DAMOCLES

Real Name: Eric Barlow

Identity/Class: Human, technology user

Occupation: Extortionist;
    formerly unrevealed

Group Membership: Leader of a group of mercenaries

Affiliations: None

Enemies: Bennett Barlow, Thor

Known Relatives: Bennett Barlow (brother), unnamed sister-in-law

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Manhattan, New York City

First Appearance: Thor I#267 (January, 1978)

Powers/Abilities: Damocles used a variety of high-tech weapons, including his Airship, the Cobalt Cannon, the Destruct-Drone, and a hand-held energy blaster. He was assisted by a band of mercenaries.

History:
(Thor I#268 (fb)) - As a youth, Eric Barlow was always confused, searching for something, and taking his frustrations out on his younger brother.

(Thor I#268 (fb)) - Eric made honors throughout college an graduated at the top of his class, but after that he continued to lack a direction and drifted from job to job.

(Thor I#268 (fb)) - Eric watched as his younger brother majored in physics.

(Thor I#268 (fb) - BTS) - Eric used information he learned from Eric to prepare a cannon which could be powered by cobalt. He recruited a group of mercenaries, promising them that they could use the weapon to acquire great wealth. He took the alias Damocles, as he would hold the threat of his Cobalt Cannon above others, much like the sword hanging over the head of the historical Damocles.

(Thor I#267) - Damocles and his men broke into Trinity General hospital, swatting aside an intern and the visiting Dr. Donald Blake, and stealing a supply of synthetic cobalt, supplied by Stark International for cancer research. They escaped out a window into the airship, which was pursued and assaulted by Thor. Damocles unleashed the Destruct-Drone, sending it to target the United Nations building. Thor destroyed the Destruct-Drone, but by then Damocles and his men had escaped.

(Thor I#268) - Damocles and his men completed the Cobalt Cannon, then assaulted a group of mercenaries who questioned when they would be paid. Thor met up with Damocles' brother, Bennett, who led him to their former home, where they were confronted by Damocles, his men, and his Cobalt Cannon. The Cannon flattened Thor, after which Damocles took off, leading his men to rob a jewelry exchange. However, Thor tracked them by their cobalt energy, and Bennett revealed that the synthetic cobalt was unstable and would soon explode. Still Damocles refused to surrender, at which point Bennett pulled out a gun and shot him. Thor then created a vortex that launched the Cannon into space, where it exploded, marking Damocles passing with a virtual star.

Comments: Created by Len Wein, Walt Simonson, and Tony DeZuniga.

An indecisive, directionless villain does not make for an exciting story.

The historical Damocles, according to http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/bl/bl_damocles.htm :

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Damocles takes his name from the historical Damocles (not yet seen in the Marvel Universe)

He has no known connection to:

• Damocles Base - orbiting base of Kang, destroyed--Avengers III#38, 41

• Damocles Foundation, organization of Deviants, Eternals, and humans. Seeks to create the next species that will rule the planet - X-Force #79

• OPERATION: DAMOCLES - Mys-Tech, introduced a virus into Psi-Key--Digitek#1
• PROJECT: DAMOCLES - Dr. Henri Sorel's experiment which led to him becoming Radion--Iron Fist I#4

   

Airship

Used by Damocles and his men to steal the synthetic cobalt shipment, it was badly damaged by a blow from Thor, but still enabled them to escape while Thor was distracted.

--Thor I#267

Bennett Barlow

The younger brother of Damocles, he was bullied by his tormented sibling, but was still proud of his accomplishments in school. He acted as a revolutionary in college, even studying physics so he could learn to build his own nuclear bomb if necessary. Later, however, he settled down and got a job teaching at a city university, got married, and lost touch with his older brother. When Damocles stole the shipment of synthetic cobalt, Bennett met with the police commissioner and revealed Damocles' origins to him and Thor. Ultimately, when Damocles refused to surrender so that Thor might dispose of the unstable Cobalt Cannon, Bennett was forced to shoot his brother dead.

--Thor I#268 (268(fb), 268

Cobalt Cannon

Designed by Damocles, it was powered by synthetic cobalt and could release blasts powerful to stun Thor. The synthetic cobalt was unstable, and Thor launched it out into space where it exploded harmlessly.

--Thor I#267, 268

Destruct-Drone

Damocles had this released to target the United Nations Building to stop Thor from pursuing them. Though Thor destroyed it before it could reach its target, its mission was accomplished nonetheless.

--Thor I#267

mercenaries

Damocles agents, they were promised great wealth via his Cobalt Cannon if they helped in missions to help steal Cobalt and then use the Cannon in various thefts.

--Thor I#267 (268

images:
Thor I#267, p23, panel 3;
    p26, panel 4 (airship)
    p30, panel 3 (Destruct-Drone)
Thor I#268
    p6, panel 1 (Bennett)
    p10, panel 1 (Cannon)
 

Other Appearances:
Thor I#268 (February, 1978) - Len Wein (writer/editor), Walt Simonson (pencils), Tony DeZuniga (inks)