Religion: Mayan 
Name: El Tigre
Alter Ego: Juan Meroz
Other Names: Kukulcan; Kukulcán; The Tiger; Mightiest of the Ancient Mayan Gods
Classification:
villain
Publisher(s): 
First Appearance: The X-Men (vol. 1) #25 (Oct. 1966): "The Power and the Pendant!"
Creators: Roy Thomas, Werner Roth, Dick Ayers
Super? (Has Super Powers/Special Abilities/Technology): Yes
Number of Appearances: 5
Occupation: gem hunter
Nation: San Rico, Central America
Gender: male
Note: became an avatar of Quetzalcoatl
The source of El Tigre's powers was a mystical pendant. The pendant gave him the power to project solar energy as well as control the minds of descendants of Mayans. After finding the pendant and gaining powers, El Tigre came to believe that he himself was the reincarnation of the Mayan god Kukulkan.
In X-Men (vol. 1) #25, when El Tigre and his two servants (Ramon and Toloc) found the ancient Mayan pyramid that El Tigre had been searching for, he jubilantly announced that this find would make him the richest man in San Rico. This strongly suggests that El Tigre was not simply gem-hunting in San Rico, but that he regularly lived there as well. As far as we know, El Tigre is a native of this small Latin American nation.
The Uncanny X-Men (vol. 1) #138 (Oct. 1980): "Elegy" (1-panel cameo)
The X-Men
Suggested links for further research about this character and the character's religious affiliation:
- http://marvel.wikia.com/Juan_Meroz_(Earth-616)
- http://www.comicvine.com/el-tigre/4005-76635/
- http://comicbookdb.com/character.php?ID=16316
- http://www.comicboards.com/marvelguide/e.htm
- http://www.marvunapp.com/master/kskz.htm
- http://www.marvunapp.com/master/titn.htm
- https://www.comics.org/issue/20442/
- http://marvel.wikia.com/X-Men_Vol_1_25
- http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=2680
- http://www.comicvine.com/the-x-men-the-power-and-the-pendant/37-8885/
- http://marvel.wikia.com/X-Men_Vol_1_26
- http://comicbookdb.com/issue.php?ID=2681
- http://www.uncannyxmen.net/db/issues/showquestion.asp?fldAuto=1037
- http://www.comiccollectorlive.com/LiveData/Issue.aspx?id=879242f4-87b6-44c6-9c5e-fa3ea7222787