Gargantua (comics)

Gargantua (Edward Cobert; initially known as Leviathan) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Gargantua
Gargantua as depicted in The Defenders: Strange Heroes #1 (December 2011). Art by Gus Vazquez.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The New Defenders #126 (December 1983)[1]
Created by	Alan Kupperberg J.M. DeMatteis
In-story information
Full name	Edward Cobert
Species	Human mutate
Team affiliations	S.H.I.E.L.D. Secret Empire Masters of Evil
Notable aliases	Leviathan
Abilities	(As Edward) Expert biochemist (As Gargantua) Superhuman strength and durability Large size

Publication history

Gargantua first appeared in The New Defenders #126 (December 1983), and was created by writer J. M. DeMatteis and artist Alan Kupperberg.

Fictional character biography

Edward Cobert was initially a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and scientist before testing the Project: Lazarus serum on himself, permanently transforming him into a giant form with limited intelligence. After being subdued by S.H.I.E.L.D. and dubbed Leviathan, he escapes custody and battles the Defenders on multiple occasions.^[2][3]

In subsequent appearances, Cobert becomes known as Gargantua, joins Doctor Octopus' incarnation of the Masters of Evil, and serves the Mad Thinker.^[4]

Powers and abilities

After subjecting himself to artificial cellular enhancement, Gargantua possesses enhanced strength and size, and can grow further by drawing mass from another dimension. He has limited intelligence as a side effect.^[5]

Edward Cobert was a S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy graduate and earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry before his transformation.

Other versions

Gargantua appears in JLA/Avengers #4 as a brainwashed minion of Krona.^[6]