Shuma-Gorath was one of the characters nominated by my followers over on Instagram for last October's horror/monster-themed reading orders, but I ran out of time to include them. Now there's a lot of talk about the character appearing in the upcoming 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' film (though it appears Marvel have had to rename him after Gargantos - the similar-looking sea-creature that previously battled Namor the Sub-Mariner). Now, I'm not really into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but I know they take liberties with characters, but the creature in the trailer is clearly Shuma-Gorath.
An ancient being many refer to as a demon, but seems to be considerably more threatening that a simple 'evil entity', Shuma-Gorath is considered the Cthulhu of the Marvel Universe and was mentioned the Robert E Howard Kull story 'Curse of the Golden Skull' and was probably influenced by an HP Lovecraft creation called Shub-Niggurath (you can find out more about this in the Marvel Fandom Wiki on the Shuma-Gorath page).
Until now, Shuma-Gorath has been best-known for being a playable character in the game 'Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds'. As it seems there's only one Shuma-Gorath in the entire multiverse, that would mean Marvel vs Capcom 3 features the same Shuma-Gorath who appears in the comics.
MCG Notes:
- Issue listings in blue & black: The must-read Shuma-Gorath stories from this time period, along with any key related stories and often-forgotten tales that are worth a read.
- Issue listings in grey: Part of Shuma-Gorath's chronology, cameo appearances or stories of note that are non-essential or no longer considered 'required reading'.
- Chronology: Every appearance of Shuma-Gorath from this period is included in chronological order, mapping out their timeline rather than just the order the issues were released.
- Spoilers: The issue/story overviews may include spoilers, so be warned!
Wolverine: First Class #12 (2009)
Flashback: Shuma-Gorath adopted the entity Quoggoth as their servant, until Quoggoth rebelled.
Marvel Premiere #14 (1974)
Doctor Strange and Baron Mordo pursue the sorcerer Sise-Neg back in time to 1,000,000 years ago, encountering the other-dimensional being Shuma-Gorath; Strange convinces Sise-Neg to banish Shuma-Gorath from the Earthly plane to another dimension in the hope of saving the Ancient One in the future.
Conan the Barbarian #252-258 (1992)
Shuma-Gorath operates behind the scenes; Shuma-Gorath asserts his influence over Vammatar, coercing her into destroying the village of the Snow Bear; Conan experiences these moments in a dream and, as revenge for the destruction of the village where he was raised, attempts to kill Vammatar and her new husband Kulan Gath before Shuma-Gorath can return.
Conan the Barbarian #259-260 (1992)
Shuma-Gorath breaks free from his other-dimensional prison; when they realise Shuma-Gorath isn't under their control, Conan summons Crom to cast the demon back.
Invaders Now! #2-3 (2010-2011)
Flashback: Arnim Zola took samples of the area called Vliet which Shuma-Gorath infused with his evil; Zola uses the minerals to create a virus to use against US soldiers in World War II until he was stopped by the Invaders.
Journey into Mystery #1 (1972)
First mention of Shuma-Gorath; John Grimlan mentions Shuma-Gorath among things most men have never heard of.
Marvel Premiere #3-8 (1972-1973)
Shuma-Gorath operates behind the scenes; first appearance of the Sligguth, the Vishanti (Agamotto, Hoggoth the Hoary & Oshtur) and Kalumesh; Shuma-Gorath asserts his influence over his servants - including Nightmare and Sligguth - to attack Doctor Strange and the Ancient One to prepare for his arrival on Earth.
Marvel Premiere #9-10 (1973)
First full appearance of Shuma-Gorath; Shuma-Gorath enters the earthly plane through the mind of the Ancient One; Doctor Strange is left with no choice but to destroy the Ancient One's mind to banish Shuma-Gorath back to the dimension he came from.
Doctor Strange #81 (1987)
Strange Tales #1[2/2]-3[2/2] (1987)
Shuma-Gorath operates behind the scenes; Doctor Strange destroys most of his talismans and scrolls in order to defeat Urthona; this weakens the barriers between dimensions that were set to keep the Old Ones from entering the Earthly plane, including Shuma-Gorath; Shuma-Gorath influences the Water Elemental as the Old Ones' assault on Earth begins during THE TONGUES OF MEN AND ANGELS.
Strange Tales #4[2/2]-6[2/2], 7, 8[2/2]-12[2/2] (1987-1988)
Shuma Gorath operates behind the scenes; Shuma-Gorath and the Old Ones influences other servants - including Erik Khan, Nightmare & Gaszaszh Nyirh - to attack the Earthly plane on their behalf to continue to weaken the barriers between dimensions.
Strange Tales #13[2/2]-14[2/2] (pp.1-7) (1988)
Fantastic Four #314 (1099)
Strange Tales #14[2/2] (pp.7-11) (1988)
Doctor Strange confronts Shuma-Gorath and defeats him by absorbing the entity into himself and committing suicide during SECRET WARS III.
Fantastic Four Annual #27[2/2] (1994)
Shuma-Gorath cameo; Shuma-Gorath is among the beings witnessed by Kubik & Kosmos.
Avengers #29-30 (2000)
Shuma-Gorath behind the scenes; Kulan Gath invokes the power of Shuma-Gorath when battling the Avengers.
4 #26-27 (2006)
Nicholas Scratch initiates a plan to fool the Fantastic Four into helping him allow Shuma-Gorath access to the Earthly plane; with help from the Fantastic Four and Salem's Seven, Doctor Strange banishes Shuma-Gorath once again.
Doctor Voodoo: Avenger of the Supernatural #1 (2009)
Shuma-Gorath cameo; Doctor Voodoo and Doctor Doom pass Shuma-Gorath as they fall through multiple dimensions locked in battle during AVENGER OF THE SUPERNATURAL.
Invaders Now! #1-3 (2010-2011)
Shuma-Gorath operates behind the scenes; one of Arnim Zola's test subject infected with Shuma-Gorath's evil summons the demon, despite interference from the past and present members of the Invaders.
Invaders Now! #4-5 (2011)
Shuma-Gorath breaks into the Earthly plane again, though they're repelled by the Invaders when the origin Vision (Aarkus) stabs them in the eye with the Spear of Destiny.
Journey into Mystery #627 (2011)
Shuma-Gorath is among the demonic entities and Hell-Lords rallying against the power the Serpent during FEAR ITSELF.
Mighty Avengers #2-3 (2013-2014)
Under the control of Ebony Maw, Doctor Strange summons Shuma-Gorath to the Earthly plane; Luke Cage's Avengers work together to blow Shuma-Gorath up from the inside during INFINITY.
I Am Groot #4-5 (2017)
Shuma-Gorath and the Old Ones attempt to access all realities via the planet Terminal; Shuma-Gorath is punched back to their home dimension by Groot.
Doctor Strange #388-389 (2018)
Doctor Strange resurrects the population of Las Vegas from the dead, weakening the walls between realities and allowing Shuma-Gorath and others to break through; Shuma-Gorath and the others are trapped by Mephisto and eventually cast back by Doctor Strange and the Avengers during DAMNATION.
Marvel Action: Chillers #1-3 (2021)
Shuma-Gorath attempts to invade Earth-TRN711 - an Earth similar to Earth-616 - but is repelled by Doctor Strange, Spider-Man and others.
Savage Avengers #10, 12-13 (2020)
Doctor Strange, Conan the Barbarian, Elektra, Wolverine and others oppose Kulan Gath when he initiates a new plan to bring Shuma-Gorath to the Earthly plane.
Savage Avengers #22-23, 27 (2021-2022)
The war against Shuma-Gorath comes to a head when they are destroyed by the 'Savage Avengers', though they are soon resurrected again.
Doctor Strange: A Separate Reality
Doctor Strange Epic Collection vol.3: A Separate RealityMarvel Masterworks: Doctor Strange vol.5
Includes...
Marvel Premiere #3-10, 14
Doctor Strange: Strange Tales
Strange Tales #1-19 (Doctor Strange stories)
Fantastic Four: The Resurrection of Nicholas Scratch
4 #25-30
Invaders Now!
Invaders Now! #1-5
Infinity Companion
Mighty Avengers vol.1: No Single Hero
Both include...
Mighty Avengers #2-3
Mighty Avengers #2-3
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