Gremlin (comics)

Gremlin (born Kondrati Topolov)[1] is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #187 (May 1975).[2]

Gremlin
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceIncredible Hulk #163 (May 1973)
Created bySteve Englehart and Herb Trimpe
In-story information
Alter egoKondrati Yurivich Topolov
SpeciesHuman Mutant
Team affiliationsSoviet Super-Soldiers
Notable aliasesTitanium Man
AbilitiesAccomplished genetic engineer
Superhuman intelligence
Ability to create advanced devices and weapons
(As Titanium Man):
Armored suit grants:
Superhuman strength
Supersonic flight
Concussive blasts
Projection of constrictive force "rings" and electromagnetically paralytic beams
Resistance to conventional artillery

Although initially an adversary of the Hulk, Gremlin is killed in battle with Iron Man during the Armor Wars.

Concept and creation

Co-creator Steve Englehart recounted, "I’ve always treated the entire run of a book, up to the point that I took it over, as worthy of respect. So I was always interested in where series started out, and how they developed in their early days. The Gargoyle had indeed been in Hulk #1, so I thought it would be fun to connect to him—but I had to make something interesting for my time, not just wave at the past. I thought, ‘Gargoyle + Kremlin = Gremlin’."[3]

Fictional character biography

Kondrati Topolov is the son of Russian scientist Yuri Topolov, also known as the Gargoyle, and is himself a mutant. Kondrati inherited his father's grotesque appearance and superhuman intelligence, although he was born disfigured unlike his father, who was mutated over time from the exposure of radioactive materials. His father was cured by a captured Bruce Banner using gamma rays and died killing other Soviets in an explosion. A brilliant scientist like his father, he created the high-tech gear used by the Soviet Super-Troopers (the immediate precursor to the Soviet Super-Soldiers), and for a time wore the Titanium Man power armor. He operated out of a secret base named Bitterfrost in Khystym, Siberia. He created a pet for himself named Droog, which was an intelligent, talking, triceratops-like monster created through genetic engineering.

As the Gremlin, he first clashed with the Hulk at the Gremlin's secret base in the Arctic. Gremlin's men then captured General "Thunderbolt" Ross.[4] The Hulk and General Ross later invaded the Gremlin's Bitterfrost base in Siberia to rescue the captured Major Glenn Talbot. The Gremlin and his pet Droog contended with the Hulk, but Bitterfrost was destroyed by S.H.I.E.L.D.[5] Later, with the Soviet Super-Soldiers, Rom, and Starshine, the Gremlin helped defeat the alien Dire Wraiths. The Gremlin then officially joined the Soviet Super-Soldiers.[6]

The Gremlin next appeared as the second Titanium Man, wearing a new suit of the power armor he had originally created for Boris Bullsky. With the other Soviet Super-Soldiers, he contended with the X-Men and Avengers in an attempt to capture Magneto.[7] Later, the Gremlin fought Iron Man while wearing the Titanium Man armor during the "Armor Wars". Iron Man - despite using his weaker stealth armor - managed to defeat the Crimson Dynamo in the fight but was unable to neutralize the Gremlin, who destroyed Iron Man's negator pack. When the Gremlin grabbed Iron Man and the armored Avenger attempted to escape, his booster jets ignited the titanium armor. The Titanium Man armor exploded, apparently burning the Gremlin to death and forcing Iron Man to flee.[8]

Powers and abilities

Gremlin is a mutant who has inherited the genius level intelligence that his father, the Gargoyle, gained when radiation mutated his brain. It is unclear whether or not Gremlin's intelligence is of a superhuman level.

Gremlin has completed doctoral level programs in various sciences, and has attained mastery of many areas of science and technology, notably the design of battle armor, strength-magnifying exoskeletons, and computer technology, as well as genetic engineering.

Towards the end of his career, Gremlin wore the Titanium Man armored battle suit of his design, which amplified his strength, was highly resistant to damage, enabled him to fly, and from which he could project destructive energy bolts.

Other characters named Gremlin
  • There was a Gremlin who appeared in Sub-Mariner #61. He is an agent of Doctor Hydro and one of his Hydro-Men where he hijacked an airplane that Namorita and Betty Dean Prentiss were on. Gremlin used a disc which could hypnotize others.[9]
gollark: If you do that, I will write the most !!FUN!! C possible.
gollark: I did manage to get on okayish with palaiologos during the interpreter race, but we were using ***JS***.
gollark: Also, yes, we fail at deadlines.
gollark: I mean, we have some very good people here, but also constant arguments?
gollark: Hahahahahahano.

References
  1. Iron Man Manual Mark 3
  2. DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 158. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
  3. Buttery, Jarrod (February 2014). "Hulk Smash!: The Incredible Hulk in the 1970s". Back Issue!. TwoMorrows Publishing (70): 8.
  4. Incredible Hulk #163
  5. Incredible Hulk #187-188
  6. Rom #44
  7. X-Men vs. the Avengers #1-3
  8. Iron Man #229
  9. Sub-Mariner #61
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