AVANT GUARD

Membership: Bora, The Painter, Spark

Affiliations: none
...unless you count the Cockroach Conspiracy

Enemies: Spider-Man, the Human Torch (Johnny Storm), and the New Warriors

Base of Operations: Manhattan, New York City

First Appearance: Web of Spider-Man#74 (March, 1991)

History:
(Web of Spider-Man#75(fb)) - The man known as Wilhelm van Vile (the Painter of 1000 Perils) had suffered a defeat from the second Human Torch early in his career, which had apparently destroyed his paints, the source of his power. Under unknown circumstances, he regained (and even increased) his abilities, but felt he lacked the inspiration to continue. To this end, he sought out two others whom he felt could inspire him. The first was an unsuccessful performance artist known only as Spark. The second was a seven foot tall Russian mutant woman known as Bora, whose growth spurt at adolescence had ruined her dreams of becoming a ballerina.

The Painter performed a mystic ritual which bound Bora and Spark's souls to his own, unleashing and magnifying their abilities, while gaining inspiration from them. Spark and Bora first used their abilities to engender more interest in Spark's performance art, which fell flat.

(Web of Spider-Man#74) - The Painter then further increased Spark's abilities, who used them to attack his unappreciative audience. The Painter teleported Spark away before he could be defeated by Spider-Man.

(Web of Spider-Man#75-76) - The three then embarked on their master plan (magnum opus?, piece de' resistance?) in which the Painter enhanced Bora's freezing winds to create a powerful blizzard which engulfed the borough of Manhattan. The blizzard created proved resistant to efforts of even the thunder god Thor to stop, and numerous costumed heroes were needed to save the citizens from the bitter cold and ice. Eventually, Spider-Man and the Human Torch tracked them down to their base, and defeated Bora and Spark. The Painter simply revived the two with a wave of his wand, but when the fighting started anew, he grew tired of the conflict. He banished Bora and Spark to fixed images on his canvas, and then seemingly exploded, leaving only a bunch of bugs behind.

Comments: Created by Tony Isabella and Alex Saviuk.

An odd little story; Spidey received his first recorded kick to the groin (from Bora) in it. The ending was never cleared up.
     I think the Painter is part of the "Cockroach Conspiracy."
    Spidey received his first recorded kick to the groin, from Bora, in it.

CLARIFICATIONS: 
The Painter's Avant Guard is of no connection to:

images: (without ads)
Web of Spider-Man#75, p10, pan1 (main image)

Other appearances:
Web of Spider-Man#75-76 (April-May, 1991) - Tony Isabella (writer), Alex Saviuk (pencils), Keith Williams (inks), Danny Fingeroth (editor)

Last updated: 04/03/03

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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