View source for Ghaur

{{for|region of the Jordan River|Jordan Valley}}
{{short description|Supervillain in Marvel Comics}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Notability|fiction|date=May 2023}}
{{Primary sources|date=May 2023}}
}}
{{Infobox comics character <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image=AvengersWestCoastAnnual4.jpg
|caption=Cover to ''[[West Coast Avengers|Avengers West Coast]]'' Annual #4, featuring Ghaur in the background. Art by [[John Byrne (comics)|John Byrne]].
|character_name=Ghaur
|real_name=Ghaur
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|debut=''[[Eternals (comics)|Eternals]]'' (vol. 2) #2 (November 1985)
|creators=[[Peter B. Gillis]] (writer)<br>[[Sal Buscema]] (artist)
|alliances=[[Deviant (comics)|Deviants]]
|partners=[[Llyra]]<br/>[[Kro (comics)|Kro]]<br/>Set
|aliases=Lord Ghaur
|powers=[[Brainwashing|Mind control]] of other deviants<br>[[Shapeshifting]] 
}}
'''Ghaur''' ({{IPAc-en|ɡ|ɔr}}) is a fictional character appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. In the [[Marvel Universe]], he is the head of the [[Deviant (comics)|Deviant race]]'s [[priesthood]].

== Publication history ==
Ghaur was created by [[Peter B. Gillis]] and [[Sal Buscema]], and first appeared in ''[[Eternals (comics)|The Eternals]]'' vol. 2 #2 (Nov. 1985).

==Fictional character biography==
Ghaur was born in the "City of Toads" in [[Deviants (comics)|Deviant]] [[Lemuria (comics)|Lemuria]]. He grew up to become a high priest in the Deviant priesthood, but had ambition to be much more. He had Ranar the Deviant killed when Ranar claimed succession to the Deviant throne. Ghaur became the unofficial leader of the Deviants.

In the present, Ghaur confronts [[Kro (character)|Kro]], whom he allowed to become a figurehead monarch.<ref>''Eternals'' (vol. 2) #2 (November 1985)</ref> Ghaur captures Kro and the [[Eternals (comics)|Eternals]] [[Thena]] and [[Sersi]] and reveals that he has amassed an army of Deviants in suspended animation. Ghaur uses a vial containing the essence of the [[Dreaming Celestial]] to transform himself into a [[Celestial (comics)|Celestial]]. However, Ghaur falls under the control of the Dreaming Celestial, who attempts to escape his underground prison. Ghaur's consciousness is separated from his Celestial body by a Uni-Mind composed of the Eternals and the [[West Coast Avengers]]. Ghaur's consciousness seemingly dissipates, and his body shrinks into nothingness.<ref>''Eternals'' (vol. 2) #9-12 (June - September 1986)</ref>

Ghaur later tricks the [[Silver Surfer]] into re-creating his physical form. Ghaur battles the Silver Surfer and frees the [[Lemuria (comics)|Lemurian]] [[Llyra]] from captivity. Ghaur forms an alliance with Llyra to recreate the [[Serpent Crown]] and free [[Tyrannus (comics)|Tyrannus]] from the body of the [[Abomination (character)|Abomination]]. Ghaur and Llyra caused the devastation of [[Atlantis (Marvel Comics)|Atlantis]] as a sacrifice to the serpent god Set. Ghaur and Llyra assemble the seven "Brides of Set" and use them to bring Set to Earth. They are thwarted by a [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]]-possessed [[Atum (comics)|Demogorge]]. Ghaur seeks to slay the "Brides" to bring Set back to Earth, but is foiled by [[Naga (Marvel Comics)|Naga]].<ref>''[[Atlantis Attacks]]'' [[Fictional crossover|crossover]]: ''Silver Surfer'' Annual #2; ''Iron Man'' Annual #10; ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' Annual #23; ''The New Mutants'' Annual #5; ''X-Factor'' Annual #4; ''Web of Spider-Man'' Annual #5; ''Avengers West Coast'' Annual #4; ''Thor'' Annual #14; ''Fantastic Four'' Annual #22</ref>

Later, Kro leads a group of heroic Deviants known as the Delta Network to rescue the Avengers from a resurrected Ghaur, who is controlling the Deviants.<ref>''Avengers'' #370 - 371 (January - February 1995)</ref> Ghaur and the Deviants battle the Eternals and the [[Heroes for Hire]] while planning to rule the world and defy the Celestials.<ref>''Heroes for Hire'' #5-7 (November 1997 - January 1998)</ref> Kro and Ghaur formed bickering factions and keep the struggle for power in Deviant Lemuria. Ghaur threatens [[Wakanda]] with war if a Deviant child is not returned to Lemuria custody. In the aftermath of the diplomatic crisis, it is revealed that the child was Ghaur's daughter and that he felt threatened in his position as Priestlord because his daughter was a Reject, a human-like child. The child is declared officially dead and continues to live in Wakanda.<ref>''Black Panther'' (vol. 3) #26 - 29 (January - April 2001)</ref>

Much later, the Deviant males are rendered sterile by a plague, causing a power contest between [[Ereshkigal (Marvel Comics)|Ereshkigal]] and Ghaur. Ghaur wins when he promised the Deviants the return of the fertility with the help of the kidnapped Eternal [[Phastos]]. Thor rescues Phastos and battles Ghaur. When the Unbiding Stone is destroyed, Ghaur and Ereshkigal disappear and Kro is left to lead the Deviants.<ref>''Thor: The Deviants Saga'' #1-5 (January - May 2012)</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
Ghaur is the result of crossbreeding of his forebears supervised by Deviant priests trained in genetics over centuries. His [[superhuman]] powers include the psionic ability to manipulate any other Deviant whose genetic code is known to him. Since he also has a [[eidetic memory|photographic memory]], that effectively means every Deviant in existence, with the sole exception of [[Kro (character)|Kro]] and [[Ransak the Reject]].

Ghaur has a gifted intellect, and is a master politician and cunning strategist.

Deviant scientists have supplied him with "Brain Mines", which can render even an Eternal unconscious, bracelets containing cybernetic circuitry which paralyze the wearer's will (turning the wearer into a slave), and various Deviant vehicles.

Ghaur briefly possessed the body and attributes of a [[Celestial (comics)|Celestial]],{{Volume needed|c=y|date=October 2021}} but lost most of those powers upon returning to his original form.{{Volume needed|c=y|date=October 2021}} He retained a degree of superhuman strength and durability, the ability to survive without oxygen, and low level energy manipulation powers for a short time but then lost these superhuman powers entirely.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.marvel.com/universe/Ghaur Ghaur] at Marvel.com
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061223010924/http://www.geocities.com/brenni_au/G.html  "G" in the Encyclopaedia Olympianna]
* [http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/g/ghaur.htm Marvel Directory entry on Ghaur]
* [http://www.maelmill-insi.de/UHBMCC/ The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators]

{{Eternals}}
{{Black Panther}}
{{Avengers characters}}

[[Category:Characters created by Sal Buscema]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1985]]
[[Category:Fictional hypnotists]]
[[Category:Fictional priests and priestesses]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics Deviants]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics male supervillains]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics shapeshifters]]