Paibok

Superherobox


caption =
character_name = Power-Skrull
publisher = Marvel Comics
debut = "Fantastic Four" Vol. 1, #358 (November, 1991)
creators = Tom DeFalco
Paul Ryan
Danny Bulanadi
alter_ego = Paibok
full_name =
species = Skrull
homeworld =
alliances = Annihilation Wave
Fearsome Foursome
Skrull Empire
aliases = Paul Balk
supports=
powers = Superhuman strength, speed, endurance, and durability
Flight
Shape-shifting
Hypnosis
Ability to project electrical energy and ice blasts.

Paibok the Power Skrull is a fictional alien, a comic book supervillain appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. He is a foe of the Fantastic Four. His first appearance was in "Fantastic Four" Vol. 1, #358 (November, 1991); he was created by Tom DeFalco, Paul Ryan and Danny Bulanadi.

Fictional character biography

Lyja and Alicia

The Skrull empire seeks a way to defeat the Fantastic Four, who have handed them multiple defeats. Paibok suggets a subtle plan, replacing the Fantastic Four's associate Alicia Masters with Lyja, a Skrull spy and Paibok's former lover. Their relationship had not ended well.

Lyja successfully impersonates Alicia and the real Alicia is held prisoner by Paibok.

Eventually the Fantastic Four realize what had happened and come in search of Alicia. They confront Paibok on 'War World'. Paibok, now calling himself the "Power-Skrull" after being augmented in a manner similar to the Super-Skrull, is prepared for the encounter and almost defeats the heroes.

Lyja seemingly sacrifices her life to protect the Human Torch and the Thing finally defeats Paibok. He is left for dead, buried under fallen rubble. [See "Fantastic Four" #358 (November, 1991).]

The Fearsome Foursome

Paibok survived the battle and recovered Lyja's body. Seeking revenge on the Fantastic Four, he encountered Devos the Devastator, another alien who had clashed with them, and the two formed an alliance. Devos was able to revive and enhance Lyja, granting her the power of flight and the ability to project lethal energy blasts. Together, the three travelled to earth to battle the Fantastic Four again.

Arriving on earth, they isolated and attacked the Human Torch, forcing him to use his "Nova Flame" against them - a move which then led to his arrest for damage to the surroundings. A second attack confused and aggravated the situation, leaving the Human Torch a fugitive from the police. However, Lyja again abandoned Paibok and sided with the Fantastic Four.

Undeterred, Paibok and Devos recruited new allies - Klaw and Huntara - and the quartet continued their attacks on the Fantastic Four, becoming known as the Fearsome Foursome. Eventually they were able to capture their foes (including Lyja) and returned to the Skrull Throneworld to present the captives to the Empress.

Paibok's triumph was short-lived, though - once on Throneworld he discovered that Devos was a wanted criminal, a renegade with a price on his head and an entire world under his command. Devos promptly summoned his troops, took personal command of his flagship (the "Death Cruiser") and attempted to destroy Throneworld. The Empress blamed Paibok for this and repaid him by ordering his death.

Seeking to redeem himself, Paibok made his way onboard the "Death Cruiser" and confronted Devos. The ship's stardrive was damaged during their confrontation and the cruiser fell into subspace - Devos and Paibok were both believed lost along with the ship.

Freakshow

Paibok somehow escaped from subspace and struck a deal with Centaurian scientists to enhance his powers. Their treatment succeeded - but also affected his appearance, leaving him in a cadaverous, zombie-like form. Still viewed as a traitor, he fled to earth and assembled a band of Skrull renegades. [See "Thing: Freakshow" #3 (October, 2002).]

Disguised as "Paul Balk", the owner of a travelling freakshow, Paibok located and tried to capture an immature Watcher, a plan that led to clashes with the Thing and a band of Kree. [See "Thing: Freakshow" #1 (August, 2002).] The attempt failed and he was captured by the Kree, who left earth shortly afterwards with Paibok as their prisoner. [See "Thing: Freakshow" #4 (November, 2002).]

Earthfall

It is not known how Paibok was transferred out of Kree custody, but he was next seen as one of the few convicts to survive when the prison transport vessel "Dredge 01" crashed on its way to Kyln. [See "Drax the Destroyer" #1 (September, 2005).] Paibok's appearanced had, without explanation, been reverted to that of a typical Skrull. The prison ship crashed on earth, near the town of Coot's Bluff in Alaska, and Paibok immediately took command of the other survivors (Lunatik and the Blood Brothers) in an attempt to salvage the wrecked ship's technology and escape the planet. Paibok's plan also involved taking control of Coot's Bluff and using the terrified population as slave labor - something which brought his renegades into conflict with the only other survivor of the crash, Drax the Destroyer.

Initially, Paibok and his allies defeated Drax, leaving him for dead. However, Drax somehow recovered - and then hunted down his attackers, killing Lunatik and one of the Blood Brothers. Paibok's escape plan was abandoned and, faced with death at the hands of a vengeful Drax, he activated a distress beacon that he'd secretly salvaged from the wreck - summoning another ship and surrendering himself to the authorities who'd previously imprisoned him. [See "Drax the Destroyer" #4 (January, 2006).]

Annihilation

Paibok later reappears [See "Annihilation" #1 (October, 2006).] fighting for Annihilus and his allies, as part of the Annihilation Wave. Following the death of Annihilus, the parasites injected into Paibok to force his obedience cease functioning. He briefly joins forces with Terrax the Tamer and the Delinquent to kill Randau the Space Parasite, a being that had been slaughtering innocents. After the battle, which ends with the destruction of the planet by Terrax, he convinces the addled Delinquent to craft a spaceship. They return to what remains of the Skrull Empire. [See "Annihilation: Heralds of Galactus" #1 (April, 2007).]

Powers and abilities

Paibok has powers derived from the X-Men Colossus, Iceman, and Storm, and Spider-Man villain ElectroFact|date=August 2008. He possesses superhuman strength sufficient to lift 25 tons, the power of flight, and the abilities to transform his skin into a durable steel-like substance, emit electricity, and to project blasts of lightning and ice from his hands. Like the Super-Skrull, Paibok also possesses the Skrulls' innate racial ability to shape-shift and the unique power of hypnosis. He is also an excellent hand-to-hand combatant and was extensively trained in warfare by the Skrull Empire. Paibok also has knowledge of and access to technology centuries ahead of conventional Earth science.

Other media

Video games

Paibok appears as a villain in the video game "", during a mission when the player must visit a Skrull planet under attack by Galactus. Initially, the player can choose either the Super-Skrull or Paibok to act as bodyguards while opening the doors for the Skrull Empress' spaceship to escape, but the Empress subsequently orders her bodyguards to kill the heroes while she escapes. A simulation disk has Human Torch fighting Paibok and a VS simulation disk has the heroes fighting Paibok.

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/paibokskrull.htm Paibok the Power-Skrull at marvunapp.com]