Kulan Gath
Kulan Gath is a male comic character who features in Conan the Barbarian.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Kulan Gath was a male human sorcerer who lived thousands of years ago on Earth during the Hyborian Age. During that time, he was noted to had married the witch Vammatar as part of an alliance to attain the power of the demon Shuma-Gorath.
Gath occupied a central position within the dimensionally displaced city of Yagala, where he orchestrates a ritual to summon the ancient and powerful witch-queen Terhali of Melniboné. He expressed the belief that Conan, Zephra, and Elric of Melniboné were agents sent by his rival, Thoth-Amon, to disrupt his ascension. When Conan the Barbarian intervened to rescue the woman, Gath used his sorcery to manifest a giant, multi-armed demonic entity to strike down the Cimmerian. As the battle progressed, Gath maintained his focus on the ritual, but his concentration was broken when Conan managed to defeat the summoned creature. As Prince Gaynor and an army of the undead launch an assault on the city, Kulan Gath remained focused on his mystical incantations, successfully completing the spell that brought Terhali back to life. Following her resurrection, Gath attempted to command or influence the newly risen entity, but his persistent demanded and perceived arrogance provoked Terhali's wrath. In response to his provocations, Terhali directed a concentrated bolt of magical energy at Kulan Gath, which resulted in his immediate disintegration and death. This demise occurred shortly before the city of Yagala itself was destroyed and submerged within the Sighing Lake. (Conan the Barbarian v1 #15)
Modern Age
City of Sickles
Seeking to attain power, he decided to embark on an ambitious plan to consume a demon god namely Shuma-Gorath. However, he could not accomplish the feat of devouring the entity so instead decided to make use of a drug that turned humans into facsimiles of Shuma-Gorath. These incarnations were then taken to be consumed by Kulan Gath who then gained some of the demon's power as a result. Ultimately, the goal was to consume the entirety of Shuma-Gorath's might and become a god. To achieve his goals, Kulan Gath came to take control of a faction of the Hand after consuming their leaders where he along with his priests set about on this grant plan. (Savage Avengers v1 #13)
Overview
Personality and attributes
In appearance, Kulan Gath was a male human of Stygian descent who possessed an aged and gaunt countenance. His face was defined by a narrow, elongated structure with high, prominent cheekbones and a sharp, hooked nose. He had dark, sunken eyes set beneath a furrowed brow and a high forehead that receded into a bald scalp. A long, thin black goatee extended from his chin, and a thin moustache framed his mouth. His physique was tall and skeletal, characterized by thin limbs and a bony frame that suggested a lack of physical strength in favour of mystical vitality. He wore a tall, cylindrical headdress of dark fabric or metal that was adorned with a circular, eye-like jewel at its centre. His primary garment consisted of a high-collared, long-sleeved robe that draped to his feet, featuring intricate patterns and dark linings. Over this robe, he donned a heavy, fur-lined cloak that fastened at the neck, and his neck was further decorated with various amulets and necklaces featuring occult symbols. His hands, often raised in the midst of spellcasting, featured long, tapered fingers and sharp, prominent fingernails. (Conan the Barbarian v1 #15)
He came to have an apprentice by the name of Razal Gulath.
In time, he came to seek the claim the power of the elder god Shuma-Gorath. (Savage Avengers v1 #11)
Powers and abilities
Kulan Gath demonstrated a high level of proficiency in ritualistic sorcery and the manipulation of ancient, dark energies. He possessed the vocal and mental discipline required to perform complex, prolonged incantations that successfully bridged dimensional barriers to summon a deceased entity. He exhibited the ability to manifest magical projections and protective barriers, maintaining the structural integrity of his sanctum against external physical threats. His mystical senses allowed him to detect the presence of intruders and identify the specific magical signatures of his rivals from great distances. He showed expertise in the use of sacrificial altars and consecrated tools to focus his power, as well as the capacity to command and coordinate the actions of subordinates and undead guardians through his perceived authority. Furthermore, he displayed the skill of energy manipulation, attempting to exert his will over a newly resurrected being of immense power, and utilized his vast knowledge of occult history to navigate the politics and dangers of the Hyborian era. (Conan the Barbarian v1 #15)
Gath was a noted cannibal who actually stole magical knowledge and power from those he had consumed. (Savage Avengers v1 #11)
Notes
- Kulan Gath was created by Roy Thomas and Barry Windsor-Smith where he made his first appearance in Marvel Comics Conan the Barbarian v1 #14 (February/March, 1972).
Alternate Versions
Appearances
- Conan the Barbarian v1: (1972)
- Savage Avengers v1: (2019)
External Links
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