Saturday Showcase: Cyclone (André Gerard)

 

Today's Showcase features another one of the Scourge's victims who was later resurrected by the Hood only to  be killed by Frank Castle aka the Punisher.  This villain has fought Spider-Man and Moon Knight in his prime.  He had a good career as a villain until the Scourge of the Underworld put him down,  Let's learn about how vital h is to the Marvel Universe.

André Gerard was born in Lyon, France. Mr. Gerard was a French engineer working for NATO but he had a falling out with his former employees based on the development of a weapon that generates high velocity tornado-like winds. So André took his invention and used it for his own criminal ends, developing his costume and other weapons. Since h e had the capability of creating tornado-like winds, he named himself Cyclone.  Like many criminal masterminds in Spider-Man comics, he decided to form a gang and capture J. Jonah Jameson, the owner of the Daily Bugle, and like so many criminal masterminds who follow this plan, he was defeated by Spider-Man.  He also attempted to  kidnap Joseph "Robbie" Robertson, but was again defeated by Spider-Man.

André  was broken out of prison by the Masked Marauder and employed by the Nefaria Family of the Maggia as an enforcer. Cyclone was sent to kill Spider-Man and Moon Knight, but was defeated by Moon Knight.

He was doing relatively well for himself, in spite of his defeats at the hands of Spider-Man. Concerned over the deaths of various costumed villains by the vigilante Scourge organization, Cyclone attended a meeting at the "Bar with No Name" in Medinah County, Ohio, to deal with the Scourge and was shot to death by a Scourge agent posing as the bartender.

Cyclone was later among the eighteen victims of Scourge to be resurrected by Hood using the power of Dormammu as part of a squad assembled to eliminate the Punisher.  After the Punisher is captured, he is present at the ritual where the Hood intends to resurrect the Punisher's family. The Hood gives the Punisher a knife to sacrifice G. W. Bridge, but the Punisher instead uses the knife to slash Cyclone's throat.

Publication Information

Publisher:  Marvel Comics

First Appearance:  The Amazing Spider-Man #143 (April 1975)

Created by Gerry Conway & Ross Andru

Full Name: André Gerard

Team Affiliations:

• Maggia
• NATO

Partnerships:

• Hood

Abilities

Expert engineer

Gifted intellect

His Costume grants the ability to create whirlwind

Until next time, get your READ on!

All I got to say now  is "Who's Next?"

Saturday Showcase: the Mirage

 

Desmond Charne aka the Mirage is an interesting Marvel villain from the 70's.  Sure, the costume wasn't the greatest back then, but his costume wasn't the only one that would have you say WTF? back then.  I was just going through some old comics, and I came across a Captain America Scourge storyline that featured this forgotten villain and I decided to educate you new comic readers to the man known as Desmond Charne but better known by his alias, the Mirage. 

Desmond Charne was a former holography technician who wanted to be a supervillain. He used holograph technology which could make him invisible or create 3-D illusions.  He made his criminal debut at Betty Brant and Ned Leeds' wedding, intending to rob them and their guests, but Spider-Man interfered. Alas, his plans were ruined by your friendly, neighborhood, Spider-Man. [Amazing Spider-Man #156]

The next time we see Mirage, he had planned to kidnap the Thing from a hospital, to sell him to the highest bidder. However, Daredevil prevented hiss plans, and defeated him.  [Marvel Two-in-One #96]  No one said he was a successful criminal. (Right Dr. Jay)

Mirage attended the "Bar With No Name" in Medinah County, Ohio and was massacred along with all the other villains present at the incident by the Scourge of the Underworld, sustaining multiple gunshot wounds. He was reported to have survived, as part of a ploy to lure the Scourge into a trap. Dressed as Mirage, Captain America captured Scourge, who was then shot to death by another mysterious assailant.  [Captain America #319-320]

During the "Dark Reign" storyline, Mirage was later among the 18 criminals that were murdered by Scourge of the Underworld to be resurrected by Hood using the power of Dormammu as part of a squad assembled to eliminate the Punisher.

Mirage disguises himself and a number of the criminals as the Avengers out to kill the Punisher. The Punisher uncovers the ruse when he knocks out Mirage (disguised as Captain America) and captures him. He interrogates Mirage about the villain's plans, and leaves him with a grenade in his mouth.

He was saved by his crew only to have the Punisher find him once again but it wasn't the Punisher that finished him.  He was silenced before Frank could get him to talk.  [the Punisher #5-8 (2009), Punisher: In the Blood #2]

The Mirage has returned in many storylines since his "reveal" back in 1976, which is proof you can't keep a bad guy down.  They just don't seem to stay dead.  It is the world of comics you know, lol.

Publication Information

Publisher: Marvel Comics

First Appearance:  The Amazing Spider-Man #156 (May 1976)

Created by Len Wein & Ross Andru

Alter Ego: Desmond Charne

Team Affiliations:

• Grapplers
• Sinister Sixteen

Notable Aliases: Master of Illusion

Powers & Abilities

Genius Electrician, Physicist and Laser Technologist

Carries a handgun and tranquilizer gun

Costume grants him three dimensional holographic image projection

Which one of these fallen villains should I write about next?

Until next time, get your READ on!

Saturday Showcase: Baron Blood

 

It's the return of Saturday Showcase.  I do apologize for my absence, but Spectrum went down due the constant rebuilding we face in the state of Louisiana ever since Hurricane Ida crossed or shores.  Anyway, I'm back and it is still the month of October so I wanted my showcase to focus on a hero or villain that could be associated with the holiday of Halloween and I came up with Baron Blood.  He has been a thorn in the Avenger's side ever since his creation in 1976.  Without further hesitation, let us dig in the history of one Baron Blood.

There are several people that have gone by the name Baron Blood, but I want to focus on the one that I was introduced to as a child.  His name is John Falsworth and I, like many, was introduced to him in the 7th issue of the Invaders series from Marvel Comics.

When we first meet John, he is  posing as the son of the first John Falsworth, it is revealed in flashback that the character is in fact the original, made possible due to the fact that he is now an ageless vampire.  You see, when the family fortune is left to his older brother James, John Falsworth leaves England to pursue an interest of his - vampire lore. Falsworth travels to Transylvania and encounters the original vampire lord Dracula, who, after overpowering Falsworth, drains his blood and turns him into one of the undead.  Dracula then commands Falsworth to return to England and cause havoc in revenge for the deeds of his former opponent Jonathan Harker. Adopting the alias of "Baron Blood", John allies with Germany during World War I and without either party realizing the identity of the other, battles his own brother, who is now the English hero Union Jack.  Blood is wounded by Jack with a silver dagger, and flees to recover.

Baron Blood reappears during World War II, and once again aids Germany, with Nazi technology helping him to reduce his susceptibility to sunlight. As Blood, Falsworth attacks and wounds his niece, Jacqueline Falsworth, but is driven off by the android Human Torch. Almost dead due to blood loss, Jacqueline Falsworth is saved when given a blood transfusion by the Torch. The artificial blood causes the character to develop superhuman abilities, and she becomes the heroine Spitfire. Blood captures Spitfire and takes her to a cavern below Falsworth Manor, and cripples his brother by breaking his legs with a boulder. Blood is then impaled through the back and chest by a silver-laced stalactite.  Leaving him dead...for now.

Powers and Abilities

Baron Blood possessed all the powers of a vampire, including superhuman strength and durability; hypnotism and the ability to command bats; wolves; dogs; rats and mice. 

Weaknesses included vulnerability to sunlight, garlic, and silver; the presence of religious symbols; decapitation and a wooden stake through the heart.

Courtesy of Nazi science, Blood received treatment that allowed him activity in sunlight, at least for some length of time, although this also prevented a vampire's traditional shape-changing powers (into a bat or wolf) from working. His transformation into a vampire also somehow activated an apparently latent psionic ability of self-levitation, which enabled Blood to fly without having to change into a bat.

Publication Information

Publisher:  Marvel Comics

First Appearance:  The Invaders #7 (July 1976)

Created by: Roy Thomas & Frank Robbins

Alter Ego: John Falsworth

Species: Vampire

Team Affiliations:  Dracula

                                 Super-Axis

Notable Aliases:     John Falsworth, Jr.

                                 Dr. Jacob Cromwell

I hope you enjoyed today's Saturday Showcase.

Until next time, get your READ on!

Classic Cover of the Day - Marvel Two-in-One #1

Classic Cover of the Day

Marvel Two-in-One Vol. 1, #1 (January 1974)

Marvel Comics

 

Saturday Showcase: Stegron, the Dinosaur Man

 

Stegron Vs the Lizard 

     It was a hectic 2020 and in my opinion, I didn't post enough. So, as the new year has arrived, I pledge to return to posting at least once a week.  I already have some interviews lined up for the near future as well as some film, TV, and book reviews.  Let us not waist anymore time, eh?  Today I am proud to announce the return of my Saturday Showcase.  The subject is none other than Stegron, the dinosaur man.  (One of my favorite villains from my childhood I must say.)

BIO:

    As the story goes, Vincent Stegron was hired by S.H.I.E.L.D. to work with Dr. Curt Connors to study DNA of dinosaurs from the Savage Land. Inspired by the experiment that turned Connors into the Lizard, Stegron stole some dinosaur DNA and injected himself with it. In moments Stegron transformed into an orange semi-humanoid Stegosaurus-like creature. Besides a physical transformation, Stegron gained the ability to command real dinosaurs, which he planned to use them in his plans for conquest of the world and converting all of humanity into creatures like himself. Taking several dinosaurs with him from the Savage Land to New York City, he encountered Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Ka-Zar. (Marvel Team-Up #19-20)  During the battle that followed, Stegron was beaten by being knocked into a nearby river and believed to have died from drowning.

    Months later, we find out he survived.  Stegron returned and forced Connors into helping him restore several dinosaur remains from a museum. Connors did what Stegron asked and accidentally turned into the Lizard. The two reptile-men clashed as Spider-Man arrived and later Stegron was sent into hibernation by the extremely cold temperatures the weather was producing. (Amazing Spider-Man #165-166) 

POWERS & ABILITIES:

HUMAN:

• Genius-level intellect
• Ability to transform into a large bipedal Stegosaurus-like creature

TRANSFORMED:

• Superhuman strength, speed, agility, reflexes, stamina and durability
• Sharp claws and teeth
• Spiked tail
• Ability to control or manipulate any dinosaur and the reptilian part of the brain in any life form
• Ability to drain life force from others through physical contact

STATS:

1. Publisher:  Marvel Comics
2. First Appearance:  Marvel Team-Up #19 (March 1974)
3. Created by:  Len Wein (writer) and Gil Kane (artist)
4. Full Name: Vincent Stegron
5. Notable Aliases:  The Dinosaur Man

Classic Cover of the Day - MARVELous Monday Edition

 

Classic Cover of the Day

(MARVELous Monday Edition)

Black Panther Vol. 1, #15

May 1979

Saturday Showcase: Hellstorm

 

    We have 7 days until Halloween.  I knw, why state the obvious?  Well, the timing is the reason I chose the subject for this week's Saturday Showcase.  I have been enjoying the Hulu original series Helstrom and it made me reflect on the good ole days from my childhood and all of my glorious comics that I would stay up after lights out and read over and over again.   Today's showcase is one Daimon Hellstrom.  As you will come to find out from this article, he is a very unique character that could actually have a role in any Marvel movie if the writers chose to do so.  So, let's cut all the gibberish and get right to it.

    Daimon Hellstrom was born in the town of Greentown, Massachusetts. He is the son of Satan and a mortal woman named Victoria Wingate (we later find out that his father was a demon named Marduk Kurios and not the devil). Daimon and his sister, Satana, were trained by their father in the art of magic, tapping into the power granted them by their dark heritage. However, while Satana embraced her heritage, Daimon clung to his humanity. When their mother discovered who her husband really was, she was driven mad. Daimon and Satana were separated and put in different homes after his mother was institutionalized and his father banished back to Hell. Daimon grew up in a Jesuit-run orphanage, never hearing a word from his father or sister. He became a professor of anthropology at St. Louis University. He then set himself up as an occult investigator and defender of humanity, battling dark arcane forces—primarily those of his father—under the name of the "Son of Satan", as a demonologist and exorcist.

    Hellstorm was first introduced to us fighting Satan and the Witch-Woman alongside Ghost Rider. (Ghost Rider #1)  He would then join the team known as the Defenders and fight evil in many forms to protect humanity.  He also teamed up with the Thing and battled Kthara. (Marvel Two-In-One #14).  He also helped the West Coast Avengers from time to time with his love Hell Cat by his side. Although it sounds like he overcame his father's grasp, nothing could be farther from the truth.

    You see, those Daimon loves tend to get hurt, physically or mentally and sometimes both.  For example, the love of his life went insane and eventually ended her life to escape or mental state.  Daimon would continue on using his power for good, but he knew it would be a lonely journey.  A journey he felt needed to be done to protect the Earth from his father's grasp.

Publication Information

Publisher:  Marvel Comics

First Appearance:  Ghost Rider #1 (Sept. 1973)

Created by:  Roy Thomas (writer) & Gary Friedrich (artist)

Character Information

Alter Ego: Daimon Hellstrom

Species: Human/Demon hybrid

Team Affiliations:

• Defenders
• God Squad
• Hellfire Club
• Masters of Evil
• Midnight Sons
• Shadow Hunters
• S.H.I.E.L.D. Paranormal Containment Unit

Notable Aliases:  Son of Satan, Hellstorm

Abilities:

• Dark magic user
• Fire projection
• Ability to heal others
• Peak human physical capabilities

    So, that's my showcase on Hellstorm.  I really hope you enjoyed this post and find yourself looking more into this character.  I really suggest that you watch the Hulu original series Helstrom.  Even if you were not a fan of  Hellstorm from the '70s, you will enjoy the show.  If you are an old school comic lover like me, you will definitely enjoy the show!

Until next time, get your READ on!

Classic Cover of the Day: MARVELous Monday Edition

Classic Cover of the Day

Ghost Rider Vol.1 #11

April 1975

MARVEL

Classic Cover of the Day: Power Man #49 (1978)

Classic Cover of the Day

Power Man Vol. 1, #49 (1978)

MARVEL Comics

Saturday Showcase: Iron Man (Eddie March)

    Before there was James Rhodes as the Iron Man, Tony trusted another individual to wear the armor and call themselves Iron Man.  That man was Eddie March and it is about time he gets his due, that is why he is today's Saturday Showcase.

    Eddie started his life as a professional boxer.  It is during his boxing days where he met a sparring partner that would introduce him to Tony Stark aka Iron Man.  Who is this sparring partner you ask?  Why it was Happy Hogan, Tony's left arm (since Pepper was his right, lol).    Eddie's boxer career was ended by a blood clot and that is when Happy introduced him to Tony and his career at Stark industries began.

    It was during his employment at Stark industries that Tony saw someone who he could trust and let Eddie in on his secret.  Tony eventually trusted Eddie so much, that he gave him a set of Iron Man armor to help him out in case a mission was to dangerous to handle alone or if Tony was needed elsewhere.

   Eddie was thrilled at Tony's offer and trained harder than ever before to be the best Iron Man that he could be.  Unfortunately, his stint as Iron Man had a some tragedies that would occur that eventually led some to lose faith in the Iron Man.
One such tragedy is when Eddie was fighting Dr. Spectrum and the crystal possessed him and made him lash out and appear to be going insane.  It took the mighty Thor to stop the madness and allow Eddie to get the help he so desperately needed.

Eddie's career as the Iron Man may have been short lived, but he took on villains such as the Crimson Dynamo, Doctor Spectrum, and Ultimo.  Though his hero days may be over, he is still a key figure in the world of Tony Stark as well as in the Marvel Universe.

Well Done Eddie, Well Done!

Until next time, get your READ on!

First Appearance: the Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1, # 21

Marvel Comics

January 1970