| |
Gnarrk |
|
| Alias: Gnarrk, John Gnarrk |
Titans Member [Pre-Crisis]
Joined: Teen Titans [first series] #33 |
|
Gnarrk Quick Bio: A gentle Caveman out of his own time, Gnarrk bonded with Lilith
Clay before his tragic death. |
|
In both Pre- and Post-Crisis continuity, Gnarrk shared a special bond with Lilith - as seen in TEEN TITANS #33 [1971]. |
 |
|
|
Lilith bonds with Gnarrk in
NEW TITANS #56 [1989]. |
|
Gnarrk's story began thousands of years ago. Gnarrk was a 19 year old Cro-Magnon who was fascinated by the lights in the skies. One night, a comet crashed before him, imbedding a chunk of crystal into his chest. Somehow, this caused a transformation in him - it expanded his mind, and his understanding. Soon, a volcanic disturbance threatened Gnarrk. The jewel in his chest protected him, though, encasing him in ice. Centuries passed, and Gnarrk remained in his ice tomb.
During that time, his mind still worked, and Gnarrk dreamed of a better world. He had the ability to cure disease and control the forces of nature to benefit mankind.
Based on psychic flashes from Lilith, the Teen Titans traveled to Southeast Asia, where they eventually found Gnarrk, still encased in ice. He was psychically calling out to Lilith - who responded. He told her his name: Gnarrk. Although Lilith was dating Don Hall (Dove) at the time, she nonetheless found herself attracted to the gentle soul. The Titans brought Gnarrk back to S.T.A.R. Labs. It was established that he was dying; the S.T.A.R. scientists wanted to dissect him, but the Titans prevented them from doing so.
Lilith used her powers to establish a mental rapport with Gnarrk. During that time, she found out his true origins and his noble intentions. Gnarrk sensed Lilith's presence and called out to her while he was still encased in ice. During the rapport, Lilith and Gnarrk fell in love. Although their psychic romance only lasted a short time, the two forged an unspeakable bond.
Gnarrk remained on life support for almost a year, with Lilith by his side. Gnarrk's light in his chest eventually faded, and he died. When S.T.A.R. scientists performed an autopsy, they found the stone no longer had any special abilities. Whatever abilities the stone possessed vanished upon Gnarrk's death.
supplemented by titanstower.com
Being a Cro-Magnon, Gnarrk possesses greater strength, dexterity and endurance. When a comet imbedded a chunk of crystal into his chest, it caused a transformation in Gnarrk - it expanded his mind, and his understanding. The full range of his expanded mental abilities were uncatalogued.
top of page
[Pre-Crisis]
Teen Titans #32 [1971]: . An experiment of Mr. Jupiter's in time travel explodes, hurling Mal into prehistoric times, and Kid Flash travels into the past to save him. Gnarrk's first appearance; named in issue #33.
Teen Titans #33 [1971]: Mr. Jupiter gives the Titans the task of training Gnarrk, as the Cro-Magnon is christened, to become a civilized present-day man. Gnarrk becomes a part-time member of the Teen Titans, learns the Teen Titans' secret identities, and begins a romance with Lilith in this story.
Teen Titans #39 [1971]: Gnarrk runs wild, smashing an Aztec Indian tribe, and finally menacing even Lilith, until the sound of her voice brings him back to his senses.
Teen Titans #50-52 [1976]: Lilith and Gnarrk revealed to be engaged after having moved to California. Titans West, comprised of Golden Eagle, Flamebird, Hawk, Dove and Beast Boy, is formed by Lilith; Captain Calamity/Mr. Esper battles the two Titan groups. First appearance of Titans West in issue #50. Last appearance of Gnarrk; revealed as having died at the time of Donna Troy's Wedding in Tales of the Teen Titans #50 [1984].
[Post-Crisis]
New Titans #56 [1989]: Mal Duncan and Karen Beecher recall an old Titans case from the past. Based on psychic flashes from Lilith, the Teen Titans travel to Southeast Asia, where they eventually find Gnarrk, still encased in ice. First appearance and origin of Gnarrk post-Crisis.
top of page
Gnarrk Pre-Crisis History
Crisis Ripples in the Titansverse
|
| THE TEEN TITANS: PRE-CRISIS |
|
|
| Gnarrk is domesticated by the Titans - and Lilith - in TEEN TITANS #33 [1971]. |
|
| Gnarrk and Lilith bond in TEEN TITANS #33 [1971]. |
|
|
The Crisis on Infinite Earths: It was the end of everything! Countless universes were erased from existence in a spreading tide of antimatter unleashed by the Anti-Monitor, a being of undiluted hate birthed at the moment of creation. Watching helpless as the otherworldly Spectre grappled with the Anti-Monitor, those heroes witnessed the rebirth of a single universe, with one Earth and one unified reality. In the final conflict, the Anti-Monitor sent this reborn Earth to the antimatter universe, where the greatest assemblage of super-humans ever known ended his threat for all time - though continuity in the DC Universe was forever altered in his wake.
Many TITANS characters' histories were altered by continuity-changing CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS. Most notably, Donna Troy. Also affected were Dick Grayson, Lilith, Mal Duncan, Harlequin, Gnarrk, Bat-Girl/Flamebird, Golden Eagle, and Kole. Other characters have had elements of their back stories refined, but nothing has been severely altered or negated [such as additions like the Flash Year One arc or speed force revelations].
See Secret Origins Annual #3 [the post-Crisis origin of the team], New Titans #50-55 [Who Is Wonder Girl?] and New Titans #56 [a Titans flashback with Gnarrk] for the major post-Crisis revisions that effect the Titans-verse.
Gnarrk: Gnarrk was originally a time-displaced cro-magnon that fell in love with Lilith; He appeared in the Teen Titans (first series) #32-33, 39 and 50-53. His origin and back story is completely revised in New Titans #56.
Gnarrk Pre-Crisis History
Essential Reading: Teen Titans (first series) #32-33, 39, 50-52
Accidentally transported back to prehistoric times by an invention of Mr. Jupiter's, Kid Flash and Mal unintentionally caused Gnarrk, a young cave-dweller, to be returned to the present with them.
Mr. Jupiter gave the Titans the task of training Gnarrk, as the Cro-Magnon is christened, to become a civilized present-day man. Robin returned to the ranks to help out, only to find that Gnarrk's education had taken on an added importance: the caveman has witnessed a payoff between underworld figures and a respected city councilman, and must be trained quickly to become a believable witness in court. When gangsters attempted to assassinate Gnarrk, Lilith, with whom he is slowly falling in love, took him to a supposed place of safety, but the hoods found them and attacked. Lilith was wounded, and Gnarrk went berserk, easily overcoming the hired killers. Robin and the Titans intervened in time to stop him from committing murder, and Gnarrk agreed to abide by present-day law and refrained from killing in revenge. Lilith recovered, and Gnarrk's testimony resulted in the conviction of the crooked councilman.
Gnarrk fell in love with Lilith, and after Mr. Jupiter's training program was disbanded, they became engaged and moved to California, where they would become involved with the Titans again briefly two years later as members of "Titans West." The only former Teen Titan who did not attend the wedding of Donna Troy and Terry Long, Gnarrk apparently died under unrevealed circumstances sometime after his last appearance.
|
Gnarrk's death is revealed in
TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS #50 [1984]. |
top of page
Lilith and Gnarrk, Round One
|
Lilith dotes over Gnarrk in
TEEN TITANS #39 [1971]. |
|
Gnarrk first met the Titans in Teen Titans #33 [1971], where he found himself a teenage caveman lost in time.
Accidentally transported back to prehistoric times by an invention of Mr. Jupiter's, Kid Flash and Mal unintentionally caused Gnarrk, a young cave-dweller, to be returned to the present with them. The Teen Titans then undertook the task of training Gnarrk to act as a modern-day man, which they accomplished.
Lilith bonded with the primitive teen, sensing an innate gentleness within him. After repeating the phrase "Gnarrk!", the Titans decided that was his name. Once becoming civilized, he adopted the full name, John Gnarrk. While becoming domesticated, Gnarrk and Lilith seemed to develop romantic feelings for one another. Lilith was able to reach Gnarrk telepathically, and she sensed a warmth and kindness in Gnarrk despite his gruff exterior. Gnarrk reappeared in Teen Titans #39, where Lilith's soothing influence cooled Gnarrk's cro-magnon rage. By that time, it seemed Lilith and Gnarrk were a solid couple, as Lilith cooed, "He's a real cool civilized cat, my Gnarrk is."
Gnarrk did not reappear until years later, when the Teen Titans encountered the new Titans West group in Teen Titans #50-52 [1977]. In that tale, it was revealed that Lilith and Gnarrk were engaged to be married. Although Lilith was a member, Gnarrk was not considered a part of the West Coast based team. He actually objected to Lilith's involvement in the team altogether. "You coulda gone to the cops instead of hooking up with this bunch, " Gnarrk snarled. "How many times I gotta tell ya I don't want my fiancee playin' like she's Wonder Woman? You coulda been hurt bad!" Lilith countered, "But I wasn't -- and I helped save a lot of people. Stop being so overprotective!"
The only former Teen Titan who did not attend the wedding of Donna Troy and Terry Long [Tales of the Teen Titans #50 in 1984], Gnarrk apparently died under unrevealed circumstances sometime after his last appearance.
Lilith and Gnarrk, Round Two
When the Titans past was altered by the history-shattering Crisis on Infinite Earths, Lilith and Gnarrk's story was altered as well. Gnarrk's revised origin was told in New Titans #56 [1989]. George Pérez, who plotted that issue, remembered how the story was developed: "I remember how that came to be. I was asked to do a story with the characters, and decided to use the Gnarrk storyline since he was a character who was a leftover from the original Titans who had not been addressed in post-Crisis continuity."
Based on psychic flashes from Lilith, the Teen Titans traveled to Southeast Asia, where they eventually found Gnarrk, still encased in ice. He was psychically calling out to Lilith - who responded. He told her his name - Gnarrk. Although Lilith was dating Don Hall (Dove) at the time, she nonetheless found herself attracted to the gentle soul. The Titans brought Gnarrk back to S.T.A.R. Labs. It was established that Gnarrk was dying; the S.T.A.R. scientists wanted to dissect him, but the Titans prevented them from doing so until he died.
Lilith used her powers to establish a mental rapport with Gnarrk. During that time, she found out his true origins and his noble intentions. Gnarrk sensed Lilith's presence and called out to her while he was still encased in ice. During the rapport, Lilith and Gnarrk fell in love. Although the rapport only lasted a short time, the two forged an unspeakable bond. Gnarrk remained on life support for almost a year, with Lilith by his side. Gnarrk's light in his chest eventually faded, and he died. When S.T.A.R. scientists performed an autopsy, they found the stone no longer had any special abilities. Whatever abilities the stone possessed vanished upon Gnarrk's death.
top of page
|
