Egghead is an alias used by twosupervillains appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics.
The original version (Elihas Starr) first appeared inTales to Astonish #38 (Dec. 1962), and was created byStan Lee,Jack Kirby andLarry Lieber.[1]
The second version first appeared inDark Reign: Young Avengers #1 (July 2009), and was created byPaul Cornell andMark Brooks.
| Egghead | |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Tales to Astonish #38 (December 1962)[2] |
| Created by | Stan Lee Jack Kirby Larry Lieber |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Elihas Starr |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Emissaries of Evil Masters of Evil Intelligencia Cross Technological Enterprises |
| Partnerships | Mad Thinker Puppet Master |
| Notable aliases | Carl Stricker, Tarantula |
| Abilities | Genius Intelligence Extensive knowledge in a wide variety of scientific and technological disciplines Ability to absorb new ideas and knowledge at a seemingly superhuman rate |
Elihas Starr was born inQueens, New York. A gifted government research atomic scientist with an egg-shaped head, Starr was dismissed for espionage and resolved to use his intellect as a criminal mastermind. He is dealt a humiliating initial defeat byAnt-Man when he creates a device to communicate with ants and tries to convince them to betray Ant-Man by leading into a flypaper trap.[3] Ant-Man fakes having been betrayed by the ants before revealing that the ants are his friends and will not turn against him.[4] Egghead later captures theWasp to try luring his nemesis into a trap involving several creatures, including an iguana and an anteater, but this fails.[5] Egghead divides time between attempted world conquest and seeking revenge on his nemesis, often hiding out in theBowery section ofManhattan.[6]
Egghead teams up with theMad Thinker and thePuppet Master in a plot to use a laser satellite to blackmail the United States government.[7] He caused the death ofBarney Barton, the brother ofHawkeye, who was aiding theAvengers;[8] hired theSwordsman to kidnap Hank Pym; and battled Clint Barton again, who had at that time recently adopted the identity ofGoliath.[9]
Egghead kidnaps his niece, Patricia "Trish" Starr, to test a device which allows him to steal other people's intelligence, and winds up battling Pym as Ant-Man again.[10] He later causes Trish's car to explode, causing her to lose an arm.[11]
Egghead forms the secondEmissaries of Evil in an attempt to gain possession of the mystic ruby called the Star of Capistan. This team consists of himself, theRhino,Solarr and theCobalt Man. Egghead and the Emissaries battle theDefenders.[12]
Egghead is still obsessed with Pym and engineers the man's disgrace. Egghead approaches Pym (who was operating asYellowjacket at the time) with a prosthetic arm that he wishes to give to Trish to make amends for his previous deeds. After the arm is installed, Egghead informed Pym that it contains a bomb that will detonate unless Pym complies with Egghead's commands. Egghead has Pym attempt to rob a national treasury ofadamantium, and Pym is caught and arrested by the Avengers.[13] With Pym apparently out of the way, Egghead forms the thirdMasters of Evil as part of a plot against the Avengers.[14]
Egghead sends the Masters of Evil to kidnap Pym from his own trial, making it appear as if Pym himself had staged a rescue. The attempt is successful and Egghead instructs Pym to construct an anti-aging device. Subsequently, Pym goads Egghead into letting him test the machine himself. However, the device turns out to be a weapon system, and he single-handedly defeated the assembled Masters of Evil. The Avengers arrive too late to be of assistance, but Hawkeye arrives at the laboratory in time to see the defeated Egghead about to shoot Pym in the back out of spite with his energy blaster. Hawkeye shoots an arrow into Egghead's gun barrel, causing it to misfire. This causes an accidental explosion that kills Egghead instantly.[15]
A flashback inFall of the Hulks: Alpha showed that Egghead was a member of theIntelligencia prior to his death.[16]
Egghead is later resurrected by a "rejuvetech serum" and creates the A.I.Vengers. Computer technicianRaz Malhotra eventually escapes Egghead's control and shuts down the A.I.vengers.[17]
Egghead is hired byDarren Cross to work for Cross Technological Enterprises. To help control Cross's Pym Particle abilities, Egghead provides theYellowjacket armor for him to wear.[18] Egghead accompanies Cross andCrossfire in attackingScott Lang's trial.[19]
A robot version of Egghead appears as a member of the newYoung Avengers.[20] Although his original programming was "to respect all human life", the femaleneo-NaziBig Zero (who seems to have a relationship with him) reprogrammed him to hate minorities.[21]
Egghead is later recruited byZodiac, the benefactor of the Young Masters, to join his army.[22]
InAvengers Undercover, Egghead joins the Masters of Evil.[23]
During the "Iron Man 2020" event, Egghead appears as a member of theA.I. Army.[24]
Although he had no superhuman powers of his own, Elihas Starr's genius level intellect made him a formidable foe. He was particularly skilled in the fields of robotics and engineering, and could absorb new ideas and knowledge at a seemingly superhuman rate. He had a degree in atomic science, and extensive knowledge in a wide variety of scientific and technological disciplines. Starr designed a wide variety of sophisticated weapons and technological paraphernalia.
The robotic Egghead can fly and become intangible.
The Elihas Starr incarnation of Egghead appears as a playable character inLego Marvel's Avengers.[28]
The Elihas Starr incarnation of Egghead appears inThe Amazing Spider-Man, by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Alex Saviuk. This version marriedJ. Jonah Jameson's estranged sister and inherited her share of theDaily Bugle upon her death.
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