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| Zzzax | |
|---|---|
 Zzzax battles the Hulk on the cover of The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #183 (January 1975), art by Herb Trimpe | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #166 (August 1973) |
| Created by | Steve Englehart Herb Trimpe |
| In-story information | |
| Team affiliations | The Lethal Legion |
| Notable aliases | General "Thunderbolt" Ross, The Living Dynamo, Pyro |
| Abilities |
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Zzzax is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #166 (August 1973), and was created by Steve Englehart and Herb Trimpe.[1]
In-universe, Zzzax was created by accident during a terrorist act. Zzzax is a being of pure electricity who can absorb and discharge powerful currents of electricity. Its size and strength depend on the amount of electricity absorbed. It can also absorb human brain energy, temporarily taking on the personality of the victim.
Debuting in the title The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2), Zzzax is a humanoid creature formed from electricity by an act of sabotage at a Con Ed nuclear power plant in New York City. A group of terrorists destroying the dynamos started a chain reaction that caused a rapid buildup of energy, which takes on a life of its own, absorbing the minds of them and several engineers. By using the electrical energy from their brains, the entity achieves humanoid form and sentience. Calling itself Zzzax, the entity fights the Hulk and Hawkeye before being defeated.[2]
The character returns and attacks a research center in Chicago. The Hulk battles the entity to a standstill before several scientists shut down the process that recreates Zzzax.[3] Zzzax reappears in Luke Cage, Power Man, and hunts down the men responsible for its last defeat. Power Man defeats the entity, but not before it kills one of the scientists.[4] Zzzax returns to confront an intelligent version of the monster possessing the mind of Bruce Banner, but is quickly defeated.[5] Mephisto later reforms the entity in the miniseries Secret Wars II, although the Thing defeats it.[6] In the title West Coast Avengers, Zzzax teams with fundamental force villains Graviton; Quantum and Halflife, but is again short-circuited by Hawkeye.[7]
S.H.I.E.L.D. later captured Zzzax and transported it to Gamma Base. General Thunderbolt Ross arranges for his mind to be transferred into Zzzax's body and battles a new version of the Hulk, whose alter-ego is Rick Jones.[8] Ross relinquishes control of the entity soon after saving his daughter Betty Ross Banner, realizing that his actions had risked lives.[9] Zzzax battles Iron Man in the title Marvel Comics Presents[10] and Cable in the hero's self-titled series.[11]
The entity reappears in the title New Avengers and participates in the mass escape by supervillains from the holding facility the Raft.[12] The title Sensational She-Hulk reveals the character has been contained by S.H.I.E.L.D. After briefly escaping and turning the defense systems of the organization's Helicarrier against its agents (including the Life Model Decoys), it is recaptured by the She-Hulk.[13]
The Mighty Avengers later apprehend Zzzax when it attacks New Delhi.[14] Zzzax later appears in the services of MODOK Superior when it comes to him attacking the Red Hulk.[15]
During the Fear Itself storyline, Zzzax was with MODOK Superior when it comes to competing against Zero/One and Black Fog into getting to the Red Hulk first.[16]
As a being of pure electricity, Zzzax is able to absorb and generate electrical fields, as well as manipulate nearby equipment. It can grow its own intelligence by draining the energy from human brainwaves, thus becoming dependent upon them. While incinerating the victim, it would temporarily take on his or her personality traits. This extends control to their nervous systems via electric currents. Only its foe, the Hulk has proven unaffected by this ability.[17] Zzzax's size and strength increases in direct quality for the electricity it needs to feed. It is also capable of hovering. At the point whereby water - a primary weakness - could short-circuit or evaporate Zzzax before touching it.[18]
Zzzax appears in Heroes United: Iron Man & Hulk, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.[19] This version was created by HYDRA scientists Dr. Cruler and Dr. Fump.
Zzzax appears in Marvel Avengers Alliance.[20]
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