Mumm-Ra is the main antagonist of the original series, ThunderCats. In the original show, he demonstrated absolute mastery of magic. He often uses the Mutants of Plun-Darr as pawns in his schemes to defeat the ThunderCats. Their original intention was to steal and utilize the power of the Eye of Thundera (and in one episode, the Star of Thundera as well); however, this swiftly shifts to a series-long determination to destroy the ThunderCats outright, the only threat to his power and ruling Third Earth.
According to the opening show's narrative, Mumm-Ra, a sorcerer and demon-priest, is an ancient native of Third Earth, serving as the undead focus for the Ancient Spirits of Evil—four God-like entities of nearly unlimited power, but whose influence is limited to the Black Pyramids found on either Third Earth or New Thundera. As such, outside of either pyramid, they can only interact with the physical world through Mumm-Ra. They provide him with immortality, as granted through his sarcophagus in exchange for perpetual servitude.
Mumm-Ra usually resides in his Black Pyramid as a withered, corpse-like being however, he can alter his form by reciting the following incantation: "Ancient spirits of evil, transform this decayed form to Mumm-Ra, the Ever-Living!" This transforms him into a muscular fiend who menaces the ThunderCats with episode-long challenges before being driven back into his sarcophagus. In later episodes, while endowing Mumm-Ra with his powers, the statues of the Ancient Spirits of Evil come down from their perches and extend their arms over him as the powers of evil flow into Mumm-Ra.
In several episodes, Mumm-Ra has an even more powerful form beyond "Mumm-Ra the Ever-Living" called "Mumm-Ra the All-Powerful." In this manifestation, Mumm-Ra absorbs the entire power of the Ancient Spirits of Evil to become grander in size and strength, and the design pattern on his loincloth changes, so does his voice. (This form is only presented three times in the series: the episodes "Thundercubs Part V," "Return of the Thundercubs," and "The Last Day.") In another incarnation, calling himself "Mumm-Ra the Dream Master," he is able to enter dreams to subliminally influence the ThunderCats in their sleep as a form of mind control.
Mumm-Ra is regarded as immortal, and when defeated or "killed," he simply returns to his sarcophagus. Mumm-Ra cannot stay destroyed, as he often states: "Wherever/While evil exists, Mumm-Ra lives!" Initially, Mumm-Ra cannot stand the sight of his own reflection; if he catches a glimpse of this, he reverts to his mummified form and flees to his pyramid. Eventually however, the Ancient Spirits of Evil rid Mumm-Ra of this vulnerability when they revive him following his failure to harness the power of the Star of Thundera. After that, his only limitation on his activities is how long he is away from his sarcophagus.
Later, Mumm-Ra is shown to have a blue bulldog companion named Ma-Mutt, capable of flight and supernatural feats of strength and speed. He is generally evil, though some episodes depict him as having sympathetic qualities.
Secondary Canon[]
According to the first chapter of Wildstorm's comic ThunderCats Origins: Heroes and Villains, Mumm-Ra's origin is set in ancient Egypt. He was once Wahankh, a member of the pharaoh's council and his most loyal adviser. in this chapter also shows Wahankh's pet dog, Ma-Tep (the future Ma-Mutt). The friendship made with the pharaoh was so close and enduring that the sovereign actually considered him part of his family.
However, Wahankh's real aim was to overthrow the royal power of his pharaoh in a coup d'état and become the ruler of the land. To achieve his goal, he invoked the presence of the Ancient Spirits of Evil for the first time by using four magical runes, each representing one of the four evil beings. Once the spirits appeared, he requested a small part of their power in order to defeat the powerful pharaoh's army. In exchange, he would rule all Egypt in their name as a humble servant. The Ancient Spirits agreed to help him and Wahankh was invested with evil powers, becoming an immortal sorcerer and demon-priest in their service while his entire body mutated into a cadaverous grey form. Finally, a new name was given to him: Mumm-Ra.
Knowing about this betrayal, the pharaoh immediately faced the monstrous and grotesque being. Trusting his newfound powers, Mumm-Ra ordered the pharaoh to bow down and proclaimed himself as the new master of the realm. Nonetheless, the pharaoh's son confronted him and quickly managed to outmaneuver Mumm-Ra in battle, defeating him.
Without being aware that Mumm-Ra was actually immortal, the pharaoh spared him the fate of dying at the stake for his own treachery. Considering all his years of service, as the pharaoh instead granted him a merciful, religious death being locked as a mummy in an onyx pyramid's giant burial chamber. As for the pharaoh's son, knowing about Mumm-Ra's never-ending life, he took joy in imprisoning him for apparently all eternity. In the darkness, Mumm-Ra begged for the help of the Ancient Spirits once again, but they denied it due to his incompetence in using those powers they had previously granted him. Instead, they ordered him to build four large statues on the chamber to praise them, a task that would take at least 600 years to be accomplished. Only then they would grant him the power to break free by turning into an eternal and overwhelming warrior, capable of defeating any pharaoh. Before the TV series storyline had started, at some point he fulfilled the work, receiving the ability to become Mumm-Ra, the Ever-Living.
The length of time between Wahankh's first invocation of the Ancient Spirits of Evil and the Plundarian Mutants's "Unholy Alliance" with Mumm-Ra is not specified anywhere in the TV series, but Mumm-Ra can, presumably, be considered a claimant to more than three million years of age.
Mumm-Ra, the Ever-Living (ThunderCats 1985)
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