Black Bolt (Blackagar Boltagon) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #45 (December 1965). Black Bolt is the ruler of Attilan, and a member of the Inhumans, a reclusive race of genetically altered superhumans. Black Bolt's signature power is his voice, as his electron-harnessing ability is linked to the speech center of his brain. Speaking triggers a massive disturbance in the form of a highly destructive shockwave capable of leveling a city. Due to the extreme danger posed by this power, the character has undergone rigorous mental training to prevent himself from uttering a sound, even in his sleep, and he usually remains completely silent and speaks through sign language or via a spokesperson.
Black Bolt has been described as one of Marvel's most notable and powerful male heroes. Since his original introduction in comics, the character has been featured in various other Marvel-licensed products, including video games, animated television series, and merchandise. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, different versions of Black Bolt were portrayed by Anson Mount in the Marvel Television series Inhumans (2017) and the film Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022).
Publication history Black Bolt debuted in Fantastic Four #45 (December 1965), created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. He re-joined the Illuminati as part of the 2012 Marvel NOW! rebranding initiative. He appeared in the 2017 Black Bolt series, his first solo comic book series, by Saladin Ahmed and Christian James Ward. He appeared in the 2021 Darkhold: Black Bolt #1 one-shot.
Fictional character biography 1960s Black Bolt's first appearance established the character as being a member of the Inhuman ruling class.Fantastic Four #45–46 (December 1965 – January 1966) The title Thor featured a back-up feature called "Tales of the Inhumans", which recounts Black Bolt's origin story. The son of King Agon and Queen Rynda, Black Bolt is exposed to the mutagenic Terrigen Mist while still an embryo, and eventually demonstrates the ability to manipulate electrons. To protect the Inhuman community from his devastating voice, Black Bolt is placed inside a sound-proof chamber and is tutored in the use of his powers. Reentering Inhuman society as a young man—having vowed never to speak—Black Bolt is attacked by his younger brother Maximus, who attempts, unsuccessfully, to goad him into speaking.Thor #146 (November 1967); #148–149 (January – February 1968); #152 (May 1968)
Black Bolt proved popular, and decides to leave Attilan to explore the outside world.Fantastic Four #59 (February 1967) Black Bolt reappears in a story focusing on his cousin Medusa,Marvel Super-Heroes #15 (July 1968) drives off the Hulk after he defeats the entire Inhuman Royal Family (Medusa, Gorgon, Karnak, Triton, and Crystal),The Incredible Hulk Annual #1 (October 1968) and with the Fantastic Four, battles his brother Maximus and his own group of rogue Inhumans.Fantastic Four #82–83 (January – February 1969)
1970s After being forced to intercede in the budding romance between his cousin Crystal and the Fantastic Four's Johnny Storm,Fantastic Four #99 (June 1970) Black Bolt and the Inhumans feature in the title Amazing Adventures, and battle villains such as the Mandarin and Magneto.Amazing Adventures #1–10 (August 1970 – January 1972) A story in The Avengers, told in flashback, reveals how Black Bolt came to be ruler of the Inhumans and Maximus was driven mad. Black Bolt discovered his brother had secretly allied himself with the alien Kree—the race whose genetic experiments first created the Inhumans. In trying to stop an escaping Kree vessel, he overextended his sonic powers and caused the vessel to crash. The crash resulted in the deaths of several members of the Council of Genetics, including his parents, and Maximus was driven insane by his proximity to Black Bolt's use of his voice.The Avengers #95 (January 1972) Black Bolt becomes king, but is haunted by the consequences of his actions.
Black Bolt settles a quarrel between Johnny Storm and the mutant Quicksilver for the affections of Crystal, and frees the slave caste of Inhuman society, the Alpha Primitives.Fantastic Four #131–132 (February – March 1973) Black Bolt and the Royal Family aid the hero Spider-Man against the time-traveling villain Kang the Conqueror,Marvel Team-Up #11 (July 1973) and is forced to again battle the Hulk,The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #175 (March 1974) teams with the Fantastic Four and the Avengers against the threat of the robot Ultron,The Avengers #127 (September 1974); Fantastic Four #150 (September 1974) and again allies with the Fantastic Four against the fifth-dimensional villain Xemu.Fantastic Four #159 (June 1975)
Black Bolt and the Inhumans feature in a self-titled bi-monthly seriesInhumans #1–11 (October 1975 – June 1977) battling threats such as the villain Blastaar and the Kree, who regard the Inhumans as abominations. Black Bolt encounters the immortal villain the Sphinx—who has defeated the Fantastic Four and the Royal Family blasting him into deep space,Fantastic Four Annual #12 (January 1977) aids Kree hero Captain Marvel in preventing a war between the Kree and Skrulls on Earth,Captain Marvel #53 (November 1977) joins with Fantastic Four member the Thing to defeat the villain Graviton,Marvel Two-in-One Annual #4 (January 1979) and appears briefly during an announcement that Crystal is pregnant with Quicksilver's child.The Avengers #188 (October 1979)
1980s Black Bolt revisits his origins when he, members of the Royal Family, and Fantastic Four members Mister Fantastic and the Thing battle the villain Maelstrom. Maelstrom is revealed to be the son of a rival of Black Bolt's father, and—after his minions are defeated—attempts to destroy Attilan with a guided missile. Black Bolt, however, manages to defuse the missile and Maelstrom is defeated.Marvel Two-in-One #71–72 (January – February 1981)
Black Bolt's search for a new site for the city of Attilan (eventually the Himalayas) is detailed in a back-up feature of the alternate universe title What If?.What If? #29 (October 1981) Another back-up feature in What If? details how Black Bolt worked with the Eternals to move the city of Attilan to the Himalayas.What If? #30 (December 1981) Black Bolt also directed the eventual move of Attilan to the Moon when the pollution on Earth became too much for the Inhumans.Fantastic Four #240 (March 1982)
He is rated with other powerful Marvel characters by Spider-Man in an "out of universe" conversation with the reader.The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #15 (December 1981) He appears in a graphic novel detailing the eventual death of former ally Mar-Vell due to cancer.The Death of Captain Marvel (April 1982) He also appears in a one-shot publication featuring humorous parodies of the Marvel Universe - Fantastic Four Roast,Fantastic Four Roast (May 1982) and aids superheroine Dazzler against the villain Absorbing Man.Dazzler #19 (September 1982)
An alien device abandoned on the moon causes Black Bolt, the Royal Family, and the Fantastic Four to experience nightmares until destroyed by Triton.Fantastic Four #248 (November 1982) Black Bolt is imprisoned by Maximus (who has also swapped their bodies), but he is freed by the Royal Family and the Avengers.The Avengers Annual #12 (January 1983) He appears in a one-shot title detailing several of Marvel's continuity mistakes.Marvel No-Prize Book #1 (January 1983) He marries his cousin Medusa after an interrupting battle between a Kree and Skrull soldier.Fantastic Four Annual #18 (January 1984) He appears in another What If? issueWhat If? #34 (August 1982) and a back-up tale in Marvel Fanfare.Marvel Fanfare #14 (May 1984)
With the Royal Family, Black Bolt encounters Dazzler once again,Dazzler #32 (June 1984) appears in flashbacks in two issues of The Avengers,The Avengers #248 (October 1984); #262 (December 1985) attempts to subdue an erratic Quicksilver (distraught over his wife's affair),The Vision and the Scarlet Witch vol. 2 #10 (July 1986) and aids the mutant team X-Factor in defeating Maximus.X-Factor Annual #2 (January 1987) The Inhumans then assist the Fantastic Four against the villain Diablo,Fantastic Four #306 (September 1987) skirmish with a later version of the team during The Evolutionary War.Fantastic Four Annual #21 (January 1988) They also appear in the first issue of What If?s second volume.What If? vol. 2 #1 (July 1989)
Black Bolt clashes with Attilan's Genetic Council when they forbid the birth of the child he conceived with Medusa. She ends up fleeing to Earth to bear her son (Ahura).Marvel Graphic Novel: The Inhumans (1988) Black Bolt destroys the alien symbiote that Spider-Man bonds with in another issue of What If?,What If? vol. 2 #4 (October 1989) and with the Royal Family encounters the hero Daredevil.Daredevil #272–273 (November – December 1989)
1990s After another appearance in a back-up feature in the title What If?What If? vol. 2 #9 (January 1990) a story told in flashback reveals how Maximus, using a creation called the Trikon, forced Black Bolt from Attilan. Black Bolt, however, eventually defeats the Trikon and regains the throne.Inhumans Special #1 (April 1990) After aiding the teen super group the New Warriors,New Warriors #6 (December 1990) the Royal Family joins forces with X-Factor to stop master villain Apocalypse.X-Factor #65–68 (April – July 1991)
Black Bolt makes a series of brief guest appearances in several titlesThe Avengers #334 (July 1991); Silver Surfer #60 (December 1991); Guardians of the Galaxy #27 (August 1992); Fantastic Four #374–375 (March – April 1993) and his child is threatened by rogue Inhumans. He and the Royal family break away from Attilan after rescuing his son from the corrupted Genetics Council.Fantastic Four Unlimited #2 (June 1993) After two more appearances in back-up features in the titles X-FactorX-Factor Annual #8 (December 1993) and Starblast,Starblast #1 (January 1994) Black Bolt appears in several panels in two titlesFantastic Four #391 (August 1994); The Spectacular Spider-Man Super Special #1 (January 1995) before starring in the one-shot publication Inhumans: The Great Refuge (May 1995), which details the Inhumans' ongoing battle with the Kree.
With the Royal Family, the Fantastic Four, and Doom's heir Kristoff Vernard, Black Bolt thwarts Morgan le Fay and Maximus again, battling Thor and Sub-Mariner in the process.Fantastic Four #401–402 (June – July 1995)Fantastic Four: Atlantis Rising #1-2 He appears with the Fantastic Four during the Onslaught crisis.Fantastic Four #411–413 (April – June 1996); #416 (September 1996) After appearing in the one-shot title Bug,Bug #1 (March 1997) Black Bolt and the Inhumans feature in the Heroes Reborn universe, where they worship the entity Galactus and his Heralds, as gods.Fantastic Four vol. 2 #9–10 (July – August 1997); Iron Man vol. 2 #12 (October 1997)
Black Bolt encounters the noble savage Ka-ZarKa-Zar vol. 3 #10 (February 1998) and witnesses Quicksilver reunite with CrystalQuicksilver #4 (February 1998) before he and the Royal Family appear in a back-up feature in the Fantastic Four title.Fantastic Four vol. 3 #8 (August 1998) Black Bolt and the Inhumans then feature in a self-titled limited series which deals with the "coming of age" of a new group of Inhumans and stopping Maximus, who with both human and Inhuman allies attempts to subvert his brother's rule.The Inhumans vol. 2 #1–12 (November 1998 – October 1999) After an appearance in the final issue of a Quicksilver limited seriesQuicksilver #13 (November 1998) Black Bolt and the Inhumans team with Canadian superteam Alpha Flight.Alpha Flight/Inhumans Annual 1998
2000s