PLASTIC BUBBLE PROJECTOR

Classification: Terrestrial technology

Creator: Nazi scientists

User/Possessors: Red Skull (Johann Shmidt)

First Appearance: Tales of Suspense I#88/2 (April, 1967)

Powers/Abilities/Functions: The projector's ray beam formed bubbles that could encircle and suspend things within transparent spheres of an energized, plastic-like substance. The size of the spheres varied from being small enough to hold a man, to being large enough to hold entire sections of cities. The spheres could be held aloft and transported by means of anti-gravity impulse waves.

History:
(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#19/Red Skull) - At some point in the past, the Red Skull commissioned Nazi scientists to develop the Plastic Bubble Projector.

(Tales of Suspense I#88/2 (fb)) - The Red Skull sent a plastic bubble to pick up the criminals Power Man (Erik Josten) and the Swordsman (Jacques Duquesne) and transport them to his base on Sea Gull Isle, off the eastern tip of Nova Scotia.

(Tales of Suspense I#88/2) - Working behind the scenes, the Red Skull used a robot of Bucky Barnes to lure Captain America to Sea Gull Isle. After entrapping the star-spangled Avenger's air-ship in a large bubble, the Skull brought the ship to a landing and sent Power Man and the Swordsman to battle Captain America. Following a brief skirmish with the two, Cap himself was trapped in a bubble. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to punch through the plastic-like substance of the sphere.

(Tales of Suspense I#89/2) - The Red Skull revealed himself to be the mastermind behind the plot as Captain America was held prisoner in the plastic bubble; the Skull told him of how he had survived their last encounter (@ Tales of Suspense I#81/2), and of his plans to use the bubbles to capture American cities. The Red Skull dissolved the bubble and released Captain America, who was then forced to fight the Bucky robot.

(Tales of Suspense I#90/2) - From his air-ship, the Red Skull captured a section of Manhattan Island in a huge bubble and held it suspended in air. With a part of New York City held hostage, the Red Skull made Captain America pledge to do his bidding for 24 hours in his plot to steal an experimental atomic submarine; after getting Cap's word of honor to cooperate, the Skull returned the section of the city back into place and dissolved the bubble.

(Captain America I#367/1) - The Red Skull trapped the attacking Magneto in a plastic bubble, hoping it would stymie the mutant's powers. However, Magneto was able to shatter the bubble within seconds.

(Captain America I#378/1) - As the Red Skull engaged the Kingpin in personal combat in Yankee Stadium, he activated an impenetrable "plastidome" over the two of them so no one would interfere with their fight. After the Skull's defeat, he disintegrated the dome.

(Captain America I#397/1) - In his new headquarters, the Red Skull watched a fight over cameras in the old Skull House between Captain America and the villains Jack O'Lantern and Blackwing. He became interested in the villains and encased the house (or at least the sub-basement, which was the only thing left) in a plastic bubble to trap Captain America, Jack O'Lantern and Blackwing inside until Mother Night got there to offer Jack and Blackwing a spot on the Skeleton Crew. The bubble dissolved as soon as Mother Night arrived.

Comments: Created by Stan Lee and Gil Kane.

Thanks to Richard Jackson for finding the missed Captain America I#378 appearance, Patrick D. Ryall for spotting the missed Captain America I#397 appearance, and to Markus Raymond for adding it to history. And also to Omar Karindu for Captain America I#367.

Profile by John Kaminski

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Plastic Bubble Projector has no known connections to

• Bubble of Tektos, Genetix foes @ Genetix#2
• Bubbles of the Buzz-Boys @ What If? II#13
• Grabber, creation of Dr. Doom, used to lift Baxter Building @ Fantastic Four I#6
• Plasti-thene, substance created by Leader, used to contain the Hulk @ Incredible Hulk II#115
• or anything else with a similar names

images: (without ads)
Tales to Suspense I#88/2, p4, pan4 (Plastic Bubble ray-gun projector)