View source for Ch'od

{{Short description|Marvel comics character}}
{{Infobox comics character<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics-->
|real_name=Ch'od
|image=Ch'od (Marvel character).jpg
|caption=Ch'od.<br>Art by [[Billy Tan]].
|species=[[List of Marvel Comics alien races#Saurids|Saurid]]
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|debut=''[[Uncanny X-Men|X-Men]]'' #104 (Apr. 1977)
|creators=[[Dave Cockrum]]<ref name="Wizard_Aug93"/>
|alliances=[[Starjammers]]
|aliases=
|powers=*Superhuman physical abilities
*Expert marksman, swordsman, and hand-to-hand combatant
}}
'''Ch'od''' is a fictional character appearing in [[American comic book]]s published by [[Marvel Comics]]. The character is usually seen in the [[X-Men]] series and various spin-offs.

==Publication history==
[[Dave Cockrum]] created the Starjammers with the intent of having them star in their own series. However, when he submitted the concept for Marvel's two try-out series, ''[[Marvel Spotlight]]'' and ''[[Marvel Premiere]]'', he was repeatedly informed that these series were booked for two years solid. Cockrum showed the Starjammers to ''[[X-Men]]'' writer [[Chris Claremont]] and convinced him to use the characters for this series.<ref name="Wizard_Aug93">{{cite news | last = Meth | first= Clifford | date = August 1993 | title = How a Typhoon Blew in Success | work = [[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]]: X-Men Turn Thirty | pages = 50–52}}</ref> He first appeared in ''X-Men'' #104 (April 1977).

==Fictional character biography==
Ch'od is a Saurid, a lizard-like alien from the planet Timor (Varanus IV) in the [[Shi'ar]] Empire and a founding member of the [[Starjammers]]. He is often accompanied by Cr'reee, a small furry alien from the planet Lupus.<ref>''Classic X-Men'' #15</ref>

Ch'od first met the [[X-Men]] when the Starjammers came to aid them against [[D'Ken]]'s [[Imperial Guard (Marvel Comics)|Imperial Guard]].<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #107</ref> He helped save [[Colossus (character)|Colossus]]'s life in outer space, and engaged in mock combat with [[Ms. Marvel|Carol Danvers]].<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #157–158</ref> With the Starjammers, he aided the [[New Mutants]] against the [[Magus (Technarchy)|Magus]].<ref>''The New Mutants'' #50</ref>

Ch'od and [[Hepzibah (comics)|Hepzibah]] sought the "map-rod" holding information on the location of the "Phalkon" power source, which was actually the [[Jean Grey|Phoenix]]. [[Deathbird]]'s Shi'ar starships attacked the Starhammers. The Starjammers went to Earth and met [[Excalibur (comics)|Excalibur]], and aided a rebellion against Deathbird on a Shi'ar border world.<ref>''X-Men Spotlight on: Starjammers'' #1–2</ref>

For a time he and his fellow Starjammers were imprisoned and replaced by the [[Skrull|Warskrulls]], who were attempting to conquer the Shi'ar Empire. The Warskrulls impersonated the Starjammers and key members of the Imperial Guard, until the [[X-Men]] helped rescue them.<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #275–277</ref>

Ch'od battled [[Wonder Man]] and the [[Vision (Marvel Comics)|Vision]] while escorting the Shi'ar nega-bomb.<ref>''Wonder Man'' #8</ref>

Ch'od has suffered the death of his loyal friend Corsair.<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #486 (July 2007)</ref> He also endured Hepzibah's stranding on Earth, although several X-Men have remained with the Starjammers.<ref>''The Uncanny X-Men'' #487 (July 2007)</ref>

While trying to rescue [[Lilandra Neramani]] from the Imperial Guard, Ch'od loses his right hand and blames himself for failing to save her.<ref>''War of Kings'' #1</ref> During the mission to rescue their empress, Ch'od and the Starjammers end up rescuing a team from the [[Guardians of the Galaxy (2008 team)|Guardians of the Galaxy]] led by [[Rocket Raccoon]], who is an old friend of Ch'od and Corsair. This act however leads to their cover being blown forcing the Starjammers to flee.<ref>''Guardians of the Galaxy'' vol. 2 #13</ref><ref name="Pawns">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=20802 ALL THE KINGS' MEN: White Pawns by Dave Richards, Staff Writer. Comic Book Resources.com]</ref>

==Powers and abilities==
As a member of the Saurid race, Ch'od possesses superhuman strength, durability, and endurance, and is amphibious.

He is also an expert marksman (with various forms of Shi'ar weaponry), swordsman, and hand-to-hand combatant, having been trained in various forms of combat known in the Shi'ar Galaxy. He is a highly skilled starship pilot. He has carried Shi'ar-manufactured swords, battleaxes, and energy guns as weapons.

==Reception==
* In 2018, [[Comic Book Resources]] ranked Ch'od 15th in their "Age Of Apocalypse: The 30 Strongest Characters In Marvel's Coolest Alternate World" list.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lealos |first=Shawn S. |date=September 16, 2018 |title=Age Of Apocalypse: The 30 Strongest Characters In Marvel's Coolest Alternate World |url=https://www.cbr.com/age-of-apocalypse-characters-ranked/ |access-date=October 11, 2022 |website=CBR |language=en-US}}</ref>

==In other media==
Ch'od makes non-speaking appearances in ''[[X-Men: The Animated Series]]'' as a member of the Starjammers.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://marvel.fandom.com/wiki/Ch%27od_%28Earth-616%29 Ch'od] at Marvel Wiki

{{X-Men characters}}
{{Marvel Cosmic}}

[[Category:Characters created by Dave Cockrum]]
[[Category:Comics characters introduced in 1977]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics aliens]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics extraterrestrial superheroes]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics martial artists]]
[[Category:Marvel Comics superheroes]]
[[Category:Space pirates]]