The Roc

History: Archeologist John Avery uncovered a gigantic buried egg while in the deserts of Egypt. The warmth of the sun caused the exposed egg to hatch, giving birth to a large Roc chick. The young chick matured with incredible speed, flying off to collect ships and buildings around the world to use as nesting material. The Roc continued to menace the Earth, until Avery organized the countries of the world on a project to create a gigantic mechanical duplicate of the Roc. The mechanical Roc was launched into space as a decoy to lure the Roc away from Earth.

Wingspan: 500 ft.
Demonstrated Powers: The Roc was a hawk-like bird of huge proportions, but demonstrated no special powers.

Comment: Speculation - Given the fact that no other rocs have ever been seen, it is possible that this roc is actually a genetic mutate created by Kro (warlord of the subterranean Deviant race) to attack the surface world, or possibly an experiment of Arnim Zola, Centurius, Doctor Demonicus, or The Bird Men.

Comment: It is unknown if John Avery is related to Victor Avery (see The Midnight Monster) or Howard Avery (see The Brute That Walks).

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I just re-read this story the other day and it was very good. I wonder if Kirby had a hand in the plot, as it basicaly deals with a bird unwittingly causing destruction mainly due to his size. He is tearing things apart not because he is going to dominate the world, but because hes building a nest!

Maybe the Roc was related to the more modern day Marvel Monster… the Chyylok!!!

''WAS IT REAL?''………NO……i really dont think it was,what do you mean by ''real'',a real myth,or was this issue of JIM real?,ive,always wanted the marvel universe to be real,but,there are times(FANTASTIC FOUR#48-50,HUMAN TORCH COMICS #5,OR ANY ISSUE OF SPIDERMAN BY STRACYNSZKI.)when im glad it is not real…………….for example,im quite sure i(and trey parker)have encountered the ''living mountain of mud'',TABOO,many,many times in our toilets,and my evil gym teacher looks EXACTLY like a creature called the''MIDNIGHT MONSTER''-pre-transformation…………….for that fact let us pray,that these stories are not real………..now,excuse me,taboo has just demanded to be released from my bowels………………

............. TURRRRRRRRRD THE THING THAT COULD NOT DIE!!!!!!!!! :: 22 November 2006

on a more serious note,the ROC,our feathered friend here may actually be the result of an experiment by ''DR.GAMMA'',a villain fought by the FIERY MASK in his origin/debut story in DARING MYSTERY COMICS#1,i read this in THE GOLDEN AGE OF MARVEL COMICS VOLUME 2,the villain was'nt actually called that but i like to think of this un-named villain as a victim of gamma raiation,anyway,the mask/jack castle went up against a giant buzzard(!)created by the villain,maybe the roc,was an offspring?,also; MYSTIC#4(horror series)has a story called the ''DEVIL BIRDS'',could these be connected to the roc?,whatever its a cool story anyway,even at just 4 pages,but ''CAVEAT EMPTOR,(let the buyer beware.)kiddies,this story is drawn byBASIL WOLVERTON!!!!!.

............. TURRRRRRRRRD THE THING THAT COULD NOT DIE!!!!!!!! :: 30 November 2006

i know he was un-named,i just got the name from an episode of hanna-barbera's FANTASTIC FOUR cartoon in an episode intended to use the sub-mariner,but changed because grant-ray lawrence studios was currently using sub-mariner,and,hey?;doctor gamma is a cool name,whatever its a better name than that of another FIERY MASK villain(not making this up)''dr. dork''!!!!.

............. TURRRRRRRRRRD THE THING THAT COULD NOT DIE!!!!!!!! :: 02 December 2006

First Dork is also an obsolete form of Dark and Dirk(a kind of Dagger or Poniard)—see Oxford English Dictionary.There are Giant Hawks in Captain America#238(10/79) and Avengers vol.3#28(5/2000).The Zombie Master shouldn't be confused with the Zombie Master(Dr.Heinman)[Sub-Mariner Comics#13(spr/44)Sub-Mariner story).There are suppose to be Giant Vultures in The Human Torch#2(fall/40) Fiery Mask story used by Doctor Sendach and in Marvel Mystery Comics#12(10/40)”The Enchanted Marsh”—Angel story with a Marsh Woman(a hag).The Fiery Mask's Zombie Master could be the source of all the Giant Vultures. Thing That Couldn't Die John was just letting you know that the Appendix did a profile on him,relax O.K.,he wasn't attacking you.

The Appendix speculates that the Fiery Mask is an Ionic Mutate like WonderMan,Atlas,Man-Monster/Smasher,Count Nefaria,Nefarius and Theerak but the Green colour of the ray used says to you Gamma Rays.If you borrow from a golden age hero and original Gamma Mutate(Captain Future(Dr.Andrew Bryant)Startling Comics#1(6/40)Nedor/Better Publications) who ly playing with Gamma and Infrared Wavws,when he discovers that by standing in the Nexus of the crossed beams he con fly,gains tremendous strength,and fire energy bolts from his hands.The Zombie Master could be using both Gamma and Ionic Rays (I would contact you at the Email address you left at the Appendix but I'm a Computer Quasi-Luddite(I don't know how to get the Comments Box to appear).

Roc in Arabian and Persian legend was an emormous and powerful bird of prey(called Rokh by Arabs and Rukh by Persians).In Maori peoples of New Zealand myth Poua-Kai was a Giant man-eating bird.Ngani-Vatu is a Giant man-eating bird in Fijian myths;Matu'u-ta'uo in Tahiti peoples myths of Society Island.

Please edit out my comment from November 22,I was responding to a sarcastic comment that has since been edited out.Thanks.

............. TURRRRRRRRRRRRD THE THING THAT COULD NOT DIE!!!!!!!! :: 09 February 2007

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