| Overdrive | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Free Comic Book Day: Spider-Man (July 2007) |
| Created by | Dan Slott Phil Jimenez |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | James Beverley |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Sinister Six |
| Abilities | Ability to convert anyvehicle into a high-powered one |
Overdrive (James Beverley) is a fictionalvillain, appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The character is usually depicted as an enemy ofSpider-Man.
Created byDan Slott andPhil Jimenez, Overdrive first appeared inAmazing Spider-Man: Swing Shift (May 2007), aFree Comic Book Day issue set after the events of theSpider-Man: One More Day storyline.[1][2]
Something of a throwaway joke character, Overdrive made a few inconsequential appearances throughout Slott's run onThe Amazing Spider-Man. Overdrive joined theSinister Six during theMarvel Now! relaunch and featured as one of the main characters inThe Superior Foes of Spider-Man.
James Beverley is a race car driver who had dreams of being a superhero. When every attempt failed and he ended up in an accident, he gained the assistance ofPower Broker.Mister Negative approached him and offered him a job in his criminal organization.[3]
Overdrive was hired by Mister Negative to steal an artifact from a museum, but was unable to deliver it because of interference fromSpider-Man. Overdrive led Spider-Man on a high-speed chase through the streets ofManhattan. When Spider-Man smashed the windshield of Overdrive's car, it revealed dozens of pieces of Spider-Man-related merchandise such as bobble-heads, air-fresheners, and action figures. Overdrive declared that he was Spider-Man's "biggest fan", even asking for an autograph as Spider-Man was trying to stop him.[4]
The chase finally culminated in a car-wreck that had Overdrive and his vehicle hanging from a bridge in New York by Spider-Man's webbing with Spider-Man's trademark note, "Courtesy of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man". Overdrive asked the police who were on the scene to arrest him if he could keep the note. Overdrive was then sent by Mister Negative to steal the Sonic Pulse Generator from a laboratory but he failed again when he met Spider-Man once again. Negative told his men to dispose of Overdrive and they put him in the trunk of Negative's limo and Overdrive was able to escape them by converting the limo into one of his "tricked out" cars.[5]
InMarvel Now!, Overdrive joinsBoomerang'sSinister Six. Overdrive stole the originalBig Wheel vehicle and upgraded it through his powers. However, theSuperior Spider-Man defeats Overdrive and the rest of the Sinister Six using a power-dampening field.[6]
Overdrive later worked for Mister Negative again and became a getaway driver for his henchmen. Following a bank heist, Overdrive drives theInner Demons away from the police.[3] He is attacked and killed by theSin-Eater, but mysteriously comes back to life.[7][8][9][2][10]
Following Sin-Eater's suicide, which caused those that he purged of their sins to regain them, James Beverley encountersCarlie Cooper and reveals that he is considering reforming.[11]
Overdrive can generatenanites which transform vehicles to his will, improving its physical abilities. These changes will revert if Overdrive is away from the vehicle for too long.[1][12][13][14]
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