BOBBY GROSS

Real Name: Robert "Bobby" Gross

Identity/Class: Human (1960s to 1980s)

Occupation: Unrevealed

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: None

Enemies: None

Known Relatives: Milton Gross (father), Lillian Gross (mother), "Roberta Gross" (sister, deceased), Dottie (aunt, presumed deceased)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: His parents' home in New York City, New York

First Appearance: Bizarre Adventures I#33/3 (December, 1982)

Powers/Abilities: He was connected to the soul of his dead twin sister, who often took control over his body. He often heard her voice in his head. He was suicidal due to the mental torment by his twin sister's spirit.

Height: Unrevealed
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Unrevealed

History:
(Bizarre Adventures I#33/3 (fb) - BTS) - Bobby and his sister were positioned in such a way in their mother's womb that Doctor Eisenberg only ever noticed one heartbeat.

<July, 1960> - After his mother miscarried his twin sister Bobby was born to Lillian Gross alive and well to the surprise of Doctor Eisenberg and Bobby's father Milton. Unbeknownst to everyone the soul of his sister hung on to Bobby.

(Bizarre Adventures I#33/3 (fb) ) - As a child the spirit of his twin sister influenced Bobby to push his Auntie Dottie down the stairs.

   Influenced by his sister's spirit the teenage Bobby set fire to the boy's locker room.

   His sister's spirit influenced Bobby to seek out male partners.

   Eventually Bobby tried to commit suicide by taking sleeping pills. He was found by his parents, who sent him to a mental clinic.

(Bizarre Adventures I#33/3 (fb) - BTS) - After his release Bobby continued to go to a therapist.

(Bizarre Adventures I#33/3) <February, 1982> - Bobby spent the night with a woman named Rhonda. He told her about the way he was born and how he was sure his twin was a girl. When he heard a voice he thought Rhonda had asked him if he felt guilty about surviving and Bobby started chocking her. When he realized what he was doing Bobby ran away even though Rhonda seemed okay and tried to calm him down, but Bobby was sure she wouldn't understand what was going on with him. Bobby tried to call his therapist via payphone, but once again his sister's spirit took over.

(Bizarre Adventures I#33/3 - BTS) - Under his sister's control Bobby got drunk at a bar and then spent the night with a man.

(Bizarre Adventures I#33/3) - Bobby woke up and was shocked at what he had done. He cursed at his sister and ran off hearing the laughter of his sister's spirit.

   Back home Bobby was confronted by his sister's spirit in his mirror. He thought he had gotten rid of her with therapy, but she told him that she would never let go of him and eventually gain complete control of his body. She reminded him of all the things she made him do over the years and then hunted him through the house because she had grown stronger over the years while he had grown weaker. Bobby had enough and took a razor to cut open the arteries on his arms because if he was not going to be free of his sister he was going to end both of their lives. His parents weren't at home to save him and he was not going to phone for help. Bobby told his sister's soul to leave to where she belonged and while Bobby bled out his sister's soul "died" and finally disappeared. With her gone Bobby called an ambulance.

Comments: Created by J.M. DeMatteis, Geoff Isherwood, Ian Akin & Brian Garvey.

This whole story reminded me of Charles Xavier and his sister Cassandra Nova, who Xavier killed in the womb in self-defense and later became a psychic entity that, unlike other beings like her, was able to build her own body. Shi'ar call these beings Mummudrai!

This profile was completed 1/31/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.

Profile by Markus Raymond.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Bobby Gross should not be confused with:

Milton & Lillian Gross

(Bizarre Adventures I#33/3 (fb) - BTS) - At 34 Lillian got pregnant with twins. During her pregnancy Doctor Eisenberg never noticed that she was carrying twins because the babies were positioned right in front of each other so he only ever picked up one heartbeat. In July 1960 Lillian miscarried one child, but gave birth to the other at Beth El Hospital in New York City.

(Bizarre Adventures I#33/3 (fb) ) - Forty-year-old sanitation foreman Milton Gross waited for word on his wife, who had just miscarried. When Doctor Eisenberg told him that she and the baby were fine Milton was rather surprised. Eisenberg revealed that she was apparently pregnant with twins all along and he never noticed because the way they were positioned the doctor could only ever pick up one heartbeat.

   Years later Milton and Lillian found their son in his bed after he tried to commit suicide by taking sleeping pills. They sent him to a mental clinic.

(Bizarre Adventures I#33/3 - BTS) - Milton and Lillian were not at home when their son cut his arteries with a razor.

--Bizarre Adventures I#33/3

"Roberta Gross"

(Bizarre Adventures I#33/3 (fb) - BTS) - "Roberta" and her brother were placed in such a position in their mother Lillian's womb that Doctor Eisenberg never noticed that she was carrying twins. "Roberta" died in the womb, but her soul hung on to her brother, who was born.

(Bizarre Adventures I#33/3 (fb) ) - Over the years "Roberta" grew up along with Bobby and slowly took over his body. As a child she made him push Aunt Dottie down the stairs. As a teen she made him set the boy's locker room on fire. When she became interested in men she took over Bobby to seek out partners she liked. His eventually attempted to commit suicide, but was found by his parents, who sent him to a mental clinic.

(Bizarre Adventures I#33/3 (fb) - BTS) - Bobby underwent therapy and seemingly got rid of his sister.

(Bizarre Adventures I#33/3) - While Bobby spent a night with a woman named Rhonda "Roberta" asked him if he ever felt guilty about being the one who survived. He thought it was Rhonda who asked him and started choking her before running away. When he tried to call his therapist via payphone "Roberta" took control over Bobby once again.

(Bizarre Adventures I#33/3 - BTS) - While in control of Bobby's body "Roberta" got drunk and spent the night with a man. The next morning when Bobby woke up he ran away once again while hearing his sister's laughter.

(Bizarre Adventures I#33/3) - At home "Roberta" confronted Bobby and revealed that he didn't get rid of her through therapy and that she would eventually take over his body. She reminded him of all the things she made him do over the years and told him that she had grown stronger while he had grown weaker. "Roberta's" spirit hunted Bobby through the house and he took a razor to cut open his arteries because if he couldn't be free he would kill them both. "Roberta" begged Bobby to get to the phone and call the ambulance, but he was not going to and quickly bled out. "Roberta" felt like she was dying and disappeared.

--Bizarre Adventures I#33/3

images (without ads)
Bizarre Adventures I#33/3, p7, pan1 (main)
Bizarre Adventures I#33/3, p7, pan4 (head shot)
Bizarre Adventures I#33/3, p7 pan1 (Milton & Lillian Gross)
Bizarre Adventures I#33/3, p2, pan4 ("Roberta")

Appearances:
Bizarre Adventures I#33/3 (December, 1982) - J.M. DeMatteis (writer), Geoff Isherwood (pencils), Ian Akin & Brian Garvey (inks), Dennis O'Neil (editor)

First Posted: 09/16/2021
Last updated: 09/15/2021

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
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Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!

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