Quasimodo (comics)
Encyclopedia
Quasimodo also known as the Living Computer, is a supervillain
in the Marvel Universe
. He first appeared in Fantastic Four
Annual #4 (Nov 1966) and was created by Stan Lee
and Jack Kirby
.
created by the Mad Thinker
in his laboratory
in California
's Mojave Desert
, and later abandoned by him. The computer
was later discovered by the Silver Surfer
. Feeling pity for Quasimodo's desire to be human, the Surfer gave him a partly organic
, semi-humanoid cyborg
body. Quasimodo became enraged by his feeling of inferiority compared to the Silver Surfer's more perfect body, and battled the Silver Surfer. He was ultimately rendered immobile by the Surfer.
Quasimodo eventually regained his mobility. He attempted a takeover of Cape Canaveral
's computer systems, and battled Captain Marvel
. Quasimodo next attempted to steal the Beast
's life-force as part of an effort to make himself more human. Quasimodo attempted dominance of the world's computer systems, and battled Spider-Man
and Hawkeye
. Quasimodo then employed an Iron Man
robot in a scheme to tap the energy of the Baxter Building
to regain his mobility. He stole a spacecraft from the Fantastic Four
and used it to attempt to travel to a Xandar
ian power source.
Quasimodo's intellect was beamed back to the Earth, where he took refuge in a deactivated computer system in Khystym, Russia. He allied with the Dire Wraiths against the Galadorian Spaceknight
Rom. Quasimodo projected his "mental essence" into Rom's armor. Another Spaceknight, Brandy Clark, the second Starshine
, drove Quasimodo's essence from Rom's armor, and he became trapped in a Soviet computer system. Quasimodo was later driven out of the Earth computer system by the Vision
, and his consciousness was expelled into space.
Through unknown means, Quasimodo returned to Earth and set up shop at a base in Cuba
. It was here that he was captured by S.H.I.E.L.D.
, assisted by the mercenary Mainframe at the behest of Norman Osborn
. Quasimodo then entered Osborn's service as an analyst, compiling dossiers on numerous superhumans, mostly villains.
who has shown strength sufficient to lift 50 tons. Quasimodo's self-repairing circuitry is capable of repairing any defect in its artificial structure, given time. He can survive without food or air and is immune to disease.
Quasimodo's mind has superhuman memory, the capacity for continuous activity, and he is able to process information and make calculations faster and more accurately than ordinary human beings.
His left eye can fire a deadly force beam with equivalent explosive force of 100 lb (45.4 kg). of TNT at a range of 100 feet (30.5 m).
Quasimodo can also project his consciousness with an interplanetary range into other computer systems and control them. He has demonstrated the ability to survive without a body and to collect himself even after his mind has been seemingly erased or scattered on an interplanetary level.
Quasimodo is skilled in a number of sciences, electronic data collection, and breaching computer security systems.
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 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 Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The 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...
Annual #4 (Nov 1966) and was created by Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
and Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby
Jack Kirby , born Jacob Kurtzberg, was an American comic book artist, writer and editor regarded by historians and fans as one of the major innovators and most influential creators in the comic book medium....
.
Fictional character biography
Quasimodo was originally a computerComputer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
created by the Mad Thinker
Mad Thinker
The Mad Thinker is a fictional character, a supervillain in the . He is a genius specializing in evil robotics and usually comes up with very elaborate infallible devious plans that unfold like clockwork....
in his laboratory
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
, and later abandoned by him. The computer
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
was later discovered by the Silver Surfer
Silver Surfer
The Silver Surfer is a Marvel Comics superhero created by Jack Kirby. The character first appears in Fantastic Four #48 , the first of a three-issue arc that fans call "The Galactus Trilogy"....
. Feeling pity for Quasimodo's desire to be human, the Surfer gave him a partly organic
Organic
Organic may refer to:* Of or relating to an organism, a living entity* Of or relating to an organ- Chemistry :* Organic matter, matter that has come from a once-living organism, is capable of decay or the product of decay, or is composed of organic compound* Organic chemistry, chemistry involving...
, semi-humanoid cyborg
Cyborg
A cyborg is a being with both biological and artificial parts. The term was coined in 1960 when Manfred Clynes and Nathan S. Kline used it in an article about the advantages of self-regulating human-machine systems in outer space. D. S...
body. Quasimodo became enraged by his feeling of inferiority compared to the Silver Surfer's more perfect body, and battled the Silver Surfer. He was ultimately rendered immobile by the Surfer.
Quasimodo eventually regained his mobility. He attempted a takeover of Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral
Cape Canaveral, from the Spanish Cabo Cañaveral, is a headland in Brevard County, Florida, United States, near the center of the state's Atlantic coast. Known as Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island, separated from it by the Banana River.It is part of a region known as the...
's computer systems, and battled Captain Marvel
Mar-Vell
Captain Marvel is a fictional character owned by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and designed by artist Gene Colan and first appeared in Marvel Super-Heroes #12 Captain Marvel (Mar-Vell) is a fictional character owned by Marvel Comics. The character was created...
. Quasimodo next attempted to steal the Beast
Beast (comics)
Beast , Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy, is a comic book character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the mutant team of superheroes known as the X-Men...
's life-force as part of an effort to make himself more human. Quasimodo attempted dominance of the world's computer systems, and battled 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 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...
. Quasimodo then employed an Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
robot in a scheme to tap the energy of the Baxter Building
Baxter Building
The Baxter Building is a fictitious 35-story office building in Manhattan whose five upper floors house the Fantastic Four's headquarters in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:...
to regain his mobility. He stole a spacecraft from the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The 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...
and used it to attempt to travel to a Xandar
Xandar
Xandar is a fictional planet in the Tranta system in the Andromeda galaxy of the Marvel Comics universe. It is best known as the home world of the Nova Corps, an intergalactic police task force. The most prominent member of the Nova Corps is Richard Rider, one-time member of the New Warriors...
ian power source.
Quasimodo's intellect was beamed back to the Earth, where he took refuge in a deactivated computer system in Khystym, Russia. He allied with the Dire Wraiths against the Galadorian Spaceknight
Spaceknights
Spaceknights is a name used by at least three distinct groups of characters in the fictional . The better known group is a core concept of the 1980s comic book Rom Spaceknight, while the other two are far more recent creations and not much is yet known about them.-Galador's Spaceknights:The...
Rom. Quasimodo projected his "mental essence" into Rom's armor. Another Spaceknight, Brandy Clark, the second Starshine
Starshine (comics)
Starshine is the name of three fictional American comic book characters owned by the Marvel Comics and appearing in that company's Marvel Universe....
, drove Quasimodo's essence from Rom's armor, and he became trapped in a Soviet computer system. Quasimodo was later driven out of the Earth computer system by the Vision
Vision (Marvel Comics)
The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The first Vision was created by the writer-artist team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in Marvel Mystery Comics #13 The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that...
, and his consciousness was expelled into space.
Through unknown means, Quasimodo returned to Earth and set up shop at a base in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. It was here that he was captured by 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....
, assisted by the mercenary Mainframe at the behest of Norman Osborn
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 ....
. Quasimodo then entered Osborn's service as an analyst, compiling dossiers on numerous superhumans, mostly villains.
Powers and abilities
Quasimodo's artificial body, along with being cosmic-powered and semi-organic, provide him with superhuman strength, stamina, and protection from physical and energy damage. He has fought hand to hand with the VisionVision (Marvel Comics)
The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The first Vision was created by the writer-artist team of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in Marvel Mystery Comics #13 The Vision is the name of three fictional characters that...
who has shown strength sufficient to lift 50 tons. Quasimodo's self-repairing circuitry is capable of repairing any defect in its artificial structure, given time. He can survive without food or air and is immune to disease.
Quasimodo's mind has superhuman memory, the capacity for continuous activity, and he is able to process information and make calculations faster and more accurately than ordinary human beings.
His left eye can fire a deadly force beam with equivalent explosive force of 100 lb (45.4 kg). of TNT at a range of 100 feet (30.5 m).
Quasimodo can also project his consciousness with an interplanetary range into other computer systems and control them. He has demonstrated the ability to survive without a body and to collect himself even after his mind has been seemingly erased or scattered on an interplanetary level.
Quasimodo is skilled in a number of sciences, electronic data collection, and breaching computer security systems.