PAUL MORREL

Real Name: Paul Morrel

Identity/Class: Human

Occupation: Captain in the United States Navy

Group Membership: His crew (Doctor Kelly, others)

Affiliations: Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)

Enemies: Unrevealed

Known Relatives: Sabrina Morrel (sister), alleged unidentified parents (deceased)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile, but mostly on board the nuclear submarine USS Alaska

First Appearance: Spider-Woman I#40 (October, 1981)

Powers/Abilities: Paul Morrel possesses no known superhuman powers. He is an experienced naval commander, who doesn't think twice to risk his own life when he spots someone in trouble. He is also charming and discrete, ensuring Spider-Woman's identity remained a secret.

Height: Unrevealed
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

History:
(Spider-Woman I#40 - BTS) - Spider-Woman was seriously injured during a fight with the Flying Tiger. The super powered assassin, hired by crimelord Nguyen Ngoc Coy, delivered the coupe de grâce when he rammed her off the Golden Gate Bridge into the freezing waters of San Francisco Bay. When she didn't come up, he figured she had drowned and took off.

(Spider-Woman I#40) - Paul Morrel, captain of the nuclear submarine USS Alaska, witnessed the altercation on the bridge and when he saw someone falling off, he ordered his vessel to search for the victim. Suspecting the strong tide might have dragged the body to sea, Morrel was about to give up when during a final sweep he was the only one of his crew to spot Spider-Woman. Morrel immediately dove into the bay waters and rescued her.

   Morrel took Spider-Woman to the ship's sick bay where he watched as Doctor Kelly had to remove her costume in order to determine the extent of her injuries. After taking some X-rays and tending to some superficial cuts and bruises, the doctor joined Morrel in waiting for their guest to come to. 

   Jessica Drew was a little startled and shocked to find herself out of costume and naked on the examining table of the USS Alaska's sick bay. Paul Morrel quickly introduced himself, asking her about what had happened. The captain's gentle attitude caused Spider-Woman to tell him about her mission and the fight with the Flying Tiger. When she tried to get up, her back felt like it was on fire, bringing home just how badly she was hurt. Realizing he needed to protect her identity, Morrel asked ship's doctor Kelly to destroy any evidence or medical records of the heroine's presence on the USS Alaska as a personal favor. The physician begrudgingly complied.

   Morrel saw Spider-Woman off, ensuring her he would take care of any stories his crew might feel the need to spread, let alone the explanation he might owe to his superiors for allowing a vigilante to escape. The captain tried to assuage the dark angel's concerns by telling her he could handle his crew and that the navy simply loved to rescue damsels in distress.

   The USS Alaska docked at the Mare Island naval shipyard in San Paolo Bay to make it easier for their guest to take off. Morrel offered to take Spider-Woman home in his car, which she refused. He then admitted he'd like to see her again sometime. Spider-Woman, half interested but also worried he might force her if she refused, teasingly told him that anything is possible.

   When he noticed the heroine still had considerable trouble moving around without pain, he recommended a martial arts master in San Francisco who might be able to help in her revalidation. According to Paul, he had witnessed the master's methods work where conventional procedures failed. Spider-Woman thanked him and flew off.

(Spider-Woman I#44 - BTS) - Paul started working in Pearl Harbor and sent a postcard to his sister Sabrina.

Comments: Created by Chris Claremont, Steve Leialoha & Bob Wiacek.

Oddly enough, Spider-Woman seemed open to Morrel's advances, despite her relationship with David Ishima at the time. Guess she might be more than a one man gal.

It's interesting to note that Paul Morrel and the crew of the nuclear submarine USS Alaska made their debut in the same month as Uncanny X-Men I#150, which saw Magneto famously disabling the Russian ballistic submarine Leningrad, condemning its crew to a slow death in the deep. Seems like ol' Chris Claremont had submarines on his mind that particular month...

Profile by Norvo.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Paul Morrel has no known connections to

• Morel, Atlantean @ Namor I#35
• Sharen Morell, Way-Opener gunner @ Uncanny Origis#4
• James Morell, the warlord of Kampuchea @ Cloak & Dagger II#11/2
• Damon Morelle, founder of Morelle Pharmaceuticals @ Nightwatch#6
• Dave Morrel, Hammer Industries employee @ Peter Parker: Spider-Man#51
• Harry Morrell, owner of Harry's Bar @ New Mutants I#23
•  any other "Paul" or "Morrel" characters

Doctor Kelly

Doctor Kelly served as ship's physician on the US nuclear submarine USS Alaska, under the command of captain Paul Morrel. When the wounded superheroine Spider-Woman was brought on board, Kelly removed her costume and examined her thorougly in an attempt to diagnose the extent of her injuries. He took X-rays and slides, along with other medical tests. He finally concluded, to his amazement that his patient was only slightly bruised and battered despite falling off the Golden Gate Bridge.

   He did note, however, that her spine had taken such a beating that without proper rest and revalidation any excess pressure would inevitably lead to irreparable damage. Superheroing, in other words, would be out of the question. Spider-Woman promised the doctor to be careful. Captain Morrel personally requested Kelly kept Spider-Woman's identity a secret by asking him to destroy all evidence and records of her being on board. Out of respect for their friendship, the doctor complied.

--Spider-Woman I#40