Oddball (comics)

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Oddball is the name of two fictional supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

American comic book Comic book originating in the USA

An American comic book is a thin periodical originating in the United States, typically 32 pages, containing comics content. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publication of Action Comics, which included the debut of the superhero Superman. This was followed by a superhero boom that lasted until the end of World War II. After the war, while superheroes were marginalized, the comic book industry rapidly expanded and genres such as horror, crime, science fiction and romance became popular. The 1950s saw a gradual decline, due to a shift away from print media in the wake of television and the impact of the Comics Code Authority. The late 1950s and the 1960s saw a superhero revival and superheroes remained the dominant character archetype throughout the late 20th century into the 21st century.

Marvel Comics Company that publishes comic books and related media

Marvel Comics is the brand name and primary imprint of Marvel Worldwide Inc., formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, a publisher of American comic books and related media. In 2009, The Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment, Marvel Worldwide's parent company.

Contents

Publication history

Oddball (Elton Healy) appears in Hawkeye Vol.1 #3–4 (1983), Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol.2 (1986), Captain America #317, 395, 411–414 (1986–1993), Avengers Spotlight #23–25 (1989), Guardians of the Galaxy #28 (1992), Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman #1 (1998) and Wolverine Vol.2 #167 (2001). He was created by Mark Gruenwald.

Mark Gruenwald writer

Mark Eugene Gruenwald was an American comic book writer, editor, and occasional penciler known for his long association with Marvel Comics.

The second Oddball (Orville Bock) appears in Union Jack Vol.2 #2 (2006), Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A–Z Vol.3 (2008) and Dark Reign Files #1 (2009).

Fictional character biography

Elton Healey

Oddball
Oddball.jpg
Oddball
Art by Paul Neary
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Hawkeye #3 (Nov 1983)
Created by Mark Gruenwald
In-story information
Alter egoElton Healey
Team affiliations Death-Throws
Masters of Evil
AbilitiesExpert juggler
Experienced street fighter

Elton Healey was born in Reno, Nevada. Along with his brother Alvin, Elton spent years as a street performer, becoming a master juggler. He also learned how to become a capable street fighter. Using these skills, Elton became the juggling supervillain Oddball, adopting the name because of his loony nature.

Reno, Nevada City in Nevada, United States

Reno is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, approximately 22 miles (35 km) from Lake Tahoe, known as "The Biggest Little City in the World".

Nevada U.S. state in the United States

Nevada is a state in the Western United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. Nevada is the 7th most extensive, the 32nd most populous, but the 9th least densely populated of the U.S. states. Nearly three-quarters of Nevada's people live in Clark County, which contains the Las Vegas–Paradise metropolitan area where three of the state's four largest incorporated cities are located. Nevada's capital is Carson City.

Juggling circus skill

Juggling is a physical skill, performed by a juggler, involving the manipulation of objects for recreation, entertainment, art or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling. Juggling can be the manipulation of one object or many objects at the same time, most often using one or two hands but also possible with feet. Jugglers often refer to the objects they juggle as props. The most common props are balls, clubs, or rings. Some jugglers use more dramatic objects such as knives, fire torches or chainsaws. The term juggling can also commonly refer to other prop-based manipulation skills, such as diabolo, plate spinning, devil sticks, poi, cigar boxes, contact juggling, hooping, yo-yo, and hat manipulation.

Along with fellow juggling-themed supervillain Bombshell, Oddball was hired by Crossfire to eliminate Hawkeye and Mockingbird. Oddball and Bombshell confront and subdue the two heroes and deliver them to Crossfire. However, Hawkeye manages to escape and is able to defeat the three supervillains. [1] Oddball and Bombshell were later rescued from prison by Oddball's brother Alvin, alias Tenpin. [2]

Bombshell (Marvel Comics) supervillain in the Marvel Universe

Bombshell is a name used by fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Crossfire (comics) supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe

Crossfire is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Hawkeye (Clint Barton) Fictional Marvel comic book character

Hawkeye is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Don Heck, the character first appeared as a villain in Tales of Suspense #57 and later joined the Avengers in The Avengers #16. He has been a prominent member of the team ever since. He was also ranked at #44 on IGN's Top 100 Comic Book Heroes list.

Together with Bombshell, Tenpin, Knicknack, and Ringleader, Oddball forms the Death-Throws, a team of supervillain jugglers. The group are hired by Crossfire to help him escape from prison. The Death-Throws complete their mission, but decide to hold Crossfire hostage instead. The group are defeated and arrested by Hawkeye, Mockingbird and Captain America. [3] Later, Oddball and the rest of the Death-Throws, along with various other supervillains, attempt to claim the bounty put on Hawkeye's right arm by Crossfire. However, all of the supervillains looking to claim the bounty are defeated by Hawkeye, Mockingbird and Trick Shot. [4]

Death-Throws Fictional supervillains

The Death-Throws are a fictional team of supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. They first appeared in Captain America #317 and were created by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary. Introduced as enemies of Hawkeye, the Death-Throws consists primarily of jugglers who each use various juggling props as weapons.

Captain America Comic book character

Captain America is a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by cartoonists Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 from Timely Comics, a predecessor of Marvel Comics. Captain America was designed as a patriotic supersoldier who often fought the Axis powers of World War II and was Timely Comics' most popular character during the wartime period. The popularity of superheroes waned following the war and the Captain America comic book was discontinued in 1950, with a short-lived revival in 1953. Since Marvel Comics revived the character in 1964, Captain America has remained in publication.

Trick Shot (comics)

Trick Shot is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Solo Avengers #1 and was created by Tom DeFalco and Mark Bright. Trick Shot's introduction was a retcon to Hawkeye's origins, explaining how the character became a talented archer.

On his own again, Oddball dresses up as a police detective in order to ambush Hawkeye when he was showing Avengers young recruits Justice and Firestar around a prison. Oddball releases the prisoners in an attempt to swamp the heroes with enemies. Hawkeye and the young Avengers are able to win the battle and stop the prison riot. [5] Oddball was later recruited by Doctor Octopus to join his incarnation of the Masters of Evil. [6] Oddball was killed when taking part in the Bloodsport competition in Madripoor (which also featured Wolverine, Mister X and Taskmaster). He was slain in the first round of the tournament by a tribal warrior called the Headhunter. [7]

Avengers (comics) Comic book superhero team

The Avengers are a fictional team of superheroes appearing in limited series comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1, created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby. The Avengers is Lee and Kirby's renovation of a previous superhero team, All-Winners Squad, who appeared in comic books series published by Marvel Comics' predecessor Timely Comics.

Vance Astrovik, also known as Justice and formerly known as Marvel Boy, is a fictional mutant superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He possesses the superhuman power of telekinesis. Astrovik has been affiliated with the New Warriors and The Avengers. He first appeared in Giant-Size Defenders #5 and was created by Don Heck and Gerry Conway

Firestar (Marvel Comics) character from Marvel Comics

Firestar is a fictional mutant superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Debuting in 1981 on the NBC animated television series, Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, she has the ability to generate and manipulate microwave radiation, allowing her to fly and create intense heat and flames. In the comics, she has acted as a solo hero and as a member of the Hellions, the New Warriors, the Avengers, and the X-Men.

Orville Bock

Orville Bock became the new Oddball and joined the Death-Throws. Oddball joined the rest of the Death-Throws in London after they were hired by R.A.I.D to take part in a terrorist attack on the city. They were subsequently defeated by Union Jack and Sabra. [8]

During the Dark Reign storyline, Quasimodo researched Oddball and the rest of the Death-Throws for Norman Osborn. [9]

Powers and abilities

Oddball is an expert at juggling, pitching, and catching, with superb coordination, and is highly skilled with thrown objects. He normally carries an assortment of weighted balls and ball-shaped throwing weapons. He typically carried ten 3-inch (76 mm) diameter balls filled with various substances: tear gas, super-adhesive, hydrochloric acid, smoke, concentrated sulfur, spent uranium, itching powder, magnesium flare, a powerful impact-activated electromagnet, a powerful impact-activated sired, or other juggling balls with more exotic contents. He also carried marbles used to trip foes. Oddball has extensive experience in street fighting techniques.

Other versions

Last Avengers Story

In Last Avengers Story , set in an alternate universe, Oddball is a deformed man whose ability is to cause psychological disorders to manifest in anyone who touches him. [10]

In other media

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References

  1. ↑ Hawkeye Vol.1 #3–4
  2. ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #3
  3. ↑ Captain America #317
  4. ↑ Avengers Spotlight #24–25
  5. ↑ Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman #1
  6. ↑ Guardians of the Galaxy #28
  7. ↑ Wolverine Vol.2 #167
  8. ↑ Union Jack Vol. 2 #2
  9. ↑ Dark Reign Files #1
  10. ↑ Last Avengers Story #1–2 (1995)
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