Gladiator (Melvin Potter)

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Gladiator
The Gladiator by Alex Maleev
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Daredevil #18 (July 1966)
Created by	Stan Lee (writer) John Romita Sr. (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	Melvin Potter
Team affiliations	Emissaries of Evil Maggia
Abilities	Accomplished clothing designer Superb martial artist Peak physical condition Wears thick metal armor Possesses arsenal of edged weapons

Gladiator (Melvin Potter) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Potter was initially depicted as a supervillain and one of the first enemies of the superhero Daredevil. In civilian life, he is a costume designer at the Spotlight Costume Shop in New York City. He eventually reformed and became a consistent supporter of Daredevil.^{[citation needed]}

Potter was portrayed by Matt Gerald in the streaming television series Daredevil, set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Publication history

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2015)

Gladiator first appeared in Daredevil #18 (July 1966), and was created by Stan Lee and John Romita Sr.

Fictional character biography

Melvin Potter was a costume designer who delusionally believed that he was far better than any superhero. In order to prove his point, he designed a suit of battle armor for himself, complete with deadly wrist blades, and became known as the Gladiator.

Gladiator returned to battling Daredevil.[6]^[7] He later allied with the Death-Stalker,^[8] and later still allied with the Beetle.^[9] While under control of the Purple Man, he attacked Daredevil.^[10] Gladiator had one last battle against Daredevil before deciding to reform. He began undergoing therapy from Betsy Beatty,^[11] whom he later married.

After reforming, the Gladiator allied with Daredevil and

Kingpin, on behalf of a madman in his employ, pressured Potter into producing a Daredevil costume.^[14] Potter later donned his Gladiator costume again to discourage a youth from a life of crime.^[15]

He was later forced into working for the Kingpin's elderly predecessor

In prison, Gladiator was accused of murdering two fellow inmates. Matt Murdock's law firm defended him, after Murdock's super-senses indicated that he was telling the truth about his innocence. However, at the end of the issue, taunted by another inmate, Gladiator snaps his handcuffs and brutally assaults the inmate and a corrections officer, only to surrender to another officer and claim once again that he didn't do it. Later, after being broken out of an armored car, Melvin beat a confused Daredevil and moved to the sewers, heading for his Gladiator costume.[17] Gladiator then went on a rampage in Chinatown, killing innocent people and culminating in an attack on Matt and Milla in a restaurant. After being knocked out, Matt woke up in a police car to a voice claiming that Gladiator will murder his wife. Matt tracked down the Gladiator, whom he then defeated, and Milla, whom he then rescued.

After this incident, Melvin realized the weight of his actions and attempted suicide, only to be saved by Daredevil. Potter was taken back to prison and heavily sedated after repeatedly banging his head against the wall. Separately, it was revealed that Mr. Fear had secretly administered chemicals to Potter that caused him to go irreversibly insane with rage.^[18]

Powers and abilities

Gladiator has no superhuman abilities. However, he is a superb martial arts fighter and is very physically powerful. As a villain, he wore thick metal armor with a helmet and metallic gauntlets. He was armed with an arsenal of edged weapons and whirling, jagged circular sawblades made of titanium, one mounted on each gauntlet. Small rotors in the gauntlets cause the blades to rotate at high speeds, and the whirling blades could also be detached to serve as short-range missile weapons.^{[citation needed]}

In civilian life, Potter is an accomplished clothing designer, proficient in drafting, design and sewing.^[19]

Other versions

In the alternate time of the 2005 "House of M" story-line, Gladiator appears as an assassin of the Kingpin.^[20]

The Ultimate Marvel universe version of Gladiator is an enemy of Spider-Man, and a crazed madman obsessed with "the emperor".^[21]

In other media

• Melvin Potter appears in
  Benjamin "Dex" Poindexter
  to frame Murdock as a criminal. Potter later attempts to corroborate the lie, but is arrested for violating his parole and assaulting federal agents.
• Melvin Potter appears in the Daredevil novel Predator's Smile, written by Christopher Golden.