Answer is the name of severalsupervillains appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The first incarnation of Answer,Aaron Nicholson, first appeared inPeter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #91 (June 1984).^[1] The second incarnation,David Ferrari, debuted inCaptain America (Vol. 3) #20 (June 1999). The third incarnation, an unnamed criminal, made his first appearance inSuperior Spider-Man #26 (January 2014).

Aaron Nicholson debuted inPeter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #91 (June 1984), created by writerAl Milgrom and artistJim Mooney.^[2] David Ferrari debuted under the codename Answer after Aaron Nicholson's "death" inCaptain America (Vol. 3) #20 (June 1999), created byDan Jurgens. An unnamed criminal debuted under the codename Answer inSuperior Spider-Man #26 (January 2014), created byDan Slott andChristos Gage.

Aaron Nicholson is a criminal genius and a former member of theKingpin's criminal organization. He is a former hitman in the Las Vegas division ofHydra and was empowered by the laboratory machines ofFarley Stillwell's brother Harlan Stillwell, becoming the Answer.

The Answer studiesSpider-Man's powers,^[3] and then attacks Spider-Man and theBlack Cat to test the limits of their powers.^[4] He kidnaps Black Cat to misdirect Spider-Man's attention as he stealsSilvermane's body from the police morgue,^[5] and assists the Kingpin in partially resurrecting Silvermane.^[6] He then kidnapsDagger in hopes that her powers would cure the Kingpin's ailing wifeVanessa.^[7] Silvermane rampages mindlessly; to end the rampage, the Answer sacrifices his corporeal form and converts himself to energy to revive Dagger, who possesses Silvermane's life force.^[8][9] The Answer manages to telepathically contactDoctor Octopus, who restores him to life.^[10][11]

During theCivil War: War Crimes storyline, he is seen among an army of super-villains organized byHammerhead. Answer is later captured byIron Man andS.H.I.E.L.D. agents.^[12]

The Answer is a self-confessed loser at the wake ofStilt-Man. Almost all of the supervillains at the wake are the victims of murder or attempted murder. ThePunisher disguises himself as a barman and then blows up the bar.^[13]

Answer has since been hired by theHood to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by theSuperhuman Registration Act.^[14] He helps them fight theNew Avengers, but is taken down byDoctor Strange.^[15] During theSecret Invasion storyline, Answer assists the Hood's syndicate in battling the invadingSkrull force.^[16]

David Ferrari is a former agent ofS.H.I.E.L.D. and a member of theU.S. Army and Furnace. He is also the brother ofConnie Ferrari. Ferrari leads a mission to anA.I.M. base to prevent the release of the Omega Compound.^[17] He later uses drugs to controlNick Fury, at which point he had allied withCrimson Dynamo in an attempt to steal missiles from Khamistan and take over Earth. He is opposed byCaptain America.^[18]

After Aaron Nicholson's apparent death, his gear was sold toRoderick Kingsley, who in turn gave it to an unknown criminal. Answer is present whenHobgoblin (Kingsley's butler Claude) leads his forces into battle against the Goblin King'sGoblin Nation. After Hobgoblin is killed by Goblin King, Answer is among the villains who defect to the Goblin Nation.^[19]

Aaron Nicholson

The first Answer underwent genetic manipulation to grant him the ability to develop any power needed in a certain situation. For example, if surrounded by thugs, he will gain superhuman strength and durability, allowing him to defeat them.^[10] In another situation, he may obtain pyrokinesis or the ability to turn himself into pure energy. Flight may be an ability that is always active. Other than that, at rest or not in any sort of situation, he will display no abilities. The powers he manifests typically last for five minutes, and he can display up to two separate powers at once.^[20] Additionally, Aaron Nicholson is highly intelligent and has a superhuman-like level of intuition. The Answer wears body armor that was created with the help of the Kingpin's scientists. The armor is coated with a friction-eliminating chemical that allows him to slip from any grasp and prevents anything from adhering to him.

• Answer at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe

• Characters created by Al Milgrom
• Characters created by Dan Jurgens
• Comics characters introduced in 1984
• Comics characters introduced in 1999
• Fictional assassins
• Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength
• Marvel Comics mutates
• Marvel Comics spies
• Marvel Comics supervillains

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