Dr. Mendel Stromm
Encyclopedia
Dr. Mendel Stromm is a fictional character in the Marvel
universe
that has also been known as Robot Master and Gaunt. He first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man
#37 (June 1966).
's college professor and later became Osborn's partner in OsCorp Industries. His early research was on a chemical that would provide enhanced strength in its test subjects (and would eventually turn Osborn into the Green Goblin
). Osborn, wanting the formula for himself, discovered that Stromm had been embezzling funds from OsCorp. Stromm explained that he was merely borrowing but Osborn turned him over to the police. After several years in prison, Stromm was released and tried to kill Norman Osborn for revenge using evil robots. He was stopped by Spider-Man
and seemingly died of a heart attack when he was nearly shot.
Stromm had made plans for his death, however, by arranging to have his brain waves transferred to a robot double. Now calling himself Robot Master, Stromm returned in Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 1, #68 (July 1982). Spider-Man defeated and destroyed the robot double.
In Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 1, #233 (April 1996), Stromm returned again, this time as a cyborg called Gaunt. It was revealed that he survived through a cybernetic suit fused to his body - attached by none other than Osborn. Osborn had discovered that Stromm had survived his heart attack thanks to the Goblin Serum, but on a level of consciousness supported only by his suit. Eventually, via Seward Trainer, he was cured of his need for the suit and came back in a large suit of robotic armor, only for it to be destroyed by Ben Reilly
and Peter Parker despite Stromm's attempt to defeat them both with two flying robots and three child-like androids attacking simultaneously. Shortly afterward, Norman Osborn knocked him out with a laser blast and left him for dead, though he survived and only had amnesia. He came back in yet another robot suit, only to be stopped by Spider-Man once again.
In Peter Parker: Spider-Man vol. 2, #27 (March 2001), Stromm tried to create a sentient robot
to kill Osborn, but it turned on him and destroyed his body, keeping his severed head alive. This artificial intelligence then attempted to take over New York City
's electrical grid, but was stopped when Spider-Man fought his way into its core processor
and uploaded a computer virus
into it, putting both the A. I. and Mendel into a coma
tose state (Peter Parker: Spider-Man #28).
The artificial intelligence took over Electro's body and tried to use his powers to create a horde of self spawning robots,but after the interference of Spider-Man the AI altered Spidey's spider sense, after which Spider-Man defeated the AI.
In Penance: Relentless, it is revealed that Spider-Man tipped S.H.I.E.L.D.
off to Stromm's whereabouts and that they were able to rescue him from the suspended loop he was stuck in. He eagerly registered as part of the Initiative.
Later, Penance goes AWOL on the Thunderbolts
and stages an assault on Stromm's home, threatening to kill him unless Stromm tells him how to activate nuclear launch codes Penance has stolen in a bid to get Nitro
deported from Latveria
.
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...
that has also been known as Robot Master and Gaunt. He first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics, featuring the adventures of the fictional superhero Spider-Man. Being the mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a monthly periodical and was published continuously until it was...
#37 (June 1966).
Fictional character biography
Mendel Stromm was Norman OsbornGreen Goblin
The Green Goblin is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 ....
's college professor and later became Osborn's partner in OsCorp Industries. His early research was on a chemical that would provide enhanced strength in its test subjects (and would eventually turn Osborn into the Green Goblin
Green Goblin
The Green Goblin is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 ....
). Osborn, wanting the formula for himself, discovered that Stromm had been embezzling funds from OsCorp. Stromm explained that he was merely borrowing but Osborn turned him over to the police. After several years in prison, Stromm was released and tried to kill Norman Osborn for revenge using evil robots. He was stopped by Spider-Man
Spider-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...
and seemingly died of a heart attack when he was nearly shot.
Stromm had made plans for his death, however, by arranging to have his brain waves transferred to a robot double. Now calling himself Robot Master, Stromm returned in Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 1, #68 (July 1982). Spider-Man defeated and destroyed the robot double.
In Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 1, #233 (April 1996), Stromm returned again, this time as a cyborg called Gaunt. It was revealed that he survived through a cybernetic suit fused to his body - attached by none other than Osborn. Osborn had discovered that Stromm had survived his heart attack thanks to the Goblin Serum, but on a level of consciousness supported only by his suit. Eventually, via Seward Trainer, he was cured of his need for the suit and came back in a large suit of robotic armor, only for it to be destroyed by Ben Reilly
Ben Reilly
Benjamin "Ben" Reilly is a fictional character in the . He is a clone of Peter Parker , and is prominent in the "Clone Saga" story arc...
and Peter Parker despite Stromm's attempt to defeat them both with two flying robots and three child-like androids attacking simultaneously. Shortly afterward, Norman Osborn knocked him out with a laser blast and left him for dead, though he survived and only had amnesia. He came back in yet another robot suit, only to be stopped by Spider-Man once again.
In Peter Parker: Spider-Man vol. 2, #27 (March 2001), Stromm tried to create a sentient robot
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence is the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science that aims to create it. AI textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its...
to kill Osborn, but it turned on him and destroyed his body, keeping his severed head alive. This artificial intelligence then attempted to take over New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's electrical grid, but was stopped when Spider-Man fought his way into its core processor
Central processing unit
The central processing unit is the portion of a computer system that carries out the instructions of a computer program, to perform the basic arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations of the system. The CPU plays a role somewhat analogous to the brain in the computer. The term has been in...
and uploaded a computer virus
Computer virus
A computer virus is a computer program that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. The term "virus" is also commonly but erroneously used to refer to other types of malware, including but not limited to adware and spyware programs that do not have the reproductive ability...
into it, putting both the A. I. and Mendel into a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
tose state (Peter Parker: Spider-Man #28).
The artificial intelligence took over Electro's body and tried to use his powers to create a horde of self spawning robots,but after the interference of Spider-Man the AI altered Spidey's spider sense, after which Spider-Man defeated the AI.
In Penance: Relentless, it is revealed that Spider-Man tipped S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage and a secret military law-enforcement agency in the Marvel Comics Universe. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135 , it often deals with superhuman threats....
off to Stromm's whereabouts and that they were able to rescue him from the suspended loop he was stuck in. He eagerly registered as part of the Initiative.
Later, Penance goes AWOL on 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:...
and stages an assault on Stromm's home, threatening to kill him unless Stromm tells him how to activate nuclear launch codes Penance has stolen in a bid to get Nitro
Nitro (comics)
Nitro is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Captain Marvel #34 and was created by Jim Starlin....
deported from Latveria
Latveria
Latveria is a nation in the . It is an isolated European country ruled by the supervillain Doctor Doom, supposedly located in the Banat region. It is surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains, and also borders the Symkaria to the south. Its capital is Doomstadt.-Publication history:Latveria first...
.
Television
- Stromm (under the name of Wardell Stromm) appeared in the Spider-ManSpider-Man (1994 TV series)Spider-Man, also known as Spider-Man: The Animated Series, is an American animated series starring the Marvel Comics superhero, Spider-Man. The show ran on Fox Kids from November 19, 1994, to January 31, 1998. The producer/story editor was John Semper, Jr. and production company was Marvel Films...
episode "Enter the Green Goblin" voiced by Philip AbbottPhilip AbbottPhilip Abbott was an American character actor and occasional voice actor.Abbott was a secondary lead in several films of the 1950s and 1960s. Miracle of the White Stallions...
. He is one of the scientists working for Oscorp on the experiment that caused Norman Osborn to become the Green Goblin. Stromm is also aware of Osborn's connections to Wilson Fisk, the KingpinKingpin (comics)The Kingpin is a fictional character, a supervillain in the . Kingpin is one of the most feared and powerful crime lords in the Marvel Universe. The character is a major adversary of Daredevil, the Punisher, and Spider-Man...
.
Film
- Mendel Stromm appears in the 2002 Spider-ManSpider-Man (film)Spider-Man is a 2002 American superhero film, the first in the Spider-Man film series based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. It was directed by Sam Raimi and written by David Koepp...
film played by Ron Perkins. This version is a scientist employed by Oscorp to develop Human Performance EnhancersDoping (sport)The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...
, although he expresses doubts in the Enhancers' effectiveness because the initial mouse test subjects having demonstrated violent insanity. Despite his doubts, he assists Norman Osborn (Willem DafoeWillem DafoeWillem Dafoe is an American film, stage, and voice actor, and a founding member of the experimental theatre company The Wooster Group...
) in his attempt to use the still-unstable serum on himself. After acquiring his powers, Osborn's resulting 'Goblin' personality kills Stromm (off-screen) in an uncontrollable rage.
Video games
- Mendel Stromm appears in the Spider-Man video game voiced by Peter LuriePeter LuriePeter Hill Lurie is an American television personality, Sports anchor and voice actor who has worked in several television shows, movies, and dubbed anime, since the mid-1990s. He is well known as the voice of Vulcan Raven in the Metal Gear Solid video game series, and the Marvel Comics...
.
External links
- Mendel Stromm at Marvel.com
- Dr. Mendel Stromm at Spiderfan.org