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Psycho-Man

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This article is about the Marvel Comics character. For the Black Sabbath song, seePsycho Man (song).
Psycho-Man
Psycho-Manbattles theFantastic Fouron the cover ofFantastic Four#283 (Oct. 1985). Art byJohn Byrne.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceFantastic Four Annual#5 (Nov. 1967)
Created byStan Lee(writer)
Jack Kirby(artist)
In-story information
Place of originTraan
AbilitiesGenius-level intellect
Use ofpowered armor
Possesses a futuristic space vessel
Emotion manipulationvia emotion-controlling device

Psycho-Manis asupervillainappearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byMarvel Comics.

Publication history[edit]

Psycho-Man first appeared inFantastic FourAnnual#5 (Nov. 1967) and was created byStan LeeandJack Kirby.[1]

Fictional character biography[edit]

Psycho-Man first appears as the leader of atechnocracythat governs amicroscopicsystem of worlds in theSub-Atomicapart of theMicroverse.[2]Due tooverpopulationon these worlds, the character decides that the macroscopic world will be an ideal new base. Using technology from the mainstream Marvel universe, Psycho-Man remains microscopic in size but is able to function by controlling a suit of advanced human-sized armor. Using a portable device capable of influencing people'semotions,Psycho-Man enslaves a number of human subjects to build a larger version of the machine, with the intent of subjugating the world. The plan, however, is thwarted byFantastic Fourmembers theHuman Torchand theThing,by the Royal Family of theInhumansand by theBlack Panther;Psycho-Man is forced to retreat back to the Microverse.[3]

The character reappears in the titleFantastic FourwhenMister Fantastic,the Human Torch and the Thing travel to Psycho-Man's realm to find theHerald of Galactus,theSilver Surfer.Becoming aware of the threat of Galactus, Psycho-Man allows the heroes and the Surfer to leave unopposed.[4]In the titleMicronautsthe diminutive heroes are joined by the entire Fantastic Four and battle Psycho-Man, who at this time claims to be in forcedexile.[5]Psycho-Man reappears in the titleFantastic Fourand uses anandroidbased on the villain theHate-Mongerto incite hatred amongst the population ofNew York City.[6]Psycho-Man succeeds in transforming theInvisible Womaninto the entityMaliceand sends her to destroy the remainder of the Fantastic Four. Mister Fantastic frees his wife from the conditioning and they pursue Psycho-Man to theMicroverse,where the villain is forced to experience a number of negative emotions simultaneously by the Invisible Girl after she turned his own equipment against him. The villain lapses into acomaand Susan Richards, in recognition of the personal growth she experienced during this mission, changes her name to theInvisible Woman.[7]

Reduced to a minuscule size after an accidental exposure toAnt-Man's shrinking gas,Spider-Manfinds himself in the Microverse face-to-face with Psycho-Man. After a failed attempt to drain theCaptain Universepower from Spider-Man (a power he no longer possesses), Spider-Man escapes from Psycho-Man's prison to find an alien universe that Psycho-Man has shrunk and demanded they make him king. After a battle with Psycho-Man, Spider-Man, with the help of the beings of this shrunken universe, is able to destroy the device that controls Psycho-Man's power to manipulate the sizes of things, causing Psycho-Man to shrink and Spider-Man to return to normal size.[8]

In the fourth volume of the titleCaptain Marvel,theKreeheroGenis-Vellhas an encounter with Psycho-Man in the Microverse when the villain temporarily controls Marvel's ally,Drax the Destroyer.[9]The character launches another attack on New York City in the titleMarvel Knights 4but is defeated once again by the Invisible Woman;[10]appears in an issue of the fourth volume of theBlack Pantherand battles a new version of the Fantastic Four (the Black Panther; themutantStorm;the Thing and the Human Torch).[11]

Psycho-Man is killed by theRed Hulkduring atournamentorganized by theGrandmaster,but restored to life with other fallen characters when the tournament is completed.[12]

It is revealed that Psycho-Man has a daughter, who calls herselfPsycho-Woman,who uses an "emotional modifier" device, far superior to her father's technology. She engineered a series of events that led to Johnny Storm impregnating a woman, in hopes of using the child's genetics to create a cosmic energy-powered army. Hiding in Johnny's body, she was apparently incinerated when he "flamed on".[13]

Psycho-Man attempted to take control of the students ofAvengers Academywhile they were out on a 'field trip' with substitute teacher Spider-Man.[14]He was defeated when Spider-Man's will power proved sufficient to shake off his influence thanks to his old experience with the Psycho-Man. Spider-Man rallied the other students to fight back and throw off his control, simultaneously giving Spider-Man the chance to connect to his students and prompt them to prove their worth as heroes.[15]

During the "Fear Itself"storyline, Psycho-Man takes advantage of the fear and chaos caused by theSerpentand his Worthy by plotting to useMan-Thingas the ultimate fear bomb for Earth and other worlds. Psycho-Man has to deal with the Fearsome Four (consisting ofHoward the Duck,She-Hulk,Nighthawk,andFrankenstein's Monster). Psycho-Man brings forth an alternate version of the Fantastic Four (consisting of Spider-Man,Wolverine,Gray Hulk,andGhost Rider) from another dimension and brainwashes them into fighting the Fearsome Four. Howard the Duck uses his secret weapon - a device called the "No Thing" - which defeats Psycho-Man and the alternate Fantastic Four.[16]

When the mysterious Quiet Man mounted an attack on the FF, one of the villains he recruited to aid in his assault was the Psycho-Man, whose dimensional technology helped the Quiet Man access the forces of Counter-Earth created byFranklin Richards,recruiting and brainwashing its heroes as part of his plans. However, the Psycho-Man's role in his plan also allowed Reed to defeat the Quiet Man, whose plan depended on the idea that the villains would withdraw and allow the Quiet Man to present himself as the hero who exposed Reed's attack, as Reed correctly deduced that the Psycho-Man wouldn't give up control over two worlds. The Psycho-Man was defeated when Valeria managed to calculate how to hack his equipment and use it to make the Quiet Man's forces withdraw.[volume & issue needed]

During the aftermath of the "Secret Empire"storyline, Psycho-Man then appears inColoradocausing a riot until he is thwarted by theChampions.Before escaping, Psycho-Man's emotion-controlling device affects the time-displacedCyclopswhich causes him to behave strangely. He then appears in a facility inAlabama,where he affects the scientists with his device and uses them to attack the Champions until Cyclops defeats him by attacking him from behind, nearly killing him.[17]

Powers and abilities[edit]

Psycho-Man possesses advanced intelligence and, in experimental and combat situations, uses a portable emotion-controlling device called the "Control-Box" that projects a ray capable of stimulating the centers of emotion within a person's brain. The device has settings allowing it to trigger fear, doubt and hate at varying degrees of intensity. Being a microscopic being, Psycho-Man uses and remotely controls an advanced body armor (with varying abilities) when appearing on Earth. The character also possesses a space vessel for transport.

Other versions[edit]

Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe[edit]

In the limited seriesDeadpool Kills the Marvel Universe,theX-MensendDeadpoolto a mental hospital for therapy. However, the doctor treating him is actually a disguised Psycho-Man, who attempts to torture and brainwash Deadpool into becoming his personal minion, seeking to create an army of supervillains under his control. The procedure fails, but leaves Deadpool mentally unhinged; as a result, he kills Psycho-Man by repeatedly smashing him against a desk and begins assassinating every superhero and supervillain on Earth one by one.[18]

Ultimate Marvel[edit]

Psycho-Man appears inUltimate Fantastic Four#44 (Sept 2007).[19]He is the ruler of Zenn-La, and is calledRevka Temerlune Edifex Scyros III,"The king with no enemies". TheSilver Surferis hisherald,having been trained as his successor. The name "Psycho-Man" is given to him by Johnny Storm. Revka uses his mind control powers to make the people of Manhattan worship him, claiming he will bring peace to the world. He then takes them to Zenn-La, to "see what Heaven is like". He erases the memories of all the people and gives them the lives of dead Zenn-la dwellers. He once ruled old Zenn-La and lost his sanity. After he trained Norrin Radd to be his successor Norrin broke Revka's control of people and Zenn-La destroyed itself. When the Fantastic Four regain their memories and powers he sends out a band of Silver Surfer-like assassins. In the battle's aftermath, Psycho-Man lost control of the people and was "reprogrammed."[volume & issue needed]Revka possesses strong telepathic powers which are further augmented by surgical implants, which also grant him near immortality.

In other media[edit]

Psycho-Man appears in theFantastic Fourepisode "Worlds Within Worlds", voiced by Jamie Horton.[citation needed]He attacksFour Freedoms Plazato steal the invention of Reed Richards, who then impersonates him and used his powers to turn Susan Richards into Malice, turning on her Fantastic Four teammates. Eventually, Susan is freed of Psycho-Man's influence and defeats him.

References[edit]

  1. ^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. 281.ISBN978-1-4654-7890-0.
  2. ^Rovin, Jeff(1987).The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains.New York: Facts on File. p. 279-280.ISBN0-8160-1356-X.[1]
  3. ^Fantastic FourAnnual #5 (Nov. 1967). Marvel Comics.
  4. ^Fantastic Four#76-77 (July-Aug. 1968). Marvel Comics.
  5. ^Micronauts#15-16 (Mar.-Apr. 1980). Marvel Comics.
  6. ^Brevoort, Tom; DeFalco, Tom; Manning, Matthew K.; Sanderson, Peter; Wiacek, Win (2017).Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History.DK Publishing. p. 125.ISBN978-1465455505.
  7. ^Fantastic Four#280-284 (July-Nov. 1985). Marvel Comics.
  8. ^The Spectacular Spider-ManAnnual #10,Web of Spider-ManAnnual #6 (1990). Marvel Comics.
  9. ^Captain Marvel#15-16 (Mar.-Apr. 2001). Marvel Comics.
  10. ^Marvel Knights 4#10-12 (Nov 2004-Jan. 2005). Marvel Comics.
  11. ^Black Panthervol. 4 #31 (Dec. 2007). Marvel Comics.
  12. ^Hulkvol. 2 #12 (May 2009). Marvel Comics.
  13. ^Fantastic FourAnnual #32. Marvel Comics.
  14. ^The Amazing Spider-Man#661. Marvel Comics.
  15. ^The Amazing Spider-Man#662. Marvel Comics.
  16. ^Fear Itself: Fearsome Four#1-4. Marvel Comics.
  17. ^Championsvol. 2 #12. Marvel Comics.
  18. ^Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe#1. Marvel Comics.
  19. ^Ultimate Fantastic Four#44 (Sep. 2007). Marvel Comics.

External links[edit]

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