The Gorgon (Tomi Shishido) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

The Gorgon first appeared in Wolverine vol. 3 #20 (December 2004), and was created by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. The character was killed in Wolverine vol. 3 #31, only to be resurrected later in Secret Warriors #2.

Fictional character biography

Tomi Shishido is a member of the Hand and Hydra and a powerful mutant, leading the extremist mutant society Dawn of the White Light. As a child, he possessed near superhuman levels of intelligence, being able to speak, walk, read, and write by the age of one. At age 13, Shishido formulates a mathematical formula that proves the existence of One-Above-All and manifests the mutant ability to petrify others by sight. The media dubs him "The Gorgon", after the Gorgon of Greek mythology. Shortly after, he becomes the leader of the Dawn of the White Light, a terrorist cult. At age 18, he kills his family and joins the Hand. Later, Gorgon becomes connected to Hydra and enters a relationship with Elsbeth Von Strucker, Baron Strucker's wife. He attempts to assassinate Nick Fury before being petrified and shattered after Wolverine reflects his powers on him. During the "Dark Reign" storyline, Hydra forces the Hand to resurrect Gorgon using the rock fragments of his body. He is also given the Godkiller sword, which is destroyed in a battle with Phobos. Following the Fear Itself storyline, Gorgon joins H.A.M.M.E.R. and Norman Osborn's incarnation of the Dark Avengers. He poses as Wolverine and plans to kill Osborn if he proves to be too dangerous. Gorgon and the Dark Avengers are defeated when Skaar infiltrates the group and summons the Avengers. In Avengers World, Gorgon and the Hand perform a ritual on Madripoor to awaken the dragon that it is located on. As payback for his earlier defeat and the destruction caused by the Gorgon, Shang-Chi tears the Hand's temple from the dragon's head with Gorgon inside and throws it several miles away. Gorgon later joins the Hydra council to assist Steve Rogers after the Red Skull alters history to make him a Hydra sleeper agent. During the Secret Empire storyline, Gorgon and Hive are in Madripoor when the Underground resistance group arrives looking for cube fragments. He is knocked out by Hercules, but briefly turns him to stone. Shishido later works with Mariko Yashida to attack Old Man Logan, who is investigating the Hand's operations. After Gorgon escapes, Silver Samurai uses nanites to break the Hand's control on Mariko. During the Spider-Geddon storyline, Arnim Zola creates a clone of Gorgon who accompanies Hydra to Los Angeles to repossess Superior Octopus' services. He petrifies Octopus, who recovers and kills him. Gorgon later becomes a citizen of Krakoa and largely reforms. He became part of Krakoa's security force, the Great Captains, and serves as a bodyguard for Xavier, Magneto and Apocalypse at political events. During the X of Swords event, Gorgon battles White Sword's champions in Otherworld before being killed by White Sword himself. White Sword offers to resurrect him as a reward for his bravery, but he declines. Gorgon is later resurrected by the Five, but his mind is damaged because he died in Otherworld. Later, he unsuccessfully applies to join the X-Men and Krakoa's Quiet Council, and competes to become Apocalypse's heir.

Powers and abilities

The Gorgon possesses a variety of superhuman abilities as a result of genetic mutation and mystical enhancement from the Hand. He has superhuman physical abilities as well as the ability to petrify others via eye contact, a healing factor, telepathy, and skill in multiple martial arts.

In other media