Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Battle Royal 5

BATTLE ROYAL TIME! It's time for Battle Royal 5! Imagine if twelve Marvel characters were to be in a giant battle where there could only be ONE victor. Put the good and evil notion to the side. It's EVERYONE vs. EVERYONE. No alliances! Only ONE can be left standing. Please choose who you think would win among the twelve Marvel characters in the poll.

Also, if you have time, please leave the reason why you think the character you chose would win in the "comment" section below. This way, we can all see your reasoning in choosing your winner. Who will be the victor? YOU will decide!

The twelve characters that are involved, are the last twelve characters that have been highlighted on the Marvel Madness blog: Silver Fox, Callisto, Galactus, Betty Ross, Lizard, Doc Samson, Emma Frost, Doctor Doom, Kirigi, Happy Hogan, Blackheart, and Jubilee. (If you have forgotten some of these characters' powers/abilities, go ahead and check out their bios right here on the Marvel Madness blog.)

Monday, February 22, 2010

Silver Fox

Real Name
Silver Fox

Occupation
Terrorist,
former government operative

Citizenship
Canada

Place of Birth
Unidentified community in the Canadian Rockies

Known Relatives
None

Group Affiliation
Formerly Hydra, Weapon X

Education
Unrevealed

Height
5'7"

Weight
121 lbs.

Eyes
Blue

Hair
Black

Powers
Silver Fox was a mutant whose superhuman powers were never revealed. She received age suppression treatments from the Weapon X Program, causing her to age slowly, if at all, over a period of decades. She also allegedly possessed a healing factor distilled from Wolverine’s, although it was apparently insufficient to save her from the fatal injuries inflicted upon her by Sabretooth.

Abilities
Silver Fox was an experienced markswoman and a highly trained hand-to-hand combatant. Her rapid rise through the ranks of Hydra indicated strong leadership skills.

Other Info
Silver Fox was a young member of the Blackfoot Indian tribe who, in the early 1910s, fell in love with a young mutant named Logan and shared a cabin with him in a remote community in the Canadian Rockies. Another resident of their community (the mutant called Sabretooth), one evening, attacked Silver Fox and left her for dead. Enraged, Logan fought Sabretooth in a savage battle, but was defeated and left town, unaware that Silver Fox had actually survived. (To learn about the above characters, just click on their highlighted names.)

Decades later, Silver Fox became an operative of the U.S. Government’s Weapon X Program, joining the field unit known as Team X where she was reunited with both Logan (now known as Wolverine), and Sabretooth. However, since the members of Team X were all subject to memory alterations, it is unclear how much of their past involvement the three remembered at this point.) (Click on the program and team above to learn more about them.)

As a result of an extreme reaction to her memory implants, Silver Fox betrayed Wolverine and Sabretooth on a mission in Cuba in 1963. Afterward, Silver Fox became a terrorist. She again clashed with her former teammates on another mission in Ontario.

Eventually, she became an agent of the international terrorist group known as Hydra. (Click on the highlighted group to learn more about them.)

Years later, Silver Fox monitored Wolverine’s quest for answers about the Weapon X Program, and she killed the Weapon X scientist called the Professor to prevent his interference. Silver Fox also allied with Matsu’o Tsurayaba (the leader of the ninja clan the Hand), and hired the Japanese assassin Reiko to poison Wolverine’s beloved, Mariko Yashida. (To learn about the above characters and clan, click on their names.)

One day, a former Team X member,
Mastodon, rapidly aged and died. Silver Fox gathered Wolverine and the other remaining Team X alumni to seek answers to why this happened. Their search led them to Aldo Ferro (the same man who had crafted Team X’s memory implants decades ago). Unfortunately, in a following confrontation, Silver Fox was slain by Sabretooth. And Wolverine buried her near the cabin where they had found happiness so long ago. (To learn about Mastodon, just click on his name above.)

To learn a little more about Silver Fox, click on the following link,
http://marvel.com/universe/Silver_Fox.

Silver Fox in
X-Men Origins: Wolverine is a very different person than the one in the comics. Her powers are completely different; and in the movie, her and Emma Frost are sisters (which is completely made up).

Monday, February 15, 2010

Callisto

Real Name
Unrevealed

Occupation

Terrorist; former operative of Professor X, arena fighter, bodyguard, Morlock leader, fashion model

Citizenship
Unrevealed

Place of Birth
Unrevealed

Known Relatives
Unrevealed

Group Affiliation
X-Cell; formerly Genoshan Excalibur, Arena, Morlocks

Education
Unrevealed

Height
5'9"

Weight
165 lbs.

Eyes
Blue

Hair
Black

Powers
Callisto had heightened strength, agility and reflexes, augmented by her tentacles, which can adhere to any surface. Her five senses were superhumanly augmented. She had particularly good night vision. She also had an accelerated healing factor.

Abilities
Callisto is a natural-born leader, huntress, and fighter skilled in virtually every form of hand-to-hand combat.

Other Info
Callisto used to be young and beautiful. However, one day catastrophe struck: she became blind in her right eye and and was left horribly disfigured. Callisto decided that society had little use for a beautiful women who was beautiful no more, she rebelled against society and decided to go underground where it was safe. She quickly made a huge abandoned military tunnel (called "the Alley" built underneath Manhattan in the 1950s) her home. (To learn about "the Alley," click on the name above.)

With help from Caliban, Sunder, and Masque, Callisto organized a community of mutant outcasts called the Morlocks. (Unknown to Callisto, the Morlocks were being manipulated by the Dark Beast--a twisted alternate version of Hank McCoy.) (To learn about the above characters and teams, just click on their highlighted names.)

Later on, Callisto abducted the X-Man Angel as a consort. Angel's X-Men teammates invaded the Alley to rescue their teammate, but they were captured as well. The team's leader, Storm, challenged Callisto to combat. In the following battle, Callisto was almost killed by Storm. Because she lost the battle, Callisto lost the mantle of Morlock leader. Storm let Callisto rule the Morlocks in her absence which lead to Callisto's hate towards Storm. (To learn about Storm or the X-Men, click on their names above. Note: Beware of the VERY risque pictures on Storm's bio page.)

However, over time, Callisto grew to respect the X-Men and their founder, Professor X. In fact, one time Callisto saved Professor X's life after a beating by anti-mutant protestors. (Click on his name above, to learn about Professor X.)

Unfortunately, later on, Callisto and her growing band of outcasts fell victims of a massacre orchestrated by Mister Sinister and his team of Marauders. The few Morlocks who survived, including Callisto, were treated by Moira MacTaggert on Muir Island. In gratitude, Callisto appointed herself MacTaggert's bodyguard and assisted Cyclops against the mutant-hating Master Mold. (To learn about the above characters, team, and place, just click on their names. Note: Beware of the revealing/form-fitting outfits worn by Emma Frost on Cyclops' bio page, and for the revealing outfit on the Marauders bio page.)

Later, she was captured by Masque (who had, via the young telepath Brain Cell, enslaved the remaining Morlocks). To taunt her, Masque restored Callisto's long-lost beauty, altered her memories, then freed her in New York to be hunted down. Butr, the X-Man Colossus protected Callisto. However, before Masque escaped he returned Callisto to her scarred appearance. (Click on the highlighted characters and place above to learn more about them.)

When the government anti-mutant persecution increased, Callisto and her protégé, Marrow, attacked official Henry Gyrich; however, they were held off by Spider-Man, who in turn helped battle Prime Sentinels. Severely wounded, Callisto was cared for by Marrow. But, the Dark Beast manipulated her into leaving.

Callisto resurfaced as a mutant gladiator in the mysterious Arena. Her body had been given tentacles by a surviving Masque. However, when Storm was pressed into Arena performance as well, Callisto and Storm joined forces with Storm's allies to topple Masque. At Storm's request, Callisto joined Professor X's efforts to rebuild the decimated nation Genosha. (With her tentacles, Callisto frequently use multiple throwing knives.) (To learn about the places above, just click on their names.)

In the aftermath of the House of M, Callisto lost her mutant powers, and her tentacled arms were returned to normal. She then joined up with X-Cell (a group of mutants who blame the government for M-Day events). (To learn about the House of M/M-Day and/or X-Cell, click on their highlighted names above. Note: Beware of the few revealing outfits on the House of M bio page.)

To learn more about Callisto, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Callisto. (Note: Beware of a couple revealing outfits worn by Callisto on her bio page.)

The Callisto in the movie, X-Men: The Last Stand, is a bit different from the one in the comics. In the movie, she has slightly different powers and she isn't blind; therefore, no eye-patch.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Galactus

Real Name
Galan

Occupation
Planet Destroyer

Citizenship
The planet Taa in the previous universe

Place of Birth
(Galan) Taa; (Galactus) the Cosmic Egg

Known Relatives
Unnamed parents from previous universe; Death and Eternity have been described as his figurative brother and father

Group Affiliation
Served by a series of heralds; occasional member of Cosmic Tribunal

Education
Billions of years of cosmic experience

Height
28'9" (variable)

Weight
18.2 tons (variable)

Eyes
Unknown (seen by many humanoids as a black background with a white figure similar to three sides of a square); originally brown

Hair
Unknown (seen by many humanoids as black)

Powers
Galactus possesses cosmic power beyond most forms of measurement (The Power Cosmic). He can levitate; restructure molecules; convert matter into energy and vice-versa; project energy with enormous concussive force; teleport himself, others, and objects across space, dimensions, and time; erect virtually impenetrable fields; restore others from any injury, even total disintegration; and endow or enhance powers within others. Even his heralds, imbued with the smallest fraction of his power, can manipulate matter and energy far beyond human comprehension. Though he generally avoids physical conflict, Galactus can bolster his own strength beyond any known system of measure. Galactus is telepathic, able to scan the thoughts of virtually any known being.

To sustain his immense power, Galactus requires energies derived from a biosphere, a planet able to sustain living beings, though life does not actually have to be present. Though Galactus can extract and absorb this energy himself, he generally employs his immense Elemental Converter to perform the process, as it is far more efficient and avoids the expenditure required of him. Sometimes the planets on which he feeds are left barely habitable; other times he consumes all life and water, leaving it devastated and barren; most often the process reduces the planet to space rubble. When Galactus was newly formed, the energy of a medium-size Earth-like planet sustained him for over a century. Now he needs to feed about once a month; in addition, when preparing for a massive expenditure of energy, he may absorb planets more frequently to amplify his power stores. Conversely, when he does not feed within his allotted time, his energies will dwindle, and he will even begin to physically shrink as they drop dangerously low. His body totally converts the energies he absorbs for his life functions and activities without any waste products.

Though seemingly destroyed on several occasions, Galactus is always restored to full power eventually. In addition, despite being a physical being, Galactus can adopt a manifestation (M-Body) from the Dimension of Manifestations in order to commune with abstract beings, such as Death and Eternity.

Abilities
Galactus has scientific knowledge beyond human understanding.

Other Info
Billions of years ago, Galactus was born as a humanoid named Galan on the planet Taa. However, his universe was in its final stages, with all matter plunging towards a central point via the "Big Crunch," collapsing into a new "Cosmic Egg" (a sphere of disorganized, compact primordial matter). Galan, a space explorer, discovered a radiation-plague threatening all of Taa. Despite the efforts of Taa's greatest scientists, no cure could be found, and the population began to die off. Galan convinced the handful of remaining survivors to die gloriously by flying a starship into the blazing cosmic cauldron. The others were killed by the intense radiation, but Galan was filled with new energy and saved by the Phoenix Force of the dying universe. The sentient energy spoke to Galan as it brought him into the Cosmic Egg. (To learn of the places and force above, just click on their names. Note: Beware of the picture of Jean Grey in a form-fitting outfit on the Phoenix Force's bio page.)

Later on, when the Big Bang occured, Galan was the sole survivor of the universe. And then one day, the Cosmic Egg matter exploded, eventually condensing into stars and planets. Galan then launched his ship back into space and ejected his lifeless companions into space. He then created a suit of armor to harness and regulate his awesome energies, and transformed his ship into an incubation chamber, where he spent countless centuries evolving into his current form. (This chamber is shown in the fourth picture posted.) Eventually his craft fell into orbit around a verdant planet, Archeopia. The advanced natives scanned the craft, detected its awesome energies, and wisely left it undisturbed. (To learn about the above planet, click on its name above.)

Years later, when interstellar war spread into that space sector, the Archeopians' unidentified enemies mistook the incubation chamber for a weapon and fired upon it. Emerging unscathed, Galan (now adopting the name Galactus) swiftly slaughtered invader and defender alike and then consumed the life-energies of Archeopia (the first of many worlds that would perish for his hunger); only a small fleet of Archeopians managed to escape. Surveying the destruction he had wrought, Galactus decided to create a world to outshine any other in existence. Though it took millennia, including breaks to replenish his energies, Galactus completed "Taa II" (an immense ship engulfing the entire Archeopian system) and made it his new home.

At first, Galactus went centuries between consuming planets, seeking out uninhabited worlds that could support life; however, he gradually hungered more frequently, and began consuming inhabited worlds if he could find no others. He rationalized these actions by deeming himself a higher being. In addition, he eventually encountered Eternity and Death, and the three beings hypothesized that Galactus represented a balancing force between the two opposites. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn more about them.)

Lonely, Galactus created a being in his own image known as Tyrant. However, while Galactus was content to survive, Tyrant craved conquest. Eventually, Tyrant battled Galactus, but Galactus was triumphant and he banished Tyrant to parts unknown. Since then, Galactus has used many mindless servants, chief among which are the Punishers (possibly living beings enslaved or created by Galactus and though they are under 5 feet tall, the Punishers are immensely strong, durable, and fast, and they can auto-repair and adapt to counter threats).(To learn of the different creations of Galactus, click on their seperate names above.)

Eventually, the world-devourer realized it was more efficient to send a herald to seek out worlds for him. Here is a list of the many heralds Galactus has used over his life: Air-Walker, Dazzler, Destroyer, Fallen One, Firelord, Human Torch, Morg, Nova, Red Shift, Silver Surfer, Stardust, and Terrax. Of these heralds, some rebelled against him, some he released willing, and some were heralds multiple times. (To learn more about these different heralds of Galactus, just click on any of their names. Note: Beware of a form-fitting/revealing outfit on the Dazzler's bio page.)

One time, the Silver Surfer led Galactus to Earth. However, Alicia Masters reached the Surfer's long-submerged emotions, convincing him to turn against his master. On Earth, Galactus had easily overpowered the Fantastic Four, but the Surfer's power delayed Galactus' meal long enough for Reed Richards to present Galactus with his first defeat using the Ultimate Nullifier. (Click on the above characters, team, and item above to learn about them.)

Soon after, Galactus sensed abundant energy sources within the enigmatic Black Galaxy, but Galactus was distracted when Dr. Doom usurped the Silver Surfer's power and crashed into Galactus' barrier. Sensing this disturbance, Galactus scanned Doom and found him beneath his notice; therefore, he sent Doom back to Latveria. (Click on the above highlighted names to learn more about the places and character.)

Later on, during another attack by Galactus, Reed Richards altered Galactus' ship controls. The resulting consequence sent Galactus into the Negative Zone, relieving the Silver Surfer of his service to Galactus. (To learn about the Negative Zone, click on the name above.)

It is interesting to note that even though the Fantastic Four seem to fight against Galactus many times, there has been times where the Fantastic Four have called upon Galactus' help in saving the Earth and in other problems. And there have been even times where Galactus has willing come to the rescue of the Fantastic Four. (Seems like a very strong love/hate relationship.)

Other famous characters/team who have gone up against Galactus include Dr. Strange, Thanos, and the Avengers. (To learn about the above characters and team, just click on their names. Note: Beware of a couple form-fitting outfits on pictures on the Avengers' bio page.)

At one point, Galactus was assaulted by the Elders of the Universe, who sought to destroy him and the universe, and to be reborn in the next universe as Galactus had been. The Silver Surfer and Nova helped Galactus defeat their plots, which included some battles and a trip into a black hole. However, they were victorious. (To learn about the Elders, click on their name above.)

There was a time where Galactus' hunger grew greater than ever, driving him mad with desire to consume sentient life. Galactus devoured world after world until a union of Earth's heroes and the armies of several races, including the Kree and Shi'ar, mounted an offensive against him. Ultimately, the Silver Surfer turned Galactus' own ship against him, and it consumed his form, dispersing him into inert energy. During his absence, one of Galactus' old enemies, Abraxas, now left without anyone to hold him in check, threatened to destroy a number of realities, including Earth-616 (mainstream Earth's timeline). However, Franklin Richards and Marvel Girl (the future Valeria Richards) combined their reality-altering powers to re-form Galactus, who then directed the Ultimate Nullifier's destruction of Abraxas, restoring the universes. (To learn about the above characters, races, or timeline, click on their names above.)

Later on, a group of survivors of Galactus' destruction discovered a means to shield worlds from him; however, they learned that a power on Earth could overcome this technology: the Invisible Woman. Zius led the survivors to Earth to prevent Galactus from obtaining the Invisible Woman. However, Reed Richards switched the powers of the Invisible Woman with theHuman Torch , deceiving Zius into believing he had neutralized her power. But, Galactus arrived almost immediately after and claimed Johnny as his new herald, amplifying Johnny's powers via the power cosmic. While pretending to fulfill his mission, Johnny sought to rally other worlds against Galactus, ultimately delaying him until the Fantastic Four and Quasar could arrive to help. Johnny's new powers allowed him to analyze Galactus' nature, and he instructed Reed and Quasar to form a device that temporarily transformed Galactus back to the powerless Galan. (Galactus as Galan is shown in the third picture posted above. Also, if you would like to learn more about the characters above, just click on their highlighted names.)

Galan was brought to Manhattan while Reed Richards' raced to find an alternate energy source for him, Galan was impressed with humanity's indomitable will and constant struggle against hardship, and he chose to exile himself extra-dimensionally rather than risk destroying it all when his power returned. However, after his power returned, Galan returned to his old ways and returned to being Galacus.

Beyond good and evil, forced to destroy entire worlds to survive, Galactus is intimately tied to the nature of the universe. He believes it is his destiny to ultimately give back to the universe much more than he has taken.

Although Galactus is usually represented in humanoid form, each sentient being perceives him having a form resembling that of their own race; therefore, humans see him as humanoid, Skrulls as Skrullian, etc. (To learn about the Skrull race, click on their highlighted name above.)

For much more information about Galactus, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Galactus.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Betty Ross

Real Name
Elizabeth Talbot Ross-Banner

Occupation

Former agent of the Intelligencia, spy and field agent of the Team, author, librarian, crisis hotline volunteer, nun-in-training

Citizenship
U.S.A.

Place of Birth
Unrevealed location in California

Known Relatives
Robert Bruce Banner (husband), Gen. Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross (father, deceased), Karen Lee Ross (mother, deceased), Glenn Talbot (ex-husband), unidentified paternal grandfather, unidentified maternal grandfather, unidentified paternal great grandfather, numerous relatives by marriages

Group Affiliation
Former agent of the Intelligencia and the Team, double agent within Home Base

Education
Entered the novitiate to become a nun

Height

Unrevealed (Red She-Hulk); 5'6" (Betty)

Weight
Unrevealed (Red She-Hulk); 110 lbs (Betty)

Eyes
Yellow (Red She-Hulk); Blue (Betty)

Hair
Black with red streaks (Red She-Hulk); Brown (Betty)

Powers
Betty has superhuman strength and durability due to the radiation in her system which was thought to cause her demise.

As the Harpy, she had superhuman strength and durability, could fly, extremely sharp talons, and she could fire energy blasts from her hands powerful enough to harm the Hulk.

As Red She-Hulk, she possesses superhuman strength, endurance and durability. She also has a healing factor enabling her to recover from virtually any injury – even when her more vulnerable human form is on the brink of death – as long as she transforms before her body expires.

Abilities
Since being trained as Mr. Blue, she is highly skilled in espionage, armed and unarmed combat, and marksmanship

Other Info
Betty Ross was born at an unrevealed location in California. She is the only child of high ranking Air Force General Thaddeus E. "Thunderbolt" Ross and his wife Karen. After the death of her mother, Betty was emotionally abandoned by her father and sent to boarding school. (To learn more about Betty's father, click on his name above.)

After finishing school, Betty returned home to find out that her father was the head of the U.S. Defense Department's top secret Gamma Bomb Project at an undisclosed desert base in Nevada. There, Betty met and fell in love with her future husband, Dr. Robert Bruce Banner (aka future Hulk). However, her father did not agree with her and Bruce's relationship. Major Glenn Talbot (General Ross's head security chief) also fell in love with Betty, but Betty remained faithful to Banner. (To learn about the Hulk or Talbot, click on their names above.)

When the Hulk was later confined to the microverse, he began a romantic relationship with their queen Jarella. Betty eventually learned of Bruce's adoration of Jarella and although she still loved him, she returned Talbot's affection and they were soon married. While Betty was on her honeymoon, General Ross was captured by the Soviet scientist Gremlin and sent to a Soviet prison. Talbot took part in a mission to rescue General Ross, only to be captured. After escaping, General Ross and the other Americans involved in the mission mistakenly believed that Talbot had been killed. Informed of this news, Betty suffered a nervous breakdown. In this condition, she was easily captured by MODOK, leader of the organization A.I.M., and turned into the insane creature with incredible power known as the Harpy. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn more about the place, organization, and/or characters. Betty as the Harpy is shown in the fourth picture posted.)

As the Harpy, Betty battled with the Hulk multiple times. However, after some time, her transformation was reversed; Betty returned to her human form and back to her sanity.

Eventually, it was discovered that Talbot was still alive and he was rescued. Shortly after his return home, Betty realized that she still loved Banner, and she divorced Talbot.

Bruce and Betty went through many trials, including a period when Banner disappeared. Upon his return, the Hulk was subjected to a process that split him and Banner into separate beings for a short time. Betty and Bruce took full advantage of this and were married and tried to live normal lives. However, after some time, Banner and the Hulk were once again merged.

Later, Betty learned that her long association with the Hulk had left her dying from over exposure to gamma radiation. Abomination, seeking retribution after a massive defeat at the hands of the Hulk, learned of Betty's present state and used his own gamma-radiated blood for the transfusion, poisoning her, and leading her to her death. (Click on the name above to learn about Abomination.)

However, after sometime, Betty was apparently revived by the Leader. She underwent surgery which considerably altered her appearance and she was even granted superhuman strength, and started going by the codename, Mr. Blue. As Mr. Blue, Betty aided her fugitive husband as his shadowy contact. (To learn about the Leader, click on his name above.)

To learn more about Betty Ross, click on the following link,
http://marvel.com/universe/Ross-Banner%2C_Betty.

It's interesting that Dr. Sterns, in The Incredible Hulk movie, used the code name Mr. Blue because Betty used that codename herself at one time in the comics. Also, something interesting, sometimes Betty is shown with blonde hair instead of brown (shown in the last picture posted).