Ronan the Accuser

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"Ronan (comics)" redirects here. Not to be confused with Ronin (comics).
Ronan the Accuser
Textless cover of Annihilation: Ronan #4 (September 2006).
Art by Gabriele Dell'Otto.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceFantastic Four #65 (August 1967)[1]
Created byStan Lee
Jack Kirby
In-story information
SpeciesKree
Team affiliationsKree Empire
Starforce
United Front
Phalanx
Annihilators
Abilities

Ronan the Accuser is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, he first appeared in Fantastic Four #65 (August 1967). In his comic book appearances, Ronan is depicted as the Supreme Accuser of the Kree Empire, the militaristic government of the alien Kree, and commonly serves as an adversary of superhero teams such as the Fantastic Four, the Avengers, and the Guardians of the Galaxy. Initially portrayed as a supervillain, the character would later be presented as a more noble and honorable figure. Ronan has even been married to the Inhuman Crystal, a princess of the Inhuman Royal Family.

The character has been substantially adapted from the comics in various media incarnations, including animated television series and video games. Lee Pace portrayed Ronan in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Captain Marvel (2019).

Publication history

Ronan was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby. He first appeared in Fantastic Four #65 (August 1967).[2]

The character returned sporadically in Captain Marvel, and played an important role in the Kree-Skrull War storyline in The Avengers #88–97.[3] After appearances in Ms. Marvel #19 and Silver Surfer vol. 3, Ronan returned in the Galactic Storm crossover in 1992.[4]

Ronan subsequently appeared in Fantastic Four vol. 3 #13–14 and Iron Man vol. 3 #14, before having a major role in the Maximum Security crossover in Jan 2001.[5]

During the 2006 Annihilation storyline, Ronan received a four-issue eponymous miniseries written by Simon Furman,[6] and a leading role in Annihilation #1–6. He appeared in the sequels, Annihilation: Conquest #1–6 and Annihilation Conquest: Wraith #1–4 in 2007.[7][8][2]

After being seen during the Secret Invasion: War of Kings one-shot, the character was used in War of Kings #1–6 (2009) and Realm of Kings: Inhumans #1–4. Following appearances in The Thanos Imperative #1–6 (2010), Ronan joined the titular team in Annihilators #1–4 (2011) and Annihilators: Earthfall #1–4 (Sept 2011–Dec 2011).[9]

Ronan is seen killed in Death of the Inhumans #3.[10]

Fictional character biography

Ronan was born on the planet Hala, the capital of the Kree Empire in the Greater Magellanic Cloud. Ronan later joined the Accuser Corps, who are the Kree equivalent of military governors and jurists, and his rise through their ranks was extraordinary; he eventually became the third-most powerful being in the Kree Empire. The Supreme Intelligence ultimately appointed him "Supreme Accuser of the Kree Empire". He is known simply as "Ronan the Accuser".

On his first mission, Ronan is sent to Earth to investigate the destruction of a robotic Kree Sentry at the hands of the Fantastic Four. The team defeats Ronan,[11] which prompts a Kree expedition to spy on and assess Earth.[12] Captain Mar-Vell is a member of the team, and he interacts with Ronan frequently during his mission.[13]

Ronan secretly plans with Zarek to overthrow the Kree leader, the Supreme Intelligence, believing the Empire should not be ruled by a non-humanoid entity. But Ronan is paralyzed by the psionic powers of Rick Jones, and control of the Kree Empire reverts to the Supreme Intelligence.[14]

Ronan is subsequently mentally dominated by the Supreme Intelligence, and battles Mar-Vell on multiple occasions.[15] Ronan later regains his sanity and returns to his former position as Supreme Accuser.[16] During the second Kree-Skrull war, Ronan executes a Skrull duplicate of the Silver Surfer.[17]

During the Kree-Shi'ar War, Ronan joins Starforce.[18]

When Earth becomes a prison planet, Ronan serves as its warden. The Supreme Intelligence then plans to subvert the galactic council and use Ego the Living Planet as a weapon. Although Ronan is able to elevate his power by tapping into Ego's own energy, Mister Fantastic, Iron Man, Giant-Man and Bruce Banner manage to create a machine that transfers Ego's essence into Quasar. The weakened Ronan is defeated and captured by the U.S. Agent.[19]

When Ronan is falsely accused of treason by Tana Nile, he discovers he has been framed by a highly placed member of a Kree house.[20] After defending the Kree Empire against the Annihilation Wave, Ronan clears his name and kills his betrayer, although not before he lobotomizes the Supreme Intelligence. In an act of mercy, Ronan kills the Supreme Intelligence and becomes ruler of the Kree Empire.[21]

During the Phalanx conquest of the Kree, Ronan works with the Super-Skrull and Wraith to free his people.

When the Inhumans seek aid from the Kree against the Skrull's Secret Invasion, Ronan agrees on the condition that the Inhuman princess, Crystal, marries him.[22] On their wedding day, Ronan is severely beaten by the Shi'ar Imperial Guard and hospitalized.[23] He does not fully recover until after the War of Kings is over.[volume & issue needed]

During the war with the cancerverse, Ronan is a member of Nova's main attack force.[24] In an effort to prevent further conflict, Ronan joins the Annihilators,[25] who protect Galador from the Dire Wraiths[26] and oppose the Universal Church of Truth's attempt to revive the Magus.[27]

Ronan is soon separated from his wife under the orders of Black Bolt, as part of a truce made between Black Bolt and the Supreme Intelligence to ensure peace between Inhumans and the Kree Empire. Crystal and Ronan are deeply saddened by this decision, as their arranged marriage had eventually become a stronger relationship.[28]

In the Infinity storyline, Ronan the Accuser and the Supreme Intelligence appeared as members of the Galactic Council.[29] Ronan later fights Thanos' minion Black Dwarf of the Black Order, and kills him.[30]

Ronan the Accuser steals The Black Vortex from the cosmically powered X-Men, and, against the Supreme Intelligence's orders, submits to the Vortex and receives cosmic powers. Mister Knife later steals the Vortex and destroys Hala and the Supreme Intelligence.[31] Ronan and the imperial fleet survive, but the last remaining seed of the Supreme Intelligence was stolen from the Collector by Star-Lord's half-sister Victoria.[32]

Ronan wanders the ruins of Hala alone while remembering the names of the Kree that fell in battle when he came into conflict with Noh-Varr and the Inhumans except for Crystal.[33] Thanks to Crystal's reasoning, Ronan blames himself for disobeying the Supreme Intelligence's orders. After freeing his captive, Ronan witnesses Noh-Varr planting the seed of his reality's Plex Intelligence into the remains of the Supreme Intelligence. Even though Hala has a new leader, Ronan still blames himself for what happened to the planet.[34]

In the pages of "Death of the Inhumans," Karnak confronts the unnamed Kree commander of a Kree contingency that was sent away to explore and chart the outer reaches of the Universe. After generations away they finally returned to Hala, only to find it in ruins. The Kree commander also reveals that they eliminated Ronan, exile those loyal to him and decided use the Inhumans as part of their plans to rebuild Hala and bring a new dawn to the Kree Empire.[35] However, Black Bolt eventually found out that the Kree commander had lied to Karnak about Ronan's fate. The Kree actually captured him and the Kree soldiers loyal to him and made gruesome experiments on them. Now merely a cyborg, Ronan begged Black Bolt to end his misery as he apologized for all the pain he caused to the Inhumans to which he complies by whispering "You are forgiven."[36]

Powers and abilities

As a Kree warrior in peak physical condition, Ronan possesses his species' unique physiology and is thus resistant to poisons, toxins, and diseases. He has superhuman physical attributes which are all further enhanced by his exoskeleton body-armor. Ronan's armor, which contains multiple scanners, can also create fields of invisibility, and his gauntlets can discharge cosmic energy bolts or generate sufficient coldness to place certain lifeforms into a state of suspended animation. In addition, Ronan possesses a brilliant strategic mind; his high intellect allowed him to rise to one of the highest positions in the Kree Empire. He also has extensive knowledge in all matters pertaining to Kree law and is well-versed in the use of his species' highly advanced technology.

Ronan's primary weapon is a warhammer-like Accuser Cosmi-Rod called the "Universal Weapon". At its wielder's will, the device can absorb and fire cosmic energy, manipulate matter, generate force-fields, control gravity, and create "time-motion displacement fields". It also allows for interstellar teleportation, hyperspatial passages and flight. As a highly trained Kree soldier, Ronan is extremely proficient in the use of this weapon in both close- and long-ranged confrontations. Even without his war hammer, Ronan has proven a formidable hand-to-hand combatant.

Other versions

Ultimate Marvel

The Ultimate version of Ronan the Accuser is the son of Thanos, and is a part of his empire. He is ultimately defeated by the Thing.[37]

In the series Hunger, another version of Ronan called Ro-Nan is married to Esa-La and have a son named Dra-ta. He leads an army of Kree warriors in a battle against the Chitauri, when both alien races encounter the entity Gah Lak Tus during battle. Ro-Nan is killed in Hunger #3.[38]

JLA/Avengers

Main article: JLA/Avengers

Ronan appears as part of Krona's army in JLA/Avengers, and is defeated by DC's Captain Marvel.[39]

In other media

Television

Marvel Cinematic Universe

Lee Pace portrays Ronan the Accuser in films set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

  • Ronan first appears in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).[45] This version is an avid and ruthless Kree fanatic whose family was killed in the Kree-Nova War. As such, he refuses to heed his Empire's peace treaty with the Nova Corps of Xandar and embarks on a genocidal campaign against the Xandarians. Ronan agrees to recover an orb for Thanos in exchange for the latter's help in destroying Xandar, only to renege on their deal upon learning that the orb contains the Power Stone, which he can use to annihilate Xandar himself. Ronan decimates the Nova Corps' fleet, but the Guardians of the Galaxy take the Power Stone back and use its energy to destroy him.
  • A young Ronan appears in Captain Marvel (2019).[46] While leading the Kree and working alongside the Starforce in hunting Skrulls across the universe, Starforce commander Yon-Rogg contacts Ronan to eradicate a group of Skrulls who came to Earth, but the latter is forced to retreat after Carol Danvers obliterates his fleet. Before he escapes, an impressed Ronan vows to return for her.
  • An alternate timeline variant of Ronan makes a non-speaking appearance in the What If...? episode "What If... Nebula Joined the Nova Corps?", in which he successfully kills Thanos after obtaining the Power Stone.[47]

Video games

Merchandise

  • Ronan the Accuser received a figure in the Classic Marvel Figurine Collection line.[61]
  • Ronan the Accuser received several figures in the Marvel HeroClix line.[62]
  • The MCU incarnation of Ronan the Accuser received a figure in the Guardians of the Galaxy film tie-in toy line.
  • The MCU incarnation of Ronan the Accuser received a Funko Pop vinyl figure.
  • Two Ronan the Accuser bobble-heads were released as part of Funko's Guardians of the Galaxy Mystery Minis line.
  • Ronan the Accuser, based on the MCU incarnation, received a figure as part of the Disney Infinity 2.0 range of figures.[56]
  • The MCU incarnation of Ronan the Accuser received a GameStop-exclusive figure in Hasbro's Marvel Legends line via the Marvel Studios: The First Ten Years sub-line.

References

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