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Sludge (comics)
Encyclopedia
Sludge was a comic book series from Malibu Comics
, set in the Ultraverse
. It was created by Steve Gerber
, Gary Martin and Aaron Lopresti
. Sludge ran for only twelve issues, with one special: Sludge: Red X-Mas. A second special, Sludge: Swamp of Souls, was planned but never completed.
Frank Hoag was a corrupt NYPD detective who finally grew a spine when he was asked by his mob bosses to kill a fellow dirty cop. When he refuses, his own murder is ordered; he dies by a hail of bullets as well as a bomb. The explosion covers him with chemicals, which combine with the sewage
from where the mobsters dump his body. The chemicals had regenerative properties and tried to heal Hoag, but combined the sewer substances with his body, transforming him into a huge mass of living slime. He awakens with a raging anger against criminals and an inability to think and speak coherently. Many words come out replaced with one that sounds similar, such as 'munch' instead of 'mutual'.
There exists a connection between the chemicals that transformed Frank Hoag into Sludge and Dr. Gross' research. Dr. Gross conducted the experiments that allowed Kevin Green to transform into Prime
.
One of Frank's allies is Chas, a blind homeless man who sells newspapers. He does not comprehend that Frank has transformed; he only thinks he has gained an 'underwater voice'. Frank takes a newspaper from Chas, claiming to be good for it and reads about deaths in the sewers.
Frank meets Shelley Winters, a sensationalistic
reporter, in the sewers. She was investigating the same case that interests Frank and she discovers upon Veffir Voon Iyax, a humanoid, albino alligator-man. Veffir had killed the two people and many more. During the fight, Veffir claims he is from another world, and that nobody who meets him lives. Despite this, Sludge kills him in battle and demands 35 cents from Winters. He uses this to pay back Chas.
Lord Pumpkin
's first appearance was in Sludge's series as a recurrent foe. Rune
debuted in a backup feature of Sludge #1 (but he does not meet or interact with Sludge in it).
His touch melts human flesh.
animated cartoon. In the series, he is an underling of Lord Pumpkin
, who ironically was one of his enemies in the comics, forced into being so due his addiction to a drug that Pumpkin created that restores him to human form. He sacrifices himself to stop a demon plant created by Pumpkin.
Malibu Comics
Malibu Comics was an American comic book publisher active in the late 1980s and early 1990s, best known for its Ultraverse line of superhero titles. The company's headquarters was in Calabasas, California. Malibu imprints included Aircel Comics and Eternity Comics...
, set in the Ultraverse
Ultraverse
The Ultraverse was the name given to a comic book imprint published by the American company Malibu Comics. The Ultraverse was a shared universe in which a variety of characters — known within the comics as "Ultras" — acquired super-human abilities.-History:...
. It was created by Steve Gerber
Steve Gerber
Stephen Ross "Steve" Gerber was an American comic book writer best known as co-creator of the satiric Marvel Comics character Howard the Duck....
, Gary Martin and Aaron Lopresti
Aaron Lopresti
Aaron Lopresti is an American comic book artist who has worked for Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and Image Comics.-Career:Lopresti first published work of note was the Malibu Comics title Sludge, in 1993...
. Sludge ran for only twelve issues, with one special: Sludge: Red X-Mas. A second special, Sludge: Swamp of Souls, was planned but never completed.
Frank Hoag was a corrupt NYPD detective who finally grew a spine when he was asked by his mob bosses to kill a fellow dirty cop. When he refuses, his own murder is ordered; he dies by a hail of bullets as well as a bomb. The explosion covers him with chemicals, which combine with the sewage
Sewage
Sewage is water-carried waste, in solution or suspension, that is intended to be removed from a community. Also known as wastewater, it is more than 99% water and is characterized by volume or rate of flow, physical condition, chemical constituents and the bacteriological organisms that it contains...
from where the mobsters dump his body. The chemicals had regenerative properties and tried to heal Hoag, but combined the sewer substances with his body, transforming him into a huge mass of living slime. He awakens with a raging anger against criminals and an inability to think and speak coherently. Many words come out replaced with one that sounds similar, such as 'munch' instead of 'mutual'.
There exists a connection between the chemicals that transformed Frank Hoag into Sludge and Dr. Gross' research. Dr. Gross conducted the experiments that allowed Kevin Green to transform into Prime
Prime (comics)
Prime is a superhero created by Bob Jacob, Gerard Jones, Len Strazewski, and Norm Breyfogle. He debuted in Prime #1 under Malibu Comics' Ultraverse imprint, and was one of its flagship characters along with Mantra and Hardcase . The character design was credited to Bret Blevins...
.
One of Frank's allies is Chas, a blind homeless man who sells newspapers. He does not comprehend that Frank has transformed; he only thinks he has gained an 'underwater voice'. Frank takes a newspaper from Chas, claiming to be good for it and reads about deaths in the sewers.
Frank meets Shelley Winters, a sensationalistic
Sensationalism
Sensationalism is a type of editorial bias in mass media in which events and topics in news stories and pieces are over-hyped to increase viewership or readership numbers...
reporter, in the sewers. She was investigating the same case that interests Frank and she discovers upon Veffir Voon Iyax, a humanoid, albino alligator-man. Veffir had killed the two people and many more. During the fight, Veffir claims he is from another world, and that nobody who meets him lives. Despite this, Sludge kills him in battle and demands 35 cents from Winters. He uses this to pay back Chas.
Lord Pumpkin
Lord Pumpkin
Lord Pumpkin is a fictional being from Malibu Comics' Ultraverse continuity. He was created and later written by Dan Danko, with additional development by Steve Gerber, Aaron Lopresti, and Gary Martin including his first published appearance, with which Danko was not involved. Lord Pumpkin first...
's first appearance was in Sludge's series as a recurrent foe. Rune
Rune (comics)
Rune is a fictional vampire-like being from Malibu Comics' Ultraverse imprint. He was created by Barry Windsor-Smith and Chris Ulm, and first appeared as a back-up story in Sludge #1 .-Fictional character biography:...
debuted in a backup feature of Sludge #1 (but he does not meet or interact with Sludge in it).
Powers and abilities
Sludge has a tremendous regenerative ability, healing most wounds in seconds, and able to regrow large areas of body tissue. Submersion in water speeds up this ability. He does not require air and is immune to most chemical toxins.His touch melts human flesh.
Appearances in other media
Sludge appears in the UltraforceUltraforce (comics)
The Ultraforce is a fictional superhero group that appears in comic books published by Malibu, and later Marvel, as well as an animated series produced by DIC. Their purpose was to protect the public and keep other Ultras from getting out of line...
animated cartoon. In the series, he is an underling of Lord Pumpkin
Lord Pumpkin
Lord Pumpkin is a fictional being from Malibu Comics' Ultraverse continuity. He was created and later written by Dan Danko, with additional development by Steve Gerber, Aaron Lopresti, and Gary Martin including his first published appearance, with which Danko was not involved. Lord Pumpkin first...
, who ironically was one of his enemies in the comics, forced into being so due his addiction to a drug that Pumpkin created that restores him to human form. He sacrifices himself to stop a demon plant created by Pumpkin.