MATTHEW DeROMA
MATTHEW DeROMA
Real Name: Matthew DeRoma
Identity/Class: Human mutate technology user
Occupation: Criminal
Group Membership: None;
formerly Cabal of Scrier
Affiliations: Normie Osborn, rogue Scriers
Enemies: "Holo-Harry", Liz Allan Osborn, Norman Osborn, Spider-Man (Peter Parker)
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: "Scrier Junior"
Base of Operations: New York City
First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2000
Powers/Abilities: DeRoma has apparently been mutated to possess superhuman strength and durability, as well as chalk-white skin, pointed ears, and red eyes. He wears mechanical gauntlets that project an energy field that enhances the power of his blows. If the gauntlets came in contact with each other, they would explode. DeRoma is also a skilled hand-to-hand combatant.
History: (Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2000 (fb) ) - A
young, ambitious member of the Cabal of Scrier, Matthew DeRoma developed a
following among the younger members of the Cabal, and arranged to have Norman
Osborn (who had been abducted by the Scriers from a mental asylum after the
Gathering of Five ceremony drove him mad) tortured. Osborn had enraged
DeRoma and his followers with his alliances with other criminal groups and his
rejection of the Cabal's traditions. Many of the older members of the
Cabal remained loyal to Osborn, however, and they banished DeRoma.
Relocating to America, he employed several of his loyalists, who were skilled
computer technicians, to create a holographic facsimile of Norman's late son
Harry. He planned to use this replica to turn Norman's grandson Normie
against him, but it seemingly failed to work.
(Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2000) - DeRoma and his men broke into the penthouse apartment of Liz and Normie Osborn, seeking to abduct the boy. Spider-Man heard the commotion and took out most of the Scriers, but he was overpowered and defeated by DeRoma, who he dubbed "Scrier Junior". DeRoma lured the boy away from his distraught mother and slunk away into the night. He took Normie back to his hidden base, where he used psychological tactics to turn the boy against his grandfather. He was interrupted by Spider-Man and the holographic Harry, who DeRoma mocked as a cheap copy. Claiming to draw his powers from the true Scrier, he attacked Spider-Man, and gained the upper hand until "Harry" revealed the design flaw of his gauntlets. Spider-Man slammed the gauntlets together, blasting DeRoma across the room. After "Harry" had finished talking to his son and faded away, a charred DeRoma grabbed the boy, intending to kill him instead, in order to hurt Norman. Before he could do so, however, someone pulled DeRoma into the shadows and snapped his neck, killing him instantly.
Comments: Created by Howard Mackie and Klaus Janson.
This guy was only referred to as "Scrier Junior" in his one-and-only appearance. He was given the name Matthew DeRoma in the Cabal of Scrier entry in the All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Update #2. And with his ankle-length ponytail, lip piercing, and chinbeard (oh, and the whole "child abduction" thing), he's also immensely punchable.
I think that symbol on his chest is supposed to be a fancy S, but if you know better, tell me!
The guy who broke DeRoma's neck is almost certainly Norman Osborn, but it's left ambiguous - even the aforementioned Cabal of Scrier OHotMU entry says that it was "possibly Norman Osborn". I don't really know who else it could be...although, now that he's back from the dead, it could have been the real Harry Osborn...
So what happened to Holo-Harry, anyway? He doesn't give any reason for fading away like that, so maybe he's still out there.
So that's how many kidnappings of Normie Osborn now? There's this guy, there's the Green Goblin construct, there's the Goblinettes...plus there was that time he and his mom were held hostage by Angel Face, and that other time they were held hostage by the Chameleon's Exterminators...
Profile by Minor Irritant.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Matthew DeRoma has no known connection to:
(Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2000 (fb) ) - The younger members of the Cabal of Scrier rallied around Matthew DeRoma, enraged by Norman Osborn, his alliances with other criminal groups and his rejection of the Cabal's traditions. Many of the older members of the Cabal remained loyal to Osborn, however, and they banished DeRoma and his loyalists. Relocating to America, he employed several of them, who were skilled computer technicians, to create a holographic facsimile of Norman's late son Harry. He planned to use this replica to turn Norman's grandson Normie against him, but it seemingly failed to work.
(Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2000) - DeRoma and his men broke into the penthouse apartment of Liz and Normie Osborn, seeking to abduct the boy. Spider-Man heard the commotion and took out most of the Scriers, but he was overpowered and defeated by DeRoma, who he dubbed "Scrier Junior". Returning to his base with his men and Normie, he was interrupted by Spider-Man, who took out DeRoma's Scriers.
Known members of DeRoma's Scrier faction include Larry and his brother, pictured.
--Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2000
(Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2000 (fb) ) - After his expulsion from the Cabal of Scrier, Matthew DeRoma employed several of his loyalists, who were skilled computer technicians, to create a holographic facsimile of Norman's late son Harry, using every available scrap of information about his life. He planned to use this replica to turn Norman's grandson Normie against him, but it seemingly failed to work. The simulation, in fact, worked too well, and the simulation developed Harry's personality, and not wishing his "son" to become a killer, he sought out Spider-Man.
(Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2000) - "Harry" began following Spider-Man around the city, trying to help him track down DeRoma, who had kidnapped Normie Osborn. Spider-Man, thinking it was part of a supervillainous plot, attacked him, but could do nothing to the intangible hologram. When their struggle attracted the cops, "Harry" disappeared, leaving Spider-Man to escape. "Harry" found him again, and led him to DeRoma's secret base. He angrily confronted the Scrier, and revealed his weakness to Spider-Man, allowing him to defeat him. He then had a long talk with his "son", absolving Spider-Man of any blame in his death. He bade Normie and Spider-Man farewell, and faded away.
"Holo-Harry", in addition to possessing the memories and personality of Harry Osborn, was intangible and could move at the speed of light, disappearing while he did so.
--Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2000
images: (without ads)
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2000, p22, pan3 (main image)
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2000, p8, pan1 (headshot)
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2000, p8, pan1 (chest symbol)
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2000, p5, pan1 (rogue Scriers)
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2000, p18, pan2 (Holo-Harry)
Appearances:
Amazing Spider-Man Annual 2000 - Howard Mackie (writer), Klaus Janson (art),
Ralph Macchio (editor)
Last updated: 12/21/08
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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