CÚCHULAIN THE IRISH WOLFHOUND

 

CÚCHULAIN THE IRISH WOLFHOUND

Real Name: Cúchulain

First Appearance: Guardians of the Galaxy Annual (Vol. 1) #3, August 1993

Powers: Cúchulain the Irish Wolfhound is a Celtic warrior from ages past, summoned by Doctor Druid in the alternate future of Earth-691 to serve as protector of the Book of Kells. A demigod born of the Celtic god Lugh and a mortal woman, Cúchulain possesses all of the conventional attributes of the Tuatha de Danaan (Celtic Gods).

He is a true immortal who ceased to age upon reaching adulthood, and they cannot die by conventional means. He is immune to all terrestrial diseases and is resistant to conventional injury. If wounded, his godly life force will enable him to recover at a superhuman rate. It would take an injury of such magnitude that it incinerates him or disperses a major portion of his bodily molecules to cause him to die. Even then, it may be possible for a god of greater or equal power, or several gods acting together, to revive him before Cúchulain's life essence is beyond resurrection. Tuatha flesh and bone are made of carbon matter about three times denser than similar human tissue, contributing to the gods' superhuman strength and weight. An average male god can lift about 35 tons; an average goddess can lift about 25 tons. Cúchulain himself is an exception and possesses Class 100 strength. Additionally, his main weapon is the spear of Gae-Bolg.

Though generally larger than Asgardian and Olympian deities, the Celtic gods have slightly slower reflexes (with notable exceptions, such as Leir, Caber, and Cúchulain). The gods' metabolism gives them superhuman endurance in all physical activities. Many Tuatha also possess additional superhuman powers and are highly skilled in magic. For instance, the animal god Cernnunos possesses the ability to shape-shift into various animal forms and communicate with all animal species, both wild and domesticated.

The Celtic gods become weak after prolonged stays in the Earth realm, and are only able to manifest via a mortal host with whom the god forms a symbiotic partnership. A mystic tattoo serves as the symbol of this link, and although the god can exist separately from his or her host for a time, he or she must inevitably return to the host body to regain strength. The link places a great stress on the mortal host, who usually dies a premature death; however, if the mortal host dies a violent death while still connected to the Tuatha, the god will be consigned to Oblivion.