Merlyn (Marvel Comics)
| Merlyn | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Captain Britain #1 (1976) |
| Created by |
Chris Claremont Herb Trimpe Fred Kida |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Merlyn |
| Team affiliations | Captain Britain Corps |
| Notable aliases | Merlin, Myrdh, the Magus, Myrrdin and many more |
| Abilities | Immortality, vast magical powers |
Merlyn is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. He claims to be the Merlin of British Legends (see Identity) and served for many years as the Omniversal Guardian, a function his daughter Roma took from him. Though the Merlin character first appeared in earlier comics, Merlyn first appeared in Captain Britain #1 (1976).
Merlyn is but one of several characters in the Marvel Universe claiming to be the Merlin of legend. Combined with the fact that Merlyn is also a habitual liar and manipulator, it is nearly impossible to determine which actions were done by Merlyn and which by other Merlins.
The profile at the end of the Die by the Sword trade gives his first appearance as Young Allies Comics #11 (1944), explicitly linking the modern version with the earlier, legendary, version. However, that Merlin appears to be only one aspect of Merlyn, as the profile states "Evidence suggests Merlyn and his daughter Roma are physical amalgamations of all their interdimensional counterparts, presumably with access to the combined knowledge and skills of the entire gestalt." Other characters have also passed themselves off as Merlyn as "His legendary reputation has led others, Merlin Demonspawn, Space Phantoms, stage magician Joe Cooke and a time traveler known as the Doctor, to impersonate him, further confusing matters."
This page only deals with the confirmed actions of Merlyn.
Merlyn was born on an alternate earth as a member of a race of immortal, powerful beings. He became the student of Necrom, his world's Sorcerer Supreme. Necrom asked Merlyn and his fellow-student Feron to assist him in a magical ritual. Feron would contact the cosmic Phoenix Force on Earth-616 and using the Phoenix an alignment would be created between parallel universes. This alignment would be marked with a tower in the same place on every Earth in the Omniverse. According to magical principles, such an alignment would create a matrix of nearly endless magical energy. Necrom desired the power of the Phoenix for himself though and he attacked Feron. Feron, his powers enhanced by the Phoenix, battled his master and Merlyn used the opportunity to jump into the Matrix, taking its power for his own. Necrom wounded the Phoenix and escaped with a small part of it. The Phoenix left Feron and Feron stayed behind on Earth-616, dedicating his life to asking the Phoenix for forgiveness.
...
Wikipedia