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Quote1 You keep sssaying you want to protect me, but I think that's a lie! I know what you're really ssscared of, Dad -- you're afraid I'm gonna be a monssster like you! Quote2
Billy Connors[src]

History

The son of Martha and Dr. Curtis Connors, William "Billy" Connors was born and raised in Florida. When his father was injured in a accident, they moved to New York City so he could carry out research.[4] Curt developed a formula to regrow his arm much to the joy of his family. The process had a side effect it turned him into a monstrous "Lizard." Billy was saved by Spider-Man when the Lizard attacked and tried to eat him.[5]

Williams Connors (Earth-616) from Spectacular Spider-Man Vol 1 239 001

Later, Billy was kidnapped by the Maggia, along with his mother, to compel his father to decipher the Lifeline Tablet's secret code.[6] After being moved into the Galby Building, they both were rescued by Spider-Man.[7] He and his mother were brought to a safe place by Spider-Man, who vowed to find Lizard and change him back to human form.[8] Having heard of the Human Torch's inclusion in the battle, the anguished youth raced through the streets until he found Spider-Man carrying an unconscious Lizard. As soon as the reptilian creature broke free, he threatened the boy until Spider-Man dehydrated him and he became human again, reuniting him with his child and his wife.[1]

Billy was once again kidnapped to exort Curt, this time by the villain Stegron, who left instructions for Connors to follow else he will would Billy. While at the Connors home, Curt talked his wife out of calling the police, and realized that he was turning into the Lizard once more, and fought off the change. However, his will was not strong enough and he became the Lizard again.[9] Spidey went to Doc Connors for help with Stegron only to find he had become the Lizard once more. The Lizard escaped and hunted down Stegron who had reanimated a group of dinosaurs. The two battled while Spidey incapacitated the Lizard with a chemically treated webbing, restoring the Lizard back to his human form. Now cured, Doc Connors reverse the effects of the device, returning the dinosaurs to bone.[10] Some time later, Curt became the Lizard again to rescue Billy and his mom from the Owl.[11]

When New York City fell victim to a demonic invasion orchestrated by the Goblin Queen, the demonic energies unleashed in the city turned Doc Connors into the Lizard again. Billy and Martha tried to find him. At Empire State University, a possessed Officer Murphy led Martha and Billy into a demon trap. Lizard arrived and fought the demons. After stopping the demons, Lizard attacked his family himself but Spider-Man arrived and dosed him with antidote that, due to the demonic nature of this transformation, hadd no effect. He then shockec him with a power cable that turned him back to human. Afraid for their safety, Curt told Martha and Billy they had to leave him.[12]

William Connors (Earth-616) from Sensational Spider-Man Vol 2 23 001

The Lizard resurfaced to face Spider-Man with the aid of a pint-sized "twin" of himself, who was revealed to be none other than his son, Billy. Curt had injected Billy with the Lizard Formula while under the influence of a mysterious meteorite that caused savage behavior in those within range of its radiation. Both the Lizard and "Lizard Junior" were eventually captured and transformed back to humans.[13] Unfortunatlely, Billy and his mom were diagnosed with cancer some time later. They had been exposed to carcinogens while living next to the Monnano Corporation. Martha died, and Billy barely survived. Billy went to live with his aunt, and the stress caused his father to become the Lizard again.[14]

William Connors (Earth-616) from Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 631

Killing Billy

After the Lizard returned and was able to kill and eat Billy, Curt's consciousness was destroyed and a new version of Lizard was created. It possessed Connors' intellect and new powers. Spider-Man tried to defeat him but he failed.[15] A few years later, the Jackal brought both Billy and his mom back to life, in order to convince Curt, whose mind was trapped in the Lizard's body, to work for him.[16] When the degenerative Carrion Virus broke out, Martha and Billy were also infected, which led Connors to try find a way to cure them and eventually injected them with the Lizard Formula and turning them into lizard creatures like himself.[17][18] Since the Jackal's resurrection methos derived from cloning technology, Curt once consulted Doctor Strange about whether or not his son was a copy of the original. Using magic, Strange was able to corroborate that the soul inhabiting Billy's body was indeed that of the original.[19]

The Connors managed to live peaceful lives in the sewers of New York, with Curt using an inhibitor collar to return to work at Empire State University,[20] and they got regular visits for Peter Parker and his girlfriend Mary Jane Watson. However, Billy was unsatisfied and wished to carry out a normal boy's life.[21] Billy eventually disobeyed his father's orders and escaped into the surface, but he was captured by Kraven the Hunter as part of his "Great Hunt," during which he rounded up animal-themed people into a quarantined Central Park for hunting.[22] Connors sought to save Billy, but was also captured and caged along with Spider-Man. While in the cage, they observed through a monitor as the Black Cat protected Billy while both were hunted. Out of desperation, Curt asked Spider-Man to remove the inhibitor chip so he could save his son despite the risk, not knowing that Kraven had planned all of this. Against the odds, Connors successfully saved his son and escaped without killing anyone.[23] Afterward, Curt went into a self-imposed exile until Spider-Man convinced him to return to his family and to teaching, implanting a new inhibitor chip in the process.[24]

Attributes

Powers

Lizard Physiology: While transformed into the Lizard, Connors possesses a variety of superhuman attributes.[25]

  • Superhuman Strength: Connors himself has the normal physical strength of a human male of his age, height, and build that engages in little regular exercise. While transformed, he possesses sufficient superhuman strength to lift about 12 tons. His physical strength has extended into the muscles of his legs allowing him to leap about 18 feet into the air.
  • Superhuman Speed: While transformed, Connors can run and move at speeds greater than that of the finest human athlete and can reach a top speed of about 45 miles per hour.
  • Superhuman Stamina: While transformed, Connors' advanced musculature produces considerably less fatigue toxins during physical activity than the musculature of an ordinary human. He can physically exert himself at peak capacity for about 24 hours before fatigue begins to impair him.
  • Superhuman Durability: While transformed, Connors' scaly skin and superhumanly enhanced bodily tissues provide him much greater resistance to physical injury than an ordinary human. He can withstand great impact forces, falls from great heights, and small caliber bullets without sustaining injury.
  • Superhuman Agility: In his transformed state, Connors' agility, balance, and bodily coordination are enhanced to levels that are beyond the natural physical limits of even the finest human athlete.
  • Superhuman Reflexes: Connors' reflexes are similarly enhanced while transformed and are superior to those of the finest human athlete.
  • Regenerative Healing Factor: Despite the Lizard's physical durability, he can sustaining physical injury. However, if injured, his body is able to rapidly regenerate damaged or destroyed tissue with much greater speed and efficiency than an ordinary human. While transformed, Connors' healing powers are developed to the point where he can fully regenerate missing limbs, just like many known reptile species.
  • Tail: While transformed, Connors has a long, reptilian-like tail that he can use to help balance himself or as an offensive weapon. He is capable of whipping his tail at speeds of at least 70 miles per hour. Considering his strength and physical toughness, he can generate enough force to shatter concrete. Like some geckos, The Lizard can detach his tail and grow a new one.
  • Fangs & Claws: While transformed, Connors' fingers and toes are each tipped with razor sharp claws that, combined with his natural strength, are able to cut most conventional materials including flesh, bone, wood, stone, and some types of metals. His mouth is also filled with rows of razor sharp teeth that he can use as offensive weapons in close combat situations.
  • Wall Crawling: As the Lizard, Connors has the same adhesive properties that a gecko has, which allows him to scale walls. This was demonstrated in his first appearance when fighting Spider-Man.

Trivia

See Also

Links and References

References

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