Editing Captain Ultra

{{Short description|Marvel Comics fictional character}}
{{for|the Japanese television series and superhero|Captain Ultra (TV series)}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Notability|date=April 2023}}
{{Primary sources|date=April 2023}}
}}
{{Infobox comics character <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
 | image              = CaptainUltra500.jpg
 | image_size         = 250
 | caption            = '''Captain Ultra'''
 | character_name     = Captain Ultra
 | real_name          = Griffin "Griff" Gogol
 | publisher          = [[Marvel Comics]]
 | debut              = ''[[Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four]]'' #177 (Dec. 1976)
 | creators           = [[Roy Thomas]] (writer)<br>[[George Pérez]] (artist)
 | alliances          = [[Revengers#Earth-616|Revengers]]<ref>''The New Avengers'' Annual vol. 2 #1 (2011)</ref><br>[[Defenders (comics)|Defenders]]<br>[[Avengers: The Initiative|Initiative]]
 | aliases            =Captain Ultra
 | powers             = *Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and durability
*Super breath
*Intangibility
*Ultra-voice
*Flight
|species=[[Human]] [[mutation|mutate]]}}
'''Captain Ultra''' ('''Griffin Gogol''') is a [[superhero]] appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. Created by [[Roy Thomas]], [[George Pérez]], and [[Joe Sinnott]], the character [[First appearance|first appeared]] in ''[[Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four]]'' #177 (December 1976).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stone |first=Sam |date=May 31, 2020 |title=The Revengers: What Is Marvel's Anti-Avengers Team? |url=https://www.cbr.com/revengers-marvel-anti-avengers-team/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bjork |first=Juliette |date=July 1, 2018 |title=The 20 Weirdest Marvel Characters That Even The MCU Couldn't Sell To Fans |url=https://www.cbr.com/weird-marvel-characters-never-in-mcu/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |language=en}}</ref> Captain Ultra has been a member of the [[Revengers]] at various points in his history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ridgely |first=Charlie |date=November 9, 2017 |title=Who Are The Real Revengers? |url=https://comicbook.com/marvel/news/thor-ragnarok-revengers-team-marvel-comics/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Allan |first=Scoot |date=April 2, 2022 |title=Every Team Venom Has Joined In The Comics |url=https://www.cbr.com/venom-comic-marvel-teams/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Development==

=== Concept and creation ===
[[Roy Thomas]] asserted, "Captain Ultra was a [[parody]] character that [[George Pérez|George Perez]] and I made up for FF #177, in our own spoof of [[DC Comics|DC]]'s auditions for the [[Legion of Super-Heroes]] (it had that quasi-legion of rejected heroes, remember?).  We deliberately gave him what I've always called a "[[Church window|church-window]]" costume... one that has a zillion design pieces, and nearly as many colors, with nothing to really focus the eye.  But of course, since he was a virtual [[Superman]], we had to give him a "[[Kryptonite]]," so we made it fire, as a sort of homage to the [[Martian Manhunter]]. The joke was that the [[Frightful Four]], if they had let him join, would have been going up against the [[Fantastic Four]]--with its Human Torch--aided by a man who passed out in the presence of any kind of flame."<ref>{{cite web |date=January 2020 |title="Hero Envy" the Blog Adventures: THE ROY THOMAS MARVEL COMICS CHARACTERS, CONCEPTS AND CREATIONS PART 1 |url=http://hero-envy.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-roy-thomas-marvel-comics-characters_1.html}}</ref>

=== Publication history ===
{{expand section|date=March 2016}}
Captain Ultra debuted in ''[[Fantastic Four (comic book)|Fantastic Four]]'' #177 (December 1976), and was created by [[Roy Thomas]], [[George Pérez]], and [[Joe Sinnott]].<ref name=regrettable>{{cite book |last1=Morris |first1=Jon |title=The League of Regrettable Superheroes: Half Baked Heroes from Comic Book History |date=2015 |publisher=Quirk Books |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |isbn=978-1-59474-763-2 |pages=198–199}}</ref>

==Fictional character biography==
Griffin Gogol was a plumber who underwent psychological treatment and hypnosis to cure his smoking habits. Unbeknownst to him, his psychologist is an alien, and the hypnosis unlocks his innate superhuman abilities. Donning a clashing, colorful costume, Gogol became the superhero Captain Ultra. However, it is revealed he suffers from severe [[pyrophobia]] (fear of fire) as a side-effect.

Captain Ultra subsequently applies to join the [[Frightful Four]]. They eagerly accept him, but later reject him after he faints in the presence of a [[match]].<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #177</ref> He also works with the [[Defenders (comics)|Defenders]] in New York, but never considers joining them.<ref>''The Defenders'' #62-64</ref>

Soon after, he moves to Chicago. He has since had a minor career as a solo superhero, often teaming up with heroes like [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]] to battle minor villains.<ref>''Thor'' #336</ref>

Ultra later overcomes his pyrophobia after undergoing therapy with [[Doc Samson]] and becomes a comedian.<ref>''Marvel Comics Presents'' #50</ref> His comedy career takes him across the country. Superheroics interfere with this, such as when the underground dirt creature Mud Pi kidnaps the citizens of Wash Basin, [[Texas]]. Captain Ultra manages to rescue them all.<ref>''Marvel Holiday Special'' 1993</ref>

[[Doorman (character)|Doorman]] begged him to join the [[Great Lakes Avengers]], but Captain Ultra angrily rejects him.<ref>''G.L.A.'' #3</ref>

Griffin then became the leader for the [[Nebraska]] team of the [[Fifty State Initiative|Initiative]] program, part of a government-controlled superhero program. After his teammates [[Paragon (Marvel Comics)|Paragon]] and Gadget are killed, Griffin briefly fights [[Iron Man]] to protect the rest of his group.<ref>''Iron Man'' vol. 4 #22</ref> He is seen investigating the circumstances of Paragon and Gadget's tragic deaths with Samson and Iron Man. During the course of their investigation it is revealed that there are two new Initiative recruits in the process of being fast-tracked to the Nebraska team, although Captain Ultra expressed irritation at the prospect of having to "babysit the punks".<ref>''Iron Man'' vol. 4 #24</ref>

Captain Ultra is recruited by [[Wonder Man]] to join his [[Revengers]]. During the Revengers' attack on Avengers Mansion, he is scared off when [[Doctor Strange]] uses an illusion spell to make him believe he is on fire.<ref>''The New Avengers'' vol. 2 Annual #1 (2011)</ref> He and the rest of the Revengers were defeated by all three Avengers teams and were remanded to the Raft. Captain Ultra's reason for joining the Revengers is that despite the fact that he was on the Initiative, he resents being disrespected despite having as much power as an Avenger.<ref>''The Avengers'' vol. 4 Annual #1</ref>

In ''[[Avengers: Standoff!]]'', Captain Ultra appears as an inmate of Pleasant Hill, a gated community established by [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]]<ref>''Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Omega'' #1</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
Captain Ultra acquired a range of superpowers through hypnosis by an alien. He possesses [[superhuman]] attributes, such as superhuman strength, speed, durability, and stamina. He also gained the psionic ability to become intangible at will, see through substances ([[X-ray]] vision), and the ability to project his breath forward with great concussive force — among others. Captain Ultra has the power of flight.

== Reception ==

=== Critical response ===
Daniel Jurlan of ''[[Comic Book Resources]]'' ranked Captain Ultra 4th in their "15 Obscure Marvel Characters Who Deserve Their Own Movie" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kurland |first=Daniel |date=January 23, 2023 |title=15 Obscure Marvel Characters Who Deserve Their Own Movie |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-lesser-known-heroes-possible-film/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |language=en}}</ref>

==In other media==
* Captain Ultra appears in the ''[[Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes]]'' episode "The Cure",<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 12, 2007 |title=Marvel Animation Age - Fantastic Four (2006) |url=http://marvel.toonzone.net/fantasticfour/interviews/slott/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070712153729/http://marvel.toonzone.net/fantasticfour/interviews/slott/ |archive-date=July 12, 2007 |access-date=November 19, 2023}}</ref> voiced by [[Paul Dobson (actor)|Paul Dobson]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}} This version is a failed applicant to the Fantastic Four.
* Captain Ultra appears in the ''[[Ultimate Spider-Man (TV series)|Ultimate Spider-Man]]'' episode "Damage Control", voiced by [[Cam Clarke]].<ref name="btva2">{{cite web |title=Captain Ultra Voice - ''Ultimate Spider-Man'' (TV Show) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Ultimate-Spider-Man/Captain-Ultra/ |website=Behind The Voice Actors |postscript=. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.}}</ref> This version is a spokesperson for [[Damage Control (comics)|Damage Control]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/c/captainultra.htm Marvel Directory entry]

[[Category:Characters created by George Pérez]]
[[Category:Characters created by Roy Thomas]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1976]]
[[Category:Fictional characters with X-ray vision]]
[[Category:Fictional comedians]]
[[Category:Fictional plumbers]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics male superheroes]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics superheroes]]
[[Category:Parody superheroes]]