Marvel Team-Up (vol. 3) #12
The Titannus War Part Two
In the ruins of Tokyo, Spider-Man , Doctor Strange, Wolverine, Ms. Marvel. She-Hulk, Nova, and Bruce Banner have come to battle Titannus, a powerful Skrull. However, Titannus explains that he needs their help and begins telling his story….
Titannus is a member of the Skrull race and was deemed inferior by his people due to the fact that he was incapable of shape-shifting, a natural skill among the Skrulls. He was then sent to be a test subject as part of the Super-Skrull program. Although they were eventually able to give him great power, the Skrull scientists continued their torturious experiments. Eventually, Titannus grew tired of this and escaped the Skrull empire. Although he tells the heroes that he hunted an attempted to evade his people, the reality is that Titannus murdered many Skrulls and laid waste to his homeworld. He tells them that he was ultimately exiled by his people, but the truth is that Titannus slaughtered his way to a starport and stole a ship to leave the Skrull homeworld to find new places to conquer, cannibalizing the crew in order to survive.
He eventually landed on an alien world. He tells Spider-Man and the others that it was a peaceful world, but in actuality he was attacked upon his arrival. Killing some of the King was so impressed he made Titannus one of his gladiators. He claims that the king considered him a son and when he died of old age, Titannus was made king in his place. The reality is, Titannus actually slew the king and then crushed all opposition. Claiming that he then travelled the universe to spread peace, the reality is that Titannus was a ruthless warlord. Eventually he faced an army that was more powerful and their ruler, the Trellian King — impressed with Titannus — offered him a place by his side. Titannus lies about this as well, telling the gathered heroes that he was actually spared in order to become a prisoner and a slave for the second time in his life.
Although claiming to be a slave, Titannus actually lived a life of oppulence as King Trillian’s right hand man. Titannus eventually fell in love with his daughter, Amissa. However, when Trillian refused to allow them to be together, Titannus overthrew Trillian and forced Amissa to be his lover. He lies about this also, telling those he wishes to recruit that he and Amissa went into exile together and formed an army to overthrow her father. In reality, Amissa eventually betrayed Titannus by freeing Trillian who was forced to flee the planet, but not without taking Amissa with him as well. He claims that she fell ill and had to put her in stasis until he can overthrow her father and find a cure. The truth of the matter is that Amissa continued to refuse his advances and he put her in cryogenic suspension to stop her from resisting him. His ship damaged during his escape, Titannus crash landed in the mountains of Japan where he learned about the heroes of this world and began preparing a plan to recruit them…..
…. When Titannus finishes his tale, Wolverine’s enhanced senses allow him to determine that Titannus has been lying to them this whole time and warns his allies. When Doctor Strange asks Titannus to provide evidence that prooves the validity of his story, Titannus becomes enraged and decides that he will enslave these heroes if they refuse to willingly join him. This convinces Spider-Man that Titannus is full of shit, since destroying a city and then making threats is not how one asks for help.[1] Titannus is willing to fight if they refuse to aid him, saying that he can find other heroes to fight on his behest. With that, Spider-Man and the others launch their attack.
Recurring Characters
Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Wolverine, Ms. Marvel, She-Hulk, Nova, Bruce Banner, Titannus, (in flashback) Amissa
Continuity Notes
The heroes make a bunch of quips about how calling themselves is the Champions is a bad idea. The Champions were a group of heroes formed by and funded by the Angel. The team lasted from Champions #1-14. The group disbanded due to infighting, a poorly built headquarters and equipment as well as financial issues.
