Vector (comics)

Superherobox|

caption=
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Vector
real_name=Simon Utrecht
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Incredible Hulk" (2nd series) #254 (December 1980)
creators=Bill Mantlo and Sal Buscema
alliance_color=background:#cccccc
alliances=U-Foes
aliases=Prisoner V224
powers=repel matter|

Vector (Simon Utrecht) is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics Universe whose first appearance was in "Incredible Hulk" (2nd series) #254. He is the leader of the villainous group, the U-Foes. He alongside the other members of the U-Foes appear primarily as enemies of the Incredible Hulk and Spider-Man.

Fictional character biography

Simon Utrecht was an millionaire, public official, industrialist before gaining his powers. He organised a team to simulate the crash that led to the powers of the Fantastic Four. He promised each member of the team super powers due to exposure (although intentional, not accidental) to cosmic radiation. During this launch, Dr. Bruce Banner (known as the Hulk) was on hand at the base, and believing the ship to be having problems, guided it back to Earth. The now-changed humans called themselves the U-Foes (possible in connection with Utrecht's last name) and blamed Banner for cutting short their radiation exposure.

They again battled the Hulk and this time defeated him. In triumph, they exhibited the captive Bruce Banner on national television. However, Banner was freed by Rick Jones, Betty Ross, and the alien Bereet, and Banner transformed into the Hulk and defeated the U-Foes. ["Incredible Hulk" Vol. 2 #275-277]

Breakout

He plays a big part with the U-Foes in the "New Avengers" tie-in "Spider-Man: Breakout".

Civil War/Initiative

Along with his team, he is arrested by the Thunderbolts and given the choice of working for the government or facing jail time with no trial. ["Thunderbolts" #104] Simon was identified as one of the 142 registered superheroes who appear on the cover of the comic book "" #1. [ [http://www.marvel.com/news/comicstories.947 "Avengers: The Initiative" #1 Character Map] ]

Hood

Though a registered hero, Vector is later seen as part of the Hood's criminal organization who plan to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act.

Powers and abilities

Vector has the power to telekinetically attract, block, and, most prominently, repel matter and energy, directing it away from himself. He can use this power in a variety of ways: repelling inanimate objects to send them flying through the air as deadly missiles; releasing a concentrated blast of energy to strike his foes; and even using the power on the ground to allow himself to fly.

Enormously powerful, as, by focusing his power into blasts, he was even capable of flaying most of the Hulk's skin and muscle tissue from his body when the latter resisted,"The Incredible Hulk" vol. 1, #398 (Oct. 1992)] and repelled the structure of reality itself within the 'Crossroads' nexus, with force he claimed was sufficient to hurl entire worlds,"Incredible Hulk" vol.2, #305] but his power can be resisted by sufficiently powerful foes, such as the Hulk, who twice managed to bull through Vector's repulsion to physically attack him. He is also capable of flight.

Vector was once shown to be able to block and repel the attempts of various superheroes and friends of the Hulk to locate Gamma Base, including the magic of Doctor Strange and the tracking technology of Iron Man and Reed Richards.

Bibliography

*"Avengers" #304
*"Avengers West Coast" #53
*"Darkhawk" #6
*"Heroes for Hire" #1-2, 4, 12
*"Incredible Hulk" (2nd series) #254, 275-278, 304-305, 397-399, 401
*"New Avengers" #1-4
*"Spider-Man: Breakout" #1-5
*"Thunderbolts 1997"

Other media

Video games

Vector (alongside the other U-Foes members) appears in "The Incredible Hulk" video game voiced by S. Scott Bullock.

References