Dr. Karl Lykos, a mutant with the ability to absorb life energy, was transformed into the pterodactyl-like villain Sauron in the Savage Land. He frequently battles the X-Men and Spider-Man, driven by a desire to turn all humans into dinosaurs.
Dr. Karl Lykos first appears in X-Men #48 as a human mutant with the ability to absorb life energy. He is introduced as a friend of the X-Men and a fellow student at the university. #comics #marvel )
In X-Men #60, Karl Lykos fuses with a pterodactyl in the Savage Land, transforming into the monstrous Sauron. He gains the ability to drain life force and becomes a villain obsessed with turning humans into dinosaurs. #comics #xmen #villain )
In X-Men #61, Sauron battles the X-Men in the Savage Land, using his life-draining abilities. He is ultimately defeated by Havok and Polaris. #comics #xmen )
In X-Men #62, Sauron is defeated by Havok and Polaris, who use their powers to overload his energy absorption. He is left comatose in the Savage Land. #comics #xmen )
Sauron appears in Amazing Spider-Man #173-175, where he clashes with Spider-Man in the Savage Land. He attempts to use a device to turn all humans into dinosaurs. #comics #spiderman )
Sauron reappears in X-Factor #10-11, where he seeks revenge on Havok and Polaris. He is defeated by X-Factor and returned to the Savage Land. #comics #xfactor )
Sauron appears in X-Men: The Hidden Years #4-7, a retroactive series set in the early days of the X-Men. He uses the Savage Land as his base and battles the original X-Men. #comics #xmen )
In X-Men vol. 2 #4-7, Sauron allies with other villains in the Savage Land to overthrow the local government. He is defeated by the X-Men when his plans are exposed. #comics #xmen )
A Sauron one-shot comic is released, exploring his origins and his obsession with turning humans into dinosaurs. It also features his encounter with a new villain, the Lizard King. #comics )
Sauron appears in Ka-Zar vol. 2 #1-4, confronting the jungle lord Ka-Zar. He attempts to harness the power of the Savage Land's mystical energies. #comics #kazars )
In New X-Men #115-117, Sauron conducts experiments on mutants to create dinosaur-like hybrids. He is stopped by the X-Men, especially Emma Frost and Cyclops. #comics #xmen )
In the alternate future series X-Men: The End, Sauron returns as a member of the Brotherhood of Mutants, seeking to rule the Savage Land. He is eventually killed by the Savage Land mutates. #comics #xmen )
Sauron makes a cameo in X-Men: Deadly Genesis #5, seen among the villains in the Savage Land. He is later defeated by the X-Men off-panel. #comics #xmen )
In X-Men Legacy #224-225, Sauron attacks the X-Men in the Savage Land, trying to drain the life force of mutants. He is defeated by Rogue and Gambit. #comics #xmen )
Sauron appears briefly in Avengers vs. X-Men #0 as a villain in the Savage Land, but is quickly defeated by the Avengers. #comics #avengers )
In X-Men: Schism #1-4, Sauron leads a group of Savage Land mutates in an uprising against humans. He is stopped by the X-Men and forced back into the jungle. #comics #xmen )
Sauron appears in Uncanny X-Force #1-4 (Marvel Now!), where he is manipulated by the Shadow King to attack X-Force. He is ultimately defeated by Psylocke and Fantomex. #comics #xforce )
In X-Men: Legacy #300 (2014), Sauron is killed by the Savage Land mutate leader, Zaladane, who drains his life force. He is later resurrected by the High Evolutionary. )
Sauron is resurrected by the High Evolutionary in X-Men: The Secret Empire (2016) and returns to the Savage Land to resume his plans. )
Sauron appears in X-Men Gold #1-3, where he attempts to create a dinosaur army to conquer the world. He is defeated by the new X-Men team. #comics #xmen )
In X-Men: The Apocalypse (2018), Sauron is turned into a Horseman of Apocalypse, gaining enhanced powers. He battles the X-Men before being freed from Apocalypse's control. #comics #xmen )
In X-Men: The Lost Years (2019), Sauron briefly sides with the X-Men to stop a greater evil in the Savage Land, but ultimately returns to his villainous ways. #comics #xmen )
Sauron appears in the crossover event 'Cortex' (2020), joining a group of villains to attack the Avengers. He is defeated by Thor and Hulk. #comics #avengers )
In X-Men: Savage Land War (2021), Sauron leads an army of dinosaurs against the X-Men and Ka-Zar. The war ends with Sauron's imprisonment in a gamma cell. #comics #xmen )
In Deadpool: The Merc with a Mouth (2022), Sauron fights Deadpool in the Savage Land, resulting in a comedic battle where Deadpool accidentally turns Sauron into a chicken. #comics #deadpool )
In X-Men: The End of the Savage Land (2023), Sauron is permanently defeated by the combined forces of the X-Men and the Savage Land mutates. He is stripped of his powers and left to live as a normal human. #comics #xmen )