Asbestos Man
Asbestos Man on the cover of Strange Tales #111 (August 1963).
Art by Jack Kirby and Dick Ayers.[1]
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceStrange Tales #111
(August 1963)
Created byStan Lee (plotter)
Ernest Hart (writer)
Dick Ayers (artist)
In-story information
Full nameOrson Karloff
SpeciesHuman
Place of originEarth
Abilities
  • Wears asbestos suit that is highly toxic and resistant to heat
  • Possesses iron shield that can block out flames
  • Energy manipulation via metal net
  • Genius chemist

Asbestos Man is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by editor-plotter Stan Lee, writer Ernest Hart, and artist Dick Ayers, the character first appeared in Strange Tales #111 (August 1963).

Publication history

The character made his official debut in Strange Tales #111 (Aug. 1963). The plot was developed by editor Stan Lee and the story was written by Ernest Hart, under the pen name H. Huntley, with illustrations by Dick Ayers.[2] Asbestos Man did not reappear in the comics for many years until 2011's Fear Itself storyline.[3]

Fictional character biography

Dr. Orson Karloff is "the world's foremost analytical chemist."[4] He invents a chemical capable of melting metals, among other things, which he thinks he can use to steal money from banks like Fort Knox. However, he is not swift or stealthy and is almost caught by the police during one of his burgling attempts. Realizing that he is not skillful enough, Karloff adopts the supervillain handle of Asbestos Man and retreats to an obscure castle, where he hones his powers and one day challenges Human Torch to a showdown.[5] The Torch nonchalantly agrees. However, it is Asbestos Man who ultimately wins, having created a flame-resistant armor out of "super-asbestos" (a combination of iron, calcium and chrysotile), rendering Storm's powers useless. Asbestos Man decides to spare the Torch, having already made a mockery of him. Asbestos Man's triumph over the Torch becomes big news. Blackie Barker, otherwise known as the "King of the Underworld", becomes aware of the villain and ropes him in to help carry out a bank heist. A humiliated Human Torch returns to settle scores with Asbestos Man, after being encouraged by his fellow Fantastic Four members. At the bank, the Human Torch absorbs all oxygen present. Asbestos Man is forced to surrender and he is promptly hauled to prison.[6]

During the Fear Itself storyline, Asbestos Man is revealed to have developed cancer due to the toxicity of his super-asbestos suit and is now living with an oxygen tank so he can breathe. He makes clear his desire to return to life as a villain, but is persuaded not to by the Great Lakes Avengers.[3]

Years later, the Human Torch mentioned that Asbestos Man had died.[7]

Powers and abilities

Asbestos Man is a genius chemist.[8] His knowledge of chemistry enabled him to develop a super solvent and "super-asbestos." His "super-asbestos" armor is high in toxicity and is also resistant to heat.[9] Additionally, his iron shield can block out flames and his metal net is capable of energy manipulation. He holds a Ph.D in analytical chemistry.[2]

Reception

Critical reception

CBR.com ranked Asbestos Man 4th in their "Marvel: 10 Strangest Villains" list,[9] 7th in their "Marvel: 10 Most Powerful Great Lakes Avengers Villains" list,[10] and 8th in their "Marvel: 10 Famous Villains From The 60s That Have Been Forgotten" list.[5]

Impact

At the time of Asbestos Man's creation, many were ignorant about the dangers of asbestos. The California Asbestos Legal Center paid tribute to Asbestos Man in May 2012, writing in its entry on the Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog that he, alongside a similar villainess Asbestos Lady, was "a lasting reminder of the significant cover-up perpetrated by the asbestos industry regarding the danger associated with asbestos exposure".[11] Filip Mundt of the Karolinska Institute also cited Asbestos Man and Asbestos Lady as examples of asbestos being considered a "miracle fibre" at times in the 20th century, as it was portrayed to have enough heat resistance to take on superheroes.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Rhett Thomas, John (October 2015). Overton, Brian (ed.). The Marvel Legacy of Jack Kirby. Marvel Entertainment. ISBN 9781302482442.
  2. 1 2 Marvel Legacy: The 1960s–1990s Handbook. Marvel Comics. 2007. p. 5. ISBN 9780785120827.
  3. 1 2 Elliott Kalan (w), Ty Templeton (a). "Fear and Self-Loathing in Wisconsin" Fear Itself: The Home Front, no. 6 (November 2011). New York City: Marvel Comics.
  4. ↑ "Marvel at the Asbestos Man". Shield Newsletter. December 20, 2011.
  5. 1 2 Faraci, Derek (2020-04-09). "Marvel: 10 Famous Villains From The 60s That Have Been Forgotten". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  6. ↑ Stan Lee and Ernest Hart (w), Dick Ayers (a). "Fighting to the death with the Asbestos Man!" Strange Tales, no. 111 (August 1963). Marvel Comics.
  7. ↑ Fantastic Four vol. 5 #1
  8. ↑ "The 10 Weirdest Weapons Used in Comic Books". Animated Times. 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  9. 1 2 Harth, David (2021-08-18). "Marvel: 10 Strangest Villains, Ranked". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  10. ↑ Avina, Anthony (2019-12-10). "Marvel: 10 Most Powerful Great Lakes Avengers Villains, Ranked". CBR. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  11. ↑ Asbestos Legal Center (May 3, 2012). "Avengers Movie Week: Remembering Asbestos Lady and Asbestos Man". Mesothelioma Lawyer Blog.
  12. ↑ Mundt, Filip (2013). Malignant pleural mesothelioma : novel biomarkers and related pathways. Stockholm: Karolinska Institutet. ISBN 978-91-7549-017-5.
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