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Stilt-Man

Stilt-Man is the name of multiple different characters in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first incarnation of Stilt-Man, Wilbur Day, first appeared in Daredevil #8 (June 1965).[2] The second incarnation, Turk Barrett, debuted in Daredevil #69 (August 1970).[3] The third incarnation, Callie Ryan, made her first appearance in Amazing Spider-Man #611 (November 2009).[4] Stilt-Man is generally depicted as a supervillain wearing a battle suit with extendable legs.[5]

Stilt-Man
Stilt-Man (Wilbur Day),
art by Scott Kolins
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceDaredevil #8 (June 1965)[1]
Created byStan Lee
Wally Wood
In-story information
Alter egoWilbur Day
Turk Barrett
Callie Ryan
SpeciesAll:
Human
Team affiliationsEmissaries of Evil
Gang of Four
Notable aliasesLady Stilt-Man
Stunt-Master
AbilitiesWilbur Day:
  • Moderately talented disguise artist
  • Competent engineer and invento
  • Arsenal of weapons and devices

All:

  • Armored battlesuit granting superhuman strength, telescopic legs, silicon coating against adhesives and Spider-Man's webbing

Publication history

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Wilbur Day debuted in Daredevil #8 (June 1965), created by writer Stan Lee and artist Wally Wood.[6] He is a criminal wearing an impenetrable suit of armor with powerful telescopic legs (useful for high-story heists).[7] He appeared in the 1968 Iron Man series,[8] and the 2020 Iron Man series.[9]

Turk Barrett debuted in Daredevil #69 (August 1970), created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gene Colan.[10] He is a member of a street gang and works with Wilson Fisk / Kingpin.[11] He appeared in the 2018 Infinity Countdown: Daredevil #1 one-shot.[12]

Callie Ryan debuted in Amazing Spider-Man #611 (November 2009), created by writer Joe Kelly and artist Eric Canete.[13]

Fictional character biography

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The first Silt-Man is Wilbur Day. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Wally Wood, the character first appeared in Daredevil #8 (June 1965).

Wilbur Day was born in New York City. He is an inventor, engineer, and a scientist employed by Carl Kaxton, who invented a hydraulic ram device. Wilbur stole Kaxton's designs and used them to engineer a pair of extremely long, telescopic metal legs, which allowed him to tower high over the ground. He incorporated these hydraulic stilts into an armored battlesuit, which he created for use in robberies as the professional criminal Stilt-Man.[14] He battled Daredevil, and was seemingly shrunk into nothingness when he was accidentally hit by an experimental molecular condenser ray.[15] His return from the limbo-like "microverse" was later recounted, and he attempted to help Leap-Frog escape from custody. Stilt-Man was defeated by Daredevil again, but was helped to escape by the Masked Marauder.[16] Stilt-Man teamed with the Masked Marauder in an attempt to trap Daredevil; however, he battled Spider-Man and was defeated by Daredevil.[17] His escape from Daredevil aided by Electro was later recounted. Stilt-Man teamed with Electro, Matador, Leap-Frog, and Gladiator to form the original Emissaries of Evil and battle Daredevil.[18] Stilt-Man was later hired by mobsters to kill district attorney candidate Foggy Nelson, and battled Daredevil once again.[19] He disguised himself as Stunt-Master, and attacked Daredevil on a Hollywood movie set.[20] In San Francisco, he kidnapped his former employer Carl Kaxton and his daughter, to force him to recreate his molecular condenser. However, Stilt-Man battled and was defeated by Daredevil and the Black Widow.[21]

Besides Stilt-Man's long, unsuccessful career against Daredevil, he encountered other superheroes in the meantime. He was hired by Los Angeles mobsters to kill the Falcon, and in the process stole various weapons and devices from the Trapster.[22] He robbed a Los Angeles bank, and battled Black Goliath. He teleported Black Goliath and his companions to an alien planet using the Z-ray weapon.[23] Stilt-Man attacked Black Goliath at Champions headquarters in search of an alien power source. He battled the Champions, and his Z-ray weapon was destroyed by Darkstar, but he managed to escape from the Champions.[24] He was later freed from prison by Blastaar and F.A.U.S.T., and given a special new battlesuit constructed of secondary adamantium with additional weaponry. He stole some radioactive isotopes, and battled Thor, but lost the fight and was stripped of his suit by the victorious Thunder God, who confiscated it.[25]

Stilt-Man was hired to kidnap assistant District Attorney Maxine Lavender. He was waylaid in his civilian identity by Turk Barrett, a small-time crook and an even greater loser than Day, who stole his armor and took on the Stilt-Man identity. Turk contacted the Kingpin and offered to become his new assassin, only to be refused. Enraged by Turk's audacity, Day contacted Daredevil and informed him of a weakness in the armor. Thanks to Day's information, Daredevil easily disabled the auto-gyroscopes necessary for the armor to keep its balance and brought Turk down.[26] Day later modified the armor to prevent Daredevil from using this newfound knowledge against him.[volume & issue needed] Stilt-Man sought to regain his reputation by defeating Spider-Man. He turned an automated Cordco factory against Spider-Man, but when Spider-Man saved his life, Stilt-Man returned the favor by not taking the opportunity to kill him.[27]

Stilt-Man continued to make sporadic appearances in various Marvel comics, wherein he has continued his criminal career and fought several superheroes, but without much success. One of his most prominent appearances during this time was during the Iron Man storyline "Armor Wars", where he was one of the many armored super-villains whose armors had been secretly upgraded with technology stolen from Tony Stark; Iron Man quickly defeated the villain in their confrontation by throwing one of his own hydraulic legs at him to knock him out.[28] Stilt-Man later attempted to kill District Attorney Blake Tower for sending him to prison, but was captured by She-Hulk.[29] Stilt-Man was among the villains assembled by Doctor Doom to attack the Fantastic Four in Washington, D.C. during the Acts of Vengeance. Even though he had several other villains with him, he failed miserably.[30] He was also among the villains who attempted to attack the Avengers at the site of their reconstructed mansion, but was foiled by the construction workers.[31]

In the 2006 series Heroes for Hire, a version of Stilt-Man's armor can be found in a police storehouse with other villains' equipment under their names. The armor seen here is labeled "Case: NYC v. Turk ("Loser")".,[32] and is used by Scorpion during her battle with Paladin. Later, Daredevil's secret identity of Matt Murdock was exposed by a local newspaper, with Murdock denying the allegations. On hearing of this news, Wilbur visited the law offices of Nelson and Murdock, announcing he was sick of the whole ordeal and that he was retiring as Stilt-Man. He left his armor in a suitcase on Murdock's desk, and was forcibly removed when he began yelling his paranoid conclusion that Murdock was the real Kingpin. Murdock then jokingly asked his law partner, Foggy Nelson, if he would like to be the next Stilt-Man, an offer he quickly declined.[33] During this period, Day romanced and eventually married Circus of Crime member Princess Python.[volume & issue needed]

When the Superhero Registration Act offered Day a chance at redemption, he signed up with the government and was outfitted with a new suit of armor to serve as a law enforcer during the Civil War.[volume & issue needed] Unfortunately for Day, one of his assignments led him into conflict with the Punisher. Both were tracking a convicted child pornographer who was already in FBI custody. The Punisher paralyzes Stilt-Man with a M72 LAW, and then shoots him at point-blank range, killing him. The pornographer is killed moments later.[34] Day's funeral was held in the Bar With No Name, and was attended by his fellow also-rans of the crime world. Sadness turned to remembrance, which turned into high spirits, which eventually led to a full-scale fight breaking out. The appearance of Spider-Man put an end to the violence, but the bar was then promptly blown up by the Punisher in an attempt to kill all the villains inside.[35] It was later mentioned that "they all had to get their stomachs pumped and be treated for third-degree burns", with Stilt-Man ultimately succumbing to his injuries and dying.[36] During the Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy storyline, Stilt-Man is among the supervillains "reanimated" in cloned bodies (with their souls intact) by Ben Reilly and his company New U Technologies.[37] Stilt-Man later appears in San Francisco where he fights the Superior Spider-Man, who has recently relocated there.[38]

Callie Ryan

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The third Silt-Man is Callie Ryan. Created by writer Roy Thomas and artist Gene Colan, the character first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #611 (November 2009).

She is also known as Lady Stilt-Man. Deadpool defeats her by removing a manhole cover, causing one of her legs to fall in, and her other to step onto a high heel attached to the top of a truck. She does not appear to be connected to any of the other Stilt-Men, and claims she is using the name as an "homage". This version is more clumsy and uncoordinated, and Spider-Man himself says she is "trying too hard."[39] In the "Villains for Hire" miniseries, Lady Stilt-Man reappears as a member of Misty Knight's villain subgroup for Heroes for Hire going by just "Stilt-Man".[40] She later defects to Purple Man's side.[41] Lady Stilt-Man is later recruited by Max Fury to join the Shadow Council's incarnation of the Masters of Evil.[42] Lady Stilt-Man later appears in a hospital where she is visited by Misty Knight. In this appearance, it is revealed that Lady Stilt-Man's real name is Callie Ryan. Lady Stilt-Man is revealed to be a victim of a scandal over an embarrassing sex video among other female heroes and villains. Though Misty clears her name, when it is discovered that the videos were all a hoax, it is later mentioned that Lady Stilt-Man was caught committing a crime.[43]

Powers and abilities

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Stilt-Man wears a battle suit increasing the user's strength tenfold, enabling them to lift (press) approximately 1,500 lb (680 kg).[44] The suit's telescopic legs contain hydraulic rams which allow them to be used as battering rams, able to stretch up to 250' and also allow him to walk up to 30 miles per hour (48 km/h). Its legs are also coated with a silicone compound that prevents Spider-Man's webbing from adhering to them. Carl Kaxton designed the hydraulic ram device, but Wilbur Day designed the hydraulic stilts and weaponry as part of his battlesuit.

Reception

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Jenna Anderson of ComicBook.com asserted that there remains a lot of mystery surrounding Armor Wars since its initial announcement, and now that it is officially headed to the big screen, questions arise about its potential impact on the larger MCU. She appreciated the possibility of introducing various Marvel villains, particularly highlighting Stilt-Man as one of the most unusual and compelling characters tied to Armor Wars. Anderson asserted that Stilt-Man has gained a fan-favorite status due to his visual absurdity. She highlighted that his recent interactions with Tony Stark in Iron Man comic books make him an ideal character to showcase how Stark's technology could influence other costumed characters.[45] Nick Rodriguez of Game Rant suggested that Marvel's Spider-Man 3 could benefit from incorporating more of the absurd humor seen in Spider-Man's comics. He praised the idea of using a character like Stilt-Man for a lighthearted yet thrilling introduction and highlighted how the series could take inspiration from Across the Spider-Verse by featuring a less serious villain. Rodriguez appreciated how this approach could add fun and excitement to the game while maintaining its deeper, dramatic elements, offering a fresh perspective on the overall gameplay experience.[46] Hanumanth Reddy and Jack Deegan of MovieWeb said that the inclusion of Stilt-Man in Daredevil: Born Again would be a fitting way to highlight the more lighthearted tone of the new series. They praised the absurdity and charm of the villain, noting how his gimmick of using mechanical stilts to commit crimes has made him a beloved punchline in the Marvel universe. The critics found that having Daredevil face off against one of his goofiest and oldest adversaries would pay homage to the character's history. They appreciated how Stilt-Man’s appearance could serve as a fun way to reintroduce Daredevil while embracing the MCU's recent trend of leaning into the absurdity of comic book lore.[47]

Other characters named Stilt-Man

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Michael Watts

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A third Stilt-Man was chosen by a gang of small-time petty thugs. Michael Watts claimed to know a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy that leads to the connection of the Tinkerer who apparently upgraded the suit before his last arrest. Punisher was aware of the gang's actions. But after some convincing by the Rhino, Frank let Watts live who quotes "You punish the guilty Frank, not the stupid." Watts believes he and his gang will rise to great things since the Hood's coming to power over the supervillains.[48]

Unnamed

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An unnamed Stilt-Man appears in Daredevil . During Day's absence from the world of costumed crime, an as-yet-unnamed criminal acquired the Stilt-Man armor. After upgrading its telescoping abilities, this Stilt-Man was defeated by Daredevil and Luke Cage. The fight only lasted as long as it did because Daredevil was afraid of knocking the villain out at his current height as the fall would have killed him.[49] He was next seen being defeated by Ms. Marvel.[50] Stilt-Man later fought both Daredevil and the Superior Spider-Man (Doctor Octopus' mind in Spider-Man's body).[51]

Alternative versions

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House of M

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An alternate version of Stilt-Man appears in the House of M storyline. He is shown as a human using technological equipment who was arrested by the FBI's Brotherhood.[volume & issue needed]

Marvel Zombies

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  • An alternate version of Stilt-Man appears in Marvel Zombies. He is seen a part of the horde of zombified super-villains attacking Galactus when he arrives upon Earth. The World-Devourer is brought down by the combined efforts of the Power Cosmic Zombies, but the super-villains try to claim the body and a scrap ensues.[volume & issue needed]
  • An alternate version of Stilt-Man appears in Marvel Zombies 3. He is among the group of zombies guarding the compound run by the zombified Kingpin. He is referred to as "... a roving sentry with unlimited sightlines". He confronts Machine Man who is attempting to escape the compound. The android, also on stilts, teases Stilt-Man with how their similarities might have made them friends. Stilt-Man wonders if Machine Man is being serious; he is not and Stilt-Man is quickly destroyed.[52] Another Stilt-Man is seen in another zombie-infested dimension, his body had been picked clean and left to lie in the debris of New York for decades.[53]

In other media

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Television

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Video games

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Merchandise

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References

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  1. ^ Misiroglu, Gina Renée; Eury, Michael (2006). The Supervillain Book: The Evil Side of Comics and Hollywood. Visible Ink Press. ISBN 9780780809772.
  2. ^ Curovic, Irina (September 30, 2018). "25 Marvel Characters That Are Already In The MCU (And Most Fans Didn't Notice)". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  3. ^ Magnett, Chase (July 31, 2018). "'Infinity Wars': Here's Who You Need to Know". ComicBook.com. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  4. ^ Graham, Robert (April 11, 2020). "Marvel: 10 Villains Your Totally Forgot Exist (Who Probably Won't Make A Comeback)". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  5. ^ Beaty, Drew (May 7, 2021). "10 Best Marvel Legacy Villains Who Lived Up To Their Predecessor". Screen Rant. Retrieved 2024-04-11.
  6. ^ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 359. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
  7. ^ Brevoort, Tom; DeFalco, Tom; Manning, Matthew K.; Sanderson, Peter; Wiacek, Win (2017). Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History. DK Publishing. p. 108. ISBN 978-1465455505.
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  14. ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains. New York: Facts on File. p. 329. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.[1]
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  27. ^ The Amazing Spider-Man #237. Marvel Comics.
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  35. ^ Punisher War Journal vol. 2 #4
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  46. ^ Rodriguez, Nick (May 3, 2024). "A Silly Member of the Rogues Gallery is Perfect For Marvel's Spider-Man 3". Game Rant. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
  47. ^ Reddy, Hanumanth; Deegan, Jack (January 29, 2024). "Daredevil: Born Again: Villains We Want to See". MovieWeb. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
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  53. ^ Marvel Zombies Return: Avengers (September 2009). Marvel Comics.
  54. ^ "Voice Of Stilt-Man (Iron Man) – Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  55. ^ @sktchmstrskllz (February 19, 2023). "Animator confirms Stiletto and Stilt-Man connection" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  56. ^ "Voice Of Stiletto (Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur) – Behind The Voice Actors". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
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