OSPREY

Real Name: Oscar Kinkaid, Jr.

Identity/Class: Human

Occupation: Fanboy

Group Membership: None;
formerly "Frightful Four Wannabes"

Affiliations: None

Enemies: Frightful Four (Sandman, Trapster, Wizard)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile in New York City

First Appearance: Fantastic Four I#177 (December 1976)

Powers/Abilities: Osprey is a capable, if uninspired, electronics engineer. Via his anti-gravity disc, he can fly at up to 140 mph, steering and banking by means of his large wings.

History: (Fantastic Four I#177 (fb)-BTS) - While the Fantastic Four were off on a mission in deep space, the three members of the Frightful Four (Sandman, Trapster, Wizard) took over their Baxter Building headquarters.  The Wizard placed a classified ad in the Daily Bugle to recruit a new member for the Frightful Four.

(Fantastic Four I#177) - Upon returning to Earth, the Fantastic Four were captured by the three villains, who then took steps to interview new potential members.

(Fantastic Four I#177) - Oscar Kinkaid, Jr. (The Osprey) saw the Daily Bugle classified ad and was the first applicant to be a new Frightful Four member.  When questioned by the Wizard as to whether he had any powers except flight, Kinkaid admitted that he didn't actually have ANY powers, but suggested to the Wizard that he could give him some kind of powers .  Enraged because he thought that Kinkaid was wasting his time, the Wizard threw an anti-gravity disc at him, which took Kinkaid on a flight out of the Baxter Building.  The Wizard assured the captured Fantastic Four that the disc would set Kinkaid down safely -- albeit in the South Bronx.  The Wizard then warned the other applicants over the Baxter Building's intercomm that all those without true super-powers need not apply -- or else!

(Marvel Super Heroes Players Book) - Osprey managed to elude death by figuring out how to work Wizard's anti-gravity disc. After a long time, he managed to transform the disc into a workable flying system, using the wings for thrust and the disc for lift. Recognizing that other applicants (Texas Twister) had entered the popular and profitable profession of heroics, Osprey decided to fight for truth, justice and all the rest of that stuff.

Comments: Created by Roy Thomas, George Perez and Joe Sinnott.

    The Osprey ("Frightful Four Wannabe") did make one more appearance, though far beyond the reaches of Marvel continuity; in describing character generation for the Marvel Super Heroes role-playing game (circa 1986), Jeff Grubb uses the Osprey as an example for modeling a character. Inspirational, indeed.
 --fiendish_pettingzoo

Marvel Super Heroes Players Book update and image by Loki.

Profile by John Kaminski

Clarifications:

Oscar Kinkaid, Jr. (The Osprey) has no known connections to

• Osprey (Pol Tiurno), of the Hyborian era @ Savage Sword of Conan Magazine#108
• Kincaid, Jimmy, son of Jane Foster and Keith Kincaid @ Thor I#372(fetus), 402, (named)
• Kincaid, Dr. Keith, Avengers physician, former husband of Jane Foster, @ Thor I#136
• Kincaid, Otis, impersonated Spider-Man, possibly killed by Venom (Angelo Fortunato), @MK Spider-Man#6
• or to anyone else with a similar name.

Appearances:
Fantastic Four I#177 (December 1976) - Roy Thomas (writer/editor), Mike Friedrich (plot assist), George Perez (pencils), Joe Sinnott (inks)
Marvel Super Heroes Players Book (1986) - Jeff Grubb (game design), Jeff Butler (artist), Karen Martin (editor)

First Posted: 01/12/2006
Last updated: 03/19/2019