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| Martha Connors | |
|---|---|
 Martha Connors | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Amazing Spider-Man #6 (Nov. 1963) |
| Created by | Stan Lee (writer) Steve Ditko (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Team affiliations | New U Technologies Sewer Enclave |
| Abilities | As a lizard:
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Martha Connors is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. She is usually depicted as a supporting character ofSpider-Man, and the wife ofDr. Curt Connors, also known as the Lizard. Much of her character's story revolves around her constant suffering, yet perseverance through her husband's constant transformations. Martha was later injected with Curt's Lizard Formula to cure her of a deadly virus, which also mutated her into an anthropomorphic lizard.
The character was created byStan Lee andSteve Ditko and first appeared inThe Amazing Spider-Man #6 (November 1963).
Sometime before her first appearance, Martha met and married surgeon and biologistCurt Connors. Together they had a son namedBilly and their life seemed perfect. Curt, an amputee, sought a way to regrow lost limbs. Despite Martha warning him about the dangers of experimenting on himself, fearing for his safety, Curt creates a Lizard Formula and tests it on himself, transforming into a feral lizard monster. Martha later runs intoSpider-Man, who already had an encounter with the Lizard, and told him what had happened, prompting him to track down and cure Curt, albeit temporarily.[1]
At one point, Martha and Billy are kidnapped by theMaggia branch led bySilvermane, who wants Curt to decipher an ancient tablet. Once again, Curt transforms into the Lizard and it takes the combined effort of Spider-Man and theHuman Torch to save Martha and Billy, who are reunited with a cured Curt. Although Curt continues to transform into the Lizard time and time again, Martha refuses to abandon him.[2]
Sometime later, Billy and Martha are both afflicted with cancer after being exposed tocarcinogenic chemicals. Billy survives, while Martha dies due to complications from surgery, with Billy being sent to live with his aunt.[3][4]
In theDead No More: The Clone Conspiracy storyline, Martha is resurrected in a clone body byBen Reilly along with Billy, who had previously been killed by the Lizard.[5][6] Martha and Billy are taken away by Curt, who claims that he can cure theCarrion virus they are suffering from.[7] Martha and Billy are injected with the Lizard Formula, which saves their lives, but also mutates them into anthropomorphic lizards.[8] Martha and her family continue to live peacefully in the sewers, getting occasional friendly visits from Peter Parker andMary Jane Watson, although Billy desires to live a normal life and begins to rebel against Curt.[9]
Martha and Billy were later brought into theSewer Enclave byMiles Morales' cloneShift.[10]
In theSpider-Man newspaper strips, Martha is renamedLydia Connors.
In theUltimate Marvel Universe (Earth-1610), Martha is renamedDoris Connors and had long since divorced her husband due to his experiments. She receives a letter from her husband explaining his actions.[11]
Martha Connors was meant to appear inThe Amazing Spider-Man, portrayed byAnnie Parisse, before her scenes were cut from the final film.[13]
Martha Connors makes a non-speaking cameo appearance inSpider-Man 2 via a photograph.[14]
Billy initially got cancer from exposure to toxic chemicals from a lab where Dr. Connors worked. His mother died, but Billy lived and was eventually mutated into a form of The Lizard.
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