Hydro-Man
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hydro-Man | |
 Cover of Amazing Spider-Man #315 (May, 1989). Art by Todd McFarlane. |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Amazing Spider-Man #212 (January 1981) |
| Created by | Dennis O'Neil John Romita, Jr. |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Morris Bench |
| Team affiliations | Frightful Four Masters of Evil Sinister Syndicate Sinister Twelve Hood |
| Abilities | Water manipulation |
Hydro-Man (also spelled Hydro Man) is a fictional character that appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Amazing Spider-Man #212 (January 1981), and was created by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist John Romita, Jr.
Contents |
[edit] Fictional character biography
Morris "Morrie" Bench gains his superpowers while as a crewman on the cargo ship the U.S.S. Bulldog, having been knocked overboard while a powerful experimental generator is being tested in the ocean. The combination of unknown radiation and his immersion in a deep ocean dwelling bacteria turns him into the Hydro-Man. After his transformation, he encounters Spider-Man for the first time.[1] Soon after that, he becomes merged with the Sandman into a composite mud/quicksand-like creature.[2]
Hydro-Man appears in the Marvel Universe as a typical low rent super criminal, joining supervillain teams such as the Sinister Syndicate[3], including that of the Frightful Four. While working with the Sinister Syndicate, Hydro-Man demonstrates a willingness to put up with just about anything in the name of financial gain. He ignores the constant politicking of the other members and looks past the Beetle's betrayal of the group to the Kingpin in the belief that the group was economically beneficial to him.
Recently, Hydro-Man gained a new outfit from the Wizard that is similar to the Human Torch.
Hydro-Man was among the villains recruited into Hood's crime syndicate.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Hydro-Man is able to bodily transform himself into a watery liquid substance; he can access secure areas and small openings with relative ease; when his bodily mass is dispersed in this form it simply reforms, albeit slowly depending on how far apart the mass was. All of Hydro-Man's cells remain fully under his control when he is in his liquid state. Hydro-Man can also merge with and manipulate larger bodies of water when he is in his water form. He can increase his mass and cause tidal waves. He can turn parts of his body to liquid while retaining the rest of his human form, allowing him to slip from a foe's grasp or have projectiles like bullets harmlessly pass through him. Through great mental exertion, Hydro-Man can also turn to ice and steam. Other examples of manipulating his watery form include firing off small streams such as a fire hose, shaping parts of his body into 'solid-water', constructs, and mixing himself with other compounds for different effects. However, this last example can be used against him, since certain substances can either harden him (like cement or concrete), or make him feel sick (such as fire-extinguishers and chlorine). The Wizard enhanced his powers, through the use of sophisticated equipment. These artificial enhancements granted him increased and more precise control over bodies of water and moisture near him, which he demonstrated by absorbing nearly all the moisture in The Trapster's body.
Hydro-Man possesses a certain degree of superhuman strength, and has been shown to be an exceptionally skilled fighter, and adept at using his powers for that purpose. In some incarnations, depending on the writer, Hydro-Man can form his forearms into weapons such as Sandman does, except that Bench's weapons are made of ice.
Bench has extensive experience in street-fighting techniques due to his experience as a criminal before his transformation. Though cunning, he has been consistently depicted by writers as a low tier henchman with little formal education and is often tricked into using his powers in ways that incapacitate him (as explained above). His normal attire consists of a black shirt and blue/ or green pants, as well as a costume invented by the Wizard.
[edit] Other versions
[edit] Spider-Man: Reign
Hydro-Man appears in Spider-Man: Reign as a member of the Sinister Six. He only appears briefly in the last part with Electro, coming out of a sprinkler in a building. Spider-Man makes Electro slip and touch Hydro-Man; the two are killed due to Electro's powers shorting out in water.
[edit] In other media
[edit] Television
- Hydro-Man appears in the 1990s Spider-Man animated series, voiced by Rob Paulsen. Here, he is portrayed as Mary Jane Watson's former boyfriend; Hydro-Man stalks Mary Jane, and Spider-Man tries to stop him, but Hydro-Man proves too powerful in battle. He still has the same back story and powers as his comic counterpart. At the end of the episode, Spider-Man and Mary Jane works together to defeat Hydro-Man once and for all; they lead him away from any water source, weakening him so much that when he tries to attack Spider-Man, he collapse and, too weak to regenerate, evaporates. Later, Professor Miles Warren creates the clone of Hydro-Man, using what was left of the original Hydro-Man from the ground where he evaporated. The clone is although also in love with Mary Jane, and demands that Warren makes a clone of Mary Jane as well, as she has been believed dead at the time. However, the Hydro-Man clone along with the Mary Jane clone degenerates in the end.
- Hydro-Man appears in the 1990s Fantastic Four animated episode "And the Wind Cries Medusa", voiced by Brad Garrett. In this appearance, he is a member of the Wizard's Frightful Four.
[edit] Video Games
- Hydro-Man appears in the Spider-Man Questprobe game.
- Hydro-Man appears in the Spider-Man Animated Series game for Super Nintendo while in the Sewer Level.
[edit] Theme Park
Hydro-Man can be seen in the Islands of Adventure ride The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man as one of the villains.
