Answer (comics)

Answer is the name of is the name of several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first incarnation of Answer, Aaron Nicholson, first appeared in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #91 (June 1984). ^[1] The second incarnation, David Ferrari, debuted in Captain America (Vol. 3) #20 (June 1999). The third incarnation, an unnamed criminal, made his first appearance in Superior Spider-Man #26 (January 2014).

Publication history

Aaron Nicholson debuted in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #91 (June 1984), created by writer Al Milgrom and artist Jim Mooney. ^[2] David Ferrari debuted under the codename Answer after Aaron Nicholson's "death" in Captain America (Vol. 3) #20 (June 1999), created by Dan Jurgens. An unnamed criminal debuted under the codename Answer in Superior Spider-Man #26 (January 2014), created by Dan Slott and Christos Gage.

Fictional character biography

Aaron Nicholson

Answer
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #91 [(June 1984)
Created by	Al Milgrom (writer) Jim Mooney (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Aaron Nicholson
Species	Human mutate
Team affiliations	HYDRA
Notable aliases	Answer
Abilities	Ability to temporarily develop whatever superhuman attribute he needs for any situation Superhuman intuition Genius level intellect Body armor granting the ability to slip from any grasp or prevent anything from adhering to him

Aaron Nicholson is a criminal genius and a former member of the Kingpin's criminal organization. He is also a former hitman in the Las Vegas division of HYDRA and was empowered by the laboratory machines of Dr. Farley Stillwell's brother Dr. Harlan Stillwell where he became the Answer.

The Answer studies Spider-Man's powers, ^[3] and then attacks Spider-Man and the Black Cat to test the limits of their powers. ^[4] He then kidnaps the Black Cat to misdirect Spider-Man's attention as he steals Silvermane's body from the police morgue, ^[5] and assisted the Kingpin in partially restoring Silvermane's life. ^[6] He then kidnapped Dagger in hopes that her powers would cure the Kingpin's ailing wife. ^[7] Silvermane rampages mindlessly; to end the rampage, the Answer sacrifices his corporeal form and converts himself to energy to revive Dagger, who possesses Silvermane's life-force. ^{[8] [9]}

The Answer later telepathically contacts Doctor Octopus ^[10] who restores his corporeal existence. ^[11] The Answer ends up fighting with Octavius and is defeated by him. He later appears in the Raft where he escapes but is captured by Toxin.

It is later revealed that he had been feigning bad luck in order to reunite with his unrequited love Ruby Thursday, before her body is killed by Bullseye. ^[12]

During the Civil War: War Crimes storyline, he is seen among an army of super-villains organized by Hammerhead that is captured by Iron Man and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. ^[13]

Later, the Answer is a self-confessed loser at the wake of Stilt-Man. Almost all of the supervillains at the wake were the victims of murder/attempted murder. The Punisher disguises himself as a barman, poisons drinks, and then blows up the bar. ^[14]

Answer has since been hired by the Hood to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act. ^[15] He helps them fight the New Avengers but is taken down by Doctor Strange. ^[16] He appeared in Brand New Day as one of the villains in the bar confronting Spider-Man. ^[17]

He was one of many prisoners who escaped from the Raft at the start of the Secret Invasion. ^[18] He is one among many supervillains who joined the Hood's crime syndicate and attacked an invading Skrull force. ^[19] He joins with the Hood's gang in an attack on the New Avengers, who were expecting the Dark Avengers instead. ^[20]

Answer leads a group of the Hood's gang, would go to war with Mister Negative over the ownership of various criminal operations in Chinatown. ^[21] He was seen during the Siege of Asgard as part of the Hood crime syndicate. ^[22]

During the "Search for Tony Stark" arc, Answer rejoined Hood's gang and assisted in the attack on Castle Doom. ^[23]

David Ferrari

Answer
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	As David Ferrari: Captain America vol. 3 #20 (June 1999) As Answer: Captain America vol. 3 #42 (2000)
Created by	Dan Jurgens
In-story information
Alter ego	David Ferrari
Species	Human
Team affiliations	S.H.I.E.L.D. U.S. Army Furnace
Partnerships	Crimson Dynamo
Notable aliases	Answer

David Ferrari was a former agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. as well as a member of the U.S. Army and Furnace. He was also the former ally of the Crimson Dynamo and the brother of Connie. He led a mission to an A.I.M. base to prevent the release of the Omega Compound, however he released two drops to destroy the base. ^[24] He later uses drugs to control Nick Fury, at which point he had allied himself with the Crimson Dynamo in attempt to steal missiles from Khamistan to take over the world. He was opposed by Captain America. ^[25]

Unnamed criminal

After Aaron Nicholson lost his physical form, his gear was sold to Roderick Kingsley who gave it to an unknown criminal. He was present when Hobgoblin (who was actually Roderick Kingsley's butler Claude) led his forces into battle against the Goblin King's Goblin Nation. After Hobgoblin was killed by Goblin King, Answer was among the villains that defected to the Goblin Nation. ^[26]

Following Spider-Man's victory over the Goblin King, Answer was with the other former Hobgoblin minions at the Bar with No Name where they encounter Electro. ^[27]

Powers and abilities

Aaron Nicholson

The first Answer underwent genetic manipulation to grant him the ability to develop any power needed in a certain situation. For example, if surrounded by thugs, he will gain superhuman strength and durability, allowing him to defeat them. ^[28] In another situation, he may obtain pyrokinesis or the ability to turn himself into pure energy. Flight may be an ability that is always active. Other than that, at rest or not in any sort of situation, he will display no abilities. The powers he manifests typically last for five minutes, and he can display up to two separate powers at once. ^[29] Additionally, Aaron Nicholson is highly intelligent and has a superhuman-like level of intuition. The Answer wears body armor that was created with the help of the Kingpin's scientists. The armor is coated with a friction-eliminating chemical that allows him to slip from any grasp or prevent anything from adhering to him.

References

1. Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains . New York: Facts on File. pp. 6–7. ISBN   0-8160-1356-X.
2. Iacobucci, Jordan (April 22, 2023). "10 Worst Spider-Man Villains With The Best First Impressions". Comic Book Resources . Retrieved 2023-07-06.
3. Spectacular Spider-Man #91
4. Spectacular Spider-Man #92
5. Spectacular Spider-Man #93
6. Spectacular Spider-Man #94
7. Spectacular Spider-Man #95
8. Spectacular Spider-Man #96
9. Beard, Jim (October 19, 2017). "The History of Spider-Man: 1984". Marvel.com . Retrieved 2023-07-06.
10. Lethal Foes of Spider-Man #1
11. Lethal Foes of Spider-Man #2
12. I ♥ Marvel: Outlaw Love one-shot
13. Civil War: War Crimes
14. The Punisher War Journal #4
15. 'New Avengers #35
16. New Avengers Annual #2
17. Amazing Spider-Man (vol. 1) #552-553
18. Secret Invasion #1
19. Secret Invasion #6
20. New Avengers #50
21. Dark Reign: Mister Negative #1-3
22. New Avengers #63 (2010)
23. Invincible Iron Man #597. Marvel Comics.
24. Captain America vol 3 #20
25. Captain America vol 3 #42
26. Superior Spider-Man #26
27. The Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 3 #1
28. The Lethal Foes of Spider-Man #1
29. I ♥ Marvel: Outlaw Love #1

External links

• Answer at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe