History
Willie Dance, alias X the Marvel, was a championship wrestler. He fought the best wrestlers, such as Mole, Monocle, and Weasel, but a blood clot in his brain made him dull and obliged him to abandon the professional career. Bernie Steinsinger, his manager and probably his only friend, took care of him.
Months after his retirement, he was training in a wrestling school, and involuntarily broke down the wall between the wrestling-school and Luke Cage's office. Angered by his own problems, Luke started a fight with Willie. He attacked him with an "ape move," but Luke was beating him when they were interrupted by Bernie, who promised to pay for the damages.
Later, Willie, angered by the laughs of his colleagues about him, decided to do a "return" as X the Marvel; he bickered with Bernie and sent him away. In his wardrobe Willie found a cylinder that was hidden there by criminal Bruno Murphy while he was running away from the police. The cylinder contained the Super-Soldier Serum, synthesized by Dr. Klemph and stolen by Murphy. Neither Bruno nor Willie knew what was in container. Willie, thinking it was an energy drink, drank the serum. All the fat disappeared from his body and muscles grew, though his mind remained as slow as ever. Adopting the name X the Marvel, he set out to gain revenge on Luke Cage.
However, during their fight Bernie tried to intervene and was injured by flying shrapnel from the fight. Realizing that his best friend had been injured, Willie surrendered and turned himself over to the police. Everyone was shocked when Willie suddenly changed back to his normal physique, the chemicals having worn off.[1]
Under unknown circumstances, X the Marvel escaped from the prison and regained his powers. He teamed up with Chemistro, Gideon Mace, Black Mariah, and Mr. Fish to kill Luke Cage when the heroes of New York City began to disappear. A short battle broke out until Luke managed to escape on the back of a moving truck.[2]Attributes
Powers
- Super-Soldier Serum: Willie gained powers after consuming a variant of the super-soldier serum.
- Superhuman Strength: Following the use of the Super-Soldier Serum, Willie's physical strength was increased to superhuman levels.
- Superhuman Speed: Willie could run and move at speeds that are beyond the physical limits of the finest human athlete.
- Superhuman Stamina: Willie's musculature produced less fatigue toxins during physical activity than the musculature of any normal human. He can exert himself at peak capacity for about 24 hours before the build up of fatigue toxins in his blood begins to impair him.
- Superhuman Durability: The tissues of Willie's body was harder and more resistant to physical injury than those of a normal human. He could withstand falls from great heights, powerful impact forces, and high caliber bullets without sustaining physical injury.
- Superhuman Agility: Willie's agility, balance, and bodily coordination were enhanced to levels that are beyond the natural physical limits of the finest human athlete.
- Superhuman Reflexes: Willie's reflexes were similarly enhanced and are superior to those of the finest human athlete.
- Superhuman Hearing: Willie's hearing had been enhanced to levels beyond the capacity of a normal human. He can hear sounds at much greater distances than a normal human.
Weaknesses
- The serum was unstable and wore off overtime.