Ah Puch (Ahau) (Earth-616)

Ah Puch is one of the Ahau, an extra-dimensional race of beings who were worshiped by the Aztecs and Mayans of Ancient Mexico.

Disenchanted by the lack of new souls introduced to his realm for several thousand years, he entered into a dark pact with six other gods of the dead in an attempt to merge their perspective realms. The ritual; however, released Atum in the form of Demogorge the God-Eater. Unable to contain the primeval entity, Ah Puch ended up consumed by Demogorge and had to be rescued by Thor and an alliance of gods from other pantheons.^[6]

Ahau Physiology: Ah Puch has the conventional powers of the Mexican gods although some of them are more developed:

• Superhuman Strength: All members of the Ahau pantheon possess some degree of superhuman strength. However, on average, they are somewhat weaker than some other pantheons, such as the Asgardians or Olympians; the average male Mayan god is able to lift about 25 tons on the average. Ah Puch is stronger than the average member of his pantheon and can lift 75 tons.^[8]

• Superhuman Speed: Each member of the pantheon is able to run and move at speeds that are beyond the natural physical limits of the finest human specimen, though the upper limit of the speed varies between members.

• Superhuman Stamina: The musculature of the Ahau is much more efficient than that of a human being. Their muscles produce considerably less fatigue toxins during physical activities than those of humans. The average Mayan god can exert themselves at peak capacity for roughly 24 hours before the buildup of fatigue toxins in their blood begins to impair them.

• Superhuman Durability: The skin, bone, and muscle tissues of the gods are much tougher and more resistant to physical injury than the bodies of humans. The average Ahau is capable of withstanding falls from great heights, exposure to temperature extremes, great impacts and high caliber bullets without sustaining injury.^[8]

• Superhumanly Dense Tissue: The density of an Ahau's bodily tissues is about two-and-a-half that of a human being, contributing somewhat to their great strength. As a result, they’re actually much heavier than they appear to be.

• Regenerative Healing Factor: It is possible for the Ahau to sustain injury. If injured, their extremely efficient metabolisms enable them to rapidly heal damaged bodily tissue much more extensively than a human is capable of. The average god, however, is unable to regenerate missing limbs or organs.

• Immortality: The Ahau are functionally immortal in the sense that they cease to age upon reaching adulthood and are immune to the effects of all known earthly diseases and infections. However, this does not mean that they cannot die. It is possible for them to sustain injuries, such as being incinerated for instance, that can cause their physical deaths. It’s possible, however, for a number of gods working together to resurrect a deceased member if his or her life essence is beyond resurrection.^[8]

• Superhuman Agility: All members of the Ahau pantheon possess agility, balance and bodily coordination beyond the natural physical limits of the finest human specimen.

• Superhuman Reflexes: The reflexes of an Ahau are also enhanced to superhuman levels. The reflexes of the Mayan gods are somewhat superior to those of most other god pantheons as a means of balancing out their typically inferior levels of physical strength.

• Shapeshifting: Most Ahau are highly skilled metamorphs and can shift all portions of their bodies into the shapes of animals, inanimate objects, other humanoid beings, skeletal form, etc.

• Mystical Energies: Many Ahau also possess additional superhuman abilities that are magical in nature and he can project mystical energy from his hands.^[8]

• Control Over Life and Death: As a god of death, Ah Puch holds the power of life and death. Death for a god is somewhat different than death for an Earth human being. In both cases, the corporeal body ceases all functions and activities, but whereas mortal spirits flee the physical form at the moment of death, the spirits of gods remain in their bodies until the death god draws them out and dispatches them to his/her realms.

• Early handbooks mixed Ahpuch and Mictlantechutli.^[4]
• This character is not to be confused with Ah Puch of the Mayapan.