Saturday Showcase: D'Spayre

Spooktacular Greetings Ghouls and Goblins,

'Tis time for another Saturday Showcase and I can think of none better than the villain D'Spayre to close out October and celebrate all things Halloween.  The idea for this post came to me when I was looking at future Marvel Legends figures that were announced and I caught a glimpse of what I thought was a D'Spayre figure and here we are.  So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the tale of D'Spayre.

D'Spayre is a creation of the Dweller-in-Darkness, a powerful demon who created him to act as an agent on Earth while the Dweller-in-Darkness is banished from Earth.  D'Spayre tends to prey on victims who are in despair, using their fear and despair to strengthen himself. He terrorizes Scott Summers and Lee Forrester after Lee's father committed suicide, but is defeated by Summers who resists D'Spayre's illusions and finds resolve in the memory of Jean Grey.

This resolve fuels the creature known as Man-Thing who attacks D'Spayre and D'Spayre flees.  He then attacks Doctor Strange when Strange is feeling distraught over separation from his girlfriend Clea, but Strange defeats D'Spayre as well, the first of many battles between the two of them.

Over the years, D'Spayre has tried to bring many heroes to despair, resulting in numerous failures. In one instance, he manipulates the Fear Lords, powerful demons and gods who feed upon humanity's fears into creating the Great Fear. With their powers combined, the Fear Lords believe that they can plunge humanity into a permanent state of terror. Most Fear Lords are defeated by Doctor Strange, but Nightmare and the Dweller-in-Darkness manage to create the Great Fear. They then discover that D'Spayre has been manipulating them, as the Great Fear causes so much terror in humans that they stop fearing and succumb to despair, thereby feeding D'Spayre who becomes more powerful than the two of them. Doctor Strange manages to stop D'Spayre, while the Fear Lords flee.

Powers and Abilities

D'Spayre's demonic nature provides him with superhuman strength and durability and the ability to levitate himself and to travel between dimensions.  He also has the mystical ability to instill fear in human beings and to draw psychic sustenance from the fear, anguish, and despondency suffered by human beings, and other mystical abilities. He has telepathic abilities enabling him to perceive a victim's psychological vulnerabilities and to project illusions into the victim's mind. He has a vulnerability to physical harm when weakened by lack of psychic sustenance, and his powers rely on people hearing his words, allowing the deaf Echo to defeat him.

D'Spayre created Darklight (also known as "D-Lite"), an addictive drug inducing pain in its victims.

Publication Information

• Publisher: Marvel Comics
• First Appearance: Marvel Team-Up #68 (April 1978)
• Created by Chris Claremont & John Byrne

Other Information

• Species:  Demon
• Team Affiliations:  Fear Lords
• Notable Aliases:  D'Spayre often masquerades as persons trusted by his victims

Until next time, get your READ on!

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

Saturday Showcase: the Orb

1st Orb

    Today's showcase spotlights one of my favorite villains to ever face the Ghost Rider.  Some of you may recognize the Orb from his roll in Marvel's Original Sin story line of recent years, but I knew about the Orb way before that.  You see, growing up I was a huge fan of the Marvel Team-Up series and that is when we first set "eyes" on the Orb.

    The first Orb was created by the team of Len Wein and Ross Andru back in 1973.  His first appearance was in Marvel Team-Up Vol. 1, #15 (Nov '73) to be exact.  His alter ego was that of Drake Shannon, a motorcycle stunt driver who had stock in the show that starred the great Johnny Blaze.  When his partnership with Crash Simpson was over, Drake became obsessed with taking over the show and all the fame and glory that went with it.  With a powerful helmet, that looked like an eyeball, he was able to control others but that wasn't enough to face the Spirit of Vengeance, Ghost Rider.

Marvel Team-Up #15

    In 2008, we were introduced to a new Orb.  This Orb's identity was more mysterious but he was the brainchild of the team of  Jason Aaron and Tan Eng Huat.  Seen as a successor of the original Orb, he took his place as the villain to Ghost Rider.  One way you could distinguish the two Orbs was the simple fact that the 2nd Orb never knew when to shut up.

Highway through Hell

    As I said before, the Orb was resurrected by the Original Sin story line by Marvel in witch one of the Watchers was murdered and his eyes stolen.  It was said that the holder of the eye would have vast power and know what the Watchers knew.  It was in this story line that we found out all the secrets of the Marvel Universe.

Original Sin

    The Orb is a unique character.  Sure, he may look goofy with a Giant Eye for a disguise, but he has proven time and time again that he should not be underestimated.  That is why he has my respect and that is also why he is today's showcase.

I got my EYE on you!

1ST ORB

Alter ego: Drake Shannon

Partnerships: Justin Hammer

Abilities:

Helmet is capable of powerful laser blasts. 

Can also project illusions and hypnotize people.

2ND ORB

Alter ego: Unknown

Partnerships:

Zadkiel

Doctor Midas

Exterminatrix

Abilities:

Use of ray gun

Possesses an eye of Uatu

Until next time, get your READ on!