Mega Morphs

Last updated
Mega Morphs
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
Format Limited series
Genre superhero
Publication dateOct. – Dec. 2005
No. of issues4
Main character(s) Spider-Man
Ghost Rider
Captain America
Hulk
Wolverine
Creative team
Written by Sean McKeever
Artist(s) Lou Kang

Mega Morphs was a comic book limited series published by Marvel Comics in 2005. Mega Morphs is based on a series of action figures made by Toy Biz. The comics feature Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, Captain America, Hulk and Wolverine. The comic was drawn by Lou Kang and written by Sean McKeever.

Contents

Within the Marvel Multiverse, the Mega Morphs universe is designated as Earth-50810. [1]

Plot

Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, Captain America, the Hulk, and Wolverine have been selected by Iron Man to command large robotic suits of armor to fight evil when a threat for a single superhero becomes too large. Doctor Octopus stole Iron Man's designs and made his own Mega Morph, and was out to create a device that would sap the world's superhumans of all their powers, and would allow Octavius and Doctor Doom to take over the Earth until the original Mega Morphs stopped him.

Publication history

The first issue premiered on August 10, 2005. The Mega Morph toys came with short minicomics that served as prequels to the Marvel four-issue series.

Functions

The Mega Morphs are powered by the super-powers of the superhuman piloting them, allowing the robot to use the abilities of their pilot, as shown in the beginnings of the mini-comics and the Wolverine mini-comic. In it, Octavius' Mega Morph breaks open Wolverine's robot in space, making it so that Wolverine would be unable to breathe, but Logan fought back, saying that due to his healing factor, the robot would repair itself. The statement was true, as the metal that had been shattered instantly started regenerating. Spider-Man's robot can also produce webbing thanks to Spider-Man's ability to create organic webbing. Also, if the superhuman inside has somehow been de-powered (like the Hulk is able to be) or is not currently using the Mega Morph, the robot will be useless and will not be able to do anything unless the superhuman comes back or their powers return.

Transformations

Continuity

Marvel did not originally reveal if Mega Morphs took place on Earth-616 (mainstream Marvel) or another Earth. However, in the Daily Bugle: Civil War Special, there was an article about Tony Stark denying any involvement in creating gigantic fighting machines, which seemed to indicate that it did take place in regular continuity. The comic also featured references to past events in mainstream continuity, including Spider-Man, Ghost Rider, the Hulk and Wolverine's brief tenure as the "New Fantastic Four", and an appearance of the Red Ronin, a giant robot of the Marvel universe.

However the series was confirmed as taking place on an alternate Earth (Earth-50810) in the 2015 ongoing series Web Warriors, which had the Mega Morphs versions of Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus appearing among the myriad of characters who were displaced from their home dimensions by the Web of Life and Destiny. [2]

Future developments

After the third series of toys was released, it became unclear if the toy line would be continued with a fourth. Hasbro acquired the rights to produce Marvel action figures and they subsequently made a similar collection, Transformers Crossovers, which includes giant transforming robots modelled after Marvel superheroes.

Related Research Articles

<i>Secret Wars</i> 1984–1985 Marvel Comics limited series

Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars, commonly known as Secret Wars, is a 12-issue American comic book crossover limited series published from May 1984 to April 1985 by Marvel Comics. The series was written by Jim Shooter, with art by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton. It was tied in with a toy line and a role-playing game of the same name from Mattel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doctor Octopus</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Doctor Octopus, also known as Doc Ock for short, is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #3. He is a highly intelligent, myopic, and stocky mad scientist who sports four strong and durable appendages resembling an octopus's tentacles, which extend from the back of his body and can be used for various purposes. After his mechanical harness became permanently fused to his body during a lab accident, he turned to a life of crime, and came into conflict with the superhero Spider-Man. He has endured as one of Spider-Man's most prominent villains, and is regarded as one of his three archenemies, alongside the Green Goblin and Venom. He is the founder and leader of the Sinister Six, the first supervillain team to oppose Spider-Man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhino (character)</span> Fictional character appearing in Marvel Comics

Rhino is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He was created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Romita Sr., and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #41. The character is a Russian thug who underwent an experimental procedure that gave him an artificial skin covering and superhuman strength. Rebelling against the scientists responsible for his transformation, Rhino used his newfound powers to become a successful criminal, and soon clashed with superheroes like Spider-Man and the Hulk. The character is typically portrayed as a dimwitted brute, capable of great destruction, but ultimately easily deceived.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marvel Knights</span> Imprint of Marvel Comics

Marvel Knights is an imprint of Marvel Comics that contained standalone material taking place inside the Marvel Universe (Earth-616). The imprint originated in 1998 when Marvel outsourced four titles to Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti's company Event Comics; Event hired the creative teams for the Knights line while Marvel published them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ghost Rider</span> Character from Marvel Comics

Ghost Rider is the name of multiple superheroes or antiheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Marvel had previously used the name for a Western character whose name was later changed to Phantom Rider.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mephisto (Marvel Comics)</span> Marvel Comics fictional character

Mephisto is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Silver Surfer #3, and was created by Stan Lee and John Buscema and based on Mephistopheles: a demon character from the Faust legend, who has sometimes been referred to as Mephisto. Introduced as a recurring adversary of the Silver Surfer and Ghost Rider, Mephisto has also endured as one of Spider-Man's most prominent adversaries, being responsible for Norman and Harry Osborn's respective transformations into the Green Goblin and Kindred; and for the superhero's loss of his marriage to Mary-Jane Watson, considering their future daughter Spider-Girl his archenemy. Mephisto has often come into conflict with Doctor Strange, Doctor Doom, Scarlet Witch and other heroes of the Marvel Universe, being responsible both for the creation of the Cosmic Ghost Rider and the descents of Phil Coulson and Otto Octavius into villainy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spider-Slayer</span> Fictional character

The Spider-Slayers are a series of fictional robots appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Spencer Smythe, they were designed specifically to hunt down, capture, or kill Spider-Man. A new generation of Spider-Slayers was later created by Spencer's son, Alistair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lady Octopus</span> Marvel Comics supervillain

Lady Octopus, also known as Doctor Octopus II, is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, primarily as an enemy to the superheroes Spider-Man and Scarlet Spider. The character is the protégée of Otto Octavius, the original Doctor Octopus, and assumes her mentor's mantle and an upgraded version of his tentacle harness following Octavius' death in the "Clone Saga". After Octavius' resurrection only a few years later, she becomes Lady Octopus to distinguish herself from him, and has made minor appearances in several stories since.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wendigo (comics)</span> Fictional character from Marvel Comics

The Wendigo is a fictional monster appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Marvel character is based on the Wendigo legend of the Algonquian peoples. The monster first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #162, created by writer Steve Englehart and artist Herb Trimpe, fighting the Incredible Hulk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Red Ronin</span> Comics character

Red Ronin is a fictional gigantic humanoid robotic construct (mecha) appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, and went on to be a menace to other Marvel characters such as the Avengers and Wolverine.

Spider-Man and Friends was a line of action figures and related merchandise featuring the comic book character Spider-Man and other characters appearing in Marvel Comics publications, released by Marvel Entertainment's toy division, Toy Biz, from 2003 to 2006. The line was aimed primarily at preschool-age children, and the character likenesses used were often altered to seem "cuter" and more childlike ; most characters were depicted as wide-eyed and smiling, even supervillains and characters better known for anger or savagery, such as the Incredible Hulk or Wolverine. Aside from being a toy line, there were also books, clothing, board games, cutlery, plates, bedding and video games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ends of the Earth (Marvel Comics)</span>

"Ends of the Earth" is a comic book storyline in The Amazing Spider-Man published by Marvel Comics in 2012. The villains of the story are the Sinister Six, who are led by Spider-Man's arch-enemy Doctor Octopus. Unlike the prior event story "Spider-Island" there is only one tie-in issue instead of the multitude of tie-in issues involved with that story; the story is completely contained within issues #682-687 of The Amazing Spider-Man. The storyline received positive reviews, with critics praising the action, the plot, and the art style.

<i>The Superior Spider-Man</i> Comic book series

The Superior Spider-Man is a superhero comic book series published by Marvel Comics that ran between January 2013 and September 2014. It was written by Dan Slott, with artwork by Ryan Stegman, Humberto Ramos, and Giuseppe Camuncoli. The series continues from the events of the 2012 storyline "Dying Wish", in which Peter Parker is killed off and replaced with his nemesis Otto Octavius, who swapped consciousnesses with Parker and left him to die in his decaying body to ensure his own survival. However, Octavius becomes inspired by Parker's dying wish to have a new Spider-Man protect New York City, and decides to take on the mantle himself, becoming the self-proclaimed "Superior Spider-Man".

Parker Industries was a former fictional multibillion-dollar conglomerate appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by Dan Slott, Christos Gage, and Humberto Ramos, the corporation first appeared in The Superior Spider-Man #20.

"Devil's Reign" is an American comic book event written by Chip Zdarsky with art by Marco Checchetto, published from December 2021 to May 2022 by Marvel Comics.

References

  1. Spider-Geddon Handbook #1
  2. Mike Costa ( w ),David Baldeon ( p ),Waiden Wong ( i ),Matt Yackey ( col ),VC's Joe Caramagna ( let ),Devin Lewis ( ed )."Tangled States - Part One: Anarchy"Web Warriors,vol. 1,no. 7(11 May 2016).United States:Marvel Comics.