SCORCHER
Real Name: Steven Jamal Hudak
Identity/Class: Human technology user
Occupation: Criminal
thief and mercenary;
former research chemist
Group Membership: Formerly Sinister Sixteen (Armadillo, Beetle/Janice Lincoln, Bi-Beast, Boomerang/Fred Myers, Clown, Cyclone/Pierre Fresson, Human Fly, Kangaroo/Brian Hibbs, "Man Mountain", Mirage, Overdrive, Shriek, Speed Demon, Spot, Squid), Hood's
villain army/Initiative (Absorbing Man, Answer
(Nicholson), Armadillo,
Blood Brother, Bloodshed,
Boomerang (Outback, Myers), Brothers
Grimm (Barton and Percy Grimes), Bulldozer (Camp),
Bushwacker, Centurius,
Clown (Franklin), Controller, Crimson
Cowl (Hammer), Crossfire, Cutthroat, Doctor
Demonicus, Enforcers (Fancy Dan, Montana, Ox (Raymond
Bloch)), Griffin,
Hydro-Man, Lightmaster,
Living
Laser, Madame Masque (Frost), Man-Killer
(van Horne), Mandrill,
Mr.
Fear (Fagan), Piledriver (Calusky), Quicksand, Razorfist
(Douglas Scott), Scarecrow
(Laughton), Skein,
Slug (Lugman), Speed Demon, Spot, Squid
(Callahan), Thunderball, U-Foes (Ironclad (Steel), Vapor (Darnell),
Vector, X-Ray (Darnell)), Vampiro
(Larcenous Three), Vermin (Whelan), White
Dragon, White
Rabbit, Wizard (Wittman), Wrecker (Garthwaite));
formerly Masters
of Evil (Aqueduct,
Bison,
Blackwing (Silvermane), Boomerang, Cardinal (Clendenon), Constrictor, Crimson
Cowl (Hammer), Cyclone
(Fresson), Dragonfly
(Dultry), Eel
(Lavell), Flying
Tiger, Icemaster,
Joystick,
Klaw,
Lodestone (Haggard), Man-Ape,
Man-Killer
(Van Horne), Quicksand, Shatterfist,
Shockwave
(Sneed), Slyde
(Jalome Beacher), Sunstroke,
Supercharger,Tiger
Shark);
formerly leader of a Strike
Squad (Carl, Marc, others)
Affiliations: Bloodscream,
Boomerang, Eddie Brock, Chance
(Nicholas Powell), Crimson
Dynamo (unrevealed), Crossfire, Delilah, Diamondback (Bertrand), Eel
(Lavell), Femme
Fatales (Bloodlust,
Knockout,
Mindblast,
Whiplash
(Foreman)), Force
of Nature (Aquaduct,
Skybreaker, Sunstreak
(Roarke), Terraformer),
Angelo
Fortunato, Don Vincente Fortunato, Freak, Freedom
Force (Challenger (Waring), Cloud 9, Equinox,
Spinner,
Think
Tank), Goldbug,
Grim Reaper, Hardball (Brokeridge), Hobgoblin
(unrevealed), Hydro-Man, Jackal (Miles Warren), S.H.I.E.L.D. agent
Daisy Johnson, John
King, King Cobra (Klaus Voorhees), Lady
Octopus, Looter,
Mentallo, Mister
Fear (Fagan), Mysterio
(Berkhart), Norman Osborn, Owl (Leland Owlsley), Relf,
Roughhouse, Sadie
Frickett, Sandman (Baker), Scorpion (Gargan), Shadow
Initiative (Badd
Axe, Batwing
(Santini), Bengal,
Butterball (Schaub), Heavy
Mettle (Stronghold
(unrevealed), Warbow
(unrevealed)), Komodo, Ringer
(Kraft)), Shocker (Schultz), S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jasper Sitwell, Skrulls
(Elektra (Pagon), others), Speed Demon, Spider-Slayer
Mark 20, Stilt-Man
(Day), Trapster, White
Rabbit, Will O' The Wisp, Wizard (Wittman), X-Men (Wolverine (Howlett),
others), Yith,
several unnamed strippers;
formerly Fantastic Four (Human Torch
(Storm),
Invisible Woman, Mr. Fantastic (Richards), Thing (Grimm)), Initiative
(Constrictor, Diamondback (Leighton), Penance (Baldwin), Taskmaster),
Sean "Tiny" McKeever, Tinkerer, Lucia von Bardas, unnamed co-workers
Enemies: Blastaar and his Negative Zone army, Chameleon, Force (Wilson), Gorilla-Man (Nagan), Heavy Hitters (Nonstop, Prodigy (Gilmore), Telemetry), Looter, New Warriors/Avengers Resistance (Debrii, Gauntlet (Green), Justice (Astrovik), Night Thrasher (Donyell Taylor), Rage, Scarlet Spider (Patrick), Slapstick, Tigra, Ultragirl), New York Police Department (Captain George Stacy, Pietrantonio, others), Nick Fury LMD, Nighthawk (Richmond, Earth-616), Nightmare (Fear-Lord), She-Hulk (Walters), Jenny Sheridan, Spider-Man (Parker), Spider-Man (Reilly), Thunderbolts (Atlas (Josten), Charcoal, Hawkeye (Barton), Jolt (Takahama), Moonstone (Sofen), Songbird), White Fang, several unidentified downtown Manhattan merchants, several unidentified civilians
Known Relatives: Kali Hudak (ex-wife), Lucas Hudak (son), unnamed ex-mother-in-law
Aliases: "Boss", "Scorch", "Scorchie", "Scorchy"
Base of Operations:
Camp H.A.M.M.E.R., New Mexico;
formerly Manhattan, New York;
formerly the Filler-Up gas station,
downtown Manhattan, New York;
formerly an unidentified research lab,
New York
First Appearance: Untold Tales of Spider-Man#1 (September, 1995)
Powers/Abilities: A
gifted chemist and
inventor, the Scorcher built an armored suit that protects him from
heat while dispensing fire from wrist-mounted flame-throwers. While the
armor is durable, the suit's fuel tanks are vulnerable to damage and
explode with repeated punishment. Later upgrades to the suit gave
Scorcher flight abilities, allowing him to reach speeds up to 145 miles
per hour.
The Scorcher is prone to fits of anger
and placing
blame for his actions on others. When overcome with these feelings the
Scorcher acts rashly, often putting himself in harm's way. For a time
the Scorcher appeared to have developed meta-human abilities,
specifically a resistance to flames and the power to create them
biologically; the source of these abilities is unknown, and they
appeared to have diminished in recent years.
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 175 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Bald
History: (Secret War: From the Files of Nick Fury (fb) - BTS) - Steven Jamal Hudak was married to Kali for eleven years, during which time they had a son, Lucas. The marriage ultimately fell apart when Lucas was very young.
(Untold Tales of Spider-Man#14 (fb)) - A research chemist of good standing, Hudak was framed for embezzlement by a co-worker who planted incriminating evidence in Hudak's car. Unable to convince others of his innocence, Hudak went on the run.
(Untold Tales of Spider-Man#14/All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z: Update#2 (Scorcher)) - Feeling he now lived outside the law, Hudak created an armored suit able to dispense flames while protecting himself from their brunt. He soon became known as the criminal mercenary, the Scorcher.
(Spider-Man: Revenge of the Green Goblin#3/All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z: Update#2 (Scorcher) (fb) - BTS) - The Scorcher was contacted by industrialist Norman Osborn, who provided Scorcher with additional funding for improved armaments and a "Strike Squad" to follow his orders.
(Untold Tales of Spider-Man#1 (fb) - BTS) - Scorcher and his Strike Squad began stealing electronics designs at Osborn's behest.
(Untold Tales of Spider-Man#1) - Scorcher and his gang ran afoul of Spider-Man, making short work of the novice crimefighter. During a subsequent robbery, Scorcher and his team fared less well, encountering a better prepared police squad that forced the team to flee to an Osborn Chemical warehouse (the connection between Scorcher and Osborn going beyond anyone's notice). While Scorcher attempted to reassure his gang that everything was going to plan, the surprise arrival of Spider-Man caused the Scorcher to begin shooting flames wildly around the warehouse while his gang attacked the hero. With the smoke and heat getting the better of Spider-Man, Scorcher believed he'd defeated him and in his arrogance failed to notice Spider-Man pull a watertower down through a widening hole in the roof. The sudden cold shattering his helmet and cracking his armor, Scorcher was defeated and taken into police custody.
(Untold Tales of Spider-Man#14 (fb) - BTS) - Scorcher was allegedly given a ten-to-fifteen year sentence for his crimes. (see comments)
(Untold Tales of Spider-Man#14/All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z: Update#2 (Scorcher)) - Scorcher escaped prison and improved his armor, adding, among other devices, a jetpack to his suit.
(Untold Tales of Spider-Man#14 (fb) - BTS)
- Scorcher
took over the downtown Manhattan-based Filler-Up gas station, using it
as a base of operations while he began a protection racket with nearby
businesses. While he pulled in large sums of cash, Scorcher continually
bemoaned the current state of his life, growing increasingly paranoid
and bitter.
Having taken care of the previous owner
of the
Filler-Up, Scorcher employed Midtown High drop-out Sean "Tiny" McKeever
to handle the daily affairs of his front. (see comments)
(Untold Tales of Spider-Man#14) - Spotting
Spider-Man
webslinging near the Filler-Up and believing it was because his scheme
had been uncovered, Scorcher attacked the wall-crawler.
Returning to the Filler-Up after another
night of
extortion, the Scorcher began counting his haul when he was ambushed by
Spider-Man. Blaming his current state on Spider-Man, Scorcher argued
that he was prey to Spider-Man's hounding and victimization and
revealed his origins to better explain himself. Furious at Spider-Man's
assertion that Scorcher's turn to crime was because he was too cowardly
to stand up for the truth, Scorcher struck back, easily knocking
Spider-Man down. Distracted when Tiny stumbled onto the fight, Scorcher
turned away from Spider-Man long enough for his foe to recover. His
fuel tanks accidentally ruptured during Spider-Man's assault, Scorcher
fled into a tunnel holding the gas station's underground tanks rather
than leave himself at Spider-Man's mercy. Scorcher vanished in a
massive explosion.
(Spider-Man Holiday Special 1995/All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z: Update#2 (fb) - BTS) - Scorcher survived the explosion. Improving on his suit, Scorcher created a version that allowed him to operate free of the protective dome of the original; his seeming resistance to the fire (and self-generating flame powers) may have been a side-effect of the Filler-Up explosion. (see comments)
(Spider-Man Holiday Special 1995) - After a
period of
seeming inactivity, Scorcher made his grand return on Christmas Eve,
threatening last-minute shoppers at the crowded Manhattan Mall.
Confronted by Spider-Man, Scorcher began showing off the improvements
to his armor. After endangering the life of a panhandler, he boasted
that Spider-Man's webbing was no match for his gauntlets, but a furious
Spider-Man fought through the heat and crushed them, hobbling Scorcher.
(Thunderbolts I#24/Thunderbolts I#25 (fb) - BTS) - Returning to an design resembling his original armor (but giving the appearance his head was ablaze), Scorcher joined the Crimson Cowl's expanded Masters of Evil team.
(Thunderbolts I#25 (fb) - BTS) - As a member of the Masters of Evil, Scorcher participated in the installation of Weather Modulators around the world, as part of the Crimson Cowl's plot to affect global weather patterns.
(Thunderbolts I#24) - Scorcher was present as Crimson Cowl activated the Weather Modulators.
(Thunderbolts I#25) - Watching as the world
fell into
chaos amid disastrous weather, Scorcher was stunned as Moonstone turned
against the Thunderbolts to join the Masters and revealed her teammates
disguised presence among the Master's ranks. Removing their disguises,
the Thunderbolts attacked the Masters of Evil, calling Scorcher and his
teammates into action. Attempting to hit Hawkeye, Scorcher accidentally
hit Icemaster (seemingly evaporating his frosty teammate); he was
defeated soon after when Songbird threw Quicksand at him.
As with most of his teammates, Scorcher
was arrested and imprisoned.
(Marvel Knights Spider-Man#6) - Scorcher attended the Tinkerer's auction of the Venom symbiote. (see comments)
(Secret War#1/Secret War#5/2 (fb) - BTS) - Scorcher began using the Tinkerer as a source of technological upgrades, primarily dealing with him out of his Philadelphia-based workshop.
(Secret War#1 (fb) - BTS) - Scorcher was included in a list of the Tinkerer's clients during Nick Fury's presentation of Project CIRCUIT to the President of the United States.
(All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel
Universe A-Z:
Update#2 (fb) - BTS) - Whatever the cause of his change in appearance
and powers, Scorcher was eventually restored to his original look
through unrevealed means.
Scorcher acquired enhanced armor from the
Tinkerer,
who later persuaded Scorcher into working for Latverian Prime Minister
Lucia von Bardas.
(Secret War#5/2 (fb) - BTS) - Scorcher's upgrade (along with upgrades made to many more villains) was bankrolled by von Bardas.
(Secret War#3/Secret War: From the Files of Nick Fury (fb) - BTS) - As repayment to von Bardas, Scorcher was instructed to attack a group of heroes who overthrew her in Latveria. Concerned at what the impending confrontation would mean for New York City, Scorcher wrote a letter to his ex-wife pleading with her to take their son out of the city until the chaos passed. Scorcher finished the letter expressing his lack of satisfaction with his criminal life and vowed to put it behind him, adding that he'd like to be a larger part of his son's life and attempt a reconciliation with Kali.
(Secret War#3) - Scorcher was teamed with
Diamondback to
take out Daredevil in his Hell's Kitchen apartment. Narrowly missing
his target, Scorcher was furious to learn that Spider-Man was in
Daredevil's company; eager to avoid another disastrous confrontation he
soon fled.
Regrouping with the Tinkerer's other
ungraded
clients, Scorcher joined an attack on a greatly outnumbered Spider-Man,
Captain America, Daredevil and Nick Fury.
(Secret War#4) - Scorcher watched the heroes fight back against the horde. Whisked out of the battle by Daredevil, Scorcher was pushed into a nearby body of water to void his flames and pushed into a pier, shattering his dome. Finally realizing what he'd allowed himself to be party to, Scorcher broke down in tears. Making his way back onto land, Scorcher could feel the energies from his suit being drawn into von Bardas, who revealed herself to be a cyborg and that she planned to use the energy to destroy New York.
(Secret War#5) - Von Bardas' energy was
disrupted and
her form torn apart by young S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Daisy Johnson.
Scorcher, realizing the destruction he'd been party to, attempted to
explain himself to the Human Torch.
(Secret War#5/2 (fb) - BTS) - Scorcher was sent to a S.H.I.E.L.D. medical center in Atlanta, Georgia. After several weeks of recovery Scorcher asked to speak to an agent, eventually meeting with Jasper Sitwell. Asked about his connection to Lucia von Bardas and whether the trail of funding ended with her, Scorcher expressed a desire to leave his life of crime behind him and use his skills for the greater good. He added that unlike some of the other criminals who offered to work for S.H.I.E.L.D. as a plea bargain, he was genuinely interested in turning over a new leaf.
(New Avengers#5 (fb) - BTS) - Scorcher was contacted by a group of Skrulls interested in hiring him to break Sauron out of the Raft prison. Committed to turning his life around, Scorcher turned them down and contacted the X-Men to let them know about their plans. (see comments)
(The Last Defenders#1 (fb) - BTS) - Despite his good intentions, Scorcher later skipped out on his bail and was tracked down by Freeman Bonds Inc. bounty hunter She-Hulk.
(The Last Defenders#1) - Scorcher was captured by She-Hulk.
(Avengers: The Initiative#25 (fb) - BTS) - Scorcher escaped custody and joined the Hood's villain army. He also began wearing his original suit of armor once more. (see comments)
(Avengers: The Initiative#35 (fb) - BTS) - In spite of appearances, Scorcher had a bad feeling that things weren't going to end well.
(Avengers: The Initiative#25) - Scorcher was ordered by Norman Osborn and the Hood to track down Tigra and the Gauntlet alongside Living Laser, Griffin and Razorfist. Finding their targets in New York's sewer system, Scorcher attacked. Separated from Tigra and Gauntlet by a cave-in caused by the New Warriors, Scorcher and the others returned to the Hood's hideout.
(Dark Reign: The Hood#2) - Scorcher was enjoying the Hood's social club when a fire broke out. Clearing out of the blaze, Scorcher reassured the Hood that he wasn't responsible for the fire and was tasked to make sure any incriminating evidence was destroyed before they fled.
(Dark Reign: The Hood#3 (fb) - BTS) - While the Hood's lair and it's well-stocked lounge were being repaired, Scorcher went bar-hopping with John King, Griffin and Piledriver.
(Dark Reign: The Hood#3) - Stumbling over themselves, Scorcher and the others left the Vaso Restaurant planning to continue on to another bar; instead they were shocked unconscious by Force. Waking in a prison cell, Scorcher was soon removed into H.A.M.M.E.R. custody returned to the Hood.
(Dark Reign: The Hood#4) - Scorcher enjoyed dinner and drinks with several other members of the villain army until the Hood revealed his plan to get revenge on Force by ambushing him during a police sting operation against the Shocker. Backing the Shocker up against Force and an NYPD strike team, Scorcher (with the Hood, Mr. Fear, Mandrill, Piledriver, Shocker, and John King) had little chance to use his powers before he was taken down by the Hood's adversary White Fang.
(Dark Reign: The Hood#5) - Recovering, the Scorcher was apprehended by Force and the strike team. Left behind while the other members of the Hood's gang were freed by the Blood Brother, the Squid, Controller, and Thunderball, Scorcher was savagely beaten by Force and White Fang who tore his armor to pieces and left him battered as a message to the Hood. The Scorcher was taken back to the Hood's lair, where he began his recovery. (see comments)
(Dark Reign: Mister Negative#1) - Sporting his Tinkerer-created suit, Scorcher was sent to Chinatown alongside Answer, Bloodshed, Lightmaster, Speed Demon, the Spot, the Squid, and White Rabbit to take control of Mr. Negative's criminal enterprises for the Hood. After handling the destruction of Mr. Negative's illegal casino personally, Scorcher rejoined the others and continued on to Mr. Negative's headquarters. Unexpectedly, the group found themselves facing a Mr. Negative-corrupted Spider-Man.
(Dark Reign: Mister Negative#2) - Scorcher
and the
others proved little match to the negative-empowered Spider-Man who
bested them with ease.
(Dark Reign: Mister Negative#3 - BTS) - The members of the Hood's army defeated by Spider-Man recovered and left with the Hood on hearing of Norman Osborn's amicable arrangement with Mr. Negative.
(Avengers: The Initiative#25) - Scorcher relocated to the Initiative's training facility at Camp H.A.M.M.E.R., New Mexico, alongside the remaining Initiative trainees and the other members of the Hood's army. (see comments)
(Avengers: The Initiative#26 (fb)) - Scorcher donned a new suit of armor and began training under Taskmaster at Camp H.A.M.M.E.R.
(Avengers: The Initiative#26) - The Hood briefed Scorcher and several other members of his army on how things would be run in the future, putting small-scale robberies behind them and focusing on playing the parts of heroes while ripping the public off. Watching the Hood call Vampiro forward to ask him about the hookers upstate he'd recently killed, Scorcher was stunned when the Hood chose to make an example of the indignant Vampiro by devouring him.
(Avengers: The Initiative#27/2) - Scorcher was part of an Initiative team including Taskmaster, Penance, Constrictor, and the Living Laser sent to take back the Negative Zone-based prison. With the aid of former Initiative recruit Hardball and the surviving members of the Shadow Initiative, they completed their task.
(Avengers: The Initiative#28) - Scorcher was sent alongside other members of the villain army and the Initiative teams the U-Foes and Freedom Force to apprehend rogue team the Heavy Hitters. The fight escalated with the arrival of the New Warriors who rescued Heavy Hitters members Nonstop and Telemetry while leaving Prodigy behind at his request. Scorcher joined the other Initiative loyalists in a dogpile on Prodigy.
(Avengers: The Initiative#29) - Scorcher, Badd Axe, Quicksand, Ringer, and a squad of H.A.M.M.E.R. agents attempted to stop the Avengers Resistance's attempt to free their captured teammate Night Thrasher from Camp H.A.M.M.E.R.. The fight was eventually joined by Camp H.A.M.M.E.R. senior staff member Taskmaster, and former New Warrior Penance.
(Avengers: The Initiative#30) - Following the chaos that erupted from H.A.M.M.E.R. counselor Trauma's possession by his father Nightmare, Scorcher was forced to watch as the New Warriors escaped with an assist from Penance (whose fractured mind was healed during the melee).
(Avengers: The Initiative#31) - Scorcher
enjoyed a night
of partying and hard-drinking with his fellow Initiative recruits. The
excitement and debauchery came to an abrupt halt when Taskmaster
informed the group that H.A.M.M.E.R. director Norman Osborn would be on
site the following day for an inspection. Heavily inebriated, Scorcher
stumbled away.
The following morning at 8 am sharp,
Scorcher and his
teammates engaged in a training exercise observed by Osborn.
(New Avengers I#61 - BTS) - The Hood used the Asgardian Norn Stones to enhance the abilities of his villain army, increasing the power of Scorcher's armor exponentially.
(Avengers: The Initiative#33/Avengers: The Initiative#34 - BTS) - Scorcher, back in his original armor, was one of a handful of Initiative recruits left at Camp H.A.M.M.E.R. during Osborn's "Siege" of Asgard. Alongside Badd Axe, the Brothers Grimm, Griffin, Living Laser, Man-Killer, Mandrill, Outback, the Ringer, and the Hood, Scorcher defended the camp against the Avengers Resistance once more.
(Avengers: The Initiative#34) - After assisting the Ringer against Slapstick and Justice, Scorcher used his flames to bolster the Hood's assault. As the Avengers Resistance were joined by the Shadow Initiative and Penance, the Hood and a number of his forces left to bolster Osborn's forces in Asgard, leaving Scorcher and the remaining villains to combat the heroes. (see comments)
(Avengers: The Initiative#35/New Avengers I#64) - The Hood's Initiative army lost their powers as a "dying" Loki transferred the the power of the Norn Stones to the Avengers.
(Avengers: The Initiative#35) - As the fight raged on between the Initiative and the Avengers Resistance, Scorcher attempted to rally the troops by reminding them of their power boost. As said power faded, Scorcher's earlier feeling proved accurate as he found himself surrounded by an assemblage of heroes. Gauntlet defeated Scorcher with a punch that shattered his dome helmet; Scorcher remained unconscious as the villainous Initiative were arrested following word of Osborn's dismissal.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#668 (fb) - BTS) - Jackal hired White Rabbit, Scorcher and Chance to protect his old lab at Empire State University and gave them spider-powers.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#668) - Peter Parker and Carlie Cooper went to Warren's old lab at ESU where White Rabbit and her two allies were already waiting for them.
(Amazing Spider-Man I#669) - White Rabbit, Chance and Scorcher attacked Peter and Carlie. When White Rabbit kicked Carlie, he realized that White Rabbit possessed spider-powers. Peter used the techniques he learned from Shang-Chi to defeat White Rabbit, Chance and Scorcher all by his own. Peter webbed them up and Carlie carried them to a special containment unit. Jackal had watched the whole fight through a security camera.
(Superior Foes of Spider-Man#11 (fb) - BTS) - Scorcher joined forces with Delilah, Freak and Will O' the Wisp.
(Superior Foes of Spider-Man#11 (fb) - BTS) - Scorcher questioned Looter's capability when Looter demanded to become NYC's ganglord.
(Superior Foes of Spider-Man#11 (fb) ) - Looter beat up Scorcher, threatened him with a gun and asked if anybody else doubted him.
(Superior Foes of Spider-Man#12) - The Owl had Scorcher join Boomerang's Sinister Sixteen in a raid on Chameleon's hideout.
SECRET WARS II HAPPENED
(Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Alpha#1 (fb) - BTS) - At some point Scorcher was imprisoned by S.H.I.E.L.D. in Pleasant Hill where his reality was rewritten by a Cosmic Cube.
(Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Alpha#1) - Scorcher woke up from his fake life as a firefighter in Pleasant Hill and immediately lashed out with fire against his fellow firefighters. He was one of the first to join Zemo.
(Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Omega#1) - Freed from his false reality Scorcher joined forces with Baron Zemo and other villains to take down Pleasant Hill.
(All-New, All-Different Avengers#8) - Scorcher wreaked havoc in the streets of Pleasant Hill alongside other villains.
(Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Omega#1) - Scorcher and the other villains were opposed by the Avengers.
Comments: Created by Kurt Busiek and Pat Olliffe
The Scorcher received a profile in the All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z: Update#2. A brief profile with limited statistics was given in Secret War#4.
It's suggested that Scorcher killed the previous owner of the Filler-Up, but never explicitly stated. Given the ease with which he turned on Tiny McKeever however, it's a likely assumption he did the old owner in.
Scorcher's activities following his seeming demise in Spider-Man's early days and his return during the brief period where the Spider-Man identity was assumed by Ben Reilly are undocumented. His profile in the All-New Official Handbook fails to shed light on his activities.
The Scorcher may have attended a later auction for the sale of the Scorpion's costume and name in Marvel Knights Spider-Man#12.
While it was initially assumed Scorcher was contacted by Sauron's associates, the Savage Land Mutates, it was later revealed in Mighty Avengers I#16 that the parties responsible for arranging Sauron's jailbreak were a group of Skrulls, including Pagon, the Skrull who impersonated Elektra for a time. Any possible connection between the two groups is unconfirmed.
It's hard to tell how a lot of the Scorcher's recent history falls time-wise, but presumably his appearances in Dark Reign: The Hood precede his in Dark Reign: Mister Negative given the damage incurred to his original armor.
A transition period between Tony Stark's tenure as director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Norman Osborn's as director of H.A.M.M.E.R. was established in Avengers: The Initiative#35, providing just enough wiggle room for Scorcher's appearances as part of the Hood's Army to have taken place before he transferred to Camp H.A.M.M.E.R.
Scorcher appears to be part of the group transported to Asgard in Avengers: The Initiative#34, but is revealed to have been left to defend Camp H.A.M.M.E.R. in the following issue.
The Scorcher appears in a recollection of Spider-Man's oldest foes in Spider-Man: Dead Man's Hand.
Main image scan by MarvellousLuke.
CLARIFICATIONS: Scorcher has no known connections to
(Secret War: From the Files of Nick Fury - BTS) - Kali Hudak was married to Steven Jamal for eleven years until their marriage fell apart. Kali retained sole custody of their son Lucas, while her ex-husband fell into a life of crime after being framed for embezzlement. Kali kept up some degree of contact with Steven, even after he became the costumed criminal the Scorcher; when Scorcher made attempts to reform, he proposed a reconciliation with his family (implying Kali was not currently involved with someone else). Kali has a close relationship with her mother who resides in Cleveland.
--Secret War: From the Files of Nick Fury
(Secret War: From the Files of Nick Fury - BTS) - Lucas Hudak's parents split-up while he was quite young. His mother, Kali, gained sole custody of him; he seldom, if ever, sees his father, Steven Jamal. Lucas gets good grades in school, which his father attributed to "book smarts" passed down from Kali.
--Secret War: From the Files of Nick Fury
(Spider-Man: Revenge of the Green Goblin#3/All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z: Update#2 (Scorcher) (fb) - BTS) - With the financial support of Norman Osborn, the Scorcher organized a Strike Squad. The Strike Squad were dressed in armored flame-resistant suits.
(Untold Tales of Spider-Man#1 (fb) - BTS) - The Strike Squad, including members Marc and Carl, accompanied the Scorcher while he committed crimes for Osborn.
(Untold Tales of Spider-Man#1) - Confronted by Spider-Man, the Strike Squad avoided capture. Having completed their job for Osborn, they holed up in an Osborn Chemical warehouse waiting to give him the last batch of stolen designs. Ambushed by Spider-Man, the Strike Squad regrouped and briefly outmatched him before falling to his superior power. They were later taken into police custody and seemingly dissolved with their arrest.
--Untold Tales of Spider-Man#1 (Spider-Man: Revenge of the Green Goblin#3, All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z: Update#2
(Secret War: From the Files of Nick Fury - BTS) - Scorcher's ex-mother-in-law, mother of Kali, grandmother of Lucas. She lives in Cleveland.
--Secret War: From the Files of Nick Fury
images:
(without ads)
All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z: Update#2, Scorcher profile (main image)
Untold Tales of Spider-Man#14, p17, pan4 (Steven Jamal Hudak)
Spider-Man Holiday Special 1995, p7, pan4 (2nd armor)
Dark Reign: Mister Negative#1, p15, pan1 (Secret War armor)
Avengers: The Initiative#31, p14, pan2 (Initiative armor)
Untold Tales of Spider-Man#1, p28, pan1 (Scorcher's Strike Squad)
Appearances:
Untold Tales of Spider-Man#1
(September, 1995) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Pat Olliffe (pencils), Al Vey
(inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Spider-Man Holiday Special 1995 (December,
1995) - Glenn
Greenberg, Sholly Fisch, Adam Santangelo, Eric Fein and Karl Bollers
(story), Kevin Maguire, Robert Brown & Joshua Hood and Chris
Gardner (pencils), Jimmy Palmiotti, Al Williamson and Steve Montano
(inks), Mike Manley and Javier Saltares (art), Sarra Mossoff (editor)
Untold Tales of Spider-Man#14 (October,
1996) - Kurt
Busiek (writer), Pat Olliffe (pencils), Al Vey & Pam Eklund
(inks),
Tom Brevoort (editor)
Thunderbolts I#24 (March, 1999) - Kurt
Busiek (writer), Mark Bagley (pencils), Scott Hanna (inks), Tom
Brevoort (editor)
Thunderbolts I#25 (April, 1999) - Kurt
Busiek & Mark
Bagley (masters of menace), Bob Wiacek & Al Vey (guest
masters),
Tom Brevoort (lethal legion)
Spider-Man: Revenge of the Green Goblin#3
(December,
2000) - Roger Stern (writer), Ron Frenz (pencils), Pat Olliffe (inks),
Ralph Macchio (editor)
Secret War#3 (October, 2004) - Brian
Michael Bendis (writer), Gabriele Dell'otto (painter), Andy Schmidt
(editor)
Marvel Knights Spider-Man#6 (November,
2004) - Mark
Millar (writer), Terry Dodson (pencils), Rachel Dodson (inks), Axel
Alonso (editor)
Secret War#4 (May, 2005) - Brian Michael
Bendis (writer), Gabriele Dell'otto (painter), Andy Schmidt (editor)
New Avengers#5 (May, 2005) - Brian Michael
Bendis (writer), David Finch (pencils), Danny Miki (inks), Tom Brevoort
(editor)
Secret War: From the Files of Nick Fury
(May, 2005) -
Jeff Christiansen, Stuart Vandal, Michael Hoskin, Mark O'English,
Ronald Byrd and Sean McQuaid (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (Level 1)), Jeff
Youngquist (editor)
Secret War#5 (December, 2005) - Brian
Michael Bendis (writer), Gabriele Dell'otto (painter), Andy Schmidt
(editor)
All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel
Universe A-Z:
Update#2 (May, 2007) - Jeff Christiansen (head writer/coordinator),
Sean McQuaid, Ronald Byrd, Michael Hoskin, Mark O'English, Mike
Fichera, Stuart Vandal, Eric J. Moreels, Chris Biggs, Madison Carter,
Anthony Flamini, Al Sjoerdsma & Rich Green (writers), Jeff
Youngquist & Jennifer Gr?nwald (editors)
The Last Defenders#1 (May, 2008) - Joe
Casey
(co-plot/script), Keith Giffen (co-plot/breakdowns), Jim Muniz
(pencils), Cam Smith (inks), Stephen Wacker (editor)
Dark Reign: Mister Negative#1 (August,
2009) - Fred Van
Lente (writer), Gianluca Gugliotta (pencils), Lanning & Justice
(inks), Stephen Wacker (editor)
Dark Reign: The Hood#2 (August, 2009) -
Jeff Parker (writer), Kyle Hotz (artist), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#25 (August, 2009)
- Christos N. Gage (script), Humberto Ramos (art), Jeanine Schaefer
(editor)
Dark Reign: Mister Negative#2 (September,
2009) - Fred Van Lente (writer), Gianluca Gugliotta (art), Stephen
Wacker (editor)
Dark Reign: The Hood#3 (September, 2009) -
Jeff Parker (writer), Kyle Hotz (artist), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#26 (September,
2009) - Christos
N. Gage (script), Rafa Sandoval (penciler), Roger Bonet (inker),
Jeanine Schaefer (editor)
Dark Reign: Mister Negative#3 (October,
2009) - Fred Van Lente (writer), Gianluca Gugliotta (art), Stephen
Wacker (editor)
Dark Reign: The Hood#4 (October, 2009) -
Jeff Parker (writer), Kyle Hotz (artist), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#27 (October, 2009)
- Christos
N. Gage (writer), Rafa Sandoval (penciler), Roger Bonet (inker), Bill
Rosemann & Jeanine Schaefer (editors)
Avengers: The Initiative#28 (November,
2009) - Christos
N. Gage (writer), Rafa Sandoval (pencils), Roger Bonet (inker), Bill
Rosemann (editor)
Dark Reign: The Hood#5 (November, 2009) -
Jeff Parker (writer), Kyle Hotz (pencils), Scott Hanna (inks), Bill
Rosemann (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#29 (December,
2009) - Christos
N. Gage (writer), Jorge Molina (penciler), Victor Olazaba (inker), Bill
Rosemann (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#30 (January, 2010)
- Christos
N. Gage (writer), Jorge Molina (penciler), Victor Olazaba w/ Andrew
Hennessy (inkers), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#31 (February,
2010) - Christos
N. Gage (writer), Rafa Sandoval (penciler), Roger Bonet (inker), Bill
Rosemann (editor)
New Avengers I#61 (March, 2010) - Brian
Michael Bendis
(writer), Stuart Immonen (pencilers), Daniel Acuna (art), Wade Von
Grawbadger (inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#33 (April, 2010) -
Christos N.
Gage (writer), Jorge Molina (penciler), Victor Olazaba (inker), Bill
Rosemann (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#34 (May, 2010) -
Christos N.
Gage (writer), Jorge Molina (penciler), Andrew Hennessy (inker), Bill
Rosemann (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#35 (June, 2010) -
Christos N.
Gage (writer), Jorge Molina (penciler), Andrew Hennessy (inker), Bill
Rosemann (editor)
New Avengers I#64 (June, 2010) - Brian
Michael Bendis (writer), Mike McKone (art), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#668 (October, 2011) - Dan Slott (writer), Humberto
Ramos (pencils), Victor Olazaba (inks), Ellie Pyle & Stephen
Wacker (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#669 (November, 2011) - Dan Slott (writer),
Humberto Ramos (pencils), Carlos Cuevas (inks), Ellie Pyle &
Stephen Wacker (editor)
Superior Foes of Spider-Man#11 (May, 2014) - Elliot Kalan (writer), Nuno Plati (artist), Tom Brennan (editor)
Superior Foes of Spider-Man#12 (August, 2014) - Nick Spencer (writer),
Steve Lieber (artist), Lauren Sankovitch (editor)
Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Alpha#1 (May, 2016) - Nick
Spencer (writer), Jesús Saiz (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)
All-New, All-Different Avengers#8 (June, 2016) - Mark Waid (writer), Adam Kubert (artist), Tom Brevoort with Wil Moss (editors)
Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Omega#1 (June, 2016) - Nick
Spencer (writer), Danial Acuña & Angel Unzueta Galarza (artists),
Tom Brevoort (editor)
First Posted: 10/27/2009
Last updated: 05/10/2017
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and
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like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com
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