''Terror Inc.'' was an American comic-book horror series from

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...

starring the

antihero An antihero (sometimes spelled as anti-hero or two words anti hero) or anti-heroine is a character in a narrative (in literature, film, TV, etc.) who may lack some conventional heroic qualities and attributes, such as idealism and morality. Al ...

Terror, an eternal entity that absorbs the talents of others through their dismembered limbs. He was created by writers Dan Chichester and Margaret Clark and artist

Klaus Janson Klaus Janson (born January 23, 1952) is an American comics artist, working regularly for Marvel Comics and DC Comics and sporadically for independent companies. While he is best known as an inker, Janson has frequently worked as a penciller and co ...

and first appeared as the

villain A villain (also known as a " black hat", "bad guy" or "baddy"; The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p.126 "baddy (also baddie) noun (pl. -ies) ''informal'' a villain or criminal in a book, film, etc.". the feminine form is villai ...

Shreck in ''St. George'' #2 (August 1988), from Marvel's

Epic Comics Epic Comics (also known as the Epic Comics Group)Shooter, Jim. "Bullpen Bulletins: The Truth About the Epic Comics Group!" Marvel comics cover-dated November 1982. was an imprint of American publishing company Marvel Comics, active from 1982 to ...

imprint.

Publication history

Terror was created for Marvel's

line as part of writer Chichester's Shadowline Saga of three interconnected titles. There were no superheroes in this world, but rather powerful, ageless beings known as "Shadows". In ''St. George'' #2 (August 1988), Chichester and co-writer Margaret Clark introduced a green-skinned killer who acted as the enforcer for the Ravenscore crime family, one of the books' recurring villains. According to Chichester,ManWithoutFear.com: Dan Chichester interview
/ref> Marvel contacted him about bringing Shreck from the Shadowline books into the mainstream

Marvel Universe The Marvel Universe is a fictional shared universe where the stories in most American comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Comics take place. Superhero teams such as the Avengers, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, the Guardia ...

to serve as a platform for reinventing and reintroducing the company's 1970's horror characters, such as

Werewolf by Night The Werewolf by Night (also known as the Werewolf) is the name of two Werewolf, werewolves appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first incarnation of Werewolf by Night, Jack Russell, first appeared in ''Marvel Spotlig ...

and

Morbius Morbius (born Michael Morbius, also known as Morgan Michaels, Morbius the Living Vampire and Nikos Michaels) is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and originally designed by pen ...

, but subsequent publishing plans changed directions. The series ''Terror, Inc.'' was set for 15 issues but only ran for 13 issues, cover-dated July 1992 to July 1993. After guest-starring in ''

Wolverine The wolverine ( , ; ''Gulo gulo''), also called the carcajou or quickhatch (from East Cree, ''kwiihkwahaacheew''), is the largest land-dwelling species, member of the family Mustelidae. It is a muscular carnivore and a solitary animal. The w ...

'' #58 and the "Dead Man's Hand" Daredevil/

Punisher The Punisher (Francis "Frank" Castle, born Castiglione) is an antihero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita Sr. and Ross Andru. The Punisher ma ...

crossover, Terror next appeared in 2006's "League of Losers" storyline in ''

Marvel Team-Up ''Marvel Team-Up'' is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. The series featured two or more Marvel characters in one story. The series was originally published from March 1972 through February 1985, and featured Spider-Man as ...

''. He later appeared in ''

Deadpool Deadpool is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Fabian Nicieza and Rob Liefeld, the character first appeared in ''New Mutants'' #98 (December 1990). In his comic book appearances, Deadpool is ...

'' Vol. 6 issues #1 to #17. He also appeared in a mini around the same time called "Deadpool & the Mercs for Money". ''Terror, Inc.'' editor Marc McLaurin maintained that Shreck and Terror are different characters. Writer Dan Chichester said: "Shreck was Terror and Terror was Shreck ... but for the fact that Terror got to develop more of a backstory as time went on". The comic books themselves gave no confirmation either way. Eventually, the ''

Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe The ''Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe'' is an encyclopedic Guide book, guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications. The original 15-volume series was published in comic book format in 1982, followed b ...

Horror 2005'' confirmed that the two were in fact the same being.

Fictional character biography

Terror originates from the universe Earth-88194 in the Marvel

multiverse The multiverse is the hypothetical set of all universes. Together, these universes are presumed to comprise everything that exists: the entirety of space, time, matter, energy, information, and the physical laws and constants that describ ...

. He was originally a human in ancient times who killed a bear-like demon and was cursed into a monstrous form resembling it, gaining the ability to merge the limbs of others onto his body. By the Dark Ages, he assumes the Germanic term "Schreck" (scare, fright) as his name. Shreck later becomes the

squire In the Middle Ages, a squire was the shield- or armour-bearer of a knight. Boys served a knight as an attendant, doing simple but important tasks such as saddling a horse or caring for the knight's weapons and armour. Terminology ''Squire'' ...

to a powerful Shadow named Draghignazzo. After being injured in battle, Draghignazzo has Shreck bury him so that he can heal over the next couple centuries. In the meantime, Shreck becomes a

knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of a knighthood by a head of state (including the pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church, or the country, especially in a military capacity. The concept of a knighthood ...

and falls in love with a woman named Talita who is later killed in battle. In the modern day, Shreck reunites with Draghignazzo, who has fully healed and begun posing as the superhero Dr. Zero. Through unknown means, he travels to the main universe of

Earth-616 In the fictional Multiverse (Marvel Comics), Marvel Comics multiverse, Earth-616 is the primary continuity (fiction), continuity in which most Marvel Comics titles take place. Origins of the term The designation "Earth-616" has its origins in ...

and becomes a mercenary and assassin. In ''

'' (vol. 6), Terror temporarily joins Deadpool's Mercs for Money.

Powers and abilities

Terror has the ability to replace lost body parts with limbs and organs taken from other organisms. He secretes a natural acid that serves as both solvent and glue: the substance loosens the connective tissues in the target body, allowing him to more easily rend the parts he needs. Upon grafting the new pieces to his body, Terror gains the previous owner's last memories and emotions, including sights, sounds, or sensations which they once experienced. The spikes on his face can be removed and used as weapons, and if lost or damaged will regrow. Since his body is dead, many conventional attacks have no effect on Terror. He can survive being impaled, crushed or drowned. The only limit is injuries that incapacitate or restrict him physically. The MAX version of Terror possesses a powerful healing factor and vein-like tentacles.

Other versions

''Marvel Team-Up: League of Losers''

Terror co-stars in an arc of writer

Robert Kirkman Robert Kirkman (; born November 30, 1978)Löchel, Ingo"The Walking Dead: Die Comic-Serie – Robert Kirkman" Zauberspiegel. Retrieved February 17, 2013. is an American comic book writer, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for co-creat ...

's ''

'' vol. 3, featuring a group of heroes dubbed "The League of Losers". A villain named Chronok comes to the present and kills almost all of Marvel's heroes, and the survivors (including Terror) work to change the timeline and prevent him from doing so.

''Ultimate Marvel''

A character based on Terror named Terry Schreck appears in '' All-New Ultimates''. This version is an

NYPD The City of New York Police Department, also referred to as New York City Police Department (NYPD), is the primary law enforcement agency within New York City. Established on May 23, 1845, the NYPD is the largest, and one of the oldest, munic ...

detective who is disfigured and develops telepathy after nearly being killed by Styx.

Marvel MAX

An alternate universe variant of Terror appears in a self-titled

Max Max or MAX may refer to: Animals * Max (American dog) (1983–2013), at one time purported to be the world's oldest living dog * Max (British dog), the first pet dog to win the PDSA Order of Merit (animal equivalent of the OBE) * Max (gorilla) ...

miniseries. This version is a former warlord who took part in the Sack of Rome and was cursed after killing a

mare A mare is an adult female horse or other equidae, equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more th ...

sent by the Pope to kill him.

Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe Again

An alternate universe variant of Terror from Earth-71986 appears in '' Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe Again'' #3, where he is killed by a brainwashed Deadpool.''Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe Again'' #3

Collected editions

References

External links

Terror
at Marvel.com {{Mercs for Money Comics characters introduced in 1988 Comics characters introduced in 1992 Fictional assassins in comics Fictional German people Fictional knights Fictional mercenaries in comics Marvel Comics male superheroes Marvel Comics martial artists Marvel Comics titles Marvel Comics undead characters Vigilante characters in comics