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Ambush Bug
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Ambush Bug is a fictional comic book character who has appeared in several DC Comics.
His name is supposedly Irwin Schwab, but he suffers from mental problems that prevent him from truly understanding reality around him, so even his true identity might be no more than a delusion on his part. His origin is disputed, although the most commonly accepted origin is that Brum-El (a historical allusion to Beau Brummel, as well as a reference to Superman's father Jor-El) of the planet Schwab sent his clothes from his supposedly doomed planet, hoping that his wardrobe would survive, only to have it intercepted by a giant radioactive space spider.
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Encyclopedia
Ambush Bug is a fictional comic book character who has appeared in several DC Comics.
His name is supposedly Irwin Schwab, but he suffers from mental problems that prevent him from truly understanding reality around him, so even his true identity might be no more than a delusion on his part. His origin is disputed, although the most commonly accepted origin is that Brum-El (a historical allusion to Beau Brummel, as well as a reference to Superman's father Jor-El) of the planet Schwab sent his clothes from his supposedly doomed planet, hoping that his wardrobe would survive, only to have it intercepted by a giant radioactive space spider. In the resulting crash, only two articles of clothing survived: the Ambush Bug suit, which was subsequently found by Irwin Schwab, and Argh!Yle!, an argyle sock with a Dr. Doom-like complex, complete with metal mask.
Publication history
Created by artist Keith Giffen as an intentionally silly character, Ambush Bug first appeared in several Superman-related comic books in the early 1980s. At first, Ambush Bug was a villain, named after a type of insect, and dressed in a green, skintight suit (with two orange antennae) that covered his whole body. Inside his hollow antennae, he carried miniature robot bugs that possessed the ability to teleport him around. After attacking Superman and other heroes (and being little more than an annoyance to them) Ambush Bug decided instead to be a superhero as well. He also fancied himself Superman's friend, which only annoyed the hero even more. The costume apparently then became permanently affixed to his body, and he gained the power to teleport by himself. (Again, it's unknown if this is true or just another delusion of his, as he is seen removing the costume at the end of his second mini-series.)
Ambush Bug became popular enough to be featured in two comic book miniseries and several specials, plotted and pencilled by Keith Giffen and scripted by Robert Loren Fleming. These became increasingly surreal, to the point that some don't consider them to be part of the DC Universe. The series also contains many comic book-enthusiast and DC in-jokes and satire; series editor Julius Schwartz is also a character in the book. Ambush Bug was even kicked out of the afterlife by Death of the Endless, after seeing his name did not appear in any list she carried.
During his own 4-part series in 1985, he picked up a doll and, thinking it was alive, 'adopted' it as a partner called "Cheeks, The Toy Wonder," complete with its own costume. Also during this series, he fought a genuine bad guy named Scabbard (from Thriller, a title co-created by Fleming), who left the story midway through after realizing he was in the wrong comic book (Scabbard believed he was in an issue of Thriller).
In 2001, he made his first appearance as part of a superhero group (albeit a small one) as a member of the "Justice League of Anarchy", which also included Plastic Man, the Creeper, Harley Quinn, 'Mazing Man and The Trickster. This group of DC Universe troublemakers made a one-panel cameo in a series exploring variations on the JLA acronym, the book in question being JLA: Justice League of Amazons.
Ambush Bug is largely considered an absurd character and is rarely used by other writers, though he still exists in the DC Universe and occasionally still appears in some DC Comics. His popularity amongst creators has led to many 'cameos', sometimes with as little as his antennae being visible. In the comics he has become something of a joke to other characters, and has been described as being to real heroes what Ed Wood was to Alfred Hitchcock.
In the "One Million" DC series, Ambush Bug, or at least a version of him still sporting the same costume and mannerisms appears of all places in Hong Kong, China, in the year 11021, working as a bartender, mentioning an attack by Lobo substantially increased his insurance fees. Also, in the same series, in Chase One Million, an illegal user of superpower icons attempts to use Ambush Bug's Power Icon to teleport, and promptly ends up halfway through a wall.
In 2006, he appeared as part of Firestorm's short-lived Justice League of America in 52 #24. He quips "Hello, room service? Send up a plot and three pages of dialogue right away! The weekly grind is tearin' me apart! Fifty-two!!!" This version of the JLA ends after several people are murdered during a mission.
His powers appeared in proxy in Countdown to Final Crisis #32. Jimmy Olsen briefly gains the appearance of Ambush Bug and subconsciously uses his power of "Dumb Luck" to locate Forager.
He also was referenced in Superman/Batman Annual #1 in a throwaway caption near the end: "Darkseid played chess with Ambush Bug. Ambush Bug accidentally destroyed the universe with the 'Ultimate Clapper.'"
After being championed by DC Coordinating Editor Jann Jones, a new Ambush Bug miniseries, "Ambush Bug: Year None," debuted in 2008, plotted & pencilled by Giffen and written by Fleming, with Jones herself serving as editor.
Powers and weapons
Ambush Bug's main power is teleportation. At first, this was a function of his suit; Ambush Bug was limited to teleporting to where small receiver bugs were located. Later, after an explosion, Ambush Bug internalized this power. He has been seen using a large futuristic gun in one appearance. Ambush Bug is also aware of his fictionality, and even events in other publishers' comic books. He even once seemed to be aware of the internal dialogue between Firestorm's component personalities, but then claimed that he wasn't talking to Firestorm.
Ambush Bug also shows surprising agility and skill at unarmed combat, such as gouging the eyes of futuristic pirates attacking him from behind without turning around to face them or knocking out members of the Legion of Substitute Heroes with a single attack.
Awards
The character and series he has named for him have won recognition in the comics industry, including nominations for the R.A.C. "Squiddy" Award for Favorite Limited Series and the R.A.C. "Squiddy" Award for Favorite Graphic Novel in 1992 for the Ambush Bug Nothing Special. The character was also nominated for the R.A.C. "Squiddy" Award for Favorite Character in 1992.
Video games
Ambush Bug is set to appear in the upcoming video game DC Universe Online.
External links
- - a listing of Ambush Bug's sightings, ranging from cameos to alternate versions to mainstream appearances.
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