Zzzax

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Zzzax
Zzzax battles the Hulk on the cover of The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #183 (Jan. 1975), art by Herb Trimpe
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #166 (Aug. 1973)
Created by	Steve Englehart Herb Trimpe
In-story information
Team affiliations	the Lethal Legion
Notable aliases	General "Thunderbolt" Ross, the Living Dynamo, Pyro
Abilities	Flight Electrical energy absorption, projection and manipulation Heat generation Ability to supposedly gain intellect

Zzzax is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #166 (Aug. 1973), and was created by Steve Englehart and Herb Trimpe.^[1]

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.

Fictional character biography[]

Debuting in the title The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2),^[2] Zzzax is a humanoid creature formed from electricity by an act of sabotage at a Con Ed nuclear power plant in New York City. A group of terrorists destroying the dynamos started a chain reaction that caused a rapid buildup of energy, which takes on a life of its own and absorbs the minds of the terrorists and several engineers. By using the electrical energy from their brains, the entity achieves humanoid form and sentience. Calling itself Zzzax, the entity fights the Hulk and Hawkeye before being defeated.^[2]

The character returns to the title The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) and attacks a research center in Chicago. The Hulk battles the entity to a standstill before several scientists shut down the process that recreates Zzzax.^[3] Zzzax reappears in the title Luke 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 in the title The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) to confront an intelligent version of the monster possessing the mind of Bruce Banner, but is quickly defeated.^[5] Mephisto later reforms the entity in the miniseries Secret Wars II, although the Thing defeats it.^[6] In the title West Coast Avengers, the character Zzzax teams with fundamental force villains Graviton; Quantum and Halflife, but is again short-circuited by Hawkeye.^[7]

The title The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) details how S.H.I.E.L.D. captured Zzzax and transported it to Gamma Base. General Thunderbolt Ross arranges for his mind to be transferred into Zzzax's body and battles a new version of the Hulk, whose alter-ego is Rick Jones.^[8] Ross relinquishes control of the entity soon after saving his daughter Betty Ross Banner, realizing that his actions had risked lives.^[9] Zzzax battles Iron Man in the title Marvel Comics Presents^[10] and Cable in the hero's self-titled series.^[11]

The entity reappears in the title New Avengers and participates in the mass escape by supervillains from the holding facility the Raft.^[12] The title Sensational She-Hulk reveals the character has been contained by S.H.I.E.L.D. After briefly escaping and turning the defense systems of the organisation's Helicarrier against its agents (including the Life Model Decoys), it is recaptured by the She-Hulk.^[13]

The Mighty Avengers later apprehend Zzzax when he attacks New Delhi.^[14]

Zzzax later appears in the services of MODOK Superior when it comes to him attacking the Red Hulk.^[15]

During the Fear Itself storyline, Zzzax was with MODOK Superior when it comes to competing against Zero/One and Black Fog into getting to the Red Hulk first.^[16]

Powers and abilities[]

As a being of pure electricity, Zzzax is capable of absorbing and discharging powerful currents of electricity; manipulating nearby electrical fields and equipment and also flying. The character's size and strength increases in proportion to the amount of electricity absorbed. This control of electric current extends to the human nervous system, as Zzzax has been shown controlling the Hulk. Zzzax is also dependent upon brain electricity, and when killing prey will temporarily take on the personality traits of the victim. Zzzax has been shown generating intense heat, to the point whereby water - a previous weakness - evaporates before even touching it.^{[volume & issue needed]}

In other media[]

Television[]

• Zzzax appears in The Incredible Hulk animated series, simultaneously voiced by Michael Bell, Leeza Miller McGee, and Kevin Schon.^[17] In the episode "Raw Power", nuclear power plant worker Mitch McCutcheon attempts to aid Bruce Banner in curing himself of the Hulk. However, security guards break in and damage the machine. McCutcheon rescues Bruce, but is transformed into Zzzax when the machine explodes. Driven insane by his transformation, Zzzax attempts to siphon as much energy as possible to maintain his new form, but is eventually turned back to normal following a fight with the Hulk. Zzzax later makes a brief cameo in a flashback during the episode "Innocent Blood", when the Ghost Rider uses his Penance Stare on the Hulk.
• Zzzax appears in The Super Hero Squad Show animated series, voiced by .^{[citation needed]} This version is a member of Doctor Doom's Lethal Legion. In the episode "A Brat Walks Among Us," Doom tasks Zzzax and Pyro with attacking the wall separating Super Hero City and Villainville so Doom's forces can invade the former. However, the villains are defeated by the Heroes for Hire and remanded to the Vault. In the episode "The Ice Melt Cometh", Zzzax and Pyro are joined by Paste Pot Pete and form "Team Toxic" to assist Doom in his latest plot to steal the Infinity Fractals, only to be defeated by the Super Hero Squad.
• Zzzax appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes animated series.^{[citation needed]} In the episode "Breakout Part 1", he is one of many supervillains who escape from the Cube and briefly clashes with the Hulk before escaping. In the episode "Gamma World Part 1", Zzzax assists the U-Foes and the Wrecking Crew in attacking the Avengers when they enter the Cube. All of the villains are defeated, although Zzzax short-circuits the Wasp's hazmat suit, causing her to be mutated by gamma radiation and subjected to the Leader's mind control.
• Zzzax appears in the Ultimate Spider-Man animated series, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.^[17] This version takes the form of a skinny humanoid. In the episode "Exclusive", Zzzax and the Hulk interrupt an interview between Spider-Man and Mary Jane Watson while fighting each other. The web-slinger and S.H.I.E.L.D. join the fight and trick Zzzax into overloading himself while attempting to absorb New York's power. In the episode "Contest of Champions Pt. 2", the Grandmaster has Zzzax, Doctor Octopus, and the Absorbing Man compete in a game of "Last Team Standing" against the Collector's team of Spider-Man, Skaar, the Black Widow, and Power Man as part of the titular contest.
• Zzzax appears in the Avengers Assemble animated series episode "All-Father's Day".^{[citation needed]} He lays siege to the United Nations until the Avengers arrive and overload him with energy and Odin defeats him.

Film[]

• Zzzax appears in the animated film Heroes United: Iron Man & Hulk, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.^[17] This version was created by HYDRA scientists Dr. Cruler and Dr. Fump.

Video games[]

• Zzzax appears in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.^[18]

References[]

External links[]

• Zzzax at Marvel.com
• Leader's Lair: Zzzax