Emery Schaub
Encyclopedia
Emery Schaub is a fictional character
of the Marvel Universe
. He was created by Christos N. Gage and Steve Uy
. Schaub's first appearance is in Avengers: The Initiative
#13 (2008).
: #13, 26–29, 34 and 35. He appears in Avengers Academy
#13 as well.
, North Carolina
. He was later recruited to the Initiative program and given the codename Boulder. However, his drill sergeant Taskmaster
nicknames him Butterball, deeming it more appropriate. While Schaub's power of total invulnerability was impressive and he was an enthusiastic and dedicated trainee, his lack of physical strength, skill, and wits make him an inappropriate candidate for the superhero program. Much to the frustration of Taskmaster, no amount of training improves Schaub's physical strength and no amount of discipline modifies his behavior or attitude. As a direct consequence of his powers, any kind of punishment was completely ineffectual.
At one point Schaub's fellow trainee Sunstreak
shows sexual interest in him. Because Sunstreak's heat generating powers prevent her from close contact with others but Schaub's powers mean he is completely unaffected by heat, an intimate relationship was possible. Schaub, however, due to his inability to physically feel anything anymore as a side effect of his powers, becomes upset after Sunstreak's advances fail to aroused him. He flees in frustration.
Despite managing well against a supervillain ambush, Schaub washes out of the Initiative, due to his general ineptitude and lack of offensive capability. Despite this, the instructors Taskmaster and Constrictor
give Schaub a photo of himself standing triumphant over them, depicting him as a hero, and themselves as the "conquered and fallen" supervillains.
takes control of the Initiative, Schaub is among those shown as a member of Osborn's new Shadow Initiative, assembled to take back control of Negative Zone Prison Alpha from the forces of Blastaar
. In reality, this shadow group, under the command of Henry Peter Gyrich
is made up of expendable super-powered beings. This, so the more valued members of the Initiative are not slain in a brutal frontal assault. Schaub accompanies the team to liberate the Negative Zone prison. They are swiftly assaulted by the aliens. Schaub is traumatized at the deaths of Slaughter Boy, Johnny Guitar and Firearms. He then reports that half of the sub-team Heavy Mettle
are either dead or incapacitated. With the assistance of Hardball, a prison inmate, the facility is retaken. Schaub has subsequently been referred to as a hero by Norman Osborn and used as an everyman figure for propaganda purposes by H.A.M.M.E.R., Osborn's military arm.
During the Siege
, Penance evades the guards and convinces Batwing, Bengal
, and Butterball into helping Avengers Resistance
As Osborn is defeated, Butterball and Batwing create a new superteam for North Carolina, based in Morganton, with the task to replace the jailed U-Foes
. He and Batwing are currently the only two members of this team.
regarding magical hammers that have crashed to Earth. Butterball was seen among the young heroes to arrive at the new campus for Avengers Academy
. Butterball is part of the new class of students when the Academy moves to the former headquarters of the West Coast Avengers
.
. Physical, energy, chemical, and psychic assaults have negligible effects on him. As a result of this he has unlimited stamina, enabling him to theoretically run forever without breaking a sweat. However, as a side effect of this invulnerability, his sense of touch is impaired and he is also "frozen" at the physical state he was in when his powers were activated, making his body incapable of losing or gaining weight or muscle mass.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
of the Marvel Universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
. He was created by Christos N. Gage and Steve Uy
Steve Uy
Steve Uy is an American comic book artist and writer.-Career:Steve Uy began working for Marvel Comics after graduating from the School of Visual Arts in New York...
. Schaub's first appearance is in Avengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series from Marvel Comics. Written by Dan Slott and Christos Gage with artwork initially by Stefano Caselli, Steve Uy and Harvey Tolibao, the series dealt with the aftermath of Marvel's Civil War crossover Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series...
#13 (2008).
Publication history
Butterball has appeared in seven issues of Avengers: The InitiativeAvengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series from Marvel Comics. Written by Dan Slott and Christos Gage with artwork initially by Stefano Caselli, Steve Uy and Harvey Tolibao, the series dealt with the aftermath of Marvel's Civil War crossover Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series...
: #13, 26–29, 34 and 35. He appears in Avengers Academy
Avengers Academy
Avengers Academy is a Marvel Comics comic book series that debuted in June 2010 as part of the "Heroic Age". The series is written by Christos Gage, with artwork by Mike McKone and tells the story of a group of young super-powered persons who were selected to join a training academy for the...
#13 as well.
Fictional character biography
Emery Schaub was originally an overweight fry cook from MorgantonMorganton, North Carolina
Morganton is a city in Burke County, North Carolina, United States. Reader's Digest included Morganton in its list of top ten places to raise a family. The town was recently profiled in The 50 Best Small Southern Towns. The population was 17,310 at the 2000 census...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. He was later recruited to the Initiative program and given the codename Boulder. However, his drill sergeant Taskmaster
Taskmaster
Taskmaster is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. The character is primarily a supervillain but is often portrayed as an antihero. The Taskmaster first appeared in Avengers vol.1 #195 and was created by David Michelinie and George Pérez...
nicknames him Butterball, deeming it more appropriate. While Schaub's power of total invulnerability was impressive and he was an enthusiastic and dedicated trainee, his lack of physical strength, skill, and wits make him an inappropriate candidate for the superhero program. Much to the frustration of Taskmaster, no amount of training improves Schaub's physical strength and no amount of discipline modifies his behavior or attitude. As a direct consequence of his powers, any kind of punishment was completely ineffectual.
At one point Schaub's fellow trainee Sunstreak
Sunstreak
Sunstreak is the code name of a fictional comic book character within Marvel Comics' shared universe the Marvel Universe. She first appeared in Iron Man #330 , and was created by Terry Kavanagh and Jim Cheung.-Fictional character biography:...
shows sexual interest in him. Because Sunstreak's heat generating powers prevent her from close contact with others but Schaub's powers mean he is completely unaffected by heat, an intimate relationship was possible. Schaub, however, due to his inability to physically feel anything anymore as a side effect of his powers, becomes upset after Sunstreak's advances fail to aroused him. He flees in frustration.
Despite managing well against a supervillain ambush, Schaub washes out of the Initiative, due to his general ineptitude and lack of offensive capability. Despite this, the instructors Taskmaster and Constrictor
Constrictor (comics)
Constrictor is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. The character is primarily a supervillain, but is often portrayed as a redeeming anti-hero. Constrictor first appeared in Incredible Hulk vol.1 #212 and was created by Len Wein and Sal Buscema.-Publication history:Constrictor...
give Schaub a photo of himself standing triumphant over them, depicting him as a hero, and themselves as the "conquered and fallen" supervillains.
Shadow Initiative
After Norman OsbornGreen Goblin
The Green Goblin is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #14 ....
takes control of the Initiative, Schaub is among those shown as a member of Osborn's new Shadow Initiative, assembled to take back control of Negative Zone Prison Alpha from the forces of Blastaar
Blastaar
Blastaar, sometimes called the Living Bomb-Burst and Blasstaar, is a Marvel Comics supervillain. Blastaar is an opponent of the Fantastic Four and lives in the Negative Zone...
. In reality, this shadow group, under the command of Henry Peter Gyrich
Henry Peter Gyrich
Henry Peter Gyrich is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Avengers Vol. 1 #165 and was created by Jim Shooter and George Pérez.-Fictional character biography:...
is made up of expendable super-powered beings. This, so the more valued members of the Initiative are not slain in a brutal frontal assault. Schaub accompanies the team to liberate the Negative Zone prison. They are swiftly assaulted by the aliens. Schaub is traumatized at the deaths of Slaughter Boy, Johnny Guitar and Firearms. He then reports that half of the sub-team Heavy Mettle
Heavy Mettle
Heavy Mettle is a fictional team of supervillains in the Marvel Universe.-Fictional organization history:Heavy Mettle was formed by Joseph Manfredi, who orders Firestrike to obtain Turbo's costume. Heavy Mettle attacks the New Warriors; they are defeated but escape. Nova disguises himself as...
are either dead or incapacitated. With the assistance of Hardball, a prison inmate, the facility is retaken. Schaub has subsequently been referred to as a hero by Norman Osborn and used as an everyman figure for propaganda purposes by H.A.M.M.E.R., Osborn's military arm.
During the Siege
Siege (comics)
Siege is a fictional character, owned by Marvel Comics, who exists in the Marvel Universe.-Creative origins:John Kelly was initially created by Dwayne McDuffie and Gregory Wright as a pseudo-preview of their then-upcoming relaunch of Deathlok as well as to provide existing in-continuity backstory...
, Penance evades the guards and convinces Batwing, Bengal
Bengal (comics)
Bengal is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe who first appeared in Daredevil #258 in September 1988. He was created by Fabian Nicieza and artist, Ron Lim.-Fictional character biography:...
, and Butterball into helping Avengers Resistance
Counter Force (Marvel Comics)
This second team of New Warriors is a superhero team in the Marvel Comics continuity composed mostly of former members of the original team of New Warriors.-Fictional history:...
As Osborn is defeated, Butterball and Batwing create a new superteam for North Carolina, based in Morganton, with the task to replace the jailed U-Foes
U-Foes
U-Foes are a fictional comic book supervillain team appearing in various series published by Marvel Comics. The group first appeared in Incredible Hulk #254...
. He and Batwing are currently the only two members of this team.
Heroic Age
Butterball appears at a meeting held by ProdigyProdigy (Ritchie Gilmore)
Prodigy is the name of a superhero in Marvel Comics.-Fictional character biography:Ritchie Gilmore is a typical jock, captain of his college wrestling team, and one of the most popular guys in school. But Ritchie wants more from life; he wants to be stronger and more powerful...
regarding magical hammers that have crashed to Earth. Butterball was seen among the young heroes to arrive at the new campus for Avengers Academy
Avengers Academy
Avengers Academy is a Marvel Comics comic book series that debuted in June 2010 as part of the "Heroic Age". The series is written by Christos Gage, with artwork by Mike McKone and tells the story of a group of young super-powered persons who were selected to join a training academy for the...
. Butterball is part of the new class of students when the Academy moves to the former headquarters of the West Coast Avengers
West Coast Avengers
The West Coast Avengers is a fictional group of superheroes that appear in publications published by Marvel Comics. The team first appear in The West Coast Avengers #1 and was created by Roger Stern and Bob Hall.- Publication history :...
.
Powers and abilities
Emery Schaub is resistant to all forms of physical harm. He cannot be projectiles or puncturing, not can he be poisoned, drowned, suffocated, or damaged in any conventional way. He cannot even be hurt by mental attacks, although he can still be controlled telepathicallyTelepathy
Telepathy , is the induction of mental states from one mind to another. The term was coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Fredric W. H. Myers, a founder of the Society for Psychical Research, and has remained more popular than the more-correct expression thought-transference...
. Physical, energy, chemical, and psychic assaults have negligible effects on him. As a result of this he has unlimited stamina, enabling him to theoretically run forever without breaking a sweat. However, as a side effect of this invulnerability, his sense of touch is impaired and he is also "frozen" at the physical state he was in when his powers were activated, making his body incapable of losing or gaining weight or muscle mass.