SPARK

Real Name: Myron Schmertz

Identity/Class: Mutant and/or magic-enhanced human

Occupation: Performance Artist

Group Membership: Avant Guard

Affiliations: possible lover of Bora

Enemies: Human Torch (Johnny Storm), Spider-Man

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Manhattan, New York City

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

Powers/Abilities: Spark originally appears to have possessed minor abilities to manipulate electricity, such as surviving lethal voltages. The Painter enhanced his abilities, enabling him to transform into a large form with superhuman strength and durability. In this form, he could release bursts of electricity. Initially, he could only assume this form with an additional boost from the Painter, but he quickly learned to make the transformation on his own.

History: (Web of Spider-Man#75 (fb)) - The man known only as Spark was initially a performance artist, although he was uniformly panned by critics and audience alike. The enigmatic man known as the Painter recruited him, along with the mutant known as Bora. The Painter performed a mystic ritual, which joined their three spirits, granting him inspiration, and granting the other two amplification of their powers. Spark may have fallen in love with Bora.

(Web of Spider-Man#74-76) - Spark first used his powers in an effort to enhance his performance, even adding Bora to the stage, but continued to be panned. When the Painter first transformed him into his more powerful form, he quickly ran out and attacked his former audience. The Painter teleported him back before Spider-Man could overpower him.

Spark, along with Bora, encountered Spider-Man on a few other occasions before being tracked by Spider-Man and his ally, the Human Torch, back to their lair. Spark and Bora were again defeated, but were revived by the Painter. However, when the fighting began again, the Painter grew bored with this venture, and trapped Bora and Spark as fixed images on his canvas.

Comments: Created by Tony Isabella and Alex Saviuk.

Spark's real name was revealed in Painter's profile in OHOTMU A-Z HC#8.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Spark should be distinguished from:

• Mr. Sparks, Degenerate sidekick @ Solitaire#9 (Ultraverse)
• Sparkler 2099, Amalgam of Dazzler and Lightning Lass @ Spider-Man Team-Up#1
• Sparkplug, alias of Jubilee @ Generation X: Crossroads
• Sparks, super-villain resurrected by the Hand @ Wolverine III#28
• Sparky, The Lightning Kid, death avatar of Thunderstrike @ Thor I#457
• Sparx aka. Aurelle of the Eternals @ New Eternals#1