Inhumans Profile: King Blackagar “Black Bolt” Boltagon
Marvel’s Inhumans was originally slated to be a movie with a release date of November 2, 2018, but with the Inhumans presence on the small screen via Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Marvel decided to cut it from their slate of movies and instead create a TV series around the Royal Family on ABC. To help prepare you for this event we have been running down the principle cast and allowing you get to know them from comics to TV. Today I am doing an Inhumans Profile the Inhumans King Blackagar “Black Bolt” Boltagon.
Blackagar “Black Bolt” Boltagon was created by Stan “The Man” Lee and Jack “The King” Kirby in December 1965 within the pages of Fantastic Four #45. Although Black Bolt debuted in Fantastic Four #45 it was in a back up series in The Mighty Thor #148 January 1968 titled “And Finally…Black Bolt!” where we learn his origin. Black Bolt entered Terrigenesis while in the womb and when he was born he was shown to possess powers over electrons, levitate objects and himself, produce a project shield, and a force blast. After growing tired of the test, the infant let out a cry that destroyed the lab and a good amount of the city.
Due to the destructive nature of his powers Black Bolt was sealed in a soundproof chamber where he was taught to use his abilities, and the discipline to remain quiet even while sleeping. During this time his distant cousin Medusa (yes the inhumans like many royal bloodlines have been known to have inbreeding) would often visit him, the two had fallen in love and become engaged. She also learned to communicate with him through body language. Upon his release his brother Maximus tries to goad him into using his devastating voice, but he shows tremendous self control and doesn’t speak.
Black Bolt discovers that his brother Maximus is secretly allied with the Kree, the race whose genetic experiments created the Inhumans. Maximus tried to help a Kree ship escape, but Black Bolt overextends his sonic powers causes the ship to crash killing several members of the Council of Genetics, and the brothers’ parents. Due to the proximity to Black Bolt’s use of his voice, Maximus is driven insane. Black Bolt assumes the throne haunted by the consequences of his actions.
Soon after ascending the throne, Black Bolt and Medusa were married, and conceived a child. It was decided by the Attilan Genetics Council that the pregnancy was to be aborted for fear that the unborn child could inherit Maximus’ insanity along with Black Bolt’s immense and destructive power. Medusa fled Attilan to Earth where she gave birth to her son she named Ahura. Soon after Black Bolt, his wife and their son were reunited. Ahura was turned over to the Attilan Genetics Council, where he was held in isolation due to him being mentally unstable and neither were seen again for several years when Ahura was released.
We find out that during the Kree-Skrull war Black Bolt joins the superhero council called the Illuminati. As a member of the Illuminati sent the Hulk away into space and upon his return he is severely beaten. The illuminati also divide among themselves the Infinity Gems, with Black Bolt possessing the Reality Gem, vowing to never unite them again. During the Infinity event where Black Bolt released a Terrigen Bomb he goes missing and is presumed dead. Having survived the blast Black Bolt along with the rest of the Illuminati use the combine Infinity Gems to prevent the destruction of the Earth during the incursions destroying them.
After Secret Wars Black Bolt is banished from New Attilan by his wife, who has assumed the throne as its sole rule and queen. It is also revealed that just before Secret Wars he made a deal with Kang the Conqueror to protect hide his son and protect him from the incursions. Black Bolt and Medusa reunite to save their son and bring him home. The reunion doesn’t extend past that as Black Bolt is still unwelcomed in New Attilan so he opens up the Quiet Room, a bar that serves as a neutral zone for Metahumans.
After the Civil War II Medusa begins dating her sister’s ex, Johnny Storm, who moves into New Attilan. Cyclops and his team of X-Men are called to Muir Island where they discover Jamie Madrox, Multiple Man was dead. Madrox lets them know that the Terrigen Mists while giving birth to NuHumans around the world is also sterilize and killing off the Mutant race. Cyclops immediately succumbs to the deadly M-Pox, but Emma Frost crushed with grief projects into everyone’s mind that Cyclops is still alive. Emma uses the illusion of Cyclops to attack the Inhumans leading to Medusa giving Black Bolt the order to kill him. Emma uses this moment to fuel a war between the Mutants and the Inhumans. The mutants unite to take out the Inhumans and the last Terrigen Cloud. During the war the Mutants learn of Emma’s manipulations and Medusa learns of the gravity of the Terrigen Mist on the Mutant population. Medusa make the decision to destroy to Terrigen Cloud dooming her race to no longer being able to undergo Terrigenesis and the Mutant race to live. After making this decision Medusa abdicates her throne, dumps Johnny Storm, reunites with Black Bolt and heads off into space on a mission to save her race.
Anson Mount was cast as Black Bolt king of the Inhumans. Black Bolt is described as the enigmatic and commanding king of the Inhumans, who has a voice so powerful that the slightest whisper can destroy a city. Mount has the look and regal presence I want the silent king to possess. Black Bolt presents a unique challenge for the actor as he must convey all of his scenes through his facial expressions and body language. Mount more than any other cast member must be able to truly emote and at the same time seem very reserved and in complete control. I would expect them to also take the special effects up a notch, they can’t just reuse the Quake vibrations when Black Bolt does eventual speak, it has to be far more devastating.
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