Eel (comics)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Eel is an alias used by two fictional characters in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first character to take up the identity was Leopold Stryke who first appeared in Strange Tales #112, while his successor, Edward Lavell, first appeared in Power Man and Iron Fist #92 (Apr 1983).
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[edit] Eel (Leopold Stryke)
| Eel | |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Strange Tales #112 (Sep 1963) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Steve Ditko |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Leopold Stryke |
| Team affiliations | Serpent Squad Emissaries of Evil Fellowship of Fear |
| Abilities | Electrified lubricated costume |
The original Eel first appeared in Strange Tales #112 (September 1963).
[edit] Fictional character biography
Leopold Stryke was the first criminal known as the Eel.
In Stryke's first appearances, he battled the Human Torch.[1] Stryke was also a teammate of Plantman, Scarecrow, Unicorn and Porcupine when they worked as henchmen for Count Nefaria. He was dispatched to battle the original team of X-Men.[2] He then served as a henchman of the original Mister Fear, along with the Ox as part of the Fellowship of Fear.[3]
Leopold and his brother Jordan, who was the original Viper, were later members of the original Serpent Squad. This first lineup battled Captain America.[4] Leopold also aided the Serpent Squad in a plot to raise the continent of Lemuria. They battled the original Nomad and Namor.[5] When Madame Hydra reorganized the second Serpent Squad, Leopold remained unaware that she had murdered his brother and taken his alias.
Leopold Stryke is fatally mutilated in Las Vegas by Gladiator, who was sent to acquire a disintegrator ray that the Eel had in his possession.[6]
[edit] Eel (Edward Lavell)
| Eel | |
 Cover art for Captain America (vol. 5) #28. Eel is in the bottom left. Art by Steve Epting. |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Power Man and Iron Fist #92 (Apr 1983) |
| Created by | Kurt Busiek Denys Cowan |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Edward Lavell |
| Team affiliations | Maggia Nightshade Thunderbolts Serpent Squad |
| Abilities | Electrified lubricated costume |
The second Eel first appeared in Power Man and Iron Fist #92 (April 1983).
[edit] Fictional character biography
Edward Lavell is first seen attempting to break Hammerhead out of prison. He battles Power Man and Iron Fist.[7] Later working with Nightshade, the second Eel is defeated again by Iron Fist and reformed criminals Discus and Stiletto.[8]
The Eel is seen working with the criminals Blitz and the Vanisher[9]. The trio is defeated by Spider-Man. Lavell also aids a group of villains attacking the Fantastic Four.
Lavell was a member of Justine Hammer's Masters of Evil, and is defeated by the Thunderbolts. After the Masters of Evil are apprehended, Lavell was next seen participating in the Bloodsport tournament at Madripoor. There, he put on a poor showing. He is defeated by Toad, who seemingly crushes Lavell using his extremely long and powerful tongue. Lavell apparently survives.
He is briefly seen as a client for the law firm Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway[10]. He is discussing action to be taken against Power Man and refers to an 'Eel-Mobile'.
[edit] Civil War
Eel is apprehended by the Thunderbolts to serve in the so-called Thunderbolt Army.
Following the disbanding of the Thunderbolt Army, Eel was among the villains at Stilt-Man's funeral at the Bar with No Name which Punisher poisoned the drinks and the blew up the bar.
Lavell has turned up as a member of a new Serpent Squad led by Sin, the daughter of the Red Skull. He participates in several murderous missions, including one with the intent of damaging the Asian stock market.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Leopold Stryke designed the original Eel costume, which consisted of electrically superconducting fabric sandwiched in between body insulation and a layer of near-frictionless synthetic fabric. The Eel costume possessed small devices built into the costume capable of generating large and small bursts of electricity. It could fire electrical bolts (initially only through his suit's chest prod) and give off bright glows, as well as set up an electric current in the costume that would shock anyone touching it. The costume was coated with a greasy silicon substance (which was sometimes asbestos grease) that made it slippery. The costume could operate underwater. The battle suit also projects an electrical field which allows him to sense his surroundings, even in total darkness. The Eel used various weapons, including a specially designed helicopter, an Aqua-Attractor gun, and an Eel-Cannon.
