KRONANS

Classification: Alien life-form, humanoid

Location/Base of Operations: planet Ria, star system Krona, Milky Way Galaxy;
    base on one of Saturn's moons

Known Members: Gorr, Zardok

Affiliations: New Immortals, Starblasters

Enemies: Captain America, Gilgamesh, God Pack, High Evolutionary, Perun, Sif, Thor, Warriors Three

Aliases: Stone Men From Saturn

First Appearance: Journey Into Mystery I#83 (August, 1962)

Powers/Abilities: The Kronans' bodies are composed of a strong, silicon like substance, granting them proteciton against physical harm. Within an oxygen-based atmosphere, they possess enhanced strength. They are a highly advanced race, having built vehicles capable of space travel, and designed robots such as the Mechano-Monster and Mekkanoid. Once, a Kronan made use of the Gravitron aboard his ship as a weapon. They also possess technology which can create illusions, such as that of a fire-breathing dragon.

History: (Captain America Annual #11)- Around 3,000 BC, the Kronans attempted an invasion of earth. Landing in ancient Babylon, they fought King Gilgamesh of Uruk, who vanquished them with the aid of a time-travelling Captain America. The Kronans fled to their vessel and abandoned earth.

(Journey Into Mystery I#83)- In modern times, the Kronans landed an immense invasion force in Norway. Sighted by Dr. Donald Blake, they pursued him into a cave, where Blake discovered the hammer of Thor. The Kronans went on to attack NATO forces, driving them off with an illusionary dragon. When Thor came to fight them, they lowered a cage over him to capture him, but he smashed through. They aimed their disintegrators at him, but he smashed them with his hammer. Finally, they unleashed the Mechano-Monster, but Thor destroyed it with a single blow. Terrified of Thor, the Kronans fled earth.

(Thor I#255)- One of the escaping Kronan vessels crashed into an asteroid and became stranded in space. When Thor, Sif, and the Warriors Three visited the site of their crash in their vessel the Star-Jammer, the Kronans attacked them in the hopes of stealing the Star-Jammer. Unable to match them in power, one of the Kronans removed the Gravitron from their ship and modified it into a weapon to fall Thor and his allies. However, Thor fought against the ray, and destroyed it. He then destroyed the Kronans' vessel, setting off a chain reaction which set about destroying the entire asteroid. The Star-Jammer lifted off the asteroid, abandoning the Kronans to their deaths.

(Avengers Spotlight #25/2)- The Kronans were among the alien races which attempted to negotiate for the rights to Rick Jones' biography, "Sidekick." When they learnt it did not reveal how he had tapped the Destiny Force during the Kree-Skrull War, they withdrew their bid.

(Starblast #1-2, Quasar #55)- Zardok served as a member of the Starblasters. In battle with heroes from earth, he was slain by Perun.

(Thor I#482)- A band of Kronans allied themselves with the New Immortals, and were sent by them to earth to oppose the High Evolutionary and his allies, the God Pack. They attacked the High Evolutionary's forces at Mount Wundagore, but found themselves again facing Thor. They unleashed their Mekkanoid against them, but it was destroyed by Anak. They also created another illusionary dragon, but it was dispelled by Luminor. The Kronans were all defeated, with one slain by Thor in battle. The others were taken prisoner by the High Evolutionary, who learnt from them that the New Immortals were their masters.

Comments: Created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby and Joe Sinnott.

The Kronans appearance in Thor I#482 was meant to celebrate 400 issues of Thor since his first appearance in Journey Into Mystery I#83.

In the Gilgamesh myth, the Stone Men (Kronans) were needed for Gilgamesh to cross the River of Death, but he destroyed them in a fit of rage.

The Kronans were the latest in a long line of stone men Jack Kirby had designed. This article from the Jack Kirby Collector discusses the other Stone Men at length.

With respect to the Things from Easter Island discussed in that article, Carycomix adds: "Given the new synopsis (stating that they were scouts for some kind of extra-terrestrial invasion force), I am more positive than ever that they could be ret-conned as Kronans. Pre-Thor, of course."

The Mechano-Monster was the robot servant of the Kronans who made the second attempted invasion against earth. They unleashed it against Thor, only to see Thor destroy it with a single blow from his hammer before it could lay a single blow. -Journey Into Mystery I#83















The Mekkanoid was a robot similiar to the Mechano-Monster, used by the Kronans in their attack on the forces of the High Evolutionary. It managed to defeat Blitziana of the God Pack with its superhuman strength, but was subsequently smashed into pieces by Anak. -Thor I#482





















The Gravitron was the anti-gravity device used aboard Kronan vessels, enabling them to conquer gravity. One of the Kronans modified it into a weapon which he used against Thor and his allies, attempting to crush them with gravity waves. However, Thor overcame the Gravitron's power, and destroyed it with his hammer. -Thor I#255





by Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Kronans should not be confused with:

Last updated: 12/24/03

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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