Human Torch (Jim Hammond)

Real Name
None

Occupation 
Adventurer, War veteran; formerly CEO of Oracle Inc., Police officer
 
Citizenship
United States of America 

Place of Birth
None
 
Known Relatives 
Professor Phineas T. Horton (creator), Vision (rebuilt temporal copy), Pyronanos (Nanomachine robots based on his technology), Adam II, the Gremlins, Volton ("brothers" created by Prof. Horton), Tara ("daughter" created based on Prof. Horton's designs)

Group Affiliation 
Formely Secret Avengers, Descendants, Invaders, New Invaders, Avengers West Coast, V-Battalion, Heroes for Hire, CEO of Oracle Inc., Legion of the Unliving, All-Winners Squad

Education 
No formal education; Capacity for creative intelligence and unlimited self-motivated activity

Height
6'3"

Weight 
300lbs

Eyes 
Blue

Hair 
Blond

Powers 
The Human Torch has the ability to envelop his body in fiery plasma without harm to himself and to utilize this heat energy for various effects, including flight, formation of fiery shapes, energy releases in the form of heat blasts, "nova flame bursts" (highest intensity heat blasts, similar to the heat-pulse of a nuclear warhead), and concussive force blasts. He is also able to survive without oxygen for long periods.

Abilities 
The Torch received police academy training. He has received some training in unarmed combat by Captain America. The Torch is also an accomplished street fighter.

Other Info
The original Human Torch was an android created by Professor Phineas T. Horton for scientific purposes in 1939 in Brooklyn, New York. At a science fair unveiling, however, Horton's android burst into flames when exposed to oxygen. With human-like sentience, personality, and awareness, he rebelled against his creator. This led to a public outcry to have the Human Torch destroyed. However, Professor Horton couldn't destroy him, and instead, sealed him in concrete until he could find a way to control the android's flames. Unfortunately, due to a crack that let oxygen seep in, the Human Torch escaped. The Torch then inadvertently caused parts of New York City to burn. Fortunately, he eventually learned to control his flame and vowed to help humanity. (To learn about the Human Torch's creator, click on the highlighted name above.)

The Human Torch soon joined the police force as part of his "human cover" under the name Jim Hammond. Jim fought the good fight and helped fight crime as a police officer. Eventually, he dropped the human name and served the police force outright as the Human Torch.

One day, in a fit of rage against the human race, Namor, the Sub-Mariner attacked Staten Island. And it was the Human Torch that stood up against him. A brutal battle erupted with the two flying high above the city. In an unbelievable fight, Namor fought as best he could, but the Human Torch managed to defeat the Sub-Mariner and saved the day. This day became the day that people no longer feared the Human Torch, but applauded him as a hero. Eventually, Namor accepted the human race itself, and the Human Torch and Namor became uneasy allies. (Click on the highlighted name above to learn about Namor.)

Soon after this, the Torch met a boy named Thomas "Toro" Raymond. Toro was the mutant son of two nuclear scientists whose exposure to radiation gave him the ability to control fire. However, when Toro lost his family in a horrible accident, the Torch took him under his wing, and became sort of a sidekick to Human Torch. (To learn about Toro, click on his highlighted name above.) 

During World War II, the Human Torch and Toro joined a team of heroes known as the Invaders to fight against the Axis powers. The team fought many battles and saw horrifying images of the cruelty that the Third Reich was capable of. Near the end of the war, the Human Torch came face-to-face with Adolf Hitler and killed him. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn more about the different characters.)

After the war, the heroes decided to remain together and fight crime in the U.S. instead as the All-Winners Squad. (To learn about the highlighted team above, just click on their name.)

Later on, the Human Torch was captured and placed in stasis in the Mojave Desert. He remained in coma for a few years until an atomic bomb testing woke him. He soon learned that Toro had been captured by the Soviets and brainwashed, and the Human Torch went and rescued his old partner. The mission was a success and after that, the two restarted their plight as superheros. However, soon after, the Torch learned that the radiation from the bomb that woke him from his coma, had vastly increased his powers and he once again had trouble controlling his powers. Eventually, fearing that he would cause damage to the people he swore to protect, the Torch made the ultimate sacrifice. He flew back to the desert and used up all of his energy reserves to effectively burn himself out of power and deactive himself.

More then 50 years later, the remains of the Human Torch were found and rebuilt by the Mad Thinker. The Mad Thinker restrained his flame and edited his memory so he would forget having been a hero. He then sent the Torch to kill the Fantastic Four. It was here that the Human Torch fought the new Human Torch; however, he was defeated by the team. After being defeated, he rebelled against his creator and returned to the Mad Thinker's lab refusing to be involved in murder. Unfortunately, the Mad Thinker disabled the Human Torch's ability to control his powers and he let him burn himself out once again. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn about the different characters and/or team.)

At one point, Immortus created a duplicate of the Human Torch which was taken by the robot Ultron. Using this body and the brain patterns of Wonder Man, Ultron created the Vision. (To learn about the characters, just click on their highlighted names above. Note: Beware of the form-fitting outfit of Ultron in a woman-form on his bio page.)

Later on, the Human Torch was revived again, this time by the Scarlet Witch and Toro's widow. The Human Torch woke up in a new era: telephones, TV's, computers, and most of his friends had died. With nowhere else to go, Hawkeye and the Scarlet Witch invited the Human Torch to stay with the Avenger's West Coast branch. He happily accepted and became a full time member of the superhero team for a time. (Click the highlighted names above to learn about the characters and/or team. Note: Beware of the revealing outfits worn by some on Scarlet Witch on her bio page.)

The Human Torch served the Avengers until he lost his powers to save his the former teammate from the Invaders: Spitfire. With his powers gone, the Torch became the CEO of Oracle Inc. (a company run by Namor). He also briefly became the leader of the Heroes for Hire which was funded by Oracle Inc. (Click on the highlighted character, company, and/or team to learn more about them.. Note: Beware of the revealing outfits worn by some on the Heroes for Hire's bio page.)

When the group disbanded, the Torch and some of his old WWII teammates funded and became heads of a new organization named V-Battalion. The group was somewhat of a peacekeeping organization. (Click the highlighted names above to learn about the team. Also, the Human Torch in his V-Battalion outfit is shown as the last picture posted above.)

Afters some time, the Human Torch left the V-Battalion and worked with the New Invaders. The group was compromised of old war heroes like Spitfire as well as newcomers like Union Jack and Tara. However, the Human Torch became attached to Tara (she being a recently-constructed female android based on him), whom he came to regard as a daughter of sorts. Unfortunately, Tara was revealed to be a plant, created by the Red Skull, with overrides on her developing personality allowing the Invaders' enemies, the Axis Mundi, to use her as a weapon against the team. Refusing to believe that she was truly gone, the Human Torch found himself able to flame on again, and tried to channel the heat from her system to shut her down before she overloaded and killed all the Invaders, herself included. Once again, the Torch again sacrificed himself to stop her meltdown which resulted in his own systems not being able to handle the heat. So, he flew high into the atmosphere before detonating. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn about the team and/or characters. Note: Beware of the form-fitting outfits worn on Tara and Axis Mundi's bio pages.) 

The whole superhero community mourned the loss of a great hero--the first true superhero of earth. In fact, some months later, after the superhuman Civil War, a superhuman training camp was named Camp Hammond, in honor of the Human Torch, Jim Hammond. (To learn about the superhuman Civil War, click on the highlighted name above.)

Later on, the Mad Thinker revived the Human Torch as a living weapon the Thinker intended to sell to A.I.M.. Though set on a course for destruction, the Torch was stopped  by his old friend, Toro.(To learn about A.I.M., click on the highlighted name above.)

The Torch is later offered membership in the Secret Avengers by Captain America after Hawkeye takes over as the team's leader. During his first mission with the group, they traveled to the Core (a subterranean city inhabited by an advanced race of robots called Descendants). The Human Torch found that the Descendants worshiped him and respectfully refered to him as "Grandfather." He soon learned that the city was created by a man known as the "Father," who created the Descendants back in the 1940's as part of a failed attempt to replicate Professor Horton's work. Unfortunately, the Torch is badly damaged during the Avengers' escape from the Core, and was placed in stasis until his body can be repaired. However, Black Ant (an agent of the Descendants) later frees the Torch and teleported him back to the Core, where he was repaired by Father and convinced to join their side. Afterward, the Human Torch led an army of robots on a raid to New York, with the goal of forcibly assimilating the human race through the use of nanotechnology and giving the control of the world to the machines, robots, and cyborgs. Luckily, Captain Britain got the Torch to come to his senses, and the Human Torch fought switched sides and started fighting against the Descendant. He ultimately destoryed the Orb of Necromancy (the artifact that granted life to the Descendants). Although the human race was saved, the Descendants were all killed. Distraught from killing an entire race, the Human Torch quits the Avengers and flew away (To learn about the above highlighted team and/or characters, just click on their names.)

To learn a more about the Human Torach (android), Jim Hammond, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Human_Torch_%28Jim_Hammond%29.

In the film Captain America: The First Avenger, Jim Hammond made a brief cameo as a synthezoid on display in an oxygen deprived glass tube at the Stark Expo. (The second picture posted above shows his appearance.)

Also, Jim Hammond, the Original Human Torch, first appeared in Marvel Comics #1 (1939), making him one of the first Marvel characters and its first true superhero.

Battle Royal 18 Results

The victor of Battle Royal 18 is...Silver Samurai! He received 4 votes!
 
Viper came in a very close second place with 3 votes. Followed by Nick Fury Jr. and Agent Coulson both receiving 1 vote a piece.

A thank you to all those Marvel Maniacs that voted on this Battle Royal poll! And as always folks...KEEP UP THE MADNESS!!!

Joan the Mouse

Real Name
Joan (full name unrevealed)

Occupation
Unknown
 
Citizenship
U.S.A. (presumed)
 
Place of Birth
Unrevealed
 
Known Relative
None

Group Affiliation
Mr. Bumpo, Punisher, Spacker Dave (former neighbors); Frankie (her dog)

Education
Unrevealed

Height
5' 4"

Weight

100 lbs.

Eyes
Unrevealed

Hair
Brown

Powers
None

Abilities
Joan is a very quiet, unobtrusive woman who prefers to keep to herself. She frequently resorted to bakery in order to give herself an excuse to see someone or to demonstrate affection. She speaks at a barely audible level and does not watch the news because it scares her. That being said, she is perfectly capable of following orders and not completely flipping out when confronted with a violent situation.

Other Info
Joan was an extremely shy, frightened, and timid woman. She was terrified of living in the city and wished to move to the countryside; however, she didn't have the money to do so.

Joan had a crush on her neighbor, John Smith, in her apartment complex. She would watch him from the crack of her front door. (Unknown to her, John was actually Frank Castle (Punisher) who was living there in hiding.) Joan often baked John pies and cookies, claiming that she had merely made too many. (To learn about the Punisher, click on his highlighted name above. Also, a picture of Joan with her baked cookies is shown in the fourth picture posted.)

One day, Joan saw a trail of blood in the hallway that lead to John's apartment. After she went it, she found him the Punisher badly wounded. She got her fellow neighbor, Spacker Dave, and the two moved him to a bed to care for him. Soon after, when two agents of Ma Gnucci (disguised as police officers) came looking for the Punisher, Joan feigned ignorance and they left her alone; however, they took Spacker Dave back to his own apartment to question him. As the Punisher laid there bleeding, Joan asked him why he killed criminals. She was hoping it was because he wanted to make the world safe, but he told her it was just because he hated criminals. It was then that they both heard screaming from Dave's apartment. The Punisher had Joan help him to his feet and hand him his ballistic knife. With Joan's aid, he stumbled over to Dave's room and killed the two criminals who were torturing Dave for information. The Punisher then had Joan contact a "doctor" to perform emergency surgery on himself and Dave. In gratitude, the Punisher told Joan his real name: Frank. (To learn about Spacker Dave, just click on the highlighted name above.)

When Joan heard that the Punisher was moving out, she told him that he made her feel safe. She really wanted to move out of the city and live someplace quiet, but she was too scared to do so. In fact, she was pretty much scared of change of any kind. 

After the Punisher was attacked by the Russian in his apartment, Castle moved out of the complex. However, he left behind a large stack of bills (Gnucci's mob money) for his neighbors: Mr. Bumpo, Spacker Dave, and Joan. A brief note was also left that told them to leave the apartments to avoid anyone else who would come looking for the him. Joan used the money left for her to buy a cottage in the countryside in Vermont. (To learn more about the Russian and/or Mr. Bumpo, just click on their highlighted names above.)

Years later, Castle was wounded in a fight with the Russian mob and stumbled upon Joan's cottage--she found Frank out in her pond and helped him into her home. Joan tended to him (including baking him some cookies and pies). Since he was in no condition to walk or drive, and as the men would be coming after him, Frank thanked Joan and told her to call the police to arrest him. However, Joan felt like she owed everything she now had to Frank and refused to betray him to the police. Since Joan wouldn't budge on the subject, Frank told her to go retrieve the biggest gun from his wrecked car and then set up the room for the approaching mobsters. As the mobsters came in, Joan did everything she could to help the Punisher--obeying his every order exactly. Dozens of mobsters were killed, and Joan was only upset when some of the ducks were killed by stray fire. The leader of the mobsters, Josef, confronted the Punisher and Joan with his Rottweiler named Stalin. However, Joan's little dog, Frankie, leapt at it and bit off its tongue. In addition, Josef fell into a hole under a rug that they had made, and the Punisher finished him off.
 
Afterward, Joan tried to get Frank to quit being the Punisher and just stay with her. He did stay around for a few weeks and helped Joan rebuild her home until his ankle healed. However, after he was healed, Joan understood that he had to go.

There is nothing there, but click on the following link to Joan the Mouse's bio page on Marvel.com, http://marvel.com/universe/Joan_the_Mouse.

Joan appeared in The Punisher (2004). She was played by Rebecca Romaijn. Once again, Marvel Entertainment doubled-up on an actress--Rebecca Romaijn also portrays Mystique in the X-Men films.

Battle Royal 18

Imagine if thirteen Marvel characters were to be in a huge battle where there could only be ONE victor! Putting 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.

Who will be the victor? Only YOU can decide!

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.

The thirteen characters that are involved in the Battle Royal 18 are...

Lord Shingen, Mariko Yashida, Yukio, Viper, Silver Samurai, Elizabeth Howlett, John Howlett Sr., Thomas Logan, Swordsman, Andrea von Strucker, Nick Fury Jr., Agent Coulson, and Ellen Brandt (If you have forgotten some of these characters' powers/abilities, go ahead and check out their bios right here on the Marvel Madness blog by clicking on the highlighted names above.)

Shin

Real Name
Shingen "Shin" Harada

Occupation
Mercenary

Citizenship
Japan

Place of Birth
Unrevealed location in Japan

Known Relatives
Saburo Yoshida (paternal great-uncle, deceased); Tomo Yoshida (paternal great-uncle, deceased);
unnamed great-aunt; Shingen Yashida (grandfather, deceased); Mariko Yashida (paternal aunt, deceased); Noburu-Hideki (uncle by marriage, deceased); Keniuchio Harada (Silver Samurai) (father, deceased); Shiro Yoshida (Sunfire, 1st cousin once removed); Leyu Yoshida (Sunpyre, 1st cousin once removed, deceased); Yoshi (1st cousin once removed, deceased); Ichiro (1st cousin once removed); Fukuko (1st cousin once removed); Rikuto (second cousin, deceased)

Group Affiliation
Hand (Japanese Branch), Clan Yashida, Hellfire Academy

Education
Unrevealed

Height 
Unrevealed

Weight 
Unrevealed

Eyes 
Black

Hair
Black

Powers
None

Abilities 

Shin, the "second" Silver Samurai, possesses a technologically-advanced exoskeletal battle suit of armor, which provides augmented strength, defensive plating, nuclear-charged nunchaku, laser swords, data-hacking equipment, modular shield plates that can intercept and deflect attacks or circulate into a particle beam generator, and boot jets which grant him the ability of flight.

Other Info
Shingen "Shin" Harada is the illegitimate son of Kenuichio Harada (Silver Samurai), and is the heir of the Clan Yashida. (To learn about the above highlighted character and/or team, just click on their names above.)

At one point, when Wolverine flew to Japan, he visited the Silver Samurai's grave and met Shin for the first time (now as the next Silver Samurai). At this point, Shin was dating Wolverine's adopted daughter--Amiko Kobayashi. Shin and Amiko broke into one of the Hand's research facilities together to steal an experimental power source; however, something went wrong and Amiko was captured by Azuma Goda. Goda used Amiko as bait to make Shin (now armed with a more powerful Silver Samurai suit) do his bidding. However, Amiko didn't take kindly to being used as bait and tried to fight back. Unfortunately, Azuma's new muscle, Sabretooth, recaptured Amiko. With Shin's help, she was able to escape, but this time Shin was captured and teleported away. Shin begged Wolverine to help her but he sends her to her room. Once there, Yukio (Amiko's adopted mother) gases her room with knock out gas, so her and Wolverine can find the Hand's stronghold; however, Amiko uses a gas mask to escape. She followed Yukio and Wolverine to the Lair of the Mind Ninjas, but once inside, she got hit with their mind gas. This resulted in a hallucination of a giant dragon--like the one that killed her mother. Just when she thought she was going to die, Amiko realized it was just an illusion and was actually ninjas. Shin then showed up and rescued Amiko, who unknown to her was forced to watch her almost die. Afterward, Shin took Amiko to the treasure of the Silver Samurai. It was here that Amiko discovered that Shin had sold out to Azuma Goda. Infuriated with Shin, Amiko slapped him and ran away. (To learn about the above characters and/or team, just click on their highlighted names. Note: Beware of the low-cut outfit on Yukio's bio page.)

Later on, when Amiko and Shin met again, they ended up fighting and Amiko told Shin their relationship was over. Shin tried to explain; however, Yukio showed up and Shin had to run away.

More recently, Shin joined Kade Kilgore's Hellfire Academy and partnered with Mystique in order to track down newly awakened mutants to join her cause. In this role, Shin ended up battling with Angel. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn about the characters. Note: Beware of the revealing outfit worn by Mystique on her bio page.) 

There is nothing there; however, here is the link to the new Silver Samurai's (Shin), bio page on Marvel.com, http://marvel.com/universe/Harada,_Shingen.

In the movie, The Wolverine, Shin Harada doesn't appear. However, the film's Silver Samurai character is a combination of the comic book versions of Kenuchio Harada (a skilled samurai with a tachyon blade) and Shin Harada (who possessed a technologically-advanced suit of armor). This was a little controversial to comicbook fans due to the Silver Samurai and Kenuichio Harada being the same person in the comics. (The second picture posted above shows the armored version of the Silver Samurai in the film which closely resembles Shin Harada's Silver Samurai armor.)

Madeline Drake

Real Name
Madeline Beatrice Bass Drake

Occupation
Unrevealed
 
Citizenship
U.S.A.
 
Place of Birth
Unrevealed

Known Relative
William Robert Drake (husband); Iceman (son); Anne Drake (sister-in-law)
 
Group Affiliation
None

Education
Unrevealed 
 
Height

Unrevealed

Weight
Unrevealed

Eyes
Brown

Hair
Brown

Powers
None

Abilities
None

Other Info
Madeline "Maddie" Drake lived a happy life with her husband William Drake and her son Bobby. However, problems arose when it turned out that Bobby was a mutant. At first, Maddie's husband had a great problem with their son being a mutant. This led to much tension in the home, with Maddie always trying to keep the peace between her husband and son. (To learn about Maddie's husband and/or son, just click on their highlighted names above.)

At one point, when Bobby was chased by an angry mob for being a mutant (he put a bully temporarily in a frozen block of ice while defending his girlfriend), Maddie and William protected their son. Soon after this event, she and her husband sent Bobby with Charles Xavier to his School for Gifted Youngsters in hope of letting him cope with his mutant powers.  (To learn about Professor X and/or his school, just click on the highlighted names above.)

Maddie was proud of her son for becoming a fine man and a true hero; however, her husband never had an easy relationship with Bobby. At one point, both William and Bobby got into a fight about a girl Bobby was dating, and her husband admitted to still having problems with his son being a mutant. A falling out occurred, with Maddie in the middle and the two rarely spoke to each other. Maddie tried to bring William to reason, but it seemed like her words had no meaning to him.

Later on, when mutant-hating hysteria broke loose during Operation: Zero Tolerance, Maddie's husband defended their son and tried taking down the sponsor behind Operation: Zero Tolerance--Bastion. While trying to to take Bastion down, William was nearly beaten to death by his two body guards. Before, Maddie and Bobby thought William had hated their son, but once and for all, Maddie knew how William really felt about their son, despite his problems with him being a mutant. (To learn about the program and/or character, just click on the highlighted names above.)

Eventually, Maddie's husband recovered from his wounds and they live a peaceful life again. All three of them now live with relative ease. 

There is nothing there, but click on the following link to Maddie Drake's bio on Marvel.com, http://marvel.com/universe/Drake,_Madeline.