Big Bertha (comics)

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Big Bertha

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Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance West Coast Avengers vol. 2 #46 (July, 1989)
Created by John Byrne (writer and artist)
In story information
Alter ego Ashley Crawford
Species Human Mutant
Team affiliations Great Lakes Champions, GLX-Men; Great Lakes Avengers
Abilities Ability to alter size and mass of body
Superhuman strength and endurance

Big Bertha (Ashley Crawford) is a fictional character, a superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics, notably as a member of the Great Lakes Avengers. The character was created by John Byrne and first appeared in West Coast Avengers vol. 2 #46 (July 1989).

Contents

[edit] Fictional character biography

Not a lot is known of Bertha's life before she responded to Mr. Immortal's advertisement for a hero team, the team would become the Great Lakes Avengers. It was revealed in the G.L.A. mini-series that Ashley is in fact a mutant.

When not using her powers, Ashley is a proverbial 'big fish in a small pond', being the most famous fashion model in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, her hometown. Although offers have come her way numerous times for more prospective opportunities, she has declined them all, choosing to stay in Milwaukee, with the team she considers family.

Bertha was with the rest of the Great Lakes Avengers when the team first encountered Hawkeye and Mockingbird.[1] With the team, she then assisted Hawkeye and the West Coast Avengers against "That Which Endures."[2] They also assisted Mockingbird in a holding action against Terminus.[3]

She is one of the mutants to retain their powers following the events of the House of M.

[edit] Civil War/The Initiative

See also: Civil War (comics)

All of the Great Lakes Champions have registered with the United States government as required by the Super-human Registration Act, as revealed when the mercenary Deadpool mistakenly attempted to apprehend them for violating the Act, only to be defeated by Squirrel Girl and informed that they had already registered.

Ashley has been identified as one of the 142 registered superheroes who appear on the cover of the comic book Avengers: The Initiative #1. [4]

[edit] Powers and abilities

Big Bertha has the ability to make herself super strong and durable by becoming extraordinarily obese, and can also purge most fat from her body to take on a slimmer appearance.

In addition to her mutant powers, Ashley is also a skilled pilot of conventional jet aircraft.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ West Coast Avengers #46
  2. ^ West Coast Avengers #48-49
  3. ^ Avengers Annual #19
  4. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #1 Character Map
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