Electro

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Electro is the name of several fictional characters that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics, including two from Marvel's predecessors, Timely Comics and Atlas Comics. The most prominent Electro is Maxwell Dillon, a supervillain and an enemy of Spider-Man. He was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko in The Amazing Spider-Man #9 (Feb. 1964).

Electro (Timely Comics)

The first comics character of this name was the robot hero Electro, a backup-feature star in Marvel Mystery Comics, flagship title of Marvel's Golden Age predecessor, Timely Comics. Created by writer-artist Steve Dahlman, Electro appeared in Marvel Mystery #4—19 (Feb. 1940 — May 1941). His origin story described his invention by Professor Philo Zog, one of a group of twelve known as the Secret Operatives. ^[1][2]

Marvel Comics announced that Electro would appear in the cast of the comic The Twelve by J. Michael Straczynski and Chris Weston, scheduled for publication in 2008.^{[3] [4]}

Electro appears, part of a cadre of heroes trapped in a secret bunker during the Battle of Berlin, seemingly for examination by nazist scientists. After the fall of the Third Reich, the eleven heroes are left in suspended animation, with no one knowing of their final fate, and Electro is cut off by the telepatic mindwaves of Philo Zog.^{[citation needed]}

When, sixty years later, the Twelve are recovered and brought back to New York, in a safehouse for rehabilitation to modern times, the still unactive Electro is stored in a garage in the same safehouse, its property contended by Elizabeth Zogolowski, niece of Philo Zog, and the U.S. Government, willing to disassemble Electro for the secrets of his telepathic interface. Miss Zogolowski reveals how the telepathic bond between Philo and his creation was so strong that Philo died shortly after the war for an acute withdrawal syndrome: essentially, his mind died of solitude.^{[citation needed]}

Miss Zogoloswki is able to obtain temporary custody over Electro, but lacks the wealth necessary to reclaim its possession: the Blue Blade steps in, offering her all the needed money in exchange for using Electro in his cabaret-like show.^{[citation needed]}

Electro (Atlas Comics)

The second supervillain Electro, in Captain America #78 (Sept. 1954), cover art by John Romita Sr.

Marvel's next Electro was a Communist supervillain created during the unsuccessful attempt by Marvel's 1950s predecessor, Atlas Comics, to revive superheroes in that decade. This Electro, a Soviet citizen named Ivan Kronov, appeared on the cover and in the six-page story "His Touch is Death" in Captain America #78 (Sept. 1954), penciled and inked by John Romita Sr. and almost certainly if unconfirmably written by the more famous Electro's co-creator, Stan Lee. Many years later, this Electro reappeared in What If? #9 (June 1978), "What If the Avengers had been Formed During the 1950s?"; and, in flashback, in Captain America Annual #13 (1994).

Electro (Marvel Comics)

The first appearance of the Silver Age Electro from The Amazing Spider-Man #9 (Feb. 1964). Art by Steve Ditko.

Early in its return to super-hero comics in the 1960s, Marvel introduced a new Electro as a foe for Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man #9.

Ultimate Electro

During the Ultimate Comic books, Electro is shown as a henchman for Wilson Fisk, The Kingpin. During the night when Spider-Man broke into Fisk's office, Electro confronted and swiftly dispatched him. Then he witnessed Fisk murder "Mr. Big" for giving Spider-Man information. When Spider-Man returned to steal the tape, he, along with the Enforcers, tried to stop him, but Spider-Man tricked him into shocking his teammate Ox, and was hit with water making him overload and slip into a coma. Three weeks later, he woke up to find himself in an FBI hospital. He kills everyone in the room and flees but is stopped by the Ultimates who take him into SHIELD custody. While held by SHIELD he is questioned, along with criminals like Green Goblin, Sandman, Kraven the Hunter, and Doctor Octopus. When Doctor Octopus tricked their captors and released everyone, Electro, along with the other freed villains, stayed with Osborn, kidnapped Spider-Man blackmailing him to join, and attacked the White House. They were halted by the Ultimates. Electro battled Thor but ended up losing to the thunder god. They were all put back in SHIELD custody. During a breakout three months later, Electro escaped and hid in one of Osborn's old apartments until Spider-Man came looking for Osborn. Electro immediately ran but was followed by Spider-Man and was stopped by SHIELD, tranquilized and put back in a holding cell. Later, Electro was hired by Trask to test the Venom suit and was again confronted by Spider-Man, only this time Electro knocked Spider-Man unconscious and was about to kill him until a vengeful Venom attacked. The two battled for the life of Spider-Man, but Electro was defeated just as SHIELD arrived before anything else could happen and was taken back into custody.

Notes

References

External links

• Electro (disambiguation) at the Marvel Universe
• Electro at the Marvel Database Project