Saturday Showcase: Psycho-Man

 

    For my devoted followers, you know I play the game Marvel: Contest of Champions.  Recently they added one of my favorite villains of all time, Psycho-Man. He was mainly used as a villain to fight the Fantastic Four, but he has had run-ins with the Avengers, Spider-Man, Cable, and the Micronauts to name a few.  Well, when I saw him in the game, I knew I had to make him star in my latest Saturday Showcase.  So, sit back and enjoy reading the origins and abilities of the villain known as Psycho-Man.

    Psycho-Man first appears in the 1967 Fantastic Four Annual #5, as the leader of a technocracy that governs a microscopic system of worlds in the Microverse.  Due to overpopulation on these worlds, the character decides that the macroscopic world will be an ideal new base. Using technology from the mainstream universe, Psycho-Man remains microscopic in size but is able to function by controlling a suit of advanced human-sized armor. Using a portable device capable of influencing people's emotions, Psycho-Man enslaves a number of human subjects to build a larger version of the machine, with the intent of subjugating the world. The plan, however, is thwarted by Fantastic Four members the Human Torch and the Thing, by the Royal Family of the Inhumans and by the Black Panther; Psycho-Man is forced to retreat back to the Microverse.

    He eventually reappears and causes all kinds of havoc in the Macroverse including using his emotions machine to bring forth Malice against the Fantastic Four.  Which, in the long run, he loses and the Fantastic Four remain victorious and the Universe is saved.

    We have also witnessed heroes such as Spider-Man and Cable travel to the Microverse to put an end to the mad man's plans.  My favorite story arc is from issues 38 and39 of the Cable series.  In fact, one of my favorite Cable comic covers is issue 38.  Psycho-Man just looks so bad ass!

Publication Information

• Publisher: Marvel Comics
• First Appearance: Fantastic Four Annual #5 (Nov. 1967)
• Created by: Stan Lee (writer) & Jack Kirby (artist)

Origin and Abilities

• Place of Origin: Traan
• Abilities:  

1.     Genius-level intellect 
2.     Use of powered armor 
3.     Possesses a futuristic space vessel 
4.     Emotion manipulation via emotion-controlling device

Saturday Showcase: Sunspot

Sunspot

    As my original followers know, I am a huge fan of the Contest of Champions app from Marvel and made by Kabam.  Anyway, the recent Update was for a new story line starring two of the original New Mutants, Warlock and Sunspot.  When I first saw the image of Sunspot, I liked how bad ass they designed him.  I immediately knew that I had to do a showcase on this underrated hero.

Sunspot as seen in Contest of Champions

    Sunspot was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Bob McLeod. He first appeared in The New Mutants (Graphic Novel, September 1982).  Immediately following, he became part of the regular cast of The New Mutants, as seen in Marvel Comics.

    Sunspot, or Roberto da Costa, is Brazilian, the son of wealthy Brazilian businessman Emmanuel da Costa and an American archaeologist Nina da Costa.  Sunspot possesses the ability to absorb and channel solar power. He is idealistic and impulsive, but is considered a close friend of many of his teammates. 

Sunspot Vs a Sentinel

    Sunspot is a mutant whose cells have the ability to absorb solar energy and convert it for use as physical strength. He is also able to create thermal updrafts for flight, project heat and light, as well as concussive blasts of solar energy.  At will, he is able to take on a superhuman "powered up" form that is entirely non-reflective black, save for his eyes which turn a solid bright white. Though the color black optimizes solar absorption, he absorbs solar power at all times, not only when he is in his "powered up" form. If he has not absorbed sufficient amounts of solar energy in normal form, he will be too weak to "power up". Likewise, when not in direct sunlight, use of his superhuman strength rapidly exhausts the stores of energy within his body.

    When in his solar form, Sunspot also has a corona effect, an aura that has been depicted in multiple ways.  Although Sunspot can absorb energy from stars and reflected solar energy from the moon, the amounts that reach him on Earth are too minuscule to add significantly to his power.

Sunspot's Rage as seen in War of Realms

Team Affiliations

• New Mutants
• Avengers
• A.I.M.
• Costa International
• Fallen Angels
• Hellfire Club
• Mutant Liberation Front
• New Avengers
• X-Corporation
• X-Force
• X-Men
• Young X-Men
• U.S.Avengers
• S.H.I.E.L.D.

    Well, I hope you enjoyed this Showcase on Sunspot.  Do yourself a favor and look up some old New Mutants or X-Force comics to see his back story.  Then, check out the kick ass role he plays in War of Realms.

Until next time, get your READ on!

Saturday Showcase: St. Patrick's Day Edition - SHAMROCK

Marvel Comics Presents #24

    I realize it is Sunday and not Saturday, but I wanted my St. Patrick's Day post to be special.  That is why I decided to wait until today to post it.  The star of today's showcase is Molly Fitzgerald aka Shamrock.  She is a hero that some of you may not have heard of, but was a pivotal character in my comic reading as a child.

    Shamrock first appeared in Contest of Champions #1 (June 1982). She also appeared in issues #2-3 of the series (July–August 1982).  I was all about the Champions of Earth battling it out.  When I saw the cover to issue #1, I had to get it.  Then, as I read it, I fell in love with all the heroes created for the battles between Team Death and Team Grandmaster.

First Appearance: Contest of Champions #1

    Molly Fitzgerald was born in Dunshaughlin, Ireland.  As Shamrock, she serves as a vessel for displaced poltergeists and souls that have died as innocent victims of war.  These spirits are the source of her power.  They manifest themselves for fractions of seconds to cause good luck for her and bad luck for those who oppose her.

Captured by Arnim Zola (MCP #24)

    Shamrock is possessed by the souls of thousands of victims of wars who manifest themselves as poltergeists which affect probability within a 20-foot radius of her, altering situations so that she is given an advantage, in essence having "The Luck of the Irish".

Shamrock

Shamrock's Vitals

First appearance:  Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions #1 (Jun 1982)

Created by Mark Gruenwald, Bill Mantlo, Steven Grant, and John Romita Jr.

Alter ego: Molly Fitzgerald

Species: Human Mystic Mutant

Abilities: Probability Manipulation

ROM #65 - Diversity Outreach Program

    Although Shamrock is on a list of heroes that Marvel probably wants you to forget, I feel she needs to be celebrated.  I feel since she made her first appearance in Contest of Champions, see needs to make an appearance in the game of the same name.  I understand if they don't put Molly or the Shamrock in a feature film, but they need to at least have her do more cameos in comics or like I said, make her a playable character for the Contest of Champions App.

    Well, that ends my rant about Shamrock. I hope you enjoyed learning about this forgotten hero.  

Until next time, get your READ on!

Saturday Showcase: the Champion

Who can stand toe to toe with the CHAMPION?

    Normally, when I chose my Saturday Showcase character I look back on my childhood instead of recent characters that you may see in apps or games.  Today is special because this character fits in the realm of my childhood as well as for the kids of today.

    As many of you know, I am a huge NERD and I play games (when I have the time) that focus in the realm of comics.  Well, one such game I play is the Contest of Champions app from Marvel.  When I saw the latest champion spotlight, it took me back to when I was a kid and I couldn't wait until the latest issue of Marvel Two-in-One hit the shelves.  You see, today's showcase made his first appearance in a Marvel Two-in-One annual and he is simply known as the Champion of the Universe.

The Champion as seen in Contest of Champions

    The Champion was born Tryco Slatterus.  He has been around for billions of years.  In fact, he is one of the Elders of the Universe.  Tryco is known as the Champion because he believes in settling matters in a competition to see who is the best.  And as we all know, he is the Champion of the Universe so I would say it is a safe bet he hasn't lost a battle.  

    He was first introduced to us in 1982 with the release of Marvel Two-in-One Annual #7.  He is the brainchild of Tom DeFalco (writer) and 
Ron Wilson (artist).  In the Marvel Two-in-One Annual, the Champion took on a variety of Earth's mightiest heroes, eight to be exact.  The fate of teh Earth was in the balance. He fought and won against the Earth's finest but it was the Thing that saved us all.  He gained respect for the Thing because of how he carried himself in battle.  It was this respect that saved the Earth from annihilation.  

First Appearance: Marvel Two-in-One Annual #7

The Champion's Abilities include:

• Superhuman strength
• Superhuman endurance 
• Superhuman agility 
• Superhuman reflexes
• Invulnerability 
• Master of countless fighting styles and martial arts forms

    The Champion has fought in many battles and will continue to fight until the end of time.  He has fought members of the Avengers, X-men, Fantastic Four, as well as the Silver Surfer and Thanos.  He shows no sign of stopping or losing.

    So I say this, Bravo to Contest of Champions!  Bravo for spotlighting such a treasure from the Marvel Universe!  Thank you for allowing me to go back in my childhood and collect this gem all over again.  My advice to any Contest of Champions players who may be reading this - if you get the Champion from a crystal, put him in your starting line-up.

Until next time, get your READ on!

The Thing earns the Champions respect. *As seen in M2N1 Annual #7