Egghead is an alias used by twosupervillains appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics.
The original version (Elihas Starr) first appeared inTales to Astonish #38 (Dec. 1962), and was created byStan Lee,Jack Kirby andLarry Lieber.[1]
The second version first appeared inDark Reign: Young Avengers #1 (July 2009), and was created byPaul Cornell andMark Brooks.
| Egghead | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Tales to Astonish #38 (December 1962)[2] |
| Created by | Stan Lee Jack Kirby Larry Lieber |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Elihas Starr |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | Emissaries of Evil Masters of Evil Intelligencia Cross Technological Enterprises |
| Partnerships | Mad Thinker Puppet Master |
| Notable aliases | Carl Stricker, Tarantula |
| Abilities | Genius Intelligence Extensive knowledge in a wide variety of scientific and technological disciplines Ability to absorb new ideas and knowledge at a seemingly superhuman rate |
Elihas Starr was born inQueens, New York. A gifted government research atomic scientist with an egg-shaped head, Starr was dismissed for espionage and resolved to use his intellect as a criminal mastermind. He was dealt a humiliating initial defeat by Ant-Man when he created a device to communicate with ants and tried to convince them to betray Ant-Man by leading into a flypaper trap.[3] Ant-Man tricked him into thinking the ants had betrayed him before revealing that the ants were friends and would never turn against Ant-Man.[4] Egghead later captured theWasp to try luring his nemesis into a trap involving several creatures, including an iguana and an anteater, but this failed.[5] Egghead divided his remaining years between attempted world conquest and seeking revenge on his nemesis, often hiding out in theBowery section ofManhattan in between.[6]
Egghead teamed up with theMad Thinker and thePuppet Master in a plot to use a laser satellite to blackmail the United States government.[7] He caused the death ofBarney Barton, the brother ofHawkeye, who was aiding theAvengers,[8] hired theSwordsman to kidnapHank Pym, and battled Clint Barton again, who had at that time recently adopted the identity ofGoliath.[9]
Egghead later kidnapped his niece, Patricia "Trish" Starr, to test a device which allowed him to steal other people's intelligence, and wound up battling Pym as Ant-Man again.[10] He would later cause her car to explode, causing her to lose an arm.[11] He then formed the secondEmissaries of Evil in an attempt to gain possession of the mystic ruby called the Star of Capistan. This team consisted of himself, theRhino,Solarr and theCobalt Man. Egghead and the Emissaries battled theDefenders.[12] Egghead also foughtSpider-Man on several occasions.[volume & issue needed]
Egghead was still obsessed with Pym and engineered the man's disgrace. Egghead approached Pym (who was operating as Yellowjacket at the time) with a prosthetic arm that he wished to give to Trish to make amends for his previous deeds. After the arm was installed, Egghead informed Pym that the arm contained a bomb that would be detonated unless Pym complied with Egghead's commands. Egghead had Pym attempt to rob a national treasury ofadamantium, and Pym was caught and arrested by the Avengers.[13] With Pym apparently out of the way, Egghead then formed the thirdMasters of Evil as part of a plot against the Avengers.[14]
Egghead then sent his Masters of Evil to kidnap Pym from his own trial, making it appear as if Pym himself had staged a rescue. The attempt was successful and Egghead instructed Pym to construct an anti-aging device. Subsequently, Pym goaded Egghead into letting him test the machine himself. However, the device turned out to be a weapon system, and he single-handedly defeated the assembled Masters of Evil. The Avengers arrived too late to be of assistance, but Hawkeye arrived at the laboratory in time to see the defeated Egghead about to shoot Hank in the back out of spite with his energy blaster. Hawkeye shot an arrow into Egghead's gun barrel. The gun misfired, causing an accidental explosion of the energy blaster which killed Egghead instantly, with Hawkeye avenging the death of his brother Barney Barton at Egghead's hands years ago.[15] Days later, his ashes were scattered by Pym and Trish in a private ceremony.[16]
Arnim Zola later created a proto-husk of Egghead as part of his Corpse Corps.Deadpool fought and killed Egghead's proto-husk, who then had a small bird pop out of its skull.[17]
A flashback inFall of the Hulks: Alpha showed that Egghead was a member of theIntelligencia.[18]
Egghead is later resurrected by a "rejuvetech serum" and creates the A.I.Vengers. Computer technicianRaz Malhotra eventually escapes Egghead's control and shuts down the A.I.vengers.[19]
Egghead is later hired byDarren Cross to work for Cross Technological Enterprises. To help control Cross's Pym Particle abilities, Egghead provides theYellowjacket armor for him to wear.[20] Egghead later accompanies Cross andCrossfire in attackingScott Lang's trial.[21]
A robot version of Egghead appears as a member of the newYoung Avengers.[22] Although his original programming was "to respect all human life", the femaleneo-Nazi Big Zero (who seems to have a relationship with him) reprogrammed him to hate minorities.[23]
Egghead is later recruited by the villainZodiac (who was the benefactor of the Young Masters) to join his army.[24]
InAvengers Undercover, Egghead joins the Masters of Evil.[25]
During the "Iron Man 2020" event, Egghead appears as a member of theA.I. Army.[26]
Although he had no superhuman powers of his own, Eilhas Starr's genius level intellect made him a formidable foe. He was particularly skilled in the fields of robotics and engineering, and could absorb new ideas and knowledge at a seemingly superhuman rate. He had a degree in atomic science, and extensive knowledge in a wide variety of scientific and technological disciplines. Starr designed a wide variety of sophisticated weapons and technological paraphernalia.
The robotic Egghead can fly and become intangible.
The Elihas Starr incarnation of Egghead appears as a playable character inLego Marvel's Avengers.[30]
The Elihas Starr incarnation of Egghead appears inThe Amazing Spider-Man, by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Alex Saviuk. This version marriedJ. Jonah Jameson's estranged sister and inherited her share of theDaily Bugle upon her death.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)