Shocker (comics)

Shocker
Cover of The Amazing Spider-Man #46 (March, 1967), Shocker's introduction. Art by John Romita, Sr.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The Amazing Spider-Man #46 (March 1967)
Created by	Stan Lee John Romita, Sr.
In-story information
Alter ego	Herman Schultz
Team affiliations	Sinister Six Masters of Evil Sinister Syndicate Thunderbolts Villains for Hire
Abilities	Self invented suit provides: Deflection of physical attacks Resistance to being grasped Gauntlets that project concentrated vibrational air blasts

The Shocker (Herman Schultz) is a fictional supervillain that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics.

The character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #46 (March 1967) and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Romita, Sr.

He appeared as a regular character in Thunderbolts from issue #157 to 162, when he deserted the team.

Herman Schultz was born in New York City. He was a high school who had brilliant talents as both an inventor and an engineer. Instead of using such talents to gain legitimate employment, he became a successful burglar and the world's best safe-cracker (according to him in later stories). After finally being caught and incarcerated for his crimes, he developed a pair of gauntlets designed to shoot air blasts, vibrating at high frequency.

Schultz uses his gauntlets to escape from prison and becomes the supervillain known as "The Shocker". He defeats Spider-Man in their first confrontation (since Spider-Man was at a disadvantage due to having a bad left arm sprain from an earlier battle with the Lizard) during a robbery. While robbing a bank, he was later beaten and sent back to prison by Spider-Man pinning Schultz's thumbs away from the gauntlets' triggers with the webbing then knocked him out.

Shocker later stole an ancient stone tablet with an inscription for a formula that could restore youth, that had been earlier stolen by the Kingpin. Likely Schultz's most ambitious solo exploit was his attempt to hold New York City for ransom by blacking out various electrical grids to spell out his name, and extort one million dollars from the city. He then made one million dollars by harassing a stock broker. Shocker later joined Egghead's Masters of Evil (with Radioactive Man, Tiger Shark, Moonstone, and the Beetle) to incriminate Dr. Henry Pym, then on trial for treason. The Masters battled the Avengers in this encounter. Shocker was later hired by the Nazi war criminal Baron Von Lundt to kill Dominic Fortune, and built the vibro-shock units into his entire uniform to do so. Shocker was hired by the Chameleon and Hammerhead to induce Electro to join their organization. Shocker later attempted to steal thousands of charity dollars at the celebrity fund raiser for the New York City Library. He's captured by Spider-Man and sent to prison. He later escapes with the help of fellow inmate Boomerang. By this time, he's developed severe confidence issues and has become terrified that the Scourge of the Underworld is going to kill him. A tipping point occurs when Spider-Man apprehends him and seems to not take him seriously. Enraged, Shocker defeats Spider-Man and is about to finish him off when a Scourge imposter intervenes, causing Shocker to flee. When he next appeared his confidence issues are gone. He aims to hunt down Scourge himself and kill him first.