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| Puff Adder | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Captain America #337 (January 1988) |
| Created by | Mark Gruenwald Tom Morgan |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Gordon "Gordo" Fraley |
| Species | Human Mutant |
| Team affiliations | Serpent Society Serpent Squad Masters of Evil |
| Abilities | Experienced aircraft pilot and street fighter Slight superhuman strength and stamina Noxious gas projection via costume's cowl Ability to enlarge, or "puff up," body |
Puff Adder (Gordon Fraley) is fictional character, a mutant supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He made his debut in Captain America #337 (January 1988), created by writer Mark Gruenwald and artist Tom Morgan. The character is depicted primarily as a member of the Serpent Society.
In American comic books published by Marvel Comics, a mutant is a human being that possesses a genetic trait called the X-gene. It causes the mutant to develop superhuman powers that manifest at puberty. Human mutants are sometimes referred to as a human subspecies Homo sapiens superior, or simply Homo superior. Mutants are the evolutionary progeny of Homo sapiens, and are generally assumed to be the next stage in human evolution. The accuracy of this is the subject of much debate in the Marvel Universe.
A supervillain or criminal mastermind is a variant of the villainous stock character that is commonly found in American comic books, usually possessing superhuman abilities. A supervillain is the antithesis of a superhero.
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.
Contents
- Publication history
- Fictional character biography
- Powers and abilities
- Race variation
- References
- External links
Fraley made his debut as Puff Adder as part of the fourth version of the Serpent Squad alongside Copperhead, Fer-de-Lance and Black Racer, robbing a casino in Las Vegas. The heist was a ploy to gain acceptance into the Serpent Society by Society leader Sidewinder. Once part of the Society they help Viper take control of the Serpent Society and support her in a plot to take control of the President of the United States. The plot is eventually foiled by Captain America and several members of the Serpent Society who remained loyal to Sidewinder. After Viper is defeated the Serpent Society is reformed and Puff Adder becomes a regular member of the group. He later becomes a member of Serpent Solutions as the Serpent Society was reorganized.
The Serpent Squad is a fictional mercenary group composed of snake-themed criminals appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Most often antagonists of Captain America, the roster has changed through various incarnations. The original team first appeared in Captain America #163, and was created by Steve Englehart.
Copperhead, in comics, may refer to:
Fer-de-Lance is a fictional super villain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
