The "Face" of Marvel Poll Results

Holy Cow! What a turn out!!! Thanks for all those that participated by voting and/or leaving comments! You all are true Marvel Maniacs!

And for the results.............the winner is...............A TIE!!! Spider-Man and Wolverine both came in with 11 votes each! There were also a few sporadic votes for Captain America and Iron Man. (To be honest, I was impressed that Captain America got that many votes. I think he's awesome, but I didn't think he would get any votes.)

Thanks again for all those that voted! This was a nail-biter! It came down to the wire!

P.S. There will be a Battle Royal 4 in just 4 more weeks!

Multiple Man

Real Name
James Arthur "Jamie" Madrox

Occupation
Private investigator, adventurer, former laboratory assistant, farmer

Citizenship
U.S.A.

Place of Birth
Los Alamos, New Mexico

Known Relatives
Daniel Madrox (father, deceased), Joan Madrox (mother, deceased)

Group Affiliation
X-Factor Investigations; formerly X-Corporation, X-Corps, X-Factor, Nasty Boys (duplicate only), Fallen Angels (duplicate only)

Education
College-level courses

Height
5'11"

Weight
155 lbs.

Eyes
Blue

Hair
Brown

Powers
Madrox creates an identical physical living duplicate of himself upon any physical impact, possibly via extradimensional mass acquisition similar to the process used by Ant-Man or the Hulk. This process is spontaneous and cannot be prevented by Madrox. Although he can create multiple duplicates, and the duplicates themselves can also replicate, each is only able to create one duplicate at a time; he has been seen to produce around forty duplicates before no more would be created. The duplicates think, feel, and act independently, though usually guided by the original. Each tends to manifest one aspect of Madrox's personality, which increases in strength with lengthier separation from the original; these traits have recently become more extreme. Madrox is telepathically and empathically linked to his duplicates, suffering severe, potentially fatal, trauma if one dies. Madrox can "reabsorb" his duplicates, gaining their new knowledge and skills. Similarly, he will acquire any physical injury - though not any actual toxin - from a duplicate; symptoms are typically lessened by half during absorption. If Madrox himself were killed, it is not known whether any existing duplicates would continue to function independently; it is virtually impossible to distinguish the original from the duplicates.

Abilities
Madrox has acquired extensive knowledge and skills via his duplicates' experiences, such as human anatomy, speaking Russian, and Shaolin monk stealth techniques.

Other Info
James "Jamie" Madrox's mutant ability was apparent at birth when a duplicate was created upon his being slapped by the doctor. Two weeks later, Jamie's father resigned from the Los Alamos Nuclear Research Center and moved his family to an isolated farm in Kansas at the suggestion of Professor Charles Xavier. (To learn about Professor X, click on his highlighted name.)

From a young age, Madrox was given a special suit to wear that would neutralize his mutant power; however, before this could be explained to him, a tornado killed his parents when he was 15 years old. (Madrox's original costume absorbed kinetic energy, preventing accidental duplication. Madrox's strength was proportionately increased via this absorbed energy.) Madrox spent the next six years alone caring for his parents' farm. When he was 21, malfunctioning control elements in the suit caused a power surge that released his inhibited power and caused the suit to begin absorbing ambient electrical energy. Confused and frightened, Madrox left for New York City. (Multiple Man in his first suit is shown in the third picture posted.)

Once in New York, Madrox clashed with the Fantastic Four until Xavier arrived to defuse the situation. With the help of Xavier and the Fantastic Four's Reed Richards, Madrox's suit was repaired and he accompanied Xavier back to his mansion in Westchester. There, Multiple Man learned to cope with his powers and was invited to join the X-Men. However, he declined and accompanied Xavier to Muir Island instead. At the island, Madrox became a laboratory assistant to mutant researcher Doctor Moira MacTaggert. (To learn about the teams, people, and place above, just click on their names.)

Later, Multiple Man again declined another offer to join the X-Men, and remained on Muir Island with Moira and her lover (the X-Man Banshee). Soon after, Banshee's daughter Siryn came to live on Muir, and she and Madrox eventually grew close together. (To learn more about the above characters, click on their names.)

After some time, one of Multiple Man's duplicates sought to remain apart from the original and live his own life. To do so, the duplicate drugged the original Madrox and joined Moira and Siryn on a trip to the U.S. to search for Sunspot and Warlock (two missing members of the New Mutants.) Eventually finding the runaway mutants as members of the Vanisher's teenage gang, the Fallen Angels, the duplicate and Siryn were persuaded to join the team. During their time with the group, the duplicate Madrox and Siryn engaged in a brief romance. Eventually, the team returned to Earth and disbanded soon after. The duplicate and Siryn rejoined Moira at the Xavier Institute to return to Muir; however, the duplicate had no desire to be reabsorbed and so created another duplicate to take his place on the return trip while he secretly remained in the U.S. (Click on the highlighted characters, team, or places above, to learn more about them.)

Years later, the original Multiple Man joined the government-sponsored X-Factor team. Unknown to Madrox, the duplicate that had joined the Fallen Angels earlier had since found a place in the Nasty Boys (a team of super-powered mercenaries employed by geneticist Mister Sinister). With the help of Senator Stephen Shaffran (aka Ricochet--a mutant with the ability to turn other mutants' powers and fears against them), the duplicate convinced the Nasty Boys, and Madrox himself, that he was the original. Therefore, Madrox merged with the duplicate; however it was a trick and the original Madrox "disassembled" the duplicate from the inside and remained the dominant personality in order to expose Shaffran and stop Sinister. (Click on the highlighted people and teams above, to learn more about them. Also, the first picture posted is Multiple Man's costume during his time with X-Factor.)

After an attempted assassination of Professor X (supposedly by the mutant soldier from the future, Cable), X-Factor and the X-Men teamed up to capture Cable's team of young mutants (the X-Force). Among X-Force's numbers was Siryn, who confronted Madrox over their past relationship. However, Madrox revealed to Siryn that although he retained all the memories of her relationship with his renegade duplicate, he possessed none of the related emotional attachment. (To learn about about Cable or the X-Force, click on their names.)

During a later mission with X-Factor to the island nation of Genosha, one of Multiple Man's duplicates contracted the deadly Legacy Virus. When Madrox reabsorbed the infected duplicate, it was believed that he himself was infected and soon after seemingly died. (However, Madrox unconsciously stayed split into separate bodies, ensuring that the virus would be contained in one body and not duplicate into the others.) When the infected body died, the shock of its death caused Madrox to lose his memory. However, after some time, the X-Factor started hearing rumors of sightings of Madrox. They were finally able to find Multiple Man; he was alive and well with his memory restored. (To learn about the place or the virus, just click on their names.)

Later on, Multiple Man was recruited by Banshee into the paramilitary X-Corps organization for which Madrox created duplicates to function as support staff performing duties ranging from communications to monitoring to gunship pilots. Following the restructuring of the X-Corps into the X-Corporation global mutant search and rescue organization, Madrox worked with the group's European branch for a time until a pitched battle against the living bacterial consciousness known as Weapon XII apparently cost the life of his teammate Darkstar. After this tragedy, Multiple Man quit the team and went out on his own, sending "long-term explorer dupes" around the world to learn new skills before returning to be reabsorbed. (To learn about the groups and characters above, just click on their highlighted names.)

After this, Multiple Man established XXX Investigators (later the name was changed to X-Factor Investigations) in Mutant Town with Strong Guy and Wolfsbane (both were Madrox's friends of their former X-Factor team). At this point, Madrox retired the name "Multiple Man," and starting going by just his last name, Madrox. Now, Madrox had stopped wearing his costume and began wearing just a shirt with or without a trench coat as his outfit. (To learn about the team, characters, and/or place above, click on their names. Also, the forth picture posted shows Madrox in this attire.)

At one point, Madrox, with the assistance of Forge, sent one of his duplicates 80-years into the future. In this time period, mutants were kept in camps. Here, the duplicate was arrested and put through a process where he was forced to undergo a tattooing process that instilled information into his face. He was scarred with a giant "M" across his right-eye. Later, the duplicate was killed in that time period, and the real Madrox (in the present day) awoke from a coma and cried out in agony because he too now had an "M" tattooed across his right eye. (To learn more about Forge, just click on his name above. Also, the fifth picture posted is of Madrox with the "M" tattoo.)

If you would like to learn more concerning Multiple Man/Madrox, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Multiple_Man.

Marvel: My Anti-Drug

Hey Everybody! I thought that I would share this video I created for one of my classes. I hope you all enjoy! And remember...Don't Do Drugs!

The "Face" of Marvel Poll

If you were to name one hero that was Marvel's icon...the one that people think about the most when the hear the word "Marvel"...or, the one you would consider the "face" of Marvel...who would it be? Go ahead and cast your vote on the poll! If you have time, please leave your reasoning for your choice in the "Comment" section of this post. May the best "face" win!

Pepper Potts

Real Name
Virginia "Pepper" Potts Hogan

Occupation
Superhero team leader; former executive assistant

Citizenship
U.S.A.

Place of Birth
Unrevealed

Known Relatives
Harold "Happy" Hogan (husband, deceased), unidentified adopted son & daughter, Clay Hogan (brother-in-law), unidentified grandfather-in-law

Group Affiliation
The Order (leader)

Education
College-level business studies

Height
5'4"

Weight
110 lbs.

Eyes
Green

Hair
Auburn

Powers
None

Abilities
Pepper has extensive experience in business administration and secretarial duties.

Other Info
Virginia "Pepper" Potts was a member of the secretarial pool at Stark Industries when Howard Stark ran the company. After the death of Howard, his son Anthony "Tony" Stark assumed control of the company, and quickly realized Pepper's value because she understood the day-to-day business of running the company better than himself. Unfortunately, Pepper found herself doing most of Tony's work for him because he was often out socializing. During this time, Pepper continued her studies in business administration in order to cover for Tony. (To learn more about Tony Stark, click on his highlighted name above.)

Later, Pepper began to see a change in Tony's behavior (he had become Iron Man without her knowledge); Tony began to assume more of his responsibilities which eased the pressure off of her. Soon after, Pepper became infatuated with Tony, but he distanced himself from her emotionally because of his Iron Man armor (which at that time was needed to keep him alive). Tony soon hired ex-boxer Harold "Happy" Hogan as his chauffeur, and Happy was immediately attracted to Pepper. Pepper repeatedly turned Happy down when he tried to date her, but when he was almost killed aiding Iron Man against Titanium Man, Pepper realized that she loved him. Eventually, they were married and left Stark Industries. (To learn about the characters above, click on their names.)

Years later, Pepper and Happy experienced some marital problems which led to a divorce. Soon after, they both returned to Stark's employ when he started up his business Stark Solutions (now both were aware that he was Iron Man). Although Pepper found herself drawn to Tony again, she and Happy eventually reconciled and remarried. The couple considered starting a family to supplement their two adopted children, but during Pepper's pregnancy, she was assaulted by Iron Man's enemy Ayisha, and lost the baby. She and Happy continued to work for Tony during his time as Iron Man; however, when Happy was placed in a vegetative coma after a fight with the Spymaster, Pepper requested that Tony turn off his life support as an act of mercy. Tony reluctantly complied. (To learn a little more about the Spymaster, click on his name above.)

Some time later, Pepper has become the team leader of the Order (California's superhero team mandated under the Fifty-State Initiative). Lacking superpowers herself, Pepper (now going by "Hera") uses high-tech "telepresence enhancements" to monitor and direct the team from their headquarters. (The forth picture posted above shows Pepper in her role as Hera. Also, to learn more about the Order or the Initiative click on their names above. Note: Beware of the few women with bare midriff in the Order's bio page.)

Upon the absorption of the Order into the Initiative, Tony Stark offered Pepper a job on the special projects team at Stark Enterprises, which she accepted. However, this abruptly came to an end when Ezekiel Stane, son of Obadiah Stane, caused an explosion during a party hosted by Stark in Taipei; Pepper, unable to flee, was trapped under debris and wounded by shrapnel. She suffered a concussion, damage in almost every internal organ, some degree of deafness in the right ear, and pieces of shrapnel were embedded in her chest. She was far too weak to withstand a prolonged surgery; therefore, Stark embedded a strong magnet in her chest, essentially turning Pepper Potts into a cyborg dependent on keeping her chest magnet engaged to stay alive. Pepper survived the procedure and her body later became further enhanced with new cybernetics and upgrades to the magnet. (The cybernetic technology implanted in Pepper’s chest caused a number of physical changes to her body: it fixed her eyesight (she needed glasses before), increased her metabolism, made her stronger, improved her reaction time and reflexes, and increased her IQ by about 25 points. The electromagnet has also been shown to give her some control over the magnetic fields around her, once allowing her to levitate briefly.) (To learn about the Stanes, click on their names above.)

Some time later, Pepper discovered a secret room in Tony’s office, which contained a suit of armor that he made especially for her. Pepper eventually used this suit to escape Norman Osborn. When Osborn discovered that Pepper had a suit of armor, he decided to test her abilities by shooting down nearby plane. Pepper was able to successfully catch the plane and take it to a nearby airport. (Pepper’s suit, the Mark 1616, appears to be similar to Iron Man's and can fly. It contains an AI version of Jarvis to assist her and answer questions, and is ideally suited to her biology and cybernetic enhancements. However, in respect to Pepper’s wishes that she not become a weapon, her suit has no weapons whatsoever, and is instead designed for “heavy rescue and recovery.” This led to the alias she goes by now: "Rescue." The Rescue armor contains repulsor technology, and electromagnetic field generators allowing her to suspend and tow massive loads and is powered by solar cells.) (The fifth picture posted above is of Pepper and her suit, and the first picture posted is of her in the role as Rescue. To learn about Osborn or Jarvis, click on their names above.)

To learn a tiny bit more concerning Pepper Potts/Hera/Rescue, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Potts_Hogan,_Pepper.

Agent Zero

Real Name
Christoph Nord

Occupation
Mercenary, former government operative, freedom fighter

Citizenship
German

Place of Birth
Unrevealed location in former East Germany

Known Relatives
Unidentified parents (deceased), Andreas Nord (brother, deceased), Ginetta Lucia Barsalini (wife, deceased), unnamed child (deceased)

Group Affiliation
Formerly Weapon X, Weapon Plus, Team X, Cell Six, former bodyguard of Psi-Borg, former agent of Major Barrington

Education
Unrevealed

Height
6'3"

Weight
230 lbs.

Eyes
Blue

Hair
(Originally) Brown; (currently) Black

Powers
Agent Zero is a mutant who can absorb the kinetic energy of an impact within certain limits without injury to himself. Zero must then release the energy he absorbs and can channel it as blasts of concussive-corrosive energy via an acidic enzyme secreted from his fingertips. This enzyme was specifically designed by the Weapon X Program to counteract an opponent’s self-healing abilities by reversing the process so that the more an opponent attempts to heal an enzyme-inflicted wound, the worse it becomes. Zero is also able to channel absorbed energy into raw strength, allowing him to deliver blows ten times stronger than normal.

Like other members of the Weapon X Program, Zero’s D.N.A. contains an age suppression factor that greatly retards his aging process. Subsequent modification by the Program has removed all discernible scent from his body.

Abilities
Agent Zero is a deadly hand-to-hand combatant, a precision marksman, and an expert in covert operations and demolitions. He also has vast experience with computers and communications equipment.

Other Info
Christoph Nord was Born in the former East Germany. He was an idealist who fought against the communist regime as a freedom fighter for the West German Cell Six. Nord’s brother, Andreas, fought for the East Germans, and when the two met in battle Nord was forced to kill his brother.

Later, after an encounter with an assassin, Christoph was recovering in a German hospital where he fell in love with nurse named Ginetta Barsalini. The two got married, and soon after Ginetta became pregnant. However, Christoph later learned that his wife was a double agent and he was forced to kill her after she attacked him. The following guilt and pain that came from performing such an act, drove Nord further into his mercenary work, and he eventually accepted an offer to join the Central Intelligence Agency’s Weapon X Program. He joined the Program’s covert operations unit Team X, changed his name to David North, and took on the codename "Maverick."

As Maverick, he wore a suit of body armor that contained airtight seals and a mask containing a limited oxygen supply. (Shown in the third, forth, and sixth picture posted.)

In recent years, Japanese crimelord Matsu’o Tsurayaba and his allies, including former Weapon X scientist Doctor Cornelius, resurrected the Russian super-soldier Omega Red. In order to stabilize his mutant power, Omega Red required the Carbonadium Synthesizer, a device stolen from him by Team X decades earlier. Omega Red captured Maverick’s former Team X teammate Wolverine (who had the location of the C-Synthesizer buried in his memory) and several of Wolverine’s teammates in the X-Men. Maverick was hired by former Team X liaison Major Arthur Barrington to prevent Omega Red from obtaining the device, and he tracked another former Team X member, Sabretooth, to Omega Red’s location. With Maverick’s help, the X-Men were able to defeat the villains, and he subsequently killed Cornelius in an act of revenge. (To learn about any of the highlighted characters/team above, click on their names.)

Maverick subsequently learned that he had contracted the deadly mutant-killing Legacy Virus. He asked Wolverine to kill him in order to avoid a prolonged suffering, but Wolverine refused. Soon after, Maverick came to form a sibling-like bond with another Virus sufferer, Chris Bradley (future Bolt/Maverick). During the final stages of his infection, Maverick encountered the Russian mutant telepath Elena Ivanova who was hunting Sabretooth to avenge his murder of her mother. The Virus claimed Maverick’s life, but Ivanova managed to use her powers to coax him back to life. As a result, Maverick’s Legacy Virus went into full remission and his powers further mutated. (To learn about the characters and virus above, just click on their highlighted names.)

Maverick was later captured by Russian crimelord Ivan Pushkin. Pushkin's scientists implanted false memories into Maverick’s mind to make him believe that Barrington had been responsible for his wife’s betrayal. Pushkin wanted Maverick to kill Barrington to prevent him from providing testimony that threatened Pushkin’s financial interests. Maverick located Barrington’s safehouse, but he was opposed by members of the Canadian super-team Alpha Flight. Maverick was able to overcome Pushkin’s mental manipulation; however, it was too late to save Barrington from Pushkin’s agents, Hammer and Sickle. (To learn about the characters/team above, click on their highlighted names. Note: Beware of the Alpha Flight's bio picture...women in tight-fitting/revealing outfits.)

In a later encounter with Hammer and Sickle, Maverick’s left eye was gouged out by Sickle, and he was left to die in the Swiss Alps. Forced to cauterize the wound to stop from bleeding to death, Maverick survived and later resurfaced to aid Wolverine against a revived Weapon X Program. This new Program sent Sabretooth to recruit both Maverick and fellow Team X alumnus John Wraith. Neither accepted the offer, and so Sabretooth killed Wraith and critically injured Maverick. Brought to the Program with only minutes to live, Maverick reluctantly joined in order to survive and was genetically modified to become Agent Zero. (To learn about Wraith, click on his name above.)

As Agent Zero, he wears body armor woven from Vibranium that renders him completely silent as he moves. (Shown in the first and fifth picture posted.) The armor also refracts light, which in total darkness renders him nearly invisible to detection. Agent Zero also carries a wide array of weapons including wrist-mounted plasma blasters, pistols that fire bullets made from Adamantium, and an Adamantium-coated knife, amongst others. Zero also once used a sniper rifle loaded with bullets forged of Adamantium-piercing "anti-metal." (To read up on the definitions for Vibranium and Adamantium, click on the highlighted words above.)

Although an efficient operative, Zero hated what he had become and frequently considered suicide. On his first assignment as Zero, he was sent to assassinate Wolverine in an attempt by the Director to further break his spirit. Deliberately missing his target, Zero was punished with an electric shock. Later, Zero recaptured Sabretooth after his betrayal of the Program and would have killed him had the Director not shocked him again. (To learn more about the Director of the Weapon X Program, click on his name above.)

After a change in leadership of the Program, Zero was assigned to track the anti-human terrorist group Gene Nation that had been revived by former Weapon X operative Marrow. Confronting her, Zero learned that her latest recruit was a man using Zero's former identity of Maverick. Marrow also told Zero that this "new" Maverick had been sent to bomb New York’s Grand Central Station. At the Station, Zero confronted the impostor Maverick and inflicted a fatal wound upon him. As the impostor Maverick was dying, Zero unmasked him and was shocked to discover that the imposter was actually his former friend, Chris Bradley. (Bradley was secretly intending to dismantle Gene Nation from within. He was actually trying to stop the bomber, who Zero had mistakenly believed Bradley to be.) Enraged, Zero set about the task of wiping out Gene Nation with all new zeal, although he declined to make Marrow a martyr. (To learn about the Gene Nation and Marrow, click on their highlighted names above.)

As a result of the M-Day (a time where most the mutants in the world lost their powers), Agent Zero lost his powers. He has been currently living with other mutants who have lost their powers too. (To learn about M-Day, click on the name above. Note: Beware of a couple women in revealing or tight-fitting outfits on the M-Day page. Also, to learn more about the life of Agent Zero/Maverick, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Agent_Zero.)

Agent Zero is in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Except for the character's extreme accuracy with guns, he does not have his normal powers. I don't know why, but in this movie, a few characters' powers/abilities were changed or altered. Also, it seems like Agent Zero is kind of a good guy in the comics, where in the movie he's more of a villain. However, that might be because he is a mercenary, so he just does what he's told...who knows?

Deadpool

Real Name
Wade Wilson

Occupation
Mercenary; former enforcer, government operative, sumo wrestler, soldier, others

Citizenship
Canada

Place of Birth
Unrevealed location in Canada

Known Relatives
Unidentified parents, Gretchen (ex-wife)

Group Affiliation
Agency X; formerly Six Pack, One World Church, DP Inc., Weapon X, Heroes for Hire, Secret Defenders, Frightful Four, Team Deadpool, Landau, Luckman & Lake, Department K; former employee of Tolliver, Kingpin, Taskmaster, presumably others

Education
High school dropout

Height
6'2"

Weight
210 lbs.

Eyes
Brown

Hair
None, formerly brown

Powers
Deadpool possesses a superhuman healing factor derived from that of the mutant Wolverine that allows him to regenerate damaged or destroyed areas of his cellular structure at a rate far greater than that of an ordinary human. As such, he can regrow severed limbs or vital organs. The speed at which this healing factor works varies in direct proportion to the severity of the damage Deadpool suffers. This healing factor also affords Deadpool a virtual immunity to poisons and most drugs, as well as an enhanced resistance to diseases and an extended life span. Unlike Wolverine’s natural healing factor, Deadpool’s is mentally driven to a partial extent.

Due to the presence of this superhuman healing ability, many of Deadpool's natural physical attributes have been enhanced. Deadpool's musculature generates considerably less fatigue toxins than the muscles of an ordinary human being, granting him superhuman levels of stamina in all physical activities. His natural strength, agility and reflexes have been enhanced to levels that are beyond the natural limits of the human body. Deadpool's agility and reaction time are superior to those of even the finest human athlete.

Abilities
Deadpool is an extraordinary hand-to-hand combatant and is skilled in multiple unarmed combat techniques. He is a master of assassination techniques, is an excellent marksman, and is highly skilled with bladed weapons (frequently carrying two swords strapped to his back). He is fluent in Japanese, German, Spanish, amongst other languages.

Other Info
Wade Wilson's early life is mostly unknown. His mother died of cancer while he was young and his father (who was in the military) was physically abusive. Wade was a troubled teen and his father was killed when Wade was 17 years old.

After a brief military service, Wade began his mercenary career while still in his late teens. Accepting assassination jobs only against those whom he felt deserved death. He also made a habit of using plastic surgery and technology to take on a new identity whenever he failed an assignment.

Little is known of Wilson’s mercenary activities. At one time, he traveled throughout Asia, and was hired in Japan by a crimelord, the Boss, to infiltrate a sumo-wrestling ring owned by a rival criminal, the Oyakata. Wilson spent three years as a sumo wrestler under the Oyakata’s tutelage and became romantically involved with his Oyakata's daughter, Sazae. When the Boss finally ordered for Oyakata’s murder, Wilson refused to complete his assignment (allegedly the first time he had ever done so) and relocated to the United States.

In America, Wilson met and fell in love with a prostitute named Vanessa Carlysle (future Copycat). The love was mutual. However, after learning that he had contracted cancer, Wilson broke up with Vanessa rather than force her to remain with a terminally ill man. (To learn more about Copycat, click on her name above. Note: Beware of the reavealing outfit on her bio page.)

He then went to Canada where he was offered hope in the form of Department K (a special weapons development branch of the Canadian government). Wilson became a test subject in Department K’s branch of the joint U.S./Canadian superhuman enhancement project, the Weapon X Program. Here, his cancer was temporarily arrested via the implantation of a healing factor derived from another Department K agent, Wolverine. During this time, Wilson was active in a covert field unit alongside the Sluggo, Kane, and Slayback. Vanessa, too, was later affiliated with the team after having manifested mutant shapeshifting abilities, calling herself Copycat. (To learn more about the programs and characters above, just click on their names.)

During one mission, Wilson killed his teammate Slayback. As a result, he was rejected from the Weapon X Program and sent to the Hospice (allegedly a government facility where failed superhuman operatives were treated). However, unknown to the Canadian government, the Hospice’s patients served as experimental subjects for Doctor Killebrew and his sadistic assistant Ajax, with the patients placing bets in a "deadpool" as to how long each subject would live. During this time, Killebrew subjected Wilson to various torturous experiments. At the Hospice, Wilson eventally killed another patient and according to Killebrew’s rules, any patient who killed another was to be executed. Therefore, Ajax tore Wilson’s heart out and left him for dead. However, Wilson’s thirst for vengeance was so strong that it jump-started his healing factor, regenerating his heart, although not curing his scarred body. Wilson then attacked Ajax, leaving him for dead, and took on the name Deadpool. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn about the characters.)

Later on, at some point during his mercenary career, Deadpool was employed as an assassin by Wilson Fisk (aka Kingpin). (To learn about the Kingpin, click on his highlighted name.)

Then, some years after escaping the Hospice, Deadpool returned to the Canadian government and was treated by Doctor Walter Langkowski, Sasquatch of Canada’s super-team Alpha Flight. Deadpool soon found government work unsuitable for his temperament, and he abandoned this endeavor. (Click on the highlighted names above to learn about the character/team. Note: Beware of the women on the picture of the Alpha Flight team on their bio page: tight-fitting/revealing outfits.)

Later on, Deadpool was hired by the criminal genius known as the Wizard. Deadpool at first went to a wrong address and received a job impersonating the criminal Hobgoblin. After realzing the mix-up, the Wizard asked Deadpool to join the Frightful Four with fellow criminals the Taskmaster and Constrictor. When this plan also failed, Deadpool sought to reclaim his position as the Kingpin’s assassin, only to be challenged by fellow assassin Bullseye. (To learn more about the group and characters above, click on their names.)

After some time, Deadpool found employment with the time-traveling arms merchant Tolliver, in whose service he was reunited with Sluggo and Copycat. Deadpool also recruited a man named Weasel to act as his weapon supplier, and the two became fast friends. In the course of a future battle, Copycat was gravely injured, and Deadpool sacrificed part of his healing ability to save her life. (To learn about the highlighted characters above, just click on their names.)

Deadpool subsequently helped X-Force member Siryn against the unstoppable Juggernaut and her uncle, Black Tom Cassidy, who had forced Killebrew into their service. Deadpool developed a strong attachment to Siryn, who only partially returned his feelings. Unsure of his worthiness, Deadpool sought out Copycat, only to find she was now dating Kane. Later, Deadpool sought medical treatment for Siryn, who had been injured in a mission with X-Force. Allying himself with the mysterious Watchtower group, Deadpool captured Wolverine in exchange for Siryn’s treatment. Siryn was cured, while Wolverine easily outfought his captors. (Throughout Deadpool's mercenary career, he has fought alongside, but mostly against, Wolverine multiple times. Also, to learn about the characters/group above, click on their highlighted names. Note: The X-Force bio page has a woman in a tight-fitting outfit.)

Deadpool was then tracked down by Sabretooth and invited to join the new Weapon X Program. Impressed by Weapon X’s upgrade of his healing factor, he agreed to join. However, he soon found the organization’s methods to be too bloody even for him. After the death of Copycat at the hands of Sabretooth, Deadpool confronted the Director, Malcolm Colcord, only to have his healing factor reversed to the point where he again lost physical cohesion and died. However, the lingering effects of Deadpool’s healing factor upgrade resurrected him, leaving him amnesiac. But, a future chance encounter with Weasel restored his memory. (To learn about the above highlighted characters, just click on their names.)

If you would like to learn more about Deadpool's bio, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Deadpool. (There's a lot of information, so if you're in for a good read, enjoy!)

Wade Wilson/Deadpool appeared in the movie, X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I thought Deadpool was a pretty cool character. But, in the movie, it seemed like Deadpool's character had been changed a bit; some of his powers were different, etc. However, Marvel has announced that they will be making a Deadpool spin-off movie in 2011. Therefore, it makes me wonder how they are going to be connecting the Deadpool from X-Men Origins: Wolverine and the upcoming Deadpool movie. Only time will tell!

Arclight

Real Name
Philippa Sontag

Occupation
Criminal, soldier; former refugee

Citizenship
U.S.A. (presumed)

Place of Birth
Unrevealed

Known Relatives
Unrevealed

Group Affiliation
Marauders; formerly 198, Femizons

Education
Unrevealed; some military training

Height
5'8"

Weight
126 lbs.

Eyes
Violet

Hair
Purple

Powers
Arclight is a mutant possessed of superhuman strength, allowing her to lift approximately 50 tons. She also has superhuman endurance, as well as a great degree of resistance to physical injury. Arclight can also focus seismic energy through her hands to shatter objects, create shockwaves, or cause earth tremors.

Abilities
Covert ops, above-average hand-to-hand combat

Other Info
Arclight was once a soldier during the Vietnam War. The experiences there severely traumatized her, and she retains bitter memories of that place. She used her rage to fuel her body building, which she further uses to augment her mutant abilities (her mutant ability enables her to create shockwaves through physical contact, usually combined with her super strength in form of punches).

At one point, she became a member of the Marauders (a team of superhuman assassins brought together by the mutant thief Gambit when he was in the employ of the enigmatic Mister Sinister). On Sinister's orders, the Marauders massacred the underground community of mutants known as the Morlocks. In the course of the massacre, the Marauders, including Arclight, clashed with various superhumans, including the X-Men. (To learn about the teams, characters, and people above, just click on their highlighted names. Note: Beware of the woman in a tight-fitting/revealing outfit in the background of the Marauders' bio page.)

Arclight, along with the Marauders, originally died during the demonic invasion of Manhattan that came to be known as the "Inferno." However, Mister Sinister had the technology to clone the Marauders (thanks to him retaining samples of their DNA). Thus, Arclight continued to appear among the Marauders in all subsequent activities, including their battles with Cable and X-Man. Therefore, it's unclear if the current Arclight is the original or a clone. (If you would like to learn more about the character, team, or event above, just click on their names.)

For a brief time, in an alternate time line, Arclight served as a member of the Femizons. This group was an all-female superhuman army of warrior women. During this time, Arclight clashed with the super-soldier Captain America, and the mercenary named Paladin. (To learn about the group and characters above, click on their highlighted names. Note: Beware of the multiple women in tight-fitting and/or revealing outfits in the main picture on the Femizons' bio page.)

After the events of "M-Day," Arclight joined the mutant refugee camp on the grounds of the Xavier Institute. These inhabitants called themselves the 198. (To learn more about the above event, place, and group, click on their names above. Note: Beware of the M-Day bio page; there is a picture of multiple mutants with a couple in tight-fitting and/or revealing outfits.)

In an alternate universe, Arclight has been portrayed as a male instead of a female. (This can be seen in the last picture posted above.) Marvel has sometimes done this with other characters as well. Some that I have seen are Black Panther and Loki. (To learn about these characters, click on their names above. Note: Beware of Loki's bio page; the main picture is of the female Loki in a revealing outfit.)

To learn a little bit more about Arclight, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Arclight. (Note: Beware of Arclight's bio page's main picture; she has a form-fitting outfit on.)

Leech

Real Name
Unrevealed

Occupation
Survivor, former student

Citizenship
U.S.A. (presumed)

Place of Birth
U.S.A.

Known Relatives
Annalee (foster mother, deceased)

Group Affiliation
Morlocks; formerly Generation X, Daydreamers, 198, X-Factor (trainee), X-Terminators

Education
Unrevealed

Height
4'2"

Weight
67 lbs.

Eyes
White (no irises or pupils)

Hair
Black

Powers
Able to nullify the abilities of other mutants in his close proximity

Other Info
The green-skinned Leech was orphaned as a toddler. His parents left him to die when his mutations became apparent. He was found by the Morlock named Caliban, and taken to a woman named Annalee who raised him and several other young mutant orphans as her children. During his life in the Morlock tunnels, he made friends with a mutant his age named Artie Maddicks. (To learn about the Morlocks and Leech's friends, click on their names above.)

At one point, Mister Sinister rallied his henchmen, the Marauders, and infiltrated the sewers to massacre all the Morlocks living there in an effort to rid the world of "genetically impure" mutants. Many Morlocks were killed, but Leech, Artie, and Caliban survived because they were rescued by the Power Pack and the X-Terminators (the X-Factor in their mutant roles). Leech and Artie were placed in the care of X-Factor until they could be enrolled in private school. (To learn about the character and teams above, just click on their highlighted names. Note: Beware of the Marauders' bio page; one of the female characters is in a tight-fitted/revealing outfit.)

Later, Leech and Artie were captured by the Gene Nation (a group, composed of second-generation Morlocks who were the descendants of those who survived the massacre in the tunnels. They were born and raised in an alternate dimension with a faster flow of time.) They sought revenge for those who wronged their forbearers. The Gene Nation led a campaign to hunt down and kill as many humans as possible, since it was the humans' unwillingness to accept them that led their parents to the tunnels in which they were massacred. Leech and Artie wanted no part of this, but were trapped until they were rescued by Generation X (a young mutant superhero team lead and tutored by Banshee and Emma Frost). After being rescued, they were made junior members of Generation X, and remained with the team until it disbanded. (To learn about the characters, group of people, and team above, click on their highlighted names. Note: As always, beware of Emma Frosts bio page...very revealing and tight-fitting outfits everywhere!)

Leech and Artie continued to live in the Massachusetts Academy under the care of Emma Frost. When they met Franklin Richards, they were inducted into his own short-lived team, the Daydreamers. However, when Richard's family returned from an alternate universe, the group was disbanded. Leech and Artie returned to the academy to take on more active roles. (To learn about the Daydreamers, and one of their members, click on their highlighted names above.)

When the Academy became bankrupt, Emma gave Leech and Artie an image inducer which allowed them to appear normal to the human eye and let them live a normal life. For a time, the academy was shut down and, although it is never made clear, Leech may have transferred to another school. What is known is that he was eventually captured by the revived Weapon X program and forced into a machine that was designed to be attached to a mutant, take their powers, and then project them to any other mutant in the world. (Sabretooth, then a part of Weapon X, used the machine, at one point, to strip Wolverine of his healing abilities in order to finish him off once and for all.) Leech survived, but continued to be used by the Weapon X program to keep imprisoned mutants under their control. (To learn about the team and characters above, just click on their names.)

After the events of "M-Day" (where almost all the mutants were stripped of their powers), Leech reappeared unharmed. He is one of the estimated 198 mutants who had retained their powers (these group of mutants are also known as, The 198). (To learn more about M-Day and The 198, click on their names above. Note: Beware of the M-Day bio page, Emma Frost is in a revealing outfit...as usual.)

Leech has the ability to negate any kind of powers no matter what its origin is, within 10 yards of him: whether it is mutant or extraterrestrial power. Leech's powers were once uncontrollable and involuntary, but as time passed by, he learned how to take control of of his powers. If you would like to learn a little more about Leech, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Leech.

Green Goblin

Real Name
Norman Osborn

Occupation
Government agent; former professional criminal, leader of the Order of the Goblin / Cabal of Scrier, businessman

Citizenship
U.S.A.

Place of Birth
Hartford, Connecticut

Known Relatives
Emily Osborn (wife, deceased), Harold "Harry" Osborn (son), Sarah Stacy (daughter), Gabriel Stacy (son), Liz Osborn (daughter-in-law), Norman "Normie" Osborn Jr. (grandson), Amberson "Ambrose" Osborn (father, deceased), Alton Osborn Jr. (grandfather, deceased), Alton Osborn Sr. (great-grandfather, deceased)

Group Affiliation
Avengers (leader); formerly Thunderbolts (director); formerly Order of the Goblin (leader), Cabal of Scrier (leader), Sinister Twelve, Hellfire Club, Executives Club

Education
College graduate

Height
5'11"

Weight
185 lbs.

Eyes
Blue

Hair
Reddish-brown

Powers
Due to the "Goblin Formula" Norman possesses super-human strength (lifting 9 tons under optimal conditions), increased speed, reflexes, endurance, and healing rate. Though much slower than the likes of Wolverine, he can regenerate damaged tissue and organs. His intelligence has been enhanced to gifted levels, though at the price of his sanity. His involvement with the Gathering of the Five loosened his grip on reality, though he is able to maintain his sanity via chemically treated dermal patches. When not impaired by mental illness, Osborn is a cunning businessman, masterful strategist, and highly skilled at electronics, mechanics, and chemistry.

Abilities
As a result of exposure to the experimental serum, Osborn's intellect has been greatly enhanced, augmenting his aptitude for genetics, robotics, engineering, and applied chemistry...at the cost of his sanity. His sanity is maintained via chemically treated dermal patches. As The Iron Patriot Osborn is now a Super genius just like iron man's.

Other Info
Norman Osborn had an oppressively stern upbringing by an alcoholic father who lost the family fortune. Because of this, Norman raised his son, Harry, dispassionately, often devoid of fatherly warmth. (To learn about Harry Osborn, click on his name above.)

Norman Osborn was the co-owner of a leading New York firm, Osborn Industries, which specialized in chemical manufacturing via Osborn Chemicals, as well as other areas of research and development, including robotics. His wife, Emily, died within a year after the birth of their son Harry. After some time, Norman had his business partner, Professor Mendel Stromm, arrested so he could gain full control of the firm. Osborn tested a serum, that Stromm had been working on, upon himself in his private lab. But, the unstable concoction exploded in his face, leaving him hospitalized for weeks. He emerged smarter and extremely strong, but at the cost of his sanity. (To learn about Norman's buisness partner, click on his name above.)

Osborn became power-hungry, and organized a world-wide crime group, targeting Spider-Man, as a means to establish his reputation. Osborn designed a grotesque green costume based on an image from a childhood nightmare and the color of Stromm’s serum, and armed himself with high-tech weaponry and a broomstick-like glider, becoming the Green Goblin. (As the Green Goblin, Osborn uses concussive, smoke, gas, and incendiary "pumpkin" bombs. He also has gloves capable of channeling pulsed discharges of up to 10,000 volts of high-frequency electric power, and flying 'razor bats' which ram into and cut things. Goblin also uses a vertical thrust "goblin glider" powered by a miniature turbo-fan. It can reach speeds between 90 to nearly 300 miles per hour and support 400 pounds--including Osborn's own weight.) (To learn about Spider-Man, click on his name above.)

Green Goblin tried to take out Spider-Man early in his villain career, but has been failed multiple times. The Hulk and the Human Torch have been there to save Spider-Man in a couple of these confrontations. (To learn about the characters above, just click on their names.)

Some time later, unaware of the Goblin's secret identity, Spider-Man protected an ungrateful Norman Osborn from the vengeance of Professor Stromm, who had been released from prison. Norman was able to create a compound that weakened Spider-Man's spider-sense so he could follow Spider-Man home to find out his secret identity as Peter Parker, one of Harry's classmates. Later, the Green Goblin confronted Spider-Man at his home, captured him, and carried him to a hideout at Osborn Chemicals. There the Goblin revealed to Spider-Man of his own secret identity and how he came to be. However, Spider-Man broke free, and in the ensuing battle, the Goblin fell back into live wires and vials of chemicals which left Osborn unconscious. From this, Osborn couldn't remember the past few years and his criminal alter-ego. Spider-Man decided Osborn was rendered an innocent man and burned his costume before police and firefighters arrived on the scene. The world believed the Green Goblin had perished. (Subsequently, Osborn’s insane mind developed a dual-personality disorder, as traumatic events triggered a switch between being a memory-impaired kinder Norman Osborn, concerned about his relationship with his son, and the villainous Green Goblin who is aware of Spider-Man's secret identity.)

After some time, Osborn's amnesia wore off and he relapsed into his Goblin persona twice more only to be defeated by Spider-Man each time. After helping rescue Peter Parker's girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, and her father, retired police captain George Stacy, from a kidnapping by the Kingpin, Osborn had a brief affair with Gwen which resulted in an unusually rapid pregnancy and secret birth of twins, Gabriel and Sarah. Even though Gwen left the twins in the care of Osborn's people in France, Gwen refused to give Norman custody of the twins, fearing that the fate of Norman's son, Harry (mentally deteriorating and turning to illegal hallucinogenic drugs) would befall her own children. Osborn threatened Gwen, but she insisted that she would tell Peter the truth. Gwen believed Peter would marry her and raise the twins, trusting that Parker's love for her would oversee her failings. After this, the Green Goblin kidnapped Gwen and took her to the top of the Brooklyn Bridge and threw her off. Spider-Man attempted to save her, but she had already died. Filled with rage, Spider-Man savagely attacked the Goblin, but came to his senses and stopped before he nearly killed the Goblin. The Goblin took advantage of the opportunity and remotely controlled his damaged goblin glider to impale the wall crawler. However, Spider-Man was able to dodge the glider, and the glider impaled the Goblin instead, seemingly killing him. (To learn about the characters above, just click on their highlighted names.)

Harry Osborn (Norman's son) had witnessed the apparent death of his father at the hands of Spider-Man and removed the Goblin costume before the authorities could arrive, thus preserving his secret identity. He even bribed the coroner so that further autopsy reports would show no mention of the "goblin" formula in Norman's blood. And for many years, the world believed Norman Osborn to be dead.

After this apparent death of the Green Goblin, others tried to follow in his footsteps, including his son Harry, Harry's therapist Bart Hamilton, and millionaire Roderick Kingsley who attempted to create his own variation and legacy on the Goblin motif as the murderous Hobgoblin. Each subsequent version of the Goblin was defeated, and Harry eventually died as a result of exposure to an untested experimental version of the formula that had given his father his abilities. (To learn more about some of the Green Goblin followers, click on their highlighted names above.)

The same formula that had given Osborn his heightened strength and intellect, also gave him powerful regenerative abilities, allowing him to survive the impalement by his goblin glider. He escaped the morgue, replaced his body with that of a drifter he had murdered, and fled to Europe. In Europe, he joined the Cabal of Scriers, eventually moving up in their ranks and completely taking them over. Osborn also manipulated Gwen Stacy's children into believing that Peter Parker was their father and had abandoned them and that Spider-Man had killed Gwen. Osborn also raised them to believe he was a loving and kind figure, preparing them to become his heirs. (To learn about the team above, click on it's name.)

After some more battles with Spider-Man, Norman Osborn was finally revealed to the public as the Green Goblin and after an another climatic battle with Spider-Man and Luke Cage that raged across Manhattan, he was finally imprisoned. (Click on the highlighted Luke Cage, to learn more about him.)

From behind bars, Osborn once again masterminded a plan against Spider-Man. This time he had Mac Gargan (aka Scorpion, or the recent Venom) kidnap Peter's Aunt May. The plan was for Spider-Man to break Osborn out of prison in exchange for his Aunt's life. Peter reluctantly agreed and with the help of the Black Cat proceeded to break Osborn out; however, Osborn had assembled the Sinister Twelve (twelve of Spider-Man's greatest enemies) who were waiting for Spider-Man outside the prison. But, Mary Jane had contacted S.H.I.E.L.D. and the villains were faced with the combined might of Captain America, Iron Man, Yellowjacket, Daredevil and the Fantastic Four. During the battle, Green Goblin escaped and kidnapped Mary Jane. He took her to the George Washington Bridge in order to replay his murder of Gwen Stacy to get at Spider-Man one more time. However, a drugged Doctor Octopus intervened and attacked the Goblin. Spider-Man was able to save Mary Jane after a bolt of lightning sent the two villains into the river. Osborn escaped, but he gave Spider-Man some verbal clues so he could find his Aunt May. Peter then received a letter, mailed by Osborn before the fight, thanking Peter for giving his life meaning and purpose. (To learn about all the characters and teams above, just click on their highlighted names. Note: Beware of Black Cat's bio page. She has a form-fitting and revealing costume!)

After Osborn was picked up by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents in France and returned to jail, the twins of Gwen Stacy resurfaced to destroy Spider-Man. (They had rapidly aged to teenagers due to their superhuman physiology inherited from their father, and had developed superhuman strength and endurance.) The twins confronted Spider-Man, whom they believed to be their real father who had killed their mother and abandoned them. Spider-Man told the twins the truth; however, Gabriel rejected Spider-Man, and accepted the Goblin mantle as the Gray Goblin, becoming insane in the process. Sarah, on the other hand, sought training to use her powers for good.

The passage of the Superhuman Registration Act provided an opportunity for Osborn to offer his abilities for the good of the country. Injected with nanites by Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) capable of delivering a powerful shock should he go astray, Osborn was offered leadership of a new government sponsored Thunderbolts with a small army of super-powered evildoers as a temporary means to round up rogue heroes who refused to register. (To learn about the Thunderbolts, click on their name above. Note: the main picture on the Thunderbolts' bio page has a character in a very form-fitting outfit!)

Later, Osbron was able to find someone to remove the nanites in his body. Now, he was able to set up the media to see him as a hero and Iron Man as a coward in a confrontation with aliens known as Skrulls. With the government on his side, and Iron Man out of the picture, Osborn organized a new group of Avengers, who are villains disguised as heroes. This new new team is known as the "Dark Avengers." Osborn was able to steal some armored suits from Iron Man and he now wears armor and goes by the name "Iron Patriot." (The fifth picture posted is of Osborn as the Iron Patriot. Also, to learn more about the Skrulls or the Avengers, click on their names above. Marvel.com doesn't have a good description of the Dark Avengers yet, but here is a link to a different website if you would like to learn more about the "Dark Avengers," http://www.comicvine.com/dark-avengers/65-55990/.)

To learn more about Norman Osborn/Green Goblin/Iron Patriot, click on the following link, http://marvel.com/universe/Green_Goblin.