Grasshopper (character)

The Grasshopper is the name of multiple humorous fictional superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, all created by Dan Slott. No Grasshopper to date has survived past the issue in which they first appeared. The Grasshoppers are a simultaneous homage to and satire of stereotypical superheroes and Marvel's tendency towards animal-themed characters. They are also a lampoon of the tendency of superhero team books to introduce new, hastily developed characters only to dramatically kill them off within a few issues. The complicated romantic troubles of the first Grasshopper recall many characters with similar subplots (Spider-Man, for instance), as does the unlikely family background of the second.

Doug Taggert

Grasshopper
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	(Out of continuity): GLA #1 (June 2005) (In continuity): GLA #2 (July 2005)
Created by	Dan Slott Paul Pelletier
In-story information
Alter ego	Doug Taggert
Species	Human
Team affiliations	Great Lakes Avengers Roxxon Corporation
Notable aliases	The Ever-Gregarious Grasshopper
Abilities	Armored suit grants: Superhuman leaping via robotic grasshopper legs Insectroid Sensors Zoom Lenses Minimal protection from attacks

Grasshopper is a fictional superhero in the Marvel Comics universe who first appeared in the pages of the GLA miniseries of 2005. The character was created by Dan Slott and Paul Pelletier.

Fictional character biography

The first Grasshopper is Doug Taggert, an employee of Roxxon who pines for fellow researcher Cindy Shelton. He joins the Great Lakes Avengers to battle Batroc's Brigade before Zaran kills him. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

Powers and abilities

Grasshopper's suit gives him enhanced leaping abilities and enhanced vision.

Neil Shelton

Grasshopper
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	GLX-Mas Special #1 (December 2005)
Created by	Dan Slott Ty Templeton
In-story information
Alter ego	Neil Shelton
Species	Human
Team affiliations	Roxxon Corporation
Notable aliases	The Ever-Gregarious Grasshopper
Abilities	Armored suit grants: Superhuman leaping via robotic grasshopper legs Insectroid Sensors Zoom Lenses Maximum Jump Minimal protection from attacks

The second Grasshopper is a fictional, corporate superhero in the Marvel Comics universe who first appeared in the pages of GLX-Mas Special #1, a Marvel Comics one-shot, in 2005. The character was created by Dan Slott and artist Ty Templeton, who based his design on Paul Pelletier's design for the original Grasshopper.^{[ citation needed ]}

Publication history

This Grasshopper is a combined homage to Iron Man and Spider-Man, borrowing many aspects of each's histories. Like Taggart before him, Shelton did not live more than one issue.

Fictional character biography

Neil Shelton is a security guard for Roxxon who inherits the Grasshopper suit after Doug Taggert's death. He jumps into space to avoid Cindy Shelton's advances, where he dies. ^[4]

"The All-New Grasshopper"

Grasshopper
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Deadpool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular #1 (September 2007)
Created by	Dan Slott Kieron Dwyer
In-story information
Species	Human
Notable aliases	The All-New Grasshopper
Abilities	Armored suit grants: Superhuman leaping via robotic grasshopper legs Insectroid Sensors Zoom Lenses Maximum Jump Minimal protection from attacks

The third Grasshopper is a fictional superhero in the Marvel Comics universe who first appeared in the pages of the one-shot Deadpool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular #1 in 2007. He was created by writer Dan Slott ^[5] and artist Kieron Dwyer, who based his design on Paul Pelletier's design for the original Grasshopper.^{[ citation needed ]}

Virtually no information was revealed about him other than his status as "The All-New Grasshopper" before a disgruntled Deadpool killed him by snapping his neck after being kicked out of the Great Lakes Initiative. ^[6] Grasshopper is later shown in Hell when Deadpool and Thanos search for Death. ^[7]

Skrull imposter

Grasshopper
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Avengers: The Initiative #19 (December 2008)
Created by	Dan Slott Christos Gage
In-story information
Species	Skrull
Team affiliations	Great Lakes Initiative
Abilities	Shapeshifting Armored suit grants: Superhuman leaping via robotic grasshopper legs Insectroid Sensors Zoom Lenses Maximum Jump Minimal protection from attacks

The fourth Grasshopper is a Skrull imposter who helped infiltrate Earth during Secret Invasion . He was created by writers Dan Slott and Christos Gage. ^{[8] [9]}

Fifth Grasshopper

Grasshopper
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Fantastic Four Vol. 6 #43
Created by	Dan Slott Rachael Stott Andrea Di Vito
In-story information
Species	Human
Team affiliations	Great Lakes Avengers
Abilities	Armored suit grants: Superhuman leaping via robotic grasshopper legs Insectroid Sensors Zoom Lenses Maximum Jump Minimal protection from attacks

The fifth Grasshopper is a member of the Great Lakes Avengers. He was created by Dan Slott, Rachael Stott and Andrea Di Vito. Unlike the other Grasshoppers, he manages to survive past his initial appearance. ^{[10] [11] [12]}

References

1. G.L.A. #2
2. G.L.A. #1
3. G.L.A. #4
4. GLX-Mas Special #1
5. Dan Slott post on his messageboard regarding writing on GLI/Deadpool
6. Deadpool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular (2007)
7. Tim Seeley ( w ),Elmo Bondoc ( p ),Elmo Bondoc ( i ),Ruth Redmond ( col ),VC's Joe Sabino ( let ),Jordan D. White ( ed )."Part Three"Deadpool vs. Thanos,vol. 1,no. 3(14 October 2015).United States:Marvel Comics.
8. Avengers: The Initiative #19
9. Avengers: The Initiative #20
10. I Am An Avenger #1
11. Age of Heroes #3
12. Fantastic Four Vol. 6 #43

External links

• Great Lakes Avengers
• MDP: Grasshopper (Doug Taggert) (Marvel Database Project)
• Grasshopper at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe