Blockbuster (Marauder)

Superherobox|

caption=Blockbuster by Luke Ross
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Blockbuster
real_name=Michael Baer
species=Human Mutant
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Uncanny X-Men" #210 (Oct 1986)
creators=Chris Claremont
Michael Golden
alliance_color=background:#cccccc
alliances=Marauders
aliases=
powers=Superhuman size, strength, stamina, sturdiness|

Blockbuster (Michael Baer) is a fictional mutant character in the Marvel Comics Universe created by Chris Claremont and Michael Golden. His first appearance was in "Uncanny X-Men" #210.

Publication history

Blockbuster first appeared in "Uncanny X-Men" #210 (October 1986), and was created by Chris Claremont and Michael Golden.

The character subsequently appears in "X-Factor" #10 (November 1986), "Thor" #373-374 (November-December 1986), "The Uncanny X-Men" #240 (January 1989), #243 (April 1989), "X-Man" #13 (March 1996), "X-Men" #200-203 (August-November 2007), and "X-Men: Messiah Complex" #1 (December 2007).

Blockbuster appeared as part of the "Marauders" entry in the "Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition" #18.

Fictional character biography

Blockbuster is a member of the Marauders, a team of superhuman assassins brought together by the mutant thief Gambit when he was in the employ of the enigmatic Mister Sinister. On Sinister's orders, the Marauders massacre the underground community of mutants known as the Morlocks. In the course of the massacre, the Marauders, including Blockbuster, clash with various superhuman champions, including the mutant adventurers known as the X-Men.

The Norse god Thor, summoned to the Morlock tunnels by his ally, the frog Puddleglup, happens upon Blockbuster following his torture of the mutant Archangel. Thor kills Blockbuster to avenge the innocent Morlocks he has slain. Thor then burns his remains, along with those of the slaughtered Morlocks.

Sinister uses his technology to clone the Marauders. Blockbuster and other previously-slain Marauders return during the demonic invasion of Manhattan referred to as the Inferno. Blockbuster is among the Marauders set by Sinister to defend his orphanage/laboratory headquarters. Blockbuster is slain by the mutant Havok, who had, along with most of the X-Men, been tainted by the demonic invasion, becoming more bestial and aggressive.

Though the X-Men discovered and deactivated many of Sinister's Clone Vaults after the events of the crossover saga X-Cutioner's Song, Blockbuster returned with the other original Marauders ["X-Men" vol. 2 #200] , when they attacked the X-Mansion.

and Death

Blockbuster's body is seen later being "eaten" by Predator X after he and the rest of the Marauders arrive at an Alaskan town. The Marauder's goal had been to find a mutant baby, a current rarity; they had also encountered the Purifiers, another group searching for the child.

It is unknown if Sinister's cloning samples survived after M-Day, and whether he will be cloned again [X-Men: Messiah Complex" #1] .

Powers and abilities

Blockbuster has an enormous physical mass, which grants him superhuman size, strength, stamina, and sturdiness. He is shown to be powerful enough to withstand direct blows from Thor, at least for a while, until Thor eventually killed him .

Other media

Blockbuster appeared in the "X-Men" episode "Sanctuary." He is among the mutants that move in to Asteroid M.

Blockbuster also appears in "Wolverine and the X-Men", where he is one of the Marauders.

References