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Abomination (character)

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The Abomination
File:Hulk-159.jpg
The Abomination (left) battles the Hulk on the cover of Hulk #159 (Jan. 1973). Art by Herb Trimpe.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceTales to Astonish #90 (April 1967)
Created byStan Lee
Gil Kane
In-story information
Alter egoEmil Blonsky
Team affiliationsKGB
Legion Accursed
PartnershipsThe Leader
Rhino
Notable aliasesAgent R-7, The Ravager of Worlds
AbilitiesSuperhuman strength, speed, stamina and durability
Regenerative healing factor

The Abomination is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in Tales to Astonish #90 (April 1967), and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Gil Kane.

The character of the Abomination has featured in other Marvel-endorsed products such as arcade and video games, animated television series, merchandise such as action figures and trading cards, and the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk.

Publication history

Stan Lee chose the name "the Abomination", which he realized belonged to no other character, before conceiving the character's background and appearance. Lee recalled that he simply told the artist Gil Kane to "make him bigger and stronger than the Hulk and we'll have a lot of fun with him".[1] Emil Blonsky is introduced as a KGB agent and spy who becomes the Abomination after deliberately exposing himself to a greater quantity of the same gamma radiation that transformed Bruce Banner into the Hulk. In his first appearance, Blonsky becomes a large scaly humanoid with twice the strength of the Hulk. Although he retains his mental faculties, Blonsky soon discovers his inability to return to human form. [2]

After two brief appearances in Silver Surfer (Jan. 1970) and Thor vol. 2, #178 (July 1970) respectively, the Abomination returns to fight the Hulk, first alone,[3] and then joins forces with General Thunderbolt Ross.[4] The Abomination betrays Ross to work with the Rhino in an attempt to take over Hulkbuster base,[5] and later tricking the Hulk into an alliance and attempting to ransom the captured Kennedy Space Center.[6]

After a cameo appearance in Ghost Rider vol. 3. (Aug. 1981), the Abomination appears as a servant of the Galaxy Master, and is lost in space.[7]. Shortly after, the Abomination is recovered and revived by MODOK and forced to battle the Hulk, but Abomination dies after resisting MODOK's control.[8] The abomination's atomized particles mingle with the disembodied mind of Tyrannus, who is able to take over the form of the Abomination. The Tyrannus-controlled Abomination fights a number of heroes, including the West Coast Avengers,[9] and Fantastic Four.[10] Blonsky is later revived and cured of his gamma induced condition by Bruce Banner.[11] Blonsky soon finds himself the Abomination once again, but now as a mindless beast, battling She-Hulk and Spider-Man,[12] before recovering his mental faculties, when he again fights the Hulk.[13]

The Abomination makes a brief appearance in Hulk vol. 2, #366 (Feb. 1990) then again appears in Hulk vol. 2, #383 - 384 (July - Aug 1991) and Marvel Super-Heroes vol. 3 #6 - 8 (July; Oct & Dec. 1991). This is followed by appearances in a short story in Hulk Annual #19 (Dec. 1993), and a fight against Namor in Namor, the Sub-Mariner vol. 3, #58 - 59 (Jan. - Feb. 1995). HE fights the Hulk inHulk vol. 2, #431-432 (July - Aug 1995). The character had a series of small appearances in non-Hulk related titles, including What If vol. 2, #67 - 68 (Nov. - Dec. 1994) and #78 (Oct. 1995), Marvel's alternate universe title, Spider-Man: The Parker Years #1 (Nov. 1995), and X-Man #19-20 (Sep - Oct. 1996).

This was followed by the three-part limited series Abominations, which was published in Dec. 1996 - Feb. 1997. This mini-series pitted the Abomination and a group of followers against the Maestro, a future version of the Hulk first seen in Future Imperfect.

More brief non-Hulk related appearances followed, including Code of Honor #3 (Apr. 1997); Marvel Adventures #5 (Aug. 1997) and X-Man #32-33 (Nov. - Dec. 1997). After featuring in Hulk vol. 2, #459 (Dec. 1997); the character appears in X-Men vol. 2, #74 (Apr. 1998); Hulk vol. 2, #472 - 474 (Jan. - Mar. 1999) and then X-Men vol. 2, #90 (July 1999).

A story featuring flashback scenes reveals Blonsky's transformation apparently alienated his wife Nadia (a famous ballet dancer), driving him mad with hatred for Banner. Blonsky decides Banner should also lose his spouse, and secretly poisons Betty with his radioactive blood. Banner and his associates believe Betty's proximity to the Hulk has given her a fatal case of radiation poisoning. Banner, however, later exposes the Abomination's role in Betty's false death, and the Hulk defeats him in combat.[14] The Abomination is then taken into custody by the military, and as punishment is forced to watch a film loop of the time he and his wife spent prior to his transformation.[14]

Operatives from secret organization Home Base release the Abomination to battle the Hulk. Blonsky taunts the Hulk with the knowledge that he killed Betty, but the ruse fails and the Abomination is defeated.[15] This entire battle is eventually revealed to be a dream generated by Doctor Strange foe Nightmare to torture the Hulk.[16]

Several appearances in mini-series followed, including Hulk: Unchained #2 (Apr. 2004); Hercules vol. 3, #3 (Aug. 2005); Hulk: Destruction #1 - 2 & 4 (Sep. - Oct. & Dec. 2005), in which Blonsky is employed as a U.S. government hitman against hostile foreign interests, and Incredible Hulk: Prelude To Planet Hulk #1 (Jan. 2006). After briefly featuring in Marvel Team-Up vol. 3, #21 (Aug. 2006), a zombified Abomination appeared in the alternate universe story Marvel Zombies: Dead Days in July 2007. The character then appears in She-Hulk vol. 3, #15 & 17 (Mar. & May 2007); World War Hulk: Gamma Files #1 (Aug. 2007) and World War Hulk - Gamma Corps #1 (Jan. 2008).

After the events of World War Hulk, the main Hulk title is relaunched, with the Abomination featuring in the first storyline. Blonsky encounters a new foe called the Red Hulk, who after savagely beating the villain subsequently shoots and kills him.[17]

In 2009, the Abomination was ranked as IGN's 54th Greatest Comic Book Villain of All Time.[18]

Powers and abilities

The Abomination is similar to the Hulk in terms of strength, stamina, speed, durability, and ability to regenerate, but differs in that the character retains his intellect and cannot change back into human form. The character also possesses gills which enable him to breathe underwater, and can enter a state of suspended animation when bereft of oxygen for long periods. When originally created, the Abomination was approximately twice as strong as the Hulk's calm state, but his strength does not increase with anger.

Other versions

Ultimate Marvel

Another depiction of the Abomination debuts in the alternate universe of the Ultimates in Ultimates 2 #9 (Nov 2005) as part of the group Liberators. This version of the Abomination is a Chinese scientist named Chang Lam.[19]

Future Imperfect

The Abomination is called Emil in this alternate future and with a group of followers battles a future version of the Hulk, the Maestro.[20]

In other media

Television

Film

File:MovieAbomination.jpg
The Abomination in The Incredible Hulk (2008).

Video games

The Abomination features in The Incredible Hulk for Super NES and The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction voiced by Ron Perlman. Tim Roth reprises his role as Emil Blonsky in the video game adaptation of The Incredible Hulk while the Abomination is voiced by Jon Curry and Abomination's vocal effects are provided by Jeffrey Parker.

Toys

  • Abomination is featured in the first series of Hulk Classics.
  • A second and larger Abomination is featured in Marvel Legends Series 13.
  • An action figure of the Abomination based on the character in the 2008 film was released in May, 2008. Abomination appears in Heroscape.

References

  1. ^ Tim Lammers (2008-06-11). "Stan Lee Pumped Over Return Of 'Incredible Hulk'". KCRA-TV. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
  2. ^ Tales to Astonish #90-91 (April-May 1967)
  3. ^ Hulk vol. 2, #136 - 137 (Feb. - Mar 1971)
  4. ^ Hulk vol. 2, #159 (Jan. 1973)
  5. ^ Hulk vol. 2, #171 (Jan. 1974)
  6. ^ Hulk vol. 2, #194 - 196 (Dec. 1975 - Feb. 1976)
  7. ^ Hulk vol. 2, #270 (Apr. 1982)
  8. ^ Hulk vol. 2, #287 - 290 (Sep. - Nov. 1983)
  9. ^ West Coast Avengers #25 (Oct. 1987)
  10. ^ Fantastic Four #330 (Sep. 1989)
  11. ^ Hulk Annual #15 (1986)
  12. ^ Amazing Spider-Man Annual #23 (1989)
  13. ^ Hulk vol. 2, #364 (Dec. 1989)
  14. ^ a b Hulk vol. 3, #24 - 25 (Mar. - Apr. 2001)
  15. ^ Hulk vol. 3, #50 - 54 (Mar. - July 2003)
  16. ^ in Hulk #81 (July 2005)
  17. ^ Hulk vol. 4, #1 - 2 (Feb. - Mar 2008)
  18. ^ Abomination is number 54 , IGN.
  19. ^ Ultimates 2 #9 (Nov 2005)
  20. ^ Abominations #1 - 3 (Dec. 1996 - Feb. 1997)
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