Stunner (comics)

Superherobox


caption=Stunner's first appearance.
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Stunner
real_name=Angelina Brancale
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Amazing Spider-Man" #397 (January 1995)
creators=J.M. DeMatteis
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
alliances=
aliases=
powers=Virtual reality construct with super-strength and endurance.|

Angelina Brancale is a supervillain in the Marvel Comics Universe. Originally an overweight and lonely receptionist working for Dr. Carolyn Trainer, she was given great strength and beauty through virtual reality technology and became the super-villain known as Stunner.

Fictional character biography

Quiet and shy Angelina Brancale was the typical outcast in high school. As she grew older, she never expected to amount to anything, and grew increasingly depressed. Working as a secretary, she was chosen by Doctor Octopus to be the guinea pig for his new virtual reality invention. The test was a success, and Angelina mentally created Stunner, the beautiful, thin woman she always wished she was. Stunner eventually fell in love with Doctor Octopus. During her first outing as Stunner, she rampaged through a bar filled with men, attacking several of the customers and later battling Spider-Man. She was able to defeat him easily due to a viral infection that he was suffering from at the time, and with Doctor Octopus, unmasked the super hero and discovered his true identity. Stunner and Doctor Octopus then created an elaborate plan after saving Peter Parker's life to have Doctor Octopus arrested by the police.

The plan failed when Kaine entered, knocking Stunner out and killing Doctor Octopus. Stunner later joined forces with detective Jacob Raven to find Kaine so Stunner could exact her revenge for killing the only man she loved. Stunner does indeed find Kaine, but is taken out early in the battle and vanishes when Spider-Man attempts to save her. Angelina then hopelessly ends her search for revenge, instead working in a movie rental shop. Lady Octopus finds her and enlists her help to resurrect Doctor Octopus, and she becomes Stunner once more.

Working with The Rose, Delilah, and the True Believers (an offshoot of The Hand), they realize a human sacrifice is needed. Stunner immediately volunteers, thinking that since she is a virtual reality construct, her real body would not be affected. The resurrection succeeds, but Stunner melts away and Angelina slips into a coma. Doctor Octopus, discovering his beloved Stunner, created a shrine for her and, as of a story dated November 1997, continued to visit her.

Stunner has not appeared or been referred to since.

Bibliography

* "Amazing Scarlet Spider" #2
* "Amazing Spider-Man" #397-398, 403, 426-428
* "Amazing Spider-Man Unlimited" #9, 18
* "Peter Parker: The Spider-Man" #220-221
* "Scarlet Spider" #2
* "Spectacular Scarlet Spider" #2
* "Spider-Man" #60
* "Web of Spider-Man" #124, 126