Origin
The unambitious Donald “Donnie” Gill was chosen by industrialist Justin Hammer to don a new and improved Blizzard suit that Hammer had been working on. Hammer chose Donnie to succeed the late Gregor Shapanka as the costumed criminal Blizzard as Donnie was compliant and didn’t question orders. As Blizzard, Donnie was on call as one of Justin Hammer’s many super-powered and armored operatives.
Character Evolution
Blizzard entered Iron Man’s rogues gallery and battled the hero from time to time on behalf of Justin Hammer. Unlike many of his other foes, Iron Man actually managed to convince Donnie to attempt to reform, but despite his desire to do good, Donnie found himself constantly stuck between the two paths. Eventually, he resolved to commit to his goal of reformation and joined the Thunderbolts who nutured and helped him realize his potential. Eventually, Donnie left the team when his costume was destroyed and with nowhere left to go and no support system, Donnie fell back to petty crime.
During Marvel’s Infinity event in 2013, Donnie was exposed to Terrigen Mists and underwent a terrigenesis which transformed him into an Inhuman. His skin was mutated into an appropriately snow-like blue and the powers that he once relied on his suit for are now inherent in his body. Eventually he found out that he also has the abilities of a human battery.
Powers and Abilities
Donnie formerly wore a special battle suit which enabled him to generate ice, to varying effects. Most commonly, Donnie would create icicles which he would use as projectiles or would create slides of ice to travel.
Following his mutation, Donnie is now capable of generating ice naturally through his body, to what extent is yet to be seen. He also has the ability to similar to that of a battery, being able to power things up to the point of overloading.
In Other Media
Television
Iron Man: The Animated Series
Blizzard appears in Iron Man: The Animated Series, voiced by Chuck McCann in the first season and Neil Ross in Season 2. He is shown as part of the Mandarin‘s team of supervillains, and clashes with Iron Man and Force Works.
Iron Man: Armored Adventures
Blizzard appears as a recurring villain in Iron Man: Armored Adventures, first debuting in the episode “Cold War”. Though he is the Donnie Gill version of the character, he sports the origin of the original Blizzard, Gregor Shapanka. It is stated that Gill was originally a scientist employed by Obadiah Stane, but after being disfigured in a lab accident, he sought vengeance on his former boss by creating a suit of armor that gave him cryogenic abilities. He was voiced by David Orth.
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes
Blizzard appears as a very minor recurring character in The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, voiced by Troy Baker (who also voiced Hawkeye). He was heavily redesigned so that his costume now included a parka, as a nod to Captain Cold.
Ultimate Spider-Man
Blizzard made a cameo appearance in the Ultimate Spider-Man episode “Flight of the Iron Spider”, sporting his design from Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
The Marvel Cinematic Universe version of Donnie Gill debuts in the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. episode “Seeds,” played by Dylan Minnette. He is introduced as a socially-awkward 18-year old prodigy at the S.H.I.E.L.D. academy, who partners with his friend Seth to create a device that instantly turns moisture into ice. He and Seth lure agent Leo Fitz to the school in order to help complete the device, with the intention of selling it to the corrupt industrialist Ian Quinn. The plan backfires when the machine is struck by lightning, which injures Donnie and kills Seth. Embittered by the death of his only friend, Donnie is driven off to be monitored at the S.H.I.E.L.D. facility known as the Sandbox, which upsets Fitz, who believes Donnie to be a good kid who was simply led astray. In the closing moments of the episode, it is revealed that the ice machine’s explosion has infused Donnie with cryogenic abilities.
Donnie returns in the Season 2 episode “Making Friends and Influencing People,” where he is shown hiding out in Morocco in the aftermath of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s fall during Captain America: The Winter Soldier. He is approached by agents of HYDRA, who want him to join their cause. After killing several HYDRA agents, he is revealed to have been brainwashed by the organization to return to them. While under their control, he is shot and apparently killed by Skye, though it is stated that his body was not found.
Video Games
- Blizzard appears in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.
- Blizzard appears in the Marvel Heroes online game, voiced by Michael Benyaer.
Merchandise
- Blizzard was featured in the Minimates line by Diamond Select.
- Blizzard was featured in the HeroClix figure game.
- Hasbro released a Blizzard action figure as part of the Hulkbuster Build-a-Figure Marvel Legends wave.
Alternate Realities
Earth-58163 House of M
Blizzard is one of the members of The Hood‘s gang, this universe’s equivalent of the Masters of Evil. At one point he is captured by the Red Guard and brutally tortured by Toad, but thankfully The Hood made good on his promise and freed him. He is one of the few criminals who decides to help protect Santo Rico but he is teleported into a wall by Nightcrawler and killed.