Blob (Marvel)

The Blob in Generation M v1 #3.

Blob is a male comic supervillain who features in Marvel Comics.

Biography

Origin

Frederick J. "Fred" Dukes

Blob’s first appearance showed him as a circus strongman whose life was defined by his abnormal size and physical power. When the X-Men first encountered him, they were sent by Professor Xavier to recruit him after detecting his mutant abilities. Blob initially agreed to visit Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, where his incredible physical strength and immovability were tested. However, after learning of the X-Men’s true nature and Xavier’s desire to conceal his powers from the public, Blob refused to join and returned to his circus troupe. Shortly afterward, he rallied his fellow carnies into attacking the X-Men, demonstrating his ability to command others through intimidation and brute force. Blob later organized the circus performers under his control into an offensive against the X-Men, attempting to storm their mansion headquarters. He displayed his signature power of immovability, standing firm against Cyclops’ optic blasts and Angel’s strikes without being knocked down or displaced. His sheer size and strength allowed him to plow through the X-Men’s defenses, pinning several of them under his massive weight. However, his arrogance and overconfidence led to his downfall when the X-Men regrouped and coordinated an effective counterattack, forcing him to retreat from their headquarters. (X-Men v1 #3)

Brotherhood

Later, Magneto attempted to recruit the Blob for his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. A severe blow to the head restored the Blob's memory of the X-Men, and he joined Magneto's Brotherhood in an attack on them. In the midst of battle, Magneto launched a powerful torpedo at the X-Men, not caring that the Blob was in the way. Torpedoes struck the Blob but did not seriously injure him. The Brotherhood escaped, and the Blob, feeling betrayed, swore never to trust anyone again and returned to his job with the carnival. (X-Men v1 #7) Months later, under the behind-the-scenes influence of the alien Lucifer, the Blob met another superhumanly powerful mutant, Unus the Untouchable, and the two of them attempted to frame their mutual enemies, the X-Men, as bank robbers. (X-Men v1 #20)

Later, Blob was apparently recruited by Onslaught, who taught him the mass-controlling, quasi-shapeshifting aspects of his powers. Blob later got some help in controlling those powers from Sledge, for which Blob owed him some favors. Months afterward, Blob was among the mutants comprising the second incarnation of the Brotherhood of Mutants, who were on a mission to find Professor X so that he could protect them from the rampages of the sentient Cerebro. Finally, Blob was re-recruited into the Brotherhood by Mystique to take down X-51, the Machine Man. Later, he was involved in the group's failed attempt to kill Senator Kelly. (X-Men v2 #106)

M-Day

While at the Starlite-Casino in Atlantic City, the Blob was one of the thousands of mutants to lose their powers due to the Scarlet Witch's spell. His skin did not shrink to compensate the loss of his bloated mass, however, giving him huge folds of loose skin all over his body and causing him to become suicidal. (Decimation: House of M - The Day After v1 #1)

Overview

Personality and attributes

In appearance, the Blob was a colossal, morbidly obese mutant human male who stood over eight feet tall and weighed over one thousand pounds of extraordinarily dense adipose tissue. His massive physical frame was characterized by a protruding double chin, a shaved head, and an incredibly thick, wide neck that seamlessly blended into his immense, heavy shoulders. His classic criminal combat attire was minimalist and designed primarily for maximum flexibility, consisting of a sleeveless, two-tone blue and yellow circus-style wrestling singlet that stretched tightly over his massive torso. He wore matching blue wristbands and heavy, laced-up leather combat boots designed to withstand the immense downward pressure of his weight. His terrifying silhouette lacked any traditional superhero mask or flashy weaponry, relying entirely on his bare skin and sheer fleshly mass to project a menacing, immovable presence on the battlefield. (X-Men v1 #3)

In terms of personality, Blob displayed arrogance, greed, and a selfish streak in his first appearance. He was quick to anger when slighted, particularly when he felt the X-Men had attempted to deceive him or manipulate his powers for their purposes. His confidence in his own invulnerability made him brash and unwilling to listen to reason, often leading him into reckless confrontations. Despite his brutish manner, he was not portrayed as entirely mindless as he could scheme and rally others, but his motivations were consistently self-serving, revolving around his ego and desire for recognition. (X-Men v1 #3)

Powers and abilities

Blob’s mutant physiology granted him a unique combination of superhuman traits. His body produced an unmovable field effect that rooted him in place once he braced himself, rendering him impervious to attempts at displacement, even by beings with immense strength. The Blob possessed immense superhuman strength, high-tier physical durability, and a unique form of personal gravity manipulation rooted entirely in his mutant physiology. His raw muscular power allowed him to easily lift heavy vehicles, crush solid concrete structures, and trade direct physical blows with powerhouse heroes like Colossus. His primary defensive capability was his completely elastic, impenetrable skin and fat layers, which could effortlessly absorb, trap, and reflect high-velocity kinetic projectiles, heavy artillery shells, and direct physical strikes without bruising. (X-Men v1 #3)

Furthermore, he possessed the unique mutant ability to bind himself to the Earth’s gravitational field at will, making him completely immovable by any external physical force once his feet were planted. (X-Men v1 #3)

His layers of mass acted as both protection and strength, absorbing physical punishment and making him resistant to bullets, explosives, and energy attacks. His dense biology also rendered him highly resistant to extreme temperatures, physical pain, and skin-lacerating energy blasts, allowing him to act as an ultimate living shield. This physiology made him a nearly impenetrable wall in combat situations, but it also limited his agility and speed, forcing him to rely on raw resilience and brute force. His mutation made him one of the most durable mutants of his era, capable of outlasting nearly any physical opponent in battle. (X-Men v1 #3) The Blob's elastic, blubbery skin was difficult to penetrate by gunfire, missiles, and even Wolverine's claws, though with sufficient force and a favorable angle, the claws can lacerate his flesh. (Uncanny X-Men v1 #225)

Notes

• The Blob was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby where he made his first appearance in X-Men v1 #3 (January, 1964).

Alternate Versions

• In X-Men: Alpha v1 #1 (1994), an alternate version of the Blob appeared in the Age of Apocalypse reality that was designated as Earth-295 in the Multiverse.
• In Ultimate X-Men v1 #1 (2000), an alternate version of the Blob appeared in the Ultimate Marvel reality that was designated as Earth-1610 in the Multiverse.

In other media

Television

• In Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, the Blob appeared in the setting of the animated television series in the episode "The Prison Plot". He was shown as being a member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.
• In X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men, Blob appeared in the setting of the animated television pilot where he was voiced by actor Alan Oppenheimer. This version was a member of the Brotherhood of Mutant Terrorists. He was involved in a mission to distract the X-Men whilst Magneto attacked the X-Mansion to steal Cerebro's Mutant Power Circuit. With it, he looked to empower himself to the point where he could pull a passing meteor into a collision course for Earth. The X-Men looked to stop them and travelled to Asteroid M where each of the Brotherhood tried to halt Xavier's team from reaching Magneto. Blob was the last opponent where Nightcrawler distracted him allowing for Kitty Pryde to go into the central chamber.
• In X-Men, Blob appeared in the setting of the 1990s animated television series where he was voiced by actor Robert Cait. This version was initially a Genoshan slave before joining the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants headed by Mystique.
• In X-Men: Evolution, a teenage version of the Blob appeared in the setting of the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Michael Dobson. This version was a high school bully and member of the Brotherhood of Bayville who possessed a sensitive side and self-esteem issues. In a flash-forward depicted in the two-part series finale "Ascension", he and the Brotherhood were shown to had reformed and joined S.H.I.E.L.D.
• In Wolverine and the X-Men, Blob appeared in the setting of the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Stephen Stanton.

Films

• In X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Fred Dukes appeared in the setting of the live-action film where he was portrayed by actor Kevin Durand. This version was initially a muscular soldier and member of Team X before the team disbanded. In the aftermath, he began developing an eating disorder, becoming overweight, and undergoing boxing training at John Wraith's suggestion. Additionally, he disliked any attention being drawn to his weight and appearance with him getting angry when being called "Blob". Looking for Weapon X's secret laboratory, Logan sought Wraith and Dukes out though only the former was aware of William Stryker's base of operations. After a brief fight in a boxing arena, Dukes ultimately gave the information to Logan who went searching for it. It was later stated that Dukes was killed by Sabretooth who had been murdering his former teammates under Stryker's orders.
• In X-Men: Apocalypse, the Blob appeared in the setting of the live-action film where he was portrayed by wrestler "Giant" Gustav Claude Ouimet. This version was to be a cage fighter.

Appearances

• X-Men v1: (1964)
• Uncanny X-Men v1:
• Generation M v1:

External Links

• Marvel Database Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

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