DANIEL "ZAPPER" RIDGE

Real Name: Dr. Daniel "Zapper" Ridge Jr.

Identity/Class: Human

Occupation: Hematologist (blood doctor)

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Hellcat, She-Hulk, Richard Rory, Sheriff Morris Walters, Ralphie Hutchins, Mr. Fantastic, Jill Stevens

Enemies: The Doc, Nicholas Trask, Warzone, Dr. Hector DeVasquez, the She Droid

Known Relatives: Johnathan Daniel Ridge Sr. (father), mother (name unrevealed), Christina DeVasquez Ridge (wife), Dr. Hector DeVasquez (father-in-law)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Los Angeles, California

First Appearance: Savage She-Hulk#2 (March, 1980)

Powers: Dr. Daniel Ridge Jr. has no superhuman powers, but he is a credited Hollywood-based specialist in blood disorders recognized by Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic).

History: (Savage She-Hulk#25 (fb)) - Daniel Ridge Jr. was the son of Doctor Daniel Ridge Sr. Nicknamed "Zapper" for copying the "zapping" sounds of his favorite tv sci-fi programs, he became close friends of his neighbor and sometimes babysitter, Jennifer Walters, the daughter of Sheriff Morris Walters. He also developed an infatuation of Jennifer that lasted into his college years.

(Savage She-Hulk#1 - BTS) - Doctor Bruce Banner (The Hulk) broke into the Ridge home in order to use Dr. Ridge Sr's medical supplies to save Jennifer's from an attempt on her life. The transfusion he gave her of his gamma-irradiated blood later allowed her to become the She-Hulk.

(Savage She-Hulk#2) - Zapper's parents invited Jennifer to a family barbecue party. At the time, she was involved in a major lawsuit involving mobster Nicholas Trask. A telephone call to Jennifer dragged Zapper's and Jennifer's friend, Jill, into an attempt on her life that killed Jill instead. Trying to save her friend's life, Jennifer just barely knocked Zapper out of the way from witnessing her trasformation into the She-Hulk.

(Savage She-Hulk#3) - Believed dead, Jen hid out at the Ridge family beachouse as Zapper kept her company. He discovered she was the She-Hulk when she attempted a drug overdose to prevent a transformation. When the She-Droid threatened his life, Jen overcame the drugs to save his life.

(Savage She-Hulk#4) - Zapper followed the She-Hulk to the warehouse where her kidnapped father was being held prisoner. He tried to stop Sheriff Walters from using stolen Stark technology to kill the She-Hulk, unaware that she was really his daughter.

(Savage She-Hulk#9) - As Jennifer's transformation become more spontaneous and unpredictable, Zapper took a sample of her blood to study. He gave it to his friend Ralphie Hutchins to help analyze it.

(Savage She-Hulk#10-12) - Zapper discovered the She-Hulk in a weakened state after her fight with Ultima. As the police captured her, he headed to UCLA for help from Doctor Michael Morbius, as the former vampire was being threatened by the parent of a former victim. The She-Hulk stumbled in after escaping from jail as Morbius' cure for her regerative disease gave her control over her changes.

(Savage She-Hulk#13-14) - Zapper realized he was in love with the She-Hulk as Jennifer's boyfriend Richard Rory came into town. As he drowned his sorrows in a bar, he was roughly tossed around by warriors from Other-Realm trying to raise his spirits. As the She-Hulk saved him from their rough revelry, he realized she loved him even if Jennifer didn't. Zapper later convinced Hellcat to aid She-Hulk.

(Savage She-Hulk#15) - In a moment of idyllic bliss with the She-Hulk, she and Zapper were interupted at the beach house by his parent's arrival. Jennifer ended up defending his father in a malpractice suit.

(Savage She-Hulk#17) - Zapper confronted Jennifer about his feelings for the She-Hulk as her relationship with Rory continued. He witnessed her ordeal as the She-Hulk with the Man-Elephant as Rory broke up with Jennifer.

(Savage She-Hulk#18-19) - Zapper was blackmailed by Hutchins into turning over the She-Hulk to the Doc. He left her to be captured as Rory returned with the realization that Jen was the She-Hulk. Before Zapper could explain the blackmail, the She-Hulk disavowed her identity as Jennifer and left both of them.

(Savage She-Hulk#20) - Zapper watched as Rory tried to convince Sheriff Walters that Jennifer was the She-Hulk, but he refused to believe them.

(Savage She-Hulk#21) - Zapper burglarized UCLA trying to track down Hutchins. He was struck unconscious by an unknown intruder. Regaining consciousness, he was tossed out by a security guard.

(Savage She-Hulk#23) - Zapper traced the She-Hulk to his family beach house which had been destroyed in her battle with Torque. She left without noticing him.

(Savage She-Hulk#24-25) - Zapper and Rory confronted Sheriff Walters together one more time with the knowledge that Jennifer was the She-Hulk and preferred to stay that way. They overheard a report of the She-Hulk ripping up a Beverly Hills estate as they rushed out to see her capture the Doc.

(She-Hulk II#3) - Zapper was pulled from some point early in his association with She-Hulk to help testify on her behalf against the Time Variance Authority.

(Sensational She-Hulk#55 (fb) - BTS) - The She-Hulk told Zapper that she was leaving for the East Coast to join the Avengers.

(Sensational She-Hulk#36 (fb) - BTS) - Graduating UCLA, Zapper met and eventually married Christina DeVasquez, daughter of Professor Hector DeVasquez, a colleague of Dr. Bruce Banner. She underwent cosmetic surgery to resemble the She-Hulk without the green skin.

(Sensational She-Hulk#36) - Zapper and Rory reunited with the She-Hulk at a Christmas gathering on the West Coast as she met Christina and was struck by their resemblence.

(Sensational She-Hulk#52-57) - Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) conferred with Zapper about toxins poisoning the She-Hulk, completely unaware of the fact they were created by Professor Hector DeVasquez using Zapper's blood sample from the She-Hulk. After the weakened She-Hulk was killed by the Rumbler, Zapper succeeded in restoring her to life, but DeVasquez tampered with his equipment and gave the She-Hulk a gamma overdose. The She-Hulk unjustly accused him of doing everything on purpose to win her life just as DeVasquez admited his guilt for the sake of his daughter. Losing her identity and power as the She-Hulk, Jennifer became the She-Hulk again after Zapper repeated her transfusion with the Hulk.

Comments: Created by David Anthony Kraft and Michael Vosburg.

Several things in the first She-Hulk series were patterned after both Spider-Man and the Hulk. Just as her father resembled a Thunderbolt Ross/J. Jonah Jameson antagonist, Zapper resembled a Rick Jones sidekick.

As a hematologist (doctor who specializes in diseases of the blood), Zapper could be an interesting supporting character in any of the vampire tales of the Marvel Universe in the same way Dr. Julia Hoffman was for "Dark Shadows."

by Will Uchtman and Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
No known connection to:

images: (without ads)
(main image)
(head shot)
Sensational She-Hulk#56, p17, pan1 (modern days)

Appearances:
Savage She-Hulk#2-4 (March-May, 1980) - David Kraft (writer), Mike Vosburg (pencils), Chic Stone (inks), Mary Jo Duffy & Al Milgrom (#3) (editors)
Savage She-Hulk#9 (October, 1980) - David Kraft (writer), Mike Vosburg (pencils), Danny Bulanadi & friends (inks), Mary Jo Duffy & Al Milgrom (editors)
Savage She-Hulk#10-12 (November, 1980 - January, 1981) - David Kraft (writer), Mike Vosburg (pencils), Frank Springer (inks), Mary Jo Duffy & Al Milgrom (#11) (editors)
Savage She-Hulk#13-14 (February-March, 1981) - David Kraft (writer), Mike Vosburg (pencils), Frank Springer (inks), Mary Jo Duffy (editor)
Savage She-Hulk#15 (April, 1981) - David Kraft (writer), Mike Vosburg (pencils), Frank Springer (inks), Mary Jo Duffy (editor)
Savage She-Hukl#17 (June, 1981) - David Kraft (writer), Mike Vosburg (pencils), Frank Springer (inks), Al Milgrom (editor)
Savage She-Hulk#18-19 (July-August, 1981) - David Kraft (writer), Mike Vosburg (pencils), Frank Springer (inks), Al Milgrom (editor)
Savage She-Hulk#20-21 (September-October, 1981) - David Kraft (writer), Mike Vosburg (pencils), Frank Springer (inks), Al Milgrom (editor)
Savage She-Hulk#23 (December, 1981) - David Kraft (writer), Mike Vosburg (pencils), Dave Simons, Al Milgrom & Jack Abel (inks), Al Milgrom (editor)
Savage She-Hulk#24-25 (January-February, 1982) - David Kraft (writer), Mike Vosburg (pencils), Al Milgrom, Sal Trapani, Armando Gil (#24), Mike Vosburg (#25), Rick Magyar (#25), Mike Gustovich (#25), Dave Simons (#25), Steve Mitchell (#25), Bob Wiacek (#25), Joe Rubinstein (#25) & Jack Abel (#25) (inks), Al Milgrom (editor)
Sensational She-Hulk#36 (February, 1992) - John Byrne (writer/pencils), Keith Williams (inks), Renee Witterstaetter (editor)
Sensational She-Hulk#52-53 (June-July, 1993) - Michael Eury (writer), Todd Britton (#52) & Darren Auck (#53) (pencils), Mike DeCarlo (inks), Renee Witterstaetter (editor)
Sensational She-Hulk#54-55 (August-September, 1993) - Michael Eury (writer), Patrick Olliffe (pencils), Dave Cockrum (#54) & Art Nichols (#55) (inks), Renee Witterstaetter (editor)
Sensational She-Hulk#56-57 (October-November, 1993) - Michael Eury (writer), Patrick Olliffe (pencils), Fred Fredricks (inks), Renee Witterstaetter (editor)
She-Hulk II#3 (February, 2006) - Dan Slott (writer), Scot Kolins (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)

First Posted: 10/06/2002
Last updated: 01/22/2006

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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