IVAN
Real Name: Ivan
Identity/Class: Human mutant/mutate?; Russian citizen
Occupation: Warrior
Affiliations: Dr. Walston Kraft, Vincent von Frankenstein;
Frankenstein monster (intermittent)
Enemies: Frankenstein monster, Spider-Man, Victoria von Frankenstein
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: London, England;
Transylvania, Walston Kraft's castle in the Swiss Alps;
from late 19th Century to modern era
First Appearance: Monster of Frankenstein#10 (May, 1974)
Powers: Ivan is eight feet tall and possesses superhuman strength (Enhanced human to Class 10-comparable to the Frankenstein monster) and durability. He has been known to recover from seemingly fatal wounds, and is well over 100 years old. He suffers from kyphosis (or to be un-PC, he's a hunchback), and is apparently constantly wracked with pain. He's rather dimwitted, and seeks friendship, but is quick to anger and attack or betray those who could be his friends.
History: Unknown. Ivan is a kyphotic giant, and appears to be superhumanly strong, although whether his abilities are natural or artificial mutation is unknown. His age is unknown, and he is a native of Russia. As of 1898, he was serving Vincent von Frankenstein in London, but the details of this arrangement are unknown.
(Monster of Frankenstein#10-11) - In
1898, Ivan was with Vincent von Frankenstein when he first
confronted the Frankenstein Monster in Transylvania. The monster
initially attacked Vincent, by Ivan subdued him. They convinced
him to return to England with him, under the plans of curing him.
Vincent, however, sought to transfer Ivan's brain into the
Monster's body...mostly just to take a whirl at brain transplant
surgery.
Ivan rebelled against Vincent when he realized that the Monster
would die. He then tried to cut free the Monster, who awakened in
a drug-induced stupor to see Ivan's knife. The Monster attacked
Ivan, who fought back and gained the upper hand. Vincent shot and
apparently killed Ivan to stop him from destroying the Monster.
With his last breath, Ivan begged his would-be friend to kill
Vincent.
(Spider-Man Unlimited#21(fb)) - Having gotten
much better over the next century, Ivan came under the alliance
of Dr. Walston Kraft, who wished to clone an army of Frankenstein
Monsters (Frankenclones), and promised Ivan the Monster's body
for himself.
Ivan located the Frankenstein Monster at Victoria Frankenstein's
castle and convinced him to join Kraft, who could give him a
"real body." Ivan returned to Victoria's castle and
imprisoned her in its dungeon to prevent her from interfering
with his plans.
(Spider-Man Unlimited I#21) - Peter Parker was sent to investigate Kraft's adventures in cloning, and ended up freeing Victoria and learning Kraft's true plans. Parker revealed the truth to the Monster, but Ivan overheard this and denied his claims. When the Monster continued to press him for answers, Ivan attacked him. The Monster, who wanted to believe Ivan was his friend, realized the truth and snapped Ivan's neck to end his threat.
Comments: Created by Gary Friedrich and John Buscema.
Back from the dead once...
Vincent Frankenstein did NOT meet his end at the hands of the monster, but rather from a bullet from his servant Betty.
Clarifications:
There's a few others named Ivan, who can be distinguished by the
presence of a last name.
He should be distinguished from:
Ivan, the former agent of the
Psycho-Man, @ Fantastic Four Annual#5
Drako, another 19th Century hunchback who tussled with ole'
Franky, @ Monster of Frankenstein#7
Appearances:
Monster of Frankenstein#10 (May, 1974) - Gary Friedrich (writer), John Buscema (pencils), Frank Giacoia & Mike Esposito (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Monster of Frankenstein#11 (July, 1974) - Gary Friedrich (writer), Bob Brown (pencils), Vince Colletta (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Spider-Man Unlimited I#21 (August, 1998) - Christopher Golden (writer), Mike Deodato Jr. (pencils), Joe Pimentel (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Last updated: 08/02/02
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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