This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
| Professor Mendel Stromm | |
|---|---|
Mendel Stromm as depicted inCivil War II: Amazing Spider-Man #3 (August 2016). Art byTravel Foreman. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Amazing Spider-Man #37 (June 1966) |
| Created by | Stan Lee (writer) Steve Ditko (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Humancyborg |
| Team affiliations | Oscorp,Empire State University |
| Notable aliases | Robot Master Gaunt |
| Abilities |
|
Professor Mendel Stromm is asupervillain appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The character has also been known as theRobot Master andGaunt.
This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding missing information.(April 2014) |

Stromm first appeared inThe Amazing Spider-Man #37 (June 1966), and was created byStan Lee andSteve Ditko.[1]
Professor Mendel Stromm isNorman Osborn's college professor atEmpire State University and later becomes a partner inOscorp Industries. His early research is on a chemical that would provide enhanced strength in its test subjects and would eventually turn Osborn into theGreen Goblin.[2] Osborn, wanting the formula for himself, discovers that Stromm had been embezzling funds from Oscorp. Stromm explains that he is merely borrowing the funds, but Osborn turns him over to the police. After several years in prison, Stromm is released and tried to kill Osborn for revenge using deadly robots. He is stopped bySpider-Man and seemingly dies of a heart attack when he is nearly shot.[3][4]
Stromm survives by transferring his consciousness into a robotic double. Now calling himself "the Robot Master", Stromm returns inSpectacular Spider-Man #68 (1982). Spider-Man defeats and destroys the robot double.[5]
InSpectacular Spider-Man #233 (1996), Stromm returns again, this time as a cyborg called Gaunt.[4] It is revealed that he survived through a cybernetic suit fused to his body by Osborn.[6] Osborn had discovered that Stromm had survived his heart attack thanks to the Goblin Formula, but on a level of consciousness supported only by his suit. Eventually, viaSeward Trainer, Stromm is cured of his need for the suit and returns in a large suit of robotic armor,[7] only for it to be destroyed byBen Reilly and Peter Parker.[8]
InPeter Parker: Spider-Man #27 (2001), Stromm tries to create asentient robot to kill Osborn, but it turns on him and destroys his body, keeping his severed head alive. This artificial intelligence attempts to take overNew York City's electrical grid, but is stopped when Spider-Man fights his way into the robot'score processor and uploaded a virus into it, rendering the A.I. and Mendel comatose.[9]
InPenance: Relentless (2007), it is revealed that Spider-Man tippedS.H.I.E.L.D. off to Stromm's whereabouts, allowing them to rescue him.Penance goesAWOL on theThunderbolts and attacks Stromm's home, threatening to kill him unless Stromm tells him how to activate nuclear launch codes Penance has stolen in a bid to getNitro deported fromLatveria.[10]
InCivil War II, Mendel Stromm meetsClash at the henchman bar Moynihan's Social Club during itshappy hour. He gives Clash an offer to work for him in his plan to get revenge onHarry Osborn. However, they are both defeated by Spider-Man.[11]
Mendel Stromm later obtains aTri-Sentinel from the bunker of the bankruptLife Foundation, which proceeds to battle an Isotope Genome Accelerator duplicate of Spider-Man. After the Tri-Sentinel is defeated, Stromm breaks down in tears. Stromm is then approached byKindred, who gives him aMaster Mold that specializes in creating Tri-Sentinels.[12] After Spider-Man defeats the Tri-Sentinels, Stromm is confronted by Kindred, who states that his usefulness has ended and kills him.[13][4]
Mendel Stromm possesses extensive knowledge of chemistry and robotics, as well as cybernetic enhancements that give him the ability to fly, generate energy blasts, and manipulate technology.[14][15]
An alternate universe version of Mendel Stromm from theBattleworld domain of Arachnia appears inSecret Wars as one of several scientists attempting to decipher the Web of Life and Destiny.[16]
Wardell Stromm appears in theSpider-Man: The Animated Series episode "Enter the Green Goblin", voiced byPhilip Abbott.[17] He isNorman Osborn's assistant and one of the few who knows ofOscorp's connections to theKingpin.