Niddler

Niddler is a monkey-bird — a hybrid creature from the animated series The Pirates of Dark Water — who serves as a loyal companion to the young prince Ren on his quest across the world of Mer, a ocean-covered planet threatened by spreading dark water.

Few characters in early '90s Marvel comics carry quite the exotic charm of Niddler, who made their debut in The Pirates of Dark Water #1 in 1991, diving straight into one of the Copper/Modern Age's more adventurous and visually distinctive series. Adapted from an animated property into four-color life, this short-lived run is a genuine curiosity in the Marvel catalog, and Niddler shares its pages with a colorful cast including Ren, Ioz, Tula, the menacing Bloth, and Konk. With only eight recorded appearances, Niddler is a rare find — the kind of character that rewards the dedicated back-issue hunter who loves unearthing the roads less traveled in comics history.