Annex

Annex
Annex. Art by Steve Uy.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Amazing Spider-Man Annual #27 (1993)
Created by	Jack Harris Tom Lyle
In-story information
Alter ego	Alexander Ellis
Team affiliations	Initiative
Abilities	superhuman athletic ability, weapon creation, flight, informational downloading methods

Annex (Alexander Ellis) is a fictional character of the Marvel Universe, associated with Spider-Man. His first appearance was in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #27. Annex' powers were the result of prosthetics through computer technology. After losing a leg, he volunteered for this program. Ellis now possesses the ability to increase his physical abilities, as well as create any weapon he requires. Annex's appearance features a metal exo-skeleton battle suit, helmet, and belt.

Publication history

Annex first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #27 as an enemy of Spider-Man, but went on to become an ally. His next appearance was Spider-Man Unlimited #3, followed by a self titled limited series, Annex.

He has appeared in the Avengers: the Initiative series since issue #13.

Fictional character biography

Ellis grew up to become a soldier in the Desert Storm. While fighting over in the Middle East, Ellis is shot in the leg and badly wounded. Though he is in need of medical help, Ellis tries to help rescue his friend, Davey, who ends up dying from a battle wound. Ellis receives a Purple Heart and other medals, but is too focused on the matter of his leg to care. After getting an old, unadvanced leg to use, Ellis becomes furious. He signs up for an Annexing unit, where, supposedly, computer technology will help you grow a newly functioning limb, whereas a real computer could never do something that advanced. Ellis is chosen to be the first to be tested on by Dr. Hillman Barto, the scientist for the Annexing unit. But, because of a computer glitch, Ellis receives not only a leg but a dangerous power. After losing his memory shortly after the glitch, Ellis becomes Annex. Annex escapes from the programming building, where he meets and quickly fights Spider-Man. After rescuing Annex, Spider-Man returns him to where he was found and learns the story of how Ellis was a veteran and how the Annexing unit's computer glitch caused him to turn into Annex. After quickly learning from Hillman Barto about how the program was designed by Abner Dunson, the father of a killed Desert Storm soldier, and how Dunson planned to use Ellis to bring his son's memory back and lose Ellis', Ellis turns back into Annex and seeks revenge. After a quick battle between Annex and Dunson (a newly formed robotic supervillain version), later to be ended by Spider-Man, Annex changes back into Ellis and his goodness is restored. Days later, Barto and Ellis leave town to continue the program as good American citizens.^{[volume & issue needed]} Ellis later goes on to be applied with new enemies, such as Ren-Tech, and goes to fight alongside other superhumans, such as Vengeance.^{[volume & issue needed]} Barto later dies as a result of Dunson's Annexing company capturing him for the loss of technology.^{[volume & issue needed]}

The Initiative

During Ellis' last few appearances, Tony Stark considers Annex as a potential Initiative recruit. He later joined Camp Hammond along with Sunstreak, Prodigy, Batwing and others.^[1] After the Skrull invasion, Annex was assigned to New Mexico's Initiative team.^[2]

Powers and abilities

As a result of his exo-skeleton armor, Annex possesses the ability to increase his strength, speed, stamina, reflexes & reactions, coordination, agility, dexterity, balance, and endurance. Annex can also create any weapon he requires. The armor also grants him flight, "schema mode", and informational downloading methods, all at the base of a computer generated robotic structure.

References

External links

• Annex at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe