Korg

• Core Identity: Korg is a formidable Kronan warrior from the planet Ria, whose immense strength and durability are matched only by his unwavering loyalty and surprisingly gentle nature, making him a revolutionary leader and a steadfast ally to both the Hulk and Thor across different realities.
• Key Takeaways:
• Role in the Universe: Originally an antagonist to Thor and later a key member of the Hulk's Warbound, Korg is a warrior of honor who fights for freedom. He evolves from a grim gladiator in the comics to a beloved comedic relief character and friend to thor in the MCU.
• Primary Impact: Korg was a foundational member of the Warbound during the revolutionary planet_hulk and World War Hulk sagas, fundamentally altering the Hulk's life. In the MCU, he provides crucial emotional support and humor for Thor during his most trying times, acting as a grounding presence and loyal friend.
• Key Incarnations: The primary distinction lies in personality. The Earth-616 Korg is a stoic, battle-hardened tactician, traumatized by the loss of his family and comrades. The MCU Korg is an affable, chatty, and endearingly naive revolutionary with a penchant for stating the obvious, serving as a source of levity and heart.

The history of Korg is a fascinating example of retroactive continuity, or “retconning,” in comics. The Kronan species first appeared long before Korg was established as a unique character. This debut occurred in journey_into_mystery #83, published in August 1962. Created by the legendary team of writer Stan Lee, scripter Larry Lieber, and artists Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott, these “Stone Men from Saturn”¹⁾ were the very first villains faced by Dr. Donald Blake's newly empowered alter-ego, the Mighty Thor. They were depicted as generic alien invaders, and Thor easily repelled their fleet. For decades, the Kronans remained minor recurring alien antagonists. It wasn't until 2006 that the character of Korg was formally introduced. In the seminal storyline Planet Hulk, which began in Incredible Hulk (Vol. 2) #93, writer Greg Pak and artist Carlo Pagulayan sought to create a band of alien gladiators to fight alongside the Hulk on the planet sakaar. Pak cleverly revisited the events of Journey into Mystery #83, establishing that one of those “Stone Men” was a character named Korg. This retcon gave him an immediate, deep-seated connection to Marvel history and a pre-existing (albeit one-sided) relationship with Thor. This transformed a nameless, single-issue villain into a complex, tragic, and heroic figure who would become central to the Hulk's story for years to come.

The origin of Korg differs dramatically between the comics and the cinematic universe, primarily in tone, circumstance, and his relationship with other heroes.

Korg's story begins on the planet Ria, where he was born into the Kronan race, a silicon-based species with rock-like hides. Alongside his brother, Margus, and their people, he was part of an exploratory force that sought to conquer other worlds. Their invasion of Earth brought them into direct conflict with Thor. During this battle, Thor shattered many of the Kronan invaders. Believing his brother Margus to have been mercilessly killed in the conflict, Korg developed a deep fear and resentment of the God of Thunder. Years later, Korg and Margus were captured by the cosmic empire of Sakaar. They were taken to the brutal planet, surgically implanted with obedience disks, and forced into gladiatorial combat for the entertainment of the tyrannical Red King. It was in the gladiatorial training pit known as The Maw that Korg's true journey began. There, he met other enslaved warriors from across the galaxy: the insectoid miek, the Shadow Person Hiroim the Shamed, the Brood alien No-Name, and the imperial outcast Elloe Kaifi. When the Hulk, exiled from Earth by the Illuminati, crash-landed on Sakaar, he too was captured and forced into the arena. Initially, Korg and his fellow gladiators were wary of the Green Goliath. However, after the Hulk demonstrated immense power and an unexpected sense of honor by protecting his fellow slaves, Korg and the others swore a blood oath to him. They became “brothers-in-arms,” a gladiator team that fought and bled together, eventually becoming known as the Warbound. Together, the Warbound, led by the Hulk (whom the people of Sakaar called the “Green Scar”), sparked a revolution. They challenged the Red King's authority, rallied the oppressed peoples of Sakaar, and ultimately overthrew the corrupt empire. Korg served as a key strategist and a powerful warrior during this rebellion. After the Red King's defeat, the Hulk was crowned King of Sakaar, and Korg stood by his side as a trusted advisor and friend. This peace was tragically short-lived. The warp-core of the shuttle that brought the Hulk to Sakaar detonated, destroying the capital city and killing millions, including Hulk's pregnant wife, Caiera. Blaming the Earth heroes who exiled him, the enraged Hulk, along with Korg and the surviving Warbound, set a course for Earth to seek vengeance. This ignited the events of World War Hulk, where Korg served as one of the Hulk's primary lieutenants, his tactical mind and immense power proving crucial in the war against Earth's heroes.

The MCU's version of Korg, introduced in thor_ragnarok (2017), presents a radically different origin and personality. Voiced by director Taika Waititi, this Korg is a jovial and talkative Kronan who becomes imprisoned on the trash planet of Sakaar, which is ruled by the eccentric grandmaster. Unlike his comic counterpart, Korg was not captured in war but was enslaved after attempting to start a revolution against the planet's oppressive rulers. As he comically explains to thor, his revolution failed because he didn't print enough pamphlets and his mother's boyfriend angered the wrong people. While imprisoned, he is forced to serve as a gladiator, where he befriends a quiet, blade-wielding insectoid named miek. When Thor is captured and made a contender in the Grandmaster's Contest of Champions, he first encounters Korg in the gladiator holding cells. Korg provides a friendly, if slightly dim-witted, orientation to their prison life, explaining the rules and the grim fate of anyone who challenges the Grandmaster's champion (the Hulk). Despite the bleak circumstances, Korg maintains a perpetually upbeat and optimistic demeanor. Inspired by Thor's desire to escape and save Asgard, Korg becomes a key figure in the prison break. He leads the other gladiators in a massive uprising, overpowering their guards and seizing control of a large starship. He and his fellow “Revengers” (as Thor dubs them) pilot the ship, the Statesman, to Asgard, arriving just in time to help evacuate the Asgardian population during the final battle against Hela. After Asgard's destruction, Korg travels with the surviving Asgardians, Thor, Hulk, and Loki aboard the Statesman. He survives Thanos's subsequent attack on the ship and is among the refugees who settle on Earth in New Asgard. During the five years after the Blip, Korg becomes Thor's roommate and closest companion, spending his days playing video games and trying to support his emotionally devastated friend. He later participates in the final battle against Thanos's forces in avengers_endgame. In thor_love_and_thunder, he continues to be Thor's loyal sidekick, even narrating parts of the story, and eventually finds a partner named Dwayne, with whom he has a child, a baby Kronan, through a special Kronan ritual.

While both versions of Korg are Kronans, their portrayals of their abilities, personalities, and combat styles are distinctly different.

• Kronan Physiology: Korg's body is composed of a durable, silicon-based substance that resembles orange rock. This grants him a host of superhuman abilities:
• Superhuman Strength: While not on the level of the Hulk or Thor, Korg's strength is immense. He is capable of lifting well over 100 tons, allowing him to trade blows with incredibly powerful beings and tear through reinforced steel with ease.
• Superhuman Durability: His rock-like hide is extremely resistant to physical damage. He can withstand high-caliber bullets, powerful energy blasts, extreme temperatures, and tremendous impact forces without sustaining significant injury. His durability is such that he survived direct combat during World War Hulk against heroes like The Thing.
• Superhuman Stamina: Korg's alien musculature produces far fewer fatigue toxins than a human's, allowing him to exert himself at peak capacity for extended periods.
• Extended Longevity: Kronans have a lifespan that extends for many centuries, if not millennia.
• Skills and Abilities:
• Master Tactician and Strategist: Korg is an intelligent and experienced military leader. During the Sakaaran rebellion and the invasion of Earth, he was a key strategist for the Warbound, directing troops and formulating battle plans.
• Expert Combatant: Having been trained as a Kronan warrior and later forced to survive as a gladiator, Korg is a master of both armed and unarmed combat. He is proficient with a variety of melee weapons, including swords, shields, and staves.
• Personality:
• The Earth-616 Korg is defined by his sense of honor and brotherhood. He is generally stoic, thoughtful, and slow to anger, but he is a fearsome warrior when roused. He is deeply loyal to his Warbound brothers, especially the Hulk, whom he sees as a savior and a true friend. His past trauma, particularly the presumed death of his brother at Thor's hands, gives him a grim and serious demeanor. He is a warrior-philosopher, often providing a calm and rational voice amidst the chaos of war.

• Kronan Physiology: The MCU version shares the same basic powers, though they are often depicted in a more comedic context.
• Superhuman Strength & Durability: Korg is shown to be very strong and tough, fighting alongside Thor and the Asgardians. However, his durability has its limits; Zeus's Thunderbolt completely shatters his body in Thor: Love and Thunder, reducing him to a pile of rubble (from which only his head survives).
• Regeneration/Reconstitution: A unique ability shown in the MCU is that Kronans can survive catastrophic bodily harm. After being shattered, his face is still able to speak, and he is later reconstituted. This implies a decentralized consciousness or an ability to regenerate from near-total destruction, so long as a key part (like the head) remains.
• Reproduction: Thor: Love and Thunder establishes that Kronans are a genderless species who reproduce by holding hands over a lava pit for two weeks, resulting in the creation of a baby Kronan.
• Equipment:
• Korg is not shown with any signature equipment. On Sakaar, he uses whatever gladiator weapons are available. In later battles, he is often seen wielding a large blaster rifle, which seems to be of Asgardian or scavenged design.
• Personality:
• The MCU Korg's personality is his most defining feature and the biggest departure from the comics. He is:
  • Exceedingly Friendly and Polite: He introduces himself with a handshake and a soft-spoken, “Hey, man.” He rarely raises his voice and approaches even the most dire situations with a gentle, laid-back attitude.
  • Talkative and Literal-Minded: Korg has a tendency to ramble, over-explain things, and state the obvious in a charmingly naive way. His “pamphlet” story is a prime example of his literal and slightly simple worldview.
  • Loyal and Supportive: He is an incredibly loyal friend to Thor, staying by his side through his deep depression and offering what comfort he can. He is the heart and soul of Thor's new circle of friends, providing a much-needed emotional anchor.
  • Surprisingly Perceptive: Despite his simple demeanor, Korg sometimes offers surprisingly insightful observations, cutting through the drama with a simple truth.

• The Hulk (Bruce Banner):
• (Earth-616) This is Korg's most important relationship in the comics. They are “brothers-in-arms,” forged in the fires of Sakaar's arenas. Korg's loyalty to the Hulk is absolute, viewing him as the king who freed him and his people. He followed Hulk to the ends of the universe and to war with his own home world, a testament to their bond.
• (MCU) Korg and the Hulk are friendly acquaintances on Sakaar. Korg sees Hulk as the “Lord of Thunder” (a misnomer for Thor) and the Grandmaster's champion. They escape Sakaar together and fight alongside each other, but do not share the deep, brotherly bond of their comic counterparts.
• Thor Odinson:
• (Earth-616) For years, Korg held a grudge against Thor for the “murder” of his brother. They were adversaries during World War Hulk. However, they later reconciled after discovering the truth and have since become allies, serving together on teams like the “Thor Corps.”
• (MCU) Thor is Korg's best friend. From their first meeting in the Sakaaran dungeons, Korg has been a constant, supportive presence in Thor's life. He was his roommate in New Asgard, his adventuring companion against Gorr the God Butcher, and a key part of his found family. This relationship is central to the MCU's version of Korg.
• Miek:
• In both universes, Korg and Miek are an inseparable pair.
• (Earth-616) Miek is a fellow member of the Warbound. Their relationship becomes strained when Korg discovers that Miek knowingly allowed the shuttle to explode on Sakaar to keep the Hulk's rage focused on Earth. This betrayal deeply wounded Korg.
• (MCU) Miek is Korg's quiet, slightly odd companion. Korg often “translates” for Miek (who doesn't seem to speak) and looks after him. Their dynamic is purely comedic and supportive, with no hint of the dark betrayal from the comics.
• The Warbound (Earth-616):
• Korg's found family. Hiroim, Elloe Kaifi, No-Name of the Brood, and Caiera were the individuals he fought and bled with to free a world. Their bond is one of the most powerful forces in his life, and the loss of any member affects him deeply.

• The Red King:
• (Earth-616) The tyrannical emperor of Sakaar who enslaved Korg, Miek, and countless others. He was the primary antagonist of the Planet Hulk storyline and the target of the rebellion led by the Hulk and the Warbound. He represents the oppression and cruelty that Korg fought to overcome.
• The Grandmaster:
• (MCU) While not a direct “arch-enemy,” the Grandmaster is the whimsical tyrant who enslaved Korg and forced him into gladiatorial combat. Korg's revolution was aimed at overthrowing his rule, making the Grandmaster his primary antagonist within the MCU.

• The Warbound (Earth-616): Korg is a founding member and a core leader of this group of alien revolutionaries.
• The Revengers (MCU): A loosely-named team created by Thor on Sakaar to escape and fight Hela. Korg was a key member alongside Thor, Hulk, and Valkyrie.
• Asgardians / Citizens of New Asgard (MCU): After the destruction of Asgard, Korg became an adopted citizen, living among the Asgardian refugees on Earth and helping to protect their new home.

This is Korg's defining storyline. After being enslaved on Sakaar, Korg is forced into gladiatorial combat. He forms an unbreakable bond with the Hulk and other enslaved aliens, creating the Warbound. Korg's strategic mind and combat prowess are instrumental in the rebellion against the Red King. He helps unite the disparate peoples of Sakaar under the Hulk's banner. The story showcases Korg's honor, loyalty, and his deep desire for freedom. It establishes him not as a monster or an invader, but as a hero in his own right.

Following the destruction of Sakaar's crown city, Korg accompanies the vengeful Hulk to Earth. He serves as a general in Hulk's army, confronting heroes like The Thing and Human Torch. Throughout the war, Korg is the Hulk's conscience, questioning the morality of their actions and expressing concern for the innocent lives caught in the crossfire. His arc in this event explores the conflict between his loyalty to his friend and his own innate sense of honor, proving that even in a war of vengeance, he cannot abandon his principles.

This film serves as Korg's introduction and definitive appearance in the MCU. Trapped on Sakaar, his friendly and humorous personality immediately endears him to both Thor and the audience. He is not just a side character but the catalyst for the gladiator rebellion that allows Thor and his allies to escape. He provides much of the film's comedic heart, from his observations about “Doug” to his anti-climactic revolution story. His line, “Piss off, ghost!” is a fan-favorite moment that perfectly encapsulates his blend of naivete and bravery. The film establishes his core relationship with Thor and Miek, setting the stage for all his future appearances.

• The Original “Stone Man” (Earth-616): The unnamed Kronan from Journey into Mystery #83 is technically the first appearance of a character who would later be identified as Korg's brother, Margus. For decades, it was assumed this was Korg himself, but the World War Hulk: Aftersmash one-shot clarified that Korg was present at the battle but was not the primary antagonist Thor fought.
• Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.: Korg appears in this animated series, voiced by Jonathan Adams. His appearance and personality are a closer adaptation of the Earth-616 version from Planet Hulk. He is depicted as a powerful and loyal member of the Hulk's team, serving as the stoic muscle and a friend to A-Bomb.
• Video Games (Marvel Contest of Champions, Marvel Future Fight, etc.): Korg is a playable character in several mobile games. His design and abilities in these games are almost always based on his MCU appearance from Thor: Ragnarok, emphasizing his comedic personality and his role as Thor's companion, solidifying this version as his most popular and recognizable incarnation.

• thor
• hulk
• sakaar
• planet_hulk
• miek
• grandmaster

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