Piranha (comics)
| Piranha | |
|---|---|
Piranha as seen in Sub-Mariner #70. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Sub-Mariner #70 (May 1974) |
| Created by | Marv Wolfman (writer) George Tuska (artist) |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Mutated piranha |
| Team affiliations | Deep Six |
| Abilities | Superhuman strength, speed, agility, stamina and durability Sharp teeth and claws Underwater breathing Paralyzing venom Marine telepathy Healing factor Consumptive knowledge replication Digestive assimilation Zombie physiology Zombification Asexual reproduction |
Piranha is a fictional supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history
The character first appeared in Sub-Mariner #70 (May 1974) and was created by Marv Wolfman and George Tuska.[1]
Fictional character biography
The Piranha is a normal piranha who was evolved into an anthropomorphic form by Lemuel Dorcas's experiments and mutated numerous other fish into similar forms. During a battle with Namor, Piranha is injured and his blood attracts his piranha servants, who consume him and are transformed into clones of him.[2] The piranhas are later killed by Namor and the Thing.[3]
The original Piranha later regenerates his body and joins Deep Six.[4] In Marvel Zombies 4, Headpool infects Piranha and the Men-Fish with a zombie plague. When the Men-Fish attack a cruise ship, the Midnight Sons arrive and destroy them, with Piranha presumably being killed in the process.[5]
Powers and abilities
The Piranha is a piranha who was mutated by radiation into a semi-humanoid being with sub-human intelligence. The Piranha had superhuman physicality, teeth that were strong and sharp enough to penetrate Namor's skin,[2] claws that were equally as incisive made deadlier by a sleep-inducing venom they generated and the power to command other fish telepathically.[3] Piranha could increase its intellect by consuming the remains of anyone it came across, effectively adding their knowledge, memories and acumen to its own. Piranha also boasts a regenerative healing factor powerful enough to physically restore him even from being devoured by his own Men-Fish,[4] but was not powerful enough to prevent his reanimation.
After being zombified by Headpool, Piranha was turned into a zombie with a greatly augmented appetite. On top of the standard ability to spread the zombie plague via physical contact, Piranha gained a parasitic ability to create clones of itself as eggs in healthy human hosts.[5]
References
- ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains. New York: Facts on File. p. 266. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.[1]
- ^ a b Sub-Mariner #71 (May 1974)
- ^ a b Marvel Two-in-One #28 (June 1977)
- ^ a b Defenders (vol. 2) #7 (September 2001)
- ^ a b Marvel Zombies 4 #1 - 2 (June - July 2009)
External links
- Piranha at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe