Doc Samson
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Doc Samson | |
 Doc Samson. Art by Ed McGuinness. |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Incredible Hulk #141 (July, 1971) |
| Created by | Roy Thomas Herb Trimpe |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Dr. Leonard Samson |
| Species | Human (empowered) |
| Abilities | Superhuman strength, speed, stamina and physical resistance Genius intelligence |
Doc Samson (Dr. Leonard Samson) is a fictional character, a superhero and psychiatrist in the Marvel Comics universe, known as a supporting character in stories featuring The Hulk.
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[edit] Publication history
Doc Samson first appeared in the Incredible Hulk #141 (Jul 1971) and was created by Roy Thomas and Herb Trimpe. Since then he has also appeared as a supporting character in several different Marvel Comics titles, including She-Hulk, Uncanny X-Men, and Amazing Spider-Man. In 1996 Doc Samson starred in his first self-titled mini-series written by Dan Slott. In 2006, Samson starred in his second mini-series written by Paul Di Filippo and penciled by Fabrizio Fiorentino.
[edit] Fictional character biography
Leonard Samson was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He became a college professor and psychiatrist. After Robert Bruce Banner was temporarily cured of being the Hulk by siphoning off the gamma radiation that caused his transformations, Samson—who had been working with Banner/Hulk in his job as a psychiatrist—exposed himself to some of the siphoned radiation, causing his hair to become green and granting him superhuman strength proportionate to its length, reminiscent of his biblical namesake. (His power level has since stabilized to the point that it doesn't matter how long his hair is.) Shortly afterward, his flirting with Betty Ross caused a jealous Banner to re-expose himself to radiation, becoming the Hulk once more to battle Samson.[1] He learned that his power decreases when he cuts his green hair,[2] but then lost his powers due to the bombardment of intense gamma radiation.[3] Feeling guilty about his role in his patient's return to being the Hulk, Samson would spend much time working with Banner over the years.
Samson eventually regained his powers in a gamma ray explosion, and joined the gamma base staff.[4] Alongside S.H.I.E.L.D., he battled the Hulk.[5] He shrank and projected the Hulk into Glenn Talbot's brain to cure Talbot of amnesia.[6] Samson then battled the Rhino.[7]
Samson was later captured by the Leader.[8] He teamed with the Hulk against the Leader's humanoids.[9] He attempted a psychoanalysis of the Hulk through his dreams, and diagnosed him with Multiple Personality Disorder.[10] Samson next encountered Angel and the Master Mold.[11] He encountered Moonstone, and battled the Hulk.[12] Samson then quit Gamma Base, and became General Ross's psychiatrist.[13]
Samson later encountered Woodgod and the Changelings.[14] His former relationship with Dr. Delia Childress was revealed, and he teamed with Spider-Man against the Rhino and AIM.[15] He next defeated Unus in combat.[16] With the Thing and other heroes, he was abducted by the Champion to challenge him in combat.[17]
Samson, determined again to cure the Hulk, defeated him in battle.[18] He succeeded in separating Bruce Banner and the Hulk physically into two separate individuals. He rescued the Hulk from S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attempt to execute him, although the Hulk then ran amok.[19] Samson adopted a new costume, and battled the heroes Iron Man, Wonder Man, Hercules, and Namor the Sub-Mariner for the right to recapture the Hulk.[20] He battled the Hulk,[21] then destroyed the Hulk robot, and battled the Hulkbusters, resulting in the death of Carolyn Parmenter.[22] He battled the Hulk and the Hulkbusters again,[23] but the Hulk defeated Samson and the Hulkbusters.[24] Samson then attempted to remerge Banner and the Hulk, but an accident resulted in Banner's transformation into the grey Hulk.[25] Samson then became mentally dominated by a mutant mind-parasite.[26] He assisted X-Factor in capturing the Hulk on behalf of S.H.I.E.L.D.[27] Samson also cured Captain Ultra of his fear of fire.[28]
To "cure" his MPD, Samson eventually hypnotized Banner with the Ringmaster's help and successfully began the process of integrating the Banner, grey Hulk, and green Hulk personalities into a new Hulk.[29] This ended up beyond his control, however, leading to a somewhat unstable merger which eventually fragmented once more into a third personality, albeit a more benign one than the previous Hulks. Around this time, Samson attended the execution of convicted murderess "Crazy Eight".[30]
Doc Samson was also a part of Bruce Jones' run on the Hulk, with one of the main characters Jones introduced supposed to be his ex-wife. He spent much of this run sporting an eyepatch, after discovering that a covert organization which is hunting the Hulk has implanted a surveillance device in his eye; he removes the device with a scalpel and donned the eyepatch for protection while his eye healed.
In addition to the Hulk, his most prominent patient, Samson has also spent time in a professional capacity with the second X-Factor, the Molecule Man, She-Hulk, and The Punisher among others.
He is befriended by Doctor Strange's new pupil Jack Holyoak[31], and helped his friends' daughter Tina Punnett rescue her "new-age hippie" parents from dealing with a ghost of musician Cam Larson guarded by Living Totem. Searching for his friend Sam Laroquette, Doc Samson along with Living Totem, Tina and Jack arrives at new age cultist doctor Arick Schnellageister's farm where they all fight Stephen King-inspired nightmarish Weed. The third issue was written by Jay Faerber and it shows Samson helps the new Scorpion come clean after being implied to have killed SHIELD agents. The final two-parter was a storyline involving Nightmare from a different dimension sending the alternate Doc Samson to help him invade the regular 616 Marvel Universe. Those last two issues had Frank Rocketo Espinoza's short Living Totem stories as back up
[edit] Civil War/The Initiative
He reappeared[32], and has also treated Rachel Grey.[33] He discussed with Valerie Cooper, regarding her and the O*N*E* organization taping his session with Rachel, even though he asked her not to. Samson was a member of Iron Man's pro-registration side in Civil War.[34] He gave each member of the newest incarnation of X-Factor a session after a particularly troubling mission. He is paying particular attention to the team's leader, Jamie Madrox.
Samson is shown working alongside the Pro-Registration alliance. As part of this group, he helps She-Hulk and Spider-Man take down a rampaging robot threatening innocent civilians. Samson remains on his side during the final breakout at the Negative Zone prison. The Pro-Registration people ultimately win when Captain America surrenders.
[edit] World War Hulk
Samson plays a role in the events of the World War Hulk crossover event of 2007. Dr. Samson was instrumental in the Illuminati plan of exiling the Hulk as well as de-powering the She-Hulk for Iron Man. Samson was sent by Mr. Fantastic to retrieve She-Hulk after she discovered that her cousin was exiled, and tries to convince her that her cousin deserved his punishment after recalling several moments when the Hulk fought the members of the Illuminati. She-Hulk punches Samson into another state after realizing that Samson was siding with the Illuminati.
Samson is shown to be one of the various heroes that helped during the evacuation of New York.[35] Later he and the Avengers are quickly defeated by the Hulk and his Warbound allies.[36] The Hulk and the Warbound are ultimately undone when the Sentry unleashes "the power of a million exploding suns" and Hulk is transformed into Banner and rendered unconscious.
[edit] After the wars
Samson has been appointed by the Initiative to serve as therapist for Penance.[37]
In the debut issue of the new Hulk title, Samson appears in Russia, alongside Iron Man, General Ross, and She-Hulk (whose attitude towards Samson is still antagonistic), investigating the murder of the Abomination at the hands of a Hulk-like creature. After an altercation over jurisdiction with the Russian Winter Guard (a fight which Samson uncharacteristically starts), Samson and Ross return to the United States to consult with Banner, who is imprisoned in a high-security facility.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Doc Samson possesses superhuman physical abilities as a result of exposure to high levels of gamma radiation. Initially, Doc Samson's strength was said to be equal to that of the Savage Hulk's when not enraged.
Unlike the Hulk, Samson's strength does not increase as he becomes enraged. Like the Biblical Samson, his strength is dependent upon the length of his hair. [38] Samson's leg muscles are highly developed and extremely powerful. He is capable of leaping great distances both vertically and horizontally.
Samson's body has been fortified, granted vastly greater muscular size and development due to his exposure to radiation. The tissues of Samson's body are considerably harder than those of an ordinary human, giving him superhuman durability. Samson can withstand falls from great heights, extremes of temperature, and high-caliber bullets without sustaining injury. Due to his highly advanced musculature, Samson possesses superhuman stamina in all physical activities. He was once able to battle a mindless incarnation of the Hulk for more than six hours. [39]
Like others who have gamma induced powers, Doc Samson is immune to terrestrial diseases.
Samson is said to be one of the most renowned psychiatrists on Earth. [40] He is often called on to counsel various superhumans, such as the members of X-Factor. He has a M.D. in psychiatry, and is a skilled theoretical technician and inventor of various medical devices.[citation needed]
He is also an accomplished fighter, enabling him to recurrently hold his own against the savage or mindless incarnations of the Hulk or, on one occasion, briefly against Iron Man, Wonder Man, Sub-Mariner, and Hercules together, though those heroes had been previously weakened after battling the mindless Hulk. [41] He sometimes uses psychology as a tool to get through a more powerful opponent's guard, such as an Infinity Gem-empowered Titania.[42]
[edit] Personality
Unlike the Hulk, Doc Samson does not suffer from multiple personality disorder, and so retains his genius intellect. He has conducted research on gamma beings like himself and has come to the conclusion that gamma mutation is largely determined by the subject's deepest sense of self. Hence, his form is based on a subconscious desire for superhuman power like the Biblical Samson. [43]
While attacking the Thunderbolts, the telepath Mirage noted that Doc Samson, who was present in Thunderbolts Mountain, had some fascinating thoughts. In his mind she saw that, while his mental reactions to Norman Osborn and Moonstone were Hulk-like, he was still able to control himself from physically acting on those impulses.
[edit] Other versions
[edit] Earth X
In Earth X, it is stated that Doc Samson was killed when the Skull used his powers of persuasion to force Samson to rip himself inside out. It is stated that Samson got halfway through before he died, and the Skull "thought it was funny".
[edit] Mutant X
In the Mutant X earth, Doc Samson had gained green skin and an expanded physique, much like the Hulk. He still manages to keep his calm and rational mind. He forms a new super-team, called the Defenders, after the Avengers are neutralized. Stingray and Yellowjacket join him. Samson is one of the many victims of the conflict between that earth's Beyonder and the Goblyn Queen.
[edit] Spider-Ham
In Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-Ham #16 Doc Samson appears as a clam called Doc Clamson.
[edit] In other media
[edit] Television
- Doc Samson appeared in The Incredible Hulk, the animated television series broadcast on UPN in 1996–97, voiced by Shadoe Stevens. Samson was shown both fighting the Hulk and trying to find a way to cure Banner of the Hulk.
[edit] Film
- He appears in the 2008 Incredible Hulk film, and is played by Ty Burrell.[44] He does not have any superpowers, but he is portrayed closer to his earlier appearances before his incident. No reference is made in the movie to his future powers, although he is in a short relationship with Betty Ross. He also criticized General Ross's reasons for hunting Banner/Hulk.
[edit] Video games
- Samson appeared in the video game The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction voiced by Daniel Riordan. Unlike in the comics, he doesn't fight the Hulk. In the game, Samson and Banner had planned to use the Hulk as their weapon to get past Emil Blonsky's Division forces and military units under the command of General Ross, while gathering parts for a machine that Banner needed. In the fourth boss battle, Samson was forced to betray Banner as the Devil Hulk personality in Banner's subconscious began to influence his actions and endanger innocent lives. After Banner's escape from Blonsky's base, Samson makes an apology to Banner for betraying him, and they continue to build the machine for Banner to face Devil Hulk.
[edit] References
- ^ Incredible Hulk #141
- ^ Incredible Hulk #143
- ^ Incredible Hulk #147
- ^ Incredible Hulk #193
- ^ Incredible Hulk #199
- ^ Incredible Hulk #200
- ^ Incredible Hulk #218
- ^ Incredible Hulk #223
- ^ Incredible Hulk #225
- ^ Incredible Hulk #227
- ^ Incredible Hulk Annual #7
- ^ Incredible Hulk #228-229
- ^ Incredible Hulk #238
- ^ Incredible Hulk #251-253
- ^ Marvel Team-Up #102
- ^ Incredible Hulk Annual #11
- ^ Marvel Two-in-One Annual #7
- ^ Incredible Hulk #314
- ^ Incredible Hulk #315
- ^ Incredible Hulk #316
- ^ Incredible Hulk #317
- ^ Incredible Hulk #318
- ^ Incredible Hulk #319
- ^ Incredible Hulk #320
- ^ Incredible Hulk #324
- ^ Incredible Hulk #330
- ^ Incredible Hulk #337
- ^ Marvel Comics Presents #50
- ^ Incredible Hulk #377
- ^ Incredible Hulk #380
- ^ In the 2006 Doc Samson mini-series
- ^ She-Hulk #8
- ^ Uncanny X-Men #469
- ^ Amazing Spider-Man vol. 1 #533
- ^ World War Hulk #1
- ^ World War Hulk #2
- ^ Thunderbolts #117
- ^ Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #143
- ^ Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #317
- ^ Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #227
- ^ Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #316
- ^ She-Hulk vol.3, #12
- ^ Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #393
- ^ Bill Varble. "This Just In", Mail Tribune, 2007-10-21. Retrieved on 2007-10-22.
