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Mindless Ones
Mindless Ones
from Wikipedia
Mindless Ones
A Mindless One
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceStrange Tales #127 (December 1964)
Created byStan Lee (writer)
Steve Ditko (artist)
Characteristics
Place of originDread Dimensions
Inherent abilities
  • Superhuman strength, stamina, and durability
  • Energy projection

The Mindless Ones are fictional monsters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Their first appearance was in Strange Tales #127 (Dec. 1964).[1]

The Mindless Ones are extra-dimensional creatures who are summoned via magic to do the bidding of others and have no will of their own. They are commonly associated with Dormammu, who employs them as minions.[2][3][4][5]

Publication history

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The Mindless Ones first appeared in Strange Tales #127 (Dec. 1964), and were created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.

The Mindless Ones have also appeared in Darkhawk #19-20 (Sept.–Oct. 1992), Sleepwalker #17 (Oct. 1992), Doctor Strange, Sorcerer Supreme #82 (Oct. 1995), Marvel Boy vol. 2, #5-6 (Dec. 2000, March 2001), Fantastic Four #70 (Aug. 2003), The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 2 #57-#58 (Nov. 2003), The Amazing Spider-Man #500 (Dec. 2003), and Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E. #7-8 (Nov. 2006), among other comics.

Fictional history

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Long ago, the wizard King Olnar sat on the throne of the Dark Dimension. He is visited by Umar and Dormammu, siblings of a race of magical energy beings called the Faltine. During this time, Olnar merges the Mindless Ones' home dimension with the Dark Dimension. They rampage throughout the lands, killing many, including Olnar, and almost slaying the two Faltine. The siblings create a barrier to keep them contained.[6][7]

From that point they are most often seen in the employ of Dormammu, who develops an ability to slightly control their actions. They have also been utilized by others such as Doctor Doom, Dr. Midas (in Marvel Boy) and a fellow Faltine named Rorkannu (in Nextwave: Agents of H.A.T.E.).

Doctor Doom uses them after gaining high levels of magical power via a deal with demonic entities. The Mindless Ones are utilized to beat on Ben Grimm, a member of the Fantastic Four, in a test of his durability.[8]

When Spider-Man is banished to the Dark Dimension by a brainwashed Portal, he is attacked by a group of Mindless Ones. To rescue him, Darkhawk and Sleepwalker battle Toad's Brotherhood of Mutants and break Sauron's control over Portal so they could retrieve Spider-Man. A gang of Mindless Ones follow Spider-Man through the portal leading back to Earth, but the three heroes beat them back through the gateway before Portal seals it.[9][10]

In another separate incident,[11] the Mindless Ones invade and destroy much of Times Square. A force that consists of Spider-Man, Doctor Strange, Cyclops, Thor, Iron Man, and the Fantastic Four help stop them, mainly by creating barriers. The Mindless Ones are temporarily defeated when Mister Fantastic creates a machine that manipulates their magical energy, drawing them back to where they came from. This, inadvertently summons Dormammu, who battles Doctor Strange. One of the Mindless Ones punches Spider-Man, displacing him in time.[12][13] After Spider-Man returns to the present, Strange banishes the Mindless Ones, leaving Times Square damaged but intact.[14][15]

Rorkannu, who physically resembles Dormammu and claims to be lord of the Dark Dimension, is stated to control a group of Mindless Ones. Emerging from a portal in a public restroom, they rampage through a small Colorado town, killing everyone they see, then wearing their clothing and behaving like them.[16]

The group known as Nextwave slays the Mindless Ones. Rorkannu, in a monologue, reveals he is summoning the army because he feels their lack of distinguishing features and similar temperaments make them suitable to replace the human race. His lair is discovered by the hero known as the 'Captain'. His summoning circle is destroyed. Rorkannu is severely beaten and left to an uncertain fate.[16]

The Mindless Ones appeared in an issue of Cable & Deadpool in which Deadpool and Bob, Agent of Hydra encounter them in their own dimension. The two are being manipulated by Doctor Strange. The Mindless Ones alternately attack and worship the two protagonists, evidently mistaking the light from a glow stick for a magical power and revering whoever it seemed to be emanating from. Deadpool and Bob end up causing the deaths of several Mindless Ones as a needed sacrifice to close down a magical catastrophe threatening innocent lives.[17]

Plokta, a Duke of Hell, decided to conquer the world exponentially from a tower block in Birmingham. He used the collected magical energy of people captured within its rooms to create an army of Mindless Ones, but was eventually stopped by Captain Britain and MI13.[18] Plokta was revealed to be the original creator of the Mindless Ones, responsible for them within the hierarchy of Hell.[19]

They are also referenced here as Neutron Slaves. They were used to mine Neutron Stars and many other ultra-dense gravity sites. They rebelled against their slave masters and began manufacturing a drug called "Krush" from the surface of Neutron Stars. They are members of the Black Hole Sons and it seems they are led by a being called The Mind who is currently held prisoner in a Nova Corps ship.[20]

During the "Original Sin"' storyline, a Mindless One was wrecking New York and smacking the Thing around. Spider-Man shows up to give Thing a hand. Spider-Man recognizes the Mindless One and realizes that they are not supposed to be telepathic. The Mindless One screams in agony over the things he has seen and the things he has done. Thing realizes he is wielding the Ultimate Nullifier and tries to talk the Mindless One down. However, it does not work and the Mindless shoots himself with it. By this time, Nick Fury and the Avengers arrive. Captain America wants the Ultimate Nullifier left alone until it is contained and Fury declares the battle zone a murder scene. Elsewhere, a group of villains realize the other Mindless Ones are evolving.[21][22][23]

Doctor Strange later encountered a Mindless One known as the Mindful One. It is a servant of Isaac Newton, who enhanced it to serve him. After some adventures, the Mindful One moves in with Doctor Strange.[24] In Strange Academy, the Mindful One and several sentient Mindless Ones join the eponymous academy as teachers.[25]

Powers and abilities

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The Mindless Ones are capable of firing energy blasts from their eyes.[4][26] They are superhumanly strong and durable, although their exact power levels vary between appearances.[26]

In other media

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Television

[edit]

Video games

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The Mindless Ones appear in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.[citation needed]

References

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The Mindless Ones are a race of extra-dimensional, monsters in , originating from the Dark Dimension and primarily serving as mindless enforcers and soldiers for the demonic sorcerer . First introduced in #127 (September 1964) by writer and artist , they are depicted as hulking, gray-skinned creatures approximately 7 feet tall and weighing 900 pounds, with impenetrable stone-like hides, immense superhuman strength, and the ability to project destructive energy blasts from a single, glowing red eye. Created eons ago by the demon Plokta—a Duke of —as unstoppable engines of destruction to hinder the expansion of rival cosmic empires, the Mindless Ones were later unleashed upon the Dark Dimension by an ancient sorcerer named Olnar, prompting Dormammu's sister and Dormammu himself to imprison them behind a mystical barrier to protect their realm. Following a familial power struggle in the Dark Dimension, Dormammu tricked his way into sole rulership and assumed command over the horde, deploying them as his primary minions against foes like . A more recent revelation in Strange Academy #9 (2021) by and discloses that the Mindless Ones were originally sentient beings whose intelligence was systematically drained by Dormammu to render them obedient drones, adding a layer of tragic depth to their otherwise relentless, instinct-driven nature. Throughout Marvel's publication history, the Mindless Ones have appeared in over 230 comic issues, often invading Earth or other realms under Dormammu's orders, and have been temporarily controlled or allied with other villains such as , , and Karnilla. Their durability makes them formidable against superheroes, though they possess vulnerabilities to advanced sorcery—such as banishment spells wielded by —or unconventional tactics, as seen in their defeat by the unconventional team using household items and strategy. Beyond comics, they feature in the as Dormammu's faceless warriors in Doctor Strange (2016), portrayed as black, one-eyed humanoids transformed from conquered souls.

Publication History

Creation and First Appearance

The Mindless Ones were created by writer and artist , debuting as antagonists in the feature of #127, published by with a cover date of December 1964. This issue marked their introduction within the ongoing "Duel with the Dread !" storyline, which spanned from the previous issue and showcased the characters as a horde of destructive entities threatening both the Dark Dimension and Earth. Conceived as extra-dimensional minions loyal to the sorcerer , the Mindless Ones served to broaden the scope of mystical adversaries in Marvel's early horror-mystery , transforming from standalone supernatural tales into a serialized cosmic horror narrative. Lee and Ditko drew upon the Silver Age Marvel trend of blending with the occult, using the creatures to escalate threats beyond earthly concerns and establish Dormammu's realm as a perpetual source of interdimensional peril. In their initial depiction, the Mindless Ones are portrayed as hulking, one-eyed brutes summoned through magical portals that breach Earth's defenses, embodying mindless enforcers driven by an insatiable urge to destroy unless restrained by Dormammu's will. This visualization highlighted Ditko's distinctive artistic style, with swirling, abstract dimensions and grotesque forms that evoked pulp fiction's exotic menaces and Lovecraftian cosmic indifference, setting the tone for the mythos as a battle against incomprehensible otherworldly forces.

Subsequent Comic Appearances

Following their debut, the Mindless Ones established themselves as recurring threats in the Doctor Strange feature of Strange Tales, appearing across multiple issues from #127 (December 1964) to #153 (February 1967), where they were consistently shown as relentless invaders from the Dark Dimension restrained only by Dormammu's will. In these stories, such as Strange Tales #134 (July 1965), Clea freed the creatures to distract Dormammu during a duel with Doctor Strange, allowing them to rampage briefly before being recontained. Similar deployments occurred in issues like #140 (January 1966), #150 (November 1966), and #153 (February 1967), emphasizing their role as Dormammu's disposable army in conflicts threatening Earth. Their presence expanded beyond solo adventures in later decades, including Fantastic Four vol. 3 #70 (August 2003), in which summoned them from the Dark Dimension to assault the amid a broader revenge scheme. They invaded under Dormammu's direction in vol. 2 #500 (October 2003), forcing an alliance between and to repel the horde. In #7-8 (August-September 2006), the Beyond Corporation brokered a deal with Rorkannu, lord of the Dank Dimension, to unleash Mindless Ones on the town of Shotcreek, , pitting them against the unconventional team of . The creatures have factored into various crossovers, highlighting their utility to multiple villains; Umar wielded them against Doctor Strange and Clea in early Dark Dimension arcs like Strange Tales #150 and #153, while Doctor Doom employed them in Fantastic Four #70 as noted. Rorkannu similarly rented hordes for corporate exploitation in Nextwave #7-8. More recently, Deadpool and Spider-Man clashed with them during a chaotic ritual gone awry in Spider-Man/Deadpool #1 (March 2016), where the pair disrupted a summoning that briefly turned the tide with improvised tactics. In contemporary narratives, the Mindless Ones' lore has deepened, with variants and origins explored to expand their conceptual role. A modified individual, the Mindful One—an enhanced Mindless One granted rudimentary intelligence and loyalty by during his tenure as Sorcerer Supreme—debuted in Doctor Strange and the Sorcerers Supreme #1 (November 2016), serving as Newton's enforcer before allying with other sorcerers. The Mindful One later joined the faculty of , aiding in magical education. Furthermore, Strange Academy #9 (February 2021) revisited their creation, disclosing that the demon Plokta forged them as indestructible weapons to hinder the conquests of rival interdimensional empires, predating their association with . As of November 2025, the Mindless Ones have appeared in over 230 comic issues, with no major new developments post-2021.

Fictional History

Origins and Role in the Dark Dimension

The Mindless Ones are a race of extra-dimensional beings native to a sub-realm within the Dark Dimension, a chaotic mystical domain in . Following a power struggle among its rulers, was tricked by his sister into becoming the lord of this sub-realm, thereby assuming control over the Mindless Ones as his subjects. This arrangement positioned them as inherent enforcers of the Dark Dimension's isolation, confined behind a mystical barrier to prevent their destructive incursions into other realms, including . Their primary function is as mindless slaves, summoned through magic by the dimension's rulers—such as , , and occasionally others like —for tasks of conquest, labor, and enforcement. Devoid of free will or individual thought, they operate solely on an instinct for destruction, serving as obedient tools to maintain order and expand influence within the Dark Dimension's turbulent energies. This connection to the realm's chaotic essence makes them a natural barrier against dimensional intruders, including , who has frequently confronted them during incursions. A 2021 revelation in #9 retconned their backstory, establishing that the Mindless Ones were originally sentient beings with free thought, whom imprisoned and stripped of intelligence to forge them into perfect, unrelenting guardians and soldiers. This origin underscores their role in perpetuating the Dark Dimension's isolation, acting as both prisoners and wardens to curb escapes and invasions.

Key Conflicts and Evolutions

The Mindless Ones first invaded as part of Dormammu's attempt to conquer the planet, emerging from the Dark Dimension in a direct assault that repelled through mystical intervention. This incursion marked their initial foray into Earth's conflicts, where Strange bound them using the Crimson Bands of to halt their destructive advance. In later arcs, the Mindless Ones rampaged through , clashing with and other heroes in a chaotic battle that spilled into , drawing in the and exacerbating the threat by weakening dimensional barriers. They also engaged the unconventional team in a series of brutal confrontations, where the squad reprogrammed some of the creatures to turn against their summoners, highlighting the Mindless Ones' vulnerability to external magical manipulation. Evolutions among the Mindless Ones began with the emergence of the Mindful One, a singular entity enhanced by to achieve sentience and serve as a servant, diverging from the typical mindless horde. Instances of group rebellions occurred when Dormammu's power waned, allowing the creatures to overrun parts of the Dark Dimension and challenge his rule directly. Their role expanded in broader events like , where they roamed city streets in a surprise incursion, battling the Thing and prompting an Avengers response. Recent developments in explored the Mindless Ones' tragic origins as engineered destroyers from the Dread Dimension, engineered by entities like Plokta to serve as weapons, fostering sympathy for individual members through narratives of unwilling servitude. The Mindful One integrated into the academy's , aiding students and symbolizing potential redemption for the race.

Characteristics

Powers and Abilities

The Mindless Ones exhibit , allowing them to destroy city blocks and battle powerful opponents, such as backhanding Thor with sufficient force to stagger him and battling Professor Hulk in Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme #50. Their physical might enables them to overwhelm teams like through sheer brute force. Due to their dense, rock-like composed of extra-dimensional matter, the Mindless Ones possess enhanced stamina and exceptional durability, rendering them resistant to conventional weapons, extreme temperatures, and mystical assaults. They can endure direct strikes from Mjolnir, optic blasts from high-powered foes, and prolonged combat without fatigue, as demonstrated when multiple Mindless Ones withstood assaults from the and Nova while continuing their rampage. This resilience allows them to destroy entire city blocks in urban environments like with minimal structural damage to themselves. The Mindless Ones project crimson energy blasts from a single cyclopean eye, harnessing the chaotic energies of the Dark Dimension for ranged attacks capable of disintegrating matter or damaging structures. These beams have one-shotted deities like , blasted through reinforced structures such as metro trains, and inflicted severe pain on entities including . As immortal extra-dimensional entities, the Mindless Ones do not age and experience minimal fatigue even in extended battles, while their exceptional durability allows them to persist as relentless guardians within their native realm unless permanently banished.

Weaknesses and Limitations

The Mindless Ones' primary vulnerability stems from their complete lack of independent thought, rendering them incapable of strategy, adaptation, or self-preservation beyond basic destruction. This mindlessness allows clever opponents, such as , to manipulate or outmaneuver them easily, as they follow only direct commands without question or deviation. Without the magical control of a summoner like , the Mindless Ones become aimless and ineffective, often reverting to uncontrolled rampaging or being compelled to return to the Dark Dimension. They serve as minions under explicit direction from figures such as , , or others, and absent such guidance, their destructive potential diminishes significantly. The creatures are highly susceptible to advanced mystical forces, which can banish or disrupt them despite their resilience to conventional physical assaults. has repeatedly defeated hordes of Mindless Ones through superior sorcery, including energy-based disruptions that target their mystical essence, though specific incantations like the Winds of Watoomb for dispersal or the Eye of Agamotto for revelation and containment have proven effective in containing their threats. In rare instances, evolutions of the Mindless Ones introduce new constraints; for example, the Mindful One, a variant enhanced by , acquires and the ability to form alliances, such as joining the Sorcerers Supreme, but sacrifices its original unbridled ferocity in favor of more controlled, thoughtful behavior. This transformation highlights how granting awareness can temper their raw power, making them less suited for indiscriminate warfare.

In Other Media

Animation

The Mindless Ones made their animated debut in the 1979 Marvel series , appearing as giant stone monsters summoned by in the episode "Realm of Darkness." In this story, Dormammu's acolytes invoke him to initiate an eternal eclipse by redirecting the Moon's orbit using a hijacked rocket, and the Mindless Ones are unleashed upon Super Hero City as destructive enforcers while Spider-Woman intervenes to thwart the plan. Portrayed as mindless, hulking brutes with immense strength, they confront and battle Spider-Woman directly after she tracks Dormammu's forces to the Grand , where she ultimately defeats them to rescue a kidnapped ally, Jeff Hunt. The creatures reappeared in the 2012–2017 series , specifically in the season 3 episode "" (aired September 14, 2014). Here, possesses (Tyrone Johnson) to capture and other heroes, deploying the Mindless Ones as invading minions from the Dark Dimension to assault Earth and aid in overpowering , Iron Fist, and (Tandy Bowen). Depicted as rocky, one-eyed demons loyal to Dormammu, they engage in brutal combat against the heroes until Doctor Strange's magic and the team's efforts banish the threat, freeing Cloak from possession. The Mindless Ones appear in The Super Hero Squad Show episode "Enter Dormammu!" (October 31, 2010), where is accidentally released into Super Hero City by and unleashes his Mindless Ones to conquer the world. The Super Hero Squad, including , , and , teams up with to battle the horde and reseal in the Dark Dimension. They are portrayed as hulking, destructive minions with energy blasts from their eyes. In Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. (2013–2015), the Mindless Ones feature in the episodes "" (October 19, 2014) and "Hulking Commandos" (January 4, 2015). In "," Dormammu sends them to Earth to aid his invasion, leading to a battle with the and his team alongside . In "Hulking Commandos," they attempt to break into Earth's dimension under Dormammu's command, with the Agents preventing the transformation of humanity into more Mindless Ones. Depicted as durable stone-like warriors, they emphasize brute force in team-up scenarios. In Avengers Assemble (2013–2019), the Mindless Ones featured prominently across multiple episodes as Dormammu's demonic servants from the Dark Dimension, often portrayed as towering, gray-skinned monsters with red laser eyes and superhuman durability. They first appeared in season 2's "Widow's Run" (February 22, 2015), emerging from the Dark Dimension during a plot involving the Infinity Stones. In season 2's "The New Guy" (May 17, 2015), Red Skull temporarily seizes control of the Mindless Ones on Monster Island using advanced technology, deploying them as minions to battle the Avengers and Ant-Man during an invasion scheme aimed at global domination. Their season 3 role in "Into the Dark Dimension" (April 24, 2016) involves guarding Dormammu's realm as Doctor Strange and the Avengers infiltrate to retrieve a stolen artifact, leading to intense magical and physical confrontations. Finally, in the season 4 two-part episode "The Eye of Agamotto" (January 7, 2018), the Mindless Ones serve as Dormammu's guardians during a climactic battle over the Eye of Agamotto, where they overwhelm the heroes until Strange harnesses the artifact's power to seal the portal and defeat the horde. These depictions emphasized their role as relentless, summonable shock troops in interdimensional conflicts.

Video Games

The Mindless Ones have appeared in several Marvel-licensed video games, primarily as antagonistic forces tied to the Dark Dimension and Dormammu's influence. Their depictions emphasize their role as relentless, mindless minions, often employing energy blasts from their single eye and brute physical attacks in combat encounters. These portrayals adapt their origins as extradimensional destroyers, serving as environmental hazards or summonable foes rather than central narrative elements. In the mobile and Facebook game Marvel: Avengers Alliance (2012–2016), the Mindless Ones featured prominently as enemies in event missions related to , including Chapter 9, Mission 6, where they function as summonable bosses or generalist foes. Players encounter them using abilities such as Abyssal Stare, a single-target energy ranged attack, and Unseeing Gaze, an area-of-effect energy blast that targets multiple heroes. Their dossier in the game describes them as creatures created by Plokta for rampaging destruction, aligning with their comic lore as unstoppable engines of chaos. The game included them in and mystical-themed campaigns, requiring players to exploit their vulnerabilities to magical or physical damage to progress. The MMORPG Marvel Heroes (2013–2017) incorporated the Mindless Ones as antagonists within its storyline, particularly in missions involving the Dark Dimension, where they serve as Dormammu's enforcers against player characters like . They appear in group content and raids, utilizing melee charges and eye-based energy projections to overwhelm teams, emphasizing their and in fast-paced, loot-driven battles. In Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order (2019, ), the Mindless Ones act as enemies in Chapter 6, set in the Dark Dimension, where players battle waves of them alongside Dormammu's forces. These encounters highlight their role as golem-like combatants, firing energy beams and engaging in close-quarters combat, with strategies focusing on to navigate the level's void spheres and boss progression. The game's adaptation portrays them as evildoers under Dormammu's command, contributing to the mystical arc without deeper narrative involvement. LEGO Marvel's Avengers (2016) offers a lighter take, including the Mindless One as a playable character via the "All-New, All-Different Doctor Strange" DLC pack, unlockable after completing related levels. In free-roam gameplay and story modes, it wields eye lasers and melee strikes, serving as a villainous option in hub worlds like the . This marks one of the few instances where a Mindless One is controllable, though it remains a minor addition without significant plot integration. Beyond these, the Mindless Ones have minor or unconfirmed presences in other titles, such as potential hazards in mystical campaigns of ongoing mobile games like Marvel Contest of Champions (2014–present) and Marvel Future Fight (2015–present), where they align thematically with Dormammu's minion role but lack dedicated models or missions as of 2025. No major playable or story-driven roles exist across adaptations, with their appearances reinforcing their comic function as disposable threats in interactive formats.

References

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