Bombshell (Marvel Comics)

Bombshell (Wendy Conrad) is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Bombshell first appeared in Hawkeye Vol. 1 #3 and was created by Mark Gruenwald.

Publication history

Bombshell appeared in Hawkeye #3-4 (1983), Captain America #388-392 (1991), Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #12 (1992), Web of Spider-Man Annual #8 (1992) and New Warriors Annual #2 (1992).

As a member of the Death-Throws, Bombshell appeared in Captain America #317 (1986), Avengers Spotlight #23-25 (1989), Captain America #411-414 (1993) and Union Jack Vol.2 #2 (2006). She also appeared as part of the Death-Throws entries in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #3 (1985) and Dark Reign Files #1 (2009).

Fictional character biography

Original Bombshell

Wendy Conrad was born in Scarsdale, New York. She used her juggling talents and explosives expertise to become the supervillain Bombshell. Bombshell, along with juggler Oddball, was hired by Crossfire to eliminate Hawkeye and Mockingbird. The two juggling supervillains were able to subdue the two heroes and deliver them to Crossfire. However, Hawkeye later managed to escape and defeat all three villains.^[1]

Bombshell and Oddball, together with Knickknack, Ringleader and Tenpin, formed the juggling-themed Death-Throws supervillain group. The group were hired by Crossfire to help him escape from prison. When Crossfire was unable to pay them, the Death-Throws held the villain hostage. They were defeated by Hawkeye, Mockingbird and Captain America.^[2] Later, the Death-Throws attempted to claim the bounty placed on Hawkeye's right arm but were defeated by Hawkeye, Mockingbird and Trick Shot.^[3]

Bombshell underwent a genetic experiment to gain superpowers. She gained the ability to fire explosive energy blasts from her hands. Bombshell then joined an all female team of supervillains called the Femizons. The female team, led by Superia, sought to sterilize all men so women would rule the world. The team was defeated by Captain America. Bombshell's experimental new powers soon faded.^[4]

Justin Hammer hired a number of supervillains (including Bombshell) to battle Spider-Man and the New Warriors.^[5] Hammer and the supervillains allied themselves with the Sphinx.^[6] When Sphinx revealed his true intentions of world domination, Bombshell panicked and fled from the scene.^[7]

The Death-Throws are hired by R.A.I.D to take part in a terrorist attack on London. They attack civilians from the top of Tower Bridge, but soon come into battle with Union Jack and Sabra. Bombshell, the last member of the team left standing, defuses her bombs and surrenders.^[8] Union Jack uses one of Bombshell's bombs (which he had earlier confiscated) to take down a giant Dreadnought.^[9]

Replaced by Lana Baumgartner and post-incursion

As a consequence of the reality-ending phenomena known as incursions, Lana's entire universe came to an end. One of the few survivors of the universe was Lana's friend Miles Morales. When he found himself in a world composed of the remnants of destroyed realities called Battleworld, he helped the omnipotent being that was keeping it together, the Molecule Man.^[10]

As a repayment to Miles' help, when the Molecule Man's native universe, Earth-616, was brought back from its own destruction by Mister Fantastic, the Molecule Man transported Miles, his family and his friends into it, doing so in such a way it was as if they had always lived their entire life there. Lana, alongside her mother, was one of these people brought to Earth-616, while the original Bombshell vanished.^[11][12]

Appearance

In her early appearances (Hawkeye Vol.1 #3-4, Captain America #317, Avengers Spotlight #23-25), Bombshell was portrayed as being a woman with a muscular physique. However, in later appearances (Union Jack Vol.2 #2), the character was drawn with a more slender look.

Powers and abilities

Bombshell is a master juggler and an explosives expert. Bombshell uses an array of anti-personnel weapons including hand grenades, stun grenades and smoke bombs. She also has concealed weaponry in her wrist bands that fire stun blasts.

After a genetic experiment to gain superpowers, Bombshell gained the ability to fire explosive energy from her hands. However, these powers soon faded.^[13]

Other versions

The Last Avengers Story

A woman called Bombshell appears in The Last Avengers Story set in an alternate future.^[14]

Ultimate Marvel

The Ultimate Marvel incarnation is actually a mother/daughter criminal team called the "Bombshells" (Lori Baumgartner and Lana Baumgartner). They have the ability to fire explosive energy beams from their hands. The foul-mouthed Bombshells attempted to rob a bank vault but are foiled by Spider-Man.^[15] Later, they attempted to rob an armored truck until the Human Torch and Spider-Woman arrived on the scene and defeated them.^[16] They were originally believed to be mutants whose powers are activated when they are close to one another. But it's later revealed that their powers are the result of experiments Lori volunteered for carried out by the Roxxon Corporation while Lana was in-utero. Lori's pregnancy was not noticed until after the experiments began and the discovery prompted Lori to forcibly terminate her contract as a test subject utilizing her powers. Lana, having been released on juvenile parole and learned to use her powers without her mother present, later teams up with Spider-Woman, Cloak & Dagger and the new Spider-Man to take down Philip R. Roxxon.^[17] After Roxxon is arrested, Lana reports to the police to find out she violated her parole, which she argues should not count since she was working with S.H.I.E.L.D.. She has a moment of clarity and realizes that she is supposed to be a superhero. It is also revealed that Lana was forced into crime by her mother.^[18]

In the final issue of Ultimate End, Lana merged with Earth-616, after the Molecule Man reconstructed the universe, as a "thank you" for Miles.^[19]

References

External links

• Bombshell at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
• http://en.marveldatabase.com/Wendy_Conrad_%28Earth-616%29