Prowler (Marvel)

Prowler alongside Spider-Man in Amazing Spider-Man v4 #2.

Prowler is a male comic superhero who features in Marvel Comics.

Biography

Becoming a vigilante in Amazing Spider-Man v1 #78.

Hobart Brown

Whilst working as a window washer, he came to be caught in the middle of a fight between Daredevil and the Stilt-Man. (Punisher War Journal v2 #4)

He started working for a window cleaning crew run by Mr. Clark but became dissatisfied with his life. During one night out, he confessed his views of never amounting to anything with his girlfriend Mindy who attempted to encourage him but he refused to be consoled by her. After seeing her walk away, Hobie decided to follow her advice and brought his inventions for new safety devices to his employer but he refused him. He was sent back to work where he was cleaning the windows of the Daily Bugle but he took long on the job causing his boss to dock his pay. J. Jonah Jameson attempted to protect Brown but Hobie in his anger at Mr. Clark decided to quit the job. Afterwards, he decided to make use of his inventions to re-invent himself by building a costume that gave him numerous abilities. He intended to first operate as a criminal but then return stolen goods in order to make himself appear as a superhero with him taking the name of the Prowler. His first target was the Daily Bugle where he planned to secretly steal from the building only to be discovered by one of the staff who he knocked unconscious. This attracted the attention of Peter Parker who ended up in a fight with the masked Prowler. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #78) This inadvertently led to Parker falling out the window with Hobie being horrified at seemingly accidentally murdering someone. He attempted to get away and fled to the roof only to encounter Spider-Man leading to a battle with the masked superhero. In their initial fight, the Prowler managed to get away but lamented about the seeming death of Peter Parker. He then looked to find Spider-Man to try and clear his name but thought the only way to do so was by defeating the Wall-Crawler. Thus, Hobie went out as he Prowler again and arranged an incident to draw out Spider-Man where the two battled again. However, he quickly realised he was outclassed and was beaten by the hero where after being unmasked he explained the events that led to him becoming the Prowler. He then expected to be arrested but Spider-Man believed that Hobie was simply misunderstood. Thus, he let Hobie go free as he sensed a kinship between them where he was urged to go back to his girlfriend Mindy and abandon the life of being a costumed criminal. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #79)

Hobie came to heed Spider-Man's advice and never wore the Prowler costume again. This was until one day when the Wall-Crawler came to him to ask him a favour. He wanted Hobie to wear the Spider-Man's Suit and to appear at a set place so that his secret identity could be maintained. Brown agreed and did not ask any questions as he owed the hero for helping him before where he helped in convincing Peter Parker's friends that he was not Spider-Man. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #87)

Prowler came to be dropped in the harbour where he managed to pull himself onto dry land and decided to end his career as the Prowler. This saw him packing away his equipment in storage and abandoned the masked identity. Hobie later came to get married and he was happy with putting his life as the Prowler behind him. This was until one day when in the night he was picked up by Spider-Man who believed the Prowler was responsible for a murder that the police were putting on the Wall-Crawler. Hobie looked to prove his innocence and the pair went to his equipment locker but Brown was shocked to find that the lock had been broken with all the gear stolen. It was then Hobie looked to help recover his Prowler equipment but Spider-Man decided to take the matter on himself. (Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man v1 #47) Afterwards, Spider-Man encountered the other Prowler who was actually the Cat Burglar that had been hired by Madam Belladonna as part of her scheme against Roderick Kingsley. ​(Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man v1 #48)

After heading Parker Industries, Peter Parker came to hire Hobie Brown to work for him and assist him in maintaining his identity as Spider-Man. This saw Hobie sometimes going into the field wearing the Spider-Man Suit whilst Parker had to be seen as the CEO of the company. (Amazing Spider-Man v4 #1)

Seeking to turn his life around, Hobie wanted to show to Mindy McPherson that he was attempting to change. During their dinner, the world came under attack from Knull the God of the Symbiotes. Hobie used a spare suit to fight the Symbiotes but was unable to stop the creatures. This forced Hobie to escape to his place in order to make use of a new suit that was the Hornet armour where he made his way to save Mindy. (King in Black: Planet of the Symbiotes v1 #2)

Overview

Personality and attributes

It was said that he was roughly the same age as Peter Parker. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #79) After creating his own suit, he came to take a costumed identity as the Prowler. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #78) Hobie later came to take on a new identity where he became the new Hornet. (King in Black: Planet of the Symbiotes v1 #2)

He did not know it at the time but Hobie's inspiration to become a supervillain for a brief time came from seeing Stilt-Man fighting Daredevil. (Punisher War Journal v2 #4) However, he only ever sought to win fame and glory with him never wanting to be a murderer. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #79)

One of his long term relationships was with his girlfriend Mindy McPherson. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #78) He had wanted to prove to her that he was not a nobody in life. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #79)

Powers and abilities

Hobie wearing his suit in Prowler v2 #6.

It was noted that he had no natural superpowers and instead relied on gadgets when operating as Prowler. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #79) As Prowler, Hobie's modus operandi was striking from the shadows rather than in the open. (Amazing Spider-Man v4 #1)

Since childhood, he claimed to had been capable of hacking Stark Industries phones. (King in Black: Planet of the Symbiotes v1 #2)

Hobie was noted for being clever and being great at inventing. Brown had created a bracelet that was able to shoot special cleaning fluid at window glass. The pellets could just as easily be filled with gas and other material. He was smart enough to build a costume that contained numerous gadgets that made him appear to have superpowers. This included steel-tipped gloves that were designed to give him a better grip the side of sheer walls. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #78) It could also fire air blasts that was capable of dealing a great deal of damage to a target. He could also shoot power blasts from his gauntlet. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #79)

In his boots, he had gas-pellets that he could fire at a person to catch them by surprise. The gas was capable of disorienting a person and leave them distracted for a moment. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #79)

It was said that his suit was inspired by Silt-Man's costume. (Punisher War Journal v2 #4)

Upon becoming Hornet, he gained a new set of abilities that were inherent within his suit. This included the ability to fly through the air. (King in Black: Planet of the Symbiotes v1 #2)

Notes

• Prowler was created by Stan Lee and John Buscema where he made his first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man v1 #78 (November, 1969).

Alternate Versions

• In Amazing Spider-Man v3 #10 (2014), an alternate reality version Hobart Brown known as Spider-Punk appeared as an inhabitant of Earth-138 in the Multiverse.

In other media

Television

• In Spider-Man, the Prowler appeared in the 1990s animated television series in the episode "The Prowler" where he was voiced by actor Tim Russ.
• In The Spectacular Spider-Man, Hobie Brown appeared in the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Charles Duckworth.
• In Ultimate Spider-Man, the Prowler appeared in the animated television series in the episode "Return to the Spider-Verse (Part 4)" where he was voiced by actor Drake Bell.
• In Spider-Man, the Prowler appeared in the 2017 animated television series in the episode "Bring on the Bad Guys Part 3" where he was voiced by actor Nathaniel J. Potvin.

Films

• In Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Hobie Brown did not appear in the animated film but the identity of the Prowler was shown in the setting.

Video games

• In Spider-Man: Friend or Foe, the Hobie Brown Prowler appeared as a playable character in the setting of the video game where he was voiced by actor Chris Gardner.
• In Spider-Man Unlimited, the Hobie Brown Prowler appeared as a playable character in the setting of the mobile video game.

Appearances

• Amazing Spider-Man v1: (1969)
• Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man v1:
• Prowler v1:
• Punisher War Journal v2:
• Amazing Spider-Man v4:
• Clone Conspiracy v1:
• Prowler v2:
• King in Black: Planet of the Symbiotes v1: (2021)

External Links

• Marvel Database Entry
• Comicvine Entry
• Wikipedia Entry

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