Squadron Supreme

Fictional character biography

The Shape (real name Raleigh Lund) was born in Simak, Lowengard, in the U.S.A. of the alternate Earth of the Squadron Supreme

Squadron Supreme

The Squadron Supreme is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Squadron Supreme first appeared in Avengers #85 - 86 The Squadron Supreme is a fictional superhero team that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Squadron Supreme first...

, Earth-712. Although he appears to be an adult male, his emotional and intellectual development is comparable to that of a child (it's likely that he has some kind of mental disability).

Originally, he was a member of the criminal Institute of Evil

Institute of Evil

The Institute of Evil is a fictional organization, owned by Marvel Comics.-Fictional team history:The Institute of Evil existed in the Earth-712 universe and served as the Squadron Supreme’s arch-foes...

, the Squadron's arch-foes, although, lacking sincere criminal intent, he was mostly following the lead of team leader Ape-X

Ape-X

Ape-X is a fictional character, owned by Marvel Comics, who exists in the universe of the Squadron Supreme.She is based on Gorilla Grodd of the DC Universe.-Publication history:...

, who had been his friend "for years and years." After the Institute of Evil lost a battle against the Squadron, all of the Institute's members underwent behavior modification, their criminal records were pardoned, and they all joined the Squadron. Now, as a public crusader and adventurer, Shape helped supervise the manufacturing of force field belts. He also helped his fellow superheroes and babysat for Arcanna Jones

Arcanna

Arcanna is the name of two different fictional comic book characters in the Marvel Comics multiverse.The first debuted as a member of the team of superheroes called the Squadron Supreme in The Defenders #112 . The other first appeared in Supreme Power #18 , later joining a team of super heroes also...

's three children, becoming especially close with Drusilla Jones. Eventually the behavior modification was reversed by the Squadron's opponents the Redeemers

America Redeemers

The America Redeemers, or Redeemers, as the team is more commonly known, is a fictional organization in the Marvel Universe. The Redeemers existed in the Earth-712 universe, the same place from which the Squadron Supreme originated...

, but the Shape, having never been a criminal at heart in the first place, still chose to side with the Squadron against Nighthawk

Nighthawk (Marvel Comics)

Nighthawk is the name of several fictional characters that appear in publications published by Marvel Comics. There have been five versions of the character: a supervillain-turned-superhero from the mainstream Marvel Universe continuity, Kyle Richmond, who belonged to the team Squadron Sinister;...

 and the Redeemers. After the battle, Shape helped get the pregnant Arcanna to the delivery room after she collapsed.

Later, Shape accompanied the Squadron in a futile struggle against the Nth Man

Nth Man

Nth Man is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Thomas Lightner first appeared as Blacksun in Marvel Two-in-One #21-23 , and was created by Bill Mantlo and Ron Wilson....

. As a result, Shape and the Squadron traveled to Earth. There, Shape and Haywire

Haywire (comics)

Haywire was a minor character from the original Squadron Supreme series from Marvel Comics. Unlike many of the characters from that continuity, he did not have a DC Comics counterpart, but was an original creation.-Fictional character biography:...

 were mentally coerced by the Over-Mind

Overmind (comics)

-Fictional character biography:The Overmind is an alien belonging to the Eternals of Eyung, and was born uncounted millennia ago on the planet Eyung . Grom acted as one of their warlords, leading massacres of entire species. He was also the reigning champion in their gladiatorial arenas...

 to prevent Quasar from following the starship in which the Over-Mind had kidnapped the Squadron Supreme.

Powers and abilities

The Shape's entire body is extremely rubbery, putty-like and malleable. He has approximately 250 pounds of body mass that he can shift from one area of his body to another; when he is relaxed it settles in his legs and lower body. He can shift up to 80% of his physical mass at will, thus altering his entire shape. He can use this mass to elongate, compress, or enlarge various parts of his body, or form non-humanoid shapes such as hammer-shaped fists or a trampoline-shaped torso, or taking the shape of a hang-glider. His bones stretch to a maximum of five times their ordinary length. His body tissue can resist extreme temperatures and pressures, burning, lacerations, ballistic penetration, and impacts, without sustaining injury. The Shape has a high physical pain threshold, and superhuman durability. The Shape's below normal intelligence prevents him from thinking of more creative uses for his shifting body mass. He is not invulnerable: certain extreme physical injuries are beyond his ability to resist.

Supreme Power

In Part III: High Command, Shape is introduced as Raleigh Lund, a dim-witted, morbidly obese former janitor abandoned as a child by his parents. He survived from a very early age by eating discarded food and sleeping in dumpsters. He possesses superhuman strength and apparent invulnerability. In Supreme Power: Hyperion, he is described by General Alexander as the perfect soldier—loyal, invulnerable, and strong—though he is quite lacking in the area of independent thought and strategy.