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Ghost is a supervillain from Marvel Comics. The first appearance of this character is in Iron Man #219.
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Fictional character biography
Virtually nothing is known as yet about the true identity of the Ghost. He claims to have been a business executive at one time. The Ghost seeks to destroy various corporations through sabotage, and is apparently most interested in attacking those dealing in electronics and high technology. He is willing to do this without financial recompensation, but often hires himself out to corporations that wish to destroy rival companies. The Ghost is a brilliant inventor, technician, engineer, demolitions expert, and computer scientist. Notably, in "Tales of Suspense" #63, dr. Birch, a Stark employee, commits industrial sabotage attacks against the company, out of envy, in the guise of "the Phantom". He did not display any special abilities, but a connection is conceivable.
The Accutech Merger
He was initially hired by Carrington Pax, a leading exeuctive of the Roxxon Oil Corporation, to destroy Accutech Research and Development. Accutech was trying to develop a beta particle generator and when they refused to sell it to Roxxon, the Ghost was hired to drive Accutech into bankruptcy. Tony Stark was interested in acquiring Accutech's technology and bought the company. Investigating a disturbance at the new facility as Iron Man, he first met the Ghost. Iron Man managed to drive the Ghost from Accutech, but the Ghost swore that he would have his revenge on Iron Man's employer, Tony Stark. For the next few weeks, Tony Stark spent all his free time modifying his armor. Sometimes, for extra security, he would sleep in his armor, too. When Pax and the other executives at Roxxon heard that the Ghost had gone rogue, they feared his actions would make the company look bad, so they called in Spymaster to take care of him. After a fierce battle at Stark Enterprises, the Ghost killed Spymaster. Using a modified version of his intangibility circuits, the Ghost made Spymaster materialize in a wall. The shock caused Spymaster's whole body to shut down. Tony finally took the offensive against the Ghost. He set up a trap and the Ghost walked right into it. After a short battle between Iron Man and the Ghost, Iron Man cornered the Ghost in the room with the beta particle generator. He had it turned on so he could see the cloaked Ghost better, since radiation from the generator would cause interference in the Ghost's sophisticated techsuit. However, prolonged exposure to the generator was fatal, and Iron Man didn't want to stay in the room for too long. But the Ghost had sworn to bring down Stark Enterprises and nothing, not even the chance of dying, would stop him. As he tried to reach the generator to destroy it, the intense heat from his overloading costume caused the floor to melt and the Ghost fell through. As Iron Man searched for him, all he found of the Ghost was his burnt costume. Still, Tony didn't believe that the Ghost was dead.
Unholy Ghost
Indeed, fairly soon after, the ghost reappeared - this time plaguing a company in Italy, owned by none other than Justin Hammer. The shrewd industrialist intented to sell the company, Electronica Fabbrizi, to Tony Stark, ridding him of a dangerous enemy and a useless asset, as well as sticking a business rival with a nasty problem. However, after Tony Stark discovered the true ownership of the floundering company, a compromise was reached: Hammer's forces and Iron Man would cooperate in taking out the Ghost. However, Hammer's team betrayed him, planning to get rid of both their enemies. While Iron Man managed to save the lives of everybody involved, Electronica Fabbrizi was irrevocably destroyed and the Ghost escaped. However, when the mysterious villain confronted Hammer, it was revealed the ruthless business man had had defenses developed against the Ghost's intangibility powers, and made his own escape, leaving his assailant trapped. Blasting his way out, the saboteur vowed to continue his crusade against all companies anywhere.
The Big Bang Theory
Much later, several companies were suddenly and violently destroyed when bombs, apparently installed in personal computers, went off in inner-city offices. Tony Stark, who at the time was undercover as a common employee at one of the companies that went under, managed to track down the source of the attacks: the "Advanced Corp", a cover for AIM. It was then revealed that AIM, not usually operating in common business circles, on this occasion had employed a special agent to eliminate the competition: the Ghost. Nearly defeating Iron Man in their first fight and escaping without a hitch, he hit a nasty snag during their second fight when he attempted to phase his costumed hand into Iron Man's chest, and Tony Stark's then-artificial heart defended itself, knocking him unconscious. He was subsequently arrested, but his identity appears to have remained unknown.
Inevitable
Later still, having apparently escaped, the Ghost (In a new, more streamlined outfit) was employed by the third Spymaster to help free the Living Laser, who was "held captive" by Stark Industries at the time. He attempted to kill Iron Man, and believed to have succeeded. In the end, he proved too unreliable and quirky, and was abandoned by his employer. He remains at large.
The Initiative
The Ghost was mentioned by Gauntlet as the one who attacked him and left a NW mark on him.
Powers and abilities
The Ghost wears a battlesuit that is powered by electricity and is controlled by mental commands through cybernetic circuits. His battlesuit allows him to become invisibile and the ability to phase through objects, but not at the same time. He is also undetectable by most scanning devices. The Ghost uses an array of weaponry including handguns that fire electrical charges and handguns that fire concussive blasts. He also uses explosive devices including bombs activated by sound.
In other media
The Ghost made a brief appearance on the Iron Man TV series in the first part of "The Armor Wars" voiced by Tom Kane. It's revealed that he's the one who stole Stark's armor designs and sold them to Justin Hammer, who sold them to the highest bidders.
Bibliography
- Iron Man #219-#221, #239-#240
- Amazing Spider-Man Annual #25
- Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #11
- Web of Spider-Man Annual #7
- Amazing Spider-Man v2, #16
- Iron Man v3, #42-45
References
- The Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe: Update '89 (Volume 3)
External links
- Marvel Guide:An UnOfficial Handbook to the Marvel Universe
- The Grand Comics Database Project
- The Marvel Appendix
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| Creators | Don Heck · Stan Lee · Larry Lieber · Jack Kirby |
| Supporting characters | Bethany Cabe · Rumiko Fujikawa · Happy Hogan · Edwin Jarvis · Pepper Potts · War Machine |
| Villains | Advanced Idea Mechanics · Blizzard · Blacklash · Boomerang · Controller · Count Nefaria · Crimson Dynamo · Dreadknight · Ghost · Hypnotia · Iron Man 2020 · Iron Monger · Justin Hammer · Living Laser · Madame Masque · Mandarin · M.O.D.O.K. · Radioactive Man · Roxxon Oil · Spymaster · Temugin · Titanium Man · Unicorn · Ultimo |
| Storylines | Armor Wars · Ultimate Iron Man |
| In other Media | The Marvel Superheroes (1966) · Iron Man (television, 1994) · Iron Man and X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal (1996) · The Invincible Iron Man (animated film, 2007) · Iron Man (film, 2008) · Iron Man (video game, 2008) |
| Miscellania | Alternate versions of Iron Man · Iron Man's armor · Avengers Mansion · Stark Tower |
