Zzzax

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Zzzax is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #166 (August 1973), and was created by Steve Englehart and Herb Trimpe.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

In-universe, Zzzax was created by accident during a terrorist act. Zzzax is a being of pure electricity who can absorb and discharge powerful currents of electricity. Its size and strength depend on the amount of electricity absorbed. It can also absorb human brain energy, temporarily taking on the personality of the victim.

Fictional character biography

Debuting in the title The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2), Zzzax is created when a group of terrorists attempts to sabotage the Consolidated Edison nuclear power plant in New York City. An explosion from their stray gunfire starts a chain reaction in the reactor, creating a psionically charged electromagnetic field. As the field grows, it incinerates those that stand in its path and absorbs the electric energy from their brains, granting it humanoid form and sentience. Calling itself Zzzax after the crackling noises emitted by its movement, it goes on a destructive murder spree to further increase its intelligence. The entity fights the Hulk and Hawkeye before being defeated.<ref>The Incredible Hulk #166 (August 1973)</ref>

The character returns and attacks a research center in Chicago. The Hulk battles the entity to a standstill before several scientists shut down the process that recreates Zzzax.<ref>The Incredible Hulk #183 (January 1975)</ref> Zzzax reappears in Luke Cage, Power Man, and hunts down the men responsible for its last defeat. Power Man defeats the entity, but not before it kills one of the scientists.<ref>Luke Cage, Power Man #47 (October 1977)</ref> Zzzax returns to confront an intelligent version of the monster possessing the mind of Bruce Banner, but is quickly defeated.<ref name=":0">The Incredible Hulk #285 (July 1983)</ref> Mephisto later reforms the entity in the miniseries Secret Wars II, although the Thing defeats it.<ref>Secret Wars II #7 (January 1986)</ref> In the title West Coast Avengers, Zzzax teams with fundamental force villains Graviton, Quantum, and Halflife, but is again short-circuited by Hawkeye.<ref name=":1">West Coast Avengers (vol. 2) #12 (September 1986)</ref>

S.H.I.E.L.D. later captured Zzzax and transported it to Gamma Base. Thunderbolt Ross arranges for his mind to be transferred into Zzzax's body and battles a new version of the Hulk, whose alter-ego is Rick Jones.<ref>The Incredible Hulk #325-327 (November 1985-February 1986)</ref> Ross relinquishes control of the entity soon after saving his daughter Betty, realizing that his actions had risked lives.<ref>The Incredible Hulk #330 (May 1986)</ref> Zzzax battles Iron Man in the title Marvel Comics Presents<ref>Marvel Comics Presents #8 (April 1989)</ref> and Cable in the hero's self-titled series.<ref>Cable #59 (October 1998)</ref>

Zzzax reappears in the title New Avengers and participates in the mass escape by supervillains from the Raft.<ref>New Avengers #1-3 (January-March 2006)</ref> The title Sensational She-Hulk reveals the character has been contained by S.H.I.E.L.D. After briefly escaping and turning the defense systems of the Helicarrier against its agents, it is recaptured by She-Hulk.<ref>She-Hulk (vol. 2) #17 (April 2007)</ref>

The Mighty Avengers later apprehend Zzzax when it attacks New Delhi.<ref>The Mighty Avengers #32 (February 2010)</ref> Zzzax later appears in the services of MODOK Superior.<ref>Hulk (vol. 2) #36 (September 2011)</ref><ref>Hulk (vol. 2) #39 (October 2011)</ref>

Powers and abilities

As a being of pure electricity, Zzzax is able to absorb and generate electrical fields, as well as manipulate nearby equipment. It can grow its own intelligence by draining the energy from human brainwaves, thus becoming dependent upon them. While incinerating the victim, it would temporarily take on his or her personality traits. This extends control to their nervous systems via electric currents. Only its foe, the Hulk has proven unaffected by this ability.<ref name=":0" /> Zzzax's size and strength increases in direct quality for the electricity it needs to feed. It is also capable of hovering. At the point whereby water - a primary weakness - could short-circuit or evaporate Zzzax before touching it.<ref name=":1" />

In other media

Television

• Zzzax appears in The Incredible Hulk episode "Raw Power", simultaneously voiced by Michael Bell, Leeza McGee, and Kevin Schon.<ref name="btva">{{#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> This version was originally Mitch McCutcheon, a nuclear power plant worker who attempts to aid Bruce Banner in curing himself of the Hulk before being accidentally and temporarily turned into Zzzax after they are interrupted by security guards. Driven insane by the transformation, McCutcheon attempts to siphon energy to maintain his new form until being cured following a fight with the Hulk.

• Zzzax appears in The Super Hero Squad Show, voiced by Jonathan Mankuta.Template:Citation needed This version is a member of Doctor Doom's Lethal Legion.
• Zzzax appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes.<ref name="btva" />
• Zzzax appears in Ultimate Spider-Man, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.<ref name="btva" /> This version possesses the additional ability to increase in size by absorbing energy, though this has a limit that will harm it if exceeded.
• Zzzax appears in the Avengers Assemble episode "All-Father's Day".<ref name="btva" />

Film

Zzzax appears in Heroes United: Iron Man & Hulk, voiced by Dee Bradley Baker.<ref name="btva" /> This version was created by HYDRA scientists Dr. Cruler and Dr. Fump.

Video games

Zzzax appears in Marvel Avengers Alliance.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

External links

• Zzzax at Marvel.com