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Attributes

Height: 6' (estimated)

Weight: 270 lbs. (estimated)

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Black

Features: Wears a hat & scarf, large bushy moustache, usually has a number of cockroaches crawling all over him

Summary

Created By: Stan Lee, R. Berns, Jack Kirby, Tony Isabella, Alex Saviuk, Keith Williams

Real Name: Wilhelm von Vile

Current Aliases: The Painter

Former Aliases: The Painter of 1000 Perils, The Perilous Painter

Dual Identity: Not generally known

Current Occupation: Unknown

Former Occupation: Artist, former thief, former counterfeiter

Citizenship: Unknown, presumed American

Legal Status: Unknown

Place of Birth: Unknown

Marital Status: Unknown, presumed single

Known Relatives: None

Known Confidants: Cockroaches

Known Allies: Bora, Shock, Cockroaches

Major Enemies: Human Torch (Johnny Storm) and Spider-Man

Usual Bases: Manhattan, New York City

Former Bases: Manhattan, New York City

Current Groups: None

Former Groups: Avant Garde (Bora, Shock); a number of insects; A gang of criminals led by "Scar" Tobin; Cockroach Conspiracy

Education: Unknown, presumed at least high-school graduate, possibly some additional education in art

Powers & Paraphenalia

Strength Level: Normal human level given his age and body type

Powers: The Painter used a paintbrush and a set of paints with which he could create solid forms of things he painted. It is unclear whether the paints and brush worked through advanced science, magic, or a combination of the two

Abilities: The paints enabled him to work at a vastly superhuman speed. He could animate and control his creations. He could even use the paints to mutate or transform others. The majority of his creations and changes faded away when he willed them to, or when he lost interest in them. His abilities appeared to be only limited by his imagination and access to the brush and paints

Equipment: Paintbrush, set of paints

Weapons: Artistic ability, his imagination

Limitations: It is possible that the Painter was not actually human. His actual weaknesses and limitations are uncertain

Background

Upon his release, he attempted a career in counterfeiting, but his lack of attention to detail gave him away again, and he was discovered by the second Human Torch and sent to prison again. He tunneled through a loose section of flooring and came upon an underground cavern. On the wall was a painting showing space travelers who painted their own paths and adventures. When he was trapped by a cave-in, he painted a picture of himself passing through solid rock, and he then did so to escape.

He allied himself with a gang of criminals to gain vengeance on the Human Torch. Why he did this was uncertain, unless he just wanted witnesses to his successes. He toyed with the Human Torch, easily defeating him with giant fire hydrants, tidal waves of sand, etc. However, his lack of attention to detail in his creations gave him away as von Vile, and the Torch managed to locate his headquarters and overhear his plans. He then painted a duplicate of himself to fall victim to the Painter's plans and then ambushed the Painter and destroyed his palate and brush, leaving him powerless. He was again sent to prison.

The Painter reappeared years later, covered with bugs with whom he communicated, and possessed of an artisitc motivation. He met with and merged his soul with the mutant known as Bora and the performance artist known as Spark. He empowered Spark and sent him to battle Spider-Man, who defeated him. Next he had Bora use her powers, which he amplified, to create a magical blizzard over Manhattan. He had Bora and Spark attack the Human Torch and Spider-Man, and used his brush to rejuvenate them immediately after they were defeated. However, apparently growing bored with the senseless battle, he transformed Bora and Spark into two-dimensional lifeless images on his canvas. He then said, "To Quote the Macabre King: 'When all else fails, go for the gross out.' ", and exploded into a shower of bugs, as outlined in the Art Attack storyline. The remnants of his skin were found to be made of canvas. His true origins and fate remain uncertain.

Was he powered by science or magic? Was he even human? How much of his origin is true? Couldn't tell you. The painter is part of the as yet untold saga of the "Cockroach Conspiracy."

Thanks To:

The assistance of the Marvel Chronology Project is gratefully acknowledged.

This profile was completed with information used with permission from the Appendix of Marvel Universe website, mantained by Jeff Christiansen (Snood). If you want to find out about that odd-ball character you've only seen once, or even about that character you haven't ever seen, that's the site you're looking for. An impressive amount of obscure characters await you there!

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