Melter
Melter | |
---|---|
Death Squad Lethal Legion | |
Abilities | Extensive knowledge of weapons and munitions Ability to melt iron and almost all types of substances via melting device |
The Melter is the name of three fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The original Melter, Bruno Horgan, first appeared in Tales of Suspense #47 (Nov. 1963).
Publication history
The character debuted in Tales of Suspense #47 (Nov. 1963) and was created by Stan Lee and Sam Rosen.[1]
He was an
Long-time Marvel writer Roger Stern recalled:
...Mark Gruenwald had compiled a list of villains who were either less than inspired or had outlived their welcome. I picked the Melter because he was such a doof. There had been maybe one good Melter story...which had been repeated over and over again by various writers. Mind you, there's nothing wrong with the name.[3]
The character also made several posthumous appearances in the titles Fantastic Four;[4] X-O Manowar/Iron Man: Heavy Metal;[5] and The Avengers.[6]
Another character using the name "Melter" debuted during the Dark Reign storyline in the limited series Dark Reign: Young Avengers #1 - 5 (July-Dec. 2009).
Fictional character biography
Bruno Horgan
Bruno Horgan is driven into bankruptcy when a government safety inspection team proves that he is using inferior materials, with the defense contracts awarded to his competitor Tony Stark (the alter ego of hero Iron Man). Discovering that one of his faulty devices is capable of generating a beam capable of "melting" anything composed of iron, Horgan redesigns the device so that it can be strapped to his chest, and after donning a costume adopts the alias the Melter. As the Melter, Horgan becomes a professional criminal and embarks on a campaign of industrial sabotage against Stark, hoping to ruin him, eventually encountering Iron Man after Stark is told he could lose his government contracts, though when he first met Stark he succeeded in knocking him out. Despite damaging the hero's armor and forcing Iron Man back, the Melter is defeated when Stark builds a temporary duplicate armor composed of aluminium, but leaps into the sewer, though Stark is unaware whether he was killed or not.[7]
The Melter reappears as an employee of master villain
The Melter has several battles with Iron Man: at the direction of other-dimensional villain the
Eventually, the Melter manages to augment his melting ray's power to its peak, but before he can employ it, he is surprised and murdered by the Scourge of the Underworld, who is disguised as the villain's laboratory assistant. The Scourge destroys the latest melting ray right afterwards.[18]
Christopher Colchiss
Melter | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | Dark Reign: Young Avengers #1 (July 2009) |
Created by | Paul Cornell Mark Brooks |
In-story information | |
Full name | Christopher Colchiss |
Species | Human Mutant |
Team affiliations | Exiles, formerly Young Masters |
Abilities | Ability to mentally agitate the molecules in solid matter so that it loses cohesion |
The second Melter character first appears in Dark Reign: Young Avengers #1 (July 2009) and was created by Paul Cornell and Mark Brooks.
Christopher Colchiss later adopts the Melter name and is recruited to lead the "Young Masters", a teenage super team opposing the Young Avengers. This Melter has inherent melting super powers and does not require artificial aids. Unlike the original Melter, his abilities also extend to humans.[19]
Melter has serious doubts about the moral conviction of most his teammates, and twice he has made mistakes with his powers that killed people - his parents when he was young and more recently an old lady who maced him in the face thinking he was a mugger. Melter also caused a subway station to collapse by melting its supports by accident, though without causing any serious casualties. These incidents have resulted in making him extremely hesitant to use his powers in combat. Melter desires to be a hero, but is unsure just what he needs to do to be one.[20]
Colchiss was later recruited by
During the Avengers: Standoff! storyline, Melter was an inmate of Pleasant Hill, a gated community established by S.H.I.E.L.D.[22]
Christopher was welcomed into the mutant-only nation of
Melter joined the other Exiles on a journey to find Sabretooth that lead to him joining them as they infiltrated a series of mutant prisons and experimentation centers established by
Unnamed criminal
Following Spider-Man's victory over the Goblin King, Melter was among the former Hobgoblin minions at the Bar with No Name where they encounter Electro.[32]
Melter is among the villains at the Bar with No Name that convince Black Cat to lead them.[33]
During the AXIS storyline, Melter was among the supervillains that Missile Mate assembled to join the side of Phil Urich (who was operating as Goblin King) and the remnants of the Goblin Nation upon claiming that Roderick Kingsley "abandoned" them.[34]
Melter was among the villains that appeared as a member of
Melter and
When Iron Man returns to his brownstone in his beaten-up armor, he finds that Melter has melted his Dodge Aspen and starts to taunt him. After punching Melter, Iron Man picks his body up and flies it into the sky. He tosses Melter and then rescues him much to the irritation of the bystanders.[37]
Powers and abilities
Bruno Horgan invented a device which projected a form of energy that loosened the bonding forces between the molecules of substances, causing these substances to change from solid form to liquid form, thereby melting. The Melter's first melting beam could affect iron, while a later version could affect almost any substance. The melting effect did not appear to involve heat, but when used on a human being, the beam inflicts burns as opposed to truly melting. The Melter uses several of these devices, including hand-held pistol versions and a device worn on his torso in a harness. Horgan possesses extensive knowledge of weapons and munitions.
The second Melter can mentally agitate the molecules in solid matter so that it loses cohesion, thereby melting the object in question. Christopher has not been shown to be able to produce actual fire. He has melted bullets while they are in the air, and can even melt people with fatal effects.
Other versions
Heroes Reborn
In the
JLA/Avengers
During JLA/Avengers, Melter is among the enthralled villains defending Krona's stronghold when the heroes assault it, where he is shown blasting Rocket Red.[39]
Marvel 2099
In the unified Marvel 2099 reality of Earth-2099, an unidentified Melter appears as a member of the 2099 version of the Masters of Evil where they slaughtered the 2099 version of the Avengers. During the fight with the 2099 version of the Masters of Evil, Melter was defeated by [[Black Panther (character)#Marvel 2099|Black Panther despite using his melting ray to cut off Black Panther's hand.[40]
In other media
Television
- Melter appears in the "Captain America" and "Iron Man" segments of The Marvel Super Heroes, voiced by Bernard Cowan.[41] This version is a member of Baron Heinrich Zemo's Masters of Evil.
- Melter appears in The Super Hero Squad Show, voiced by Charlie Adler.[citation needed] This version is a member of Doctor Doom's Lethal Legion.
- Melter appears in the Iron Man: Armored Adventures episode "The Invincible Iron Man Part 2: Reborn".[citation needed] This version is a Makluan Guardian created by the first Mandarin to guard one of his Makluan Rings and test potential successors. His successor Gene Khan and Howard Stark arrive to claim the ring and pass the Melter's test before Gene traps it in an amber-like substance.
- Melter appears in the Ultimate Spider-Man episode "Flight of the Iron Spider".[citation needed]
- The Bruno Horgan incarnation of the Melter appears in M.O.D.O.K., voiced by Eddie Pepitone.[citation needed] This version is a self-proclaimed boomer who wants to open a food truck that serves specialized sandwiches. In the episode "If Saturday Be... For the Boys!", he and other D-List supervillains are recruited by MODOK to steal Captain America's shield. Along the way, the group bonds and help Melter brainstorm names for his business. However, he dies of excitement,[42] leaving behind a widow and son who appear in the episode "What Menace Doth the Mailman Deliver!".[43]
Video games
- The Bruno Horgan incarnation of the Melter appears as a boss in Iron Man, voiced by Gavin Hammon.[citation needed] This version is an A.I.M. operative in charge of developing a proton cannon.
- Melter appears in Marvel: Avengers Alliance 2.[44]
- Melter appears in Lego Marvel's Avengers as a member of the Masters of Evil via the group's self-titled DLC pack.[45]
Miscellaneous
Melter appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) tie-in comic one-shot Iron Man: Coming of the Melter. This version is a former inventor who failed to pitch a suit of armor to the United States military. After modifying the design, he attacks Tony Stark and War Machine in the hopes of using the publicity to sell his armor to the highest bidder. However, the pair defeat Melter and destroy his armor.[46]
References
- ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.[1]
- ^ Conroy, Mike. 500 Comicbook Villains, Collins & Brown, 2004.
- ^ Conroy, Mike. 500 Comicbook Villains, Collins & Brown, 2004.
- ^ Fantastic Four #405 (Oct. 1995)
- ^ X-O Manowar/Iron Man: Heavy Metal #1 (Sept. 1996)
- ^ The Avengers vol. 3 #8-9 (June–July 1997)
- ^ Tales of Suspense #47 (Nov. 1963). Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Avengers #6 (Jul. 1964). Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Avengers #15-16 (Apr.-May 1965). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Tales of Suspense 89-90 (May-Jun. 1967). Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Avengers #54-55 (Jul.-Aug. 1968). Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Avengers #83 (Dec. 1970). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Iron Man #72 (Jan. 1974). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Iron Man #92 (Nov. 1976). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Iron Man #123-124 (Jun.-Jul. 1979); #127 (Oct. 1979). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Iron Man #166 (Jan. 1983). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Marvel Two-in-One #96 (Feb. 1983). Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Avengers #263 (Jan. 1986). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Dark Reign: Young Avengers #1-5 (July-Dec. 2009). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Dark Reign: Young Avengers #4. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Invincible Iron Man #513. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Howling Commandos of S.H.I.E.L.D. #6. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Sabretooth Vol. 4 #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Sabretooth Vol. 4 #3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Sabretooth Vol. 4 #2. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Sabretooth Vol. #3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Sabretooth Vol. 4 #4. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Sabretooth Vol. 4 #5. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Sabretooth & the Exiles #1-3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Sabretooth & the Exiles #3-5. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Superior Spider-Man #26. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 3 #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 3 #6. Marvel Comics.
- ^ AXIS: Hobgoblin #2. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Spider-Man and the X-Men #4. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 3 #16. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Iron Man vol. 6 #3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Avengers vol. 2 #8. Marvel Comics.
- ^ JLA/Avengers #4. DC/Marvel Comics.
- ^ Spider-Man 2099: Exodus #3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ "Bernard Cowan". Behind the Voice Actors.
- ^ Towner, Eric and Alex Kramer (director); Patton Oswalt (writer) (May 21, 2021). "If Saturday Be... For the Boys!". M.O.D.O.K. Season 1. Episode 4. Hulu.
- ^ Towner, Eric and Alex Kramer (director); Geoff Barbanell and Itai Grunfeld (writer) (May 21, 2021). "What Menace Doth the Mailman Deliver!". M.O.D.O.K. Season 1. Episode 9. Hulu.
- ^ "Melter | Marvel: Avengers Alliance 2". Archived from the original on 2016-04-19. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
- ^ "LEGO Marvel Avengers first DLC packs get release dates - GameZone". gamezone.com. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
- ^ Iron Man: Coming of the Melter #1. Marvel Comics.
External links
- Melter at Marvel.com
- Melter at the Comic Book DB (archived from the original)