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Attributes

Height: Variable

Weight: Variable

Eyes: Variable

Hair: Variable

Features: Head has a smooth molded plastic appearance when not actively mimicking anyone.

Summary

Created By: Stan Lee, Steve Ditko

Real Name: Dmitri Smerdyakov "Kravinoff" (adopted name)

Current Aliases: None

Former Aliases: Many

Dual Identity: Secret

Current Occupation: Imprisoned.

Former Occupation: Man-servant to Kraven The Hunter, Crimelord.

Citizenship: Russia

Legal Status: Unknown

Place of Birth: Russia

Marital Status: Single

Known Relatives: Brother (Kraven The Hunter), Vladimir Kravinoff (nephew, deceased), Alyosha Kravinoff (nephew)

Known Confidants: Sergei Kravinoff, Dr. Ashley Kafka.

Known Allies: Kraven, Vulture.

Major Enemies: Spider-Man, The Police, Alyosha Kravinoff, Sergei Kravinoff and their father.

Usual Bases: New York

Former Bases: Kraven's Home in Russia

Current Groups: None

Former Groups: None

Education: Limited

Powers & Paraphenalia

Strength Level: Normal Human

Powers: None

Abilities: Ability to mimic any human features and body

Equipment: None

Weapons: None

Limitations: Chameleon becomes insane after the events described.

Background

With the ability to mimic anyone's face and voice, sneaky doesn't even begin to describe the Chameleon. Even though Spider-man has fought him numerous times, he has never been able to see through his disguises, until it's too late. The Chameleon's most deadly weapon is his devious mind. Loathing physical confrontations, he usually gets someone else to do his dirty work. Now trying to climb his way to the top spot in the New York criminal underworld, the Chameleon's ruthless cunning and ever-changing epidermis could make his dream a reality.

Smerdyakov impersonated Professor Newton during his first encounter with Spider-Man, while he was trying to steal American nuclear technology for the Soviets. Smerdyakov, hating to dirty his hands with battle, enlisted his old friend, Kraven the Hunter, after Dmitri returned from being deported. The Chameleon adopted the guise of JJJ during the Lobo Brothers/ Kingpin gang war while he bid his time to take over New York's criminal underworld with the help of Hammerhead. He caused Spider-Man to believe he had lost his powers at another time.

Dmitri hired the Femme Fatales (Bloodlust, Whiplash, Mindblast and Knockout) to do away with Spidey. They failed. Meanwhile, the Hunter had taken his life and Chameleon decided to avenge his childhood friend. After many tries, he followed a malicious hint by the Green Goblin (Harry Osborn) and used androids to pose as Peter's parents, to try to explore the "connection" between Peter and Spider-Man.

When his returned parents (who Peter learned to love) were revealed as robots, he went berserk, and hunted the Chameleon. In their final confrontation, Dmitri's repressed memories of childhood beatings flooded his mind. He had been tortured by Sergei and his father, both of whom had treated him as more of a servant than a family member. Dmitri didn't love his "friend" Sergei--he hated him! That and the shock of Spidey's feral rage threw the Chameleon into a catatonic state, from which he just kept repeating the words "I'm nothing"...

Following an escape from Ravencroft, he captured Spider-Man and learned his identity (finally understanding why Spidey had gone berserk). Chameleon tried to convince him that his life as Spider-Man was just a figment of his imagination. Peter didn't buy it, but the Chameleon escaped and saw what he thought was Sergei. (It was actually the first time that Alyosha Kravinoff had met his uncle.) It was then that Alyosha told Dmitri he was a half-brother to Sergei. He went after Mary Jane, and she beat him with a baseball bat. He managed to escape from Spider- Man, after he was found with Mary Jane, but his luck didn't improve. He nearly died, as Alyosha confronted Dmitri with a rifle, saying "The world is only big enough for one Kravinoff." That's when Dimitri finally realized that the Kraven before him was not a hallucination. Too late...

However, Kraven's son turned his rifle aside at the last moment, and Dimitri had a chance to survive: he is seen in a hospital bed in Spectacular #250, with doctors all around him, who presumably saved him. He later resurfaced to try to commit suicide in a last moment of clarity. In a poignant story by Paul Jenkins in Webspinners Tales of Spider-Man #10 and following, the full extent of Chameleon's loneliness and fractured identity is revealed to Spider-Man atop the Brooklyn Bridge, before Dmitri tries to sacrifice himself to the waters.

Unfortunately, Ron Zimmerman brought him back with no explanation, committed to an insane asylum. Let's assume Chameleon's suicide attempt failed and he was recovered from the river by the authorities. The Dmitri persona was buried deep inside, as the insane man believed he is Kraven, the Hunter.

Dmitri seems to have pulled himself together somewhat, as he recently led a band of Spider-Man's enemies to attack his loved ones. Peter had revealed his true identity to the public after the Superhuman Registration Act was passed. While Molten Man, Will o the Wisp, Swarm and Scarecrow attacked Liz Allan and Norman Osborn Jr., Chameleon went after Aunt May. Peter defeated the villains in time to see that Aunt May had tricked the Chameleon and was safe.

Thanks To:

The assistance of the Marvel Chronology Project is gratefully acknowledged.

Character Appearances