View source for Dire Wraith

{{short description|Fictional species appearing in Rom the Spaceknight comics}}
{{Missing information|the IDW ''Rom'' series|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox comics species
<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|image     = Dire Wraith.jpg
|caption   = A Dire Wraith, art by [[John Romita Jr.]] & [[Dan Green (artist)|Dan Green]].
|publisher = [[Marvel Comics]]<br>[[IDW Publishing]]
|debut     = ''[[Rom (comics)|Rom]]'' #1
|debutmo   = December
|debutyr   = 1979
|creators  = [[Bill Mantlo]] (writer)<br>[[Al Milgrom]] (artist)
|deities   = [[List of Marvel Comics characters: A#Avoe|Avoe]]
|homeworld = Skrullos, Wraithworld, Dark Nebula
|members   =
|powers    = Superhuman strength<br>Shapeshifting<br>Magic usage
|subcat    = Marvel Comics
|altcat    = Marvel Comics extraterrestrial species and races
|sortkey   = Dire Wraith
|et        = y
}}
The '''Dire Wraiths''' are a fictional extraterrestrial [[species]] appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]] and [[IDW Publishing]]. The Dire Wraiths are the main opponents of [[Rom the Space Knight]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Rovin |first=Jeff |title=[[The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains]] |date=1987 |publisher=Facts on File |isbn=0-8160-1356-X |location=New York |page=390 |authorlink=Jeff Rovin}}[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofsu0000rovi_h5r9/page/390/mode/2up]</ref>

==Publication history==
The Dire Wraiths first appeared in ''[[Rom the Space Knight|Rom]]'' #1 (1979) and were created by [[Bill Mantlo]] and [[Al Milgrom]]. Parker Brothers created the term Dire Wraiths to promote the original ROM toy, but Marvel developed all of the prehistory and art behind them.<ref name="feature17" /> Hasbro has since taken over ownership and trademarked the name. IDW Publishing developed a new appearance and a history distinct from what had been previously created by Marvel, who still owns those aspects.<ref name="Hasbro-TM" />

==Species biography==
===Marvel Universe===
The Dire Wraiths are an [[Evolution|evolutionary offshoot]] of the [[Skrull]]s from the [[Andromeda Galaxy]]. Like the Skrulls, the Wraiths are shapeshifters, able to take the forms of other creatures. The Wraiths were originally depicted as amorphous, cloudy, vaguely human-shaped beings, but was eventually revealed that it was a transitional form used for shape-shifting and that their true form is entirely different. The Dire Wraiths are Skrullian Deviants engineered by the star-faring [[Celestials]]. The Wraiths have both reptilian and mammalian traits. The females lay eggs and lactate.

Most characters consider Wraiths to be [[sexually dimorphic]]. It is stated within the comics that all Wraiths have the same form, but the males are so ashamed of their true form that they use their shape-shifting abilities to constantly appear in their transitory forms.<ref>''Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update'' #2 (August 2010)</ref> The basic transitory form is stocky and [[troll]]-like in appearance, with red or brown skin, but otherwise roughly human-like in size and shape. The true form has a large, reddish body with large, pupil-less eyes, small beaks, 'hands' that resemble small pincers and tentacles; clawed feet, and thick tails. They also have long, [[drill]]-like tongues, that they use to suck out the brains of their victims, allowing them to gain their memories. All Wraiths can copy the appearance of other beings without consuming their brains or killing them.

Wraiths turned into dust when killed (or banished to [[Limbo (Marvel Comics)|Limbo]]).

====In-universe origins====
At some point in their history, female Dire Wraiths began to study evil magic. This caused a rift with their parent race, the Skrulls, and they were driven out of the Andromeda Galaxy. They settled on the planet Wraithworld.

====The Dark Nebula====
Two hundred years before the events of the main comic strip, the Dire Wraiths launched an offensive on Galador and the galaxy in which it was located. However, upon arriving at Galador, they found out that hundreds of young Galadorians had been transformed into cyborg warriors called Spaceknights, who repelled the attack. The Dire Wraiths returned to Wraithworld, only to have Rom, the greatest of the Spaceknights, follow them there, intent on wiping them from the universe. Realizing that other Spaceknights would soon follow, the Wraiths decided to abandon Wraithworld, and scattered across the universe.<ref>''Rom'' Annual #2 (1983).</ref>

====Wraiths on Earth====
Several decades prior to Rom's arrival on Earth, a large group of Wraiths landed near a small town in [[West Virginia]]. The Wraiths infiltrated the town in human form, and later began to infiltrate governments and other important organizations across the world. Because Dire Wraith magic was fueled by the black sun of Wraithworld in the Dark Nebula, their ability to perform magic on Earth was severely impaired. Consequently, the male-dominated technology faction of the Wraiths was in control.

Later, Rom landed near Clairton, having detected a Wraith infestation, and with the help of some of the locals, eventually succeeded in banishing all the Wraiths there. Then he proceeded to travel around the world looking for the rest, eventually leaving the protection of Clairton to the human superhero, the Torpedo.

Eventually the female-dominated faction of magic-oriented Wraiths, blaming the technology faction for failing to defeat Rom, launched a coup and then proceeded to attack Earth openly. Their first act was to kill the entire population of Clairton while Rom was away. Later they openly attacked [[S.H.I.E.L.D.]] at their headquarters, the [[Helicarrier]]. This proved a major blunder in that the personnel were able to repel the attack and all doubt by the authorities as to the existence and threat of the alien species was removed.

Soon afterwards, the Wraiths launched a plan to help them conquer Earth once and for all; they cast a spell on Earth's sun, allowing them to use its energies to draw Wraithworld into the [[Solar System]]. This greatly increased their magical powers. Emboldened, the Wraiths made a mass attack on New York City, where they clashed with dozens of the city's [[superhero]]es. However, thanks to Rom, who used a special satellite to boost the power of his Neutralizer, Wraithworld in its entirety was banished into [[Limbo (Marvel Comics)|Limbo]], causing all Wraiths in this [[galaxy]] to lose their powers, including apparently their shape-shifting abilities. Subsequently, Rom banishes all the defeated Wraiths into Limbo.

The Wraith queen Volx later made appearances in issues of ''[[New Warriors]]'' and ''[[Nova (Richard Rider)|Nova]]'' (vol. 2). It was later confirmed that this is the same Wraith queen introduced in ''Rom'' #48.<ref>''Annihilators'' #3 (July 2011)</ref>

====Return of the Wraiths====
A salvaged Dire Wraith ship is used as a Moscow headquarters for the Russian superheroes of the [[Winter Guard]].<ref>''Darkstar & the Winter Guard'' #1</ref> [[Fantasia (comics)|Fantasma]] was [[Retroactive continuity|revealed]] to have been a Dire Wraith Queen in ''Darkstar & the Winter Guard'' #2.<ref>''Darkstar & the Winter Guard'' #2</ref>

In the 2011 ''Annihilators'' miniseries, a team of Skrulls try to bring back Wraithworld and its population, intending to empower them and use them as a weapon to reform the Skrull Empire. The Wraith's Queen Volx and the Galadorians both are manipulated into setting this up, and the Annihilators find that Wraithworld has to be brought back to reality to balance out the unleashed Dark Sun. The Silver Surfer discovers that Volx has been driven insane by an empathic link to Wraithworld in Limbo. When the Annihilators arrive there, the team is horrified to find out that after generations in Limbo, the surviving Dire Wraiths are a disease-ridden, half-starved people in constant anguish and most of them are suicidal.<ref>''Annihilators'' #4</ref>

The Dire Wraiths later appear as a member of the Universal [[Inhumans]] alongside the [[Badoon]], Centaurians, and the [[Kymellian]]s.

===Standalone comic series===
The Dire Wraiths received their own comic book series, which has received mixed reviews.<ref name=Star>{{cite magazine |last1=Fortune |first1=Ed |title=ROM – DIRE WRAITHS #1 |url=https://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/rom-dire-wraiths-1 |magazine=[[Starburst (magazine)|Starburst]] |date=27 January 2020}}</ref><ref name=Multi>{{cite web |last1=O'Neal |first1=Jonathan |title=Pick of the Week: "Rom: Dire Wraiths" #1 |url=http://www.multiversitycomics.com/reviews/potw-rom-dire-wraiths-1/ |website=Multiversity Comics |date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> While the characterization of the comic was praised,<ref name=Multi/> its cartoonish art style was heavily criticized.<ref name=Star/>

==Dire Wraith characters==
The following lists some of the more notable Dire Wraith characters:
* '''Avoe''' – The queen of the Dire Wraiths and member of the Universal Inhumans.
* '''Doctor Dredd''' – A rare male Dire Wraith [[warlock]].
* '''Hooud''' – A size-shifting Dire Wraith who is a member of the Universal Inhumans' Light Brigade. He operates under the alias of '''Creeping Death'''.
* '''[[Hybrid (Jimmy Marks)|Hybrid / Jimmy Marks]]''' – The hybrid offspring of a human and Dire Wraith.
* '''Kattan-Tu''' – A Dire Wraith orphan who was raised by the Sarkans, a childless human couple, that named him '''Jimmy'''.<ref>''The Incredible Hulk'' (vol. 2) #262 (1981)</ref>
* '''Voorr''' – A Dire Wraith who is a member of the Universal Inhumans' Light Brigade. He operates under the alias of '''Sun'''. Voorr can fly and project force fields.

==Reception==
The Dire Wraiths have been criticized as being "evil for evil's sake" and as having a thin motivation for their actions.<ref name="feature9" />

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="feature9">{{cite magazine |last1=Huber |first1=Chuck |title=Year in Review |magazine=Comics Feature |publisher=[[New Media Publishing]] |issue=9}}</ref>
<ref name="feature17">{{cite magazine |last1=Howell |first1=Richard |last2=Kalish |first2=Carol |last3=Busiek |first3=Kurt |title=Bill Mantlo |magazine=Comics Feature |publisher=[[New Media Publishing]] |issue=17|date=June 1981}}</ref>
<ref name="Hasbro-TM">{{cite web |last1=Johnston |first1=Rich |title=Marvel Comics Abandons Trademark Challenge Against Hasbro Over "Dire Wraiths" |url=https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/04/11/marvel-comics-abandons-trademark-challenge-against-hasbro-over-dire-wraiths/ |website=[[Bleeding Cool]] |publisher=[[Avatar Press]] |date=April 11, 2017}}</ref>}}

==Further reading==
* ''[https://smile.amazon.com/Comic-Guide-Slings-Arrows/dp/1854104861/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=the+slings+and+arrows+comic+guide&qid=1581720847&sr=8-3#reader_1854104861 The Slings & Arrows Comic Guide]'' by Tim Pilcher and Frank Plowright p.&nbsp;266, Aurum Press (1997)
* "[https://www.bleedingcool.com/2017/04/11/marvel-comics-abandons-trademark-challenge-against-hasbro-over-dire-wraiths/ "Marvel Comics Abandons Trademark Challenge Against Hasbro Over "Dire Wraiths"]" by Rich Johnston, BleedingCool.com (2017)
* "[http://www.multiversitycomics.com/reviews/potw-rom-dire-wraiths-1/ Pick of the Week: "Rom: Dire Wraiths" #1]" by Jonathan O'Neal, Multiversity Comics (2020)

==External links==
* [http://www.marveldirectory.com/alienraces/direwraiths.htm Dire Wraith entry on MarvelDirectory.com]
* [http://home.hiwaay.net/~lkseitz/comics/Rom/enemies/wraiths.shtml Dire Wraith information from Rom Spaceknight Revisited] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070221140624/http://home.hiwaay.net/~lkseitz/comics/Rom/enemies/wraiths.shtml |date=2007-02-21}}
* {{comicbookdb|type=team|id=1134|title=Dire Wraith}}
* [https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Dire_Wraith Dire Wraith] at Marvel Wiki

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[[Category:Characters created by Al Milgrom]]
[[Category:Characters created by Bill Mantlo]]
[[Category:Fiction set in the Andromeda Galaxy]]
[[Category:Hasbro characters]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters who use magic]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics Deviants]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics extraterrestrial supervillains]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics shapeshifters]]
[[Category:Rom the Space Knight]]
[[Category:Supervillains with their own comic book titles]]