Protector (Marvel Comics) Protector (Marvel Comics) Protector is a fictional superhero in the Marvel Universe. Protector first appeared in "Fantastic Four" #205–206 (April–May 1979), and was created by Marv Wolfman, Keith Pollard, and Joe Sinnott. The character subsequently appears in "Fantastic Four" #208 (July 1979), and "ROM" #24 (November 1981). Protector appeared as part of the "Champions of Xandar" entry in the "Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition" #16. Thoral Rul was the Prime Thoran of Xandar, whose duty was to protect the Xandarian's Living Computers (aka Worldmind). To defend them against the Skrulls, he effected a mind-meld with the Worldmind,
Marvel Comics was able to capitalize on its successful superhero comics of the previous decade by acquiring a new newsstand distributor and greatly expanding its comics line. Marvel pulled ahead of rival DC Comics in 1972, during a time when the price and format of the standard newsstand comic were in flux. Goodman increased the price and size of Marvel's November 1971 cover-dated comics from 15 cents for 36 pages total to 25 cents for 52 pages. DC followed suit, but Marvel the following month dropped its comics to 20 cents for 36 pages, offering a lower-priced product with a higher distributor