Swarm (Marvel Comics)
Swarm | |
---|---|
Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | The Champions #14 (July 1977) |
Created by | Bill Mantlo John Byrne |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Fritz von Meyer |
Species | Human mutate |
Team affiliations | Nazi Germany Exterminators[1] Sinister Six[2] Hateful Hexad |
Abilities |
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Swarm is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character's entire body is composed of bees,[3] and is mainly featured as an enemy of Spider-Man.[4]
Publication history
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2012) |
Swarm first appeared in The Champions #14 (July 1977). He was created by Bill Mantlo and John Byrne.[5]
Fictional character biography
Fritz von Meyer was born in Leipzig, Germany and became one of Adolf Hitler's top scientists specializing in toxicology and melittology. Escaping capture after World War II, he was a beekeeper or apiarist in South America and discovered a colony of mutated bees. Intrigued by their intelligence and passive nature, von Meyer attempted to enslave the queen bee but failed and the bees devoured him, leaving only his skeleton. The bees' unique qualities caused von Meyer's consciousness to be absorbed into them, allowing him to manipulate the hive to do his will while his skeletal remains are inside the swarm itself. His consciousness merged with the hive to the extent that they are one being, calling himself/themselves "Swarm".[6]
Swarm battled the
caused Swarm's bee body to disperse temporarily.Swarm next appears when a Super-Collider from
Now back with an internal skeleton, Swarm felt that the criminal organization Pride's fall allowed access to their former territory, specifically Los Angeles. However, he/they are defeated by the Los Angeles' protector Runaways when his/their body of bees' mental link is disrupted by electrical blasts.[14]
Swarm regained control over his colony and joins the
When Alyosha Kravinoff began collecting a zoo of animal-themed superhumans, Swarm is in one of the cages.[15] He fought Gargoyle as the Punisher passes them and escaped.
Swarm next turns up in Denver, Colorado, having amassed enough bees to become giant-sized. The Thunderbolts face him/them unsuccessfully until Venom devours Swarm's bones. Norman Osborn speculated this is a minor inconvenience that shouldn't prevent Swarm's return.[16]
Swarm next turns up in
He was briefly seen trying to launch an attack of the
Swarm later formed his own incarnation of the
Swarm later attacked New York but was defeated by Squirrel Girl and her ally Koi Boi covering him with water and turning bags full of his constituent bees in to the police.[19]
Swarm later appeared as a member of the Hateful Hexad alongside Bearboarguy,
Swarm relocates to Florida, where he encounters Macrothrax and his minions who are also sentient insect colonies in humanoid form, accidentally created by the invention behind him. He ends up joining forces with Ant-Man and taking a liking to the latter.[21]
Powers and abilities
Fritz von Meyer is a composite being of thousand bees driven by his human intelligence. He is also technically intangible, as well as his body's an aggregate of tiny forms. As Swarm, he can fly through the air, assume any shape or size at will, and mentally influence other bee's actions (the full range may extend over a hundred yards in radius). At this end, Swarm seemed capable of controlling a mutant bee queen and through her countless drones. He even has exhibited a limited amount of super strength. As von Meyer, he possesses expertise in beekeeping, robotics, and toxicology.[22]
Other versions
Marvel Fairy Tales
In the second issue of the Spider-Man line of Marvel Fairy Tales (an adaptation of the legend of Anansi), an alternate version of Swarm appears as the stories' main villain, the Yellow and purple spider.[23]
Marvel Adventures
Swarm recently appeared and fought Spider-Man in Marvel Adventures. He/they supposedly wanted to take over the world (or at least kill a few jocks), but it looked like he/they just wanted some ice cream.[24]
Ultimate Marvel
The
Marvel Noir
The Marvel Noir universe's equivalent is Madame Sturm, a Nazi scientist. She finds the same Spider-God totem behind Peter Parker's powers which she uses to mutate herself into a bee god and calls herself Madame Swarm. She is defeated when Spider-Man Noir lures her towards a Nazi blimp that Spider-Man blows up with the Venom sting.[29]
In other media
Television
- An original incarnation of Swarm appears in a self-titled episode of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, voiced by Al Fann. This version is a beehive irradiated by a fallen meteorite's energy, gaining sentience as well as the ability to increase other bees' size and mutate humans into insect hybrid drones. Swarm attempts to spread its hive mind throughout the universe until Spider-Man, Firestar, and Iceman intervene and launch the meteorite into space to reverse Swarm's effects.
- An original incarnation of Swarm, Michael Tan, appears in Ultimate Spider-Man,[30] voiced by Eric Bauza in his self-titled episode and Drake Bell in "Sandman Returns".[31] This version is a disgruntled Stark Industries employee who built a device to control technology, only for it to fuse him with Spider-Man's spider-tracer at the molecular level, granting him the ability to control a swarm of self-replicating nanobots and assimilate technology.
- Swarm appears in Marvel Super Hero Adventures, voiced by Ian James Corlett.[31]
- An original incarnation of Swarm, This version utilizes purple nanotech bees that grant him a solid form and have mind-controlling stingers.
Video games
- Swarm appears as an unlockable playable character in Marvel Strike Force.[citation needed] This version is a member of the Sinister Six.
Miscellaneous
- Swarm appears in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, portrayed by Gerald Avery. This version was originally an Oscorp scientist before he was manipulated into becoming Swarm by the Green Goblin and joining his Sinister Six.
- The Symbiotic Warfare Anthophila Restraining Model (S.W.A.R.M.) appears in Spider-Man: City at War.[33][34]
Reception
In August 2009, TIME listed Swarm as one of the "Top 10 Oddest Marvel Characters".[35]
Swarm was ranked #29 on a listing of Marvel Comics' monster characters in 2015.[36]
References
- ^ a b Exterminators (Spider-Man foes)
- ^ a b Spider-Man and the X-Men #4. Marvel Comics.
- ISBN 978-0756692360.
- ISBN 978-1594749322.
- ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
- ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.[1]
- ^ The Champions #14–15 (1977). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #36–37. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Spider-Man Family Amazing Friends #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Lethal Foes of Spider-Man #3–4. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Secret Defenders #18
- ^ Secret Defenders #19. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Sensational Spider-Man #9–10. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Runaways vol. 2 #7. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Punisher War Journal vol. 2 #15. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Thunderbolts #122. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Mighty Avengers #24
- ^ Wolverine and the X-Men #18. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #7. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Spider-Man/Deadpool #9. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Ant-Man #1-2 (February & March 2020). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol 1 #11 (December 2009)
- ^ C. B. Cebulski (w), Niko Hendrichon (p), Niko Hendrichon (i). "Once Upon a Time..." Marvel Fairy Tales, vol. 1, no. 2 (August 2007). Marvel Comics.
- ^ Marvel Adventures #38. Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b Ultimate Avengers #5. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Ultimates 2 #12. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Ultimate Comics: Avengers #3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Ultimate Avengers #6. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Spider-Verse vol. 3 #5. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Goldman, Eric (20 April 2012). "Ultimate Spider-Man: Make Way for Iron Man!". IGN.com. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
- ^ a b "Swarm Voices (Spider-Man)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved January 20, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
- ^ "Spider-Man Unmasked". Spider-Man. Season 3. Episode 4. August 16, 2020. Disney XD.
- ^ "Tie in Comics Point to Venom and Green Goblin in Insomniac Games' Spider Man PS4 Sequel". 29 April 2019.
- ^ Spider-Man: City At War #2. Marvel Comics.
- ^ "Top 10 Oddest Marvel Characters". Time. August 31, 2009.
- ^ Buxton, Marc (October 30, 2015). "Marvel's 31 Best Monsters". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on September 30, 2018.
Swarm is a very obscure villain who made his debut in the pages of The Champions of all places. So why is he on our list? Because he's a freakin' Nazi Scientist- MADE OF EVIL BEES!