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Armadillo (comics)
Encyclopedia
Armadillo is a fictional character
, a minor former supervillain
in the Marvel Comics
universe
. He first appeared in Captain America
#308.
. He was given superhuman
strength and durability by Dr. Karl Malus
. This process bonded his costume
to his body giving him a freakish appearance, causing him to resemble a humanoid armadillo.
The Armadillo's original motivation during his criminal career
was to get enough money to be able to pay a doctor to discover a way to cure his girlfriend, Maria, of an unspecified terminal illness
. When she was cured from her treatment, Maria abandoned him because of his appearance. Since that time his motive has been to secure enough money to pay the Power Broker or some other scientist to reverse the process which transformed him.
to break into the West Coast Avengers
Compound and free Goliath. There, the Armadillo battled Captain America
, who released him after learning of the sacrifice he made for the comatose Maria.
The Armadillo later joined the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation
. While on tour with the UCWF, he battled Captain America and Hawkeye
atop the Empire State Building
. He had apparently gone berserk after discovering his estranged wife Bonita with another man, and was intending to commit suicide. Captain America tried to talk him down, but the Armadillo jumped off the building. He survived the fall, but was arrested.
He was later seen incarcerated in the Vault
. Having been talked out of a criminal career by Captain America and his allies, he surrendered to Vagabond
to avoid further prosecution. Armadillo only wished to serve out the remainder of his sentence. To this end, he fought against various supervillains who wished to engineer large-scale breakouts, including Venom
, and later various supervillains released by the Thunderbolts
as they broke out Moonstone
.
Revenge Squad.
Having fallen on hard times, Armadillo proceeded to join the Constrictor
and Jack O'Lantern
in robbing an armored car. After his defeat by Hercules
, Armadillo was incarcerated at The Raft
, and chained to Tiger Shark. During the break-out initiated by Electro
, Armadillo and Tiger Shark escaped and hid out in the town of Fairbury, Illinois
. There, they were confronted by the New Warriors
, resulting in a battle in which both fugitives were defeated. Afterwards, Armadillo joined Vil-Anon, a twelve-step group dedicated to helping individuals overcome their criminal tendencies.
, he is spotted at the funeral of Stilt-Man
. After poisoning the guests, the Punisher blew up the bar in which the wake had been held. It was later mentioned that "they all had to get their stomachs pumped
and be treated for third-degree burns
."
Around this time, he was seen entering the office of The Consultant, a criminal PR agent of sorts who improves the reputation and occasionally powers of super-villains. Upon Armadillo's entering his office, the Consultant asked his secretary to cancel the rest of his appointments for the afternoon as he anticipated a lot of work improving Armadillo's image.
The Armadillo later took place in the Fifty State Initiative
, as a member of Texas's superhero team, The Rangers
. He assists in saving the President from an assassination attempt by Hydra forces; many other heroes are involved in this as well. However, he quickly decided he was not cut out to be a hero and quit.
He was next seen doing lucha libre
wrestling in Mexico for small cash, eventually being recruited by MODOK
. After being one of the few villains that does not betray MODOK, Armadillo gains more money than initially promised. He happily departs with Puma
and Nightshade, with whom he'd developed a friendship, and shows a desire for them to remain as a team.
The Hood
hires him as part of his criminal organization to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act
.
next to Doctor Doom
prior to the breakout in Secret Invasion.
He was later seen among the Hood's gang in New Avengers #56. After Siege
he was seen as a bodyguard for the new Rose
. Armadillo comes into conflict with Jackpot
and Spider Man when they try to infiltrate the Rose's penthouse. Armadillo throws Jackpot through a window and prevents Spider Man from saving her.
Armadillo later hides out in Puebla, but one of the locals reports him to a vigilante group, who attack him. The fight is quickly joined by the Hulk
and She-Hulk
. She-Hulk convinces Armadillo to stop fighting. She also suggests helping the people of Puebla before turning himself in, promising to act as his lawyer in court.
, the Armadillo has superhuman strength, stamina, and durability. It was originally believed that his costume, a scaly nine-foot-tall orange armored hide
with claws useful for digging through earth, was bonded to his skin by this process. It was later revealed that it was not a costume, but part of his body that had been mutagenically altered with the genetic material of an actual armadillo. His armor is bulletproof
and his claws can tear through all but the densest of substances.
The Armadillo is an excellent hand-to-hand combatant as he was a skilled street fighter prior to his superhuman transformation.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, a minor former supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
in the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
. He first appeared in Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
#308.
Origin
Antonio Rodriguez was born in San Antonio, TexasSan Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
. He was given superhuman
Superhuman
Superhuman can mean an improved human, for example, by genetic modification, cybernetic implants, or as what humans might evolve into, in the near or distant future...
strength and durability by Dr. Karl Malus
Karl Malus
Dr. Karl Malus is a fictional mad scientist and criminal in the Marvel Universe, created by Michael Fleisher, Steve Leialoha and Jim Mooney. He first appeared in Spider-Woman # 30, in September 1980.-Fictional character biography:...
. This process bonded his costume
Costume
The term costume can refer to wardrobe and dress in general, or to the distinctive style of dress of a particular people, class, or period. Costume may also refer to the artistic arrangement of accessories in a picture, statue, poem, or play, appropriate to the time, place, or other circumstances...
to his body giving him a freakish appearance, causing him to resemble a humanoid armadillo.
The Armadillo's original motivation during his criminal career
Career
Career is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a person's "course or progress through life ". It is usually considered to pertain to remunerative work ....
was to get enough money to be able to pay a doctor to discover a way to cure his girlfriend, Maria, of an unspecified terminal illness
Terminal illness
Terminal illness is a medical term popularized in the 20th century to describe a disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated and that is reasonably expected to result in the death of the patient within a short period of time. This term is more commonly used for progressive diseases such as...
. When she was cured from her treatment, Maria abandoned him because of his appearance. Since that time his motive has been to secure enough money to pay the Power Broker or some other scientist to reverse the process which transformed him.
Life of Crime
As part of the Armadillo's first encounter with superheroes, he was dispatched by Dr. Karl MalusKarl Malus
Dr. Karl Malus is a fictional mad scientist and criminal in the Marvel Universe, created by Michael Fleisher, Steve Leialoha and Jim Mooney. He first appeared in Spider-Woman # 30, in September 1980.-Fictional character biography:...
to break into the West Coast Avengers
West Coast Avengers
The West Coast Avengers is a fictional group of superheroes that appear in publications published by Marvel Comics. The team first appear in The West Coast Avengers #1 and was created by Roger Stern and Bob Hall.- Publication history :...
Compound and free Goliath. There, the Armadillo battled Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
, who released him after learning of the sacrifice he made for the comatose Maria.
The Armadillo later joined the Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation
Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation
The Unlimited Class Wrestling Federation is a fictional organization in the Marvel Comics Universe. It is an association for professional wrestlers who possess superhuman strength, endurance and resistance to injury.- Overview :...
. While on tour with the UCWF, he battled Captain America and Hawkeye
Hawkeye (comics)
Hawkeye , also known as Goliath and Ronin, is a fictional character that appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #57 and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Don Heck. Hawkeye joined the Avengers in Avengers Vol. 1 #16 Hawkeye...
atop the Empire State Building
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
. He had apparently gone berserk after discovering his estranged wife Bonita with another man, and was intending to commit suicide. Captain America tried to talk him down, but the Armadillo jumped off the building. He survived the fall, but was arrested.
He was later seen incarcerated in the Vault
Vault (comics)
The Vault is the widely used nickname of a fictional defunct prison facility for technological-based superhuman criminals in Marvel Comics' Marvel Universe. The prison's full official name is the United States Maximum Security Installation for the Incarceration of Superhuman Criminals.It first...
. Having been talked out of a criminal career by Captain America and his allies, he surrendered to Vagabond
Vagabond (comics)
Vagabond, the alter ego of Priscilla Lyons, is a superhero that has appeared in different books published by Marvel Comics. She has primarily appeared in series associated in some way with Captain America.-Fictional character biography:...
to avoid further prosecution. Armadillo only wished to serve out the remainder of his sentence. To this end, he fought against various supervillains who wished to engineer large-scale breakouts, including Venom
Venom (comics)
Eddie Brock is a fictional character created by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane. A comic book supervillain, Brock's earliest appearance is a cameo in Web of Spider-Man #18 before making his first full appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #299 as Venom...
, and later various supervillains released by the Thunderbolts
Thunderbolts (comics)
The Thunderbolts are a Marvel Comics superhero team, which consists mostly of former supervillains. The group first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #449 , and was created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley.-Publication history:...
as they broke out Moonstone
Moonstone (comics)
Moonstone is a fictional character, both a supervillain and superheroine in Marvel Comics' Marvel Universe.-Publication history:...
.
Ultimate Fighting League
After being released from the Vault, Armadillo became the regional champion of the Ultimate Fighting League. After his defeat by Daniel Axum (formerly the villain Battler), Armadillo was reduced to begging in an alleyway. There, he talked Daniel Axum out of joining a Spider-ManSpider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
Revenge Squad.
Having fallen on hard times, Armadillo proceeded to join the Constrictor
Constrictor (comics)
Constrictor is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. The character is primarily a supervillain, but is often portrayed as a redeeming anti-hero. Constrictor first appeared in Incredible Hulk vol.1 #212 and was created by Len Wein and Sal Buscema.-Publication history:Constrictor...
and Jack O'Lantern
Jack O'Lantern (Marvel Comics)
Jack O'Lantern is the name of four fictional supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. Later incarnations of the character were also referred to as Mad Jack.-Jason Macendale:...
in robbing an armored car. After his defeat by Hercules
Hercules (Marvel Comics)
Hercules is a fictional character that appears in publications by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Journey into Mystery Annual #1 and was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby....
, Armadillo was incarcerated at The Raft
The Raft (comics)
The Raft is a fictional island prison facility in New York City for psychopathic superhuman criminals appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics...
, and chained to Tiger Shark. During the break-out initiated by Electro
Electro (comics)
Electro is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is a supervillain and an enemy of Spider-Man who gained the ability to control electricity after being struck by lightning while working on a power line. Created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, he first...
, Armadillo and Tiger Shark escaped and hid out in the town of Fairbury, Illinois
Fairbury, Illinois
Fairbury is a city in Livingston County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,968 at the 2000 census.-We Hear You America:In November 2010, the fundraising committee for Dominy Memorial Library began encouraging Fairbury citizens to visit the Reader's Digest web site and "Cheer" for the...
. There, they were confronted by the New Warriors
New Warriors
The New Warriors is a Marvel Comics superhero team, traditionally consisting of young adult heroes. They first appeared in The Mighty Thor #411 .-General publication history:...
, resulting in a battle in which both fugitives were defeated. Afterwards, Armadillo joined Vil-Anon, a twelve-step group dedicated to helping individuals overcome their criminal tendencies.
Civil War/The Rangers/MODOK's 11
During the Civil WarCivil War (comics)
Civil War is a 2006-2007 Marvel Comics crossover storyline built around a self-titled seven-issue limited series written by Mark Millar and penciled by Steve McNiven, which ran through various other titles published by Marvel at the time...
, he is spotted at the funeral of Stilt-Man
Stilt-Man
Stilt-Man is the name of two supervillains in Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Stilt-Man first appeared in Daredevil vol. 1 #8 and was one of his earliest enemies. He is a criminal wearing a suit of armor with powerful telescopic legs .The character did not age well, as his powers were more a...
. After poisoning the guests, the Punisher blew up the bar in which the wake had been held. It was later mentioned that "they all had to get their stomachs pumped
Gastric lavage
Gastric lavage, also commonly called stomach pumping or Gastric irrigation, is the process of cleaning out the contents of the stomach. It has been used for over 200 years as a means of eliminating poisons from the stomach. Such devices are normally used on a person who has ingested a poison or...
and be treated for third-degree burns
Burn (injury)
A burn is a type of injury to flesh caused by heat, electricity, chemicals, light, radiation or friction. Most burns affect only the skin . Rarely, deeper tissues, such as muscle, bone, and blood vessels can also be injured...
."
Around this time, he was seen entering the office of The Consultant, a criminal PR agent of sorts who improves the reputation and occasionally powers of super-villains. Upon Armadillo's entering his office, the Consultant asked his secretary to cancel the rest of his appointments for the afternoon as he anticipated a lot of work improving Armadillo's image.
The Armadillo later took place in the Fifty State Initiative
Fifty State Initiative
The Fifty State Initiative, often referred to as simply The Initiative, is a fictional governmental plan that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics, in particular those related to The Avengers...
, as a member of Texas's superhero team, The Rangers
Rangers (comics)
The Rangers are a superhero team published by Marvel Comics. The team first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #265 and was created by Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema.-Fictional history:...
. He assists in saving the President from an assassination attempt by Hydra forces; many other heroes are involved in this as well. However, he quickly decided he was not cut out to be a hero and quit.
He was next seen doing lucha libre
Lucha libre
Lucha libre is a term used in Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking countries, for a form of professional wrestling that has developed within those countries...
wrestling in Mexico for small cash, eventually being recruited by MODOK
MODOK
MODOK is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #93 MODOK (acronym for Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing) is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character...
. After being one of the few villains that does not betray MODOK, Armadillo gains more money than initially promised. He happily departs with Puma
Puma (comics)
Puma is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe most closely associated with Spider-Man. While originally a villain, he gained a great respect for Spider-Man and became his occasional ally.-Publication history:...
and Nightshade, with whom he'd developed a friendship, and shows a desire for them to remain as a team.
The Hood
Hood (comics)
The Hood is a fictional character, a supervillain, and a crime boss in the . Created by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artists Kyle Hotz and Eric Powell, the character first appeared in The Hood #1 .-Publication history:...
hires him as part of his criminal organization to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act
Registration Acts (comics)
The Registration Acts—the Mutant Registration Act and Superhuman Registration Act —are fictional legislative bills that have been plot points used in various comic books published by Marvel Comics which, when passed into law, enforce the mandatory registration of superpowered individuals with...
.
Secret Invasion
Armadillo is mentioned as being incarcerated in The RaftThe Raft (comics)
The Raft is a fictional island prison facility in New York City for psychopathic superhuman criminals appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics...
next to Doctor Doom
Doctor Doom
Victor von Doom is a fictional character who appears in Marvel Comics publications . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #5 wearing his trademark metal mask and green cloak...
prior to the breakout in Secret Invasion.
He was later seen among the Hood's gang in New Avengers #56. After Siege
Siege (comics)
Siege is a fictional character, owned by Marvel Comics, who exists in the Marvel Universe.-Creative origins:John Kelly was initially created by Dwayne McDuffie and Gregory Wright as a pseudo-preview of their then-upcoming relaunch of Deathlok as well as to provide existing in-continuity backstory...
he was seen as a bodyguard for the new Rose
Rose (Marvel Comics)
The Rose is the alias of four fictional characters that appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The original Rose first appears in The Amazing Spider-Man #253 , and was created by Tom DeFalco who took over writing Amazing Spider-Man when Roger Stern left the book...
. Armadillo comes into conflict with Jackpot
Jackpot (comics)
Jackpot is the hero name shared by two fictional comic book characters, Sara Ehret and Alana Jobson, owned by Marvel Comics and primarily appearing in Spider-Man's stories...
and Spider Man when they try to infiltrate the Rose's penthouse. Armadillo throws Jackpot through a window and prevents Spider Man from saving her.
Armadillo later hides out in Puebla, but one of the locals reports him to a vigilante group, who attack him. The fight is quickly joined by the Hulk
Hulk (comics)
The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #1 ....
and She-Hulk
She-Hulk
She-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
. She-Hulk convinces Armadillo to stop fighting. She also suggests helping the people of Puebla before turning himself in, promising to act as his lawyer in court.
Powers and abilities
Due to a genetic altering procedure performed on him by the villainous Dr. Karl MalusKarl Malus
Dr. Karl Malus is a fictional mad scientist and criminal in the Marvel Universe, created by Michael Fleisher, Steve Leialoha and Jim Mooney. He first appeared in Spider-Woman # 30, in September 1980.-Fictional character biography:...
, the Armadillo has superhuman strength, stamina, and durability. It was originally believed that his costume, a scaly nine-foot-tall orange armored hide
Hides
A hide is an animal skin treated for human use. Hides include leather from cattle and other livestock animals, alligator skins, snake skins for shoes and fashion accessories and furs from wild cats, mink and bears. In some areas, leather is produced on a domestic or small industrial scale, but most...
with claws useful for digging through earth, was bonded to his skin by this process. It was later revealed that it was not a costume, but part of his body that had been mutagenically altered with the genetic material of an actual armadillo. His armor is bulletproof
Bulletproof
Bulletproofing is the process of making something capable of stopping a bullet or similar high velocity projectiles e.g. shrapnel. The term bullet resistance is often preferred because few, if any, practical materials provide complete protection against all types of bullets, or multiple hits in the...
and his claws can tear through all but the densest of substances.
The Armadillo is an excellent hand-to-hand combatant as he was a skilled street fighter prior to his superhuman transformation.
List of titles
- Avengers SpotlightAvengers (comics)The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
#26 - Avengers: Deathtrap, The VaultAvengers (comics)The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
- Fantastic FourFantastic FourThe Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
#336 - Sensational She-HulkShe-HulkShe-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
#9, 30 - Thunderbolts AnnualThunderbolts (comics)The Thunderbolts are a Marvel Comics superhero team, which consists mostly of former supervillains. The group first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #449 , and was created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley.-Publication history:...
'97 - Civil WarCivil War (comics)Civil War is a 2006-2007 Marvel Comics crossover storyline built around a self-titled seven-issue limited series written by Mark Millar and penciled by Steve McNiven, which ran through various other titles published by Marvel at the time...
#7 - Spider-Man: Breakout #3
- Avengers: Most Wanted Files #1
- Deadline #2
- ThunderboltsThunderbolts (comics)The Thunderbolts are a Marvel Comics superhero team, which consists mostly of former supervillains. The group first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #449 , and was created by Kurt Busiek and Mark Bagley.-Publication history:...
#76-81 - New Avengers #1-4
- New Warriors (3rd series)New WarriorsThe New Warriors is a Marvel Comics superhero team, traditionally consisting of young adult heroes. They first appeared in The Mighty Thor #411 .-General publication history:...
#1 - Spider-Man Unlimited (2nd series)Spider-Man UnlimitedSpider-Man Unlimited was a short-lived animated series featuring the Marvel comic book superhero Spider-Man. The series was released in 1999, but, although it had fair ratings, was overshadowed by Pokémon, and was canceled after airing only a few episodes. Fox later resumed airing the show, airing...
#12