Creation
The character named Lamprey was created by Mark Gruenwald and Paul Ryan, and first appeared in Squadron Supreme #4, Change of Heart, in 1985. Along with many characters from Earth-712 in the Squadron Supreme home universe, he was part of a ground breaking story in the analogues of Marvel Comics.
History
Lamprey was an original member of the Institute of Evil and battled the Squadron Supreme on several occasions. Lamprey has remained quite about his past or how he obtained his powers before joining the Institute of Evil; a group of criminals first organized by the time traveling conqueror form the future the Scarlet Centurion. As a member of the Institute they undertook numerous acts of crime against humanity for some time. He often battled the Squadron Supreme members, having to out maneuver them on several occasions with little success.
His behavior would be modified by a device created by Tom Thumb and would get elected to Squadron membership. Lamprey accompanied Tom Thumb to the 41st Century after he was diagnosed with cancer to search for a cure. Lamprey would return to villainy when new Squadron recruit named Haywire tricked him into going behavior re-modification under device created by Master Menace. Lamprey would battle the Squadron Supreme alongside the Redeemers in attack upon Squadron City. Lamprey is killed when he tries to absorb too much energy from Dr. Spectrum’s power prism and explodes.
Appearance
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 210 lbs
Hair: Brunette
Eyes: Blue (White)
Complications
Having been Behavior Modified by the Squadron, the ex-Institute of Evil members are unable to break the law for any reason, betray any Squadron member for any reason. Their minds are no longer truly their own. Lamprey was himself changed from a psychopathic killer, to a heroic personality, helpful and self-sacrificing hero.
Powers & Abilities
Lamprey has the ability to absorb energy from other super-human beings and convert that energy to enhance his strength, speed, agility and other physical attributes. Lamprey has extensive experience at street fighting and had to leech energy from other beings through physical contact.
He was granted one hour’s worth of augmented powers for every second of contact with a super-human being. Lamprey is capable of flight if he absorbed the powers of a being with flying abilities.
Alternate Realities
Earth-31916 (Lamprey)
An alternate Lamprey is seen in Earth-31916. When that world’s versions of Emil Burbank, Nuke, Arcanna, Shape, and Hyperion accidentally travelled to their future, and ended up in Earth-31916. This version of the character is very different in appearance but similar in superhuman abilities. Lamprey is a young Hispanic woman who is part of the superhuman unit of government operatives known as The Squadron. Along with her partners the winged Blue Eagle, the African American Black Archer, and the living boom box woman calling herself Skylark. Lamprey and the rest of the team attack Hyperion and the rest of the the time travelers.
After Lamprey and the rest of her teammates ambush Hyperion they quickly give way the powerful Zarda. Attacking the now weakened Hyperion Zarda lunges in to batter Mark even farther into the ground and he is knocked unconscious. As Emil and Arcanna work to convince Nuke to use his powers to help transport them home. Nuke with much objection helps transport them back to their reality, realizing that Mark is the cause of his cursed powers because he had spread the spore when his ship landed on Earth.
However after a short stay in the alternate timeline Emil Burbank, Nuke, Arcanna, Shape, and Hyperion return to their own time. Jointly both Arcanna and Emil present their report to General Alexander, indicating that Mark is now ready to return as an agent for the government. Arcanna explains her observation that the quantum reality they slipped into has ceased to exist as a separate line of possibility. Which means that this version of Skylark and her teammates cease to also exist. However Emil concludes that in fact the alternate reality was the future of their own timeline, based on a newspaper clipping he had obtained while being in the future. He decides that the two years remaining are enough time to do what he needs to in order to be prepared for Mark’s takeover of the Earth.
Powers and Abilities
The female Lamprey from Earth-31916 has demonstrated to have the same powers as her Earth-719 counter part. She has demonstrated the ability to absorb energy from other super-human beings and convert that energy to enhance her strength, speed, agility and other physical attributes. Lamprey must be in physical contact to leech energy from other beings if however briefly. Lamprey also has extensive experience at street fighting.