Doppelganger (comics)

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Doppelganger
Image:spiderdoppelganger.gif
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance The Infinity War #1
Created by Jim Starlin
Ron Lim
Al Milgrom
In story information
Alter ego None
Notable aliases Spider-Doppelganger
Abilities Superhuman strength, agility, stamina, reflexes and speed
Ability to adhere to solid surfaces,
Ability to produce razor-sharp organic webbing,
Hardened talons

The Doppelganger, also called the Spider-Doppelganger, is a fictional character and supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. It first appeared in The Infinity War #1.

Contents

[edit] Fictional character biography

Doppelganger is an evil, near-mindless duplicate of Spider-Man that was created by Magus during the battle known as the Infinity War. The eight-limbed creature was one of many doppelgängers created by Magus during this conflict. The Doppelganger possesses Spider-Man's strength, speed, wall-climbing abilities, and spider-sense, and also has six arms, claws, fangs, and the ability to produce its own razor-edged webbing. It acts like an animal, and growls and hisses rather than speaking.

The Doppelganger began life as a living fractal, a geometric pattern in the Dimension of Manifestations, able to assume the forms and attributes of any being, real or abstract. When a mysterious Magus sets out to obtain the vast power of the Infinity Gauntlet, he contracts the ruling fractal, Prime Manifester Anthropomorpho, to transform several young fractals into monstrous versions of Earth's super heroes; the Doppelganger is one such creation, based upon Spider-Man. It and its brethren are sent to Earth to attack the heroes in the so-called Infinity War. The Doppelganger interrupts a fight between Spider-Man and Hobgoblin, who impales the creature upon a fence. Following the battle, the Doppelganger is retrieved by the demonic Demogoblin, who infuses it with supernatural energy, enabling it to remain in the Earth dimension following Magus' defeat. Demogoblin directs the Doppelganger in a grudge against Hobgoblin, whom the altruistic Spider-Man protects. The foursome's fight joins another battle where the supernatural Ghost Rider and Blaze are fighting a group of demonic Deathspawn and Spider-Man's murderous nemesis Venom. Both the Doppelganger and Demogoblin are subsequently pulled underground by the Deathspawn, with two Deathspawn briefly taking up silent residence within the Doppelganger's body.

After being separated from the Demogoblin, the disoriented Doppelganger wanders around New York for some time. By the beginning of the Maximum Carnage storyline, it is attacked by the psychotic Carnage, who mistakes the creature as his mortal enemy, Spider-Man. However, Carnage's companion, the equally insane Shriek, takes a liking to the Doppelganger, and the deranged couple introduces their new "son" to the "pleasure" of random murder. During their spree, the three are joined by Demogoblin and Carrion; they also fight Spider-Man, Black Cat, Cloak and Dagger, Venom, Firestar, Morbius, and others. The Doppelganger becomes devoted to Shriek; when Carnage attacks her for rebellious behavior, it springs to her defense, but Carnage guts it and kicks it to the street several stories below. Carnage and the others were defeated shortly afterwards.

[edit] Powers and abilities

The Doppelganger's abilities are very similar to those of Spider-Man's, including superhuman strength, agility, stamina, reflexes, and speed. It can also stick to walls and shoot razor-sharp webbing from the palms of its hands. It has 2 extra sets of arms, each hand possessing hardened talons that can tear through human tissue. The Spider-Doppelganger is physically stronger than Spider-Man, though the exact limit of his strength unknown. It is noticeably unintelligent, seemingly limited to animal instinct, although it was capable of following instructions from its 'mother' Shriek. Its body was also somewhat malleable and could form different shapes, although this attribute was not seen in its appearances in Maximum Carnage.

[edit] Alternate Versions

In Ultimate Spider-Man there is a clone that looks somewhat like Doppelganger. He wore a black and white costume and had fangs and a furry face. By the end of the clone saga, he had been killed.

[edit] External links