| Gremlin | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Incredible Hulk #163 (May 1973) |
| Created by | Len Wein and Herb Trimpe |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Kondrati Yurivich Topolov |
| Species | Human Mutant |
| Team affiliations | Soviet Super-Soldiers |
| Notable aliases | Titanium Man |
Gremlin (born Kondrati Topolov)[1] is a fictional character appearing in the Marvel Comics universe.
Although initially an adversary of the Hulk — his father having been the first villain the Hulk ever encountered — Gremlin was killed in battle with Iron Man during the Armor Wars.
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Kondrati Topolov is the son of Russian scientist Yuri Topolov, also known as the Gargoyle, and is himself a mutant. Kondrati inherited his father's grotesque appearance and superhuman intelligence, although he was born disfigured unlike his father, who was mutated over time from the exposure of radioactive materials. A brilliant scientist like his father, he created the high-tech gear used by the Soviet Super-Troopers (the immediate precursor to the Soviet Super-Soldiers), and for a time wore the Titanium Man power armor. He operated out of a secret base named Bitterfrost in Khystym, Siberia. He created a pet for himself named Droog, which was a talking monster created through genetic engineering.
As the Gremlin, he first clashed with the Hulk at the Gremlin's secret base in the Arctic. Gremlin's men then captured General "Thunderbolt" Ross.[2] The Hulk and General Ross later invaded the Gremlin's Bitterfrost base in Siberia to rescue the captured Major Glenn Talbot. The Gremlin and his pet Droog contended with the Hulk, but Bitterfrost was destroyed by S.H.I.E.L.D.[3] Later, with the Soviet Super-Soldiers, Rom, and Starshine, the Gremlin helped defeat the alien Dire Wraiths. The Gremlin then officially joined the Soviet Super-Soldiers.[4]
The Gremlin next appeared as the second Titanium Man, wearing a new suit of the power armor he had originally created for Boris Bullsky. With the other Soviet Super-Soldiers, he contended with the X-Men and Avengers in an attempt to capture Magneto.[5] Later, the Gremlin fought Iron Man while wearing the Titanium Man armor during the Armor Wars. Iron Man - despite using his weaker stealth armor - managed to defeat the Crimson Dynamo in the fight but was unable to neutralize the Gremlin, who destroyed Iron Man's negator pack. When the Gremlin grabbed Iron Man and the armored Avenger attempted to escape, his booster jets ignited the titanium armor. The Titanium Man armor exploded, apparently burning the Gremlin to death and forcing Iron Man to flee.[6]
Gremlin is a mutant who has inherited the genius level intelligence that his father, the Gargoyle, gained when radiation mutated his brain. It is unclear whether or not Gremlin's intelligence is of a superhuman level.
Gremlin has completed doctoral level programs in various sciences, and has attained mastery of many areas of science and technology, notably the design of battle armor, strength-magnifying exoskeletons, and computer technology, as well as genetic engineering.
Towards the end of his career, Gremlin wore the Titanium Man armored battle suit of his design, which amplified his strength, was highly resistant to damage, enabled him to fly, and from which he could project destructive energy bolts.