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{{about|the comic-book character|the fictional planet in M13|Perry Rhodan}}
{{distinguish|Akron}}
{{Infobox comics character <!--This box is part of Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image=File:Marvel's Arkon (2015 design).webp
|caption=Arkon the Magnificent.<br>Textless variant cover of ''Weirdworld'' #1<br>(June 2015).<br>Art by Steve Epting.
|character_name=Arkon the Magnificent
|species=Polemachian
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|debut=''[[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers]]'' #75<br>(April 1970)
|creators=[[Roy Thomas]] (writer)<br>[[John Buscema]] (artist)
|aliases=Arkon the Imperion<br>Lord of Warlords
|partners=[[Enchantress (Marvel Comics)|Enchantress]]
|alliances=
|powers =*Superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina, durability and reflexes
*Accelerated healing factor
*Possesses three lightning-shaped energy weapons and a shield
*Extraordinary hand-to-hand combatant and swordsman
*Rides on various dinosaur-like mounts
*Highly skilled with throwing weapons
*Cunning military strategist  
|full_name=Arkon the Magnificent}}
'''Arkon''' is a character appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. Created by writer [[Roy Thomas]] and artist [[John Buscema]], the character [[First appearance|first appeared]] in ''[[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers]]'' #75 (April 1970).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cronin |first=Brian |date=January 23, 2021 |title=Avengers: Scarlet Witch Bizarrely Begins to Fall For Her Captor, Arkon |url=https://www.cbr.com/avengers-scarlet-witch-captor-arkon-romance/ |access-date=March 26, 2024 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |language=en}}</ref> He is the [[warlord]] and ruler of the extra-dimensional world of Polemachus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eckhardt |first=Peter |date=June 26, 2022 |title=The 10 Toughest Characters Wonder Man Has Beaten In The Comics |url=https://www.cbr.com/toughest-characters-wonder-man-has-beaten-in-comics/ |access-date=March 26, 2024 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |language=en}}</ref> 

== Development ==

=== Concept and creation ===
The concept of the character is that he is a hero from the [[sword-and-sorcery]] genre, in a world of modern superheroes.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brevoort |first1=Tom |title=Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History |last2=DeFalco |first2=Tom |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=Sanderson |first4=Peter |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |date=2017 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1465455505 |page=145}}</ref> During an interview with co-creator [[John Buscema]], [[Roy Thomas]] recalled, "We introduced another one of our more popular creations, Arkon the Magnificent. He had the feel of [[Edgar Rice Burroughs]]' [[John Carter of Mars]] crossed with [[Conan the Barbarian|Conan]]."<ref>{{cite web |title=TwoMorrows Publishing - Alter Ego #13 - John Buscema Interview |url=https://twomorrows.com/alterego/articles/13buscema.html |website=TwoMorrows}}</ref>

=== Publication history ===
{{expand section|date=August 2012}}
Arkon debuted in ''[[The Avengers (comic book)|The Avengers]]'' #75 (April 1970), and was created by [[Roy Thomas]] and [[John Buscema]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=DeFalco |first1=Tom |title=The Marvel Encyclopedia |last2=Sanderson |first2=Peter |last3=Brevoort |first3=Tom |last4=Teitelbaum |first4=Michael |last5=Wallace |first5=Daniel |last6=Darling |first6=Andrew |last7=Forbeck |first7=Matt |last8=Cowsill |first8=Alan |last9=Bray |first9=Adam |date=2019 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1-4654-7890-0 |page=27}}</ref>

==Fictional character biography==
Arkon was born of noble lineage on the extra-dimensional world Polemachus. The people of the Realm of Polemachus developed a culture that glorifies warfare, and Arkon succeeded in becoming the greatest warrior of his people.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaudreau |first=Jared |date=January 9, 2022 |title=The Black Knight's 10 Strongest Villains |url=https://www.cbr.com/black-knights-strongest-villains-marvel-comics/ |access-date=March 26, 2024 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |language=en}}</ref> Appointed Imperion (ruler) of the largest country on Polemachus, Arkon mounted military campaigns against neighboring countries in an effort to conquer the world. His dreams were forgotten when Polemachus was faced with a worldwide catastrophe in that the light-and heat-providing planetary rings were disintegrating. Arkon's scientists determined that atomic explosions occurring on Earth somehow were extra-dimensionally translated to rekindle the energy rings for about a year. Although Polemachus had not developed nuclear weaponry, the scientists predicted that if they were to atomically annihilate the Earth, their world's energy-rings would be restored to power.

Toward this goal, Arkon manipulated the [[Scarlet Witch]] into reciting a magical spell found in a Polemachian book to enable Arkon to transport himself to Earth. Attracted to the Scarlet Witch and intending to marry her, Arkon kidnapped her as well as a group of atomic scientists. The scientists were forced to construct an atomic device. Before Arkon could detonate it on Earth, however, Scarlet Witch's super team, the [[Avengers (comics)|Avengers]] battled Arkon. [[Iron Man]] and [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]] managed to rekindle Polemachus' energy-rings via a super device devised by Stark, and Arkon ceased hostilities with Earth.<ref>''The Avengers'' #75-76 (Apr.–May 1970).</ref>

The Avengers had cause to revisit Arkon's world when their comrade, the [[Black Knight (Dane Whitman)|Black Knight]], was taken captive by Arkon while searching for the Well at the Center of Time. Arkon ceased hostilities with the Avengers when he learned that he was being duped by the [[Enchantress (Marvel Comics)|Enchantress]], and later reconciled with the Avengers.<ref>''The Avengers'' #84 (Jan. 1971).</ref>

Although his world now possessed the capacity for [[atomic weapon]]s, Arkon was dissatisfied with the length of time it took to build a nuclear arsenal. Thus, he devised a plan to pit three extra-dimensional worlds, one of which was Earth, against one another, in hopes that the energy from the resultant nuclear conflagration could be absorbed by his world. His elaborate machinations failed, due to the efforts of the [[Fantastic Four]].<ref>''Fantastic Four'' #160 (July 1975), 162-163 (Sept.–Oct. 1975).</ref>

Arkon was forced to return to Earth yet again when the machine that [[Iron Man]] had once built to rekindle Polemachus' rings failed due to Arkon's tinkering with it. Arkon traveled to Earth to recruit [[Thor (Marvel Comics)|Thor]] to recharge the machine, but since Thor had left the Avengers at that time, he settled for the [[Mutant (Marvel Comics)|mutant]] [[X-Men|X-Man]] known as [[Storm (Marvel Comics)|Storm]], who also had the ability to summon lightning, forcing her teammates to go after them. After a monumental struggle, the conflict was settled amicably. Storm through [[Cyclops (Marvel Comics)|Cyclops]]' optic blasts helped re-energize the Energy Ring, and Arkon returned Storm and her allies to Earth.<ref>''X-Men'' Annual #3 (1979).</ref> Another time, the X-Men and the [[Fantastic Four]] helped Arkon drive off an extra-dimensional invasion of Polemachus by the alien race of [[Badoon]]. After this adventure, Arkon and Storm confessed their mutual attraction for each other, and even shared a kiss, but agreed that circumstances were not right for them to pursue a relationship.<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' Annual #5 (1981).</ref>

Arkon was later prodded via a dream-suggestion to return to Earth because a Hollywood movie had been made about him. This subliminal coaxing was from the Enchantress. She had been given the task of killing [[Doctor Strange]] during the "[[Acts of Vengeance]]" campaign (where all the major villains teamed up and tried to see if "swapping" foes would result in the defeat of their heroic enemies). Arkon fought [[Wonder Man]] to punish him for appearing in the "Arkon" movies, and told him to warn the studio not to make any more.<ref>''West Coast Avengers'' vol. 2 #31 (Apr. 1988).</ref> The Enchantress tricks Arkon into battling Dr Strange, but with the help of [[Clea Strange|Clea]], they are able to defeat her.<ref>''Doctor Strange'' vol. 3 #12-13 (Dec. 1989–Jan. 1990).</ref>

Some time later, Arkon traveled to Earth to employ the [[West Coast Avengers|Avengers West Coast]] and Fantastic Four as pawns in his war with rival otherworldly monarch [[Thundra]], until he made peace with Thundra after realizing they shared a strong mutual attraction.<ref>''Avengers West Coast'' #75 (Oct. 1991).</ref> Later, with Thundra as his consort, Arkon sought Avengers' aid in repairing Polemachus' energy ring and protecting the maiden Astra from becoming a human sacrifice to Polemachus' religious zealots led by the high priest Anskar.<ref>''The Avengers'' #358-359 (Jan.–Feb. 1993).</ref>

During the ''[[Secret Wars (2015 comic book)|Secret Wars]]'' storyline, Arkon finds himself on the [[Battleworld]] domain of [[Weirdworld]]. After many failed attempts to find his kingdom Polemachus, Arkon finally arrived at the end of the Weirdworld and discovered it was a floating island. He was ready to step off the cliff to meet his fate on the ground below when an uncontrolled dragon appeared from nowhere. Seeing this as his opportunity to finally find his kingdom, Arkon stole the beast from the ogres that tried to control it and rode it through Weirdworld's sky only to be caught by apes who used a strange fish and a line to fish the dragon out of the sky to the bottom of the sea.<ref>''Weirdworld'' #1 (Aug. 2015).</ref> Imprisoned alone in a cell with his hands bound, Arkon resorts to brute force running headfirst into the walls to escape his captivity in Apelantis. While it does not result in his escape, Arkon's actions attract the attention of a crystalline being named Warbow. Warbow explains to Arkon that while he has been able to escape the prison on his own, he is always recaptured by the underwater apes before he could reach the surface of the lagoon. Warbow offers to assist Arkon in escaping in the hopes that they both can manage it together and save his captive prince [[The Saga of Crystar|Crystar]] where they find his pieces in a bag. As Arkon fights off the underwater apes, he dreams of the home he seeks to return to. As he describes the world, he comes to the sad realization that he is losing his memory of his home.<ref>''Weirdworld'' #2 (Sept. 2015).</ref> After reaching a safe place, Warbow gave Arkon his map as he had promised. But to Arkon's surprise, it had many places he had not ever seen in his journey through Weirdworld. Enraged, Arkon left Warbow behind and continued his quest for Polemachus. Lost, Arkon ended up in the "Swayin' Saloon" where [[Skull the Slayer]] was waiting for him.

While drinking, Skull the Slayer revealed to Arkon that he was sent by [[Morgan le Fay (Marvel Comics)|Morgan le Fay]] to kill him and both started to fight. In a failed attempt of killing himself as well as his enemy, Arkon cut the ropes that kept the saloon suspended and they fell into the swamp below. When Arkon regained consciousness after the fall, he found himself trapped in vines and surrounded by the [[Man-Thing]]s.<ref>''Weirdworld'' #3 (Oct. 2015).</ref> Arkon began to hallucinate about seeing Polemachus upside down when Skull freed him from the vines by attacking him fiercely. Arkon managed to get one of his Battle-Bolts and overcame his enemy. Before he could kill him, he was immobilized by the burning touch of one of the Man-Things. This time, Arkon hallucinated about his worst fear: Polemachus burning in front of his eyes. The hallucination ended with the arrival of the Swamp Queen of the Man-Things, a version of [[Jennifer Kale]] who is behind the rebellion against Morgan le Fay. After a brief conversation with the two warriors, the Swamp Queen forced them to face their fears in order to survive it and become her allies against le Fay. However, only Skull accepted the offer to become her ally. Arkon fled from the Forest of the Man-Things having remembered the path which led to Polemachus. Upon reaching the rock that was supposed to be the entrance to his kingdom, Arkon found himself yet again in front of a cliff at the end of Weirdworld. Filled with sadness and rage, Arkon pointed one of his Battle-Bolts towards his own belly ready to kill himself, unknowing that Polemachus was in fact in Weirdworld, suspended upside down as the underside of the floating island.<ref>''Weirdworld'' #4 (Nov. 2015).</ref> At the last minute, Arkon gave up on killing himself preferring to use his rage to conquer Weirdworld in order to turn it into his new kingdom instead. He was confronted by the Witch Queen le Fay and her army of ogres. Having been hit by a missile launched by the ogres, Arkon fell from Weirdworld and finally saw his kingdom under it before being saved from certain death by the Swamp Queen and her Man-Things who were accompanied by an army composed of the other inhabitants of Weirdworld including Skull the Slayer, Warbow, an army of Elves, an army of Eyemazons, an army of Man-Wolves, and the resurrected Crystar. A fierce battle ensued between the Swamp Queen's forces and le Fay's forces for the fate of Weirdworld. However, none of them emerged victorious as Battleworld collapsed after God Emperor Doom was defeated during the Secret War. With Weirdworld now a part of Earth-616 and located in the [[Bermuda Triangle]], Arkon resumed his journey to find Polemachus.<ref>''Weirdworld'' #5 (Dec. 2015).</ref>

In ''[[All-New, All-Different Marvel]]'', Arkon is still searching for Polemachus and comes across the survivors of the airplane that crash-landed onto Weirdworld in the Bermuda Triangle. He saves them and tells them that they need to get away from the plane wreck.<ref>''Weirdworld'' vol. 2 #1 (Feb. 2016).</ref>

When Arkon was sighted on Earth, Thundra and Tyndall arrived to look for help in finding him.<ref>''Squadron Supreme'' vol. 4 #1 (Feb. 2016).</ref> Their search for Arkon was interrupted by the arrival of Warbow and his Crystal Warriors, the Magma Men, and the Savage Elves of Klarn as Thundra tells Tyndall to find the [[Squadron Supreme]].<ref>''Squadron Supreme'' vol. 4 #2 (Feb. 2016).</ref> When the Squadron Supreme, Tyndall, and Thundra end up on Weirdworld, they are ambushed by Arkon.<ref>''Squadron Supreme'' vol. 4 #3 (Mar. 2016).</ref> It was discovered that Arkon has been possessed by an evil madness as he assists Modred and Warrior Woman into taking down Nighthawk, Blur, and Tyndall. When the three of them bring Nighthawk, Blur, and Tyndall to a specific castle, they find it inhabited by a revived [[Doctor Druid]].<ref>''Squadron Supreme'' vol. 4 #4 (Apr. 2016).</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
Arkon possesses a range of superhuman abilities, including superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, reflexes, and durability. He also has an accelerated healing factor,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Mayra |date=May 3, 2022 |title=10 Marvel Characters That Have Been Left Out Of The MCU |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-characters-not-in-mcu/ |access-date=March 26, 2024 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |language=en}}</ref> enabling him to rapidly heal damaged tissue should he sustain injury. While all of his people possess these same physical attributes, Arkon's are much more developed than the majority of his race.

He is a cunning military strategist. He is an extraordinary hand-to-hand combatant and swordsman, and is highly skilled in the usage of his throwing weapons, which were designed by the scientists and craftsmen of Polemachus. Arkon wields a collection of three energy weapons shaped like stylized lightning bolts that he carries in a quiver. Each of these bolts has a specific function and color. The golden bolts are used to open gateways to different dimensional planes. The scarlet and black bolts are used as offensive weapons and generate powerful explosive blasts when they hit their target.  He also carries a shield.

Arkon has been known to ride dinosaur-like reptilian mounts, some of which walk on two legs and others on four. Other reptilian mounts he uses have wings enabling them to carry him through the air.

==Reception==
Journalists of ''[[Comic Book Resources]]'' expressed interest in seeing a movie after Arkon exploring his relationship with [[Thundra]] in the [[Weirdworld]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Allan |first1=Scoot |last2=Kurland |first2=Daniel |last3=Iacobucci |first3=Jordan |last4=Garcia |first4=Mayra |date=February 6, 2024 |title=Underrated Marvel Characters Who Deserve an MCU Movie |url=https://www.cbr.com/marvel-lesser-known-heroes-possible-film/ |access-date=March 26, 2024 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref>

==Other versions==

===JLA/Avengers===
Arkon appears in ''[[JLA/Avengers]]'' #4.<ref>''JLA/Avengers'' #4</ref>

===Earth-65===
In this universe, Arkon is a character in a [[tabletop roleplaying game]].<ref>''Spider-Gwen'' vol. 2 #4</ref>

==In other media==
===Television===
[[Image:Arkon on X-Men.jpg|thumb|right|Arkon as depicted in ''[[X-Men: The Animated Series]]'']]
* Arkon appears in the ''[[X-Men: The Animated Series]]'' episode "Storm Front", voiced by [[Paul Haddad]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sims |first=Chris |date=October 6, 2014 |title=The X-Men Episode Guide 5x08: Storm Front, Part Two |url=https://comicsalliance.com/the-x-men-episode-guide-5x08-storm-front-part-two/ |access-date=March 26, 2024 |website=[[ComicsAlliance]] |language=en}}</ref> This version is a conqueror and slaver who posed as an innocent man whose planet is being ravaged by extreme weather. Storm initially falls victim to this ruse, but eventually learns the truth and nearly destroys the planet in her rage before being convinced to stop.
* Arkon appears in the ''[[Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.]]'' episode "The Hunted", voiced by [[Liam O'Brien]].<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Arkon Voice - ''Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H.'' (TV Show) |url=https://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/tv-shows/Hulk-And-The-Agents-Of-SMASH/Arkon/ |access-date=March 26, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lovett |first=Jamie |date=June 19, 2014 |title=''Hulk And The Agents Of S.M.A.S.H.'': The Hunted Preview |url=https://comicbook.com/news/hulk-and-the-agents-of-s-m-a-s-h-the-hunted-preview/ |access-date=March 26, 2024 |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |language=en}}</ref> This version is an evil hunter.

===Video games===
* Arkon appears as a playable character in ''[[Lego Marvel Avengers]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guthrie |first=Robert |date=January 27, 2016 |title=''LEGO Marvel's Avengers'': Character Unlock Guide |url=https://www.gameskinny.com/tips/lego-marvels-avengers-character-unlock-guide/ |access-date=March 26, 2024 |website=GameSkinny |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Arkon_%28Earth-616%29 Arkon] at Marvel Wiki
* [http://www.comicvine.com/arkon/4005-19947/ Arkon] at Comic Vine
{{Avengers characters}}
[[Category:Characters created by John Buscema]]
[[Category:Characters created by Roy Thomas]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1970]]
[[Category:Fictional kings]]
[[Category:Fictional swordfighters in comics]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters who can move at superhuman speeds]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with accelerated healing]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics male supervillains]]