MIRAGE

Real Name: Desmond Charne

Identity/Class: Human technology user

Occupation: Professional criminal, former holography technician

Group Membership: Led two separate trios of underlings, "Scourge's victims"

Affiliations: Beetle (Abe Jenkins), Blacklash, Constrictor, a Dreadnaught, Grapplers (Letha, Poundcakes, Screaming Mimi, Titania), Mechano-Marauder, Melter, MODOK, Mole Man, Rhino

Enemies: Daredevil, Scourge of the Underworld (original), Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Thing (Ben Grimm)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: Master of Illusion

Base of Operations: Mobile

First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man I#156 (May, 1976)

Powers/Abilities: Mirage's costume was equipped with numerous miniature hologram-projectors and micro-circuitry to power them. The main ones (referred to as Image Inducers) were based within each side of his mask. Using these holograms, Mirage could disguise himself as others, create three-dimensional duplicates of himself and make himself invisible to the human eye. When others such as his underlings were within range, he could use these holograms to disguise them as well.

Height: 5' 11"     Weight: 195 lbs.    Eyes: Blue    Hair: Unrevealed

History:

(OHOTMU Deluxe Edition#18/Amazing Spider-Man I#156 (fb)-BTS) - Desmond Charne wanted to become a criminal known for his impressive methods, and saw Spider-Man as an example of what he wished to be, just not on the same side of the law. Charne spent years studying laser sciences and holography, keeping his advances in the field secret. When he was ready, he created a costume that utilized this technology and became the Mirage.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#156) - Mirage and his trio of underlings led a campaign of crime in Morgan's of Malverne, a building which was hosting a number of weddings that day. The quartet robbed several of the weddings, and made their way to one for Ned Leeds and Betty Brant. As they took the guests' valuables, Peter Parker, who was in attendance, changed into his Spider-Man garb and attacked them. Though he quickly defeated the underlings, Mirage was able to elude him using his holographic technology. When Spider-Man realized Mirage's powers, he brought down a huge chandalier on the villain, knocking him out.

(Marvel Two-in-One#96 ) - Using the Image Inducers to disguise themselves as ambulance drivers, Mirage and a new trio of underlings entered a hospital in which the Thing was recovering from recent injuries. They shed their disguises, intent on kidnapping the Thing and holding him for a multi-million dollar ransom, but ran afoul of a visiting Daredevil, who easily defeated them when his super-senses let him detect which was the real Mirage and which were holograms. Mirage returned later as part of a large gathering of super-villains, but they were all defeated by the heroes who had gathered to visit the Thing. Mirage was once again defeated in combat by Daredevil.

(OHOTMU Deluxe Edition#18) - Mirage was released from prison after a short sentence.

(Captain America I#319) - Mirage was one of a number of super-villains invited to the Bar With No Name in Medina County, Ohio by Gary Gilbert (formerly Firebrand). Gilbert was trying to raise awareness in the villain community concerning the vigilante Scourge, who had murdered a number of costumed criminals. While waiting for the meeting to start, Mirage chatted with Letha, but shortly afterwards, Scourge revealed his presence as the bartender as he gunned down Mirage and all the other criminals there.

(Captain America I#320 (fb)) - Water Wizard arrived late for the meeting and found everyone dead. He then called in Captain America.

(Captain America I#320) - Captain America contacted the local authorities, who picked up the bodies of Mirage and the others. Later, Cap decided to try to lure Scourge out of hiding by posing as a surviving member of the massacre, and chose Mirage to disguise himeslf as.  The ploy worked, as Scourge returned to finish the job and was caught by Captain America before being himself assassinated.

(Captain America I#425 (fb) - BTS) - Lou Dexter (Dead Ringer) obtained a piece of Mirage's tissue.

(Captain America I#425 - BTS) - Dead Ringer attended a press conference by Captain America in the form of Mirage and cast an illusion of Heinrich Zemo and his Masters of Evil only Captain America could see. Cap made a fool out of himself in front of the press. Super-Patriot captured "Mirage", who took on another form of Purple Man when the Black Widow took him away.

(Deadpool#0 (fb)-BTS) - At some point afterwards, Arnim Zola took DNA samples from the corpses of several of the massacre victims, including Mirage, and created proto-husk duplicates out of the genetic material.

Comments: Created by Len Wein, Ross Andru and Mike Esposito.

Mirage had entries in OHOTMU Deluxe#18 and the Master Edition. In the Deluxe, his costume was drawn incorrectly.

The Deluxe Edition made clear the two trios of underlings were separate men.

Profile by Madison Carter.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Mirage has no known connections to


Mirage's underlings

 

Mirage hired a trio of men to help him rob the weddings being held at Morgan's of Malverne, and they were defeated by Spider-Man




-- Amazing Spider-Man I#156






Mirage later hired a second trio and tried to kidnap the hospitalized Thing before being defeated by Daredevil.



-- Marvel Two-in-One#96

images: (without ads)
OHOTMU Master Edition#6 (main image)
Amazing Spider-Man I#156, page 8, panel 8 (first trio)
Marvel Two-in-One#96, page 9, panel 2 (second trio)

Other Appearances:
Amazing Spider-Man I#156 (May, 1976) - Len Wein (writer), Ross Andru (penciler), Mike Esposito (inker), Marv Wolfman (editor)
Marvel Two-in-One#96 (February, 1983) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Ron Wilson (penciler), Mike Esposito (inker), Grant & Tooks (editors)
Captain America I#319 (July, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Paul Neary (penciler), Joe Sinnott (inker), Mike Carlin (editor)
Captain America I#320 (August, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Paul Neary (penciler), Dennis Janke (inker), Mike Carlin (editor)
Captain America I#425 (March, 1994) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Dave Hoover (pencils), Danny Bulanadi (inks), Mike Rockwitz (editor)
Deadpool III#0 (1998) - Joe Kelly (writer), Yancey Labat (pencils), Sean Parsons (inks), Matt Idelson (editor)

Last updated: 04/03/07

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Back to Characters