Eric Williamsis a character appearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byMarvel Comics.Created byRoy ThomasandJohn Buscema,the characterfirst appearedinThe Avengers#52 May (1968).[3]Eric Williams is the brother of thesuperheroSimon Williams / Wonder Man.[4]He is asupervillainandnecromancerknown under the codenameGrim Reaper.[5]The character is an adversary of theAvengers.[6]He has also been a member of theMaggia,Lethal Legion,andLegion of the Unlivingat various points in his history.[7]
| Eric Williams Grim Reaper | |
|---|---|
 The Grim Reaper as depicted inThe Avengers#160 (June 1977). Art byGeorge Pérez. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Avengers#52 (May 1968)[1] |
| Created by | Roy Thomas(writer) John Buscema(artist)[2] |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Eric Williams |
| Species | Human mutate /cyborg |
| Team affiliations | Legion of the Unliving Horsemen of Death Lethal Legion Sinister Six HYDRA Maggia |
| Partnerships | Space Phantom Black Talon Man-Ape Goliath Ultron Nekra |
| Notable aliases | Adopted Son of the Abyss Left Hand of Darkness Spawn of Perdition Son of Darkness Master of Death The Reaper |
| Abilities |
|
The character will be portrayed inlive-actionbyDemetrius Grossein the upcomingDisney+seriesWonder Man,set in theMarvel Cinematic Universe(MCU).
Publication history
editThis sectionneeds expansion.You can help byadding to it.(December 2012) |
1960s
editEric Williams debuted inThe Avengers#52 May (1968), created byRoy ThomasandJohn Buscema.[8]He appeared in the 1982Vision and the Scarlet Witchseries,[9]and the 1985Web of Spider-Manseries
2000s
editEric Williams appeared in the 2006Civil Warseries,[10]the 2009Dark Reign: Lethal Legionseries,[11]the 2011Chaos War: Dead Avengersseries,[12]the 2012Uncanny Avengersseries,[13]and the 2019Valkyrie: Jane Fosterseries.[14]
Fictional character biography
editEric Williams, the brother ofSimon Williams,was born inPaterson, New Jersey.He was constantly neglected by his parents, who gave all of their attention to Simon and failed to curb his violent tendencies. Eric eventually becomes a thief and member of theMaggiaand moves to Las Vegas, while Simon takes over the family business, Williams Innovations.
After his company is faced with bankruptcy, partly due to competition withStark Industries,Simon works with Eric andHeinrich Zemoto get revenge and is transformed into Wonder Man. Later, Simon sacrifices himself to save the Avengers, and Eric becomes the Grim Reaper out of grief.[15][16]
In his next appearance, the Grim Reaper confronts the Avengers with his originalLethal Legion,composed of theLiving Laser,Power Man,Man-Ape,and theSwordsman.He later learns that theVisionwas implanted with Simon's brain waves and refuses to harm him, leading to his defeat.[17]
The Grim Reaper later allied with theSpace PhantomandHYDRA.He planned to transfer the Vision's mind to Wonder Man's body, thus "resurrecting" his brother. He battled the Avengers again and was defeated.[18]
Behind the scenes, the Grim Reaper later had Wonder Man resurrected as a zombie by theBlack Talonto attack the Avengers. Wonder Man was restored to true life as a result.[19]Grim Reaper then captured the Avengers, and staged a trial to determine whether the Vision or Wonder Man was his true brother. He was defeated by Wonder Man.[20]
Later, the Grim Reaper attempted to kill both the Vision and Wonder Man, but was defeated by Vision.[21][22]
Later still, the Grim Reaper with Ultron,Nekraand other allies, captured the Avengers. Grim Reaper attempted a recreation of "Simon Williams" as a zombie. He was pursued by the Vision and Wonder Man in a cave, and died in a fall from the cave ledge.[23]Grim Reaper was then resurrected by Nekra as a zombie, but he believed himself to be alive. The zombie battled Wonder Man andMagneto,but when he realized he was actually dead, he "died" again as a result.[24]
Much later,Immortusresurrects the Grim Reaper as a member of hisLegion of the Unliving.Grim Reaper battled Wonder Man, and "died" again of a broken neck.[25]He was then resurrected by Nekra as a zombie again, this time under the condition that he absorb a human life-force every 24 hours. He killed Nekra as his first victim, and then battled Wonder Man before escaping.[26]He battled Wonder Man and theMandrill,and escaped again.[27]The scythe was fused to his arm by Ultron, and he formed an alliance with Ultron.[28]
The Grim Reaper was later restored to life by theScarlet Witch's magic.[29]When Ultron attempted to create a new "family" for himself, Grim Reaper was abducted as one of the six individuals that came closest to being Ultron's "family" - the others beingHank Pym,Wasp, Vision, Scarlet Witch, and Wonder Man. Ultron regarded Grim Reaper as the first human connection made apart from Pym, as well as the connections to Wonder Man and Vision. While Vision distracted Ultron, Eric was able to escape his bonds and free the other prisoners, although he subsequently fled, informing Vision that he only released the others to save himself rather than any more noble goal.[30]
The Grim Reaper reappeared during theSecret Waraftermath that had been organized byNick FuryagainstLatveria.[31]He was among the supervillains who had been supplied with enhanced technology by Latverian dictatorLucia von Bardasand sent to attack the heroes who had been involved in Fury's Secret War.[32]
The Grim Reaper was apparently one of the many villains that escaped from the Raft prison.[33]Being at large for several months, the Grim Reaper was eventually tracked down byCaptain AmericaandCableduring the "Civil War"storyline. Captain America and Cable brought Grim Reaper down with the aid of their other friends. He was found bound to a pole along with theVulture.He was once again put into custody byS.H.I.E.L.D.[34]
Grim Reaper is next seen teaming with Man-Ape and Saboteur.[35]
During theDark Reignstoryline, the Grim Reaper later formed a new incarnation of the Lethal Legion as part of a plan againstNorman Osborn.The team is ultimately defeated by theDark AvengersandH.A.M.M.E.R.agents and imprisoned in The Raft. While there, Grim Reaper is killed by an inmate loyal to Osborn.[36][37]
During theChaos Warstoryline, the Grim Reaper returns from the dead afterDeathleaves the underworld, and becomes a servant ofAmatsu-Mikaboshi.[38]He and Nekra fight the "Dead Avengers" (consisting ofCaptain Marvel,Deathcry,Doctor Druid,Swordsman, Vision andYellowjacket).[39]He manages to kill most of them except for Swordsman and Yellowjacket. Grim Reaper and Nekra are killed when Vision self-destructs.[40]
As part of the 2012-2013 "Marvel NOW!"relaunch, the Grim Reaper appears alive and attacks theAvengers Unity Squad's debut press conference claiming that he is now unable to die. He is seemingly killed byRogueafter she absorbs Wonder Man's powers.[41]He is restored to life by aCelestialDeath Seed, and is recruited by theApocalypse Twinsas part of their newHorsemen of Death.[42]He attacks Simon, defeating and capturing his brother.[43]Grim Reaper destroys Earth and helps teleport all mutants to Planet X.[44]After the Apocalypse Twins are defeated, Grim Reaper escapes with Daken.[45]
The Grim Reaper later attacks Vision's family before being killed by Vision's wife Virginia.[46]After learning of this, Vision decides to keep the events secret to protect his family from the legal consequences and possible backlash from the Avengers.[47]
In theDamnationstoryline, Grim Reaper is revived when Doctor Strange restores Las Vegas.[48]
InThe War of the Realms,Grim Reaper is approached byMephisto,who offers him the chance to kill the Vision in return for becoming his new Valkyrie. WhenJane Fostertaking on the position complicates matters, Grim Reaper is sent to take a hero's soul into the afterlife to cement his claim to the name. He targets Doctor Strange, trapping his soul in a magic mirror. Jane takes him on as Valkyrie, and defeats him by taking him toValhalla.[49]
Powers and abilities
editEric Williams initially possessed a techno-scythe, which could create energy blasts.[50]He could spin his scythe at rapid speeds, project plasma blasts, and fire electric stun shocks.[51]Williams now wields an enchantedscythecapable of absorbinglife energyfrom others.[52]He later gainedmysticalabilities as well.[53]His powers allow him to reanimate the dead,[54]teleport himself or others, summon demons, create illusions,[55]and perceive visual sensations.[56]His physical strength, stamina, and durability were slightly heightened beyond the human body's natural limitations.
Reception
editGraeme McMillan ofNewsaramadescribed the relationship between Eric Williams and Simon Williams as one of the best sibling rivalries in comic books.[57]
Other versions
editEarth X
editAn alternate universe variant of the Grim Reaper from Earth-9997 appears inEarth X.[58]
JLA/Avengers
editThe Grim Reaper appears inJLA/Avengers.[59]
The Last Avengers Story
editAn alternate universe variant of Grim Reaper,William Maximoff,from Earth-9511 appears inThe Last Avengers Story.[60]
In other media
editTelevision
edit- Eric Williams / Grim Reaper appears inThe Avengers: United They Standepisode "The Sorceress' Apprentice",[61]voiced byAllan Royal.[62][63]This version wears full body armor and a helmet painted to resemble a skull.
- Grim Reaper appears in theIron Man: Armored Adventuresepisode "Mandarin's Quest".[64]This version is a Makluan guardian created by the originalMandarinto guard one of hisringsand test potential successors by trapping them in nightmarish hallucinations.
- Eric Williams / Grim Reaper appears inThe Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes,voiced byLance Henriksen.[63]This version is a member ofHYDRAand lieutenant ofBaron Strucker.
- Eric Williams / Grim Reaper appears inAvengers Assemble,voiced byRoger Craig Smith.[63]
Film
editEric Williams / Grim Reaper makes a cameo appearance inAvengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher.[63]
Marvel Cinematic Universe
edit- The helmet of Eric Williams / Grim Reaper appears in theWandaVisionepisode "Don't Touch That Dial".[65][66][67]
- Eric Williams / Grim Reaper will appear inWonder Man,portrayed byDemetrius Grosse.[68]
Video games
edit- Eric Williams / Grim Reaper appears as abossinCaptain America and the Avengers.[69]
- Eric Williams / Grim Reaper appears as a mini-boss inMarvel: Ultimate Alliance 2,voiced byRick D. Wasserman.
- Eric Williams / Grim Reaper appears as a boss inMarvel: Avengers Alliance.[citation needed]
- Eric Williams / Grim Reaper appears as a boss inMarvel Heroes,voiced byRobin Atkin Downes.[63]
- Eric Williams / Grim Reaper appears as a playable character inLego Marvel's Avengers.[70]
Merchandise
edit- In 2015,Hasbroreleased an Eric Williams / Grim Reaperaction figure,[71]as part of the Marvel Avengers Infinite Series from theMarvel Legendsaction figure line.[72]
References
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External links
edit- Grim Reaperat Marvel.com
- Grim Reaperat Comic Vine
- Grim Reaperat Writeups.org