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Hydro-Man

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Hydro-Man (Morris "Morrie" Bench) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist John Romita Jr., the character first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #212 (January 1981).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Hydro-Man is a recurring antagonist of the superhero Spider-Man.<ref>Template:Cite book[1]</ref>

Once an ordinary crewman, Morris Bench was accidentally knocked overboard while stationed on his ship during a battle between Spider-Man and Namor, and fell into the ocean, where a powerful experimental generator was being tested. This led to his transformation into Hydro-Man who, blaming Spider-Man for what happened to him, turned to a life of crime while seeking revenge against the web-slinger.

The character has appeared in several media adaptations over the years, including animated series and video games. A creature based on "Hydro-Man" appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019).

Publication historyEdit

Template:Expand section The Morris Bench version of Hydro-Man made his first appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #212 (January 1981) and was created by writer Dennis O'Neil and artist John Romita Jr.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Fictional character biographyEdit

Morris "Morrie" Bench gained his superpowers while working as a crewman on the cargo ship the U.S.S. Bulldog, having been knocked overboard accidentally by Spider-Man (right after the hero finished a fight against Namor) while a powerful experimental generator is being tested in the ocean.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The combination of unknown radiation and his immersion in a deep ocean-dwelling bacteria turns him into Hydro-Man.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> When he realized that he had become a man-of-water, he blamed Spider-Man for his accident and started to hunt him (through many showers, sewers and water valves),<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> in order to get revenge on the hero, but was defeated in combat.<ref>The Amazing Spider-Man #212. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Soon after that in the story arc "Eye of the Beholder", he teams up with and briefly becomes merged with the Sandman into a composite mud monster called Mud-Thing. In this form, Hydro-Man and Sandman had limited intelligence and they did not have the ability to use their shape-shifting abilities as well as before. Although it was composed of the two aforementioned villains, it showed no indication of either villain's persona outside of an infatuation with Sadie Frickett, the current love interest of both villains.

Soon after, a theater agent named Travis Rave proposed that Sadie and Mud-Thing be in a show, which Sadie gladly accepted at the prospect of stardom. Unfortunately, when the show proved to be a huge success, Sadie accidentally kissed Travis out of excitement, thereby enraging the jealous Mud-Thing. Mud-Thing ended up going on a rampage and carried Sadie with him to the top a sky-scraper. The creature was eventually defeated with a special gas that dried it out and caused it to crumble apart. Spider-Man managed to save Sadie from her plummet, but she ended up being genuinely upset over the loss of Mud-Thing, knowing that all it had ever done wrong was simply love her. After its defeat by Spider-Man and the police, Sandman and Hydro-Man separated from this form when the police were cleaning up Mud-Thing's remains.<ref>The Amazing Spider-Man #217–218. Marvel Comics.</ref> Months later, Hydro-Man and Sandman managed to separate themselves. Hydro-Man departs through the sewer telling Sandman that he will be going south for a while.<ref>Marvel Two-In-One #86. Marvel Comics</ref>

Hydro-Man joined supervillain teams such as the Sinister Syndicate,<ref>The Amazing Spider-Man #280–281. Marvel Comics.</ref> and the Frightful Four. While working with the Sinister Syndicate, Hydro-Man demonstrates a willingness to put up with just about anything in the name of financial gain. He ignores the constant politicking of the other members and looks past the Beetle's betrayal of the group to the Kingpin in the belief that the group was economically beneficial to him. Hydro Man was a member of Crimson Cowl's Masters of Evil, and battled the Thunderbolts.<ref>Thunderbolts Annual 1997. Marvel Comics.</ref><ref>Thunderbolts #67. Marvel Comics.</ref> After the disintegration of the group, he began to cooperate with the Shocker.<ref>Peter Parker: Spider-Man #51–52. Marvel Comics.</ref> He was hired by Green Goblin to be part of his Sinister Twelve to help kill Spider-Man, but he was defeated again.<ref>Marvel Knights Spider-Man #10–11. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Hydro-Man was recruited by the Wizard to be a member of a new Frightful Four, the Wizard enhancing his powers while also implanting various security protocols that would allow the Wizard to trap Hydro-Man in a liquid-but-conscious state if he did anything that the Wizard disapproved of.<ref>Fantastic Four #514. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Morris was one of the 46 villains to escape the Raft when Sauron was broken out by Electro. Before escaping, he attempts to drown Jessica Drew, Matt Murdock, Foggy Nelson, and Luke Cage.<ref>New Avengers #1–4. Marvel Comics.</ref> After the "Civil War" storyline, he is seen alongside Shocker and Boomerang. This group attempts to rob Baily's Auction House but are interrupted by Spider-Man and then Initiative members War Machine and Komodo. The latter are there to neutralize Spider-Man. The trio escapes, but they are later defeated by the Scarlet Spiders.<ref>Avengers: The Initiative #3. Marvel Comics.</ref>

When a member of Wizard's Frightful Five, Hydro-Man received a costume from Wizard that is made from the same material as the Human Torch's costume. In the Frightful Five's fight with the Fantastic Four, Hydro-Man was frozen in Titan's atmosphere.<ref>Fantastic Four #547–549. Marvel Comics.</ref> Hydro-Man is hired by the Hood to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act.<ref>New Avengers #35. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Hydro-Man appeared in Brand New Day as one of the villains in the Bar with No Name.<ref>The Amazing Spider-Man #553. Marvel Comics.</ref>

During the "Spider-Island" storyline, Hydro-Man battles the Young Allies as Spider-Man shows up to help defeat him.<ref>The Amazing Spider-Man #666. Marvel Comics.</ref>

When Spider-Man, his mind swapped with Doctor Octopus, sends a message to various supervillains to capture "Spider-Man" alive and bring him to "Doctor Octopus" in the Raft, Hydro Man is among the supervillains that receives the message.<ref>The Amazing Spider-Man #699. Marvel Comics.</ref> He is defeated and captured by employees of Horizon Labs.<ref>The Amazing Spider-Man #700. Marvel Comics.</ref>

In a plot to drown New York City in its filth as part of a ransom demand, Hydro-Man absorbed the wastewater from the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant. His plan was thwarted by Spider-Man with the help of Deadpool, where Spider-Man threw Deadpool inside of him with active grenades.<ref>Spider-Man/Deadpool #1. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Hawkeye and a displaced version of Red Wolf from Earth-51920 later encounter Hydro-Man who is working for a group called Oasis Spring Water that has been draining the underground reservoir that's on the property of the Sweet Medicine Indian Reservation. He managed to defeat Hawkeye and Red Wolf.<ref>Occupy Avengers #1. Marvel Comics.</ref> After getting themselves free, Hawkeye and Red Wolf fight Oasis Spring Water again. While Red Wolf fights against the militia, Hawkeye engages Hydro-Man in battle. As the Fireheart family joined the fight, Silas Fireheart used electricity to help Hawkeye defeat Hydro-Man.<ref>Occupy Avengers #2. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Hydro-Man later encounters a scientist named Dr. Rachna Koul who is working on "curing him". When Hercules arrived with Human Torch and Thing, Hydro-Man lashed out at them thinking it was a trap. Dr. Koul then activates a machine that electrocutes Hydro-Man enough for him to retreat. After resurfacing in a pond, Hydro-Man sees someone by the campfire and plans to rob him only to discover that the man was a somehow-revived Wolverine.<ref>Marvel 2-In-One #3. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Hydro-Man ran into Nakia whilst spelunking around an abandoned A.I.M. base in New York City, who enthralled him to her will using the jufeiro herb, leaving Bench to guard over the base to cover her tracks in the event her old colleges managed to follow her. When the rest of the Adored Ones accompanied by Spider-Man did infiltrate the undersea facility where a potential WMD of the wives in waiting's design was kept. Hydro immediately set about his preprogrammed task, but was quickly dispatched by Okoye's quick thinking and useful Wakandan Tech engineering.<ref>Spider-Man: Wakanda Forever #1 (June 2018). Marvel Comics.</ref>

At some point, Hydro-Man was captured and imprisoned in Atlantis, with Namor stealing his hydrokinesis to aid in his latest attack on the surface world.<ref>Invaders #2.</ref> He was later freed by Captain America and Bucky Barnes.<ref>Invaders #10. Marvel Comics.</ref>

At some point with his powers still intact, Hydro-Man joined Speed Demon and Shocker in robbing a bank.<ref>The Amazing Spider-Man, vol 5, #61</ref>

In "Sinister War", Hydro-Man was with Boomerang, Overdrive, Shocker, and Speed Demon when Kindred challenged them, the Sinister Six, the Savage Six, the Sinister Syndicate, and Foreigner's group on who will kill Spider-Man first. It was also noted that Hydro-Man was not a member of the Superior Foes. Hydro-Man assists Boomerang, Shocker, and Speed Demon in fighting Foreigner's group to buy Overdrive time to get Spider-Man away.<ref>Sinister War #2. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Powers and abilitiesEdit

Hydro-Man is able to bodily transform himself into a watery liquid substance.<ref name=":0" /> He can access secure areas and small openings with relative ease. When his bodily mass is dispersed in this form it simply reforms, albeit slowly depending on how far apart the mass was.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> All of Hydro-Man's cells remain fully under his control when he is in his liquid state.

Hydro-Man can also merge with and manipulate larger bodies of water when he is in his liquid form. He can increase his mass and cause tidal waves and tsunamis. He can turn parts of his body to liquid while retaining the rest of his human form, allowing him to slip from a foe's grasp or have projectiles like bullets harmlessly pass through him. Through great mental exertion, Hydro-Man can also turn into steam. Other examples of manipulating his watery form include firing off small streams such as a fire hose, shaping parts of his body into 'solid-water' constructs, and mixing himself with other compounds for different effects.

The Wizard enhanced his powers through the use of sophisticated equipment.<ref>Fantastic Four #514-516</ref> These artificial enhancements granted him increased and more precise control over bodies of water and moisture near him, which he demonstrated by absorbing nearly all the moisture in the Trapster's body.<ref>Fantastic Four #514</ref> His abilities were further augmented through the use of re-purposed super community technologies processed by Damage Control from the corrupt and deranged former CEO of the company, Walter Declun.<ref>Black Panther vol. 5 #11-12</ref> However, Spider-Man teamed up with Iceman and used Iceman's powers to solidify him into ice.Template:Volume needed Hydro-Man claims that he has not aged since he gained his powers.<ref>Peter Parker: Spider-Man #51</ref> Hydro-Man possesses a certain degree of superhuman strength, and has been shown to be an exceptionally skilled fighter, and adept at using his powers for that purpose.

In some incarnations, depending on the writer, Hydro-Man can form his forearms into weapons such as Sandman does, except that Bench's weapons are made of water.Template:Volume needed Bench has extensive experience in street-fighting techniques due to his experience as a criminal before his transformation. Though cunning, he has been consistently depicted by writers as a low tier henchman with little formal education and is often tricked into using his powers in ways that incapacitate him (as explained above). His normal attire consists of a black shirt and blue or green pants, as well as a costume invented by the Wizard.

ReceptionEdit

Critical receptionEdit

IGN ranked Hydro-Man 25th in their "Top 25 Spider-Man Villains" list.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> CBR.com ranked Hydro-Man 4th in their "10 Most Powerful Members of the Sinister Syndicate" list,<ref name=":2a">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 8th in their "25 Most Powerful Marvel Villains To Ever Be Held In The Raft" list,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and 9th in their "25 Deadliest Spider-Man Villains" list.<ref name=":1" /> Casey Lawrence of Sportskeeda ranked Hydro-Man 5th in their "5 Best Comic Book Characters With Water Abilities" list,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and 8th in their "10 Spider-Man Villains Who Would Have Made No Way Home Even Better" list.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Other versionsEdit

Marvel AdventuresEdit

An alternate universe variant of Hydro-Man appears in "Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four" #18 as a member of the Frightful Four.<ref>Marvel Adventures Fantastic Four #18. Marvel Comics.</ref>

Spider-Man: ReignEdit

Hydro-Man appears in Spider-Man: Reign as a member of the Sinner Six.<ref>Spider-Man: Reign #1–4 (December 2006 – March 2007). Marvel Comics.</ref>

In other mediaEdit

TelevisionEdit

|CitationClass=web }}</ref> voiced by Rob Paulsen.<ref name="btva3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref> He was utilized in place of Sandman, who was unavailable for use in the series as he was being considered for inclusion in James Cameron's attempted Spider-Man film at the time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This version is Mary Jane Watson's ex-boyfriend.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After being expelled from school, Bench's parents enlisted him in the Navy to keep him out of trouble. While in the special research unit working as a crewman, he was knocked overboard into the ocean, whereupon his body was covered in a strange chemical that altered his cellular structure, allowing him to control any liquid at will and turn into water. Debuting in his self-titled episode, Hydro-Man kidnaps Watson in an attempt to win her back and fights Spider-Man, viewing him as a rival for her affections. However, Hydro-Man evaporates after unknowingly depriving himself of available water sources. In the two-part episode "The Return of Hydro-Man",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Professor Miles Warren creates a clone of Hydro-Man, who kidnaps a water-based clone of Watson and battles Spider-Man inside Warren's underwater lab until both clones degenerate and evaporate.

FilmEdit

A member of the Elementals inspired by Hydro-Man appears in Spider-Man: Far From Home.<ref name="Elementals">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On his take on the character, director Jon Watts states, "There's so many Spider-Man villains from the rogues gallery that I wanted to dig a little bit deeper than what anyone might be expecting... villains like Hydro-Man and Molten Man, who may not be on the highest list. But that opened up such amazing visual possibilities and poses really dangerous challenges for Spider-Man".<ref name="Nerdist">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Identified as the Water Elemental, it emerges from Venice's canals, where Peter Parker and Mysterio defeat it. It is later revealed that all of the Elementals were illusions created by Mysterio and his fellow ex-Stark Industries employees to obtain Tony Stark's technology and fraudulently establish Mysterio as a superhero. Separately, Flash Thompson refers to a Buzzfeed article about "a sailor named Morris Bench who was exposed to an experimental underwater generator and got hydro powers".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Video gamesEdit

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

  • Hydro-Man appears in Spider-Man (1995).<ref name=":2b">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

MiscellaneousEdit

Hydro-Man appears in The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, voiced again by Bill Fagerbakke.Template:Cn This version is a member of the Sinister Syndicate.

MerchandiseEdit

  • In 2012, Hydro-Man received a bust sculpted and designed by the Kucharek Brothers and released by Bowen Designs.
  • In 2019, Hydro-Man received a figure from Hasbro's Marvel Legends line.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Template:Spider-Man characters Template:Sinister Six Template:Fantastic Four Template:John Romita Jr.

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