History
Skuttlebutt is a sentient battleship built by the Korbinites using the same technology they used to create Beta Ray Bill. Essentially, Bill and Skuttlebutt are 'brothers,' although it has been stated that Skuttlebutt identifies as female. Skuttlebutt's purpose is to assist the protector of the Korbinites. Bill's race, the Korbinites, were almost rendered extinct when their galaxy exploded. The remnants of the Korbonite race fled in a fleet of warships, guarded by the sentient ship called Skuttlebutt and their dedicated champion, Beta Ray Bill.
With the decimation of the Burning Galaxy at the hands of Surtur, the Korbinite race was on the brink of extinction. Once a mighty empire inhabiting several planets, the surviving Korbinites were reduced to a fleet of ten thousand starships. Realizing that they needed a champion to protect the fleet during their search for a new home, the Korbinites selected the strongest among them, Bill, after their original champion, Alpha Ray, proved to be dangerously uncontrollable. Having bested his fellow Korbinites in combat to prove his worthiness, Bill's soul was transferred into a "bio-machine" based on the most ferocious carnivore in the Burning Galaxy. Now called Beta Ray Bill, the champion and his sentient ship, Skuttlebutt, successfully delayed Surtur's remaining demons while the fleet makes its way to safety. With the fleet light-years away, Bill attempted to flee but the demons give chase, threatening to overtake the Korbinites within days. Taking Skuttlebutt ahead of the fleet to find sanctuary, Bill entered stasis while the ship replenished its energy reserves by absorbing a star. This act was picked up by a S.H.I.E.L.D. deep-space satellite, prompting Director Nick Fury to take drastic measures.[citation needed]
Detecting the ship's path, which will carry it through the Milky Way galaxy, Nick Fury kidnapped Dr. Donald Blake and "asked" his alter ego, Thor, to investigate. Using his great speed, Thor intercepted Skuttlebutt en route to Earth. Detecting a similarity between Asgardian magic and that used by the demons pursuing the Korbinites, Skuttlebutt attacked, but was unable to defeat Thor before he pierced the ship's hull and made his way inside. With no alternative, Skuttlebutt woke Bill from stasis and the two champions started slugging it out. Losing possession of Mjolnir for more than 60 seconds during the fight, Thor was transformed into his mortal identity of Dr. Donald Blake and was knocked unconscious by Bill. Picking up Dr. Blake's cane, which was really Mjolnir in disguise, Bill was recognized as worthy and gained Thor's powers and a similar costume after striking the cane against the wall. Heavily damaged by Thor, Skuttlebutt crash landed on Earth, where S.H.I.E.L.D. agents lay in wait. Using his new powers to defeat the agents with ease, Bill realized that a weapon like Mjolnir could save his people from certain death. Before he could leave, however, Bill was unexpectedly whisked away to Asgard.[citation needed]
Finding himself in a strange place, Bill quickly took down the gathered Asgardians before coming face-to-face with Odin. Angered, Bill threw the hammer at Odin only to watch it float harmlessly into the All-Father's hand. Locked in a cage of pure force, Bill spoke with Odin on the implications of Thor's defeat aboard Skuttlebutt. Teleporting the helpless Dr. Blake to Asgard, and mystically transformed into Thor, Odin released Bill and the three men departed for the mountains to discuss their situation. Never before encountering a non-Asgardian who could wield Mjolnir, Odin acknowledged Bill's claim to the hammer and arranged a battle to the death between the two worthy; the prize: Mjolnir. Battling for hours in the fiery realm of Skartheim, Bill and Thor demolished the countryside with their blows before collapsing from sheer exhaustion. As their bodies rested above a lava flow, Bill revived first, his bio-machine body rejuvenated by the intense heat. Recognizing Thor as a worthy opponent, Bill prevented Thor from falling into the lava flow, reaffirming his own worthiness in the process. Recognizing Bill as the winner, Odin teleported the two broken, exhausted warriors home to Asgard. Days passed while Odin's healers worked their magic, during which the All-Father spoke with Bill about his victory over Thor. Citing the hammer's mystical bond with Thor, Bill was hesitant to take Mjolnir for his own despite his great need, so Odin struck a deal with Eitri of Nidavellir to forge another hammer of equal power: Stormbreaker.[citation needed]
Now fully-healed, Bill left Asgard along with Thor and Lady Sif, hoping to track down the Korbinite fleet before it was too late. The great speed of Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder allowed the heroes to catch the fleet with ease, but the demon attack had already begun. In order to defeat the demons, the source of their power had to be destroyed. Lady Sif volunteered to stay behind to defend the fleet while Bill and Thor traveled to the heart of the Burning Galaxy. Traveling faster than the eye could follow, Bill and Thor arrived in a twisted, demonic perversion of the former Korbinite galaxy. Encountering a barrier around the galaxy's center protected by intense heat, Bill slipped through while Thor lay in wait. Discovering a portal projecting massive amounts of energy, Bill and Thor struck simultaneously, destroying the portal with the combined might of their hammers.[citation needed]
Back with the fleet, an exhausted Sif cut down hundreds of demons, but their numbers only grew until the unexpected arrival of Skuttlebutt turning the tide. Working together, Sif and Skuttlebutt drove the demons back, but time was running out. Desperate, Skuttlebutt readied her Self-Destruct Mechanism, which could wipe out all life within a light-year. Unwilling to abandon her fellow warrior, Sif watched as the demons suddenly faded away.[citation needed]Attributes
Abilities
Paraphernalia
Equipment
Weapons
Notes
- Although it's a sentient spaceship, Skuttlebutt is often referred to by Bill with feminine pronouns (i.e. 'she', 'her') and has slightly feminine AI programming. This may or may not be a reference or homage to actual nautical ships being referred to as female.
Trivia
- "Scuttlebutt" is a nautical term, a synonym for gossip.
- Skuttlebutt resembles an Earth battleship, similar in design to the Space Battleship Yamato from the Japanese anime series of the same name.
See Also
- 25 appearance(s) of Skuttlebutt (Earth-616)
- 2 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Skuttlebutt (Earth-616)
- 2 minor appearance(s) of Skuttlebutt (Earth-616)
- 1 mention(s) of Skuttlebutt (Earth-616)
- 11 image(s) of Skuttlebutt (Earth-616)
- 1 quotation(s) by or about Skuttlebutt (Earth-616)