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The Religious Affiliation of
Lazarus Ganglion
 

Religion: Christian (denomination unknown) CBR Scale: U

Name: Lazarus Ganglion

Classification: supporting character supporting character  

Publisher(s): Marvel

First Appearance: Cable (vol. 1) #107 (Sep. 2002): "Out with the Old"

Creators: Darko Macan, Igor Kordey

Super? (Has Super Powers/Special Abilities/Technology): Yes

Number of Appearances: 1

Occupation: TV performer

Gender: male

Note: mutant with power of resurrection

Lazarus Ganglion was a mutant whose super power caused him to be resurrected after apparent death. He apparently didn't "truly" die, but simply healed incredibly after what certainly appeared to be death, due to his "decentralized nervous system."

Lazarus Ganglion is obviously named for Lazarus of Bethany, the person described in the New Testament as having been miraculously restored from the dead by Jesus Christ. The story of Lazarus in the New Testament gospel of John is one of the most well-known stories of being brought back from the dead in all of history or literature.

Obviously it is not a coincidence that this comic book character, who also came from the dead - and did so repeatedly - was named "Lazarus." Possibly this character adopted the name, based on the Biblical character, in order to further promote himself. He actively sought out "death" so that his "deaths" and subsequent resurrections could be filmed for this network TV special, "The Many Deaths of Lazarus Ganglion." Possibly his parents gave him this rather unusual first name at birth and it was then simply an in-story "coincidence" that his name corresponded with his later-discovered mutant power.

One might surmise, based on either his parents' choice or his own choice of the Biblical name of "Lazarus," that this character has a Christian background. But other than this name, there is nothing in the story to suggest any particular religious affinity or devotion.

This character is interesting to researchers of religion in comics due to his name and his name's association with his power, and not because the character himself was portrayed as religious.

Lazarus Ganglion was, in fact, used largely for comic effect. Lazarus pestered Cable to get the powerful mutant to kill him. Lazarus had heard about how Cable had used his powers to completely atomize three people in Kazakhstan. Lazarus wanted Cable to do this to him, as well, perhaps thinking this would be a uniquely challenging death to recuperate from. Cable never did atomize Lazarus. Young henchmen working for one of Cable's enemies (Mr. Singapore) arrived and shot Lazarus in the head, getting the death-courting mutant out of Cable's hair, but only temporarily killing him.


This character is in the following story which has been indexed by this website:
Cable (vol. 1) #107 (Sep. 2002): "Out with the Old"


Suggested links for further research about this character and the character's religious affiliation:
  - http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=977
  - http://www.marvunapp.com/master/gangaz.htm
  - http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=8824
  - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazarus
  - https://www.comics.org/issue/117755/
  - http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=10424