Grim Reaper (comics)
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- This article is on the Marvel Comics character. For other uses of the name, see Grim Reaper (disambiguation).
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Grim Reaper (Eric Williams) is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in The Avengers #52 May (1968), by Roy Thomas and John Buscema.
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[edit] Fictional character biography
The Grim Reaper was born Eric Williams, the brother of Simon Williams (also known as Wonder Man). Eric was always the black sheep of his family. His mother would tell him that he was 'born bad', while heaping affection on Simon. Eric's father was charged with discliplining him, but was abusive and uncaring. He even preferred to watch TV lazily, while Eric was torturing the family cat. At the same time, their mother Martha was loving and attentive to Simon, making Eric bitter and jealous.
One day Eric was playing with chemicals in the garage, and caused a fire which burned down their house. Simon felt guilty for having not stopped Eric, and resolved to be responsible for Eric from there on. As they grew older, Simon grew studious while Eric was an athlete. Eric also became more rebellious, and tried to get Simon to join him in his petty thefts. Eventually Eric joined the Maggia and moved to Las Vegas. Meanwhile Simon took over the family business, Williams Innovations.
Partly due to competition with Stark Industries, Williams Innovations began to fail. Desperate, Simon turned to Eric and his mob ties for help. Simon embezzled money from the company to invest with Eric, but Simon was caught and jailed. Simon was freed from jail by Baron Zemo, induced by an offer of revenge on Tony Stark by defeating Iron Man and the Avengers. Simon was transformed into Wonder Man, in order to infiltrate the Avengers. Zemo's empowering process also poisoned Simon, ensuring his loyalty in exchange for the antidote. Simon's better nature won out though, and he died saving the Avengers from Zemo's trap.
Learning of Simon's death, Eric was inflamed with guilt and anger. Through his Maggia contacts, he contacted the Tinkerer who provided him with his scythe weapon, which was further enhanced by Ultron with coma-inducing abilities. Taking the name "Grim Reaper," he defeated the Avengers but was beaten by the surprise appearance of the Black Panther.
In his next appearance, the Grim Reaper confronted the Avengers with his Lethal Legion comprised of the Living Laser, Power Man, the Man-Ape and the Swordsman. The Legion was defeated when the Grim Reaper found himself unable to strike down the Vision, having discovered that he possessed Simon's brain-wave patterns.
[edit] Civil War
The Grim Reaper was apparently one of the many villains that escaped from the Raft prison during New Avengers #1-3. Being at large for several months, the Grim Reaper got eventually tracked down by Captain America and Cable, who together with their other friends brought the Reaper down. He was later once again put into custody by S.H.I.E.L.D.
Grim Reaper is next seen at the end of Heroes for Hire #6, teamed with Man-Ape & Saboteur; how he escaped S.H.I.E.L.D. is uncertain.
[edit] Powers and abilities
The Grim Reaper can re-animate the souls and bodies of the dead, either through voodoo training received from Black Talon or powers bestowed upon him by Lloigoroth.
His right hand has been amputated and replaced with a scythe, originally technological in origin, but now apparently magical. The scythe is magically sharp and is capable of energy blasts, but has also been used to drain energy. The techno-scythe had the ability to make the blade spin at rapid speed, making the weapon useable as a buzzsaw and an improvised helicopter. His physical strength is supernaturally heightened slightly beyond the natural limitations of the human body.
The Grim Reaper has also performed various magically-based feats including but not limited to: teleporting himself and others, summoning demons, creating illusions & clairvoyant viewing.
[edit] Alternate versions
[edit] Earth X
- An alternate version of Eric Williams appeared in Earth X. He was in the Realm of the Dead and only appeared in Universe X Special: 4
[edit] MC2
The Grim Reaper has not appeared in the MC2 Universe, but his scythe weapon was used by Kevin Masterson in Avengers next #5.
[edit] In other media
[edit] Television
- A version of the Grim Reaper also appeared on the animated series The Avengers: United They Stand. His ties to Wonder Man, who also appeared on the show, remained intact, however his physical appearance was changed greatly. He wore full body armour and a helmet featuring a skull-like paint job.
[edit] Video Games
In Captain America and the Avengers, released as an arcade console and a Sega Genesis cartridge, the Grim Reaper is a boss character at the end of stage 2.
[edit] Notes
- In the Last Avengers Story, William Maximoff, the son of the Vision and Scarlet Witch, grew up to be known as the Grim Reaper. He allied with Kang and Ultron against the Avengers. He used magicks and had a scythe. He appeared in Last Avengers Story #1-2.
[edit] Bibliography
- Avengers vol. 1 #52, 78-79, 102, 106-108, 151-152, 160
- Avengers vol. 3 #0, 10-11, 19-22 31-33 *'
- Avengers West Coast #65 (resurrection #2), 66-68, 105, 352-354
- Avengers: Ultron Imperative
- Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe: Avengers 2005
- Secret War #3-5
- Vision & Scarlet Witch vol. 1 #3
- Vision & Scarlet Witch vol. 2 #1-2
- West Coast Avengers vol. 2 #1-2 (death), 12 (resurrected/death #2)
- Wonder Man vol. 1 #1
[edit] External links
- Marvel.com's Marvel Universe profile for the Grim Reaper
- Leader's Lair article on Grim Reaper (contains synopses on all appearances through Avengers vol. 3 #33)
- Grand Comics Database Project article on the Avengers #52 (1968)
