Leap-Frog (comics)

Leap-Frog is the name of two Marvel Comics supervillains who use a Frog suit costume containing electrical coils on the soles of each of the two flippers which allow the wearer to leap great distances up to 60ft high or 100ft long. The boots' power source is worn on his back like a back pack, and triggered via hidden buttons in his gloves. In addition, the costume later had a strength-boosting exoskeleton along with substantial internal padding and a computer-guided system for leaping accuracy.

Vincent Patilio

Superherobox


caption = Enter the Leap-Frog! Art by Gene Colan (1967)
character_name = Leap-Frog
publisher = Marvel Comics
debut = Daredevil Vol. 1 #25
(February 1967)
creators = Stan Lee
Gene Colan
Frank Giacoia
alter ego = Vincent "Vinnie" Patilio
Base of operations = Manhattan, New York;
Brooklyn, New York
alliances= agent of Justin Hammer, Defenders Impersonators, Emissaries of Evil, Damage Control
aliases= Vincent Colorito, Frog-Face, Leap-Frog, Frog-Man
powers= Exoskeleton Frog suit grants:
ability to leap large distances,
improved strength,
internal padding for impacts|

Vincent "Vinnie" Colorito Patilio, the original and best known Leap-Frog was a supervillain most commonly associated with Daredevil.

The character was created by Stan Lee and Gene Colan in "Daredevil" #25 (February, 1967), and was basically a criminal in a frog costume with springs under his shoes. However, his later improved suit and superior athletic abilities made him a serious fighter.

Fictional character biography

Tired of his lack of success as an inventor of novelty items for toy companies, Vincent Patiliodesigned himself electrically-powered coils that could be used for leaping great distances and incorporated them into a frog-like costume. [Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #4: Frog-Man/Marvel Knights]

Calling himself Leap-Frog, Patilio was not known for being lucky in his criminal career. For example, he started by taking blind lawyer Matt Murdock hostage (Murdock being in fact the civilian identity of superhero Daredevil). Other attempts at being a criminal failed at the hands of Daredevil, before Leap-Frog was defeated by Iron Man and sent to jail.

Patilio served his time in prison and then returned to his wife Rose and young son Eugene. Rose's salary kept the family financially solvent until she died of cancer. Barely making enough money to support himself and his son, Patilio fell into despair. At this time, his son Eugene donned a version of his costume to attempt to create a heroic career as "Frog-Man." Patilio was at first proud of his son for capturing the villain Speed Demon, but his pride turned to disapproval as Eugene continued to serve as a superhero. Patilio forbade his son to adventure as Frog-Man.

Patilio later went undercover in the villainess White Rabbit's gang on behalf of the police, which brought him into conflict with his son, who, as Frog-Man, tried to take down the White Rabbit. Patilio ultimately defeated the White Rabbit with the help of his son and got a reward that considerably eased his financial worries.

When the White Rabbit reappeared, she teamed up with the Walrus to create mayhem which would not stop until the Frog-Man surrendered to her. Spider-Man went after the two. Meanwhile, Vincent ordered Eugene to stay at home while he donned his revamped costume, announced himself as Frog-Man and joined Spider-Man. However, Eugene also donned his own costume and joined the struggle, and the trio managed to stop the criminals. [Spectacular Spider-Man Vol. 2 #185] .

Currently, Patilio remains retired from adventuring.

Buford Lange

Buford Lange is an abusive father who stumbled upon an abandoned Leap-Frog costume and began a short-lived criminal career.

Lange fought Daredevil on a rooftop, only to be electrocuted by his own autistic son, Timmy, who didn't want to see his hero, Daredevil, hurt. Lange fell off the rooftop and into a garbage truck on the street below and disappeared. [Daredevil Vol. 2 #16-19]

When Al Kraven, the son of Kraven the Hunter began collecting a zoo of animal-themed superhumans, a Leap-Frog-costumed person is clearly seen in one of the cages [Punisher War Journal Vol.2 #13] . The captive, before seemingly being killed by Kraven, referred to himself as "not the original Frog-Man" [Punisher War Journal Vol.2 #15] , giving the impression that he is Lange rather than Eugene Patilio.

References

External links

* [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/leapfrogpatilio.htm Leap-Frog at the UHMU]
* [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix4/leapfroglange.htm Marvel Appendix Lange entry]