Molten Man

Origin

Born in New York City, Mark Raxton was a laboratory assistant to Dr. Spencer Smythe, and while both are employed at Oscorp Industries they create an experimental metallic alloy derived from a meteor or organic material. Dr. Smythe’s intends to use this alloy on his last invention, the Spider-Slayers. Raxton’s greed gets the better of him and he tries to steal the alloy to sell it but he’s caught in the act by Smythe. Following a small scuffle between Raxton and Smythe, the alloy is spilled on and absorbed by Raxton’s skin. While in route to the hospital, Raxton discovers the alloy has given him various powers and realizes that they can help him achieve vast wealth. Raxton takes on the name Molten Man, and decides to use a life of crime to further his goals but is stopped by Peter Parker, as Spider-Man, and put into jail. Eventually Molten Man is released and attempts to continue his law breaking ways but is once again caught and beaten by Spider-Man.

Creation

Molten Man was created for use in Marvel comics by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Molten Man’s first appearance is in The Amazing Spider-Man #28, where an experimental metallic alloy spills and is absorbed by his skin giving him various powers and abilities.

Character Evolution

Mark Raxton while being incredibly brilliant, has always been greedy and chose to embrace he life of crime in order to achieve what desired. While working as a lab assisant to Dr. Spencer Smythe, Raxton tried to steal the metallic alloy that both he and the doctor had created, with the intention of selling it to the highest bidder. His greed came back to bite him when the alloy spilled on him and turned him into Molten Man.

At various points in his life as Molten Man, he is unable to control his power and his body starts to literally melt, threatening to kill him. Fortunately for Mark, Harry Osborne develops a cure and relieves Mark of his powers, thereby turning him back into a normal man.

Major Story Arcs

Civil War

After Spider-Man goes public with his identity, during the Superhuman Civil War, Raxton was coerced by the Chameleon into joining him, Electro, Swarm, Will O’ the Wisp, and Scarecrow in a bid to kill Spider-Man, for if Raxton didn’t agree to join them, the Chameleon threatened the life of Liz and Normie. Luckily, Spider-Man had the edge thanks to his then new Iron Spider-Man outfit provided for him by Tony Stark, which made him impervious to Raxton’s molten body. Raxton was later seen alongside the Scarecrow in an attempt to draw out Captain America and his forces, but thanks to the Punisher, Raxton was brutally beaten and met defeat yet again.

Powers and Abilities

Molten Man was given superhuman powers after exposure to an organic liquid metal alloy obtained from a meteor discovered by Spencer Smythe, these abilities include

Superhuman Strength– Molten Man can lift 40 tons

Invulnerability– Molten Man can withstand temperatures of 500° Fahrenheit at most for a long duration, incredibly difficult to injury (resistant to high caliber bullets). Spider-Man’s webs are unable to stick to Molten Man’s alloy coated skin.

Intelligence– Molten Man is a very smart scientist who has graduated from college with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering, and assisted Dr. Smythe in developing the metallic alloy which covers his skin. In addition, Molten Man is an expert safe cracker by using his metallic fingertips which are sensitive to metal sounds in locks.

Heat Generation- Molten Man has displayed the ability to emit dangerous and deadly radiation, as well as being able to radiate heat up to 300° Fahrenheit. The skin of Molten Man has gotten so hot that it literally melted off of him.

Family

Liz Allan– Step-sister

Normie Osborn– Nephew

Harry Osborn- Former brother-in-law.

Other Media

Television

Spectacular Spider-Man
Spectacular Spider-Man
  • Molten Man appears in the second season of The Spectacular Spider-Man, voiced by voiced by Eric Lopez. In a departure from the comics, Mark Raxton is renamed “Mark Allan,” and is Liz Allan’s full-blooded brother rather than her stepbrother. He first appears after having spent six months in a juvenile detention center due to having stolen a car to pay off some old gambling debts. He returns to Midtown High, and quickly becomes smitten with Mary Jane Watson, whom he eventually ends up dating. Mark eventually succumbs to his gambling addiction, and in the episode “Subtext,” he ends up indebted to Blackie Gaxton. With no other way to pay off his debts, Mark becomes a test subject for the Green Goblin‘s new experiment, and is injected with a special solution by Dr. Miles Warren. The serum causes Mark’s skin to glow and grants him superhuman abilities, which are secretly controlled by the Goblin. The Green Goblin manipulates Mark, now the Molten Man, into fighting Spider-Man. Molten Man is ultimately defeated and taken into police custody. He returns in “Opening Night,” where he is one of the supervillains who takes part in an attempted prison break at the Vault.
  • Molten Man appears in the Ultimate Spider-Man episode “Inhumanity,” voiced by James Arnold Taylor. He returns during the “Contest of Champions” storyline as one of the villains the Grandmaster sends to fight against Earth’s Heroes.
  • Molten Man appears in the Marvel’s Spider-Man episode “Brand New Day,” voiced by Imari Williams.

Film

Molten Man in Far From Home
Molten Man in Far From Home
  • Molten Man appears as one of the antagonists in Spider-Man: Far From Home. He is never referred to by name, but a nearby license plate reads “2865 SEP.” Molten Man made his debut in Amazing Spider-Man #28 (SEPT 1965). Molten Man appears as one of the Elementals, a group of powerful entities that originated on an alternate Earth before traveling to the mainline universe. Molten Man battles Spider-Man in Prague, before being destroyed by Mysterio, a new superhero who claims to have come from the same world as the Elementals. However, it is later revealed that Molten Man and the rest of the Elementals were actually illusions created by Mysterio in order to make himself look like a hero.

Video Games

Ultimate Alliance 2Ultimate Alliance 2
Ultimate Alliance 2
  • Molten Man appears as an NPC in the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. He is one of the captured supervillains who is utilized as a hero-hunter by S.H.I.E.L.D. via special control nanites. In the Pro-Registration campaign, he assists the player during the boss fight against Goliath, while in the Anti-Registration campaign, he appears as a mini-boss who works with She-Hulk to capture Cloak and Dagger. After the other heroes intervene, a fight ensues, which ultimately leads She-Hulk and Molten Man being knocked unconscious. Molten Man returns after the control nanites gain sentience, and is one of the brainwashed villains who attacks both sides during the fight at Prison 42. He was voiced by Andrew Kishino.

Merchandise

Marvel LegendsMarvel Legends
Marvel Legends
  • ToyBiz released a Molten Man action figure as a Toyfare exclusive.
  • Molten Man was featured in Diamond Select’s Minimates line as part of a two-pack with the Vulture.
  • Molten Man was featured in Funko’s Pop! line of bobbleheads.
  • Molten Man was featured in Hasbro’s product line for the Spider-Man: Far From Home movie.
  • Molten Man appears in the “Molten Man Battle” kit from Lego.
  • Molten Man appeared as the subject of a Marvel Legends Build-a-Figure wave from Hasbro.

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