Dionysus (Marvel Comics)

Publication history

Dionysus first appeared in Thor #129 (June 1966), and was adapted from mythology by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

The character subsequently appeared in Thor Annual #5 (1976), Champions #2-3 (January–February 1976), Thor Annual #8 (1979), The Avengers #281 (July 1987), #283-285 (September–November 1987), Solo Avengers #11 (October 1988), Thor #398 (December 1988), Incredible Hulk: Hercules Unleashed (October 1966), Hercules #4 (September 2005), Thor: Blood Oath #2-4 (December 2005-January 2006), Ares #1 (March 2006), #3 (May 2006), and Deadpool/GLI: Summer Fun Spectacular #1 (September 2007).

Dionysus appeared as part of the "Olympian Gods" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #9.

Fictional character biography

Dionysus is the son of Zeus. When Hercules was gravely injured during the assault by the Masters of Evil on Avengers Mansion, Dionysus served Zeus in his attempt to punish the Avengers for these injuries. Dionysus disguised himself as an Italian ice vendor, and served it to She-Hulk laced with Elixir of Frenzy. She attacked the other Avengers, and when Doctor Druid tried to restore her to normal, Dionysus re-instilled the elixir's potency. Captain Marvel noticed him and tried to subdue him, but Dionysus strangled Doctor Druid and used a potion to knock She-Hulk unconscious. Dionysus then fought She-Hulk in physical combat, this time in Olympus, but she struck him down with a pillar. Zeus then forbade all Olympians from interfering with the earth.

Despondent at his defeat at the hands of She-Hulk, Dionysus became suicidal. He came to believe the Olympian race was dying, so he stole a nuclear warhead from Earth to help it along. Hercules attempts to talk him out of it, but Dionysus crafts a servant called 'Butcher T. Washington' to deal with him. Hercules was almost slain but at the last moment, Dionysus regains his sanity, saves Hercules and returns the warhead to Earth. He places himself at Zeus' mercy. As punishment, he is stripped of his memories and abilities. He ends up on Earth, as Dion, the bartender for 'Dion's Bar'.

Dionysus is a seeming casualty of the Olympian's battle with the 'Dark Gods', a force capable of ravaging entire pantheons. However, Dionysus somehow later returns.

At one point, Dionysus becomes involved in a conflict with the Asgardian group called the Warriors Three. Coming to believe they were noble, he grants them use of his magical sack, which hold a great amount of items and automatically generates wine.

Deadpool/GLI: Summer Fun Spectacular

Later, while back on Olympus, he becomes so inebriated, he falls off the edge and lands on Earth itself, namely 'Christmas Mountain' in Wisconsin. He is taken by the terrorist group A.I.M. They use his powers to cause mental instability in all the superheroes they consider a threat. At a pre-determined time, all affected bases are invaded. The Great Lakes Avengers and Deadpool rescue Dionysus just in time for the affected heroes to regain their stability and defeat their respective invading A.I.M. forces. Squirrel Girl helps Dionysus back to Olympus and into his own bed to sleep it off.

Fear Itself

During the Fear Itself storyline, Mephisto tricks vital information from Dionysus while he is in a drunken stupor. This happened in the 'Infinite Embassy', a neutral area for cosmic powers.

Powers and abilities

Dionysus can control the growth of vines and grapes. He can also control the states of mind of other people, cast illusions, and transmutate matter. He once had control of a pig that could create wine. At least in ancient times, he could change his own shape and that of other things. Lack of access to wine causes him to rapidly age. He proved to be strong enough to fight toe-and-toe against She-Hulk.

Other versions

A 23rd century version of Dionysus is murdered on panel by Zeus. Yet this was faked as part of Zeus' test on Hercules.