Carapax
Encyclopedia
Carapax is a fictional supervillain
published by DC Comics
. Carapax first appeared in Blue Beetle
vol. 2 #1 (June 1986), and was created by Len Wein
and Paris Cullins
. Carapax is featured as the archenemy of Blue Beetle.
of Dr. Jarvis Kord, uncle of Ted Kord, the second Blue Beetle. In the lab he found a gleaming robot
standing silently in the corner of the huge chamber, having come back online when it had sensed his approach. Donning a strange helmet
he found in the wreckage
, Carapax attempted to activate the robot, but the machinery malfunctioned, zapping Carapax where he stood. Although his body had died, Carapax's mind was transferred to the robot at the instant of his death
. He was now an Indestructible Man trapped on Pago Island.
He murdered the crew of the ship that had brought Lieutenant Max Fisher to Pago Island to investigate the death of Dan Garrett, hoping to use the vessel to escape. However, the Blue Beetle had followed Fisher to Pago to protect the island's secret. He saved Fisher's life and therefore came into direct conflict with Carapax. He used his ship, the Bug, to sink the ship, and when Carapax tried to commandeer the Bug itself, he was sent hurtling into the Atlantic Ocean
, where he sank without a trace. Unfortunately for the Beetle, Carapax simply walked along the ocean bottom until he surfaced in Metropolis
. He and the Beetle battled again, but this time, the Beetle fired a missile through a crack in Carapax's outer shell, igniting his power source and blowing up his body from the inside. Later, Carapax was approached by the demon Neron
, but he refused Neron's offer of power in exchange for his soul.
After the Blue Beetle's death, Carapax confronted Superman
and the new Firestorm. His body had been rebuilt by extraterrestrials and provided with a new power source. Firestorm had to be persuaded not to vaporize Carapax's supposed armor by Superman for a very good reason - he was the robot, not a living being trapped inside it.
Carapax later returned, steam-powered and capable of withstanding any and all technological attacks, as part of a group formed to take out the new Blue Beetle, Jaime Reyes
. Carapax is defeated when Jaime makes a crack in his shoulder, and throws one of his own missiles into it.
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
published by DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. Carapax first appeared in Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle
Blue Beetle is the name of three fictional superheroes that appear in American comic books published by a variety of companies since 1939.-Publication history:...
vol. 2 #1 (June 1986), and was created by Len Wein
Len Wein
Len Wein is an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics' Swamp Thing and Marvel Comics' Wolverine, and for helping revive the Marvel superhero team the X-Men...
and Paris Cullins
Paris Cullins
Paris Cullins is an African-American comic-book artist best known for his work on DC Comics' Blue Devil and Blue Beetle, and Marvel Comics' Hyperkind.-Early career:...
. Carapax is featured as the archenemy of Blue Beetle.
Fictional character biography
Conrad Carapax was an archaeologist who had once been the rival of Dr. Daniel Garrett, the man who became the original Blue Beetle. He went to Pago Island alone in search of whatever it was that Garrett was searching for when he died. Instead he found the top-secret laboratoryLaboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
of Dr. Jarvis Kord, uncle of Ted Kord, the second Blue Beetle. In the lab he found a gleaming robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
standing silently in the corner of the huge chamber, having come back online when it had sensed his approach. Donning a strange helmet
Helmet
A helmet is a form of protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries.Ceremonial or symbolic helmets without protective function are sometimes used. The oldest known use of helmets was by Assyrian soldiers in 900BC, who wore thick leather or bronze helmets to protect the head from...
he found in the wreckage
Wreckage
Wreckage is the first album by British DJ/producer Overseer. Most of its tracks have been featured in an advertisement, film, video game, trailer, or television show.- Track listing :# "Slayed"# "Stompbox"# "Supermoves"# "Velocity Shift"...
, Carapax attempted to activate the robot, but the machinery malfunctioned, zapping Carapax where he stood. Although his body had died, Carapax's mind was transferred to the robot at the instant of his death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
. He was now an Indestructible Man trapped on Pago Island.
He murdered the crew of the ship that had brought Lieutenant Max Fisher to Pago Island to investigate the death of Dan Garrett, hoping to use the vessel to escape. However, the Blue Beetle had followed Fisher to Pago to protect the island's secret. He saved Fisher's life and therefore came into direct conflict with Carapax. He used his ship, the Bug, to sink the ship, and when Carapax tried to commandeer the Bug itself, he was sent hurtling into the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
, where he sank without a trace. Unfortunately for the Beetle, Carapax simply walked along the ocean bottom until he surfaced in Metropolis
Metropolis (comics)
Metropolis is a fictional city that appears in comic books published by DC Comics, and is the home of Superman. Metropolis first appeared by name in Action Comics #16 ....
. He and the Beetle battled again, but this time, the Beetle fired a missile through a crack in Carapax's outer shell, igniting his power source and blowing up his body from the inside. Later, Carapax was approached by the demon Neron
Neron
Neron is a fictional demon, a comic book character published by DC Comics. He first appeared in the DC Comics cross-over event Underworld Unleashed #1, , and was created by Mark Waid and Howard Porter.- Publication history :...
, but he refused Neron's offer of power in exchange for his soul.
After the Blue Beetle's death, Carapax confronted Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
and the new Firestorm. His body had been rebuilt by extraterrestrials and provided with a new power source. Firestorm had to be persuaded not to vaporize Carapax's supposed armor by Superman for a very good reason - he was the robot, not a living being trapped inside it.
Carapax later returned, steam-powered and capable of withstanding any and all technological attacks, as part of a group formed to take out the new Blue Beetle, Jaime Reyes
Jaime Reyes
Blue Beetle is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Infinite Crisis #3 Blue Beetle (Jaime Reyes) is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appears in Infinite Crisis #3 Blue...
. Carapax is defeated when Jaime makes a crack in his shoulder, and throws one of his own missiles into it.
Powers and abilities
Carapax has a high degree of protection from physical and energy attacks, super human strength, agility and endurance. He is able to fire miniature missiles.External links
- Who's Who in the DC UniverseWho's Who in the DC UniverseWho's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe is the umbrella title for a number of comic book series which DC Comics published to catalogue the wide variety of fictional characters in their imaginary universe, the DC Universe.-History:Who's Who was the creation of Len Wein, Marv...
Update '87 vol. 1, page 29. - DCU Guide: Carapax