| Zzzax | |
|---|---|
 Zzzax battles theHulk on the cover ofThe Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #183 (January 1975), art byHerb Trimpe | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #166 (August 1973) |
| Created by | Steve Englehart Herb Trimpe |
| In-story information | |
| Team affiliations | TheLethal Legion |
| Notable aliases | General "Thunderbolt" Ross, The Living Dynamo,Pyro |
| Abilities |
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Zzzax is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The character first appeared inThe Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #166 (August 1973), and was created bySteve Englehart andHerb Trimpe.[1]
In-universe, Zzzax was created by accident during a terrorist act. Zzzax is a being of pure electricity who can absorb and discharge powerful currents of electricity. Its size and strength depend on the amount of electricity absorbed. It can also absorb human brain energy, temporarily taking on the personality of the victim.
Debuting in the titleThe Incredible Hulk (vol. 2), Zzzax is a humanoid creature formed from electricity by an act of sabotage at aCon Ednuclear power plant inNew York City. A group of terrorists destroying thedynamos started a chain reaction that caused a rapid buildup of energy, which takes on a life of its own, absorbing the minds of them and several engineers. By using the electrical energy from their brains, the entity achieves humanoid form and sentience. Calling itself Zzzax, the entity fights theHulk andHawkeye before being defeated.[2]
The character returns and attacks a research center inChicago. The Hulk battles the entity to a standstill before several scientists shut down the process that recreates Zzzax.[3] Zzzax reappears inLuke Cage, Power Man, and hunts down the men responsible for its last defeat.Power Man defeats the entity, but not before it kills one of the scientists.[4] Zzzax returns to confront an intelligent version of the monster possessing the mind ofBruce Banner, but is quickly defeated.[5]Mephisto later reforms the entity in theminiseriesSecret Wars II, although theThing defeats it.[6] In the titleWest Coast Avengers, Zzzax teams withfundamental force villainsGraviton,Quantum, andHalflife, but is againshort-circuited by Hawkeye.[7]
S.H.I.E.L.D. later captured Zzzax and transported it toGamma Base. GeneralThunderbolt Ross arranges for his mind to be transferred into Zzzax's body and battles a new version of the Hulk, whose alter-ego isRick Jones.[8] Ross relinquishes control of the entity soon after saving his daughterBetty, realizing that his actions had risked lives.[9] Zzzax battlesIron Man in the titleMarvel Comics Presents[10] andCable in the hero's self-titled series.[11]
The entity reappears in the titleNew Avengers and participates in the mass escape by supervillains from the holding facilitytheRaft.[12] The titleSensational She-Hulk reveals the character has been contained by S.H.I.E.L.D. After briefly escaping and turning the defense systems of theHelicarrier against its agents, it is recaptured by the She-Hulk.[13]
The Mighty Avengers later apprehend Zzzax when it attacks New Delhi.[14]Zzzax later appears in the services ofMODOK Superior.[15][16]
As a being of pure electricity, Zzzax is able to absorb and generate electrical fields, as well as manipulate nearby equipment. It can grow its ownintelligence by draining the energy from humanbrainwaves, thus becoming dependent upon them. While incinerating the victim, it would temporarily take on his or her personality traits. This extends control to their nervous systems via electric currents. Only its foe, the Hulk has proven unaffected by this ability.[17] Zzzax's size and strength increases in direct quality for the electricity it needs to feed. It is also capable ofhovering. At the point whereby water - a primary weakness - could short-circuit orevaporate Zzzax before touching it.[18]
Zzzax appears inHeroes United: Iron Man & Hulk, voiced byDee Bradley Baker.[19] This version was created byHYDRA scientists Dr. Cruler and Dr. Fump.
Zzzax appears inMarvel Avengers Alliance.[20]
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