NORMAN MCARTHUR
Real Name: Norman McArthur
Identity/Class: Human
Occupation: Sporting goods salesman
Group Membership: None
Affiliations: Fantastic Four
Enemies: Dr. Doom
Known Relatives: Margaret McArthur (wife), unnamed son
Aliases: While possessed by Dr. Doom, the Invincible Man
Base of Operations: Queens, New York
First Appearance: Fantastic Four I#260 (November, 1983)
Powers/Abilities: Norman McArthur possesses no unusual talents.
History: (Fantastic Four I#260) - Norman McArthur was purchasing groceries from the Shop-Rite supermarket when a battle between Terrax, Dr. Doom, the Fantastic Four and the Silver Surfer broke out. After Dr. Doom's armor was fused in battle with Terrax, he became desperate to escape his immobility, and transferred his mind into Norman McArthur's body. Doom's body was then destroyed as the Silver Surfer and Terrax battled.
(Fantastic Four I#287 (fb)) - Doom returned to Norman's home, and placed Norman's wife Margaret under house arrest, forbidding her to leave or to use the telephone. He then designed a replica of the Invincible Man uniform for himself, and set out to assault the Latverian Embassy.
(Fantastic Four I#287) - As the Invincible Man, Doom convinced the Wasp, She-Hulk and Invisible Woman to assist him in attacking the Latverian Embassy, claiming to be a scientist whose family was being held hostage. After the Invisible Woman destroyed the Doombot at the embassy, Doom then attacked her. The Invisible Woman nearly had her defeated, but then Margaret McArthur arrived and struck the Invisible Woman down, thinking she was aiding her husband. Doom then revealed his true identity to Margaret, and took her hostage.
(Fantastic Four I#288) - Now garbed in his armor, Doom defeated the rest of the Fantastic Four and the Wasp, and took them prisoner while he prepared to recreate his original body for himself. When his spell began to falter, Doom called upon the greatest power in the universe-- which proved to be the Beyonder. The Beyonder did not at first recognize Doom because he was in McArthur's body, but when he did, he was prepared to kill him-- until Mr. Fantastic pointed out that because when Dr. Doom participated in the Secret Wars he was supposed to have been in Norman McArthur's body, yet the Beyonder brought forth a Doom from the future who was in his original body. Therefore, if the Beyonder slew Doom now, it would generate a paradox which might destroy even the Beyonder himself. To prevent this, the Beyonder recreated Doom's original body and transferred his mind into it, restoring Norman McArthur to normal. He then sent Doom back in time to participate in the Secret Wars while the Fantastic Four, Wasp, and the McArthurs departed before Doom could return.
Comments: Created by John Byrne.
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CLARIFICATIONS: Margaret "Peggy" McArthur is the wife of Norman McArthur. When Doom took over her husband's body, she was kept a prisoner in her home, released only when he set out as the Invincible Man to assault the Latverian Embassy. She and her friend Sarah went to the embassy to help "Norman", but instead, Margaret unwittingly helped Doom by knocking the Invisible Woman unconscious. Doom kept her alive for having helped him, and she was finally set free after the Beyonder sent Doom back in time to serve in the Secret Wars.
--Fantastic Four I#287) 287 (fb), 287, 288 Images taken from: Other appearances: Last updated: 03/21/04
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Non-Marvel Copyright info
Norman McArthur should not be confused with:
Fantastic Four I#260, page 15, panel 3
Fantastic Four I#288, page 21, panel 3
Fantastic Four I#287, page 14, panel 6
Fantastic Four I#260 (November, 1983) - John Byrne (writer/artist), Bob Budiansky (editor)
Fantastic Four I#287-288 (February-March, 1986) - John Byrne (writer/pencils), Joe Sinnott (inks)
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