Blizzard is the name of several fictional characters appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics, who are primarily enemies ofIron Man.
The Donnie Gill incarnation has had the most appearances, appearing in several forms of animated media and video games as well as a live-action incarnation in theMarvel Cinematic Universe TV seriesAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D., portrayed byDylan Minnette, though the Gregor Shapanka and Randy Macklin incarnations have also appeared in animation.
Created byStan Lee andDon Heck, the Gregor Shapanka version of Blizzard appeared as Jack Frost inTales of Suspense #45 (Sept. 1963),[1] and as Blizzard beginning inIron Man #86 (May 1976).[2] He was killed off inThe Amazing Spider-Man Annual #20 (Nov. 1986).
The Donnie Gill incarnation of Blizzard first appeared inIron Man #223 (Oct. 1987) and was created byDavid Michelinie andBob Layton.
The Randy Macklin incarnation of Blizzard first appeared in theMarvel Holiday Special #2 (Jan. 1993) and was created by Sholly Fisch andTom Morgan.
| Blizzard | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | As Jack Frost: Tales of Suspense #45 (Sept. 1963)[3] As Blizzard: Iron Man #86 (May 1976) |
| Created by | Jack Frost: Stan Lee Don Heck Blizzard: Bill Mantlo George Tuska |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Gregor Shapanka |
| Species | Human |
| Notable aliases | Jack Frost |
| Abilities | Micro-circuited suit grants: Cold manipulation and projection |
Gregor Shapanka is a Hungarian scientist obsessed with immortality, and decides that the study ofcryonics is the first step towards his goal. Shapanka takes a job atStark Industries to fund his research and attempts to steal directly fromTony Stark. After being caught and fired by Stark for trying to steal from his secret vault, Gregor creates a suit containing cold-generating devices and is dubbed by the newspapers as "Jack Frost."[4] He attempts to raid Stark Industries where he capturesPepper Potts andHappy Hogan, but is defeated by Iron Man.[5]
Several years later, Gregor Shapanka escaped prison and attacked Stark's Long Island industrial complex using a new far more powerful cold-generating battle suit and calling himself Blizzard. This time, Blizzard was out to steal Stark's climatron device which could be used to alter weather patterns. Blizzard nearly froze Iron Man to death, but Iron Man was rescued by Potts. Iron Man caused Blizzard's battle suit to short-circuit and then captured him.[6]
Gregor Shapanka obtains financing for recreating his cold-generating costume from multimillionaireJustin Hammer. Blizzard forms a partnership with two other clients of Hammer,Blacklash andMelter. The three attack a hotel casino in Atlantic City, only to be defeated by Iron Man and private bodyguardBethany Cabe.[7]
Shortly thereafter, Shapanka reconstructs his cold suit in prison. WhenElectro uses his electrical powers to break out of the adjoining cell, Shapanka is caught in the blast and the suit is fused to his body. Electro and Blizzard then join forces to take over theDaily Bugle, but are stopped bySpider-Man andDaredevil.[8]
Blizzard's body gains the ability to generate intense cold without artificial means. Feeling alienated from humanity, Shapanka (again calling himself Jack Frost) comes to live in an ice palace he created within a mountain. TheHulk finds Jack Frost's new home and destroys the ice palace. Frost is seemingly killed in the collapse of his domain.[9]
Gregor Shapanka reappears in the guise of Blizzard. Somehow, Blizzard had lost his power to generate cold and once again needed his battle suit to create low temperatures. Shapanka returns to crime and forms a gang to aid him. However, upon robbing a bank in New York City, Blizzard and his henchmen are defeated bySpider-Man and taken into police custody. Thanks to his lawyer, Blizzard is soon back at large and kidnaps Bobby Saunders (a boy whom he saw speaking with Spider-Man). Through Saunders, Blizzard intends to get revenge for his most recent defeat. Blizzard mistakes avillainous version of Iron Man from the year 2020 for the modern Iron Man and attempts to ambush him. The future Iron Man is on an urgent mission to find Bobby Saunders (who would grow up to be a terrorist in 2020) and kills Blizzard with a repulsor blast.[10]
| Blizzard | |
|---|---|
 Blizzard. Art byRick Leonardi | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Iron Man #223 (Oct. 1987) |
| Created by | David Michelinie Bob Layton |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Donald "Donnie" Gill |
| Species | Inhuman |
| Team affiliations | Assassins Guild Hammer Industries Lethal Legion Masters of Evil Thunderbolts |
| Abilities |
|
Born in Delaware, Donald "Donnie" Gill is a professional criminal who is hired by Justin Hammer following the death of Gregor Shapanka and given a cryogenic suit resembling Shapanka's. His first mission involves working withBeetle and Blacklash to captureForce, who had betrayed Hammer. However, Blizzard is clumsy and annoys his teammates with his amateurish mistakes (such as creating an ice wall blocking the path to their objective). After encasing Blacklash in ice, the trio flees as reinforcements arrive to protect Force.[11]
The trio again tries to capture Force, who is protected byIron Man. Force neutralizes the powers of the villains, who flee until their powers return. After returning to confront Force, Blizzard doggedly tries to blast Force again (despite warnings), and is electrocuted. Beetle and Blacklash abandon Blizzard and are arrested.[12] Before Blizzard can be jailed,Rhino rescues him under Hammer's orders.
Hammer negotiates with Iron Man for Blizzard, forcing the latter to help him take downGhost.[13] Iron Man agrees, but Blizzard refuses to believe that Hammer betrayed him. After hearing a recording, Blizzard surrenders to Iron Man.[14]
After solo missions against theAvengers[volume & issue needed] and theNew Warriors,[15] attending theA.I.M. Weapons Expo with several other supervillains,[volume & issue needed] and joining theMasters of Evil,[volume & issue needed] Blizzard works with a smaller team that includesConstrictor andCrossfire. Their mission fails after interference fromAgent X and his allies.[16]
With the Avengers disbanded, Beetle (now known as MACH-IV) forms a new group ofThunderbolts. Like the original Thunderbolts, they were former villains seeking redemption for their crimes as superheroes. Blizzard is one of the first members invited to join by MACH-IV, and he agreed.[17] However, he lacks confidence despite his desire to help people.
Blizzard and fellow Thunderbolt memberSpeed Demon became close friends. When the Speed Demon tried to commit crimes with theShocker, Blizzard convinced him to use his former Whizzer outfit and a tracking device. Angry with Blizzard, the Speed Demon tied him upside-down and naked on a bridge.[18] Although doubting his status as a superhero and feeling hopeless, Blizzard gained strength from the others (especiallySongbird, who insulted him and dismissed him from the group when she became its leader).[volume & issue needed]
Helmut Zemo, forming a group to fight Songbird's Thunderbolts, recruited Blizzard (who spent his days in bars after his firing by Songbird). His new teammate, theFixer, enhanced Blizzard's abilities.[19] He battled the Thunderbolts; the groups were soon assimilated, and Blizzard helped them against theU-Foes during theCivil War.[20] Against theOvermind, Blizzard proved himself to his teammates by shielding them (and Songbird).[volume & issue needed]
In the "Infinity" storyline, Blizzard is revealed to be a latentInhuman and gains the ability to manipulate electricity after being exposed to Terrigen Mist.[21]
During the "Avengers: Standoff!" storyline, Blizzard is incarcerated at Pleasant Hill, a S.H.I.E.L.D. prison disguised as agated community where the inmates are transformed into model citizens using the powers ofKobik.[22]
Blizzard is among the villains who are killed byBlack Ant and revived to join theLethal Legion.[23]
While Donnie Gill was unavailable, Justin Hammer had a thug named Mickey Quaid become a substitute Blizzard to assist Afterburner, Beetle, Blacklash,Boomerang, andSpymaster in fightingSilver Sable and theWild Pack.[24]
| Blizzard | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Marvel Holiday Special #2 (Jan. 1993) |
| Created by | Sholly Fisch Tom Morgan |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Randall "Randy" Macklin |
| Species | Human |
| Abilities | Cryokinesis |
Randall "Randy" Macklin, an ex-criminal, fails to find work following his release from prison and uses a spare Blizzard costume he was safeguarding for his friend Donnie Gill. However, Macklin is quickly defeated by Iron Man, who offers him a legitimate job atStark Enterprises.[25]
| Blizzard | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Invincible Iron Man #510 (Jan. 2012) |
| Created by | Matt Fraction Salvador Larroca |
| In-story information | |
| Full name | Jim |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Mandarin's operative |
| Abilities |
|
A man named Jim became the fourth Blizzard upon being granted cryokinesis by theMandarin andZeke Stane as part of their plans to revamp and upgrade Iron Man's enemies. His first mission is to freeze desalinization plants inAbu Dhabi, leaving the city without water. It is revealed that the Mandarin had a bomb placed in Jim's neck to ensure his compliance.[26]
When Iron Man tries to persuade his enemies to turn against the Mandarin, Blizzard heeds the call as Iron Man deactivates the bombs on them.[27] Blizzard works with Iron Man, Zeke Stane,Whirlwind, and theLiving Laser to battle the Mandarin and his Titanomechs. During the battle, Blizzard is impaled by a Titanomech.[28]
All the Blizzards have similar powers, derived from their costumes. Micro-circuited cryogenic units make it possible to emit freezing rays, which lower the temperature of the surrounding air (or objects) and release ice as projectiles.
Donnie Gill's costume is upgraded by supervillains theBeetle and theFixer. This enables even greater manipulation of cold, where Gill can encase people in snow and ice, create an ice barricade or generate "ice sleds" for transport. Following his Terrigenesis, Blizzard also developed electricity manipulation, where he can manipulate electrical currents and charge the energies in his body.[29]
The Donnie Gill incarnation of Blizzard appears inEarth X, where he is killed byNorman Osborn.[30]
The Donnie Gill incarnation of Blizzard appears inHouse of M as a member ofHood's Masters of Evil.[31]
The Donnie Gill incarnation of Blizzard appears inIron Man & Power Pack #2.[32]
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