The Sphinx comes to life in Journey Into Mystery #60 and we learn its name is Shagg. Shagg (not to be confused with popular 70's carpet stylings) is the harbinger of an invading alien force from the distant stars and when he is awakened unexpectedly he thinks the invasion is on, but learns different and wipes out the whole affair from the minds of men. Still he sits and the invasion might happen anytime. It's really mystery as to why Shagg looks so different on the cover, but maybe that's just because Steve Ditko inks Jack Kirby's work in that case.
Another Kirby monster is unleashed tomorrow.
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The cover has a more "European village" feel and Shagg resembles the Golem design used in the 1915 silent film of the same name!
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Could that have been the original idea (Golem is disguised alien robot) when the cover was done, but abandoned when the story was drawn sometime later?
That makes a lot of sense. It does look like the Golem.
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Here in the UK "shag" is a bit naughtier than a carpet - it's a slang word for sexual intercourse.
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