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Lizard (comics)
Encyclopedia
The Lizard is a fictional character
, a supervillain
in the Marvel Comics
universe
and enemy of Spider-Man
. The Lizard first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man
#6 (November 1963
), and was created by Stan Lee
and Steve Ditko
. In 2009, the Lizard was named IGN
's 62nd Greatest Villain of All Time.
. He was a gifted surgeon who enlisted in the U.S. Army
and was sent off to war. He performed emergency battlefield surgery on wounded GIs, but his right arm was injured in a blast and had to be amputated. After his return to civilian life as a research technologist, Connors became obsessed with uncovering the secrets of reptilian limb regeneration and studied reptilian biology extensively. Working from his home in the Florida
Everglades
with the help of war buddy Ted Sallis
, he finally developed an experimental serum taken from reptilian DNA. He successfully regrew the missing limb of a rabbit and then, despite the warnings of his wife Martha, chose to test it on himself. Connors ingested the formula and his missing arm did indeed grow back. The formula had a side effect; Connors was subsequently transformed into a reptilian humanoid
monster. Spider-Man discovered this situation during a trip to Florida to investigate newspaper reports of the Lizard after the Bugle challenged him. Spidey was then able to use Connors' notes to create an antidote to restore him to his human form and mentality. Another attempt to develop this serum for safe use again resulted in Connors transforming into the Lizard, but on this occasion he was saved thanks to his former colleague Professor Charles Xavier
and his first team of X-Men
, Beast
and Angel tracking the Lizard down in the swamps so that Iceman
could send him into hibernation long enough to develop a cure.
Later, Curt Connors relocated to New York City
. He was able to repay Spider-Man by developing a formula to save May Parker's life after Peter Parker had given his aunt his radioactive blood during a transfusion, unintentionally putting her in mortal peril. It later became clear that the success of Connors' apparent cure from the Lizard persona was short-lived. A repeating pattern occurred, with stress or a chemical reaction turning Connors into the Lizard, Spider-Man fighting him, and then forming some kind of temporary cure to reverse the transformation until the next time. A second personality had formed with the Lizard, one with the familiar goal shared by many villains of taking over the world. The Lizard envisioned a world where all humans had been transformed into (or replaced by) super-reptiles like himself. Despite the Lizard's overall hatred of humans, he was often shown to be unwilling to harm his wife Martha or young son Billy.
As Connors, he aided Spider-Man in defeating the Rhino
by developing a formula to dissolve the Rhino's costume, but accidentally transformed himself into the Lizard due to exposure to the chemicals needed to create the formula - some of which had been used to create the Lizard serum - and was restored by Spider-Man. Connors was later kidnapped and forced to create a rejuvenation serum for Silvermane
. However, the stress from this caused Connors to transform, the Lizard battled Spider-Man and the Human Torch
, and was then restored to normal once again by Spider-Man.
During another encounter with Spider-Man after Peter's attempts to remove his powers resulted in him growing four extra arms, a bite from Morbius endowed the Lizard with Connors' personality via the infection of a strange enzyme. Connors then synthesized an antidote for himself and Spider-Man using the Morbius enzyme. Curt Connors later aided Spider-Man, Ka-Zar, and the Black Panther
against Stegron
. After the apparent death of the Jackal
, Dr. Connors determined that Spider-Man was not a clone. Later, the Lizard battled with Stegron and Spider-Man after Stegron kidnapped Billy Connors. For a time, Peter Parker worked as a teaching assistant to Dr. Connors at Empire State University, although Connors had no idea that Peter was actually Spider-Man.
During the first of the Secret Wars
, the Lizard refused to participate on either side of the conflict. Although he was collected by the Beyonder
along with other villains, he broke away from the main group after the first battle to settle in a swamp, where he befriended the Wasp
, who had helped him treat an injury he sustained in the first battle. After the Lizard was blasted by the magic of the Enchantress
, he reverted back to human form. After Connors' return from this event, his wife took their son Billy and separated from Curt. The Lizard had apparently been affected by inter-dimensional teleportation so that Connors' mind presided over the Lizard, and battled the Owl
alongside Spider-Man. However, mystical activity during the Inferno crisis
once again brought the Lizard's bestial nature to the fore, and Spider-Man cured him again. Connors then tried to straighten out his life and control the Lizard, with some degree of success. This ended when the villain Calypso
used her voodoo magic to take control of the Lizard (during the Torment
storyline) for her own purposes, reducing him to a mindless savage state. After a series of bloody battles, the Lizard and Calypso were defeated by Spider-Man, and Spider-Man assumed that he perished under Calypso's spell. Connors once again gained control of the Lizard's mind and body, although it was very weak. Curt carried out a plan to cure himself temporarily, after which he voluntarily submitted to incarceration in the supervillain prison, the Vault
. When Calypso forced the transformation and attempted to control the Lizard once again, the creature killed her and escaped from the Vault. After this escape, the Lizard fell into a quicksand pit during a battle with Spider-Man and the bounty hunter Warrant and was believed to have died. This would soon be proven incorrect.
Shortly after Connors' apparent death in quicksand during the Lizard's battle with Spider-Man and Warrant, a huge bestial Lizard appeared. Spider-Man (Ben Reilly
) realized that not only had the Lizard survived, but this new monstrous transformation seemed to be permanent and the personality of Curt Connors appeared completely lost. However, when this savage mindless Lizard later unexpectedly encountered Dr. Connors himself, Curt became the true Lizard once again and saved his family by killing the "Lizard-clone". It was revealed that the Lizard-clone was a scientific accident resulting from an experimental formula being tested on a piece of the original Lizard's tail, which had then grown into a fully formed second creature.
Although reunited after Curt's apparent death, tragedy later struck again in the Connors family - this time for Martha and Billy. Both mother and son were diagnosed with cancer after years exposed to carcinogens from living near an industrial lab of the Monnano Corporation in Florida. Spider-Man assisted Curt in successfully forcing Monnano to admit their environmental culpability. However, Martha succumbed to the cancer and died. Billy recovered but remained bitter towards his father. Curt's guilt and internalized anger at these events eventually led him to become the Lizard and attack Spider-Man once again. After reverting back to his human form, Curt purposefully attempted a bank robbery so he would be sent to prison. Curt's stint in prison was short-lived; he was released and transformed into the Lizard once again as part of a scheme by Norman Osborn, also known as the Green Goblin
, to form the "Sinister Twelve" to kill Spider-Man. The Sinister Twelve were defeated and captured by the combined forces of Daredevil
, the Fantastic Four
, and certain members of the Avengers
.
The Lizard later resurfaced to face Spider-Man with the aid of a smaller twin of himself, who was revealed to be none other than his son, Billy. Curt had injected Billy with the Lizard formula while under the influence of a mysterious meteorite that caused savage behavior in those within range of its radiation. Both the Lizard and "Lizard Junior" were eventually captured and transformed back to human form, but the fact that Billy can also transform into a lizard has never been mentioned since.
A heretofore unseen version of the Sinister Six
including the Lizard appeared briefly during the superhero Civil War, but were stopped by Captain America
and his Secret Avengers. Since the Lizard was never a member of the original Sinister Six, the circumstances of his involvement with this short-lived group of villains has yet to be revealed.
Post-Civil War, Doctor Curt Connors aided Spider-Man in developing a cure for the victims of Calvin Zabo, also known as Mister Hyde
, who were mutated with unstable versions of Spider-Man's powers. Dr. Connors has also monitored the progress of the hero Komodo
, a female grad student who stole a sample of Connors' Lizard formula. She modified the formula for her own DNA to grow back her missing legs and to give herself reptilian powers.
Dr. Curt Connors appeared in the Brand New Day
comic storyline, but not as the Lizard. Connors was shown experimenting with animal stem cells as well as aiding forensic specialist Carlie Cooper
. A new villain named Freak mistok Connors stem cells experiment for drugs. So Curt helped Spider-Man defeat him during their second encounter.
During The Gauntlet storyline, Connors is shown working for the pharmaceutical company Phelcorp working for executive Brian King, who often antagonistically berates Connors in his lab. Connors has also lost custody of his son, Billy (who has also become emotionally distant from his father). As his life has gone into a downward spiral, he sometimes hears a bestial inner monologue, telling him to violently take what is his. The last straw is when his lab assistant that he's attracted to ends up sleeping with Brian King. Connors runs into his office to get a green vial. Brian King accuses Connors of trying to take his Lizard serum, so he prevents him from taking it. Connors tells King that it is actually a Lizard-suppressant before he transforms into the Lizard and eats Brian King. When Peter Parker calls up Carlie Cooper for a date, she declines stating that the Lizard is on a rampage. Peter changes into his Spider-Man costume and goes after the Lizard, knowing that he will go after Billy. He swings to the house of Billy Connors and starts to fight Lizard, but the Lizard unexpectedly just leaves (with Connors' inner voice pleading for Spider-Man to follow him), making Spider-Man check on Billy. However, Billy was kidnapped, and his foster parents attacked by Ana Kravinoff. The Lizard finds Billy, left in an alley by Ana, and eats his own child, utterly destroying the presence of Dr. Connors in the process, which is implied to be part of the Kravinoff's plans. Spider-Man gets EMTs to the foster parents, and then heads off for the Lizard, finding Billy's body. He then finds the Lizard, who has shed his skin and has a new form. This form is leaner, sporting spikes on its right forearm, having what appears to be long brown hair, is smarter than any previous form of the Lizard, and has new telepathic abilities allowing him to connect to the "lizard part" of the human brain demonstrating this by making Spider-Man think he's prey, and running away. While hiding in the sewers, the Lizard then makes a group of people in the city act on their "lizard" part of the brain, taking what they want mindlessly. Spider-Man returns from Curt's lab with the formula Connors was using to keep the Lizard in control and drinks it making himself immune to the Lizard's new powers. He also spits some of it in the Lizard's mouth and injects the Lizard with two more vials of it. He then attempts to convince the Lizard this is wrong, but he is attacked by the civilians under the Lizard's control. Suddenly, he is pulled out by the Lizard, who then reveals he regrets what he has done and that he believes there is more in life than just killing; the sudden change of perspective is revealed to happen because when he destroyed Dr. Curt Connors' personality, some emotions were passed to him. He then leaves into the night.
During the Origin of the Species storyline, Lizard is among the supervillains invited to join Doctor Octopus
' supervillain team, where he promises them a reward in exchange for securing some specific items for him. When Spider-Man caught Chameleon at the Kravinoff Mansion after he had stolen Menace's baby, Chameleon reveals that the Lizard had stolen the baby before it could be passed off to Dr. Octopus. When Doctor Octopus and Spider-Man fight within Lizard's hideout, the Lizard attacks Spider-Man. Spider-Man threatens to attack the Lizard with the Lizard serum if he doesn't give him the baby. Lizard agrees and reveals that he got a blood sample from the baby and found out that Norman Osborn is not the father. The Lizard then gives the baby to Spider-Man, saying that if Osborn is not the father, then the baby is of no use to him. Doctor Octopus then attacks the Lizard while Spider-Man escapes with the baby.
While investigating recent kidnappings in New York, the X-Men
find themselves working with Spider-Man after they discover that the abductor is the Lizard, who has been taking victims of bullying or abuse off the streets to turn them into others like him, as well as maintaining his control over the city's preexisting reptile population. The X-Men and Spider-Man soon discover that Lizard is being used by the Dark Beast
, who has found a way to enhance the Lizard's control of the reptilian part of the human brain to mutate those within range into lizard-like creatures. Although Gambit
, Storm, and Wolverine
are all mutated by this process, Emma Frost
and Spider-Man escape being affected by the machinery used - Emma Frost was in her diamond form and Spider-Man was outside the shielded room that the other X-Men were in when the process was triggered - allowing them to release the Lizard and use him to defeat his captor, the Lizard subsequently retreating into the sewers while the X-Men and Spider-Man reverse the process and take Dark Beast into custody.
, biochemistry, and herpetology
.
When Connors is transformed into the Lizard, his strength is increased to superhuman levels. Likewise, his speed, stamina, agility, and reflexes are also raised to a level equivalent to that of Spider-Man. He can also scale walls using a combination of his sharp claws and micro-scales on his hands and feet that create molecular friction like those of a gecko lizard. He is highly resistant to injury due to his thick scaly hide, allowing him to resist punctures and lacerations from ordinary weapons and lower-caliber firearms. In addition, the Lizard has highly enhanced healing abilities which allow him to quickly recover from grievous wounds, including regenerating lost limbs. He also has a powerful tail which he can whip at high speeds. The Lizard has razor-sharp teeth set in muscular jaws that can deal a lethal bite. Like a reptile, he has cold-blooded
characteristics and is therefore sensitive to drops in temperature; a sufficiently cold environment will cause his metabolism to slow drastically and become dormant if he is exposed to cold temperatures for too long.
The Lizard can mentally communicate and command all reptiles within a mile of himself via limited telepathy
. He has also on at least one occasion secreted powerful pheromone
s which caused nearby humans to behave violently. Post-Brand New Day, a further enhancement of his telepathy granted him the power of telepathically compelling humans to act out their primal urges, by suppressing emotional control in their amygdala
(the "lizard brain").
Based on various physiological and environmental factors, the Lizard's intelligence can range from bestial and animalistic to normal human intelligence. The Lizard personality has most often manifested with human intelligence, capable of speech and higher reasoning, although some versions have been more feral than others. During the Secret Wars
in particular, he appeared less ruthless than his normal portrayal, showing concern for Volcana
and the Wasp
after they showed him kindness despite his usual disdain for humans. However, the Lizard is rarely as intelligent as Dr. Connors is in human form, showing on many occasions an inability to understand his human-self's work and use it to further his own ends despite his best efforts.
The Lizard has apparently "destroyed" the Curt Connors persona, but has subsequently begun to display some of Connors's human emotions.
in the Spectacular Spider-Man comic book, it was revealed that the Lizard persona was not a separate personality from Dr. Connors after all - Curt had been consciously controlling his reptilian alter ego all along. Furthermore, Connors was shown to know that Peter Parker was Spider-Man, despite the discovery of the secret identity never being explained or depicted. The story ended with Dr. Connors deliberately getting himself sent to prison and hoping the Lizard wouldn't be unleashed again. The Lizard's next appearance after this was as a member of the Sinister Twelve, where he showed no indication of being controlled by the mind of Dr. Connors. To date, there have been no subsequent comic storylines referencing the claim that Connors himself was responsible for the Lizard's villainy, and post-Brand New Day appearances explicitly present the two personalities as separate.
Another continuity
-related issue involves Connors' son Billy. Unlike many other Marvel Comics children, he had not appreciably grown up since the comics' stories of the 1960s. Billy's visible age also seemed to waver back and forth between approximately eight and thirteen years old, depending on the particular comic artist drawing the character.
universe version of the Lizard appeared in Ultimate Marvel Team-Up
# 10. The character has appeared in a few subsequent issues of Ultimate Spider-Man
, but only in flashbacks and dream sequences. Ultimate Lizard appears to be based on a basilisk
lizard in design and has been presented as being less intelligent than the original Marvel universe Lizard.
In the Ultimate universe, in addition to becoming the Lizard, Dr. Curt Connors unintentionally created the Ultimate version of the supervillain Carnage using DNA
from Spider-Man and based on an analysis of Richard Parker's work on the Venom suit. Due to the ensuing chaos, he was arrested and Stark Industries canceled their financial support of his experiments. He was last seen in Ultimate Spider-Man #127, where he, along with Tony Stark, were interviewing Gwen Stacy ("Stacy Experiment", which was in fact the new Carnage
), when the Triskellion was blown apart by Norman Osborn
, upon his escape.
, once found themselves on an alternate earth where Connors' experiment (in this world for a left arm rather than a right) had taken a different turn. Finding himself as the Lizard, Curt felt the need to "reproduce" by immediately injecting the Lizard-formula into other people. He infected his family and they infected others, all feeling the urge to spread the transformation into Lizard-men. The forces of this particular world eventually managed to restrain the infected reptile-people behind miles-long, man-made walls.
. He created an elixir that transformed him into a reptilian creature that resembled a Velociraptor
, but retained his mind. He worked with Baron Victor Octavius to capture the Spider. He is this world's Lizard.
reality, Curt Connors is an assistant to Dr. Otto Octavious.
, the Lizard, like almost every other hero and villain, has become a zombie. This particular incarnation of the Lizard is apparently destroyed when he is blasted apart by several cosmic-powered heroes while fighting Galactus.
series, set in the MC2 universe. Mary Jane comforts a distraught Martha when Curt goes missing again, whilst Peter, now a parent to his infant daughter May ("Mayday"), is more hesitant than before to become Spider-Man. He is eventually encouraged by his wife to track down and prevent the Lizard's latest rampage.
in the Broadway show, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
, in which he is played by Brandon Rubendall.
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...
, a supervillain
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...
in the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
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...
and enemy of Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
. The Lizard first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man
The Amazing Spider-Man is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics, featuring the adventures of the fictional superhero Spider-Man. Being the mainstream continuity of the franchise, it began publication in 1963 as a monthly periodical and was published continuously until it was...
#6 (November 1963
1963 in comics
- Year overall :DC Comics purchases two Prize Comics romance titles, Young Love and Young Romance, continuing their numbering.Shueisha publishes Margaret.-January:*Fantastic Four #10 - Marvel Comics...
), and was created by Stan Lee
Stan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
and Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
. In 2009, the Lizard was named IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
's 62nd Greatest Villain of All Time.
Fictional character biography
Curtis Connors was born in Coral Gables, FloridaCoral Gables, Florida
Coral Gables is a city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, southwest of Downtown Miami, in the United States. The city is home to the University of Miami....
. He was a gifted surgeon who enlisted in the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and was sent off to war. He performed emergency battlefield surgery on wounded GIs, but his right arm was injured in a blast and had to be amputated. After his return to civilian life as a research technologist, Connors became obsessed with uncovering the secrets of reptilian limb regeneration and studied reptilian biology extensively. Working from his home in the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
Everglades
Everglades
The Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee...
with the help of war buddy Ted Sallis
Man-Thing
The Man-Thing is a fictional character, a monster in publications from Marvel Comics. Created by writers Stan Lee, Roy Thomas, and Gerry Conway and artist Gray Morrow, the character first appeared in Savage Tales #1 , and went on to be featured in various titles and in his own series, including...
, he finally developed an experimental serum taken from reptilian DNA. He successfully regrew the missing limb of a rabbit and then, despite the warnings of his wife Martha, chose to test it on himself. Connors ingested the formula and his missing arm did indeed grow back. The formula had a side effect; Connors was subsequently transformed into a reptilian humanoid
Reptilian humanoid
Reptilian humanoids comprise a common motif in mythology, folklore, science fiction, fantasy, conspiracy theories, ufology, and cryptozoology.-Male:...
monster. Spider-Man discovered this situation during a trip to Florida to investigate newspaper reports of the Lizard after the Bugle challenged him. Spidey was then able to use Connors' notes to create an antidote to restore him to his human form and mentality. Another attempt to develop this serum for safe use again resulted in Connors transforming into the Lizard, but on this occasion he was saved thanks to his former colleague Professor Charles Xavier
Professor X
Professor Charles Francis Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero known as the leader and founder of the X-Men....
and his first team of X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
, Beast
Beast (comics)
Beast , Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy, is a comic book character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the mutant team of superheroes known as the X-Men...
and Angel tracking the Lizard down in the swamps so that Iceman
Iceman (comics)
Iceman is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero, a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men vol. 1 #1, ....
could send him into hibernation long enough to develop a cure.
Later, Curt Connors relocated to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He was able to repay Spider-Man by developing a formula to save May Parker's life after Peter Parker had given his aunt his radioactive blood during a transfusion, unintentionally putting her in mortal peril. It later became clear that the success of Connors' apparent cure from the Lizard persona was short-lived. A repeating pattern occurred, with stress or a chemical reaction turning Connors into the Lizard, Spider-Man fighting him, and then forming some kind of temporary cure to reverse the transformation until the next time. A second personality had formed with the Lizard, one with the familiar goal shared by many villains of taking over the world. The Lizard envisioned a world where all humans had been transformed into (or replaced by) super-reptiles like himself. Despite the Lizard's overall hatred of humans, he was often shown to be unwilling to harm his wife Martha or young son Billy.
As Connors, he aided Spider-Man in defeating the Rhino
Rhino (comics)
The Rhino is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Romita, Sr., the character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #41 The Rhino (Aleksei Mikhailovich Sytsevich) is a fictional character that appears in comic...
by developing a formula to dissolve the Rhino's costume, but accidentally transformed himself into the Lizard due to exposure to the chemicals needed to create the formula - some of which had been used to create the Lizard serum - and was restored by Spider-Man. Connors was later kidnapped and forced to create a rejuvenation serum for Silvermane
Silvermane (comics)
Silvermane is a fictional Marvel Comics character. He is a supervillain and a prominent figure in the Maggia, a fictional organized crime syndicate that is analogous to the Mafia. He first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man, Volume 1 #73...
. However, the stress from this caused Connors to transform, the Lizard battled Spider-Man and the Human Torch
Human Torch
The Human Torch is a fictional character and superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, he is a member of the superhero team the Fantastic Four, debuting in The Fantastic Four #1...
, and was then restored to normal once again by Spider-Man.
During another encounter with Spider-Man after Peter's attempts to remove his powers resulted in him growing four extra arms, a bite from Morbius endowed the Lizard with Connors' personality via the infection of a strange enzyme. Connors then synthesized an antidote for himself and Spider-Man using the Morbius enzyme. Curt Connors later aided Spider-Man, Ka-Zar, and the Black Panther
Black Panther (comics)
The Black Panther is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and penciller-co-plotter Jack Kirby, he first appeared in Fantastic Four #52...
against Stegron
Stegron
Stegron the Dinosaur Man is a Marvel Comics super-villain, primarily an antagonist of Spider-Man.-Fictional character biography:Vincent Stegron was hired by S.H.I.E.L.D. to work with Dr. Curt Connors to study dinosaur DNA from the Savage Land. Obsessed with the experiments Connors did to create the...
. After the apparent death of the Jackal
Jackal (Marvel Comics)
The Jackal is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 , and was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Ross Andru. In The Amazing Spider-Man #148 The Jackal is a fictional character that appears in...
, Dr. Connors determined that Spider-Man was not a clone. Later, the Lizard battled with Stegron and Spider-Man after Stegron kidnapped Billy Connors. For a time, Peter Parker worked as a teaching assistant to Dr. Connors at Empire State University, although Connors had no idea that Peter was actually Spider-Man.
During the first of the Secret Wars
Secret Wars
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars is a twelve-issue comic book crossover limited series published from May 1984 to April 1985 by Marvel Comics. The series was written by Jim Shooter with art by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton...
, the Lizard refused to participate on either side of the conflict. Although he was collected by the Beyonder
Beyonder
The Beyonder is a fictional character in . Created by Jim Shooter and Mike Zeck, the immensely powerful Beyonder first appeared in Secret Wars vol. 1 #1 as an unseen force. He reappears in Secret Wars II #1 , which was created by Jim Shooter and Al Milgrom.-Publication history:The Beyonder was a...
along with other villains, he broke away from the main group after the first battle to settle in a swamp, where he befriended the Wasp
Wasp (comics)
The Wasp is a fictional character, a superheroine in the Marvel Comics universe and founding member of The Avengers. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Tales to Astonish #44 ....
, who had helped him treat an injury he sustained in the first battle. After the Lizard was blasted by the magic of the Enchantress
Enchantress (comics)
Enchantress, in comics, may refer to:* Enchantress , a native of Asgard* Enchantress , a former superhero...
, he reverted back to human form. After Connors' return from this event, his wife took their son Billy and separated from Curt. The Lizard had apparently been affected by inter-dimensional teleportation so that Connors' mind presided over the Lizard, and battled the Owl
Owl (comics)
The Owl is a comic book supervillain who frequently menaces Daredevil and other heroes - notably Spider-Man and the Black Cat - in Marvel Comics' universe.-Publication history:...
alongside Spider-Man. However, mystical activity during the Inferno crisis
Inferno (Marvel Comics)
Inferno was a Marvel Comics company-wide crossover in 1989 that mainly involved the mutant titles, namely The Uncanny X-Men, X-Factor, X-Terminators, Excalibur, and The New Mutants...
once again brought the Lizard's bestial nature to the fore, and Spider-Man cured him again. Connors then tried to straighten out his life and control the Lizard, with some degree of success. This ended when the villain Calypso
Calypso (comics)
Calypso is a fictional villain in the Marvel Comics universe, who first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #209. She was created by Denny O'Neil and Alan Weiss.-Fictional character biography:...
used her voodoo magic to take control of the Lizard (during the Torment
Torment (comics)
"Torment" is a story arc written by Todd McFarlane, which encompassed the first five issues of the new ongoing Spider-Man comic book. It was published in 1990 by Marvel Comics...
storyline) for her own purposes, reducing him to a mindless savage state. After a series of bloody battles, the Lizard and Calypso were defeated by Spider-Man, and Spider-Man assumed that he perished under Calypso's spell. Connors once again gained control of the Lizard's mind and body, although it was very weak. Curt carried out a plan to cure himself temporarily, after which he voluntarily submitted to incarceration in the supervillain prison, the Vault
Vault (comics)
The Vault is the widely used nickname of a fictional defunct prison facility for technological-based superhuman criminals in Marvel Comics' Marvel Universe. The prison's full official name is the United States Maximum Security Installation for the Incarceration of Superhuman Criminals.It first...
. When Calypso forced the transformation and attempted to control the Lizard once again, the creature killed her and escaped from the Vault. After this escape, the Lizard fell into a quicksand pit during a battle with Spider-Man and the bounty hunter Warrant and was believed to have died. This would soon be proven incorrect.
Shortly after Connors' apparent death in quicksand during the Lizard's battle with Spider-Man and Warrant, a huge bestial Lizard appeared. Spider-Man (Ben Reilly
Ben Reilly
Benjamin "Ben" Reilly is a fictional character in the . He is a clone of Peter Parker , and is prominent in the "Clone Saga" story arc...
) realized that not only had the Lizard survived, but this new monstrous transformation seemed to be permanent and the personality of Curt Connors appeared completely lost. However, when this savage mindless Lizard later unexpectedly encountered Dr. Connors himself, Curt became the true Lizard once again and saved his family by killing the "Lizard-clone". It was revealed that the Lizard-clone was a scientific accident resulting from an experimental formula being tested on a piece of the original Lizard's tail, which had then grown into a fully formed second creature.
Although reunited after Curt's apparent death, tragedy later struck again in the Connors family - this time for Martha and Billy. Both mother and son were diagnosed with cancer after years exposed to carcinogens from living near an industrial lab of the Monnano Corporation in Florida. Spider-Man assisted Curt in successfully forcing Monnano to admit their environmental culpability. However, Martha succumbed to the cancer and died. Billy recovered but remained bitter towards his father. Curt's guilt and internalized anger at these events eventually led him to become the Lizard and attack Spider-Man once again. After reverting back to his human form, Curt purposefully attempted a bank robbery so he would be sent to prison. Curt's stint in prison was short-lived; he was released and transformed into the Lizard once again as part of a scheme by Norman Osborn, also known as the Green Goblin
Green 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 ....
, to form the "Sinister Twelve" to kill Spider-Man. The Sinister Twelve were defeated and captured by the combined forces of Daredevil
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
, the Fantastic Four
Fantastic Four
The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The group debuted in The Fantastic Four #1 , which helped to usher in a new level of realism in the medium...
, and certain members of the Avengers
Avengers (comics)
The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers is a fictional team of superheroes, appearing in magazines published by Marvel Comics. The team made its debut in The Avengers #1 The Avengers...
.
The Lizard later resurfaced to face Spider-Man with the aid of a smaller twin of himself, who was revealed to be none other than his son, Billy. Curt had injected Billy with the Lizard formula while under the influence of a mysterious meteorite that caused savage behavior in those within range of its radiation. Both the Lizard and "Lizard Junior" were eventually captured and transformed back to human form, but the fact that Billy can also transform into a lizard has never been mentioned since.
A heretofore unseen version of the Sinister Six
Sinister Six
The Sinister Six are a group of supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe, drawn from Spider-Man's rogues gallery. The original incarnation of the group was organized by Doctor Octopus, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 ....
including the Lizard appeared briefly during the superhero Civil War, but were stopped by Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
and his Secret Avengers. Since the Lizard was never a member of the original Sinister Six, the circumstances of his involvement with this short-lived group of villains has yet to be revealed.
Post-Civil War, Doctor Curt Connors aided Spider-Man in developing a cure for the victims of Calvin Zabo, also known as Mister Hyde
Mister Hyde (comics)
Mister Hyde is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain. His first appearance was in Journey into Mystery #99, 1963.-Publication history:...
, who were mutated with unstable versions of Spider-Man's powers. Dr. Connors has also monitored the progress of the hero Komodo
Komodo (comics)
Komodo is the name of two fictional characters in the Marvel Comics Universe.-New Men:The first Komodo is one of the New Men, creatures evolved by the High Evolutionary from a lizard. He accompanied the Ani-Men on their clean-up mission at the Jackal's laboratory and fought the Scarlet Spider...
, a female grad student who stole a sample of Connors' Lizard formula. She modified the formula for her own DNA to grow back her missing legs and to give herself reptilian powers.
Dr. Curt Connors appeared in the Brand New Day
Spider-Man: Brand New Day
"Brand New Day" is the title of a run of comic book storylines in The Amazing Spider-Man, published by Marvel Comics in 2008. It chronicles the start of Spider-Man's adventures in the aftermath of the big status quo change in the "One More Day" storyline, and continues afterwards into "Spider-Man:...
comic storyline, but not as the Lizard. Connors was shown experimenting with animal stem cells as well as aiding forensic specialist Carlie Cooper
Carlie Cooper
Carlie Cooper is a fictional character, a supporting character of Spider-Man in Marvel Comics' main shared universe. She is friends with Peter Parker, Harry Osborn, Vin Gonzales, and Lily Hollister...
. A new villain named Freak mistok Connors stem cells experiment for drugs. So Curt helped Spider-Man defeat him during their second encounter.
During The Gauntlet storyline, Connors is shown working for the pharmaceutical company Phelcorp working for executive Brian King, who often antagonistically berates Connors in his lab. Connors has also lost custody of his son, Billy (who has also become emotionally distant from his father). As his life has gone into a downward spiral, he sometimes hears a bestial inner monologue, telling him to violently take what is his. The last straw is when his lab assistant that he's attracted to ends up sleeping with Brian King. Connors runs into his office to get a green vial. Brian King accuses Connors of trying to take his Lizard serum, so he prevents him from taking it. Connors tells King that it is actually a Lizard-suppressant before he transforms into the Lizard and eats Brian King. When Peter Parker calls up Carlie Cooper for a date, she declines stating that the Lizard is on a rampage. Peter changes into his Spider-Man costume and goes after the Lizard, knowing that he will go after Billy. He swings to the house of Billy Connors and starts to fight Lizard, but the Lizard unexpectedly just leaves (with Connors' inner voice pleading for Spider-Man to follow him), making Spider-Man check on Billy. However, Billy was kidnapped, and his foster parents attacked by Ana Kravinoff. The Lizard finds Billy, left in an alley by Ana, and eats his own child, utterly destroying the presence of Dr. Connors in the process, which is implied to be part of the Kravinoff's plans. Spider-Man gets EMTs to the foster parents, and then heads off for the Lizard, finding Billy's body. He then finds the Lizard, who has shed his skin and has a new form. This form is leaner, sporting spikes on its right forearm, having what appears to be long brown hair, is smarter than any previous form of the Lizard, and has new telepathic abilities allowing him to connect to the "lizard part" of the human brain demonstrating this by making Spider-Man think he's prey, and running away. While hiding in the sewers, the Lizard then makes a group of people in the city act on their "lizard" part of the brain, taking what they want mindlessly. Spider-Man returns from Curt's lab with the formula Connors was using to keep the Lizard in control and drinks it making himself immune to the Lizard's new powers. He also spits some of it in the Lizard's mouth and injects the Lizard with two more vials of it. He then attempts to convince the Lizard this is wrong, but he is attacked by the civilians under the Lizard's control. Suddenly, he is pulled out by the Lizard, who then reveals he regrets what he has done and that he believes there is more in life than just killing; the sudden change of perspective is revealed to happen because when he destroyed Dr. Curt Connors' personality, some emotions were passed to him. He then leaves into the night.
During the Origin of the Species storyline, Lizard is among the supervillains invited to join Doctor Octopus
Doctor Octopus
Doctor Octopus is a fictional character, a supervillain that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics since 1963. A highly intelligent mad scientist, Doctor Octopus is one of Spider-Man's greatest foes...
' supervillain team, where he promises them a reward in exchange for securing some specific items for him. When Spider-Man caught Chameleon at the Kravinoff Mansion after he had stolen Menace's baby, Chameleon reveals that the Lizard had stolen the baby before it could be passed off to Dr. Octopus. When Doctor Octopus and Spider-Man fight within Lizard's hideout, the Lizard attacks Spider-Man. Spider-Man threatens to attack the Lizard with the Lizard serum if he doesn't give him the baby. Lizard agrees and reveals that he got a blood sample from the baby and found out that Norman Osborn is not the father. The Lizard then gives the baby to Spider-Man, saying that if Osborn is not the father, then the baby is of no use to him. Doctor Octopus then attacks the Lizard while Spider-Man escapes with the baby.
While investigating recent kidnappings in New York, the X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
find themselves working with Spider-Man after they discover that the abductor is the Lizard, who has been taking victims of bullying or abuse off the streets to turn them into others like him, as well as maintaining his control over the city's preexisting reptile population. The X-Men and Spider-Man soon discover that Lizard is being used by the Dark Beast
Dark Beast
Dark Beast , sometimes known as the Black Beast, is a Marvel Comics supervillain, an alternate reality evil version of the X-Men’s Beast...
, who has found a way to enhance the Lizard's control of the reptilian part of the human brain to mutate those within range into lizard-like creatures. Although Gambit
Gambit (comics)
Gambit is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero that has been a member of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist Jim Lee, the character first appeared briefly in Uncanny X-Men Annual #14 , weeks before a more comprehensive appearance in Uncanny X-Men #266...
, Storm, and Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
are all mutated by this process, Emma Frost
Emma Frost
Emma Grace Frost is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #129 , and was created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne....
and Spider-Man escape being affected by the machinery used - Emma Frost was in her diamond form and Spider-Man was outside the shielded room that the other X-Men were in when the process was triggered - allowing them to release the Lizard and use him to defeat his captor, the Lizard subsequently retreating into the sewers while the X-Men and Spider-Man reverse the process and take Dark Beast into custody.
Powers and abilities
Doctor Curtis Connors gave himself superhuman powers as a result of exposure to mutagenic chemicals, allowing him to transform into the Lizard. In human form, he has none of his superhuman powers, but he is highly intelligent and a well known scientist in fields of geneticsGenetics
Genetics , a discipline of biology, is the science of genes, heredity, and variation in living organisms....
, biochemistry, and herpetology
Herpetology
Herpetology is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians and reptiles...
.
When Connors is transformed into the Lizard, his strength is increased to superhuman levels. Likewise, his speed, stamina, agility, and reflexes are also raised to a level equivalent to that of Spider-Man. He can also scale walls using a combination of his sharp claws and micro-scales on his hands and feet that create molecular friction like those of a gecko lizard. He is highly resistant to injury due to his thick scaly hide, allowing him to resist punctures and lacerations from ordinary weapons and lower-caliber firearms. In addition, the Lizard has highly enhanced healing abilities which allow him to quickly recover from grievous wounds, including regenerating lost limbs. He also has a powerful tail which he can whip at high speeds. The Lizard has razor-sharp teeth set in muscular jaws that can deal a lethal bite. Like a reptile, he has cold-blooded
Ectotherm
An ectotherm, from the Greek εκτός "outside" and θερμός "hot", refers to organisms that control body temperature through external means. As a result, organisms are dependent on environmental heat sources and have relatively low metabolic rates. For example, many reptiles regulate their body...
characteristics and is therefore sensitive to drops in temperature; a sufficiently cold environment will cause his metabolism to slow drastically and become dormant if he is exposed to cold temperatures for too long.
The Lizard can mentally communicate and command all reptiles within a mile of himself via limited telepathy
Telepathy
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...
. He has also on at least one occasion secreted powerful pheromone
Pheromone
A pheromone is a secreted or excreted chemical factor that triggers a social response in members of the same species. Pheromones are chemicals capable of acting outside the body of the secreting individual to impact the behavior of the receiving individual...
s which caused nearby humans to behave violently. Post-Brand New Day, a further enhancement of his telepathy granted him the power of telepathically compelling humans to act out their primal urges, by suppressing emotional control in their amygdala
Amygdala
The ' are almond-shaped groups of nuclei located deep within the medial temporal lobes of the brain in complex vertebrates, including humans. Shown in research to perform a primary role in the processing and memory of emotional reactions, the amygdalae are considered part of the limbic system.-...
(the "lizard brain").
Based on various physiological and environmental factors, the Lizard's intelligence can range from bestial and animalistic to normal human intelligence. The Lizard personality has most often manifested with human intelligence, capable of speech and higher reasoning, although some versions have been more feral than others. During the Secret Wars
Secret Wars
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars is a twelve-issue comic book crossover limited series published from May 1984 to April 1985 by Marvel Comics. The series was written by Jim Shooter with art by Mike Zeck and Bob Layton...
in particular, he appeared less ruthless than his normal portrayal, showing concern for Volcana
Volcana (Marvel Comics)
Volcana is a fictional character featured in comic books published by Marvel Comics who first appeared in Secret Wars #3 . She was created by Jim Shooter and Mike Zeck....
and the Wasp
Wasp (comics)
The Wasp is a fictional character, a superheroine in the Marvel Comics universe and founding member of The Avengers. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Tales to Astonish #44 ....
after they showed him kindness despite his usual disdain for humans. However, the Lizard is rarely as intelligent as Dr. Connors is in human form, showing on many occasions an inability to understand his human-self's work and use it to further his own ends despite his best efforts.
The Lizard has apparently "destroyed" the Curt Connors persona, but has subsequently begun to display some of Connors's human emotions.
Continuity
In a 2004 story arc entitled Lizard's Tale, written by Paul JenkinsPaul Jenkins (writer)
Paul Jenkins is a British comic book writer and Gary Gygax's stepson. He has had much success crossing over into the American comic book market. Primarily working for Marvel Comics, he has had a big part shaping the characters of the company over the past decade.-Life and career:Paul Jenkins...
in the Spectacular Spider-Man comic book, it was revealed that the Lizard persona was not a separate personality from Dr. Connors after all - Curt had been consciously controlling his reptilian alter ego all along. Furthermore, Connors was shown to know that Peter Parker was Spider-Man, despite the discovery of the secret identity never being explained or depicted. The story ended with Dr. Connors deliberately getting himself sent to prison and hoping the Lizard wouldn't be unleashed again. The Lizard's next appearance after this was as a member of the Sinister Twelve, where he showed no indication of being controlled by the mind of Dr. Connors. To date, there have been no subsequent comic storylines referencing the claim that Connors himself was responsible for the Lizard's villainy, and post-Brand New Day appearances explicitly present the two personalities as separate.
Another continuity
Continuity (fiction)
In fiction, continuity is consistency of the characteristics of persons, plot, objects, places and events seen by the reader or viewer over some period of time...
-related issue involves Connors' son Billy. Unlike many other Marvel Comics children, he had not appreciably grown up since the comics' stories of the 1960s. Billy's visible age also seemed to waver back and forth between approximately eight and thirteen years old, depending on the particular comic artist drawing the character.
Ultimate Lizard
The one comic storyline to date featuring the Ultimate MarvelUltimate Marvel
Ultimate Marvel is an imprint of comic books published by Marvel Comics, featuring reimagined and updated versions of the company's superhero characters, including Spider-Man, the X-Men, the Avengers, and the Fantastic Four. The imprint was launched in 2000 with the publication of the series...
universe version of the Lizard appeared in Ultimate Marvel Team-Up
Ultimate Marvel Team-Up
Ultimate Marvel Team-Up is a comic book series, published by Marvel Comics which ran for 16 issues, including a concluding Ultimate Spider-Man Super Special. It is set in one of Marvel's shared universes, the Ultimate Universe. The whole series starred Spider-Man teaming up with another superhero...
# 10. The character has appeared in a few subsequent issues of Ultimate Spider-Man
Ultimate Spider-Man
Ultimate Spider-Man was a superhero comic book series that was published by Marvel Comics from 2000 to 2009. The series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running Spider-Man comic book franchise as part of its Ultimate Marvel imprint...
, but only in flashbacks and dream sequences. Ultimate Lizard appears to be based on a basilisk
Common Basilisk
The Common Basilisk is a lizard found in Central and South American rainforests near rivers and streams.The basilisk is part of the corytophanid family...
lizard in design and has been presented as being less intelligent than the original Marvel universe Lizard.
In the Ultimate universe, in addition to becoming the Lizard, Dr. Curt Connors unintentionally created the Ultimate version of the supervillain Carnage using DNA
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions used in the development and functioning of all known living organisms . The DNA segments that carry this genetic information are called genes, but other DNA sequences have structural purposes, or are involved in...
from Spider-Man and based on an analysis of Richard Parker's work on the Venom suit. Due to the ensuing chaos, he was arrested and Stark Industries canceled their financial support of his experiments. He was last seen in Ultimate Spider-Man #127, where he, along with Tony Stark, were interviewing Gwen Stacy ("Stacy Experiment", which was in fact the new Carnage
Carnage (comics)
Carnage is a fictional character, a supervillain in the . The character first appears in The Amazing Spider-Man #344 , and was created by writer David Michelinie and artist Mark Bagley. The character is frequently depicted as an enemy of Spider-Man...
), when the Triskellion was blown apart by Norman Osborn
Green 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 ....
, upon his escape.
Exiles
The reality-hopping heroic team, the ExilesExiles (Marvel Comics)
The Exiles are a group of fictional characters that feature in three Marvel Comics series, Exiles, New Exiles, and Exiles vol. 2. The Exiles consists of characters from different dimensions, or realities, which have been removed from time and space in order to correct problems in various alternate...
, once found themselves on an alternate earth where Connors' experiment (in this world for a left arm rather than a right) had taken a different turn. Finding himself as the Lizard, Curt felt the need to "reproduce" by immediately injecting the Lizard-formula into other people. He infected his family and they infected others, all feeling the urge to spread the transformation into Lizard-men. The forces of this particular world eventually managed to restrain the infected reptile-people behind miles-long, man-made walls.
Marvel 1602
In this reality, Curtis Connors is a philosopher who was infected with the bubonic plagueBubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
. He created an elixir that transformed him into a reptilian creature that resembled a Velociraptor
Velociraptor
Velociraptor is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that existed approximately 75 to 71 million years ago during the later part of the Cretaceous Period. Two species are currently recognized, although others have been assigned in the past. The type species is V. mongoliensis; fossils...
, but retained his mind. He worked with Baron Victor Octavius to capture the Spider. He is this world's Lizard.
Marvel Noir
In the Marvel NoirMarvel Noir
Marvel Noir is a 2009-2010 Marvel Comics alternative continuity combining elements of film noir and pulp fiction with the Marvel Universe. The central premise of the mini-series replaces super powers with driven, noir-flavored characterization....
reality, Curt Connors is an assistant to Dr. Otto Octavious.
Marvel Zombies
In Marvel ZombiesMarvel Zombies
Marvel Zombies is a five-issue limited series published from December 2005 to April 2006 by Marvel Comics. The series was written by Robert Kirkman with art by Sean Phillips and covers by Arthur Suydam. It was the first series in the Marvel Zombies series of related stories...
, the Lizard, like almost every other hero and villain, has become a zombie. This particular incarnation of the Lizard is apparently destroyed when he is blasted apart by several cosmic-powered heroes while fighting Galactus.
MC2
The Connors Family appear in the first story of the Mr. and Mrs. Spider-ManMr. and Mrs. Spider-Man
Mr. and Mrs. Spider-Man was a short comic strip series published in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man Family, in August 2008. It was written by Tom DeFalco, and illustrated by Ron Frenz and several other artists....
series, set in the MC2 universe. Mary Jane comforts a distraught Martha when Curt goes missing again, whilst Peter, now a parent to his infant daughter May ("Mayday"), is more hesitant than before to become Spider-Man. He is eventually encouraged by his wife to track down and prevent the Lizard's latest rampage.
Television
- The Lizard appears in the 1967 Spider-ManSpider-Man (1967 TV series)Spider-Man is an animated television series that ran from September 9, 1967 to June 14, 1970. It was jointly produced in Canada and the United States and was the first animated adaptation of the Spider-Man comic book series, created by writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko...
episode "Where Crawls the Lizard" voiced by Gillie Fenwick. The animated Lizard in this episode was referred to as "Lizard Man", and the family is named "Conner" instead of "Connors." Also, Dr. Connors is depicted as having both of his arms in the episode, most likely to avoid the topic of amputation in a children's cartoon (his serum was intended to cure "swamp fever"). Dr. Curt Conner later appears in "Fountain of Terror", where he finds the Fountain of YouthFountain of YouthThe Fountain of Youth is a legendary spring that reputedly restores the youth of anyone who drinks of its waters. Tales of such a fountain have been recounted across the world for thousands of years, appearing in writings by Herodotus, the Alexander romance, and the stories of Prester John...
and ends up held prisoner by someone that looks like Juan Ponce de LeónJuan Ponce de LeónJuan Ponce de León was a Spanish explorer. He became the first Governor of Puerto Rico by appointment of the Spanish crown. He led the first European expedition to Florida, which he named...
before Spider-Man appears and the Fountain of Youth is accidentally destroyed. Spider-Man managed to rescue him after defeating Harley Clivendon. In "Conner's Reptiles", the Lizard appears again. This time, it's not Dr. Curt Conner, but one of his experimental alligators with increased intelligence that abducted Curt Conner. This episode only uses footage from "Where Crawls the Lizard", just changing the order of scenes and the voices.
- The Lizard appeared in the 1981 Spider-ManSpider-Man (1981 TV series)Spider-Man is a syndicated animated TV series based on the popular Marvel Comics character of the same name.-Production background:The series was created to launch Marvel Productions, successor of DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, who had previously produced the 1978 New Fantastic Four and 1979...
cartoon series episode "Lizards, Lizards, Everywhere", voiced by Corey BurtonCorey BurtonCorey Burton is an American voice actor, perhaps best known as Count Dooku, Ziro the Hutt and Cad Bane in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Brainiac in the DC animated universe and Spike Witwicky and Shockwave in the Transformers universe...
. However, there was no mention of Dr. Curt Connors in the episode and the Lizard is presented as a monster villain with no alter-ego.
- The Lizard first appears in the Spider-Man: The Animated SeriesSpider-Man (1994 TV series)Spider-Man, also known as Spider-Man: The Animated Series, is an American animated series starring the Marvel Comics superhero, Spider-Man. The show ran on Fox Kids from November 19, 1994, to January 31, 1998. The producer/story editor was John Semper, Jr. and production company was Marvel Films...
episode "Night of the Lizard", voiced by Joseph CampanellaJoseph CampanellaJoseph Campanella in Lewistown, Pennsylvania is an American character actor who has appeared in over 200 TV and film roles since 1955, including such shows as The Eleventh Hour, The Fugitive, Mission: Impossible, Gunsmoke, The Road West, The Golden Girls and Mama's Family. He also had a role in...
. Here, the Lizard was portrayed as possessing a genius level of intelligence but also having the savage mindset from the comics. In his first appearance, Dr. Connors transforms into the Lizard after using himself as a test subject with lizard DNA to regrow his arm, He then abducted his wife Margaret and carried her into the sewers in order to help complete his plan to turn New York into lizards, but he was defeated by Spider-Man and returned to his human form. Curt Connors had many other appearances throughout this series as a supporting character. In "Tablet of Time" and "The Ravages of Time", Dr. Connors turned into the Lizard again during the point when Silvermane obtained the Tablet of Time. In "The Final Nightmare", Connors objected to Farley Stillwell's destruction on the database, as he needs it for a cure at the time when Spider-Man was fighting Scorpion and Vulture. When Farley Stillwell asks what cure, Curt Connors turns into the Lizard and attacks Farley, only to be knocked down by Spider-Man. In "The Lizard King", some of Curt Connor's chemicals mutated some sewer lizards into humanoid lizards that plot to abduct Curt Connors. When Curt Connors turns into the Lizard, they make him their king causing Margaret and Mary-Jane to turn to Debra Whitman to help create a cure. A mutated lizard named Gila didn't want to go by the lizardmen's goals anymore and was able to set off the device restoring Lizard and the Lizardmen to their true forms. In the three-part episode "Secret Wars," Beyonder abducted Lizard as one of the villains to be placed on a peaceful alien planet. When Spider-Man assembled the Fantastic Four, Captain America, Iron Man, and Storm, Lizard attacked the base and was repelled only for Lizard to be attacked by the local giant sandworms. When Lizard was rendered unconscious by the attack and the base was repowered by Storm's lightning, Iron Man and Mister Fantastic managed to use a machine to activate the dormant part of Lizard's mind enabling the Curt Connors part of the mind to be awakened.
- The Lizard also appeared in the Spider-Man: The New Animated SeriesSpider-Man: The New Animated SeriesSpider-Man: The New Animated Series is an animated series featuring the Marvel comic book superhero Spider-Man, which ran for one season, 13 episodes, starting on July 11, 2003...
episode "Law of the Jungle" voiced by rock musician/filmmaker Rob ZombieRob ZombieRob Zombie is an American musician, film director, screenwriter and film producer. He founded the heavy metal band White Zombie and has been nominated three times as a solo artist for the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.Zombie has also established a career as a film director, creating the...
. The Lizard's physical appearance in this series was much more animalistic and saurian than the comic book version. In this episode, Connors is revealed to have lost his arm as a result of an Oscorp Industries weapons testing accident (Wide Area Explosive Fragmentation Round aka WAFER). This version of Dr. Connors is more serious and colder than other versions. When he transforms into the Lizard, he becomes aggressive and feral but maintains his ability to talk. He goes after Harry Osborn as revenge for the loss of his arm. During the battle between him and Spider-Man, his arm is again cut off. At one point, Spider-Man dangles the Lizard from a web while attached to a helicopter. Spidey tries to reason with him but the Lizard strikes out, cutting the web and causing the reptilian menace to fall to his apparent death.
- The Lizard first appears in The Spectacular Spider-Man episode "Natural Selection" with Dr. Curt Connors and Lizard again voiced by Dee Bradley BakerDee Bradley BakerDee Bradley Baker is an American voice actor. He is noted as his long-running-role as Klaus Heissler in American Dad! and other various characters including Squilliam Fancyson in the hit TV series SpongeBob SquarePants, Nightcrawler in X-Men: Legends and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance...
. In the Lizard's first appearance on the third episode he can't talk, yet he was also acting purely on animalistic instincts. The Lizard, however, is extremely aggressive, shown attacking with little or no provocation, and even coming close to biting Billy. One key difference from usual media is that Dr. Connors has a fully functioning, mechanical prosthetic arm. Being a research technologist at the lab at the university Eddie BrockEddie BrockEddie Brock is a fictional character created by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane. A comic book supervillain, Brock's earliest appearance is a cameo in Web of Spider-Man #18 before making his first full appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #299 as Venom...
attends, Connors is obsessed with uncovering the secrets of reptilian limb regeneration and creates a serum made of modified lizard DNA, injecting himself with it frequently to help re-grow his arm. In a previous battle between Spider-Man and Electro, one of the vials is hit by Electro's electricity, amplifying the DNA within the serum. As a result of injecting the altered serum, Connors' arm re-grows as he hoped. However, Connors is subsequently transformed into the Lizard over time. An antidote developed by Martha Connors (who is also a scientist in this version) manages to restore Curt to his human form and mentality. In the episode "Blueprints," the science department gains Miles WarrenJackal (Marvel Comics)The Jackal is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appears in The Amazing Spider-Man #129 , and was created by writer Gerry Conway and artist Ross Andru. In The Amazing Spider-Man #148 The Jackal is a fictional character that appears in...
as a new member when Norman Osborn funds the research. In the episode "Subtext," Conners discovers that Warren has been conducting mutagenic experiments on human test subjects, he threatens to inform the school board only for Warren to blackmail him with his own lizard experiments. In the episode "Final Curtain", Curt and Martha decide to leave New York for Florida escaping Warren's blackmail.
Films
- Dr. Connors appears in the 2002-2007 Spider-Man film trilogy. Dr. Connors was mentioned briefly in the film Spider-ManSpider-Man (film)Spider-Man is a 2002 American superhero film, the first in the Spider-Man film series based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man. It was directed by Sam Raimi and written by David Koepp...
(2002) as Peter's laboratoryLaboratoryA 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...
supervisor who fired him for being late. Connors appeared in the sequels Spider-Man 2Spider-Man 2Spider-Man 2 is a 2004 American superhero film directed by Sam Raimi, written by Alvin Sargent and developed by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Michael Chabon. It is the second film in the Spider-Man film franchise based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man...
(2004) and Spider-Man 3Spider-Man 3Spider-Man 3 is a 2007 American superhero film written and directed by Sam Raimi, with a screenplay by Ivan Raimi and Alvin Sargent. It is the third film in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man...
(2007), where he was played by actor Dylan BakerDylan BakerDylan Baker is an American actor, known for playing supporting roles in both major studio and independent films.-Early life:...
. Dr. Connors did not become the Lizard in this franchise. In the films, he is missing his right arm as in the comic book. In Spider-Man 2, Connors is depicted as a Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
physicsPhysicsPhysics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
professorProfessorA professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
concerned for Peter Parker's well-being and academic performance in his quantum mechanicsQuantum mechanicsQuantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
course. Peter is seen studying with several textbooks for this course, two of which can be made out as quantum mechanics and photonicsPhotonicsThe science of photonics includes the generation, emission, transmission, modulation, signal processing, switching, amplification, detection and sensing of light. The term photonics thereby emphasizes that photons are neither particles nor waves — they are different in that they have both particle...
books. Curt's friend, Doctor Otto OctaviusDoctor OctopusDoctor Octopus is a fictional character, a supervillain that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics since 1963. A highly intelligent mad scientist, Doctor Octopus is one of Spider-Man's greatest foes...
, recalls Peter's name and tells Peter that Connors considers him "brilliant, but lazy." Otto chuckles about his friend's assumption regarding Peter's laziness once he finds out Peter is also Spider-Man. Baker reprises his role in Spider-Man 3. In the film, Peter turns to Connors to analyze the substance of the Venom symbiote and Connors informs him that it makes one more aggressive and that it has a particular liking for him. At one point during this scene, Connors says, "I'm a physicist, not a biologist," which contradicts the origins of Connors' lizard-related research from the comic books.
- Dr. Curt Connors/The Lizard will be the main antagonist in the upcoming 2012 film The Amazing Spider-ManThe Amazing Spider-Man (2012 film)The Amazing Spider-Man is an upcoming American superhero film based on the comic book of the same name that is currently in post-production. It is the fourth Columbia Pictures film based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man and the first film in a rebooted Spider-Man film franchise. The film...
, played by Rhys IfansRhys IfansRhys Ifans is a Welsh actor and musician. He is known for his portrayal of characters such as Spike in Notting Hill and Jed Parry in Enduring Love and as a member of the Welsh rock groups Super Furry Animals and The Peth. Ifans also appeared as Xenophilius Lovegood in Harry Potter and the Deathly...
.
Video games
- The Lizard's first video game appearance was in the 1984 Spider-Man QuestprobeQuestprobeQuestprobe is a trilogy of graphical adventure computer games featuring Marvel Comics characters. The three games are Questprobe featuring The Hulk, Questprobe featuring Spider-Man and Questprobe featuring The Human Torch and The Thing....
game, where still graphics were added to a formerly all-text adventure.
- The Lizard later appeared in the 1991 SegaSega, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
Spider-ManSpider-Man: The Video GameSpider-Man: The Video Game is a 1991 arcade video game developed by Sega based on the Marvel Comics comic book character Spider-Man.-Gameplay:...
arcade gameArcade gameAn arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
, one of several beat 'em upBeat 'em upBeat 'em up is a video game genre featuring melee combat between the protagonist and a large number of underpowered antagonists. These games typically take place in urban settings and feature crime-fighting and revenge-based plots, though some games may employ historical or fantasy themes...
games of the time.
- In The Amazing Spider-ManThe Amazing Spider-Man (Game Boy)The Amazing Spider-Man is the title of a video game released for the original Nintendo Game Boy. It was published in 1990 by LJN Ltd. , and developed by Rare...
for the Game BoyGame BoyThe , is an 8-bit handheld video game device developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on , in North America in , and in Europe on...
, the Lizard pops out of the sewer to attack Spider-Man.
- In The Amazing Spider-Man vs. The KingpinThe Amazing Spider-Man vs. The KingpinThe Amazing Spider-Man vs. The Kingpin is a video game produced by Sega of America and developed by Technopop...
, he appears as a boss in the second level.
- In The Amazing Spider-Man 2The Amazing Spider-Man 2- Summary and storyline :While the game was a sequel to the 1990 video game titled The Amazing Spider-Man, it played much differently from the first game and was widely panned by video game critics...
for the Game Boy, the Lizard roams free in a sewer level and must be cured with an antidote secured earlier in the game.
- In the SNESSuper Nintendo Entertainment SystemThe Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
and Sega game Spider-Man, based on the 1994 series the Lizard is a boss of the sewers in every stage in the game (except the Brooklyn Bridge). He is optional and can be avoided to escape the sewers. When he is defeated, he transforms back into Dr. Connors. However, attacking Dr. Connors will result in him changing back into the Lizard, who now glows with a yellow aura, and is twice as strong. He also appears as a mini boss in the final level.
- The Lizard was a boss in the Japanese only Super NintendoSuper Nintendo Entertainment SystemThe Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
game Spider-Man: Lethal Foes.
- The first Spider-ManSpider-Man (2000 video game)Spider-Man is an action video game based upon the Marvel Comics character of the same name. It is loosely based on the 1990s Spider-Man: The Animated Series. The game was developed by Neversoft and published by Activision. Released originally for the PlayStation and Nintendo 64 in 2000, the game...
3-D environment video game by NeversoftNeversoftNeversoft Entertainment is an American video game developer, founded in 1994 by Joel Jewett, Mick West and Chris Ward. Neversoft is best recognized for their line of Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk skateboarding games, known as the Tony Hawk's series...
also included the Lizard voiced by Dee Bradley BakerDee Bradley BakerDee Bradley Baker is an American voice actor. He is noted as his long-running-role as Klaus Heissler in American Dad! and other various characters including Squilliam Fancyson in the hit TV series SpongeBob SquarePants, Nightcrawler in X-Men: Legends and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance...
. This game was released in 2000 for multiple game platforms, including PlayStationPlayStationThe is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console first released by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan on December 3, .The PlayStation was the first of the PlayStation series of consoles and handheld game devices. The PlayStation 2 was the console's successor in 2000...
, Nintendo 64Nintendo 64The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil...
, SegaSega, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
Dreamcast, and PCPersonal computerA personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
. The Lizard has a small role in the game, trapped behind a cage in the NYC sewers. A group of lizardmen that he created serves as antagonists, and the Lizard reveals that VenomEddie BrockEddie Brock is a fictional character created by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane. A comic book supervillain, Brock's earliest appearance is a cameo in Web of Spider-Man #18 before making his first full appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #299 as Venom...
had taken control over them and imprisoned him. The Lizard tells Spider-Man where Venom is keeping Mary Jane ParkerMary Jane WatsonMary Jane Watson, often shortened to MJ, is a fictional supporting character appearing, originally, in Marvel comic books and, later, in multiple spin-offs and dramatizations of the Spider-Man titles as the best friend, love interest, and one-time wife of Peter Parker, the alter ego of Spider-Man...
. In the entire game, the Lizard is the only villain not fought against, despite the fact he was previously publicized as a level boss. It is possible to complete that level without even meeting him. In the storyboards for the finale that are in the storyboard gallery, Lizard is seen in the jail cell instead of the Jade Syndicate thug.
- In the sequel to the 3-D Neversoft game, Spider-Man 2: Enter ElectroSpider-Man 2: Enter Electro-Plot:After a brief lesson from Beast, Spider-Man interrupts a robbery at BioTech, planting a tracer on the leader's bike. The tracer leads him to a warehouse, where he interrogates a thug who tells him where to go next. After a battle with Shocker, he heads for the airfield, but is interrupted by...
, the Lizard is a boss character again voiced by Dee Bradley BakerDee Bradley BakerDee Bradley Baker is an American voice actor. He is noted as his long-running-role as Klaus Heissler in American Dad! and other various characters including Squilliam Fancyson in the hit TV series SpongeBob SquarePants, Nightcrawler in X-Men: Legends and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance...
. Resembling a VelociraptorVelociraptorVelociraptor is a genus of dromaeosaurid theropod dinosaur that existed approximately 75 to 71 million years ago during the later part of the Cretaceous Period. Two species are currently recognized, although others have been assigned in the past. The type species is V. mongoliensis; fossils...
, the mindless Lizard rampages around his lab and must be defeated again by injecting him with a cure.
- Dr. Curt Connors made a minor appearance in Spider-Man 2Spider-Man 2 (video game)Spider-Man 2 is the name of several computer and video games based on the Spider-Man universe and particularly the Spider-Man 2 film. It is a follow up to the game Spider-Man: The Movie and was followed by Spider-Man 3 to promote the release of the third film in 2007...
console game voiced by Joe AlaskeyJoe AlaskeyJoseph "Joe" Alaskey is an American actor, comedian, and voice artist, credited as one of the successors of Mel Blanc in impersonating the voices of Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and other characters from Warner Bros. cartoons. He was born in Watervliet, New York.-Other work:Alaskey has also done voices...
. Originally the Lizard was supposed to have been included in this particular video game and was even prominently featured in some promotional materials before being suddenly removed. However, there are some hints that the Lizard was still going to be in the game, such as the use of green (his alter ego's color) in his lab, Doctor Octopus breaking Dr. Connors arm, and the reptile-like creatures that appear in the Fight Area (possibly these creatures were going to be the Lizard's version of thugs). The Hex Editor shows there is a skin named Lizard. There is even a sewer entrance which looks like it could be entered. There was speculation that the character had been removed from the game because at the time he was being considered for use in the future Spider-Man 3Spider-Man 3Spider-Man 3 is a 2007 American superhero film written and directed by Sam Raimi, with a screenplay by Ivan Raimi and Alvin Sargent. It is the third film in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man...
film, but this was never confirmed. This is jokingly referred to in one of the hint icons in the game. The Lizard did appear as a level boss in the Game Boy AdvanceGame Boy AdvanceThe is a 32-bit handheld video game console developed, manufactured, and marketed by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Game Boy Color. It was released in Japan on March 21, 2001; in North America on June 11, 2001; in Australia and Europe on June 22, 2001; and in the People's Republic of China...
and Nintendo DSNintendo DSThe is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
versions of the game, where his appearance in cutsceneCutsceneA cutscene is a sequence in a video game over which the player has no or only limited control, breaking up the gameplay and used to advance the plot, strengthen the main character's development, introduces enemy characters, and provide background information, atmosphere, dialogue, and clues...
s matches his Ultimate version, though his in-game sprite resembles his traditional appearance. It should be noted that Lizard's supposed minions found in the boss arena are also hinted in Mysterio's fun house. Once you get to Mysterio's hologram there is a book stand like object that has the clowns with axes and the lizard minion's heads.
- The Lizard makes an appearance in the 2006 RPG video game Marvel: Ultimate AllianceMarvel: Ultimate AllianceMarvel: Ultimate Alliance is an action role-playing game developed for PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox and Xbox 360 by Raven Software and published by Activision. The game was simultaneously ported to the PlayStation Portable and Wii by Vicarious Visions, and to Microsoft Windows by Beenox...
, voiced by James Arnold TaylorJames Arnold TaylorJames Arnold Taylor is an American voice actor, Impressionist, and Announcer. He is the current voice provider for Fred Flintstone as well as Obi-Wan Kenobi in the TV series Star Wars: The Clone Wars and also the movie Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Johnny Test in Johnny Test...
. He is seen as a member of Doctor DoomDoctor DoomVictor von Doom is a fictional character who appears in Marvel Comics publications . Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Fantastic Four #5 wearing his trademark metal mask and green cloak...
's Masters of EvilMasters of EvilThe Masters of Evil is a name for a number of fictional supervillain teams that appear in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first version of the team appeared in The Avengers #6 , with the lineup continually changing over the years....
. In the game, he appears alongside the Scorpion guarding a just-defeated TyrTyr (Marvel Comics)Tyr is a fictional character, an Asgardian god in the Marvel Comics Universe, loosely based on the Norse god of the same name. Along with Thor and Balder, he is one of Odin's biological sons.-Fictional character biography:Tyr is the Asgardian god of war...
. He and Scorpion have special dialogue with Spider-Man. A simulation disk has the heroes fighting Lizard, and notes the connection to Connors, but Lizard casually ignores the mention of his alter ego's name and attacks anyway.
- The Lizard is a major character in the Spider-Man 3Spider-Man 3 (video game)Spider-Man 3 is an action game loosely based on the Spider-Man 3 film and released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Wii, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Microsoft Windows and Game Boy Advance. The Xbox 360 and PS3 versions were developed by Treyarch, the PC version by Beenox while...
video game voiced by Nathan Carlson. In the game, he is created when Dr. Connors injects himself with an experimental serum to re-grow his lost arm. Like in the comics, the Lizard's goal seems to be to replace humanity with a race of reptiles. Kraven the HunterKraven the HunterKraven the Hunter is a fictional character, a supervillain and enemy of Spider-Man appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Kraven's name is Sergei Kravinoff. He also appears as Xraven, with white-grey skin and red eyes, possessing the powers of X-Men. He is the half-brother of Dmitri...
believes that the Lizard would be a worthy trophy, but when he is about to slay him, Spider-Man in his black suit stops him. The Lizard tries to escape while Spider-Man and Kraven battle, but Calypso - who has provided Kraven with various potions to enhance his strength - drugs the Lizard in an attempt to make him more worthy prey, causing him to transform into a massive "Mega-Lizard" (In the Wii version, Conners becomes the mega-lizard by injecting himself with a larger amount of his serum). After Kraven is defeated and trapped, Spider-Man manages to defeat the giant Lizard and he transforms back into Connors. Spider-Man would later ask Connors to analyze the black suit in return for him saving Connors' life. He and Spider-Man also retrieve a confused Dr. Michael MorbiusMorbius, the Living VampireMorbius, the Living Vampire, is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Roy Thomas and penciler Gil Kane, the character, a living human suffering from vampiric abilities resulting from scientific rather than supernatural means, first appeared as...
and search for a cure for his vampiric condition and his wife Francis BarrisonShriek (comics)Shriek is a fictional character, a supervillainess in the Marvel Comics universe. She is an enemy of Spider-Man. She was created by Tom DeFalco, Mike W...
. In the PS3 and Xbox 360 version of the game, Connors and Spider-Man collaborate to disperse a gaseous antidote that will turn those people Connors mutated into lizards back into their human selves.
- The Lizard appears as a playable ally in Spider-Man: Friend or FoeSpider-Man: Friend or FoeSpider-Man: Friend or Foe is a Spider-Man computer and video game based on the comic book series and Spider-Man movies. The game was released on October 2, 2007....
voiced by Roger L. JacksonRoger L. JacksonRoger Labon Jackson is an American voice actor. He is best known for voicing the killer Ghostface in the Scream films, leaving him to keep an unknown identity to withhold the mystery of Ghostface...
. Spider-Man encounters him at an oasis in Egypt as the Lizard is traveling the world in search of a cure. He is portrayed as a much more heroic figure and does not hesitate to join Spider-Man on his mission.
- Lizard appears in the 2009 video game Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, voiced by Marc Samuel. He is a boss exclusive to the Wii, NDS, PS2, and PSP versions of the game. He appears as one of the villains controlled by the Fold. Lizard attacks the heroes at the portal that leads out of the Negative Zone Prison alongside Electro, Grey GargoyleGrey GargoyleThe Grey Gargoyle is a fictional comic book supervillain that appears in books published by Marvel Comics, often as an enemy of Thor, Iron Man, She-Hulk or the Fantastic Four. The character first appeared in Journey into Mystery #107 The Grey Gargoyle (Paul Pierre Duval) is a fictional comic...
, and ScorcherScorcher (comics)Scorcher is a Marvel Comics supervillain.-Fiction character biography:Steven Hudak was a research chemist who was wrongfully accused of embezzlement by his employer...
.
Toys and collectibles
- The first Lizard action figure was produced by MegoMego CorporationThe Mego Corporation was a toy company that dominated the action figure toy market during most of the 1970s. The Mego Corporation was founded in the early 1950s by David Abrams and was mostly known prior to 1971 as a producer of dime store toys.-Golden age:...
in 1974 as part of their "World's Greatest Super-Heroes" line of toys.
- The Lizard has been reproduced in action figureAction figureAn action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and male collectors...
form several times by Toy BizMarvel ToysMarvel Toys is the toy division of Marvel Entertainment, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company....
from 1994 through 2006, first as part of their Spider-Man: The Animated SeriesSpider-Man (1994 TV series)Spider-Man, also known as Spider-Man: The Animated Series, is an American animated series starring the Marvel Comics superhero, Spider-Man. The show ran on Fox Kids from November 19, 1994, to January 31, 1998. The producer/story editor was John Semper, Jr. and production company was Marvel Films...
line, then as part of Spider-Man ClassicsSpider-Man ClassicsSpider-Man Classics is a line produced by Toy Biz focusing on Spider-Man and his allies and enemies. The line has over 15 series, with dozens of Spider-Man incarnations and many of his famous enemies. Series One came out in 2001...
, and finally as part of their Marvel LegendsMarvel LegendsMarvel Legends is an action figure line based on the characters of Marvel Comics, initially produced by Toy Biz, then by Hasbro. This line is in the scale, with spin-off lines in the , , and scale.-History:...
series. The Spider-Man Classics figure was later repainted and reissued by HasbroHasbroHasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
.
- HasbroHasbroHasbro is a multinational toy and boardgame company from the United States of America. It is one of the largest toy makers in the world. The corporate headquarters is located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States...
released a Lizard figure as part of their 2007 Spider-Man 3 series of toys. The figure seems to be based on the Lizard design seen in the Spider-Man 3 video game.
- The character has been reproduced in mini-bust form by both Art AsylumArt AsylumArt Asylum is a New York City based design studio and toy company.Originally started by Digger Mesch and Donna Soldano in 1996, Art Asylum was initially just a work-for-hire sculpting studio which designed various action figures, busts and statues for numerous toy companies such as ToyCom and...
(as part of their Rogues Gallery collection) and Bowen DesignsBowen DesignsFirst established in 1978 . Bowen Designs is a company dealing in the creation and sale of entertainment-based collectible statues...
, who also released a full statue of the character.
- The stylized version of the Lizard seen in the Spectacular Spider-Man animated TV series was released as an action figure by Hasbro in late 2008.
Live performance
The Lizard appears as a member of the Sinister SixSinister Six
The Sinister Six are a group of supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe, drawn from Spider-Man's rogues gallery. The original incarnation of the group was organized by Doctor Octopus, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 ....
in the Broadway show, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark is a rock musical with music and lyrics by U2's Bono and The Edge and a book by Julie Taymor, Glen Berger, and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. The musical is based on the Spider-Man comics created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, published by Marvel Comics, as well as the 2002...
, in which he is played by Brandon Rubendall.
External links
- Lizard at Marvel.com
- Ultimate Lizard at Marvel.com
- Lizard's Profile at Spiderfan.org