Turn a really lame villan into a serious character

[Danalys]

A while ago (I think a couple years or more) Frank Tieri was talking about how he wanted to make Batroc the Leaper a badass. He said that he's an expert kick boxer and I guess he can jump really high so he has potential to kick ass.

I would actually love to read that.

he was treated as more of a threat in a recent captain america issue.


as for the topic frogman. he's a legacy supervillian so someone else can take up the mantel. add in poison skin, super fast tongue, high grip hands and you could get some one some what dangerous. but then you're treading on the toes of toad and one of the mutates.

 

[fifthfiend]

Anyway I think Trapster, should do what Calculator did and switch gimmicks, ditch the glue gun and just use traps. If Calculator can switch gimmicks, I don't see why Trapster can't and I don't tell arcade already use traps, because Trapster wouldn't be a Joker rip off. also trapster should stop fighting the FF, a team that can beat Doom and Galactus ain't going to get beat by a loser with a glue gun.

I think Doctor Doom should switch gimmicks to creating extremely elaborate cakes. And then he sends them to people, and then they eat them, and then he pops in out of nowhere and says "You're all DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED... to delicious flavor!"

 

[The Question]

I still think you should expand upon The Trapster's glue gimmick. Make him a general chemical weapons expert. It's more of a natural extension of what's already there.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

That's such an unnecessary departure from the character...

In his appearance in DareDevil precluding 'Born Again', the Vulture was robbing bodies from graves.

 

[ShadowBoxing]

I always imagined Man Mountain Marko could become some sort of minor mafia figure, especially with his boss Silvermane out of comission, Hammerhead dead now and Kingpin out of circulation. He's no match for superheroes like Spider-Man or She-Hulk but could easily challenge Daredevil or Moon Knight on the "local vigilante" level. Back when I did some fan-fic outlines years ago, I condensed his name to "Triple M", WWE style. That name is a mouthful, and "street" guys always have sometimes hammy nicknames. I don't imagine he would be any smarter, though, but you don't have to be a super-genius to run some mob circles and exploit a power vaccuum.

...Thoughts you should never share with people.

 

[November Rain]

scorpion should be the world's greatest private eye uncovering dirt for whoever wants it and pays the most cash

stealing secrets for the americans, from the americans, he should have knowledge of teh super soldier serum, he should have immunity from jail based on the amount of dirt he has on everything and everyone.

he definitely should know parker is spiderman and threaten him with it.

scorpion should be the ultimate 'knowledge is power' individual in the marvel universe.

He should keep his ears to the street and be the go between for any real problem going down.

he should also have an undefeated record against spidey, one of only two assailants spidey has never beaten.

 

[The Overlord]

I still think you should expand upon The Trapster's glue gimmick. Make him a general chemical weapons expert. It's more of a natural extension of what's already there.

The problem is a dumb gimmick in general, I doubt lots of fans or kids would think that gimmick is interesting at all. Maybe if he ditched the glue, or made a minor part of his inventory, instead of the main focus. I mean did you have a problem with the way calculator switched gimmicks?

Another problem is he has no motive, look at this bio:

http://www.geocities.com/marvel_oops/trapster/trapster.html

That's why he is in the loser section of that site.

For smart guy he is pretty well written as an idiot almost all the time: one he started his criminal career instead of patenting this glue, two he got pardon for helping to foil Zemo's scheme and he still decided being a criminal was a good idea, three when Sandman was reformed he gave Trapster a chance to reofrm and work for the Wild Pack, but he decided to blow it by robbing a jewelry store and Four despite the fact that Wizard tried to kill him, he is still willing to hang out with him. For a supposed smart person, he does stupid things all the time. A smart person learns from his mistakes, a stupid person makes the same mistakes over and over again.

Dr. Octopus learns from his mistakes and tries to adapt his tactics, Rhino makes the same mistakes over and over again. Who does Trapster sound like? Seriously if want Trapster to be taken seriously you have write him as being smart and come with a reason why he scorned all those chances to turn his failed around, because at this point Trapster isn't scary or symapthetic, he is just pathetic.

I think Doctor Doom should switch gimmicks to creating extremely elaborate cakes. And then he sends them to people, and then they eat them, and then he pops in out of nowhere and says "You're all DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED... to delicious flavor!"

First you are not funny, at all. Second is Doom a D-lsiter? No, well clearly he doesn't need to change gimmick, now, does he?

 

[Mr. Green]

First you are not funny, at all. Second is Doom a D-lsiter? No, well clearly he doesn't need to change gimmick, now, does he?

First of all, that was hilarious.

Second, lighten up.

 

[Sloth7d]

According to Dan Didio, all you need to do is have said villain rape people and they're a JLA threat level by default.

 

[fifthfiend]

First of all, that was hilarious.

Second, lighten up.

I think Overlord just hates delicious flavor.

 

[SUPER MARVELMAN]

Shocker (leader)
Rhino (muscle)
Hydro-Man (elemental)
Speed Demon (Speedster)
Trapster (tech)
Vulture (flier)
And a teleporter, I can't think of one right now.

 

[fifthfiend]

I think Ultron should switch his goals from world domination - to world SPAMMINATION! By deciding that instead of eliminating the human race, what he really wants to do is fill its inboxes with advertisements for penis-enlargement pills and breast-growth cream. His reign of irritating inconvenience would cripple the internets, until the Avengers finally defeated him in a team-up with Google founders and media darlings Sergey Brin and Larry Page!

 

[The Question]

The problem is a dumb gimmick in general, I doubt lots of fans or kids would think that gimmick is interesting at all. Maybe if he ditched the glue, or made a minor part of his inventory, instead of the main focus. I mean did you have a problem with the way calculator switched gimmicks?

Another problem is he has no motive, look at this bio:

http://www.geocities.com/marvel_oops/trapster/trapster.html

That's why he is in the loser section of that site.

For smart guy he is pretty well written as an idiot almost all the time: one he started his criminal career instead of patenting this glue, two he got pardon for helping to foil Zemo's scheme and he still decided being a criminal was a good idea, three when Sandman was reformed he gave Trapster a chance to reofrm and work for the Wild Pack, but he decided to blow it by robbing a jewelry store and Four despite the fact that Wizard tried to kill him, he is still willing to hang out with him. For a supposed smart person, he does stupid things all the time. A smart person learns from his mistakes, a stupid person makes the same mistakes over and over again.

Dr. Octopus learns from his mistakes and tries to adapt his tactics, Rhino makes the same mistakes over and over again. Who does Trapster sound like? Seriously if want Trapster to be taken seriously you have write him as being smart and come with a reason why he scorned all those chances to turn his failed around, because at this point Trapster isn't scary or symapthetic, he is just pathetic.

Yes, he's a loser who makes the same mistakes over and over again and ultimately leads a self destructive life style. Most criminals are like that. Yes, he is highly intelligent, capable of doing crazy things with chemicals. But if someone is smart in one regard (scientific skill, for example), that doesn't mean they're going to be smart in every way across the board. There are college physics professors who, when it comes to being social creatures and running their lives, are complete failures. They cannot, for the life of them, grasp simple social concepts. But they're still brilliant scientists. Having a genius be a dumbass in some other area of his life isn't unrealistic. In fact, it makes the character much more real. If you actually make that apart of his character, and develop that to the point where he's a fully realized, three dimensional character, then he can be pathetic and sympathetic and maybe even scary all at the same time.


And for the record, no, I didn't mind how The Calculator switched gimmicks. But The Calculator was always good with computers. He just started using those skills as a hacker instead of wearing a super computer on his chest and committing crimes. That's using the same skills in other areas. The Trapster is a thieve who knows a lot about chemicals. I don't see how that transitions into being the guy from Saw.

 

[Kevin]

If someone says The Shocker, I will bleed them.

I actually had a story idea where shocker kills Aunt may, then thought that since she'll never die, some random old lady. That or some kid. Someone close to peter.

 

[Shemtov]

.

OMG! I just had a brilliant idea for rainbow raider. first make him gay.
then make him a gay-rights activist who will go to terorist acts to make gay marrage legal. his powers are to cover himself in a rainbow fire ala marvels Karolina Dean.

 

[Kevin]

I'd just make him a straight basher.

 

[BLACKVULCAN]

Ha! i knew when i mentioned Rainbow Raider somebody eventually would go down that "rainbow" path..i was strictly taking about dude from a non-sexual orientation point of view. hahaha! you guys are going to get Flan thrown at you by Lance bass from "N"Sync

 

[fifthfiend]

OMG! I just had a brilliant idea for rainbow raider. first make him gay.
then make him a gay-rights activist who will go to terorist acts to make gay marrage legal. his powers are to cover himself in a rainbow fire ala marvels Karolina Dean.

Not just legal - mandatory.

 

[Shemtov]

Not just legal - mandatory.

then so many people will sue on a first-amenment argument.

 

[fifthfiend]

... Wait, what?

 

[The Overlord]

Yes, he's a loser who makes the same mistakes over and over again and ultimately leads a self destructive life style. Most criminals are like that. Yes, he is highly intelligent, capable of doing crazy things with chemicals. But if someone is smart in one regard (scientific skill, for example), that doesn't mean they're going to be smart in every way across the board. There are college physics professors who, when it comes to being social creatures and running their lives, are complete failures. They cannot, for the life of them, grasp simple social concepts. But they're still brilliant scientists. Having a genius be a dumbass in some other area of his life isn't unrealistic. In fact, it makes the character much more real. If you actually make that apart of his character, and develop that to the point where he's a fully realized, three dimensional character, then he can be pathetic and sympathetic and maybe even scary all at the same time.

I have no sympathy for idiots who ruin their own lives. especially idiots who are given chances to fix their lives and don't take them. People who have their lives ruined by circumstances, I can feel sorry for, idiots who ruin their own lives just get my contempt. Trapster killed a teenager for money, that action alone makes him completely unsympathetic. I don't care if he feels bad about it, it renders him completely unsympathetic and frankly the glue gimmick simply isn't very threatening, especially when he is stupid enough to take on the FF, who are out of his weight class. So just leaves him with being pathetic and being pathetic in of itself is not an interesting trait for a villain.

Frankly its not realistic, because almost everyone who invents something that could have civilian uses would try to patent, I have never heard of someone inventing something that had a marketable use and using it for crime, I have never heard of that. Even stupid criminals learn when to quit when they aren't good at it. My mom once who someone who had a son who was the worst criminal I ever heard of, it was not good at it and he eventually quit, despite the fact that he was a total idiot, that guy is more intelligent then the trapster.

If he makes the same mistakes over and over again, then the hero will beat him the same way over and over again, that's why he isn't threatening in the least. Unless they can actually write him as being intelligent, who actually does something different, then the character serves no purpose.

And for the record, no, I didn't mind how The Calculator switched gimmicks. But The Calculator was always good with computers. He just started using those skills as a hacker instead of wearing a super computer on his chest and committing crimes. That's using the same skills in other areas. The Trapster is a thieve who knows a lot about chemicals. I don't see how that transitions into being the guy from Saw.

I heard from various internet sites he was good traps, didn't he invent a few traps to use against the Thing?

 

[Ahura Mazda]

The Leader could change from being a genius idiot to someone who actually uses his superhuman intelligence to invent things which wuold give him wealth and a global conglomerate that would have monopolies in essential items. Therefore actually achieving world dominance instead of having plans which brute force can stop....

 

[Doc Destruction]

Shocker.

I would have been disappointed, old chum.

 

[The Overlord]

I know harp on Trapster too much, but he really represents a pet peeve for me. I hate smart characters who are written as idiots and I hate characters who seem to have no real motives for their actions. You know if Trapster had some pathalogical reason for commiting crimes, that would make him more relatable, then an idiot with no common sense and became a criminal for no reason. I could respect him as a character then.

 

[xisaacx]

Can we try with Venom..?

Venom is a lame villain who isn't serious?