Griffin (Marvel Comics)

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caption=
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Griffin
real_name=Johnny Horton
species=
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Amazing Adventures" vol. 1 #15 (Nov 1972)
creators=Steve Englehart
Tom Sutton
alliance_color=background:#c0c0ff
alliances=Secret Empire
Hood's army
partners=Headlok
aliases=
powers=Superhuman strength, speed, agility, reflexes, resiliency, endurance
Flight
Telepathic ability to command birds|

Griffin (Johnny Horton) is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain. He first appeared in "Amazing Adventures" vol. 1 #15 (Nov 1972) and was created by Steve Englehart and Tom Sutton.

Fictional character biography

John "Johnny" Horton was born in Tacoma, Washington. He later became a punk in the New Orleans gangs trying to make a name for himself until a Chicago man used him for some local muscle. Impressing his employer, Horton wanted to be more than a cheap hood resulting in the Chicago man bringing him to the Secret Empire to be made into a supervillain. Horton didn't know what the Secret Empire does. An unnamed scientist/surgeon that works there followed the Empire's orders by surgically adding wings, a mane, and lion-like paws to his body as well as an experimental mutagenic serum. Empire's #1, #3, and #6 were present at this surgery. When Horton recovered, his face had become white and he's now a freak. Thus, he became the professional criminal known as the Griffin.

His first mission was to kill the Beast as part of the Secret Empire's campaign against the Brand Corporation. Griffin encountered Beast in his new furry mutation. During the struggle, Griffin was thrown off the building and Angel only to be attacked by Griffin and rescued by Beast. He later met with Linda Donaldson (Number Nine of Secret Empire) at her office in the Brand Corporation to discuss the case with Beast and his frustration of being turned into a monster.

His next mission was to kill Angel. In his battle with Angel, Beast wrapped his long arms around Griffin's wings causing them to crash into the ground. Griffin was taken away by the Brand Corporation guards (whom are presumed to be working for Robert Baxter). ["Amazing Adventures" #15]

While in jail, he began to mutate with the serum used on him where his mind went first and ended up developing fanged teeth, a powerful tail, and superhuman strength. He faked being sick and escaped. When he located and confronted the unnamed scientist that changed him, the scientist was thrown to his death when he was unable to tell Griffin where the members of Secret Empire are. The scientist was saved by Spider-Man and Beast and told them Griffin's origin before dying. With his telepathic ability to control birds, Griffin revealed himself and attacked Spider-Man and Beast until he was defeated on the Brooklyn Bridge. ["Marvel Team-Up" #38]

He later fought Ghost Rider, Angel, and the Champions alongside Darkstar, Rampage, Titanium Man, and the Crimson Dynamo in Los Angeles. They defeated the Champions and imprisoned them in a cell within the San Andreas Fault until Darkstar released them and Griffin was defeated again. ["Champions" #7-10] To push his powers to their limits, he attacked Spider-Man with a flock of seagulls and fled to attack Avengers Mansion only to find Wonder Man there. During battle, Griffin later mutated with a leonine face and lost the power of speech. Griffin was presumed to have perished in the Astro-Fighter ship fire. ["Marvel Team-Up" #78]

When he was residing in the Adirondack Mountains, he fell under the control of Headlok who used him to attack the West Coast Avengers. He was calmed by Tigra and defeated and sent to the Vault. ["West Coast Avengers" Vol. 2 #10]

During Iron Man's "Armor Wars," Griffin escaped with Mister Hyde, Titania, Armadillo, and Vibro. He was defeated and was re-imprisoned by Falcon and Demolition-Man. ["Captain America" #340] Griffin was seen in the Vault's Cell Block Five during Acts of Vengeance.

The Griffin joined Bullet and Orka in a breakout where he was stunned by Captain America's shield throw and Henry Pym's force blaster, and was apprehended again. ["Death Tr
] He later participated in a mass escape from the Vault. ["Avengers Spotlight" #26]

Later, his mind was reduced to an instinctual animal level. He pursued and fought Namor the Sub-Mariner where Namor had the advantage and defeated Griffin. Griffin ended up in Namor's custody as his steed. ["Namor the Sub-Mariner" #2-3] Namor used the Griffin to get to the Savage Land only to be ambushed by Super-Skrull disguised as Iron Fist. ["Namor the Sub-Mariner" #15] The Griffin helped Shanna free Namor and Namorita from Ward Meachum and the Super-Skrull. ["Namor the Sub-Mariner" #17-18]

Griffin is briefly seen in the 'Superhuman Rehabilitation Unit', a facility controlled by the "Commission on Superhuman Activities". ["Iron Man" vol. 4 #14] It is part of a deep 'hole' of cells. The front of each cell faces the others.

When Griffin was on Ryker's Island's prison, he was restored to a more humanoid state (presumably his intellect was restored). He was also among the inmates assembled by Electro during the impending breakout which is thwarted by the New Avengers.

Post-Civil War

Griffin has been hired by the Hood to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act. [New Avengers #35] He helped them fight the New Avengers but was taken down by Doctor Strange.

Griffin's daughter, Yo Yo Rodrigez, is recruited by Nick Fury to join his anti-Skrull task force. [Mighty Avengers #13]

Griffin is seen as part of the anti-Skrull resistance force, as Hood allies his group with the still-free heroes. ["Secret Invasion" #6]

Powers and abilities

As a result of bionic surgery and injection of an experimental mutagenic serum, the Griffin has superhuman strength, speed, agility, durability with enhanced human reflexes/reactions. The Griffin has a chalk-white face resembling a lion's, hair resembling a lion's mane, pronounced canine teeth, sharp 1" claws on his fingers and toes, a scaled dinosaur-like hide, a 4' spiked prehensile tail, and wings with a wingspan of 18' from wingtip to wingtip. His wings enable him to fly at 150-160 mph; the weight he can carry in flight is uncertain, but the greater the weight, the slower the maximum speed he can reach. His claws and teeth can be used to rend flesh, wood, and possibly even soft metals. In his humanoid form he has the telepathic ability to command birds.

At least in the past, the Griffin's physiology is such that he mutates into a more powerful form whenever his present abilities are pushed to the limit. Increases in power are typically accompanied by a more bestial form, with a corresponding decrease in intelligence. These changes tend to remain long-term. He has been seen in the form of a humanoid lion, as well as in a quadruped form closely resembling a winged lion. In both of these latter forms he had the intelligence of an animal, and was unable to access his telepathic powers.

His costume is composed of synthetic stretch fabric and leather.

References

External links

* [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/griffinhorton.htm Griffin on Marvel Universe appendix]