| Looter | |
|---|---|
Cover art for Spider-Man Family #7. Art by Karl Kerschl. |
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| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Amazing Spider-Man #36 (May 1966) |
| Created by | Stan Lee Steve Ditko |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Norton G. Fester |
| Species | Mutated human |
| Team affiliations | Defenders Impersonators |
| Notable aliases | Meteor Man |
| Abilities |
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The Looter is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in the Spider-Man comic books published by Marvel Comics.
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The character first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #36 (May 1966), and was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko (who is believed to have created the concept).
The character subsequently appears in Marvel Team-Up #33-34 (May–June 1975), Defenders #63-64 (September–October 1978), Spectacular Spider-Man #41 (April 1980), Web of Spider-Man #39 (June 1988), The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #26 (1992), Amazing Scarlet Spider #1 (November 1995), Spectacular Scarlet Spider #1 (November 1995), Web of Scarlet Spider #2 (December 1995), The Sensational Spider-Man #8 (September 1996), Untold Tales of Spider-Man (October 1997), Sensational Spider-Man #27 (May 1998), Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #6 (November 2004), Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #5 (April 2006), Spider-Man Family #7 (April 2008), and The Amazing Spider-Man #645 (December 2010).
The Looter received an entry in the All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #6 (2006) #6.
Norton G. Fester was always a poor scientist, and was considered a crackpot by his colleagues. One day, however, he found an unusual meteor that crashed into the Earth. Excited by his discovery, Fester searched for funding into a project, but investors went for more commercial ventures. Fester decided to continue without funding, and while chiseling the meteor, he struck a pocket of gas. Immersed in the strange compound, he discovered that he now had super-strength and agility thanks to the meteor's powers. Fester decided to devote his time and new powers to crime from then on. Calling himself the Looter, he struck banks and offices everywhere, gaining his current name. However, after attempting to steal another meteor to continually supply himself with his powers, he was defeated by Spider-Man after a battle in a hot-air balloon.[1]
Since then, the Looter has had no success whatsoever, even after a name change to the Meteor Man. He would come into conflict with Nighthawk after stealing a meteor from Kyle Richmond's home after he purchased it from the museum. Meteor Man would face Nighthawk and Spider-Man but would escape. Valkyrie from the Defenders helps Spider-Man apprehend Meteor Man. Fester tried to escape on his balloon but Valkyrie throws her sword into the balloon causing it to pop. Meteor Man crashed into the ground and is hospitalized for a few months.[2] He would reappear at the Empire State University campus to find components from a microwave energy exhibit to increase his powers. This would lead into another conflict with Spider-Man and Giant-Man. Fester created a transmitter that transmuted the energy in his meteors into microwaves which is then transmitted into his nervous system. However, his transmitter was channeling too much power and the feedback caused it to explode and Fester was presumed dead.[3]
Fester survived the explosion, but his mind was further addled by his experiences and became a homeless alcoholic. He robbed Nathan Lubensky, but was beaten down by Spider Man and forced to surrender to the police, who try to help Nathan.[4] He was again defated by Spider-Man[5] and later teamed up with Aura and Override.[6] When Ben Reilly was acting as Spider-Man, Norton has stolen weapons used by various criminals in order to fund his research. He even stated that S.H.I.E.L.D. agents were after his work because of its importance. After Spider-Man beat Norton again S.H.I.E.L.D. agents arrived and took Norton away on board their helicarrier.[7] He was seen at an auction in which the Venom Symbiote was sold.[8] He later attempted to steal yet another meteor, at a museum display, to grow further in power. Spider-Man defeated him once more in the museum bathroom, in front of a woman named Vanna Smith, who was obsessed with the wallcrawler.[9]
During the Dark Reign storyline, Spider Man would capture Looter after a robbery and web him up against a building wall. Norton tells Spider Man that Norman Osborn is running the show and his stay in a jail cell wouldn't be too long. The wall crawler gets in Norton's face and gives him an ultimate wedgie before he leaves.[10]
During the "Origin of the Species" storyline, Looter meets up with Screwball before he is attacked by Spider-Man (who is attacking and apprehending any villain that might be responsible for the abduction of Lily Hollister's baby). Looter pleads to Spider-Man that he never even touched Lily Hollister's baby.[11]
Fester has super-strength, and agility comparable to Captain America's, but he needs a supply of meteor gas or he will eventually lose his powers. He also has extraordinary leaping ability and a high degree of durability.
The Looter has had a large arsenal of gadgets and weapons in his bizarre career. He used a "Dazzle Gun" (a gun that could create a dazzling light and a quick getaway) and a helium balloon in his first appearance; these also appeared in Spider-Man Family #7. In Sensational Spider-Man #8, he used weapons from Stilt-Man, the Shocker, the Unicorn, the Trapster, and the Mauler. Other weapons include a Wave-Motion gun and a "Meteor-Powered" gun (although this did not actually work).
The character also appeared in Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane, where not Fester, but Mary Jane's high school counsellor Mr. Limke uses the identity.