Oddball (comics)
Encyclopedia
Oddball is a fictional supervillain in the Marvel Comics
universe. The character first appeared in Hawkeye Vol.1 #3 and was created by Mark Gruenwald
.
The second Oddball (Orville Bock) appears in Union Jack Vol.2 #2 (2006), Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A–Z Vol.3 (2008) and Dark Reign Files #1 (2009).
, Nevada
. Along with his brother Alvin, Elton spent years as a street performer
, becoming a master juggler
. He also learned how to become a capable street fighter
. Using these skills, Elton became the juggling supervillain Oddball, adopting the name because of his loony nature.
Along with fellow juggling-themed supervillain Bombshell
, Oddball was hired by Crossfire
to eliminate Hawkeye
and Mockingbird
. Oddball and Bombshell confront and subdue the two heroes and deliver them to Crossfire. However, Hawkeye manages to escape and is able to defeat the three supervillains. Oddball and Bombshell were later rescued from prison by Oddball's brother Alvin, alias Tenpin
.
Together with Bombshell, Tenpin, Knicknack
, and Ringleader
, Oddball forms the Death-Throws
, a team of supervillain jugglers. The group are hired by Crossfire to help him escape from prison. The Death-Throws complete their mission, but decide to hold Crossfire hostage instead. The group are defeated and arrested by Hawkeye, Mockingbird and Captain America
. Later, Oddball and the rest of the Death-Throws, along with various other supervillains, attempt to claim the bounty put on Hawkeye's right arm by Crossfire. However, all of the supervillains looking to claim the bounty are defeated by Hawkeye, Mockingbird and Trick Shot
.
On his own again, Oddball dresses up as a police detective in order to ambush Hawkeye when he was showing Avengers
young recruits Justice and Firestar
around a prison. Oddball releases the prisoners in an attempt to swamp the heroes with enemies. Hawkeye and the young Avengers are able to win the battle and stop the prison riot. Oddball was later recruited by Doctor Octopus
to join his incarnation of the Masters of Evil
.
(which also featured Wolverine
, Mister X and Taskmaster). He was slain in the first round of the tournament by a tribal warrior called the Headhunter.
Orville Bock joined the rest of the Death-Throws in London after they were hired by R.A.I.D to take part in a terrorist attack on the city. They were subsequently defeated by Union Jack
and Sabra
.
, smoke, concentrated sulfur, spent uranium, itching powder, magnesium flare, a powerful impact-activated electromagnet, a powerful impact-activated sired, or other juggling balls with more exotic contents. He also carried marbles used to trip foes.
Oddball has extensive experience in street fighting
techniques.
, set in an alternate universe
, Oddball is a deformed man whose ability is to cause psychological disorders to manifest in anyone who touches him.
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. The character first appeared in Hawkeye Vol.1 #3 and was created by Mark Gruenwald
Mark Gruenwald
Mark E. Gruenwald was an American comic book writer, editor, and occasional penciler. Gruenwald got his start in comics fandom, publishing his own fanzine, Omniverse, which explored the concept of continuity...
.
Publication history
Oddball (Elton Healy) appears in Hawkeye Vol.1 #3–4 (1983), Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Vol.2 (1986), Captain America #317, 395, 411–414 (1986–1993), Avengers Spotlight #23–25 (1989), Guardians of the Galaxy #28 (1992), Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman #1 (1998) and Wolverine Vol.2 #167 (2001).The second Oddball (Orville Bock) appears in Union Jack Vol.2 #2 (2006), Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A–Z Vol.3 (2008) and Dark Reign Files #1 (2009).
Fictional character biography
Elton Healey was born in RenoReno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. Along with his brother Alvin, Elton spent years as a street performer
Busking
Street performance or busking is the practice of performing in public places, for gratuities, which are generally in the form of money and edibles...
, becoming a master juggler
Juggling
Juggling is a skill involving moving objects for entertainment or sport. The most recognizable form of juggling is toss juggling, in which the juggler throws objects up to catch and toss up again. This may be one object or many objects, at the same time with one or many hands. Jugglers often refer...
. He also learned how to become a capable street fighter
Street fighting
Street fighting is a colloquial term used to denote unsanctioned, illegal in some countries, hand-to-hand fighting in public places, between individuals or groups of people....
. Using these skills, Elton became the juggling supervillain Oddball, adopting the name because of his loony nature.
Along with fellow juggling-themed supervillain Bombshell
Bombshell (Marvel Comics)
Bombshell is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. Bombshell first appeared in Hawkeye Vol...
, Oddball was hired by Crossfire
Crossfire (comics)
Crossfire is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. He was created by writer Steven Grant and artist Jim Craig in Marvel Two-in-One #52...
to eliminate 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...
and Mockingbird
Mockingbird (Marvel Comics)
Mockingbird is a fictional character, a superhero in the who first appears in the Ka-Zar story in Astonishing Tales #6 written by Gerry Conway and pencilled by Barry Smith...
. Oddball and Bombshell confront and subdue the two heroes and deliver them to Crossfire. However, Hawkeye manages to escape and is able to defeat the three supervillains. Oddball and Bombshell were later rescued from prison by Oddball's brother Alvin, alias Tenpin
Tenpin (comics)
Tenpin is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Captain America #317 and was created by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary...
.
Together with Bombshell, Tenpin, Knicknack
Knickknack (comics)
Knickknack is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Captain America #317 and was created by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary.-Publication history:...
, and Ringleader
Ringleader (comics)
Ringleader is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Captain America #317 and was created by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary.-Publication history:...
, Oddball forms the Death-Throws
Death-Throws
The Death-Throws are a fictional team of supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. They first appeared in Captain America #317 and were created by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Neary. Introduced as enemies of Hawkeye, the Death-Throws consists primarily of jugglers who each use various juggling props...
, a team of supervillain jugglers. The group are hired by Crossfire to help him escape from prison. The Death-Throws complete their mission, but decide to hold Crossfire hostage instead. The group are defeated and arrested by Hawkeye, Mockingbird and 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...
. Later, Oddball and the rest of the Death-Throws, along with various other supervillains, attempt to claim the bounty put on Hawkeye's right arm by Crossfire. However, all of the supervillains looking to claim the bounty are defeated by Hawkeye, Mockingbird and Trick Shot
Trick Shot (comics)
Trick Shot is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Solo Avengers #1 and was created by Tom DeFalco and Mark Bright...
.
On his own again, Oddball dresses up as a police detective in order to ambush Hawkeye when he was showing Avengers
Avengers (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...
young recruits Justice and Firestar
Firestar
Firestar is a fictional mutant superhero in the . Debuting in 1981 on the NBC animated television series Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, she has the ability to generate and manipulate microwave radiation, which allows her to generate intense heat and flames, and to fly...
around a prison. Oddball releases the prisoners in an attempt to swamp the heroes with enemies. Hawkeye and the young Avengers are able to win the battle and stop the prison riot. Oddball was later recruited by Doctor Octopus
Doctor Octopus
Doctor Octopus is a fictional character, a supervillain that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics since 1963. A highly intelligent mad scientist, Doctor Octopus is one of Spider-Man's greatest foes...
to join his incarnation of the Masters of Evil
Masters of Evil
The Masters of Evil is a name for a number of fictional supervillain teams that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first version of the team appeared in The Avengers #6 , with the lineup continually changing over the years....
.
Death
Oddball was killed when taking part in the Bloodsport competition in MadripoorMadripoor
The Principality of Madripoor is a fictional island located in Southeast Asia in the Marvel Comics universe. Based on illustrations, it is in the southern portion of the Strait of Malacca, southwest of Singapore.-Publication history:...
(which also featured Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
, Mister X and Taskmaster). He was slain in the first round of the tournament by a tribal warrior called the Headhunter.
Orville Bock
After the death of Elton Healey, a second character adopts the Oddball costume and gimmick. The new Oddball first appears in Union Jack Vol.2 #2. The character is later named as Orville Bock in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Vol.3.Orville Bock joined the rest of the Death-Throws in London after they were hired by R.A.I.D to take part in a terrorist attack on the city. They were subsequently defeated by Union Jack
Union Jack (Joseph Chapman)
Union Jack is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe and the third person to take on the role of Union Jack...
and Sabra
Sabra (comics)
Sabra is the alias of Ruth Bat-Seraph, a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:...
.
Powers and abilities
Oddball is an expert at juggling, pitching, and catching, with superb coordination, and is highly skilled with thrown objects. He normally carries an assortment of weighted balls and ball-shaped throwing weapons. He typically carried ten 3 inches (76.2 mm) diameter balls filled with various substances: tear gas, super-adhesive, hydrochloric acidHydrochloric acid
Hydrochloric acid is a solution of hydrogen chloride in water, that is a highly corrosive, strong mineral acid with many industrial uses. It is found naturally in gastric acid....
, smoke, concentrated sulfur, spent uranium, itching powder, magnesium flare, a powerful impact-activated electromagnet, a powerful impact-activated sired, or other juggling balls with more exotic contents. He also carried marbles used to trip foes.
Oddball has extensive experience in street fighting
Street fighting
Street fighting is a colloquial term used to denote unsanctioned, illegal in some countries, hand-to-hand fighting in public places, between individuals or groups of people....
techniques.
Last Avengers Story
In Last Avengers StoryLast Avengers Story
The Last Avengers Story is a two-issue prestige format mini-series from Marvel Comics released in November and December 1995. It was written by Peter David and illustrated by Ariel Olivetti.-Publication history:...
, set in an alternate universe
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
, Oddball is a deformed man whose ability is to cause psychological disorders to manifest in anyone who touches him.