Vermin (Marvel) - Comic Book DB

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Vermin (Marvel)
Real Name: Edward Whelan
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Powers:
Vermin has super-human speed and agility. He can also mentally control small animals like rats and has enhanced senses.
+ Agility
+ Animal Control
+ Berserker Strength
+ Claws
+ Feral
+ Stamina
+ Super Hearing
+ Super Sight
+ Super Smell
+ Super Speed
+ Super Strength
+ Unarmed Combat

Bio:
Edward Whelan was found roaming the streets of New York by Baron Helmut Zemo. Whelan subjected himself to Zemo's genetic experiments, which granted him superhuman strength. However, in the process of the mutation, he manifested a rat-like physical appearance, and was called Vermin. It was Zemo's plan to use him to kill his nemesis Captain America, once and for all. Although, the cunning Captain was able to defeat Vermin.

Vermin later appeared in the sewers of New York, when the mysterious female Kraven was holding Vin Gonzales hostage there, thinking that he was Spider-Man. Vermin attempted to run the unwanted intruder out of the sewers but failed, due to the interference of the real Spider-Man dressed in the costume of Daredevil. Vermin escaped into the tunnels of the sewers. He later ran into the real Daredevil who he led to Spider-Man and Gonzales, who were now both captives of Kraven. Vermin battled the female once more, and it appeared that he would be the victor, although, he was last seen badly beaten on the floor of an unknown location, at the feet of Kraven's mother.

Fleeing into the sewers of New York City, Vermin reemerged with an army of rats at his command, but was again defeated by Captain America with the help of Spider-Man, who inadvertently triggered lifelong and severe arachnophobia within Vermin. Escaping to the sewers, Vermin cowered from Spider-Man, emerging only at night to murder and cannibalize innocent citizens. He found himself targeted by Kraven the Hunter, in disguise as Spider-Man, who defeated Vermin and held him captive as bait for the true Spider-Man, who was in a severely weakened state. Vermin defeated and nearly killed the hero, but was stopped by Kraven who released Vermin back to the sewers as a distraction for Spider-Man while Kraven committed suicide. Spider-Man defeated Vermin by tricking him to flee outside during the daytime, which confused and terrified the man-rat, whom Spider-Man then left in the care of Reed Richards.

Discovering that Vermin's mutation was more rooted in psychology than biology, Richards handed Vermin over to the care of Dr. Ashley Kafka at Ravencroft Sanitarium, the first person who was able to get through Vermin and reach the Edward Whelan within. After feeling abandoned and betrayed when Dr. Kafka took a day off, Vermin flew into a rage, killing several guards and cops in his escape. After encountering a hallucination of himself as a little boy, he took the "child" under his protection, and sought out their home to kill his/their father. He nearly succeeded, but the love he still had for his father kept him from acting on his hatred, and he tried to commit suicide by provoking the police outside to open fire. He was saved by Spider-Man, and returned to the care of Dr. Kafka, where he became more violent and desperate between transformations back to his original human state. He knew he was dying, and like a scared rat in a corner, that made him even more dangerous.

Notes:

First Appearance: Captain America (1968) #272

Favorite Characters:
Vermin (Marvel) is a favorite character of 3 users

View a chronological listing of this character's appearances

Issue Appearances: