Who's Kulak?

What's This? The Spectre's archenemy.

The facts: Appearing in All-Star Comics #2's Spectre story by Jerry Siegel and Bernard Baily (cover-dated September 1940), Kulak, a high priest from another dimension, will not be seen again until Roy Thomas pulls him out of mothballs in the early 80s for All-Star Squadron. It would score him a few more appearances in the 90s Justice Society of America series, and during the New52 era, a new version would feature in a couple issues of Midnighter and Apollo.
How you could have heard of him: You might be a smart reader who picked up his issue of Scooby-Doo! Team-Up, co-starring Zatanna! (Issue 19 if it's not too late).
Example story: All-Star Squadron #28 (December 1983) "By Hatred Possessed!" by Roy Thomas, Richard Howell and Gerald Forton

When first and last seen in 1940, Kulak promised to return and destroy the world. For us, it took 43 years. For the heroes of Earth-2, it was only 2, but any civilization that disturbed his tomb needs to be extinguished, so... Gotta HAND it to him, he certainly knows how to make an entrance.

As the JSA flies up to meet the threat, they feel great waves of hatred coming from the three-eyed devil. What they don't realize is that he's appearing all over the world.

It's a multi-dimensional attack after all. One wonders if Earth's forces will fall prey to Kulak's giant fingernails like the JSA does.

This is why the Spectre, or Dr. Fate in a pinch, needs to be on the team. It's not like Dr. Mid-Nite or the Atom can do anything about something like this. Fortunately for the Justice Society, the All-Star Squadron has been formed, and there are other magic-users available. How about Sargon the Sorcerer, for example? If he can touch Kulak's magic Ring of Life, the source of all his power, he can take control of it. Kulak recognizes him, and for the first time, he is afraid. The JSA throws everything they have at him, and Sargon DOES manage to get to the Ring (which we learn is cut from the same stone as Sargon's).

Did... did SARGON win the day? Well, that's as maybe. Sargon reveals that if Kulak can't enter our world, he may yet send the Spectre to destroy the world in his stead. See, in a previous issue (#20), the Spectre had learned the Ring of Life had been returned to Kulak and gone to the Ditko dimension to retrieve it. But he failed and Kulak took control of him. Dr. Fate went in after, but the controlled Spectre defeated HIM. And it's certainly in the Spectre's power to come to Earth. On cue, he does.

It's still up to Sargon. He finds Dr. Fate in his mystical prison and frees him. Fate engages Kulas in spell battle, and for a moment, it makes the Spectre pause. Fate is defeated again, and the Helmet of Nabu stripped from Kent Nelson's head!

Boy, this guy is ever so powerful! And his collection of artifacts is only making him stronger! Except... Kulak realizes his third eye can't peer outside the helmet and its power is turned against him. He is hurled through an infinity of dimensions... and the Helmet of Nabu goes with him. Defeated by his own ambition, Kulak is gone. The Spectre is freed. And Kent Nelson is gifted a new, less powerful helmet so that Dr. Fate may go on.

That's right, while there was never an explanation in the comics themselves for Dr. Fate's nerfing at half-helm, Roy Thomas provides one. It was all Kulak's fault!

Who's Next? A Japanese-American shape-changer.