The Freak (Eddie March) is a fictional character associated with

Iron Man Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby. The charact ...

appearing in

American comic book An American comic book is a thin periodical originating in the United States, on average 32 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publication of ''Action Comics'' ...

s published by

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is an American comic book publishing, publisher and the flagship property of Marvel Entertainment, a divsion of The Walt Disney Company since September 1, 2009. Evolving from Timely Comics in 1939, ''Magazine Management/Atlas Co ...

. He was introduced as a boxer who looked up to

Tony Stark Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby. The charac ...

, and called himself "Iron Man" in the ring.

Publication history

Eddie March is the second Marvel Comics character to use the Freak name. Like the first, Happy Hogan, Eddie March was another friend of Tony Stark. He wore Iron Man's armor in ''Invincible Iron Man'' #21 (Jan 1970), in a fight against the

Crimson Dynamo Crimson Dynamo (Russian: Багровое Динамо, '; also Красное Динамо (Krasnoe Dinamo)) is the name of several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics who have all been powered armo ...

. He was the first African-American to wear Iron Man's armor. Eddie March first appears as the Freak in ''

'' #67 (April 1974), by

Mike Friedrich Mike Friedrich (; born March 27, 1949) is an American comic book writer and publisher best known for his work at Marvel and DC Comics, and for publishing the anthology series ''Star*Reach'', one of the first independent comics. He is also an art ...

and

George Tuska George Tuska (; April 26, 1916 – October 16, 2009),George Tuska
at the Social Security Death Index via Fami ...

Fictional character biography

While wearing the

Iron Man armor Iron Man's armor is a fictional, powered exoskeleton appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is built and worn by billionaire Iron Man#Fictional character biography, Tony Stark when he assumes the identity of the superhe ...

, Eddie March is badly injured in a fight with

Thor Thor (; from non, Þórr ) is a prominent god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding æsir, god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred trees and groves in Germanic paganism and mythology, sacred groves ...

. Stark decides to use the Enervator on Eddie in a desperate attempt to save him. Though Stark takes precautions to prevent the device from transforming Eddie into a monstrous creature, Eddie nonetheless becomes a second version of the Freak. Stark, as Iron Man, tries to subdue him while simultaneously protecting him from the police. He is able to knock out the Freak with a few nerve punches. Once unconscious, the Freak reverts to human form and Thor's alter ego, Dr. Donald Blake, is able to operate on March to save his life.''Iron Man'' #67 (April 1974) Eddie has not transformed into the Freak again since this incident.

References

External links

* * {{Iron Man Characters created by David Anthony Kraft Comics characters introduced in 1970 Spider-Man characters