Grasshopper (comics)

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Grasshopper

The Grasshopper's first (in continuity) appearance in GLA #2 (April 2005).
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance GLA #1 (March 2005) (out of continuity)
GLA #2 (April 2005) (in continuity)
Created by Dan Slott
Paul Pelletier
In story information
Alter ego Doug Taggert
Team affiliations Great Lakes Avengers
Roxxon Corporation
Notable aliases The Ever-Gregarious Grasshopper
Abilities Robotic grasshopper legs allow for incredible leaping ability, Insectroid Sensors, Zoom Lenses, Armor suit provides protection from attacks.

The Grasshopper is the name of three humorous Marvel Comics superheroes, all created by Dan Slott. No Grasshopper to date has survived past the issue they first appeared in. The Grasshoppers are a simultaneous homage to and satire of stereotypical superheroes and Marvel's tendency towards animal-themed characters. They are also a lampoon of the tendency of superhero team books to introduce new, hastily developed characters only to dramatically kill them off within a few issues. The complicated romantic troubles of the first Grasshopper recall many characters with similar subplots (Spider-Man, for instance), as does the unlikely family background of the second.

Contents

[edit] Doug Taggert

Grasshopper is a fictional superhero in the Marvel Comics universe who first appeared in the pages of the "GLA: Misassembled" miniseries of 2005. The character was created by Dan Slott and Paul Pelletier. He was a member of the Great Lakes Avengers for 5.8 seconds.

[edit] Fictional character biography

Although first appearing when he joined in a fourth wall breaking out-of-continuity prequel presented by Squirrel Girl[1], he did not appear in continuity until the next issue[2].

It is revealed that Grasshopper is in fact Doug Taggert, an employee of Roxxon Oil who pines after fellow Roxxon researcher Cindy Shelton, who in turn only has eyes for the "ever-gregarious Grasshopper" (thus setting up a classic comic-book style love triangle). Later it is clarified that Grasshopper is "part-time Roxxon security" who does "some super heroing on the side." Though it is never so stated, the implication is that Roxxon designed and built the gear which is the source of Grasshopper's powers. Soon Grasshopper meets up with the GLA as they both try to stop a robbery being committed by Batroc's Brigade. During the course of the battle, Grasshopper agrees to join up with the GLA ... and then almost immediately is killed by a sai thrown by supervillain Zaran after it passed through fellow teammate Doorman. As team sidekick Monkey Joe comments off-panel, "five point eight seconds. A new record for shortest membership on ANY team."

Doug Taggert briefly appears, showing up in a limbo-like afterlife hanging out with other deceased GLA'ers. Though not particularly cheery in demeanor, he didn't seem too upset about his unfortunate fate either.

[edit] Powers and abilities

The first Grasshopper's powers are derived entirely from a powered suit, metallic green in color and with an appearance reminiscent of his namesake. The suit's primary ability is that of a fantastic vertical leap, powered by long, robotic hindlegs. These legs can also deliver devastating kicks. Its secondary abilities include "Insectroid Sensors", which work as an early warning system, and the suit's Zoom Lenses, which provide long range sight. Voice activated commands can be used to initiate some of the suit's powers. A notable fault of the suit seems to be that, despite its stiff and sturdy appearance, it offers little to no armor protection to the wearer (thus allowing a simple hand-thrown weapon to pierce the head, normally one of the most heavily defended areas on a suit of armor). It is unknown whether Taggart's suit had the "Maximum Jump" ability his successor Neil Shelton (unfortunately) had while using the suit.

[edit] Significant Issues

  • GLA: Misassembled #2
  • GLX-Mas Special #1 - (Shelton becomes the Grasshopper)

[edit] Neil Shelton

Grasshopper

The Grasshopper's appearance in GLX-mas Special #1 (December 2005).
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance GLX-mas Special #1 (December 2005)
Created by Dan Slott
Ty Templeton
In story information
Alter ego Neil Shelton
Team affiliations Roxxon Corporation
Notable aliases The Ever-Gregarious Grasshopper
Abilities Robotic grasshopper legs allow for incredible leaping ability, Maximum Jump, Insectroid Sensors, Zoom Lenses, Armor suit provides protection from attacks.

The second Grasshopper is a fictional, corporate superhero in the Marvel Comics universe who first appeared in the pages of the GLX-Mas Special #1, a Marvel Comics title, in 2005. The character was created by Dan Slott and artist Ty Templeton, who based his design on Paul Pelletier's design for Grasshopper I.

It was not made clear if he was a member of the Great Lakes X-Men (as the GLA were called at the time) before he, like Doug Taggart, was killed in action.

[edit] Publication history

The Grasshopper is a combined homage to Iron Man and Spider-Man; borrowing many aspects of each's histories.

Like Taggart before him, Shelton didn't live more than one issue, which may end up being a tradition for any future wearers of the mantle.

[edit] Fictional character biography

Neil Shelton was a security guard for Roxxon who gained use of the Grasshopper suit some time after Doug Taggert's death. As the second Grasshopper, he used a powered armor similar to that of Iron Man. The suit's primary ability is that of a fantastic vertical leap, which is powered by robotic grasshopper legs. Its secondary abilities include Insectroid Sensors, which work as an early warning system, and the suit's Zoom Lenses, which provide long range sight. Voice activated commands can be used to initiate some of the suit's powers.

While patrolling outside of Roxxon Labs on Christmas day, Shelton defeated Killer Shrike (himself a former employee of Roxxon) during the villain's attempt to steal "Project Z".

Dr. Cindy Shelton shows up to recover the "Project Z" device and, unaware that this is a new wearer of the suit, invites Grasshopper to dinner. Via thought balloon, Neil states that he is secretly Cindy's long lost brother and must deny her feelings. This revelation makes the previous Grasshopper/Cindy Shelton love triangle even more bizarre. To escape Cindy's amorous advances, Neil initiates a "Maximum Jump", rocketing heroically into the air. However, it is later revealed (when Doorman in his new role as an angel of death shows up to pick up his spirit) that the jump propelled Grasshopper into space, killing him. His sacrifice was not completely in vain, as Grasshopper's body re-entered the Earth's atmosphere to become a beautiful Christmas shooting star.

[edit] Significant Issues

  • GLX-Mas Special #1

[edit] Grasshopper III

Grasshopper

Grasshopper meets his maker in the Deadpool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular (July 2006).
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Deadpool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular #1 (September 2007)
Created by Dan Slott
Keiron Dwyer
In story information
Alter ego unknown
Team affiliations Great Lakes Initiative
Notable aliases The All-New Grasshopper
Abilities Robotic grasshopper legs allow for incredible leaping ability, Maximum Jump, Insectroid Sensors, Zoom Lenses, Armor suit provides protection from attacks.

The third Grasshopper is a fictional superhero in the Marvel Comics universe who first appeared in the pages of the Deadpool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular #1 in 2007. He was created by writer Dan Slott[3] and artist Keiron Dwyer, who based his design on Paul Pelletier's design for the original Grasshopper.

Virtually no information was revealed about him other than his status as "The All-New Grasshopper" before a disgruntled Deadpool killed him by snapping his neck after being kicked off the Great Lakes Initiative. In an interesting trend, each person to wear the Grasshopper armor has had less "screen time" prior to his death than the preceding one; the third Grasshopper only appeared in the final three panels of the book, and was killed in the second of those panels.

[edit] Significant issues

Deadpool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular #1

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ GLA #1
  2. ^ GLA #2
  3. ^ Dan Slott post on his messageboard regarding writing on GLI/Deadpool

[edit] External links