Ogre

An ogre (feminine ogress) is a being usually depicted as a large, hideous, manlike monster that eats human beings. Ogres frequently feature in mythology, folklore, and fiction throughout the world. They appear in many classic works of literature, and are most often described in fairy tales and folklore as eating babies.

In mythology, ogres are often depicted as inhumanly large and tall and having a disproportionately large head, abundant hair, unusually colored skin, a voracious appetite, and a strong body. Ogres are closely linked with giants and with human cannibals in mythology. In both folklore and fiction, giants are often given ogrish traits (such as the giants in "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Jack the Giant Killer", the Giant Despair in The Pilgrim's Progress, and the jötnar of Norse mythology); while ogres may be given giantish traits.

Famous examples of ogres in folklore include the ogre in Puss and Boots and the ogre in "Hop-o'-My-Thumb"; and in fiction, Shrek and Fiona from Shrek. Other characters sometimes described as ogres include the title character from "Bluebeard", the Beast from "Beauty and the Beast", Grendel from "Beowulf", Polyphemus the Cyclops from Homer's Odyssey, the cyclops in "Sinbad the Sailor", and the oni of Japanese folklore.

Ogress (comics)

Ogress is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

The Ogress first appeared in Incredible Hulk #345 (July 1988), and was created by Peter David and Todd McFarlane.

The character subsequently appears in Incredible Hulk #366 (February 1990), #397-398 (September–October 1992), #400 (December 1992), #439-440 (March–April 1996), and Avengers #397 (April 1996).

Fictional character biography

Diane Davids was a lawyer and a resident of Middletown, an isolated town in the middle of a desert. She got frustrated with defending criminals that she once destroyed her client's briefcase and was held in contempt of court. It was the kind of town that no one would miss, which is probably why the Hulk's old enemy Leader decided to expose it to gamma radiation. He hoped some of its inhabitants would survive and join him in his new kingdom of Freehold. Diane was one of only five people to survive a gamma explosion and develop superhuman powers. Diane became Ogress and joined the other four people into forming the Riot Squad where they protected Leader's Freehold base at the time when Leader had contacted a terminal illness. They first clashed with Hulk when Leader would provide him the information on where Betty Ross is in exchange that Hulk kills Madman.