| Philip Sterns Madman | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Madman as depicted inThe Incredible Hulk #409 (September 1993). Art byGary Frank (penciller),Cam Smith (inker), andGlynis Oliver (colorist). | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | (As Phil Sterns) The Incredible Hulk #362 (November 1989) (As Madman) The Incredible Hulk #364 (mid-December 1989) |
| Created by | Peter David (writer) Jeff Purves (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Dr. Philip "Phil" Sterns |
| Species | Human gamma-mutate |
| Partnerships | Leader |
| Abilities |
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Madman (Philip Sterns) is asupervillain appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created by writerPeter David and artist Jeff Purves, the character first appeared inThe Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #362 (November 1989).[1] He is the brother of theLeader, and an enemy of theHulk.[2]
Philip Sterns debuted inThe Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #362 (November 1989), and as the Madman inThe Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #364, created byPeter David and Jeff Purves.[3]
A former classmate of Bruce Banner at theCalifornia Institute of Technology, Sterns possesses a love/hate obsession with Hulk, originating from his envy and fascination with his former peer.[4] In an attempt to emulate the Hulk, Sterns exposes himself togamma radiation, transforming into a monster with abnormal strength and developingmultiple personality disorder.
Calling himself the Madman, Sterns hatches a plot to kill the Hulk by injecting him with a poison that rapidly deteriorates his body.[4] Samuel Sterns, the Leader and Phil's brother, comes to aid the Hulk so he can help him track down the Madman for an antidote.[5] In the ensuing battle, the Hulk manages to cure himself and poison the Madman, leaving the cure to the poison just out of reach.[6]
Later, the Madman revealed that he simply increased his mass to grab it and recovered in time. He masquerades as a researcher in theRed Skull's "New World Order" organization. Here, he helped to engineer the transformation of a capturedS.H.I.E.L.D. agent into the power-mimicking creaturePiecemeal.[7]
In the seriesThunderbolts, the Madman resurfaces and has been seen supplying gamma technology on the island of Kata Jaya. He encountersRed Hulk's incarnation of theThunderbolts and is killed by the Leader.[8]
Like the Hulk, the Madman has immense strength and durability.[9] He is unable to grow in strength further, but possesses additional shapeshifting abilities. He is also a gifted genius, with knowledge ofnuclear physics and robotics.[10]
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