Cardiac (Marvel)
Cardiac is a male comic superhero who features in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Elias Wirtham
When Elias Wirtham's older brother Joshua died of an incurable disease, Elias devoted himself to medicine, intending to save lives in honor of his brother's memory. In medical school, he roomed with Dr. Kevin Trench, and as his career began he befriended biotechnician Gerald Stone and industrialist Tony Stark, among others. Learning of a miracle drug that could have saved Joshua's life, Elias directed his flourishing company to take over the drug manufacturer. After acquiring the business assets, Elias was horrified to learn that the drug had been developed years ago, but the company had withheld releasing it in order to earn more money. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #360)
Now disgusted by his brother's meaningless death, Elias subjected himself to experiments that replaced his heart with a beta particle reactor, and fused a Vibranium mesh into his skin. Assuming the costumed guise of Cardiac, he set out to avenge the deaths of innocents at the hands of individuals who were untouchable by the law. When he targeted Justin Hammer's company Sapirdyne Chemicals for manufacturing cocaine, he encountered Hammer's enforcers Rhino and Boomerang, as well as the heroic Spider-Man. Cardiac admired Spider-Man as a hero, and made repeated fruitless attempts to recruit Spider-Man as his ally. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #345)
Cardiac next targeted Stane International's Techtoy Company for manufacturing nerve drugs. While pursuing controversial filmmaker William Gant, Cardiac encountered Gerald Stone, who had become a mercenary with his partner Styx. As Wirtham, he learned that the energy-draining Styx had become a living cancer whom Stone was attempting to cure. Wirtham pretended to offer his help to Stone, but instead tried to slay Styx to prevent him from further killing. Styx and Stone faced Cardiac when Spider-Man arrived.[4] Cardiac's next target was faulty building manufacturer Steven Polk, but the police's Code: Blue Team saved Polk's life. John Blaze and Vengeance later helped Cardiac expose Child, Inc., a charity that was secretly selling children; the trio successfully freed the children. (Ghost Rider/Blaze: Spirits of Vengeance v1 #22)
After the Civil War, Elias was listed as a 'potential recruit' for the Initiative program. (Civil War: Battle Damage Report v1 #1)
Overview
Personality and attributes
As a masked vigilante, he came to take the name of Cardiac. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #344)
He had said that sometimes miracles had to be made. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #342)
As a physician, he took an oath to protect life yet this came to clash with his desire to find justice. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #344) As a vigilante, he considered himself to be an instrument of justice and a scourge of those society would not reprove. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #376)
He had admired the exploits of Spider-Man for years and thought it would be an honor to work alongside the hero. Despite that, the two differed on their approach leading to a clash between the pair. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #344)
Powers and abilities
Wirtham was noted to had been trained to be a doctor. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #342)
He had built a pulse staff that could disguise itself as a walking staff. A microscopic surge of energy coursing through it could result in it adopting its staff configuration. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #344)
Elias came to build the most powerful medical and biological research empire on the East Coast. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #344)
He used to reside at Wirtham Tower that was located adjacent to Midtown's Blessing Hospital. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #344)
Notes
- Cardiac was created by David Michelinie and Erik Larsen where he first appeared as Elias Wirtham in Amazing Spider-Man v1 #342 (December, 1990) before appearing as Cardiac in Amazing Spider Man v1 #344 (February, 1991).
Appearances
- Amazing Spider-Man v1: (1990)
- Superior Spider-Man v1:
- Valkyrie: Jane Foster v1:
External Links
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