He isn't exactly Thanos. He isn't Galactus, either. Try to picture a guy who basically looks like a professional wrestler from a 1980s fever dream, glows with blue energy, and spends his entire immortal life looking for a decent fistfight. That’s Tryco Slatterus. Most fans just know him as the Champion of the Universe Marvel creators introduced back in the early '80s, and honestly, he is one of the most fascinatingly singular characters in the cosmic hierarchy. He’s an Elder of the Universe, which puts him in the same social circle as The Collector and The Grandmaster, but while his peers are busy hoarding rare artifacts or playing intergalactic chess, Tryco is busy hitting things.
Hard.
The guy represents the pinnacle of physical evolution. If you’ve spent any time digging through Marvel’s cosmic lore, you know it gets dense. Most of these beings are abstract concepts or moody gods. Not the Champion. He is refreshing because his motivation is so simple it’s almost stupid: he wants to be the best fighter in existence. No world-ending schemes. No political manifestos. Just a never-ending quest for the perfect sparring partner.
The Elder Nobody Expected to Win
To understand the Champion of the Universe Marvel mythos, you have to look at the Elders themselves. These guys are the last survivors of extinct races from the beginning of the universe. They’re technically "immortal," but not in the "I can't be killed" way—more like "Death literally banned us from her realm" way. Because they have billions of years to kill, they all develop obsessive hobbies. Tryco’s hobby? Combat.
He debuted in Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7 (1982), and it’s one of the best examples of Bronze Age comic weirdness. He comes to Earth and challenges the strongest heroes to a boxing match. He isn't trying to enslave the planet; he just wants to see if we have anyone worth his time. He disqualifies the Hulk because he refuses to "sully his hands on a mindless animal." He tosses Thor out because a god using a hammer is "cheating." Eventually, he settles on Ben Grimm, the Thing.
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It’s a brutal fight. Grimm gets absolutely demolished. But because Ben refuses to stay down—despite being broken, battered, and basically a pile of orange rocks—the Champion concedes. He realizes that while he has the physical power, he doesn't necessarily have the "heart" that Earth's heroes possess. It’s a rare moment of humility for a character who usually has an ego the size of a moon.
Power Scaling: How Strong is He, Really?
People often underestimate Tryco because he looks like a human in spandex. That’s a mistake. The Champion of the Universe Marvel powerhouse has access to the "Power Primordial," the leftover energy from the Big Bang. This isn't just "I can lift a car" strength. This is "I can shatter a planet with a stray punch" strength.
- Immortal Physiology: He doesn't age, doesn't need to eat, and can survive in the vacuum of space without a suit.
- Combat Mastery: He has mastered every known fighting style in the multiverse. If it involves hitting someone, he knows how to do it perfectly.
- The Power Primordial: This is the juice. It enhances his speed and durability to levels that can challenge Silver Surfer or Adam Warlock.
There was a famous run in She-Hulk where Jennifer Walters actually had to fight him. She realized she couldn't beat him through raw strength—even She-Hulk has her limits. Instead, she used her legal mind. She found a loophole in the rules of the match, proving that the Champion’s reliance on the Power Gem (at the time) was technically cheating. She trained in her human form to increase her base strength and then, as She-Hulk, she actually out-maneuvered him. It’s one of those times where the Champion’s rigid obsession with "honor" and "rules" became his undoing.
That One Time with the Power Gem
You can't talk about the Champion of the Universe Marvel history without mentioning Thanos. During the Thanos Quest miniseries, the Mad Titan went around collecting the Infinity Gems. At that point, the Champion held the Power Gem. He didn't even know what it was. He just thought it was a cool lucky charm that made him punch harder.
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Thanos, being a genius and a jerk, didn't fight him head-on. He knew Tryco was physically superior. So, Thanos tricked him. He stood on a nearby planet and goaded the Champion, who eventually leaped through space with such force that he destroyed the very planet he was trying to reach. Left floating in the void with no one to hit, he eventually traded the Power Gem to Thanos for a ride to the nearest world with an atmosphere. It’s kind of embarrassing, honestly. It shows that while he is the ultimate warrior, he’s definitely not the ultimate strategist.
Why He Still Matters in Modern Comics
Modern writers like Al Ewing have done some cool stuff with him lately. They’ve leaned into the idea that he’s a bit of a relic. He represents a "might makes right" era that doesn't really exist anymore in a multiverse filled with reality-warpers and multiversal threats. But that's exactly why he’s great. He’s a grounding force. When the Champion of the Universe Marvel appears, you know the stakes aren't going to be a complex philosophical debate. It’s going to be a brawl.
He recently appeared in the Contest of Champions and various Guardians of the Galaxy runs. He’s often used as a benchmark. If a new villain comes along and beats the Champion, you know that villain is a serious physical threat. He’s the cosmic "Worf" of the Marvel Universe—a character meant to show how tough someone else is by losing to them.
The Misconceptions People Have
A lot of people confuse him with other "Champions." There’s a team called The Champions, which is mostly teenagers like Ms. Marvel and Miles Morales. Tryco Slatterus has nothing to do with them. He’d probably find them adorable and then try to punch them into orbit.
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Another weird thing? His appearance changes. Sometimes he’s a giant, sometimes he’s human-sized. This isn't a continuity error; it’s just how he manifests his power. He’s basically a living battery of kinetic energy. If he wants to be twelve feet tall to intimidate a Skrull army, he just does it.
What to do if you're a collector
If you’re looking to get into his stories, don't just buy everything with his name on it. Focus on the essentials.
- Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7: The definitive intro.
- Thanos Quest #1: Essential for seeing how he fits into the Infinity Gauntlet lore.
- She-Hulk (2004) #7-8: This is Dan Slott’s run, and it’s hilarious. It shows the Champion’s more "human" (and arrogant) side.
- Silver Surfer (Vol. 3) #1: Great cosmic action.
The Champion of the Universe Marvel version is a reminder that comics can be simple and fun. He isn't burdened by a tragic backstory where his parents were killed in an alley. He wasn't bitten by a radioactive anything. He’s just a guy who decided, a few billion years ago, that he wanted to be the best at punching. There's something almost admirable about that level of dedication.
Next time you're debating who the strongest character in Marvel is, don't just jump to the Hulk or Thor. Think about the guy who beat them both in a ring while wearing a unitard. He might be a bit of a meathead, and he might be easily tricked by anyone with a double-digit IQ, but in a straight-up fight? Tryco Slatterus is still the man to beat.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Lore Buffs:
- Track his evolution: Notice how his "Power Primordial" is depicted differently depending on whether he has an Infinity Gem or not. Without the gem, he's still a top-tier threat, but he's much more reliant on technical skill.
- Contrast with the Grandmaster: Look at how the different Elders interact. The Champion is the only one who doesn't hide behind games or collections; he is the game.
- Read the Subtext: Writers often use Tryco to satirize toxic masculinity or the "meathead" athlete trope, especially in the 2000s She-Hulk run. Understanding this adds a layer of humor to his appearances.