Dr. Stromm

Real Name
Professor Mendel Stromm

Occupation
Former scientist and robotics engineer, business partner

Citizenship
U.S.A. with a criminal record

Place of Birth
Unrevealed

Known Relatives
None

Group Affiliation
Formerly the Cabal of Scrier

Education
Ph.D

Height
5'10"

Weight
150 lbs.

Eyes
Orange; (formerly) blue

Hair
None

Powers
Stromm's cyborg body has superhuman regenerative powers.

Abilities
Stromm is a chemist and robotics expert. He often used robots, strength-augmenting environmental suit with gas dispenser, robotic armor with arm cannons and blades, and particle grenades hooked up to a computer guidance system. He was formerly connected to New York infrastructure.

Other Info
Mendel Stromm was a sickly child growing up; but, he discovered a love of gadgetry and robots that helped him get through an unhappy childhood. As an adult, he became Norman Osborn's business and scientific partner in the early days of Osborn Industries until he was caught embezzling and Norman had him arrested. (To learn about Norman Osborn and/or his company, click on the highlighted names above.) Many years later, after his release from prison, Stromm sought revenge on Osborn. So, he sent robots out to destroy Osborn. But, Spider-Man stopped the robots and captured Stromm. However, during this, Stromm had apparently died from a heart attack. (Click on the highlighted name above to learn about Spider-Man.)

Years later, Norman Osborn became curious about the unexpected effects of the Green Goblin formula of which Mendel Stromm had developed the prototype. Osborn had Stromm's body dug up and to Osborns' surprise, Stromm was still alive due to the formula (although his body was a withered husk, he was kept in suspended animation). Osborn revived Stromm, renamed him Gaunt, outfitting him in a special life-support suit and promising a full return of his functions in exchange for his services to the Cabal of Scrier. Stromm's scientific skills provided the Cabal with highly advanced weaponry, special effects, holographic technology and transportation devices to create the illusion of mystically appearing and disappearing as a single powerful entity. (To learn about the Cabal of Scrier, just click on their highlighted name. Also, the first picture posted is of Stromm as Gaunt.)

Later, after becoming successfully rejuvenated, Stromm (clad in robot armor and calling himself Robot-Master) attempted to kill Ben Reilly, but failed. As a consequence of his failure, Osborn zapped Stromm with a concussive blast and left him for dead. However, Stromm came to with severe burns to his head and loss of his memory. While wandering aimlessly, he stumbled across his original hideout and began making toy robots for hospitalized children. Unfortunately, the mention of Osborn's name later brought back Stromm's thirst for revenge, and he became unhinged before Spider-Man stopped him. (To learn about the Scarlet Spider, click on the highlighted name above. Also, the forth picture posted is of Stromm as the Robot-Master.)

Now at The Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane, Stromm was had no memory of the previous years. After sometime, Stromm was treated and released. However, he became obsessed with terminating Spider-Man. Therefore, he attempted a new technique of interfacing his brainwaves with a computer that would enable him to control robots by mind power alone. However, the computer started to take over Stromm's mind, decapitating him, and seizing control of New York's computer infrastructure. With the small amount of control Stromm had left, he was able to lead Spider-Man to his base underground, asking Spider-Man to kill him before it was too late. But, with the help of Peter Parker's hacker friend Shea Tinker, Spider-Man introduced a recursive virus into the Machine, which sent Stromm and the Machine into standby, until Spider-Man could figure out a way to help Stromm permanently without killing him. (To learn about the place and/or character highlighted above, just click on their names. Also, the fifth picture posted is of Stromm in his cyborg body.)

Recently, someone gave an anonymous tip to the F.B.I. where they could find the suspended Stromm. S.H.I.E.L.D. operatives found him connected to the computer and managed to remove him from the Machine. He then was given a choice to either register and work for S.H.I.E.L.D., or to go to jail. Obviously, he happily registered and was given a new robot body. (To learn about S.H.I.E.L.D., click on the highlighted name above.)

To learn more about Dr. Stromm, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Stromm,_Mendel.

In the Spider-Man movie, Dr. Stromm does not have his powers and is supposedly killed by Norman Osborn early in the film. Therefore, besides the fact that they seem to be business partners and that Osborn wanted Stromm dead, Dr. Stroom's storyline in the movie is much different than the comics.

Battle Royal 8 Results

The winner of Battle Royal 8 is...(drum roll, please)...Absorbing Man! He got a total of 5 votes! In a close second place was Typhoid Mary with 3 votes. Also, there was a single vote for Henry Gyrich and Flash Thompson.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the poll. Furthermore, stay tuned Marvel Maniacs...because Battle Ultimate 2 is coming up in the next week or two! This will be a battle between the the top 2 winners of the last four Battle Royals (5, 6, 7, and 8)! So, stay tuned!

Once again, thanks for voting! Thanks for reading! Thanks for being awesome! And thanks for keeping up the Madness!

Hannibal King

Real Name
Hannibal King

Occupation
Private investigator

Citizenship
U.S.A.

Place of Birth
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Known Relatives
None

Group Affiliation
Formerly Borderline Investigations (Nightstalkers), Midnight Sons

Education
Unrevealed

Height
5'11"

Weight
190 lbs.

Eyes
Brown

Hair
Brown

Powers
King has the standard powers associated with vampire: superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina, senses, healing, and slowed/halted aging. Hannibal can change his body into mist, allowing him to squeeze through extremely tight spaces and fly, as well as into a large wolf. Hannibal can also control the minds of rats, and he uses them to gather information while he rests during the day. He cannot be controlled by vampire lords such as Dracula. Along with his vampiric powers, Hannibal also has standard vampiric weaknesses: the need for blood in order to sustain his existence, the inability to endure direct sunlight, and the standard vampiric vulnerabilities to garlic, silver, and the presence of religious symbols. Beheading, burning, and a wooden stake through the heart will kill him.

Abilities
King is an excellent detective, a good marksman with a pistol, and possesses an extraordinary sense of will. He often arms himself with conventional firearms, but sometimes uses special ones against supernatural foes.

Other Info
Decades ago, Hannibal King was a private detective who was hired to investigate an industrial espionage case. While King was casing a factory, the vampire Deacon Frost invaded and killed everyone there, including King. King awoke three days later in a morgue as a vampire. Horrified at what he had become, King resisted his vampiric instincts and continued to work as a private detective, taking the blood he needed from animals, corpses, and blood banks. (To learn about Deacon Frost, click the highlighted name above. Note: Hannibal as a human is shown in the third picture posted.)

Determined to find Deacon Frost, King took a special interest in cases (working only at night) involving the supernatural and soon met the vampire hunter Blade, who was also tracking Frost. Although Blade instinctively hated King for being a vampire, they put aside their differences to destroy Frost, and Blade was finally able to accept King for who he was. (Click on the highlighted name above to learn more about Blade.)

After his friend Douglas Royce was slain by the Eye-Killers, King investigated the cult's activities. He ultimately learned that the cult was in the service of Dracula. When Dracula attempted to possess the Darkhold, King joined the Scarlet Witch and Captain Marvel (Monica Rambeau) of the Avengers in delaying Dracula while Doctor Strange removed the Darkhold from Avengers Mansion. King then joined Blade and Frank Drake in holding Dracula back long enough for Dr. Strange to use the Darkhold's Montesi Formula to destroy all of Earth's vampires. King had been prepared to sacrifice his life for this, but instead, Dr. Strange was able to transform King back into a human via a complete blood transfusion because he had resisted his bloodlust. (To learn about the above groups/characters/place, click on their highlighted names above. Note: Beware of the revealing outfits on the Scarlet Witch's bio page, and at the bottom of Monica Rambeau's bio page.)

Afterward, King continued as a private detective with Drake and Blade, eventually founding Borderline Investigations (Nightstalkers) together. Later, they also joined the Midnight Sons. However, when the Montesi Formula weakened, King began to revert to a vampire-like state. (To learn about the two teams above, just click on their highlighted names.)

At one point, CIA agent Tatjana Stiles hired King to investigate the vampire Navarro (who had stolen biological weapons), but Navarro captured King instead. Navarro forced King to feed on a live human by threatening to make the victim a vampire instead. Ultimately, King and Tatjana were able to destroy Navarro; however, Tatjana was horribly injured. Tatjana begged King to make her a vampire in order to save her. King gave in, taking his second human life. (To learn about Navarro, click on her highlighted name above.)

To learn more about Hannibal King, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Hannibal_King.

Battle Royal 8

Imagine if thirteen Marvel characters were to be in a huge 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 thirteen 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? Only YOU can decide!

The thirteen characters that are involved in the battle are the last thirteen characters that have been highlighted on the Marvel Madness blog:

Aunt May, Senator Kelly, Absorbing Man, Typhoid Mary, Henry Gyrich, Stick, J. Jonah Jameson, Foggy Nelson, Flash Thompson, Beverly Switzler, Phat, Anole, and Artie. (If you have forgotten some of these characters' powers/abilities, go ahead and check out their bios right here on the Marvel Madness blog.)

Aunt May

Real Name
May Reilly Parker

Occupation
Retiree

Citizenship
U.S.A.

Place of Birth
Brooklyn, New York

Known Relatives
Ben Parker (husband, deceased), Richard Parker (brother-in-law, deceased), Mary Parker (sister-in-law, deceased), Peter Parker (Spider-Man, nephew), Horace Reilly (paternal uncle, deceased), John Jonah Jameson (second husband)

Group Affiliation
Forest Hills Public Library; formerly Gray Panthers

Education
High School graduate

Height
5'5"

Weight
110 lbs.

Eyes
Blue

Hair
White (formerly blonde)

Powers
None

Abilities
N/A

Other Info
May Parker was born in Brooklyn, New York. She was a very naive girl in her youth who was about to fall for a small-time crook. However, she eventually discovered her affections for her schoolmate Ben Parker and married him instead. (To learn about Uncle Ben, click on the highlighted name above.)

May and Ben Parker took full custody of their nephew Peter after his parents were killed in a plane crash. (To learn about Spider-Man, click on the highlighted name above.)

Later on, Ben was killed in a burglary, leaving her and Peter all by themselves, as she continued to raise him as her own son.

After some time, May became romantically involved with one of Spider-Man's most hated foes, Doctor Octopus. However, their engagement fell through. (Click on the highlighted name above to learn about Doc Ock.)

One day, May visited Peter and found out he was actually Spider-Man (he was recovering from a major battle with Morlun). (To learn about Morlun, click on his name above. Note: Beware of Morlun's revealing outfit on his bio page.)

Unfortunately, after and attack from the Vibranium-skinned Charlie Weiderman, May lost her home in Queens. However, Iron Man allowed the Parkers to live in Stark Tower for a time. It was during her time at Stark Tower that May was courted by the Avengers' butler, Edwin Jarvis. (To learn about the above highlighted characters, place, and/or team, just click on their names.)

During the Civil War, Spider-Man revealed his secret identity to the world in support of the Superhuman Registration Act. Regretting his decision, Peter denounced the Act and fled with his Aunt May and Mary Jane to hide out in run-down motel. It was there that May was shot by a sniper named Jake Martino (he was hired by the Kingpin, who took advantage of knowing Spider-Man's identity now). Hospitalized, May's condition was so critical that Peter searched every means possible to find a way to save her life. As a last resort, Peter decided to make a deal with the demon Mephisto. Agreeing to the terms, Mary Jane and Peter had reality altered so that Aunt May lived, Spider-Man's identity was once again a secret, and Harry Osborn was still alive. The cost of Mephisto's offer was the erasing of Peter and Mary Jane's marriage from history. Therefore, May is once again healthy and living in her Forest Hills home. (To learn about the event and/or characters' highlighted names above to learn more about them.)

Afterward, May began doing volunteer work for a homeless shelter. During her work at the shelter, she met John Jonah Jameson (the father of J. Jonah Jameson) and started a relationship with him. Peter approved of this relationship--mainly because John supported Spider-Man (whom had previously saved his life) and saw through Norman Osborn, as a thug who holds nothing but contempt for the people. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn more about the characters.)

John walked with May in Central Park, and asked her to marry him, which May accepted. Despite Dr. Octopus' subconscious efforts to halt his former fiance's wedding plans, May and John were wedded by New York Mayor, J. Jonah Jameson. After the wedding, Aunt May and John embarked on a round-the-world honeymoon.

To learn more about Aunt May, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Parker,_May_%28Aunt_May%29.

Senator Kelly

Real Name
Robert Edward Kelly

Occupation
Politician

Citizenship
U.S.A.

Place of Birth
Boston, Massachusetts

Known Relatives
Sharon Kelly (wife, deceased)

Group Affiliation
Formerly U.S. Senate, U.S. Army

Education
Military training; otherwise unrevealed

Height
5'10"

Weight
175 lbs.

Eyes
Brown

Hair
Brown with graying temples

Powers
None

Abilities
Kelly was an experienced politician, particularly skilled in debating and public speaking. A former soldier, Kelly was trained in armed and unarmed combat.

Other Info
After being elected to office, U.S. Senator Robert Kelly quickly met with F.B.I. Director Fred Duncan to discuss the perceived mutant threat. However, Kelly was unaware that “Duncan” was actually the shape-shifting mutant Mystique in disguise. (She was hoping to learn more about Kelly’s intentions). (To learn about the above characters, just click on their highlighted names. Note: Beware of the revealing outfits worn by Mystique on her bio page.)

Eventually, Senator Kelly addressed the U.S. Senate on the “mutant threat,” during which he was confronted by Mystique and her Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Despite the X-Men’s opposition, Destiny cornered Kelly with a crossbow. However, Kelly was saved by the X-Man Kitty Pryde. Unfortunately, this assassination attempt only strengthened Senator Kelly’s resolve, and he soon witnessed the formation of Project: Wideawake (a covert operation tasked with creating a new series of mutant-hunting Sentinel robots). (To learn about the above mentioned characters and/or project, click on the highlighted names above. Note: Beware of the form-fitting outfit on Destiny's bio page.)

Later, while in South America, Kelly was captured and sentenced to death by local crime-lord Señor Muerte. However, he was rescued by the government-sponsored Freedom Force team (ironically this was the same Brotherhood that had previously attempted to assassinate him). (Click on the highlighted names to learn about the above mentioned character and/or team.)

After returning to America, Robert Kelly soon married a woman named Sharon. Later, Kelly and his wife were caught up in a battle between the X-Men and the Sentinel’s leader, Master Mold. Aided by Rogue, Sharon Kelly pulled her husband to safety; however, Sharon was then killed in an explosion. (To learn about the characters above, just click on their highlighted names.)

Ultimately returning to his political duties, Kelly engaged in a televised debate between himself, mutant activist Professor Charles Xavier, anti-mutant movement leader Graydon Creed, and high profile mutant hero Beast. During the debate, Senator Kelly was surprised to find himself agreeing with many of Xavier’s opinions. (To learn about the above characters, just click on their highlighted names.)

Later, Senator Kelly supported Operation: Zero Tolerance (a government-sponsored anti-mutant initiative) until discovering that the program was violating the rights of U.S. citizens by converting them into cybernetic Prime Sentinels. Withdrawing his support, Kelly became a target and was forced to seek the X-Men’s help. Saved from assassination by Cyclops, Robert Kelly convinced the U.S. President to mobilize the forces of the international law enforcement agency S.H.I.E.L.D. to shut down the operation. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn about the characters, team, and/or operation. Note: Beware of the form-fitting and revealing outfit of Emma Frost on Cyclops' bio page.)

Taking a more active role in his crusade, Kelly ran for President of the United States. On the eve of the election during his final speech in Boston, Kelly was confronted by a new incarnation of Mystique’s Brotherhood of Mutants. The X-Men tried to stop them; however, it was a dying ex-Brotherhood member, Pyro, that ended up sacrificing his life to stop his former teammate, Post, from killing Senator Kelly. This selfless act by Pyro was the final push that Kelly needed to re-evaluate his stance on mutants. After talking with the mutant soldier Cable, Kelly became convinced that peaceful coexistence was possible between humans and mutants. (To learn about the above mentioned characters, just click on their highlighted names.)

Unfortunately, while speaking at a college rally, Kelly was assassinated by anti-mutant activist Alan Lewis, who thought that Kelly as a traitor to humanity. (To learn about Alan Lewis, click on this name above.)

To learn a little more about Senator Robert Kelly, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Kelly,_Robert.

Senator Kelly was in the X-Men movie. Mystique also impersonates him in both X-Men and X2.

Absorbing Man

Real Name
Carl "Crusher" Creel 

Occupation

Professional criminal; former boxer 

Citizenship

U.S.A. with a criminal record 

Place of Birth

New York City, New York 

Known Relatives

Mary MacPherran (Titania, wife); Davis Rockwell (cousin) 

Group Affiliation

Lethal Legion; formerly Masters of Evil, unnamed team on Battleworld 

Education

High school dropout 

Height

6'4" (variable) 

Weight

365 lbs. (variable) 

Eyes

Blue 

Hair

Bald 

Powers

The Absorbing Man can alter the molecular structure of his body, his clothes, and his wrecking ball to mimic the properties of any material he touches. This process also gives him enhanced strength, endurance, and in most cases, resistance to injury. If the object touched holds some form of energy, such as a battery or a blast furnace, Creel absorbs these properties as well. He also has limited shape-changing abilities when absorbing certain objects, such as forming hammer-like fists when touching a hammer or growing to enormous size when copying items of massive power or strength. More recently, Creel has developed the ability to control the mind of another, even over vast distances. He was been shown to be able to "re-grow" his arm when it fell off (in his rocky form) by re-attaching it, then changing back to human form.

Abilities
Creel is a prized street-fighter and experienced burglar. 

Other Info
Crusher Creel's life was little more than that of any common criminal. Although he did spend some time as a boxer (In fact, he even fought "Battlin' Jack" Murdock--Daredevil's father), he usually resorted to petty crime. It was on one such extortion racket that he was convicted of aggravated assault and remanded to prison. (To learn about Daredevil, click on his name above.)

Loki knew Creel would be the perfect unwitting agent to battle Thor, so he slipped an enchanted potion into Creel's drinking water in prison. Filled with power, Creel broke out of prison and soon found himself in conflict with Thor. He found he could absorb the properties of Thor's hammer as well as Thor himself, and Creel decided to call himself, "Absorbing Man." (Creel's ball and chain, which he was wearing at the time of his transformation, magically also possessed the same properties of transformation as his body as long as he is in contact with it.) Thor ended up leaving the battle to make sure that his love, Jane Foster, was safe. However, Absorbing Man thought he had won the battle and began to flaunt his "success" because he thought Thor was "fleeing." But, Thor returned and a violent battle ensued. During the battle, Thor managed to use his hammer's magic to alter the elements Creel had transformed into. Suddenly forced into the qualities of helium, the Absorbing Man drifted apart. (To learn about the above characters, just click on their highlighted names. Note: Beware of the low-cut outfit worn by the female version of Loki on the bottom of the Loki's bio page.) 

However, Loki wasn't finished with his Creel, yet. He helped Creel re-form his body and transported him to Asgard, in hopes that the Absorbing Man would help him take it over. But, Absorbing Man began to think his power was better than Odin's. So, he challenged Odin. However, Odin tricked him and Loki and banished both to space. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn more about Odin and/or his kingdom of Asgard.)

Creel eventually managed to return to Earth by hitching a ride on a comet and immediately encountered the Hulk. Absorbing Man nearly defeated the Hulk by about crushing him with a huge boulder. But, in absorbing the Hulk's power during his transformation back into his human form of Bruce Banner, Creel was also transformed back to normal human form and was buried by his own boulder. However, Loki freed Creel once again. (To learn about the above highlighted words, just click on their names.)

Eventually, Creel was fed up with fighting and losing to super-humans and he wanted to flee the country. But, when he tried to leave, he took a hostage too which alerted the Avengers. Even though he managed to keep the Avengers at bay, Creel escaped by diving into the ocean, transforming himself into water. He was finally able to reintegrate himself on Easter Island; however, due to his body being so long intermingled with the ocean, he kind of went insane. We began to be frightened of any one with a superpower--he was convinced that the normal Bruce Banner was a superhuman (Bruce also ended up on the island when fleeing Japan as the Hulk). It was only a matter of time before the Absorbing Man and the Hulk clashed again. This time, Creel tried to absorb the entire island to defeat him. But, Hulk swatted him away, and Creel's mental state made him think he was actually an island, floating mindlessly at sea. (To learn about the Avengers, click on their name above. Note: Beware of the form-fitting outfits worn by some on the Avengers' bio page.)

After coming to his senses, Creel returned to America. Then later, Creel was abducted by the alien known as the Beyonder to fight in the so-called Secret Wars. During this time, Creel met Titania (Mary MacPherran), and the two developed a relationship. Upon their return, Creel and Titania were contacted by the second Baron Zemo, who was forming a new Masters of Evil. After several independent assignments, they were defeated by the Ant-Man (Scott Lang) and the Wasp. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn more about the characters, teams, and/or event. Note: Beware of the revealing outfit on the Beyonder, the Masters of Evil, and especially Titania's bio pages.)

After some time, Absorbing Man and Titania got married. Both villains had turned away from there more malicious action days, and preferred to quietly keep each other company (although they never gave up bank robberies and other activities completely).

At one time, Creel was tricked by the villain Crossbones to keep Captain America busy while Crossbones ignited a bomb. Creel, however, claiming not to be a murderer, absorbed the properties of Captain America's shield to save the city from the explosion. Absorbing Man escaped to seek revenge on Crossbones, but the details of the outcome have yet to be revealed. (The fifth picture posted is of Absorbing Man with the absorbed properties of Captain America's shield.)

At some point, Creel was imprisoned in a maximum-security penitentiary. He had also somehow developed a new aspect of his powers--taking over the mind of another. Creel used this ability to take control of the Hulk and make an escape from the prison. In the battle that followed, the Absorbing Man defeated the Hulk, but was tricked into trying to take over the mind of a corpse (his real body withered and died).

Absorbing Man was imprisoned again. This time, he was serving time at Pym Experimental Penitentiary Number One (a prison that kept super-powered inmates miniaturized). Absorbing Man did participate in an attempted breakout led by the Mad Thinker; however, the plan was thwarted by She-Hulk. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn more about those characters. Note: Beware of the very skin-tight and revealing outfit on the She-Hulk's bio page.)

During the events of the Civil War, Absorbing Man battled and was apparently killed by the hero Sentry. However, it was shown later that he was still alive when he attended the villain Stilt-Man's funeral. (To learn about the above characters and/or event, click on their highlighted names above.)

During the events of Dark Reign, Absorbing Man joined a new version of the Lethal Legion led by the Grim Reaper. (Click on the highlighted names to learn more about the team and team leader highlighted above.)

To learn more about Absorbing Man, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Absorbing_Man.

Absorbing Man appears in the TV show "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." (The second picture posted above is of him in his human form, and when he absorbs the asphalt from the road.)