LARRY CURTISS

Real Name: Larry Curtiss

Identity/Class: Human technology user, citizen of the United States

Occupation: Roxxon employee

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Roxxon (his boss, Missy, unnamed other)

Enemies: Iron Man (Tony Stark), Jim Rhodes

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Trapster

Base of Operations: Washington D.C.

First Appearance: Iron Man Annual I#12/4 (June, 1991)

Powers/Abilities: Larry Curtiss possesses no known superhuman abilities.He was proficient in the use of the Trapster's glue based weaponry, including the pastegun that can shoot a variety of durable, rapid drying adhesives. He also wears wrist blasters that can fire heat seeking mini-missiles as well as glue missiles. The Trapster's armor grants him increased durability.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 5'10")
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 160 lbs.)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

History:

(Iron Man Annual I#12/4 (fb) - BTS) - Ambitious Roxxon employee Larry Curtiss came up with a way to become the new head of security of the less than scrupulous company. He planned to steal Stark Enterprises' latest batch of high-tech patents before they could officially be registered. Not wanting to tip off his boss, Curtiss didn't inform the higher-ups at the company. He secured the Trapster's armor and weaponry through unrevealed means and reasoned that by posing as the villain, he could carry out his mission without anyone ever suspecting Roxxon's involvement.

(Iron Man Annual I#12/4 (fb) - BTS) - Curtiss was not aware that his boss was aware of his plan and his ambitions to replace him. The man had him followed by Missy and her colleague.

(Iron Man Annual I#12/4) - When Curtiss learned that Stark employee Jim Rhodes would be traveling to Washingto undercover. Rhodes flew commercial and took an unmarked car from the airport. Curtiss prepared an ambush on a stretch of deserted road. Dressed as the Trapster, he confronted Rhodes and prevented him from speeding off by covering the wheels in glue. Curtiss then tied up Rhodes with paste restraints before grabbing the briefcase containing the patents. He was then confronted by Iron Man who had decided to shadow Rhodes just in case his friend he might need help.

(Iron Man Annual I#12/4 - BTS) - Missy and her colleague, posing as attractive women, had been following Rhodes from the airport as well. Their boss was not far behind.

(Iron Man Annual I#12/4) - Acting as the Trapster, Curtiss engaged Iron Man who had no problem dealing with the blasts from his paste gun. However, the Avenger's responses were noticeably slower because of the encephalo-control circuitry he was forced to use at the time. As a result, Curtiss managed to down the hero with a heat seeking mini-missile that damaged his boot jets. Curtiss then fired a volley of glue missiles that seemingly crippled the armor completely. Briefly reveling in his victory, Curtiss was then confronted by his boss, Missy and her colleague.

(Iron Man Annual I#12/4) - Impressed by Curtiss' ambitious plan, his boss offered him a deal: kill Rhodes so there are no more witnesses and his promotion was all but guaranteed. Missy handed him a gun with a single bullet, but Curtiss hesitated: he did not want to commit murder. His boss reminded him his career was at stake and that if he didn't comply, he would be shot himself. Curtiss was about to kill Rhodes but Iron Man intervened. His armor barely operational because of all the glue still gumming up the works, he nevertheless managed to intimidate his opponents. Properly scared, Curtiss, Missy and the others abandoned their mission and hurried back to Roxxon.

Comments: Created by Dwight J. Zimmerman (writer), John Stanisci (pencils), Don Heck (inks).

Posing as a supervillain to commit crimes is actually a pretty clever idea, shame it was buried in a pretty obscure back-up strip that leaves a lot unexplained. How did Larry even get a hold of that Trapster costume? It's not like Pete Petruski leaves his gear around, right? How did Curtiss learn about Rhodes' plan to drive to the patent offices? And why did Iron Man allow Curtiss, Missy and those two unnamed Roxxon flunkies to simply run away? That seems awfully negligent.

Larry hasn't been seen since 1991, guess he didn't, heh, stick around.

Profile by Norvo

CLARIFICATIONS:
 Larry Curtiss should not be confused with

• Curtis, ally of Hellstorm--Spirits of Vengeance I#1
• Larry Curtis, member of the Wild Pack--Silver Sable I#21
  
• Curtis - Worthington family butler--X-Men I#14
  
• Curtis - Prime Sentinel--X-Force I#67
  
• Curtis, Dr. - Prof. Jonathan Storm's physician--Suspense I#4
  
• Curtis, Miss - alias briefly used by Betty Ross while checking into a hotel--Incredible Hulk II#212
• Curtis, Mr. - man whose drug deal with the Inner Demons was disrupted by Anti-Venom (EddieBrock)--Amazing Spider-Man Extra!#2
• Curtis, Det. John - arrested Mark Hawkins (Marvel)--X-Men Unlimited I#13
• or any other "Larry" or "Curtiss" characters

Images: (without ads)
Iron Man annual 12, p46, pan3 (main)
Iron Man Annual I#12 p49, pans3&4 (downs Iron Man)
Iron Man Annual I#12, p52, pans3&4 (doesn't want to kill Rhodes)

Appearances:
Iron Man Annual I#12 (June, 1991) -  Dwight J. Zimmerman (writer), John Stanisci (pencils), Don Heck (inks), Nelson Yomtov (editor)

First Posted: 08/20/2025
Last Updated: 08/20/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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