and adrift. Though strained, their bond eventually healed, and they have reunited on several occasions to aid the Hulk.

• The Red King: The tyrannical emperor of Sakaar was their first and most hated enemy. He represented everything they fought against: slavery, oppression, and gratuitous cruelty. His defeat was their first great victory and the moment that elevated them from slaves to liberators.
• The Illuminati (Iron Man, Mister Fantastic, Doctor Strange, Black Bolt): After the destruction of Sakaar, the Illuminati became the sole focus of the Warbound's rage. They saw them as arrogant hypocrites who judged, condemned, and executed an entire planet from afar without consequence. The Warbound's war on Earth was not just about the Hulk's revenge; it was personal justice for every member who had lost their new home and family in the fire.

• Rulers of Sakaar: For a brief, peaceful period, the Warbound, with Hulk and Caiera as King and Queen, were the ruling body of the planet Sakaar, tasked with uniting the disparate tribes and rebuilding their world.
• Agents of S.M.A.S.H.: In a much later, more lighthearted context (primarily in the animated series of the same name and its comic tie-ins), a reformed version of the Warbound (including Korg) sometimes worked alongside Hulk's “Agents of S.M.A.S.H.,” a team which included A-Bomb (Rick Jones), She-Hulk, and Red Hulk. This affiliation lacks the grim intensity of their original incarnation.

This is the quintessential Warbound story, detailing their complete origin. The narrative follows the Hulk's journey from being a betrayed exile to a slave, gladiator, revolutionary, and finally, a king. The storyline meticulously builds the Warbound's bond with the Hulk through shared trials in The Maw. Each battle, from fighting giant alien beasts to confronting Silver Surfer (who was also a slave on Sakaar), solidifies their slave oath. The arc culminates in their successful rebellion against the Red King and the establishment of a new, hopeful era for Sakaar under King Hulk and Queen Caiera. The story ends in profound tragedy when the warp core of the ship that brought Hulk to Sakaar explodes, annihilating Crown City and killing millions, including a pregnant Caiera. This event sets the stage for their quest for vengeance.

Picking up immediately after Planet Hulk, this event chronicles the Warbound's invasion of Earth. Aboard a massive stone starship, they travel to the Moon first, where they swiftly defeat the Inhuman king, Black Bolt. They then arrive in New York City and issue an ultimatum: deliver the members of the Illuminati or the city will be destroyed. The story showcases the Warbound's incredible power and tactical prowess as they systematically take down Earth's mightiest heroes. They defeat Iron Man in his Hulkbuster armor, neutralize Doctor Strange by turning his own magic against him, conquer the X-Men, and even fight the Sentry to a standstill. They transform Madison Square Garden into a gladiatorial arena, forcing the captive Illuminati to fight for their lives as the Warbound once did. The event's climax is the shocking revelation that Miek, not the Illuminati, was responsible for the destruction of Sakaar. This shatters the Warbound's righteous cause and causes the Hulk to unleash a world-breaking level of rage, before he is finally defeated and Bruce Banner is imprisoned.

Following their defeat in World War Hulk, the surviving Warbound members (Hiroim, Korg, Elloe, and No-Name) are taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody. They eventually escape and go their separate ways. Korg and Hiroim attempt to find a new home, believing the Old Power can transform an uninhabited planetoid into a new Sakaar. Elloe and No-Name remain on Earth, forming a group to monitor the government's anti-Hulk activities. They all reunite during the Fall of the Hulks storyline to aid the Hulk and his allies against the Intelligencia, a cabal of evil geniuses led by M.O.D.O.K. and The Leader. This reunion reaffirms their bond, proving that even after betrayal and defeat, their loyalty to their friend, the Hulk, remains.

As detailed previously, this is the most significant and well-known alternate version. Korg and Miek of the MCU are fundamentally different characters. They are comedic, light-hearted, and serve as allies to Thor rather than the Hulk. They share none of the trauma, revolutionary zeal, or intense loyalty of their Earth-616 counterparts. Their story continues in `Avengers: Endgame`, where they are shown living in New Asgard on Earth, and in `Thor: Love and Thunder`, where they remain close friends and companions to Thor.

This direct-to-video animated feature provides a largely faithful adaptation of the comic storyline. It captures the grim tone and epic scale of the story, showcasing the formation of the Warbound in the arena. Due to rights issues with Silver Surfer, his role in the arena is filled by Beta Ray Bill, a notable change. The film streamlines some of the subplots but successfully portrays the core narrative of the Warbound's journey from slaves to kings and the tragic ending that propels them toward World War Hulk (which was never adapted in this animated continuity).

This comic explored two key alternate scenarios:

1. What If Caiera the Oldstrong Had Survived?: In this reality, the Hulk dies in the explosion and a grieving, vengeful Caiera absorbs the planet's Old Power and the Power Cosmic from the Silver Surfer's board, becoming a god-like being. She leads the Warbound to Earth, not for justice, but for total annihilation, easily destroying Earth's heroes and shattering the planet itself.
2. What If the Hulk Landed Where the Illuminati Intended?: The Hulk lands on the peaceful, idyllic planet as planned. Without conflict, the Hulk's rage subsides, and he finds a measure of peace. However, his very presence corrupts the gentle native species, who begin to absorb his repressed rage, turning into violent monsters. The Hulk is forced to become their destroyer, proving the Illuminati's point that he brings destruction wherever he goes. The Warbound never forms in this reality.

• hulk
• sakaar
• planet_hulk
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• illuminati
• korg
• miek
• caiera_the_oldstrong
• skaar
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