Beetle (comics)
| Beetle | |
|---|---|
Spider-Man: Web of Doom #3 featuring Abner Jenkins in the second Beetle armor and the version most associated with the name.
Art by Shawn McManus. |
|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Strange Tales #123 (August 1964) |
| Created by |
Stan Lee (writer) Carl Burgos (artist) |
| Characters |
Abner Jenkins Leila Davis Janice Lincoln |
The Beetle is the name used by multiple fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is also the name of the three versions of high tech armor used by seven separate characters.
The Beetle debuted in the "Human Torch" segment of Strange Tales #123 (August 1964) with the original incarnation Abner Jenkins using the first armor. This version was beaten by the Thing and Human Torch. This version would only be used for a few years before the character switched to the second armor (which is most associated with the name) and would be in use until Thunderbolts #1 (April 1997) when Jenkins's alter ego was changed to MACH-1. A new version debuted in Thunderbolts #35 (February 2000). This version resembled a walking tank and would be used by Jenkins and the second incarnation Leila Davis. This version was crushed by Graviton, killing Davis who was still inside at the time. After Davis's death, the Beetle armor would go unused until Thunderbolts #103 (August 2006) when all three versions were stolen and used by three college students. How, why and exactly when the third version of the armor was rebuilt was not made clear. The individual names of these characters were not revealed.
An ex-master mechanic, Abner Jenkins left his career to pursue life as an adventurer seeking wealth and fame under the Beetle name. A defeat at the Fantastic Four's hands sent Beetle into the direction of a life of crime where he was even a member of the Masters of Evil. Years later, Jenkins joined the Thunderbolts, a choice that eventually took him on a more heroic pathway in life.
The widow of minor supervillain Ringer, Leila Davis began her criminal career as a driver for the super villain Sinister Syndicate team. After Ringer's death, Leila would go on to have her own costumed career, first as Hardshell and finally as the Beetle. She was killed when Graviton crushed the Beetle armor with her still inside.
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