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Arcade (Marvel Comics)

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Arcade
Arcade inX-Factorvol. 3 #30.
Art by Glenn Fabry.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceMarvel Team-Upvol. 1#65
(January1978)[1]
Created byChris Claremont(Writer)
John Byrne(Artist)
In-story information
SpeciesHuman
Team affiliationsCrazy Gang
PartnershipsMiss Locke
Mister Chambers
White Rabbit
Mastermind (Martinique Jason)
Notable aliasesMister A, "Mad Monk," Pinball Wizard, A.R. Cadenski
AbilitiesGenius intelligence
Via technology, energy sources and magic:
Force field generation
Near invulnerability
Motor function control
Telekinesis
Matter manipulation
Ability to blow apart anyone with a simple gesture

Arcadeis asupervillainappearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byMarvel Comics.He first appeared in1978'sMarvel Team-Up#65, the creation of writerChris Claremontand writer/artistJohn Byrne.The character is a combination of anevil geniusand ahitmanwho carries out his assassinations via various elaborate traps, often referred to asMurderworld.

Arcade's first intended victims wereSpider-ManandCaptain Britainbut since Arcade'sMurderworldgames always leave the outcome up to chance, the duo defeated Arcade and escaped with their lives. Over the years Arcade has targeted a multitude of Marvel heroes, often focusing on theX-Menand associated members ofX-Factor,X-ForceandExcalibur.In what is considered the "game changer" for Arcade,Avengers Arena,[2]he managed to kidnap 16 superpowered teens and forced them to kill each other for survival in his latest version ofMurderworld;unlike most Murderworld schemes, this endeavor yielded several casualties.

Arcade has appeared in a number of other Marvel properties outside of comic books, inX-Men: Evolutionvoiced byGabe Khouth,and in theUltimate Spider-Mananimated series voiced byEric Bauza.The character made his live-action debut in the20th Century FoxfilmDeadpool 2(2018) portrayed by co-writerPaul Wernick.He has also appeared as one of the main villains in a number of video games, includingX-Men: Madness in Murderworld,Spider-Man/X-Men: Arcade's Revenge,Marvel: Ultimate Alliance,Spider-Man: Edge of TimeandMarvel: Avengers Alliance.

Publication history

[edit]
Arcade's first full appearance inMarvel Team-Upvol. 1,#66.

Arcade was created byChris ClaremontandJohn Byrne.[3]Arcade first appeared inMarvel Team-Up#65.[4]

The same storyline was reprinted shortly thereafter in the black-and-white comicMarvel UKtitleSuper Spider-Man & Captain Britain#248.[5]

Arcade has regularly been a guest villain in the majority of Marvel comics appearances he has made throughout the years since his introduction. His earliest encounter with the X-Men team occurred in the pages ofUncanny X-Men#122–124. Some time later he would encounter the team again, this time partnered withDr. Doomin issues #145-147. Arcade also makes an appearance inThe Uncanny X-Men#197.

Fictional character biography

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Arcade affects a manner of dress and speech that makes him appear to be a comedic character. This is part of his overall theme, which extends into his preferred method ofmurder,an underground funhouse of colorfuldeathtraps,usually decked out in cheery colors and disguised as anamusement park,which he has dubbed "Murderworld".

Arcade'sback-story,up to and including his real name, remains largely unknown even to the present. According to the man himself, he was born into an extremely wealthy family and lived much of his early life, depending on the telling, on aranchinTexas,or in amansioninBeverly Hills.[6]At the age of either eighteen or twenty-one, hisallowancewas cut off by his father, who declared that he did not deserve it. In retaliation, Arcade murders his father, thus inheriting all of the man's vastestate.

Arcade became a freelanceassassin,traveling across the world, killing people in rather mundane fashions, and amassing even more wealth than he already had. Discovering an aptitude for technology, Arcade designed and built his first Murderworld, a subterranean evil lair disguised as an amusement park. From this base, and with the help of two mysterious assistants namedMiss LockeandMr. Chambers,he reemerged as the world's most expensive hitman. For the price of $1 million, he would tailor Murderworld to exploit the specific weaknesses of his targets and then watch as they are killed by a variety of colorful deathtraps strewn throughout the facility.

However, one of his "gimmicks" is that he always deliberately leaves each target a small chance of survival. In one instance, when the girlfriend of one of his captives begged him "If you're going to kill them, at least have the decency to do it quickly, painlessly!" Arcade laughs and replied, "Decency's dull... besides, miss, your way, they're dead and that's that. My way, they've got a chance. Not much of one, but a chance."[7]This sets Arcade notably apart from most other villains who usedeathtraps;while most villains believe that their death machines are infallible, Arcade likes to give them a chance on purpose, for the sport of it.

Arcade, fromX-Men#122 (June 1979).
Art byJohn ByrneandTerry Austin.

Since his first attempt to slay the unlikely duo ofSpider-ManandCaptain Britain,[8]Arcade has tangled, at one time or another, with a large number of heroes and teams of heroes. In addition to battling theX-Men,X-Factor,X-ForceandExcaliburas groups, he has attempted to kill many individual members, usually in pairs. Examples of this includeGambitandWolverine,[9]ColossusandShadowcat,[10]IcemanandAngel,[11]Nightcrawler,[12]Northstar,[13]Meggan,[14]andDazzler.[15]

Other would-be victims of Murderworld have includedGreen Goblin(Phil Urich),[16]Hercules[17]Johnny Blaze,[18]Patsy Walker,[19]Gwenpool,[20]Iron ManandThe Thing[21]and theMicronauts.[22]

Courtney Rossis one of the few non-super-powered civilians to escape Arcade's attention alive. She survives for some time due to outwitting multiple opponents (such as the Crazy Gang) and discovers a talent for improvisational comedy. In the end, she is rescued by the superhero team Excalibur. The entire situation gives her a new outlook and appreciation for life (though she is soon killed by an unrelated villain after her escape).[23]

In another confrontation with Excalibur, Arcade trapped the team in a Murderworld programmed as a Looney Tunes parody, called the Loonies. He was revealed to be the "Wizard of Oz" of this world after Excalibur had to go down the yellow brick road.[24]

At one point Arcade entraps the two otherworldly warriors,Adam XandShatterstar,who team up to survive his plans. Arcade finds himself astonished as the two (mostly Adam) literally kill several of his employees. This causes him to state that the clients will be receiving a refund and the two are not to be dealt with in the future. Shatterstar attempts to kill Arcade, but he only destroys a robotic double.[25]

The battle with Ghost Rider came when Arcade, having taken his show on the road, joins up with Blaze's Quentin Carnival; his Murderworld folded out from the back of a semi. Blaze rampages through the fold-out Murderworld, which he discovers is infested with demonic beings, destroying all the obstacles in his sight and killing what he can. He then leaves Arcade trapped in its depths. Arcade's trailer, now more normal-shaped, is driven out into the desert and abandoned.[18]

Prior to a confrontation withWolverineandGambit,he murdered his assistant Miss Locke in a fit of rage. During the struggle, she wounded him with a carving knife and scarred much of his face. Over time, Arcade recovered from the physical trauma (presumably through facial surgery, though that has never been confirmed or even addressed in future stories) and even built a series of Miss Locke androids, virtually identical to her in every way, to replace his now-dead companion.

In the three-part miniseries called"Claws",Arcade secretly creates aKraven the Hunterrobot, with the "assistance" ofWhite Rabbit,in an attempt to kill both Wolverine andBlack Cat.The two heroes overwhelm Arcade and the White Rabbit and strand them in the dinosaur-filled wilds of theSavage Land.[26]

During the "Dark Reign"storyline, Quasimodo researched Arcade forNorman Osbornand states that he would be a good distraction.[27]

Arcade is responsible for the destruction ofMutant Town,as part of a botched plan to kidnap X-Factor'sRictor.[28]He later resurfaced, confrontingDeadpoolandHercules,[17]Dazzler,[15]Human Torchand theImpossible Man.[29]and theYoung AlliesandAvengers Academy.[30]

Avengers ArenaandUndercover

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In a shift from his usual modus operandi, Arcade is responsible for the "Avengers Arena."He and a new associate namedMiss Corianderabduct 16 teenage superheroes (several with ties to theAvengers,including several members ofAvengers Academy) and strand them on a deserted island, re-modified as an elaborate Murderworld location, forcing them to fight to the death.[31][32]The heroesMettle,Red Raven,Kid Briton,Juston Seyfert,Apex,andNarado not survive this Murderworld encounter. (Nico Minoruof theRunawaysis also killed, but the powers of her Staff of One resurrect her before the series' end)

Months later, in the pages ofAvengers Undercover,Arcade has cashed in on the success of Avengers Arena in the villainous underground nation of Bagalia. Several Murderworld survivors reunite and are convinced by fellow heroCullen Bloodstoneto kill Arcade at the Massacre Casino in revenge for his actions.[33]After a chaotic battle, Hazmat finally kills Arcade by destroying him with a concentrated radiation burst.[34]However, it was later revealed that Arcade was actually alive the entire time, imprisoned in aMasters of Evilcell (by Baron Zemo, with assistance from his now former comrade Ms. Coriander) and that Hazmat had in reality killed a clone made by members of the Masters of Evil; all revealed as an effort to coerce the heroes to turn against the Avengers and to join them.[35]After the Masters of Evil get away on a hijacked Helicarrier, it was shown that they had strapped Arcade to the front of it.[36]

Partnership with Wilson Fisk

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Arcade later encounteredGwenpoolat a time when Arcade had trapped members of the MODOK organization andWalrusin his latest Murderworld. With help from Deadpool, Gwenpool rescued the captives and assisted Deadpool in defeating Arcade.[20]Arcade later set a trap forHellcatandShe-HulkonConey Island.[19]

He had most recently moved his enterprises to Las Vegas and was embroiled in his usual games of life & death withElektra.In addition, he collaborated with Screwball where he gave her the training, equipment, and exclusive streaming rights that she needed.[37]During this encounter he revealed that he'd partnered withWilson Fiskto eliminate certain heroes "from the board," such as Elektra, Hellcat, Gwenpool, Deadpool and others, explaining their previous encounters.[38]After Elektra put an end to his Vegas operation, Arcade found his way to Madripoor and encountered Spider-Man and Deadpool.[39]

Arcade Industries

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In the prelude to the "Hunted"storyline, Arcade and his company Arcade Industries assisted Kraven the Hunter andLast Son of Kravenin preparation for his upcoming hunt inCentral Park.He started by havingKing Cobra,Rhino,Scorpion,Stegron,Tarantula,andVulturebe branded theSavage Sixafter they were apprehended for Kraven the Hunter byTaskmasterandBlack Ant.[40]When Arcade offered to test an automaton called the Hunter-Bot which contains Kraven the Hunter's physical characteristics, a Great Hunt participant named Bob used the VR Goggles to help test it out onIguana.As Iguana attacked the Hunter-Bot, Bob channeled his anger from life failures and controlled the Hunter-Bot into using a special club which tore into Iguana's hide. When Arcade's Hunter-Bots are unleashed on the animal-themed superhumans, they managed to killBison,Gazelleof theSalem's Seven,andMad Dog.[41]Then a Hunter-Bot killedGibbonas Spider-Man stays by his side in Gibbon's final moments.[42]It was mentioned by Spider-Man andToadto the other animal-themed superhumans that Arcade's Hunter-Bots controlled by the participants have killedMandrillandMan-Bull.[43]Arcade receivesVerminfrom Taskmaster andLizard.[43]Kraven has Arcade tell Vulture that there is a chance to break the forcefield by killing more Hunter-Bots. Vermin is being kept captured by Arcade who found him due to Taskmaster and Lizard showing Arcade his location. Vermin bites Arcade's finger in defiance. In fear of being killed by Arcade, Vermin reveals that Lizard and Taskmaster are working against Arcade. Arcade puts a serum into Vermin's skin causing him to spawn clones of him in the cage.[44]When the Great Hunt ends, Captain Marvel shows up to confront Arcade while the controllers of the Hunter-Bots are confronted by Captain America who plans to have a conversation with them about New York's hunting laws.[45]

According to the memory ofSpider-Boy,Killionaire once hired Arcade to abduct Spider-Boy and take him to Murderworld. Spider-Man managed to free him and they escaped Murderworld.[46]

Arcade's other impacts

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One of his old facilities was used as a headquarters by the superhero teamX-Force.[47]They planned to use it as a base for crimefighting and even attended a nearby college out of it. Arcade later destroys the base remotely; X-Force barely escapes with their lives.[48]

Another old Murderworld location was converted into a training room by an incarnation of the New Warriors.[49]

MadripoorIsland-rulerViperhad bought one of Arcade's Murderworld facilities and used it to deceive the X-Men, threatening the city of London with nuclear weapons.[50]

On one occasion, Arcade experimented with what he called "Video Murder Machines", using a laser-like beam to abduct targets into a virtual environment where the victims would engage in deadlyvideo gametype scenarios. He intended to abduct the X-Men but accidentally captured theMicronautswith whom he was unfamiliar. The Micronauts (Arcturus Rann, Devil, Microtron, Nanotron) were able to eventually escape the virtual environments through Microtron's hacking into the system. The premise was inspired by the then recent 1982 Disney filmTron.[51]

Powers and abilities

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Arcade has no superhuman powers but has absolute genius-level knowledge of technology far ahead of conventional science, particularly in the fields of robotics and mechanical and electrical engineering. Usually when he appears to be captured, it turns out to be a robot. It is implied that he is an expert in conventional assassination, including ranged weapons, poison, and sabotage, all of which became elements in Murderworld.

InAgent X#5, it was revealed that Arcade also has some medical skills which he uses to save Agent X's life.[52]

In theAvengers Arenaseries, Arcade easily held back a cadre of 16 high-powered teenage superheroes seemingly without having to resort to mechanical or technological devices of any sort. He displayed the ability to create force fields, proved to be nearly invulnerable to energy blasts without the force field, controlled the motor functions of his 16 captives all at the same time, employed telekinesis, caused nearby matter to form into a throne for him to sit on, and effortlessly blew apart an almost-invulnerable mutant with a simple gesture. However, these abilities are the result of technology provided by his henchwoman, Miss Coriander, and can only be manifested within the confines of the Antarctica Murderworld.

Associates

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  • Miss Locke– Arcade's bodyguard and chief enforcer, is an expert in martial arts and gun combat. According to a flashback sequence inAvengers Arena#7 (2013), he murdered her in cold blood despite her years of faithful service once she, in Arcade's mind, had tried to get "too close" to him by having an emotional and physical relationship.
  • Mr. Chambers– Arcade's henchman who has displayed electronic and mechanical skill and is thus in charge of Murderworld's system operations and maintenance. In several appearances he is the driver of a vehicle (disguised as a garbage truck) that would often capture Arcade's victims for transport back to Murderworld.
  • Miss Coriander– Arcade's latest henchwoman, she claims to be responsible for the vast array of powers that Arcade currently employs in his underground base seen in the "Avengers Arena" storyline. She appears to far surpass even Arcade in terms of knowledge about superhuman powers and how to counter them, and has gifted Arcade with a vastly powerful set of abilities that she has purloined from cutting-edge technology, exotic energy sources, and magical power. She later betrays Arcade after his supposed death and joined up withBaron Zemo'sMasters of Evil.

Other versions

[edit]

Age of Apocalypse

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In theAge of Apocalypsetimeline, Arcade is a member of theMarauders,a heavily armed group of human traitors who work forApocalypse,alongsideRed,Dirigible,and theOwl.He is killed byGwen StacyandClint Barton.[53]

Age of X

[edit]

In theAge of Xuniverse, Arcade (real nameHarcourt Teesdale) was theprison governorof theAlcatraz Islandmutant prison. He was responsible for makingBasiliskkill his brother Havok. Basilisk later escaped and killed Arcade.[54]

Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe

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It is revealed that Arcade has been captured by Deadpool and forced to build deathtraps used to kill various members of the X-Men. He begs Wolverine to save him, horrified by the things Deadpool wants him to build. Wolverine instead kills Arcade for his involvement.[55]

Marvel Adventures

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In this version, Arcade has an actual amusement park in order to entertain the kids; he is skillful in robots and highly arrogant. AfterMister Fantasticruins his robots, he decides to prove he is superior to Mr. Fantastic and lures him into Murderworld. There, Mr. Fantastic defeats all the traps and turns all the robots against Arcade. Arcade is taken into custody and Mr. Fantastic learns to be more tactful.[56]

Later, Arcade traps high school studentFlash Thompsonin a new arcade machine and uses the young video gamer as a tester to destroy New York City. Eventually, Spider-Man breaks up Arcade's scheme and saves his schoolmate.[57]

Secret Wars (2015)

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During the "Secret Wars"storyline, Arcade is the master of ceremonies at the Killiseum, an arena on the outskirts of theBattleworlddomain of Doomstadt that is built to entertain the masses of Battleworld. Here, he encountered such heroes as Captain America and the Hulk[58]and Thunderbolt Ross the War Machine.[59]He also oversees the Ghost Racers event, which pits the various individuals possessed by the Spirit of Vengeance (including Carter Slade, Johnny Blaze, Danny Ketch, Alejandra Blaze, and Robbie Reyes) against one another in violent races around a booby-trapped track. Thanks to the determined leadership of the unbeaten Reyes, the Ghost Racers would eventually break free of their captivity and kill Arcade.[60]

Ultimate Marvel

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In theUltimate Marveluniverse, Arcade is portrayed as a taller, fittergamingprodigywho invented a literalfirst-person shooter(which is called Murderworld). His sister was killed byMagnetoin the bridge explosion inUltimate War,giving him a hatred of mutants. He is apparently a skilled hunter and tracker, equipped with various high tech weapons and equipment. When the Ultimate Universe version ofLongshotis found guilty of murdering aGenoshanpolitician, he is sentenced to participate in areality TVshow in which he isstranded on an islandandhunted by opponents.As Arcade makes his way through the island jungle, he encounters threeX-Mentrying to save the prisoner. He subdues them and is about to killNightcrawlerwhen Longshot knocks him unconscious. He is last seen being tied to a tree byColossuswith some scraps of iron.[61]

What If?

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In a reality where Wolverine was transformed into the Horseman of War byApocalypseand then killed his maker and ran rampant on the Marvel Universe, Arcade was one of many X-foes who were slain by the rampaging mutant.[62]

In other media

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Television

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  • Arcade appears in theX-Men: Evolutionepisode "Fun and Games", voiced byGabe Khouth.This version is identified asWebber Torque,a high school school student and gamer. He is tricked byMystiqueposing as "Risty Wilde" into believing theX-Mansion'sDanger Roomis an elaborate video game, which he uses to attack theX-Men,whom he believes to be game characters. Despite nearly killing the X-Men, he apologizes for playing the "video game" without permission.
  • Arcade appears in theUltimate Spider-Manepisode "Game Over", voiced byEric Bauza.[63]This version is antechnopathicAsian-Americanmutantwho uses his abilities to lure superheroes toMadlandfor his own childish amusement, regardless of his actions' possible consequences.
  • Arcade appears inM.O.D.O.K.,voiced byAlan Tudyk.

Video games

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Merchandise

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Arcade received an action figure in theMarvel Legendsline in June 2021.

References

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  1. ^Misiroglu, Gina Renée; Eury, Michael (2006).The Supervillain Book: The Evil Side of Comics and Hollywood.Visible Ink Press.ISBN9780780809772.
  2. ^"Dennis Hopeless Enters Brutal AVENGERS ARENA".Newsarama.com.Retrieved30 October2017.
  3. ^Conroy, Mike(2004).500 Comicbook Villains.Collins & Brown.ISBN1-84340-205-X.
  4. ^DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019).The Marvel Encyclopedia.DK Publishing. p. 26.ISBN978-1-4654-7890-0.
  5. ^Marvel Team-Up#65 bears a cover date of January 1978. During this period, comic books published by Marvel Comics U.S.A. carried acover datethree monthsin advanceof the actual date of publication. This means the actual publication date ofMarvel Team-Up#65 was October 1977. The first issue ofSuper Spider-Man and Captain Britainto feature the Arcade storyline was published in England on November 8, 1977.
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