 | 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)
|
| Trapster | |
|---|---|
_from_Official_Handbook_of_the_Marvel_Universe_Vol_2_13_0001.png) Trapster as seen in theOfficial Handbook of the Marvel Universe (vol. 2) #13. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | As Paste-Pot Pete: Strange Tales #104 (January 1963)[1] As Trapster: Fantastic Four #38 (May 1965) |
| Created by |
|
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Peter Petruski |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Frightful Four Lethal Legion Frightful Five Intelligencia Sinister Six Maggia |
| Partnerships | Zodiac |
| Notable aliases | Paste-Pot Pete Trapster Willie |
| Abilities | |
Peter Petruski is a character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created by writerStan Lee and artistJack Kirby, the characterfirst appeared inStrange Tales #104 (January 1963). Petruski is one of the firstsupervillains who became active during the "Silver Age" of Marvel Comics. He is known under the codenamesPaste-Pot Pete andTrapster.[2] Petruski is a formerresearch chemist inNew York City who invented an extremely adhesive "multi-polymer" liquid, which he used to create a paste-gun and become acriminal.[3] He has also been a member of theIntelligencia and theFrightful Four at various points in his history.[4]
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(December 2012) |
Peter Petruski debuted as Paste-Pot Pete inStrange Tales #104 (January 1963),[5] created byStan Lee andJack Kirby. He first appeared as the Trapster inFantastic Four #38 (May 1965).[6]
Peter Petruski was born inGary, Indiana. Originally calling himselfPaste-Pot Pete, he clashed with theHuman Torch during his efforts to sell a new American missile to the Soviets. However, Pete escaped by using his paste to catch the wing of a plane, then diving into the sea.[7]
Following a failed solo effort against Human Torch, Paste-Pot Pete broke out of jail and teamed with theWizard in efforts to trump his youthful foe. However, Pete was angered over Wizard acting as the team's leader. Wizard framed Human Torch for a robbery. They got Human Torch to Wizard's house and used compressed air to force him into a chamber of steel mirrors, planning to fill the place with a gas that would cut off the oxygen supply of the Torch. However, Human Torch melted through the paste that held him to the floor, created a flaming duplicate to fool the two, then increased his flame enabling him to burn through the mirrors. The villains only realized this deception when the fake Human Torch faded away due to the gas, by which time Human Torch had regained his flame and captured the two in a flaming ring.[8]
WhenBaron Zemo trapped theAvengers with Adhesive X, Pete provided them with a solvent of his own formulation to dissolve it and was paroled from prison.[9] He adopted a new costume and weaponry, and battled Human Torch and theThing using new paste types. He captured Thing, then Human Torch, but was still defeated.[10] Wizard and Pete would eventually team with the criminalSandman and theInhumanMedusa as theFrightful Four to battle theFantastic Four.[11][12] It was shortly after the formation of the Frightful Four that Pete abandoned his old alias and assumed the more intimidating name Trapster after Spider-Man found the Paste-Pot Pete name laughable.[13] The Frightful Four would clash time and again with the Fantastic Four, often enjoying some measure of success in their efforts. Over the years, the membership of the Frightful Four would vary, but Trapster served in virtually every incarnation in which Wizard served as well, loyal to his longtime boss.
He changed hisnom de crime to theTrapster and appeared with new weaponry inFantastic Four #38, with the second appearance of the Frightful Four, in an attempt to make himself sound more formidable. In this encounter, the Frightful Four was able to defeat the Fantastic Four.[14] Over the years, a running gag in Marvel Comics involved heroes and villains alike reminding Trapster of his earlier name of "Paste-Pot Pete" — which would inevitably send him flying into a rage.[volume & issue needed]
Trapster has often sought independent recognition, battling virtually every "street-level" hero in the Marvel Universe either by design or by opposition to some criminal scheme.[15][16]
Peter Petruski does not possess superhuman abilities. Instead, the character relies on a variety of technological devices. He designed a costume of synthetic stretch fabric equipped with storage canisters for adhesives or lubricants, as well as paste-rigged boots and gloves to cling onto surfaces. His primary weapon is a projectile glue,[17] initially delivered by a pistol connected by an armored tubing to the container worn at his hip,[18] then wrist-mounted cannons,[19] and eventually shot straight from the glove tips.[20] Petruski shoots out streams of liquid gel that immediately form into a springy rope, thus enabling Pete to duplicate Spider-Man's webbing (to the point where he is the only person Spider-Man knows who could replicate even an approximate copy of his webs).[21] He was able to create a fire-proof paste.[10] Pete also designed boots that allow him to walk on walls by sequentially releasing a powerful glue followed by lubricant.[22] Trapster createdsolvents that can render any surface frictionless and discovered a way to dissolve the extremely strong "Adhesive X" concocted byHeinrich Zemo, which even Zemo himself could not do.[23] He also created a dust capable of renderingMister Fantastic's unstable molecules inert.[24]
Furthermore, Petruski is an expertchemist, a skilled marksman, and talented disguise artist. Pete can also utilize other devices, such asanti-gravity discs,explosive caps,ultrasonic transmitters, a floating platform, and various mechanical traps to bind his opponents.
Sean Bassett ofScreen Rant noted that despite his eccentric and ludicrous nature, Peter Petruski has proven to be extremely popular with fans. Bassett described the character as a surprisingly effective criminal mastermind, one of Marvel Comics' more outlandish creations since his debut in the 1960s. While acknowledging that the character's quirky aspects might not work well in live-action, Bassett said that these traits would be well-suited to the exaggerated style of an animated series. They also highlighted that Paste Pot Pete's signature paste gun would be a natural fit for a cartoon, adding a playful and zany element to Spider-Man's adventures.[25] Jenna Anderson ofComicBook.com asserted that Peter Petruski has become somewhat of a punchline among Marvel fans, largely due to his absurd costume and the bizarre "paste-gun" gimmick. Despite this, the character has had notable moments in his decades-long history, including a crossover with She-Hulk where he was one of several supervillains who sued theTinkerer. Anderson suggested that the miniseriesShe-Hulk: Attorney at Law would be an ideal setting to introduce Petruski in the MCU, especially if he were to become involved in the show's legal battles, staying true to his comic book roots.[26]
CM Punk expressed his interest in Peter Petruski. During aReddit AMA promoting his filmGirl on the Third Floor, CM Punk mentioned that while he has always wanted to write aPunisher story, he would also enjoy seeing a show centered around Paste Pot Pete.[27]
Lawrence "Larry" Curtiss is a different version of Trapster that appeared inIron Man Annual #12. Known as "Trapster", he was the assistant head of security for theRoxxon Oil Company and stole Peter Petruski's costume and weapons. He also had heat-seeking mini-missiles equipped with concussion charges and glue missiles (fired from paste-shooters). He used the Trapster's equipment to steal the inventions programs from Iron Man and desired to replace his boss as the head of security at Roxxon. However, he was discovered by his boss and defeated byIron Man.[28]
A third, female incarnation of the Trapster, known asTrapstr, is a member of theSinister Syndicate.[29][30][31][32]
Peter Petruski / Trapster appears inUltimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.[citation needed]
| Members |
| ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supporting |
| ||||||||
| Enemies |
| ||||||||
| Locations | |||||||||
| Publications |
| ||||||||
| Storylines | |||||||||
| Related articles | |||||||||
| Supporting characters | |
|---|---|
| Antagonists | |
| Publications | |
| In other media | |
| Related | |
Spider-Man characters | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spider-Man family |
| ||||||||||||
| Supporting characters |
| ||||||||||||
| Antagonists | |||||||||||||
| Alternative versions |
| ||||||||||||
| In other media |
| ||||||||||||
| Other topics | |||||||||||||
| Marvel Comics |
|
|---|---|
| DC Comics |
|
| Other |
|
| Television work | |
| Related articles | |
