Doctor Nemesis is the name of two fictional characters appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics andAce Magazines. The first isJames Bradley, a superhero and associate of theX-Men, while the second isMichael Stockton, a supervillain and enemy ofAnt-Man.
The first version (James Bradley) was a derivative version of the eponymousGolden Age character, that originally appeared inAce Magazines'Lightning Comics.[1] He is a co-creator of the originalHuman Torch android,[2] and appears inUncanny X-Men as a member of theX-Club.[3] Doctor Nemesis appeared inCable and X-Force, a series by writerDennis Hopeless and artistSalvador Larroca that debuted in December 2012.[4]
The second version (Michael Stockton) was unidentified inMarvel Feature #4, but officially debuted inMarvel Feature #9 and was created byMike Friedrich and Craig Russell.
| Doctor Nemesis | |
|---|---|
 Doctor Nemesis (James Bradley) inThe Uncanny X-Men #511. Art byGreg Land. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Ace Magazines,Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Lightning Comics #6 (April 1941; historic) The Invaders vol. 2 #1 (May 1993; Marvel Universe) |
| Created by | The creators of the version published byAce Magazines are unknown. TheMarvel Comics version of the character was co-created byRoy Thomas (writer) andDave Hoover. |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | James Bradley |
| Species | Human mutant |
| Team affiliations | X-Men[5] X-Club[3] Battle-Axis X-Force Agents of Wakanda |
| Notable aliases | Doctor Death |
| Abilities | Accomplished investigator and hand to hand combatant "Self-evolved" intellect Enhanced immune system and eyesight Prolonged longevity |
James Bradley was born in San Francisco in 1906. Although primarily trained as a medicalphysician, he began working in the late 1930s withPhineas Horton in developing the original androidHuman Torch ofWorld War II. While mostly a silent partner in this endeavor, Bradley began building a second android during this time.
The two scientists did not correct the design flaw that causes their android to burst into flames upon exposure to oxygen. Bradley had preferred they resolve this issue before revealing their work to the public. Horton, eager for fame and further financial backing, held a press conference in late 1939 debuting their work. This turned into a public relations disaster, as Bradley had predicted, when the android caught on fire, causing the press to label it a menace. Bradley broke off their partnership thereafter and took his unfinished second android with him.[6]
Sometime before 1941, Bradley completed his work and the second android acted as the superhero Volton from late 1941 to early 1942. Unaware of its artificial origins, Bradley led Volton to believe it was a scientist named Guy Newton who had discovered how to generate electricity. Around this time, Bradley also decided to become a masked crimefighter, too. While working by day at Mercy Hospital in New York City, he would don a surgical mask to fight corruption and crime as Doctor Nemesis.[7]
According toJess Nevins' Encyclopedia of Golden Age Superheroes, Bradley "uses his fighting ability and hypodermic needle full of truth serum to fight gangs and costumed madmen like the hypnotic Swami, the Surgeon (who unleashes plague-bearing rats on the city), and Dr. Quartz, the comic book version of the sociopathic vivisector who wasNick Carter's arch-enemy in the dime novels."[8]
After a number of adventures, Doctor Nemesis was approached by agents of theThird Reich to form a group of costumed beings. Signifying a change in tactics, Bradley changed his alter-ego to Dr. Death and recruited Human Meteor, Spider Queen, Strongman, and Volton for the group Battle-Axis, which took extreme efforts to force the United States out of participating in World War II.[6][9] After the war, Bradley reassumes the Doctor Nemesis persona and moves toSantiago del Estero,Argentina to hunt downNazi refugees.
InUncanny X-Men, Bradley is revealed to be amutant with an enhanced intellect. He works with theX-Men in an attempt to obtain mutant genetic samples from the past, but they are stopped by theDreaming Celestial as part of an unspecified cosmic plan.[2][10][11][12]
Doctor Nemesis later appears as a member ofX-Force and theAgents of Wakanda.[13] He is also shown to be an inhabitant ofKrakoa during theKrakoan Age.[14]
| Doctor Nemesis | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Marvel Feature #4 (July 1972, unofficial),Marvel Feature #9 (May 1973, official) |
| Created by | The early appearance inMarvel Feature #4 was co-written byRoy Thomas andMike Friedrich, and the artwork was byHerb Trimpe. His reintroduction inMarvel Feature #9 was written byMike Friedrich and drawn byP. Craig Russell. |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Michael Stockton |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | A.I.M |
| Abilities | Size manipulation via device in costume |
Michael Stockton was a scientist who was inventing a way to look into and study the subatomic worlds. He succeeded and stumbled onto one ruled by the monstrous tyrantTim Boo Ba.[15]
At some point, Stockton becomes associated withA.I.M and stations in a laboratory nearHank Pym's home. He plots to steal Pym's technology and allies with criminal M'Sieu Tete. Tete infects Pym with a virus that leaves him trapped at a small size, enabling Stockton to steal his size-changing technology and become Doctor Nemesis.[16]
The James Bradley incarnation of Doctor Nemesis is a mutant with a self-described "self-evolved" intellect, making him an instinctively-intuitive scientific and technological genius. He has delayed his own aging and enhanced his own immune system, leading to a prolonged lifespan. He has also enhanced his eyesight, allowing him to see genetic anomalies, including the Nazi clones he primarily hunted before joining the X-Club, over a distance of 200 m (660 ft).[2] Additionally, Nemesis is a polymath who has made major advances in handheld weaponry, medicine, chemistry, genetics, interdimensional travel, computer programming, and robotics.[volume & issue needed] He arms himself with twin handguns that fire hypodermic projectiles containing dangerous narcotics. The projectiles were tailored to pierce body armor. He developed a sedating truth serum for use as an investigator. He created androids, including the sentient superhuman android Volton. He perfected a "dimension smasher" which teleported beings from other dimensions. His oscillotron device can trigger major earthquakes. He is an accomplished investigator and hand-to-hand combatant.
The Michael Stockton incarnation of Doctor Nemesis can manipulate his size usingPym Particles.
An alternate universe variant of James Bradley / Doctor Nemesis appears in "Secret Wars". This version is a servant ofDark Beast andMister Sinister who is later killed byJean Grey.