Giganto

Giganto () is the name of two monsters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, primarily as enemies of the Fantastic Four.

Publication history

The Deviant Mutate version of Giganto was first seen in ''Fantastic Four'' #1 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

Fictional character biographies

Giganto (Deviant Mutate)

The first Giganto seen was one of the mutates created by the Deviant scientists to serve as part of Kro's invasion force when gathered on Monster Island. After Monster Hunters forced Kro to leave Monster Island, Giganto and the other Deviant Mutates found a new master known as the Mole Man and the Deviant Mutates live with him in Subterranea.

The Mole Man unleashed Giganto upon the surface world to attack and destroy chemical plants in the Soviet Union, Australia, South America, and French Africa. It brought the attention of the Fantastic Four who headed to Monster Island. The Mole Man unleashed Giganto upon them until it was held back by the Human Torch's attacks.

A Giganto with a lizard-like appearance followed the Fantastic Four back to New York where it fought them. After it was knocked into the sea, Giganto tunnelled underground and escaped.

When the X-Men were in Mole Man's realm, the Mole Man unleashed Giganto upon them. Giganto was too much for the X-Men even when Mole Man sent more mutates to battle them. They were subdued in Mole Man's echo cave.

When Mole Man learned that millionaire Alden Maas had destroyed part of his underground kingdom when reaching the Earth's core, Mole Man unleashed Giganto upon Maas' facilities while he teamed up with Human Torch and Thing to fight Maas. Alden Maas died before they arrived which denied vengeance from Mole Man.

When Mole Man believed that the Avengers were the ones responsible for destroying part of his kingdom, he unleashed Giganto and other mutates to attack Los Angeles. Iron Man intercepted Giganto and threw him into the sea while he and U.S. Agent had an attempt to decide what to do with it. When Giganto moved again, U.S. Agent tried to blind it with the afterburners on his skycycle only for Giganto to strike and U.S. Agent was separated from his vehicle. Wonder Man convinced Mole Man that the Avengers weren't responsible and blew his monster whistle to recall his monsters.

A Skrull named De'Lila was brainwashing Giganto and the rest of Mole Man's monsters. Giganto was sent as a diversion while she looked for the lost Inorganic Technodrone. Giganto was used by Mole Men to capture Skrulls that were also looking for the Technodrone. Giganto ended up fighting the "new" Fantastic Four (Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk, and Ghost Rider). It attempted to crush Hulk before it was stabbed by Wolverine. The Technodrone was finally found by Giganto's mate who had laid on the flying saucer containing it thinking it was a nest. Although Mole Man and De'Lila tried to claim the Technodrone for their own before it could end up imprinted by someone, it ended up accepting Giganto's mate who had imprinted on it and accepted it as if it were her own child.

Mole Man, Giganto, and Tricephalous were conjured from the timestream by Aron the Rogue Watcher to oppose allies of the Fantastic Four who have come to prevent him from creating a pocket universe. Giganto fought the Thing who buried it in a landslide.

Mole Man assembled Giganto and other monsters to invade the surface only for it to be abandoned when the Fantastic Four were discovered to be alive.

During his labors for the reality TV Show "The New Labors of Hercules", Hercules was sent to capture Giganto as a reimaging of his labor to capture the Man-Eating Mares of King Diomedes. Hercules used an enormous chain to snare Giganto then swung it at Giganto's brothers. Mole Man sent some Moloids to attack Hercules who attacked them by swinging Giganto toward them.

The Moloids later employed Giganto to help them find the Mole Man. To do that, they captured people dressed as Santa Claus when they misinterpreted Mole Man's last words being "Santa".

Alongside Frankencastle, Morbius the Living Vampire and other monsters, Giganto helped repel an attack by a squad of Japanese monster hunters who were attempting to exterminate all of Earth's monsters.

Giganto (Atlantean beasts)

Giganto is the name of several Atlantean creatures resembling whales. Their origins are unknown, but are said to have been genetically engineered by the Deviants. They sleep on the ocean floor until they are summoned by whoever blows the Horn of Proteus. The Gigantos have appeared under the command of Namor, Doctor Doom, Captain Barracuda, and Tiger Shark, among others.

Powers and abilities

The Deviant Mutate version of Giganto has vast physical attributes, is amphibious, and can dig rapidly.

The Atlantean Beast version of Giganto is amphibious, possesses immense strength and durability, and can shoot water from its blowhole.

Other versions

* In the "House of M" storyline, the Deviant mutate version of Giganto was killed by Doctor Doom's Fearsome Four alongside Mole Man.
* The Deviant incarnation of Giganto appears in ''JLA/Avengers''.
* A Marvel 1602 version of the Atlantean Giganto appears in '' 1602: Fantastick Four'' #3, guarding the island of Belasyum.
* A Marvel 2099 version of the Atlantean Giganto appears in ''Spider-Man 2099'', controlled by Roman, the 2099 Sub-Mariner.

In other media

Television

* Giganto appears in the ''Fantastic Four'' (1967) episode "Demon in the Deep". This version is an ordinary whale enhanced by the villain Gamma Ray.
* Both versions of Giganto appear in '' Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes''.

* The Atlantean Beast incarnation of Giganto appears in the '' Avengers Assemble'' episode "Beneath the Surface".

Film

The Deviant incarnation of Giganto will appear in '' The Fantastic Four: First Steps''.

Video games

* The Deviate incarnation of Giganto appears in ''Fantastic Four'' (1997).

* The Deviate incarnation of Giganto appears in '' Marvel Heroes''.

* The Atlantean Beast incarnation of Giganto appears in ''Marvel Rivals'' as part of Namor's ultimate ability, 'Horn of Proteus'.
* The Deviate incarnation of Giganto appears in ''Marvel Snap''.

References

{{Stan Lee

Characters created by Jack Kirby
Characters created by Stan Lee
Comics characters introduced in 1961
Fictional characters with water abilities
Fictional monsters
Marvel Comics Atlanteans (Homo mermanus)
Marvel Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability
Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength
Marvel Comics giants
Marvel Comics supervillains