Cardiac (Marvel)
Cardiac is a male comic superhero who features in Marvel Comics.
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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. Thus, his brother had died needlessly due to corporate greed with Elias vowing to bring such people to justice. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #360)
As a student at Empire State University, Wirtham befriended his roommate and lab partner, the brilliant Kevin Trench, and was greatly saddened when he was seemingly killed in a terrorist attack at JFK Airport. (Nightwatch v1 #5)
Wirtham met and befriended high-tech tycoon Tony Stark. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #345) Wirtham worked with researcher Gerald Stone on a project to cure the common cold, paying homeless people to act as test subjects. Unbeknownst to Wirtham, Stone used the project's resources to develop a cancer vaccine, but inadvertently turned one test subject, Jacob Eichorn, into a living cancer. Stone left Wirtham's employ, and teamed with Eichorn to become the mercenary team Styx and Stone. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #377) Wirtham bought the company that had developed the drug - looking through the records, Wirtham discovered that they had developed the drug years earlier - early enough that it could have saved Josh. It had been held back to be released during better market conditions. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #360) Inspired by Spider-Man, who he greatly admired, Wirtham set out to become a vigilante, taking on corporate criminals who considered themselves above the law. With the aid of his close associates, he subjected himself to extensive, agonizing cybernetic surgery, replacing his skin with a Vibranium mesh coated with pseudo-skin, and his heart with a miniature beta-particle reactor. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #376) 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. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #345) Wirtham and Nurse Collins were examining a patient at Blessing Hospital when she started to flatline. While Collins went for the crash cart, Wirtham used his beta energy powers to restart her heart. Collins returned, thinking the patient's recovery was a miracle, but Wirtham told her that sometimes miracles had to be made. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #342) At Blessing Hospital, a cocaine-addled patient slashed Wirtham's arm; hiding it from the staff, he repaired it in his office, ensuring that he was as good as new so he could take on the evildoers of the world as Cardiac. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #343) At an award ceremony, Wirtham overhead a drunk senator talking about Sapirdyne Chemicals, a company that was selling precursor chemicals to drug lords. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #344)
Cardiac blasted into a warehouse where Sapirdyne's chemicals were being processed for shipment; he was happy to find Spider-Man there, as well, as he had long admired the web-slinger. However, Spider-Man was unwilling to go along with destroying the warehouse, because Sapirdyne's dealings were perfectly legal - as he told Cardiac, 'it's not a perfect world'. Cardiac wouldn't fight Spider-Man, so he blasted the warehouse ceiling, collapsing it, and left, feeling guilty about harming Sapirdyne's security guards. Later, at Wirtham Tower, his secretary, Stephanie Truxton, briefed him on the day's schedule; Wirtham cancelled his dinner plans, intending to strike another Sapirdyne facility. He found the Bronx Sapirdyne plant totally deserted and unguarded - save for the Rhino, who Sapirdyne's owner, Justin Hammer, had sent to deal with Cardiac. The Rhino charged him, making him drop his staff; to escape, Cardiac climbed a metal ladder and melted it so the Rhino couldn't follow. The Rhino clambered up a cable and cornered Cardiac on a catwalk, but Spider-Man knocked Rhino off, then saved Cardiac from the collapsing catwalk. Retrieving his staff, Cardiac blasted the Rhino, saving Spider-Man, then fired into the facility's chemical tanks. He advised Spider-Man to leave before the spilled chemicals reached the live wires; both Spider-Man and the Rhino fled. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #344)
Spider-Man met Eli Wirtham one night while surveying a warehouse full of chemicals. The chemicals were vital ingredients for the manufacture for cocaine but as they were listed as 'for agricultural purposes only', their sale to South American countries was perfectly legal. Spidey was there to get pictures for the Daily Bugle but was surprised to see a man in a white and blue costume appear and begin assaulting the armed guards. Spider-Man briefly stopped him, telling him that while the operation was shady, it was legal. The man used his electronic staff to bring down the warehouse and escape. The 'removal procedure' as he called it, was noticed by Justin Hammer, the CEO of Hammer Industries. The attacked company was a facade company of Hammer Industries and the financial losses had been significant. In response, Hammer hired the Rhino to act as a guard. Later that night, Cardiac arrived at Sapirdyne Chemicals only to find that the regular security forces were missing. Rhino showed up and began to toss the masked man around until Spider-Man arrived. Rhino turned his attention on Spidey, who was soon rescued by Cardiac. Wirtham declared them to be even and then destroyed the vats containing chemicals. Spider-Man protested but after Cardiac explained that the chemicals were flammable, all three costumed men wisely decided to retreat. News of another destroyed warehouse reached Hammer, who decided to put Spider-Man on his payroll. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #344)
While working at a hospital, the Vulture attacked, looking for information on longevity. Their fight ended up outside and they were separated by Vulture’s employer, Victor von Doom. (Venom: Lethal Protector v1 #2) Doctor Doom came to be annoyed that Vulture had failed to bring him the specialist on longevity by the agreed upon time. Vulture blamed Cardiac and said he’d deliver the doctor after dealing with the interloper. Doom did not have time for that and sent a water tower crashing onto Cardiac. Doom got away with the doctor and he allowed Vulture to live. However, he was immediately arrested by the police. (Venom: Lethal Protector v1 #3)
Cardiac soon attacked an office building owned by Herschel Sapir, looking for certain computer records. They had been moved according to Mr. Sapir's demands and Cardiac escaped when guards arrived. Meanwhile, Peter Parker was at ESU when he noticed an advertisement from Silver Sable, looking for Spider-Man's assistance. Later, she introduced him to Sapir, who hired him to go after Cardiac for $5,000. Cardiac himself was having trouble with his artificial heart, supplied by Tony Stark. He held himself together long enough to act on a news report that claimed that Sapirdyne was importing a large shipment of chemicals to New York. Spider-Man was watching over the shipment and took on Cardiac when he arrived to destroy the chemicals. Little did either of them know, but Hammerhad also hired the mercenary known as Boomerang to kill the winner of the battle. He got impatient and took them on at the same time, his sonic boomerang momentarily stunning Cardiac. Spidey beat the hit man but the distraction gave Cardiac time to recover and blast a hole in the hull of the ship with his staff. Wirtham escaped, satisfied that Sapirdyne was now finished as a business. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #345)
He came to track down Albert Brukner next to Suburbia at his pristine mansion residence. Cardiac attacked the site as Brukner attempted to escape with his money. Elias came to destroy the man's home and vehicle leaving him ruined as a result before departing the scene. He then heard of the actions of Techtoy that had produced mechanical dolls that had malfunctioned and killed a person. Thus, he targeted the factory leading to a confrontation with its security along with Spider-Man. During the fight, Cardiac was injured and fell on a conveyer line where he was nearly killed by the factory machines. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #359) After being saved by Spider-Man, Cardiac made his escape where he repaired the damage done to his pseudoskin. From his home, he began to investigate Techtoy and decided to meet with some people he sponsored in his civilian persona. Thus, he attended a charity at the Lincoln Centre where he met with a councilwoman whose campaign he had helped sponsor in order to see her own ties to the board of Techtoy. From her, he came to learn the name Joe Faulkner who was a head at Stane and Techtoy where as Cardiac he confronted the businessman at his company. Before he could eliminate Faulkner, Spider-Man arrived at the scene looking to stop Cardiac from committing murder. During this encounter, he came to reveal part of his origin to Spider-Man who empathised with Cardiac but refused to allow him to murder a man. Their argument though allowed Faulkner to call in Stane security that targeted both vigilantes. This forced the two to work together with the armored corporate security managing to delay the two masked man long enough to allow Faulkner to escape. The authorities arrived at the scene where the businessman attempted to have them target the vigilantes. However, the police had received word that Joe Faulkner was producing munitions in a built-up area and thus arrested him. Though denied killing the man, Cardiac was satisfied and departed in secret but not before leaving a note for Spider-Man stating that he intended to continue his crusade to bring immoral people to justice. This left Spider-Man saddened as this placed the two vigilantes on opposing sides as a result. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #360)
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. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #377) 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)
In his civilian persona, he was noted for being a serious and ruthless man. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #360)
The death of his older brother led to the young Elias vowing to become a healer and the best that ever was in the world. Wirtham had decided that he would save lives in order to honor the ones who would never live again. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #360) According to him, too many people had forgotten the meaning of responsibility and that he would be there to remind them. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #359)
Sometimes, he did wonder if he would ever lead a normal life. However, he reminded himself that he was not normal and that he chose the life of being a masked vigilante as a promise he made to his brother Josh. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #359)
He had said that sometimes miracles had to be made. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #342)
Elias came to become a vigilante after learning that a miracle drug that could have saved his brothers life had been developed but withheld for economic reasons. Thus, his older sibling died as a result of corporate greed. Wirtham decided then that someone had to bring such people's crimes into account as they were protected by their positions of power and technicality. As such, he came to become Cardiac in order to bring such people to justice even if this resulted in cold-blooded murder. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #360)
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)
It was known that he had an older brother with the two sharing a love as deep as the soul. He had idolised his older sibling and was shattered when his brother died as victim of a rare incurable disease. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #360)
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
Originally, Elias Wirtham was an ordinary human being with no special inherent powers or abilities. From a young age, he decided to become a healer where the world of science and scalpels became his life. It was noted that he had been good in his studies due to his strong motivation. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #360) Wirtham was noted to had been trained to be a doctor. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #342)
Extensive damage to his body could break the pseudoskin coating that covered the cybernetic changes made to his body. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #360)
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) With his money, he was able to put financial support to a person's political campaigns and called upon these connections for information to be used as Cardiac. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #360)
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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