Colossus

History: In the Soviet Union, a government official ordered a sculptor to create the largest statue ever to be a symbol of the power and invincibility of the government. After months of work, the Colossus was created. A flying saucer crash-landed and a crab-like alien from Cancrius III emerged. Frightened and looking for a protective place to hide, the alien “entered” the huge statue and animated it. The Colossus went on a rampage and battled the Soviet military until the alien was rescued by fellow aliens.

On Cancrius III, the aliens formed a plan to conquer Earth. Meanwhile, the Soviets sent the Colossus to America as an exhibit for an international fair. A flying saucer appeared above the sea vessel carrying the Colossus, and several aliens left the saucer and “entered” the giant statue, once again animating it. The Colossus headed on a path of destruction towards Hollywood. The menace of the alien-controlled Colossus was ended by movie special-effects man Bob O'Bryan. O'Bryan built a larger statue which was loaded with explosives. The aliens left the Colossus and “entered” the larger statue. The explosives were detonated, destroying the aliens.

In modern times, Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic Four once created duplicates of four monsters, including a duplicate of the Colossus, to battle Dr. Doom.

The villainous Dr. Vault, figuring a smaller statue would be easier to control, used a matter-condensing ray to reduce the size of the Colossus so he could send his mind into it, but his plans were thrown off; Bob O'Bryan was injured in an accident and confined to a wheelchair. O'Bryan learned that he was able to send his consciousness into the statue. O'Bryan/Colossus went on to battle an invasion of gargoyles from Stonus Five (see Gorgolla) and the dragon Fin Fang Foom.

O'Bryan recovered from his injuries and was able to walk again. Dr. Vault took over the Colossus and fought The Incredible Hulk, who smashed the Colossus to dust, apparently killing Dr. Vault.

O'Bryan built a robot duplicate of the Colossus, once using it to fight Karrg (another robot duplicate), but later he was able to reform the real Colossus from the dust, and returned to battle Wonder Man and The Beast.

Height: 100 ft. (originally), 30 ft. (after Dr. Vault's condenser ray)
Demonstrated Powers: The Colossus was incredibly strong and was able to smash through buildings. It was resistant to artillary fire. The Colossus could fly by levitating, using the force of will of whoever possessed it.

Comment: “Colossus” should not confused with The Robot Colossus, nor with the hero, Colossus, introduced in Giant-Size X-Men # 1, nor with the giant alien, Colossus, who fought Giant-Man and the Wasp in Tales to Astonish # 58, nor with the animated Colossus statue that battled the Hulk in Incredible Hulk # 145.

Comment: The “Tales of the Wasp” story from Tales to Astonish # 53 featured a character called 'The Colossus' which looked very similar to the Colossus, however, it was not the same character, only a fictional character in a story the Wasp made up (although she could have based her character on news reports of the alien-animated Russian statue).

I believe that some panels from the Wasp story were later incoporated into a “new” sequence in ASTONISHING TALES.

I enjoyed this charactor in his introductory story. I enjoyed the sequel.
I also enjoyed the series he was in. This was a good charactor.
The genius of Jack Kirby gave him to us and the genius of Dick Ayers further refined him.

You notice that these big monsters were used to attack communism? The Colossus attacked the Soviet Union (in the first story), while his pal Fin Fang Foom attacked communist China?

With the Cold War raging; naturally!!!still ,Marvels most virulently anti-Communist stories have to be “Grogg!!'' , “The Day before doomsday'' and “They met on Mars'' (by Ditko)I'm just glad Dr. Droom; in his short career wasn't reduced to battling ordinary crooks and Communists.

Dear Editor,
In the past; Timely, Atlas and Marvel have all been ” politically correct ” in opposing America's enemies. I once saw a comic book cover of Namor on the deck of a German U-Boat in a menacing stance. I saw the exact same cover for a second Namor book published in the 1950s in which the exact same scene was replayed but on the deck of a Soviet sub.
This company under whichever name has gone to war against America's foes.
Colossus, who could represent a worker, roseup against an evil government that tried to destroy workers.

Modok created an artificial being made from clay called Bulldozer in Captain America vol.1#133(1/71) who looks similar to It the Living Collossus.The Hulk fought an immense stone-like robot named Megalith constructed at Gamma Base,cybernetically linked-up with a controller(used by Jackdaw;destroyed by the Hulk)[Incredible Hulk #275(9/82)]

Comment on Colossus