Razorback (comics)
Encyclopedia
Razorback is a fictional Marvel Comics
superhero. The character first appeared in shadow in Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 1 #12. His first full appearance is in Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 1 #13.
, was in New York looking for his younger sister, Bobby Sue, who had joined a religious cult. This was in fact led by the villainous Man-Beast (disguised as the Hate-Monger
), and it takes the combined efforts of Razorback and Spider-Man
to defeat him and free Razorback's sister.
Taryn O'Connell, a female trucker, spends some time searching for Razorback before he arrived in his oversized rig. They team up and use the rig itself to hijack NASA's experimental faster-than-light spacecraft, the Star Blazer. Though opposed by Mister Fantastic
and She-Hulk
, they nevertheless succeed in stealing the spaceship.
Their purpose is to find Taryn's lover, Ulysses Solomon Archer, who had left for deep space several years prior, establishing himself as a space trucker. They arrive (with She-Hulk as a stowaway, thanks to Mister Fantastic's assistance) only to discover that Archer had already married Taryn's rival for his affections, Mary McGrill, a woman who had traveled into space with him. Razorback assists She-Hulk and U.S. Archer in defeating Xemnu
the Titan, who intended to transform Archer and Mary's as-yet-unborn child into a member of his own species. With the help of the She-Hulk's persuasion, NASA soon realizes that Razorback, with his mutant skill allowing him to drive anything, is the perfect pilot for their craft, and allows him and U.S. Archer to remain in space aboard the Star Blazer with NASA's approval. Taryn joins Buford on his travels, having fallen in love with him. Star Blazer is renamed the Big Pig, which Razorback calls all his vehicles.
Razorback and Taryn eventually return to Earth, and Razorback inexplicably fights the Human Torch
. Razorback has reportedly lost his mutant powers after M-Day
, though his size and strength are unaffected.
program, as a member of the Arkansas based team, The Battalion. However, during the Secret Invasion
this Razorback was revealed to be a Skrull
infiltrator.
After the invasion is over, the real Razorback is shown in a support group meeting with the others that had been replaced by Skrulls. His teammate Tigra
says she'd have left Camp Hammond to begin training him, as he was eager to take back the position which had been assumed by his Skrull replacement. Razorback doesn't take part to the clash against the Thor cyborg called Ragnarok
, with Thor Girl
the only replaced heroine to face the powerful clone.
Razorback had the mutant
ability to intuitively pilot, drive or operate virtually any vehicle or mode of transportation, even if he doesn't know how the vehicle operates. Thus he could fly the experimental "Star Blazer" spacecraft (renamed "Big Pig III") despite having never seen it before.
Razorback is a skilled mechanic and self-taught engineer who built two cab-over tractor-trailer trucks with sophisticated defensive systems, enhanced engines and self-drive capabilities (Big Pig I and Big Pig II).
in the 1990s. The novels shared a common continuity and he was a recurring supporting character in the Spider-Man novels, as well as Generation X
: Crossroads by J. Steven York
. This novel ends with Razorback, who has won acclaim by saving the life of the President, wondering if he should risk his reputation by publicly revealing his mutant nature.
An alternate universe
version of Razorback appears in the novel Spider-Man/X-Men
: Time's Arrow, The Present by Tom DeFalco
and Adam-Troy Castro
, in a world where the X-Men were dictators who controlled all superheroes. He joined the resistance movement after the X-Men took Big Pig to pieces.
Although more likeable than most of the team (which largely comprises villains), he is very bitter about the "death" of Big Pig. At one point Spider-Man thinks "I don't believe it. This Razorback is grim and gritty."
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...
superhero. The character first appeared in shadow in Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 1 #12. His first full appearance is in Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 1 #13.
Fictional character biography
Buford Hollis, a muscular trucker and costumed adventurer from Texarkana, ArkansasTexarkana, Arkansas
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,448 people, 10,384 households, and 7,040 families residing in the city. The population density was 830.5 people per square mile . There were 11,721 housing units at an average density of 368.1 per square mile...
, was in New York looking for his younger sister, Bobby Sue, who had joined a religious cult. This was in fact led by the villainous Man-Beast (disguised as the Hate-Monger
Hate-Monger
The Hate-Monger is the name of different characters from Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The original character first appeared in Fantastic Four vol...
), and it takes the combined efforts of Razorback and 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...
to defeat him and free Razorback's sister.
Taryn O'Connell, a female trucker, spends some time searching for Razorback before he arrived in his oversized rig. They team up and use the rig itself to hijack NASA's experimental faster-than-light spacecraft, the Star Blazer. Though opposed by Mister Fantastic
Mister Fantastic
Mr. Fantastic is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero and a member of the Fantastic Four. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby, he first appeared in Fantastic Four #1 ....
and She-Hulk
She-Hulk
She-Hulk is a Marvel Comics superheroine. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist John Buscema, she first appeared in Savage She-Hulk #1 ....
, they nevertheless succeed in stealing the spaceship.
Their purpose is to find Taryn's lover, Ulysses Solomon Archer, who had left for deep space several years prior, establishing himself as a space trucker. They arrive (with She-Hulk as a stowaway, thanks to Mister Fantastic's assistance) only to discover that Archer had already married Taryn's rival for his affections, Mary McGrill, a woman who had traveled into space with him. Razorback assists She-Hulk and U.S. Archer in defeating Xemnu
Xemnu
Xemnu the Titan, also known as Xemnu the Hulk, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. Xemnu is an alien who has attempted to conquer the Earth several times.-Publication history:...
the Titan, who intended to transform Archer and Mary's as-yet-unborn child into a member of his own species. With the help of the She-Hulk's persuasion, NASA soon realizes that Razorback, with his mutant skill allowing him to drive anything, is the perfect pilot for their craft, and allows him and U.S. Archer to remain in space aboard the Star Blazer with NASA's approval. Taryn joins Buford on his travels, having fallen in love with him. Star Blazer is renamed the Big Pig, which Razorback calls all his vehicles.
Razorback and Taryn eventually return to Earth, and Razorback inexplicably fights 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...
. Razorback has reportedly lost his mutant powers after M-Day
Decimation (comics)
Decimation is the late 2005 Marvel Comics storyline spinning off from the House of M limited series. It focuses on the ramifications of the Scarlet Witch stripping nearly all of the mutant population of their powers, thereby reducing a society of millions to one of scant hundreds.This event, which...
, though his size and strength are unaffected.
The Initiative
Razorback was later recruited by the government as part of the Fifty State InitiativeFifty State Initiative
The Fifty State Initiative, often referred to as simply The Initiative, is a fictional governmental plan that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics, in particular those related to The Avengers...
program, as a member of the Arkansas based team, The Battalion. However, during the Secret Invasion
Secret Invasion
"Secret Invasion" is a comic book crossover storyline that ran through a self-titled eight issue limited series and several tie-in books published by Marvel Comics from April through December 2008....
this Razorback was revealed to be a Skrull
Skrull
The Skrulls are a fictional race of extraterrestrial shapeshifters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The Skrulls first appeared in Fantastic Four #2 and were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
infiltrator.
After the invasion is over, the real Razorback is shown in a support group meeting with the others that had been replaced by Skrulls. His teammate Tigra
Tigra
Tigra is a fictional American comic book superheroine in the Marvel Comics universe. Introduced as the non-superpowered crime fighter The Cat in Claws of the Cat #1 , she was co-created by writer-editor Roy Thomas, writer Linda Fite, and penciller Marie Severin...
says she'd have left Camp Hammond to begin training him, as he was eager to take back the position which had been assumed by his Skrull replacement. Razorback doesn't take part to the clash against the Thor cyborg called Ragnarok
Ragnarok (comics)
Ragnarok is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in Civil War #3 , and was created by Mark Millar and Steve Mcniven.-Fictional character biography:...
, with Thor Girl
Thor Girl
Thor Girl is a superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Dan Jurgens and artist John Romita, Jr., she first appeared in Thor vol...
the only replaced heroine to face the powerful clone.
Powers and abilities
Given his great size (6' 8", 410 lbs) and muscular build, Razorback possesses considerable (but not superhuman) strength and endurance. He is an excellent hand-to-hand combatant with street-fighting techniques, and wears a wild-boar cowl headpiece with mane that can be electrified by activating a device on his gloves. This electrical discharge proved strong enough to incapacitate Spider-Man.Razorback had the mutant
Mutant (Marvel Comics)
In comic books published by Marvel Comics, a mutant is an organism who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows the mutant to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
ability to intuitively pilot, drive or operate virtually any vehicle or mode of transportation, even if he doesn't know how the vehicle operates. Thus he could fly the experimental "Star Blazer" spacecraft (renamed "Big Pig III") despite having never seen it before.
Razorback is a skilled mechanic and self-taught engineer who built two cab-over tractor-trailer trucks with sophisticated defensive systems, enhanced engines and self-drive capabilities (Big Pig I and Big Pig II).
Novels
Razorback made a number of appearances in the series of Marvel Comics novels published by Byron PreissByron Preiss
Byron Preiss was an American writer, editor, and publisher. He founded and served as president of Byron Preiss Visual Publications, and later of iBooks.-Early life and career:...
in the 1990s. The novels shared a common continuity and he was a recurring supporting character in the Spider-Man novels, as well as Generation X
Generation X (comics)
Generation X is a fictional comic book superhero team, a spin-off of the X-Men franchise published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Scott Lobdell and artist Chris Bachalo, the team formed during the 1994 "Phalanx Covenant" storyline, and appeared in their own monthly series in September 1994...
: Crossroads by J. Steven York
J. Steven York
J. Steven York is an American science fiction and fantasy writer.York was born in rural southeast Alabama and from childhood showed a strong interest in science fiction, fantasy and space exploration...
. This novel ends with Razorback, who has won acclaim by saving the life of the President, wondering if he should risk his reputation by publicly revealing his mutant nature.
An alternate universe
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
version of Razorback appears in the novel Spider-Man/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...
: Time's Arrow, The Present by Tom DeFalco
Tom DeFalco
Tom DeFalco is an American comics writer and editor, well known for his association with Marvel Comics and in particular for his work with Spider-Man.-Career:...
and Adam-Troy Castro
Adam-Troy Castro
Adam-Troy Castro is a science fiction, fantasy, and horror writer living in Miami, FL. He has more than eighty stories to his credit and has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Hugo, Nebula, and Stoker. These stories include four Spider-Man novels, including the Sinister Six trilogy,...
, in a world where the X-Men were dictators who controlled all superheroes. He joined the resistance movement after the X-Men took Big Pig to pieces.
Although more likeable than most of the team (which largely comprises villains), he is very bitter about the "death" of Big Pig. At one point Spider-Man thinks "I don't believe it. This Razorback is grim and gritty."
Bibliography
- Avengers: The Initiative #20
- Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 1 #12–15, 19
- Sensational She-Hulk #6–7
- She-Hulk Vol. 2 #3