Minotaur (comics)

For the NEW-GEN character, see Minotaur (New-Gen).

Minotaur is the name of several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

The Miklos Vryolak incarnation of Minotaur first appeared in Iron Man #24 (April 1970), and was created by writer Archie Goodwin and artist Johnny Craig.

The mythological Minotaur first appeared in Hercules: Heart of Chaos #2 (July 1997), and was adapted by writer Peter B. Gillis and artist Sal Buscema.

The Decimus Furius incarnation of Minotaur first appeared in Uncanny X-Force #1 (October 2010), and was created by writer Rick Remender and artist Jerome Opeña.

The Dario Agger incarnation of Minotaur first appeared in Thor: God of Thunder #19 (February 2014), and was created by writer Jason Aaron and artist Esad Ribić.

Fictional character biography

Mythological Minotaur

The first Minotaur is based on the Greek mythology monster of the same name and has largely the same origins as him. After being killed by Theseus, the Minotaur is resurrected in the modern day by Matsu'o Tsurayaba and the Hand. However, he is defeated by Wolverine and petrified before being awakened by Deadpool.

Species

When Ares allies with Enchantress and steals the Ebony Blade from Black Knight, they rallie the Minotaurs, Centaurs, and Satyrs to attack Mount Olympus before being defeated by Hercules and the Avengers.

Myklos Vryolak

Minotaur
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Iron Man #24 (April 1970)
Created by	Archie Goodwin Johnny Craig
In-story information
Alter ego	Myklos Vryolak
Species	Human mutate
Abilities	Superhuman strength and durability

Miklos Vryolak is a Greek man who suffered from an unknown, uncurable disease. His father heals him using a chemical he discovered in the ruins of the labyrinth, which inadvertently transforms him into a Minotaur. Dr. Vryolak then manipulates Miklos into committing crimes to supply him with materials necessary to create an army of Minotaurs, convincing him that he is producing a cure to his transformation. When Iron Man arrives and battles the Vryolaks at their grotto, Miklos learns of his father's true intentions and sacrifices himself so Iron Man can escape, leaving himself and Dr. Vryolak to be buried in rubble.

Decimus Furius

Dark God Minotaur
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Uncanny X-Force #1 (December 2010)
Created by	Rick Remender Jerome Opena
In-story information
Alter ego	Decimus Furius
Species	Human mutant
Team affiliations	Clan Akkaba Horsemen of Apocalypse
Abilities	Superhuman strength and durability Regeneration

Decimus Furius is an ancient Roman who became homeless after his parents both committed suicide. During this time, his mutant powers activate, transforming him into a Minotaur. Subsequently, he is imprisoned, transferred to fight in the Colosseum for his freedom, and becomes worshipped as a god.

Apocalypse later recruits Minotaur to become War, one of his Horsemen. However, he falls in love with Psylocke who cleanses his mind.

Dario Agger

Minotaur
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Thor: God of Thunder #19 (April 2014)
Created by	Jason Aaron Esad Ribić
In-story information
Alter ego	Dario Agger
Species	Human mutate
Team affiliations	Roxxon Energy Corporation Dark Council
Abilities	Superhuman strength and durability Ability to change from human to Minotaur at will

Dario Agger is the CEO of Roxxon Energy Corporation who gained his abilities as a child after unknowingly making a pact with a dark god when his family were attacked by gunmen. After S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Rosalind Solomon exposes Agger's crimes, Thor comes into conflict with him and vows to stop his destruction of the environment.

While Thor is busy with the Avengers, Agger builds a floating island full of factories above Broxton, Oklahoma, which heavily pollutes the town. When Thor returns, Agger sues him for destroying Roxxon's factories and forbids him from entering Broxton. Undeterred, Thor sneaks into Broxton, but is attacked by Ulik and the trolls. In the ensuing fight, Broxton is devastated, which Agger blames on the Asgardians.

In Original Sin, Agger obtains Laufey's skull and a fight ensues between him, Malekith, the Frost Giants, and Thor. Eventually, Agger and Malekith make a deal to allow Roxxon to mine whatever worlds Malekith conquers. The two then kill one hundred Light Elves and use their blood to resurrect Laufey.

In All-New, All-Different Marvel, Minotaur appears as a member of the Dark Council alongside Malekith, Ulik, Laufey, and the Fire Demons.

Agger later attends a meeting at the Universal Bank with several other businessmen, including Tiberius Stone of Alchemax, Wilson Fisk of Fisk Industries, Sebastian Shaw of Shaw Industries, Darren Cross of Cross Technological Enterprises, Zeke Stane of Stane International, Shingen Harada of the Yashida Corporation, Frr'dox of Shi'ar Solutions Consolidated, and Wilhelmina Kensington of Kilgore Arms. However, Exterminatrix of the Midas Corporation appears and kidnaps Agger. After Thor rescues him and escapes the island, Dagger and the other villains are arrested.

Agger and Roxxon later take interest in Weapon H after he kills the Ur-Wendigo, and use the Brood to attack him. While battling Weapon H, Agger explains that he seeks to harness the energy of Weirdworld, which could power the entirety of Earth for up to one million years. After Morgan le Fay mind-controls Weapon H, Agger battles her to save Weirdworld. In the aftermath, Agger plans to manipulate Hulk and Wolverine into battling Weapon H.

Agger and Roxxon collaborate with Baron Zemo in a plan to make the Hydra-occupied Bagalia be recognized as an independent nation by having Mandarin represent them.

During The War of the Realms storyline, Minotaur takes over Antarctica. After his Minotaur identity is publicly exposed, Roxxon's stocks decline, but Agger avoids prosecution by claiming that he was forced to help Malekith.

In The Immortal Hulk, Minotaur allies with Xemnu. However, he is attacked by Xemnu after learning of his plan to transform others into Xemnu hybrids, leaving him deformed and temporarily mute. Leader later speaks to him advising Minotaur to leave Hulk for him.

Agger later restores his body using a machine created by Roxxon scientist Dr. Lamarr. His Minotaur form now has a cattle skull and anthropomorphic hooves by the time Roxxon buys the in-universe Marvel Comics company and allies with Enchantress and Executioner. They use Enchatress' ally Keep to pose as Roxxon's version of Thor where he uses the alias of Chad Hammer as the comics starring him starts to poison Gaea. After Keep dies in battle against Thor, Enchantress has Executioner kill Minotaur and usurps his position as CEO of Roxxon.

Using a special machine that takes blood sacrifices, Dr. Lamarr revives Dario Agger back in his human form. While noting that he was killed by the Gods, Dario states that he will "kill the Gods". Dario Agger was revealed to have hired Radioactive Man, King Cobra, Mister Hyde, and Grey Gargoyle in attacking Thor. When Thor defeats Radioactive Man and Mister Hyde, Dario teleports the villains away where the attack was part of his plot to prevent Thor from mending his relationship with Earth. As the villains meet up with Dario, he learns about what happened as King Cobra left behind surveillance that revealed that some of what happened was Enchantress' doing. Dario plans to leak that surveillance and reveal that Enchantress is the new CEO of Roxxon so that she can take the blame for what happened. He also mentions about Iron Man's upcoming war with Roxxon when they plan to buy out Stark Industries and then tells the villains that they'll get their rematch by drawing Thor to them.

Powers and abilities

Each incarnation of the Minotaur possesses superhuman physical abilities of varying origin. The Decimus Furius incarnation possesses an additional healing factor while the Dario Agger incarnation can willingly change between his human and minotaur forms.

In other media

Television

Mythological Minotaurs appear in the Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. episode "The Tale of Hercules" as servants of Pluto.

Film

A mythological Minotaur appears in Hulk: Where Monsters Dwell.

External links

• Minotaur (Greek mythology) at Marvel Wiki
• Minotaur (Miklos Vryolak) at Marvel Wiki
• Minotaur (Decimus Furius) at Marvel Wiki
• Minotaur (Dario Agger) at Marvel Wiki
• Minotaur (Miklos Vryolak) at Comic Vine
• Minotaur (Dario Agger) at Comic Vine
• Minotaur (Greek mythology) at Marvel Appendix
• Minotaur (Miklos Vryolak) at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe