GAMMA-BURN
Real Name: Ethel Gaxton
Identity/Class: Human mutate
Occupation: Unrevealed
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Would-be lover of Phillip Phillips;
allegedly
Lotus Newmark
Enemies: Wonder Man
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Los Angeles,
California;
formerly Phoenix, Arizona
First Appearance: Wonder Man II#3 (November, 1991)
Powers: Gamma-Burn possesses superhuman strength, durability, stamina, etc. sufficient to go one-on-one against Wonder Man, and even overpower him when catching him off guard. The specific extent of her abilities are undefined. Further exposure to radiation reversed her mutation, although it has not been determined if that was temporary or permanent.
History:
(Wonder Man II#3 (fb)) - The woman who would become Gamma-Burn volunteered for
research to use gamma rays in an effort to cure pre-menstrual syndrome. Like
virtually every other person exposed to gamma rays, she was mutated in a large,
green monster. Startled by her transformation and her new
appearance's effect on people, she fled to Los Angeles, hoping to
meet the star of the soap opera "Children of Our Lives," Philip Philips. Since his character in the show was in love with an
amnesiac blind girl in a wheelchair, she felt he would be
sympathetic to her problems. However, like everyone else she
encountered, Philips was mortified by her appearance. This
angered her further, causing her to strike out at and attempt to
destroy everything associated with beauty, such as beauty
parlors, tanning salons, beachfront property, etc.
(Wonder Man II#3 - BTS /#17 (fb) - BTS ) - Lotus had part in sending Gamma-Burn on a rampage as part of her preparation of the population for the need for Armed Response.
(Wonder Man II#3) - Her actions drew the attention of the superhero Wonder Man, who attempted to stop her. However, his would-be sidekick, "Spider" Beach, got to close to the conflict, and Wonder Man was overpowered while trying to protect him. A second encounter generated similar problems until "Spider" convinced Wonder Man to give her another dose of radiation, using his own ionic energy, channeled through an ultra-violet tanning lamp. This treatment successfully reverted Gamma-Burn to normal. She was ecstatic until she learned that Philips had overcome his initial revulsion and had become obsessed with Gamma-Burn primal energy, rage, and ugliness. Having been able to get any normal woman he wanted, he had no interest in the now powerless woman she had become. When last seen, she was trying to force a reversion through the exposure to a normal UV lamp.
Comments: Created by Gerard Jones and Jeff Johnson.
Gamma-Burn is among the Gamma Mutates in World War Hulk: The Gamma Files. Her real name was revealed in this book.
Clarifications: The origin, appearance, and abilities of Gamma-Burn are virtually identical to the Abominatrix, a villain from Sensational She-Hulk#21-23 (which appeared almost exactly one year prior), although the latter had blond hair (or more likely wore a blond wig). Their motivations and behavior were very different, although both were quite ill-tempered. No connection was mentioned, so I'll consider them as separate until I hear otherwise.
Appearances:
Wonder Man II#3 (November, 1991) - Gerard Jones (writer), Jeff Johnson (pencils), Terry Austin (inks), Fabian Nicieza (editor)
Wonder Man II#17 (January, 1993) - Gerard Jones (writer), Jeff Johnson (pencils), Dan Panosian (inks), Fabian Nicieza & Carlos Lopez (editors)
Last updated: 09/03/04
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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