Shape (comics)
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Shape is a Marvel comics comic book character created by Mark Gruenwald.
[edit] Various incarnations of Shape
| Shape | |
 Shape (II) Art by Gary Frank |
|
| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Squadron Supreme #5 (I) (Jan 1986) Supreme Power #18(II) |
| Created by | Mark Gruenwald (I) J. Michael Straczynski/Gary Frank (II) |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | (II) Raleigh Lund |
| Team affiliations | (I)Institute of Evil, Squadron Supreme, Redeemers Squadron Supreme(II) |
| Abilities | (I)malleable, putty-like body (II)Blob |
[edit] Squadron Supreme (I)
This Shape of Earth-712 possesses a malleable, putty-like body. He can stretch his arms, legs, and neck out to a distance of several yards, and can sculpt his mass into simple geometric forms, such as turning his hands into mallets or taking the shape of a hang-glider. Little has been disclosed about Shape's origins. Although he appears to be an adult male, his emotional and intellectual development is comparable to that of a child (it's likely that he has some kind of mental disability). Originally, he was a member of the Institute of Evil, the Squadron's arch-foes, but eventually chose to side with the heroes.
The original members of the Squadron Supreme are transparently obvious imitations of Justice League heroes. As a result, many casual readers of the Squadron's exploits in recent years have noted Shape's shapeshifting powers and playful nature and erroneously extrapolated that he was created expressly to serve as a counterpart for the JLA comic-relief character, Plastic Man. In actuality, the addition of Shape to the Squadron predates Plastic Man's inclusion in the League by a decade.
[edit] Supreme Power (II)
In Part III: High Command, Shape is introduced as Raleigh Lund, a dim-witted, morbidly obese former janitor abandoned as a child by his parents. He survived from a very early age by eating discarded food and sleeping in dumpsters. He possesses superhuman strength and apparent invulnerability. He is described as the perfect soldier -- loyal, invulnerable, and strong -- though he is quite lacking in the area of independent thought and strategy. In Supreme Power, Shape is very similar in powers to Blob.
