Hazmat (comics)

Hazmat is a fictional character appearing in comic books from Marvel Comics.

Publication history

Hazmat first appeared in Avengers Academy #1 (June 2010) and was created by Christos Gage and Mike McKone. She appeared as a regular character in the series through its final issue #39 (Jan 2013).

Hazmat appears in Avengers Arena, a new series by Dennis Hopeless and Kev Walker.^[1]

Hazmat appears as one of the main characters in Avengers Undercover beginning in 2014.^[2]

Fictional character biography

Hazmat discovered her supernatural abilities when her boyfriend of many months went into a seizure while making out with her. It's discovered that her body generates radiation, but the source of the ability is unknown. Her family all but abandons her and her boyfriend dumps her. Norman Osborn approaches and offers to cure her, but in the end exploits her.

Avengers Academy

During the Heroic Age storyline, Hazmat is recruited into the Avengers Academy along with five other students who have been affected by Osborn. She and the rest of the class are led to believe they're among those most likely to become heroes, but they quickly uncover that files that say they're most likely to become villains.^[3] Due to their unique situations, Hazmat later begins a romantic relationship with Ken/Mettle as he's one of the only people who can physically touch her.^[4] Reptil plants some doubts about their relationships after X-23 becomes a student and starts teaching Mettle, but this is a ploy by Reptil, who's been mentally replaced by his older self.^[5] Hazmat shows a great deal of care for Ken as she's willing to join someone she believes is evil and manipulative just to “cure” him of his powers.^[6] Hazmat and Mettle do indeed lose their powers, but when the students face off against Jeremy Briggs, they take the antidote to the cure to help battle Briggs.^[7] Afterward, Hazmat and Mettle consummate their relationship.^[8] Hazmat later confronts the faculty over how she and the other students were enrolled due to their villainous potential, but Hawkeye tells her that she and the others have proved themselves. The faculty then announce that the students have graduated the Academy.

Avengers Arena

As part of the Marvel NOW! event within the pages of Avengers Arena, Hazmat, Reptil, Mettle, X-23, and a dozen others are kidnapped by Arcade. Arcade takes them to Murderworld, where Hazmat watches Mettle die to save her. She is attacked by X-23 on the 29th day.^[9] In a fit of rage, she then attacks Deathlocket when she tries to show sympathy toward Hazmat regarding Mettle's sacrifice.^[10] Hazmat then takes a camp with X-23 while an unseen predator stalks the teens.

Powers and abilities

Hazmat constantly emits harmful radiation from her body. As a result, she is forced to wear a protective suit at all times when around others. The suit is not simply meant for containment however, as it allows her to focus her radiation into energy bolts and other forms.

References