Blue Marvel (Marvel Comics)

For the Golden Age version of the Blue Marvel, see Marvel Boy (Robert Grayson).
Blue Marvel

Blue Marvel (on right) vs King Hyperion from
Age of Heroes #3. Art by M.C. Wyman.
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel #1, (November 2008)
Created by Kevin Grevioux (writer)
In-story information
Alter ego Adam Bernard Brashear
Species Human Mutate
Place of origin Earth
Team affiliations United States Marine Corps
Mighty Avengers
Ultimates
Abilities Genius engineer and physicist
Vast superhuman strength
Superhuman speed, stamina, reflexes and senses
Flight
Energy generation
Molecular manipulation
Enhanced mental perception
Nigh-invulnerability and durability
Regenerative healing factor
Light creation

Blue Marvel (Adam Bernard Brashear), a fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Blue Marvel debuted in Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel #1 (November 2008) and was created by actor/writer Kevin Grevioux, who originally conceived the character as a child.[1]

Publication history

Adam Brashear debuted in the five issue Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel mini-series created by Kevin Grevioux.[2][3] A different version later appeared briefly in What If? Secret Invasion #1 (February 2010).

In 2013, Blue Marvel appeared as part of Luke Cage's new team of superheroes during the Infinity crossover, in the Marvel NOW! relaunch of Mighty Avengers.[4]

Fictional character biography

Adam Brashear is a former fullback at Cornell University as well as a veteran of the Korean War, a member of the Marine Corps with two Silver Stars.[5] While in the Marine Corps he met Conner Sims, the friend he would later know as Anti-Man. Brashear later became the project lead on a scientific attempt to harness anti-matter through the creation of a Negative Reactor which created a bridge between the Negative Zone and the positive matter universe. This reactor would be a source of unlimited clean energy by allowing devices to tap the stable event horizon balanced between the two universes. Due to the unexpected explosion of the reactor, both Brashear and Sims were subjected to mutagenic radiation generated by the unstabilized event horizon. While Sims' body dissolved into energy, Brashear became a stable "antimatter reactor" with superhuman abilities, which he used to fight crime under the superhero alias "the Blue Marvel".[6]

In 1962, Adam received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President John F. Kennedy on the day the President asked him to retire, since it had been discovered by the public that he is an African-American. As the Blue Marvel, Brashear wore a full-face helmet, but when it was damaged in a battle, his identity was revealed. There was massive controversy as the era of 1962 was too racist to accept a black superhero. Although Kennedy personally approved of Brashear's actions, the President reluctantly decided to ask Brashear to step down, and the Blue Marvel conceded.

He came back for a final mission, defeating the herald of an alien invasion armada. After the fight, he left the Medal of Freedom in the Blue Area of the Moon, where he first met Uatu the Watcher. His conversation with the Watcher was interrupted by the late arrival of the alien armada, which he defeated. The United States government used this final mission to fake his death. The government later sets up S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Marlene Frazier as Brashear's monitor under the cover name Candace. Frazier eventually became his wife and the mother of their two children.[7] Brashear later became a tenured professor of physics at the University of Maryland.

Conner Sims, the Anti-Man, was a radical who, partly because of his history with Adam Brashear, violently hated racism (he being Caucasian), and in his power-fuelled insanity sought to eradicate it. When Anti-Man returned and defeated the Avengers, Tony Stark (Iron Man) tracked down Brashear and with the help of Mister Fantastic they came up with a plan to stop Anti-Man. After a surprise confrontation with Sims on the moon, Brashear was left unconscious. Later an extended fight with Anti-Man resulted in Candace Brashear's death. At the conclusion of their battle, Brashear took Anti-Man up to the edge of the ionosphere and siphoned off his remaining "anti-matter energy" which caused his waveform to permanently decohere and collapse.[8]

Afterward, Brashear returned as a full-time superhero in Age of Heroes #3. After a discussion with Uatu the Watcher, he travelled to Uzbekistan to help the Winter Guard subdue the extra-dimensional King Hyperion.[9]

During the Fear Itself storyline, Blue Marvel was exploring the Neutral Zone when he returned and discovered a submarine lodged in Kadesh, his undersea base. Both the Chinese and American forces blamed the other, and they seemed on the brink of war. Blue Marvel managed to save his anti-matter samples from being exposed to water, and relations between the Chinese and Americans returned to normal. Blue Marvel wondered where the submarine came from, and he soon discovered that the sea dragon guarding the Serpent's undersea prison was responsible for sending the submarine into his base.[10]

During the Infinity storyline, Uatu visited Blue Marvel in his Undersea Science Fortress which he had previously modified. Blue Marvel talked with Uatu about his family life and how he could have taken up the opportunity to join the Avengers.[11] After a one-sided conversation, Blue Marvel took up his costume and flew through Shuma-Gorath's head during its fight with Luke Cage's team. He was able to heal Spectrum (who had been incapacitated by Proxima Midnight's spear) and boost her powers temporarily. Subsequently, Blue Marvel was among those Luke Cage declared to be part of his Mighty Avengers.[12]

During the "Last Days" part of the Secret Wars storyline, Blue Marvel was seen with the Mighty Avengers where they fight the Illuminati. After the battle, Blue Marvel tells Mister Fantastic and Black Panther that he is angry they never consulted the other heroes on this, saying they could have prevented all this if they had all worked together.[13]

Powers and abilities

The Blue Marvel has powers that allowed him to fight the Sentry, one of the most powerful beings on Earth.

Brashear holds a PhD in Theoretical Physics and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University.[5] He maintains a massive undersea headquarters in the Marianas Trench at a location known only to Namor the Sub-Mariner.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "'Underworld' Screenwriter Kevin Grevioux Tackles Racism in 'Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel'". mtv.com. Retrieved 2011-09-15.
  2. ↑ Marvel.com: SDCC '08: Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel, Marvel.com, 25 July 2008.
  3. ↑ CCI: The 'Return' of "The Blue Marvel", Comic Book Resources, 25 July 2008.
  4. ↑ "Marvel's MIGHTY Reveals Two New Members, One Big Surprise". Newsarama.com. Retrieved 2013-06-05.
  5. 1 2 "Legend of the Blue Marvel #1 Review". WorldofBlackHeroes. 2010-09-12. Retrieved 2013-06-05.
  6. 1 2 Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel #4 (April 2009)
  7. 1 2 Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel #2–3 (February–March 2009)
  8. ↑ Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel #5 (May 2009)
  9. ↑ Age of Heroes #3 (September 2010)
  10. ↑ Fear Itself: The Home Front #4
  11. ↑ Mighty Avengers (vol. 2) #2
  12. ↑ Mighty Avengers (vol. 2) #3
  13. ↑ Captain America and the Mighty Avengers #8
  14. ↑ Adam: Legend of the Blue Marvel #1–5 (November 2008 – May 2009). Marvel Comics
  15. ↑ Mighty Avengers #12 (July 2014). Marvel Comics

External links

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