Warlord Zemu

History: The despotic Warlord Zemu ruled The Fifth Dimension, a dimension co-existing beside Earth's dimension. When a space-warp passageway was discovered that linked the Fifth Dimension to a swamp on Earth, Zemu made plans to conquer Earth. Zemu posted guards in the swamp to destroy a housing development there and frighten away humans with stories of “swamp demons”. Investigating the mystery, The Human Torch stumbled upon the passageway, was captured, brought before Zemu, then imprisoned. The Human Torch was freed by the revolutionists Phineas, his daughter ,Valeria, and Theos, who all wanted to overthrow the cruel Zemu. With the Human Torch to rally the masses, Warlord Zemu was deposed and the Torch returned to Earth.

Years later, Xemu (see comment) and a small army returned to menace Earth, but they were all stopped by the Fantastic Four.

Height: 6 ft.
Demonstrated Powers: Warlord Zemu had no special powers, but as a dictator, he commanded an army with advanced weaponry that included “cold rays” and giant fire-proof tanks.

Comment: The spelling of this character's name was changed to “Xemu” in Fantastic Four # 158

Comment: Although Zemu and the Fifth Dimensioners had caucasion skin-color in the original story and the first reprint in Marvel Tales, they were all retconned into having blue skin in the Human Torch series reprint and all their subsequent appearances in the Fantastic Four (possibly to give them a more alien appearance; could the Fifth Dimensioners have some connection to the blue-skinned Kree race? Could “The Fifth Dimension” actually be an alternate Earth that was conquered by the Kree?).

Comment: Warlord Zemu should not be confused with Dr. Droom's nemesis, Zemu (introduced in Amazing Adventures # 3), nor with Captain America's enemy, Baron Zemo (introduced in Avengers (vol. 1) # 6).

Comment: It is unknown if Warlord Zemu's “Fifth Dimension” is the same “Fifth Dimension” of Diablo, or the “Fifth Dimension” seen in the story “Threat From the 5th Dimension” in Strange Tales #69 (art by Steve Ditko), or the “Fifth Dimension” of Mr. Mxyzptlk.
(On a related topic, in Amazing Adult Fantasy # 12, in the story “Something Fantastic” (art by Steve Ditko) a magically-powered man from the “Fifth Dimension” visited the offices of Marvel Comics and met Stan Lee and Steve Ditko; was this man perhaps one of Mr. Mxyzptlk's people?)

Comment: Perhaps the revolutionary Phineas was so named by Marvel as a tribute to Professor Phineas T. Horton, the creator of
the original android Human Torch.

Comment: It is unknown if these Fifth Dimension inhabitants have any connection to the Fifth Dimensional aliens who created Marvex the Super-Robot in Daring Mystery Comics # 3 (April 1940).

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