Mac Gargan
Mac Gargan is a male comic supervillain who features in Marvel Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
MacDonald Gargan
Scorpion
He returned to Jonah for his latest report on Peter Parker but Jameson wanted him for a new assignment that was more dangerous. Gargan showed no concern so long as the pay was good where he was taken to the laboratory of Dr. Farley Stillwell who was an experiment in artificial mutations. J. Jonah Jameson had wanted Stillwell to use Gargan as a human test subject to give him powers greater than Spider-Man. Farley agreed as he could use the money for his own experiments where he mutated Gargan with the powers of a scorpion. Thus, the Scorpion was created by J. Jonah Jameson after he paid $10,000 to Dr. Farley Stillwell to perform the untested human mutation animal mutation on Gargan. Provided a suit, he was sent to ambush Spider-Man where his increased abilities were perfectly tailored to fight against the Wall-Crawler. The Scorpion came to overpower his foe but then decided to abandon him and become a supervillain where he refused to work anymore for Jameson. Gargan then embarked on a one man crime spree across New York. Realizing the danger that he had unleashed on the city, Dr Stillwell created a formula to remove Gargan's powers but Scorpion wanted no part of it. He had to administer the formula soon or else it would be too late for it to take effect. Climbing up the side of a building after Scorpion, Stillwell fell to his death, taking the cure with him. Defeating the Scorpion fell to Spider-Man. He tried and failed again to stop him, but managed to hurt Scorpion's hand badly enough that Gargan went after the much easier target of J. Jonah Jameson, the only man that knew his true identity. He went after JJJ at the Bugle, but Spidey showed up in heroically last moment fashion and webbed Scorpion's feet to the floor. Without being able to move, Scorpion became a human punching bag for Spidey. Even Jameson had to marvel at the fact that he had created the Scorpion to defeat Spider-Man, but Spider-Man had saved him from the Scorpion. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #20)
Whilst in custody, he came to trick the prison guards into returning him his costume after acting crazy without them. With it, Gargan then simply tore the iron bars out of his prison window and leaped away. He immediately went to the Daily Bugle to finish off Jameson, and was lucky enough to find him unguarded by Spider-Man. Suddenly thinking that he left Jameson alone, Spidey returned just in time to begin a battle royal. The two tore through the Bugle offices, scattering Jameson, Ned Leeds and Betty Brant as they went. The fight went outside and raged on the building tops, scorpion tails and webbing flying furiously. Managing to tangle Scorpion in his web, Spidey tried to swing away with the psychotic criminal, but let him fall into the Hudson River. Scorpion freed himself from the webbing, but also exhausted himself trying to fight in the water. Spider-Man, meanwhile, was able to reload his web shooters and re-tangle Gargan, who was left for the police on the docks. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #29)
One day, he looked to rob a laundromat when he was knocked out by accident by a young Jessica Jones who had recently acquired superpowers. (Alias v1 #23)
Afterwards, Gargan looked to establish a base of operations and looked to purchase the laboratory of Professor Kerwin Korman who was a criminal scientist. This saw the Scoprion hiring a crew which he used as a decoy allowing him to rob a bank and steal a lot of money. He then travelled to the secret lair of Professor Kerwin Korman that was located by the Brooklyn Bay shore. It was then that he embarked on his revenge against Jameson where he captured and prepared to kill him by dropping him into a vat of acid at his lair. However, this was interrupted by the arrival of a new superhero named Ms. Marvel who claimed she was a Kree-born warrior. In their fight, the Scorpion was sent flying into the container holding the acid cause it to crack and fall on him leaving him shrieking in pain as he escaped the scene. (Ms. Marvel v1 #1) In this state, he came to be taken by Advanced Idea Mechanics who began to treat him in a nutrient bath and looked to indoctrinate Gargan but the pain cause by the acid had driven him insane leading him to break free. He then went on a rampage in the city only to be confronted by Ms. Marvel again though she ended up battling Professor Korman who looked to capture her. (Ms. Marvel v1 #2)
Hiring out to Roxxon Oil, Gargan was given a new tail with heavily upgraded weaponry. Once again, he kidnapped J. Jonah Jameson but was eventually stopped by Spider-Man with the help of Luke Cage and Iron Fist. (Spider-Man Unlimited v1 #14) Scorpion temporarily worked for Roxxon and helped them in their phony 'rehabilitation therapy'. Roxxon updated the Scorpion's powers and costume where they promised he would get back at his enemies. Spider-Man came to convince the Scorpion that he was only being used by his employers. This led to Scorpion turning on Roxxon where he was then defeated by Spider-Man. (Spider-Man Unlimited v1 #22)
Gargan was next recruited by a mysterious corporation who upgraded his tail and armor. He fought Spider-Man while attacking the Tricorp research facility. (Amazing Spider-Man v2 #1)
Later on, Gargan came to be one of a number of technology-based supervillains that were recruited by Lucia von Bardas to attack Nick Fury and a group of superheroes involved in the Secret War at Latveria. Each of the hired mercenaries were a component of a bomb that was designed to destroy the city. Fury and his team though were able to stop the plan leading to the arrest of the villains involved including Scorpion. (Secret War v1 #5)
Venom
Afterwards, Gargan came to be recruited by Norman Osborn following the public revelation that Spider-Man was Peter Parker. This saw him being involved in Osborn's plan for revenge where Gargan was tasked with kidnapping Aunt May in case Norman was ever captured. In this time, he came to blackmail Parker and revealed that the a secret cabal in society were responsible for the emergence of supervillains with all this being a plot to maintain control over both heroes and society. Around this time, Gargan came to be approached by the Venom Symbiote who offered him power with the two sharing a mutual hatred in Spider-Man. (Marvel Knights: Spider-Man v1 #9) Bonding together, he became the new Venom where he went to participate in the Green Goblin's ambush of Spider-Man at Ryker's Island. This would later give him an extra edge as part of Norman Osborn's Sinister Twelve. (Marvel Knights: Spider-Man v1 #10) Even with these additional powers he is still swiftly defeated by Spider-Man, as Captain America, Iron Man, Daredevil, Yellowjacket and the Fantastic Four deal with the rest of the Twelve. (Marvel Knights: Spider-Man v1 #11) Though incarcerated, Gargan is unfazed, as with his new powers come the respect of becoming an 'A-list' villain at last. (Marvel Knights: Spider-Man v1 #12)
Alongside Spider-Man and other villains and heroes, Venom was kidnapped by other-dimensional forces. Whilst there, he seemingly succeeded in killing Spider-Man but it turned out that hewas really the original Space Phantom in disguise. (Beyond! v1 #1) For his crimes, the Inhumans matriarch Medusa orders his execution and almost carries it out herself. Later, he tries to kill the other participants for the Beyonder's wish fulfillment prize for the winner. (Beyond! v1 #2) He failed and was later returned to Earth alongside the rest of the group. (Beyond! v1 #6)
Thunderbolts
In custody, he was transferred to the new Thunderbolts initiative under Norman Osborn where they were to serve as special marshals for the Commission on Superhuman Activities. Venom was kept in line after being implanted with nano-chains that shocked Gargan anytime he acted out of control. (Thunderbolts v1 #110) The team was deployed on their first assignment to apprehend the hero Jack Flag who refused to surrender to the authorities as was required by the Superhuman Registration Act. Thus, the Thunderbolts were sent to apprehend him though Flag used his skill to outwit his pursuers. This resulted in Venom being stabbed with the Swordsman's blade and in a rage Gargan lost control with the Symbiote intending to eat his quarry. This forced Karla Sofen to activate his nano-chains to keep him in line but the incident allowed Flag to escape though he was ultimately paralysed leading to his capture by the Thunderbolts. (Thunderbolts v1 #111) Gargan expressed fear of the control the Symbiote possessed over him, yet he had become addicted to the raw unearthly power it brought to him and could not even begin to imagine life without it thus showing traits similar to a drug addict. (Thunderbolts v1 #112) An attack from Steel Spider and Sepulchre makes him lose control again, briefly becoming a huge monster once more, while Moonstone is incapacitated and thus cannot coordinate control of his electrical implants. (Thunderbolts v1 #114) Afterwards he returns to a normal form with no ill effects. He also bites off and devours Steel Spider's arm during a fight. (Thunderbolts v1 #115) Afterwards, Gargan began to hallucinate that the Symbiote was speaking to him and telling him to feed it berating and threatening to eat him if he did not. He later attacked and devoured a guard where he declared that the only way out of Thunderbolts Mountain was when he decide to let them die. (Thunderbolts v1 #118) It was later revealed that the psychic criminal Bluestreak is controlling Gargan's actions, although it is uncertain whether the Symbiote was actually speaking to him or not. (Thunderbolts v1 #119) Venom would go up against the Swordsman who stabbed Gargan through the chest after using his powers to force the Symbiote away from his sword. Gargan was left badly wounded but managed to survive his injuries. (Thunderbolts v1 #120)
Gargan was later ordered by Norman Osborn to hunt down Namor. After shooting him with a Thunderbolts-supplied weapon, Gargan disabled Namor by ripping off his feet-wings. However, the Sub-Mariner managed to render Gargan unconscious and then ripped out the symbiote's tongue, although the symbiote easily made a new one. (Sub-Mariner v2 #4)
Dark Avenger
In the aftermath of the Secret Invasion, Norman Osborn was hailed a hero for killing the alien queen Veranke leading to him replacing Tony Stark in the role of national security. During this time, Gargan was sent back to Thunderbolt Mountain when Director Osborn meeting him after Venom had fed on a captive Skrull. He stated that he wanted to do right by Gargan due to his performance in the invasion where he told him to drink a chemical as he wanted Venom to be more presentable to outsiders. Initially, Venom did not trust Osborn but Norman stated that if he obeyed then he would be allowed to leave Thunderbolt Mountain. After ingesting the chemical, Venom's monstrous form was transformed into a more streamlined body that resembled Spider-Man in his black suit where he was recruited into the Dark Avengers. (Dark Avengers v1 #1)
Against Osborn's wishes, Gargan was seen heading out into the city to 'fight crime' by himself. At one point, he was seen defeating a bank robber called General Wolfram. After making out with two girls at once and getting cheered by a large crowd, he took the robber to an abandoned rooftop and ate his arm. He then took the money Wolfram stole and swung away from the scene. Gargan was next seen at a strip club with the money and discovered his new favorite stripper. After getting reprimanded by Norman Osborn for eating Wolfram's arm, Gargan killed the stripper and placed her dead body in J. Jonah Jameson's bed while he was gone in an attempt to frame him for her murder. At the same time, Redeemer visited the injured General Wolfram and recruited him alongside other villains who have had limbs bitten off by Gargan namely Dementoid, Doctor Everything, Eleven, and Hippo in a plan to take down 'Spider-Man' who was believed to be the root of their problem. (Sinister Spider-Man v1 #1) In another attempt to antagonize Jameson, Gargan instigates a turf war between two rival street gangs, hoping to wear Jameson down through stress and exhaustion from continuously putting out stories to cover the crime wave. At the same time, the Redeemer arms his group with cybernetic limbs to defeat Spider-Man. J. Jonah Jameson goes to Osborn for help and is given Spider-Man to help solve the city's gang problem. (Sinister Spider-Man v1 #2) Gargan continues to instigate the gang war and aggravate Jameson in person. A bomb threat is placed by Redeemer to lure Spider-Man into an intervention, though Gargan instead devours Hippo and Eleven, badly injures Dementoid, and beats Doctor Everything into submission before turning him over to the police. He then eats Redeemer's limbs. With Redeemer, Wolfram, and Dementoid the only ones still remaining of the group albeit hospitalized, Redeemer sent photos of Gargan's actions to Jameson in an attempt to expose him as a cannibalistic psychopath to the world. (Sinister Spider-Man v1 #3) Jameson first goes to Osborn, who decides to cut Gargan loose by sending Bullseye and Daken in their old costumes to kill him. At the Big Apple Festival, the two attack him, with Dementoid, General Wolfram, and both gangs involved in the turf war entering the fray to try to kill Spider-Man. Gargan ends up defeating all of them, and J. Jonah Jameson shoots a gun in the air to stop the fight. As a result, everyone credits Jameson and Spider-Man with successfully working together to stop criminals and save the festival. Gargan later returns to Avengers Tower, where he is visited by Norman Osborn. Osborn informs him that Bullseye and Daken will get over being hurt, but warns Gargan that if he goes out of control again, he will suit up as the Iron Patriot and take care of him personally. (Sinister Spider-Man v1 #4)
Scorpion Return
Whilst robbing a truck carrying money in Soho, he was confronted by the other Spider-Man but their fight was interrupted by the arrival of the Cult of Carnage. Carnage had arrived in order to claim the Symbiote within Gargan as he had been a former host of Venom. Thus, he was a target with Mac initially attempting to use Spider-Man as a shield in order to flee. He was only saved by the arrival of Venom who took the wounded Gargan away to safety. (Absolute Carnage: Miles Morales v1 #1)
Overview
Personality and attributes
After being given superpowers, he became a costumed supervillain where he took the name the Scorpion after being tailor made to fight Spider-Man. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #20) After bonding with the Alien Costume, he came to go by the name of Venom. (Marvel Knights: Spider-Man v1 #11)
For a time, he claimed that Mac Gargan was dead and had been killed by J. Jonah Jameson leading to him embracing the name Scorpion instead. (Ms. Marvel v1 #1)
When host to Venom, Gargan had noted that his relationship with the Symbiote was a weird one. He said when it engulfed him that he was always warm yet when it was inside his body he felt cold. Mac had also said that he could always feel the weight of it within his gut and he always wanted to puke it out but could not do so. In addition, he stated that he always felt hungry. Gargan gave contradictory statements regarding the Symbiote as he lamented how he became host to it yet at the same time could not believe he lived a life without it. (Thunderbolts v1 #112) Gargan had said that all the years of being B-List gave him enough pain and resentment to feed the Symbiote for a life time. (Marvel Knights: Spider-Man v1 #11)
Powers and abilities
Originally, Mac Gargan was an ordinary human being with no inherent special powers from his birth. This changed when he agreed to take part in an experiment performed by Dr. Farley Stillwell in artificial mutation. As a human test subject, he was given the powers of a scorpion where a serum helped give him increased strength whilst his coordination was already superhuman. He was said to be at least as strong as Spider-Man with the Wall-Crawler commenting that hitting the Scorpion was like hitting a brick wall. It was shown that he power house who was capable of tearing apart a granite block with his bare hands. Gargan's strength was said to increase in time but the more it did then the scorpion's evil nature took greater control over him. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #20)
As the Scorpion, he had pincers on his fingers that were a potent weapon against Spider-Man as he could cut through his webbing. he incredibly powerful pincer-like fingers were capable of ripping off a steel plate roof from an armoured van. He was given a special that was modelled on the creature he was based on namely a scorpion. This included a synthetic scorpion tail that he could manipulate automatically where involuntarily nerve impulses activated it by mental command. It was capable of hitting a target like a sledge hammer making it a powerful weapon and provided him a great advantage. Gargan could twist and tangle it allowing him to unfurl it with such speed that it could strike a target with great force. (Amazing Spider-Man v1 #20)
As Venom, Gargan came to be bonded to the Symbiote that operated as a living alien costume for him. It provided him increased strength, durability and speed. The costume was able to generate webbing for him similar to that of Spider-Man. In addition, its own substance could shoot out tendrils and shapeshift into various forms. Furthermore, it made Gargan invisible to Spider-Man's Spider-Sense thus preventing him from being aware of Venom's presence. (Marvel Knights: Spider-Man v1 #11)
Notes
- Mac Gargan was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko where he made his first appearance in the Amazing Spider-Man v1 #19 (December, 1964).
- Gargan later debuted as the Scorpion in Amazing Spider-Man v1 #20 (January, 1965).
- He appeared as Venom in Marvel Knights Spider-Man v1 #10 (March, 2005).
- Gargan appeared as Spider-Man in Dark Avengers v1 #1 (March, 2009).
Alternate Versions
- In Ultimate Comics Spider-Man v1 #6 (2012), an alternate version of the Scorpion appeared in the setting of the Ultimate Marvel reality set on Earth-1610 in the Multiverse. This version was Maximus Gargan was a tattooed Mexican mob boss that worked with the the Prowler Aaron Davis where Gargan came to be on the FBI's Most Wanted list having fled the country before a federal case could be brought up against him for accusations of murder, assault, and racketeering. Those who came to fear him began to call Maximus Gargan the Scorpion.
- In Marvel's Voices: Spider-Verse v1 #1 (2023), an alternate version of the Scorpion appeared in the setting of the Spider-Punk reality set on Earth-138 in the Multiverse.
In other media
Television
- In Spider-Man, Mac Gargan as the Scorpion appeared in the 1960s animated television series in the episode "Never Step on a Scorpion" where he was voiced by actor Carl Banas.
- In Spider-Man, Mac Gargan appeared as the Scorpion in the 1990 animated television series where he was initially voiced by actor by Martin Landau and later by actor Richard Moll. He was shown as being a neurotic, plump, and balding private eye that was angry at people underestimating as well as disrespecting him. Gargan was later hired by J. Jonah Jameson after he suspected a connection between Peter Parker and Spider-Man.
- In Spider-Man, Mac Gargan as the Scorpion appeared as an antagonist in the 2017 animated television series starting in the episode "Horizon High" Pt. 2 where he was voiced by actor Jason Spisak. He was shown as a costumed supervillain who attacked a science museum only to be confronted by Spider-Man leading to a battle between the pair. Ultimately, the Scorpion was defeated and he was kept captive for the police to arrest.
Films
- In Spider-Man: Homecoming, Mac Gargan appeared in the live-action film set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe where he was portrayed by actor Michael Mando. This version was shown to be a criminal with a scorpion tattoo on his neck. He met with Adrian Toomes at the Staten Island Ferry as part of a secret meeting to receive advanced reverse engineered alien technology for weapons for his operations. The deal was disrupted by the intervention of Spider-Man who knocked Gargan off the ferry with him getting a scar in the process and getting apprehended. Gargan was later in prison where he encountered Toomes and asked him if he knew the secret identity of Spider-Man as he intended to get his revenge on the superhero.
- In Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, the Ultimate Marvel version of Scorpion appeared in the setting of the animated film where he was voiced by actor Joaquín Cosio.
Video games
- In Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, the Mac Gargan Scorpion appeared in the setting of the video game where he was voiced by actor Beau Weaver.
- In Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, Mac Gargan as Venom appeared in the setting of the video game where he was voiced by actor Chopper Bernet.
- In Marvel: Contest of Champions, the Mac Gargan Scorpion appeared as a playable character in the setting of the mobile video game.
Appearances
- Amazing Spider-Man v1: (1964)
- Ms. Marvel v1:
- Alias v1:
- Venom:
- Marvel Knights: Spider-Man v1:
- Thunderbolts v1:
- Dark Avengers v1:
- Dark Reign: Sinister Spider-Man v1:
- Amazing Spider-Man:
- Absolute Carnage: Miles Morales v1:
- Venom v5:
External Links
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