Swarm (comics)

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caption = Swarm
comic_color = background:#ff8080
character_name = Swarm
real_name = Fritz von Meyer
species =
publisher = Marvel Comics
debut = "Champions" #14 (Jul 1977)
creators = Bill Mantlo and John Byrne
alliance_color = background:#c0c0ff
alliances = Exterminators [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix4/exterminatorschamln.htm Exterminators (Spider-Man foes) ] ]
aliases =
powers = Capable of mentally manipulating the bees that compose his body|

Swarm (Fritz von Meyer) is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe. A former Nazi sympathizer, his most notable feature is that his entire body is composed of bees.

Fictional character biography

Fritz von Meyer is born in Leipzig, Germany, and becomes one of Hitler's top scientists. Escaping capture after World War II he becomes a beekeeper in South America, who discovers a colony of mutated bees. Intrigued by their intelligence and passive nature, von Meyer attempted to enslave the queen bee, but failed and the bees devoured him, leaving only his skeleton. The unique qualities of the bees causes his consciousness to be absorbed into them, allowing von Meyer to manipulate the hive to do his will, although some of his skeletal remains are inside the swarm itself.

Calling himself Swarm, the reborn scientist battles the The Champions of Los Angeles ["Champiions" #14 and 15, 1977] .

After that defeat, Swarm resurfaces to battle Spider-Man ["Spectacular Spider-Man" #36 and 37] , in the first of many fights against him. He loses his skeleton in this battle, but returns to fight Spider-Man (no longer having the skeleton but still von Meyer in thought) ["Lethal Foes of Spider-Man" #3-4] , but feedback from a weapon fired by the Rhino causes von Meyer's bee body to disperse temporarily.

Swarm next appears when a supercollider from Rand Industries is activated and calls his attention ["Secret Defenders" #18 and 19] . Von Meyer decides mankind should be exterminated so insects can rule the world. Dr. Druid convinces Swarm that mankind will exterminate themselves and the age of insects can begin.

Swarm tires of waiting and causes New York to get invaded with bees, but Spider-Man finds a way to disrupt Swarm's mental control over the bees.

Swarm (now back with an internal skeleton) feels that the fall of the criminal organization the Pride allows access to their former territory, specifically Los Angeles. However, he is defeated by the Runaways, protectors of the city. His control is disrupted by electrical blasts.

He regains control over his colony and joins the Chameleon's Exterminators to kill Spider-Man, now that Peter Parker hadd revealed his true identity. Swarm attacks Mary Jane Watson, who sprays Swarm with water while co-workers smash von Meyer's Swarm's skeleton, but reforms as bodyguards from Tony Stark take him away.

When Alyosha Kravinoff, the son of Kraven the Hunter, begins collecting a zoo of animal themed superhumans, Swarm is in one of the cages [The Punisher War Journal Vol.2 #15] . He fights Gargoyle as Punisher passes them and escapes.

Swarm next turns up in Denver, Colorado, having amassed enough bees to become giant-sized. The Thunderbolts face him until Norman Osborne dispatches Venom, whose symbiote devours Swarm's bones, by now a minor inconvenience."Thunderbolts" #122]

Powers and abilities

Swarm is a composite being of hundreds of thousands of bees driven by a human intelligence. He is technically intangible, as his body is merely an aggregate of tiny forms. He can fly through the air and assume any shape and size he desires. Fritz can mentally influence the actions of other bees, the full range of which may extend over hundreds of yards in radius. At first, Swarm seemed capable of only controlling other bees, but he has exhibited the ability to communicate/control other insects as well.

Fritz von Meyer's skeleton, the focal point of his consciousness, remained behind as his only remains until they were devoured by Venom.

Other versions

Ultimate Swarm

In "The Ultimates" Vol. 2, Ultimate Swarm was introduced. She is a Syrian mutant with the power to control insects. She is fully corporeal, but has grey skin and horns, making her resemble sorceress Margali Szardos. She is a member of the Liberators who invade the United States, killing many, in order to put a stop to perceived American aggression. Like most of her teammates, she was killed; a giant-sized Wasp steps on her in "The Ultimates", volume 2, #12.

Marvel Fairy Tales

In the second issue of the Spider-Man line of "Marvel Fairy Tales" (an adaptation of the legend of Anansi) an alternate version Swarm appears as the stories' main villain, the Bee Spirit. [ Cite comic
Writer = C. B. Cebulski
Penciller = Niko Hendrichon
Inker = Niko Hendrichon
Story = Once Upon A Time...
Title = Marvel Fairy Tales
Volume = 1
Issue = 2
Date = August, 2007
Publisher = Marvel Comics ]

Marvel Adventures

Swarm recently appeared and fought Spiderman in Marvel Adventures #38. He/they supposedly wanted to take over the world (or at least kill a few jocks - Flash Thompson included) but it looked like he/they just wanted some ice cream.

In other media

Television

In an episode (entitled "Swarm") of the 1980s cartoon, "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends", The Swarm (voiced by Al Fann) was created when alien energy from a fallen meteorite irradiated a nearby beehive, giving it sentience and the ability to use eye blasts to increase the size of bees and their hive or mutate people into bee drone hybrids. The Swarm was defeated when Spider-Man (who was immune to the mutation due to his radioactive blood), Firestar, and Iceman launched the meteorite back into space. Distancing the bees and hybrids from the meteor's radiation reversed all of The Swarm's effects.

Toys

An action figure of Swarm was released in 1997 as part of the Spider-Man: Spider Force toy line. It was molded in a translucent yellow plastic, and featured a removable cape and hood, and snap-on bee armor. This armor could also be assembled to create a "giant" bee accessory.

References

External links

* [http://marvel.com/universe/Swarm Swarm on the Marvel Universe Character Bio Wiki]