Shocker (comics)

For the Mutant Force member, see Randall Darby.
Shocker

Cover of The Amazing Spider-Man #46 (March, 1967), Shocker's introduction. Art by John Romita, Sr.
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance The Amazing Spider-Man #46 (March 1967)
Created by Stan Lee
John Romita, Sr.
In-story information
Alter ego Herman Schultz
Team affiliations Sinister Six
Masters of Evil
Sinister Syndicate
Thunderbolts
Villains for Hire
Abilities Self invented suit provides:
Deflection of physical attacks
Resistance to being grasped
Gauntlets that project concentrated vibrational air blasts

The Shocker (Herman Schultz) is a fictional supervillain that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

The character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #46 (March 1967) and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Romita, Sr..[1]

He appeared as a regular character in Thunderbolts from issue #157 to 162, when he deserted the team.

Fictional character biography

Herman Schultz was born in New York City. He was a high school dropout who had brilliant talents as both an inventor and an engineer. Instead of using such talents to gain legitimate employment, he became a successful burglar and the world's best safe-cracker (according to him in later stories). After finally being caught and incarcerated for his crimes, he developed a pair of gauntlets designed to shoot air blasts, vibrating at high frequency.

Schultz uses his gauntlets to escape from prison and becomes the supervillain known as "The Shocker". He defeats Spider-Man in their first confrontation (since Spider-Man was at a disadvantage due to having a bad left arm sprain from an earlier battle with the Lizard[2]) during a robbery. While robbing a bank, he was later beaten and sent back to prison by Spider-Man pinning Schultz's thumbs away from the gauntlets' triggers with the webbing then knocked him out.[3]

Shocker later stole an ancient stone tablet with an inscription for a formula that could restore youth, that had been earlier stolen by the Kingpin.[4] Likely Schultz's most ambitious solo exploit was his attempt to hold New York City for ransom by blacking out various electrical grids to spell out his name, and extort one million dollars from the city.[5] He then made one million dollars by harassing a stock broker.[6] Shocker later joined Egghead's Masters of Evil (with Radioactive Man, Tiger Shark, Moonstone, and the Beetle) to incriminate Dr. Henry Pym, then on trial for treason. The Masters battled the Avengers in this encounter.[7] Shocker was later hired by the Nazi war criminal Baron Von Lundt to kill Dominic Fortune, and built the vibro-shock units into his entire uniform to do so.[8] Shocker was hired by the Chameleon and Hammerhead to induce Electro to join their organization.[9] Shocker later attempted to steal thousands of charity dollars at the celebrity fund raiser for the New York City Library.[10] He's captured by Spider-Man and sent to prison. He later escapes with the help of fellow inmate Boomerang. By this time, he's developed severe confidence issues and has become terrified that the Scourge of the Underworld is going to kill him. A tipping point occurs when Spider-Man apprehends him and seems to not take him seriously. Enraged, Shocker defeats Spider-Man and is about to finish him off when a Scourge imposter intervenes, causing Shocker to flee.[11] When he next appeared his confidence issues are gone. He aims to hunt down Scourge himself and kill him first.[12]

Shocker has proven to be a constant presence among Spider-Man's gallery of enemies. He often works as a member of a team (including Hobgoblin's Sinister Seven, Norman Osborn's Sinister Twelve, Doctor Octopus's most recent Sinister Six, and the Masters of Evil) or in partnership with at least one other villain. Previous alliances include Boomerang, the Beetle, Rhino, Leila Davis, Hydro-Man, and Speed Demon (all of which made up the Sinister Syndicate), and the Trapster, Constrictor and Jack O'Lantern. He also teamed up with a large group of villains during the Acts of Vengeance, when he helped them unsuccessfully attack the Fantastic Four.[13]

During one of his team-ups with Doctor Octopus, he participated in a raid on Avengers Mansion, hoping to help conquer it as the heroes were distracted by the events of the Infinity War. Shocker was forced to fight alongside the heroes called the Guardians of the Galaxy when alien doubles of both sides attacked. After the doubles stopped coming, Doctor Octopus tried to order Shocker and the others to continue fighting the heroes but instead, they turned on Doctor Octopus. They did not wish to harm the people who had helped save their lives. Shocker helped chase Doctor Octopus out of the building.[14]

At one point in his career, Shocker became increasingly paranoid that he was on the Scourge of the Underworld's hit list, even though there was no actual proof that he was.[15] He thus started seeking ways to become more powerful, hoping to thwart any attempt on his life by the vigilante group. Shocker somehow acquired actual superhuman vibration powers. As he becomes more powerful, he realizes that the new powers will eventually kill him. He seeks a vibrational harness to cure himself and is aided by Night Thrasher and Spider-Man.[16]

Shocker has had Spider-Man on the ropes on several occasions, with timely interventions often saving Spider-Man. Individuals thwarting Shocker's victories over Spider-Man include security guards, Dominic Fortune, and even a Scourge of the Underworld impostor. Shocker has also let Spider-Man go on a few occasions, the first being when he found Spider-Man incapacitated with a bout of vertigo on the outside of a tall building. He doesn't kill Spider-Man, thinking it an unworthy end, but doesn't help him either.[17]

Shocker found another moment of victory over Spider-Man when he teamed up with the Trapster. Sent by the Friends of Humanity to assassinate Paul Stacy, the duo managed to glue Stacy and Spider-Man together and corner them, only to be called off their assignment moments before finishing them off.[18]

Shocker would later turn on the Trapster at the behest of Osborn of having Trapster eliminated as a potential witness against his recent attempt to frame Spider-Man for murder. Preparing to kill the resigned Trapster in an alley, he was attacked and rendered unconscious at the last minute by Spider-Man (then disguised under the alias Dusk).[19]

Shocker has a run-in with Iron Man on a subway car in NYC.[20]

Shocker is hired by the Golem, along with Constrictor and Jack O'Lantern, to protect a diamond delivery. He battles the Hood.[21]

Shocker was terminated as a freelance agent by Hammer Industries and captured by Spider-Man while trying to rob a federal bank alongside Hydro-Man. He accidentally evaporates his water-based ally with a misplaced vibration.[22]

He allied himself with Speed Demon of the New Thunderbolts in order to break into a particularly well-guarded safe. Though the police arrived at his hide-out in quick pursuit, he was saved by Speed Demon dashing in and stole both the loot and Shocker's weapons, removing all traces of evidence (and, unfortunately for Shocker, also keeping the money to fund the Thunderbolts' further activities).[23]

Shocker plays a small role in the "Secret War" crossover event.[24]

A new version of the Sinister Six, with Shocker as a member, bands together during the Civil War but were stopped by Captain America and his Secret Avengers.[25]

In The Punisher War Journal #4, he was among the group of villains that the Punisher attempts to kill at the wake of the recently deceased Stilt-Man. He survives the poisoning and fire-bombing. He later appears in She-Hulk #17 and later again in Avengers: The Initiative #3, in which he was shown to have partially reformed the Sinister Syndicate alongside Hydro-Man and Boomerang. This group attempts to rob Baily's Auction House but are interrupted by Spider-Man and then Initiative members War Machine and Komodo. The latter are there to neutralize Spider-Man. The trio escapes, only to be found and attacked by government operatives called 'Scarlet Spiders'.

In his first Brand New Day appearance, he is shown to have been hired by a mobster to take out a subway train wagon full of jurors. After a brief battle with Spider-Man, he is knocked unconscious while Spider-Man uses his gauntlets to destroy rubble blocking the path. Although he seems cooperative at first, as soon as he is secured by Spider-Man, he activates a powerful shock in his gauntlets through his belt, causing the main exit to collapse and allowing him to escape.[26] On their way to collect money from bets on superhero fights, Shocker and Boomerang discover the dead body of "the Bookie".[27]

Shocker later appeared as a member of Hood's crime syndicate.[28]

During the "Origin of the Species" storyline, Shocker is invited by Doctor Octopus to join his supervillain team where he exchange for securing some specific items. He and Tombstone went after Menace's infant in the restaurant shop, until Spider-Man interfered.[29] After he passes out from his fight, the police arrive but Shocker is carried away by Tombstone, who escapes.[30] When Spider-Man goes on a rampage against the villains after the infant was stolen by Chameleon, Shocker is attacked in his hideout and threatens Shocker to tell him everything about the villains' whereabouts. Shocker tells Spider-Man that Chameleon has the baby at the Kravinoff Mansion.[31]

Shocker was then seen in the Raft due to a popular online vote at Marvel.com[32] and was selected to join the Thunderbolts's new Beta team called the Underbolts where it was revealed that MACH-V has put his name on the list of likely candidates.[33]

During the "Spider-Island" storyline, Spider-Man and Carlie Cooper encounter a six-armed Shocker. During the fight, Shocker reveals that he wants the money so that Mad Thinker can cure him. Shocker then pulls off his mask to reveal that he's slowly mutating into a spider-like creature.[34]

Shocker later appeared as a member of Villains for Hire (a villain counterpart of Heroes for Hire).[35]

As part of the Marvel NOW! event, Shocker appears as a member of the latest incarnation of the Sinister Six.[36] Shocker features as one of the main characters in Superior Foes of Spider-Man, which concludes with Silvermane crowning him the new don of the New York underworld after Shocker saves dozens of mobsters by singlehandedly defeating the Punisher.[37]

Powers and abilities

The Shocker wears a pair of gauntlets he designed with vibro-shock units known as "vibro-smashers" that, when activated by a pump-action thumb trigger, can project a concentrated blast of compressed air that vibrates at an intense frequency. This creates a series of rapid-succession high-pressure air blasts that result in a series of powerful impacts. This allows Shocker to both effectively throw long range vibrational punches from a distance, creating destructive vibrations that can crumble solid concrete and cause extensive damage to the human body and its internal organs, as well as throw shock waves which vibrate the structure of something in order to weaken or destroy it. A lesser known ability of the gaunlets allows Shocker to make incredible leaps, by directing the air blasts toward the ground in front of him. Holding the thumb triggers down for an extended period of time increases the intensity, speed, and even spread of the air blasts.

The feedback from the Shocker's gauntlets is extremely intense (the initial test almost killed him). To guard himself from this, he developed a protective costume consisting largely of yellow quilt patches designed to absorb the shock. The costume is made of foam-lined synthetic fabric which absorbs all vibrations and establishes a vibrational shield which deflects normal blows and allows him to slip from any grasp. The costume's appearance has been the source of ridicule on the part of Spider-Man and other characters. How fellow villain the Looter was able to once wield one of the gauntlets without wearing a protective costume and suffering injury is unclear, though his super strength and durability were presumably a factor. Despite having no superhuman abilities, his vibrating suit and gauntlets enable him to trade blows with Spider-Man.

Around the year 2000 (real time), Herman Schultz began upgrading the abilities of his costume and weapons. His suit now contains a number of built-in shock units, which throw up a protective vibrational field when triggered by accompanying motion detectors. Besides deflecting most physical blows, this makes it difficult, if not impossible for someone to physically assault or grasp him by surprise. This power upgrade was accompanied by a much bulkier and more protective looking costume (as designed by artist John Romita, Jr.).

He also recently allowed Hammer Industries to drastically upgrade the power of his gauntlets. However, not trusting to share the whole of his secrets (and thus become what he perceives as expendable), he refused Hammer's technicians access to his actual costume, which (at least at the time) likely wasn't providing him with thorough protection from the feedback of the upgraded gauntlets (he cited nosebleeds as a risk he was willing to take).

Shocker has since appeared repeatedly in his original costume and minus the redesigned super-gauntlets provided to him by Hammer Industries. Whether or not this means he has found a way to retain his upgraded abilities in his old costume or whether he no longer uses them remains in question.

Motivations

While most Spider-Man villains usually shift from their original goals to a vendetta against Spider-Man, the Shocker is still concerned largely with making a living and protecting his reputation. As such, the character is usually portrayed as behaving in a more professional manner than the majority of his maniacal peers.

Shocker has a notably rational personality among Spider-Man's enemies. He has often been shown to recognize his own limitations amongst a universe of super-powered individuals. He was once stricken with chronic anxiety and paranoia (in the Deadly Foes of Spider-Man series) stemming from his fears about being targeted by anti-heroes Scourge and the Punisher (surprisingly, he has survived encounters with both). While partnered with the Trapster, he mentions that he engages in psychotherapy.

In recent stories ("Venomous" and "Senseless Violence"), Shocker has revealed that he is extremely frustrated with his place in life, not wanting to be known as a punching bag for superheroes like Spider-Man. He unsuccessfully attempts to purchase the Venom symbiote at auction in order to gain some respect. When temporarily partnered with Hydro-Man, he rebukes Morrie's suggestion that they go kill Spider-Man, being far more interested in more financially lucrative ventures and trying to rebuild a professional reputation.

Other versions

MC2

While the Shocker has not actually appeared in the MC2 universe, his gauntlets have been seen in the use of the bounty hunter Mad Dog Rassitano.

Ultimate Marvel

The Ultimate Marvel incarnation of Shocker is 33-year-old petty crook Herman Schultz who raids money transports.[38] He wears a purple trench coat and a pair of goggles to protect his eyes. He used to work at Roxxon Industries and invented his weapons there.[39] He was fired later and then became the Shocker to "get what he deserves" for all the work he has done. He is not especially dangerous and has fought Spider-Man five times in the first 100 issues. During several, there was an unusual factor: Spider-Man wearing the Venom suit,[40] or the presence of Kitty Pryde,[41] or Wolverine putting Shocker at a disadvantage.[42] Ultimately, he suffers five embarrassing defeats. Thus, he perpetually ends up in jail and his equipment is confiscated. However, he somehow manages to get a new set every time he escapes. It was shown in Ultimate Marvel Team-Up that he does make new vibration units in the machine shop of the prison. It is also implied that he isn't always charged with anything; Spider-Man simply leaves him at the crime scene. This was noted in their encounter in the second annual when Foggy Nelson advised Spider-Man to hand him over to the police rather than leave him on the ground. He is seen in the annual being dropped off at a police station while crying. He gets some measure of revenge in issue #122, where he unexpectedly defeats, captures, and tortures Spider-Man before once again being arrested by the authorities led by NYPD's Captain Frank Quaid under a tip from Kitty and Mary Jane Watson.[43]

In other media

Television

Video games

References

  1. Manning, Matthew K.; Gilbert, Laura, ed. (2012). "1960s". Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. Dorling Kindersley. p. 38. ISBN 978-0756692360. [Stan] Lee and [John] Romita's second major Spidey villain appeared in the form of the Shocker, a criminal equipped with vibration-projecting gauntlets.
  2. The Amazing Spider-Man #44-45
  3. The Amazing Spider-Man #46
  4. The Amazing Spider-Man #72
  5. The Amazing Spider-Man #151-152
  6. Defenders #64
  7. Avengers #228
  8. Web of Spider-Man #10
  9. Spectacular Spider-Man #157
  10. The Amazing Spider-Man #335
  11. The Deadly Foes of Spider-Man #1-3
  12. The Amazing Spider-Man #364
  13. Fantastic Four #334
  14. Guardians of the Galaxy #28-29
  15. Deadly Foes of Spider Man #1
  16. Web of Spider-Man #109
  17. Spider-Man vol. 1 #83
  18. Spider-Man vol. 1 #85-87
  19. Spider-Man vol. 1 #91
  20. Iron Man vol. 3 #42
  21. The Hood #1-6
  22. Spider-Man vol. 2 #51-52
  23. New Thunderbolts #8
  24. Secret War #3-5
  25. Civil War #3
  26. The Amazing Spider-Man #578-579
  27. The Amazing Spider-Man #584
  28. Dark Reign: The Hood #4-5
  29. The Amazing Spider-Man #642
  30. The Amazing Spider-Man #644
  31. The Amazing Spider-Man #645
  32. http://marvel.com/news/story/14891/choose_the_next_thunderbolt
  33. Thunderbolts #156
  34. The Amazing Spider-Man #669
  35. Villains for Hire #1
  36. The Superior Spider-Man #1
  37. Nick Spencer (w), Steve Lieber (p), Steve Lieber (i). "Goodbye, Farewell and Good Riddance" The Superior Foes of Spider-Man #17 (26 November 2014), United States: Marvel Comics
  38. Ultimate Spider-Man #8
  39. Ultimate Spider-Man #122
  40. Ultimate Spider-Man #35
  41. Ultimate Spider-Man #112
  42. Ultimate Spider-Man #67
  43. Ultimate Spider-Man #122
  44. http://s8.org/gargoyles/askgreg/latest.php
  45. https://marvelavengersalliance2.com/aa2_characters/shocker/

External links

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