TheHuman Fly is the name of three fictional characters appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. One is asupervillain that was an occasionalantagonist ofSpider-Man, and the other two weresuperheroes, one of which was the title of a short-lived series in the late 1950s reprinting some ofFox'sBlue Beetle strips from the 1940s. It was published by Super Comics.
The Human Fly first appeared inThe Amazing Spider-Man Annual #10 (January 1976), and was created byLen Wein,Bill Mantlo, andGil Kane.[1] The character subsequently appears inThe Amazing Spider-Man #192–193 (May–June 1979),Spider-Woman #30 (September 1980),Moon Knight #35 (January 1984),Peter Parker, theSpectacular Spider-Man #86 (January 1984), andTheAmazing Spider-Man #276 (May 1986), in which he was killed by theScourge of the Underworld. The story of the Fly inPeter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #86 was drawn byFred Hembeck, who (in his personal caricature form) had a guest appearance in that particular issue.[2] The Fly received an entry in the originalTheOfficial Handbook of the Marvel Universe #4, andThe Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Spider-Man #1 (2005).
The superhero version of Human Fly starred in Marvel Comics'The Human Fly #1–19 (September 1977 – March 1979).[citation needed] In July, 2024, a new series was released by IPI Comics.[3]
| Human Fly | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #10 (January 1976) |
| Created by | Len Wein (writer) Bill Mantlo (writer) Gil Kane (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Richard Deacon |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Team affiliations | Savage Six Sinister Sixteen |
| Notable aliases | Fly |
| Abilities |
Post-resurrection:
|
Richard Deacon, born inNewark, New Jersey, was a small-time criminal who was shot by the police and left for dead after an unsuccessful kidnapping attempt which was foiled bySpider-Man. Stumbling into the laboratory of Dr. Harlan Stillwell (whose brotherFarley Stillwell created theScorpion forJ. Jonah Jameson), Deacon coerces the scientist into saving his life. Overhearing an offer Jameson made with Stillwell to fund the creation of a new superhero, Deacon insists he be the subject of the experiment. Stillwell imprints the genetic coding of ahousefly onto Deacon, empowering him and healing him of his bullet wounds. Deacon then kills Harlan Stillwell after he served his purpose and uses his newfound powers to further his criminal ambitions. He first uses Jameson as bait to get revenge on Spider-Man. Due to his inexperience, the Fly is no match for him and is defeated.[4]
Some time later, Human Fly begins to display fly-like tendencies like eating garbage.[2] He also develops physical mutations, includingfacet eyes.[5] Human Fly attacks Spider-Man afterSpencer Smythe handcuffed him—along with Jameson—to a bomb. Human Fly hurls the two from a rooftop and leaves them for dead. Once freed from the shackle, Spider-Man tries to stop Human Fly from stealing an art exhibit, but the villain knocks him down and escapes. Soon afterwards, the police catch the Fly usingS.H.I.E.L.D. equipment.[6]
Traveling toLos Angeles, the Fly seeks out Dr.Karl Malus, who confirms that his powers are fading and he will soon be powerless. Malus recommends that he get a new set of powers using a blood transfusion from another superbeing, which would most conveniently be the locally operatingSpider-Woman. With his powers already at less than a third their usual strength however, he is unable to defeat her and is apprehended. Afterwards, Malus uses some of Human Fly's DNA to temporarily mutate Scotty McDowell into the similarly poweredHornet.[5]
Human Fly is freed from prison and his powers restored by untold means. He subsequently battlesMoon Knight, leaving the hero temporarily paralyzed, and again seeks revenge against Jameson and Spider-Man.[7] Partnered with theBlack Cat, Spider-Man once more defeats the Fly.[2]
Over time, Deacon's mutation increases. After escaping from a mental institution, Deacon is killed by aScourge of the Underworld (who was disguised as agarbage man) while trying to take revenge on Spider-Man.[8][9]
During the "Dark Reign" storyline, theHood resurrects the Human Fly and seventeen other victims of the Scourge of the Underworld using the power ofDormammu and recruits them to eliminate thePunisher.[10] The Fly now has acidic vomit that can melt steel and wings strong enough to deflect cannon fire and sharp enough to cut a dump truck in two.[11] Craving human flesh, he devours a prostitute in a private room, and then fights a group of armed guards who burst in, vomiting deadly acid on them. When he assaults another woman in the hallway, the Punisher confronts him.[12] Punisher uses his knife to cut one of Human Fly's wings in half. A group of his fellow criminals (disguised as Avengers from another time and place) intervene asBird-Man manages to get Human Fly to safety. His wing regenerates rather quickly.[13] He battles the Punisher again withLetha andLascivious, and is defeated when the Punisher throws him into Lascivious.[14]
Human Fly is apprehended byAgent Venom,[15] but he is able to escape a prisoner transport to the Raft when theHobgoblin attacks the transport trying to kill the Human Fly for stealing money from theKingpin.[16] Human Fly is later recruited by the thirdCrime Master to become a member of hisSavage Six.[17]
He is then hired byBoomerang andOwl to become a member of theSinister Sixteen.[18]
During the "Hunted" storyline, Human Fly is among the animal-themed beings who are captured byTaskmaster andBlack Ant forKraven the Hunter's Great Hunt.[19] He is present whenRazorback,Toad,White Rabbit, andYellowjacket plan to take revenge on Black Ant, only for Taskmaster to make off with Black Ant.[20]
| Human Fly | |
|---|---|
 Cover to issue #1 ofThe Human Fly, Sept. 1977. Art byAl Milgrom. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Human Fly #1 (September 1977) |
| Created by | Bill Mantlo |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Human |
| Abilities |
|
The second Human Fly was a young man of unknown identity who was severely injured during a car crash. After a long hospitalization, including a number of reconstructive surgeries in which much of his skeleton was replaced by steel, he took on the masked identity of the Human Fly. As the Human Fly, he performed daredevil stunts to benefit various charities, especially those helping children with disabilities.[21]
His activities often drew him into conflict with criminals, who were often seeking to rob the charity events at which he performed. Additionally, he drew the attention ofSpider-Man, who thought he might be the villain of the same name.
The character was based on real-lifestuntmanRick Rojatt.[22] The comic book carried the tag line "The Wildest Super-Hero Ever – Because He's Real!", and photographs of Rojatt in a Human Fly costume appeared in the books.[23]
The Richard Deacon version of Human Fly has inhuman physical attributes,winged flight, and surface scaling. His compound eyes enable him to see in all directions at once. By vibrating his wings, he can create powerfulshockwaves with concussive force.[24] Following his revival at the Hood's hands, Deacon is able to vomit acid capable of dissolving flesh or metal, as well as wings that are regenerative and bladed.
The superhero version of Human Fly had his bone structure replaced by 60% steel, which allows him to withstand any injury that normal humans cannot. He is a masteraerialist, unarmed combatant, and stuntman. The Human Fly utilizes a variety of specializedgadgets that helps him in his performances, depending on the stunt.[25]
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