Gargantus

History: The aquatic giant, Gargantus, came out of the sea to explore the surface world. Approaching civilization, Gargantus was engaged in battle with military forces. The military failed to halt Gargantus' advance. The angered Gargantus was about to unleash his full might against the city, but suddenly weakened and collapsed, unconscious. It was discovered that, being from the bottom of the sea, Gargantus could not breathe in the thin atmosphere of the surface world. Gargantus was hurled back into the sea.

Gargantus would return years later to once again menace mankind; he was electrocuted and apparently killed.

Gargantus was later seen among a group of monsters being held in the Collector's subterranean museum beneath the surface of Canada. The monsters escaped captivity during the Collector's battle with the Mole Man, and some of the monsters (including Gargantus) attacked New York City, but were fought off by an alliance of the Thing, the Hulk, Giant-Man, and the Beast. The defeated monsters were later dispatched into the Negative Zone.

Height: 200 ft.
Demonstrated Powers: Gargantus could splinter the strongest steel. He could survive missles and artillary fire. Gargantus was intelligent and could speak. His major weakness was that he could not survive for extended periods in the thin atmosphere of the surface.

Comment: It has been implied that some of the Earth-bound monsters were mutate creatures created by Kro (warlord of the subterranean Deviant race) to attack the surface world. It is unknown if this is the case with Gargantus.

Comment: Gargantus should not be confused with the Neanderthal-man/robot, also called Gargantus, who fought Iron Man in Tales of Suspense # 40.

Comment: It is unknown if Gargantus has any connection with Titan, Goliath, or the Atlanteans from The World Below.

Comment: Similar giant aquatic inhabitants were seen in the story “At the Stroke of Midnight” in Amazing Adult Fantasy # 13 (art by Steve Ditko); possible connection?

I would conjecture that TITAN, GOLIATH/GIGANTUS, and GOLIATH are all from the same species. Over the ages, the species split off - each founding their own “Atlantis” city-states.

These Atlantis' are clearly not the same kingdoms that Prince Namor's people come from, nor are they any relation to ancient Atlantis.

As for Doctor Droom's Altanteans, these folks could have splintered away from ancient underwater Inhumans - very similar to Triton.

I have this one, although I missed his return in Strange Tales #85.
Trivia note: Several times in the story, he refers to himself as Gigantis (calling reminiscence to the Japanese film of 1957).
There MUST be a market in reprints. Are any being reprinted at this time?

Ahh, another Kirby monster who wears swim trunks. Do you suppose Gargantus and Fin Fang Foom bought their shorts at the same “Big and Tall Monsters” store?

Gargantus and Fin Fang Foom both probably shopped at the same store where Bruce Banner buys those incredly stretchable purple pants of his.

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