Living Monolith

The Living Monolith (Ahmet Abdol) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He was created by writer Arnold Drake and artist Don Heck, and first appeared in The X-Men #54 (March 1969).^[1][2]

The Living Monolith
The Living Monolith as depicted in X-Men (vol. 2) #94 (November 1999). Art by Alan Davis.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The X-Men #54 (March 1969)
Created by	Arnold Drake Don Heck
In-story information
Alter ego	Ahmet Abdol
Species	Human mutant
Team affiliations	Cult of the Living Monolith The Twelve
Partnerships	Plasma
Notable aliases	Living Pharaoh Living Planet
Abilities	Energy absorption and projection Superhuman strength, durability and longevity Size and mass manipulation Telepathy

Abdol is the Living Pharaoh while in his normal appearance, but once he obtained enough cosmic energy, he would increase in mass, size, and power, thus becoming the Living Monolith.^[3]

Abdol has mainly been an X-Men villain, usually using Havok to become the Living Monolith. He has also used other superheroes, including the Fantastic Four (who gained their super powers from exposure to cosmic rays). He even killed his own daughter to achieve his goal.

Fictional character biography

Ahmet Abdol is a professor of Egyptology and archeologist with the ability to manipulate cosmic energy. Deciding to use his powers for personal gain, Abdol creates a cult around himself as the messiah, the Cult of the Living Pharaoh, intending to rule the world.^[4]

Abdol discovers that another mutant, Alex Summers / Havok, can manipulate energy more easily than himself. Abdol kidnaps Havok to increase his power and battles the X-Men.^[5][6][7] He is captured by Sentinels, but escapes.^[8]

Abdol later steals a ruby scarab and battled the Living Mummy.^[9] As the Living Monolith, he battles Spider-Man and Thor.^[10] Later, using the Cheops Crystal, he becomes the Monolith again and battles Luke Cage, Iron Fist, Cyclops, Storm, and Nightcrawler.^[11]

Later, Abdol abducts the Fantastic Four to absorb cosmic radiation from their bodies. This causes him to grow to a planet's size before Thor throws him into outer space.^[12]

Abdol's relative, Leila O'Toole / Plasma, joins the Cult of the Living Pharaoh and tries to capture Havok for the Pharaoh.^[13][14] During this time, it is revealed that Mister Sinister gave Abdol his powers by splicing his genes with Havok's.^{[volume & issue needed]}

During the Monolith's time in space, the civilian Akasha acquires his staff and becomes the second Living Pharaoh. Spider-Man destroys the staff, leaving Akasha with only fragments of the Pharaoh's power.^{[volume & issue needed]}

In "Apocalypse: The Twelve", the Living Monolith is among the mutants who Apocalypse captures in an attempt to gain omnipotence. Apocalypse attempts to possess Nate Grey before the process is interrupted, forcing him to possess Cyclops instead.^[15][16]

Abdol later obtains the Crimson Gem of Cyttorak and becomes a titanic fusion of himself and Juggernaut. However, he is depowered when Cyttorak returns the power to the original Juggernaut, Cain Marko.^[17][18]

Powers and abilities

Ahmet Abdol possesses the mutant ability to absorb cosmic energy, transforming him into the Living Monolith. After genetically augmenting himself, he gains the additional ability to empower himself by absorbing energy and psychic abilities that enable him to read and control the minds of others.^[2][17] Additionally, he is a skilled scientist specializing in archaeology, genetics, and radiation.

In other media

• The Living Monolith appears as a boss in X-Men.^{[citation needed]}
• The Living Monolith appears as a boss in X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, voiced by Dwight Schultz.^[19]
• Ahmet Abdol as the Living Monolith and Living Pharaoh appears as a boss in Marvel Avengers Alliance.