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Elias Wirtham (Earth-616)

From Marvel Database

Character Template Help
Real Name
Dr. Elias "Eli" Wirtham
Current Alias

Aliases
None

Identity

Alignment

Relatives
Unnamed Parents, Joshua Wirtham (brother, deceased)

Universe

Base Of Operations
Blessing private hospital, New York City

Characteristics
Gender

Height


Eyes

Hair

Unusual Features
Vibranium mesh skin; heart is powered by beta particle reactor

Status
Citizenship

Marital Status

Occupation
Vigilante, physician, surgeon, owner and administrator of biological research firm.

Education
Doctor of Medicine

Origin
Origin
Upon discovering his beloved brother's death was the cause of a corrupt manufacturer, Elias used his knowledge, skills and equipment to effectively become a Cyborg, in order to get revenge.

Place of Birth
Roslyn, New York


Contents

History

Dedication To Joshua

When Elias Wirtham's older brother Joshua died of an incurable disease, Elias devoted himself to medicine, intending to save lives in honor of his brother's memory. In medical school, he roomed with Dr. Kevin Trench, and as his career began he befriended biotechnician Gerald Stone and industrialist Tony Stark, among others. Learning of a miracle drug that could have saved Joshua's life, Elias directed his flourishing company to take over the drug manufacturer. After acquiring the business assets, Elias was horrified to learn that the drug had been developed years ago, but the company had withheld releasing it in order to earn more money.[1]

Cardiac

Power From The Heart

Now disgusted by his brother's meaningless death, Elias subjected himself to experiments that replaced his heart with a beta particle reactor, and fused a Vibranium mesh into his skin. Assuming the costumed guise of Cardiac, he set out to avenge the deaths of innocents at the hands of individuals who were untouchable by the law. When he targeted Justin Hammer's company Sapirdyne Chemicals for manufacturing cocaine, he encountered Hammer's enforcers Rhino and Boomerang, as well as the heroic Spider-Man (Peter Parker). Cardiac looked up to Spider-Man as his own hero, and made repeated fruitless attempts to make Spider-Man his ally.[2]

Cardiac next targeted Stane International's Techtoy Company for manufacturing nerve drugs. While pursuing controversial filmmaker William Gant, Cardiac encountered Gerald Stone, who had become a mercenary with his partner Styx. As Wirtham, he learned that the energy-draining Styx was a living cancer which Stone was attempting to cure. Wirtham pretended to offer his help to Stone, but instead tried to slay Styx to prevent him from further killings. Styx and Stone invaded Cardiac when Spider-Man arrived. Cardiac's next target was faulty building manufacturer Steven Polk, but the police's Code: Blue Team saved Polk's life. John Blaze and Vengeance later helped Cardiac expose Child, Inc., a charity that was secretly selling children; the trio successfully freed the children.[3]

Reunion & Loss of Trench

Cardiac repeatedly attacked Morelle Pharmaceuticals, manufacturers of various cybernetic agents and "sharkskin" battlesuits. During his investigations of Morelle, he was reunited with Kevin Trench, now the vigilante Nightwatch. Together they fought Morelle's agents, including the spy Cardiaxe, who had duplicated Cardiac's own abilities. When Cardiac targeted faulty airbag designer James Kapostaz, Kapostaz suffered a heart attack. Cardiac found himself in an unusual position when he was called in to operate on Kapostaz as Wirtham, but was able to stabilize his condition. He contemplated going after Kapostaz again, but was denied when Kapostaz died in recovery. When Nightwatch was killed by participants in the Great Game, Cardiac began targeting the Game's participants for revenge, but the Games were ultimately suspended.[4]

Later, Cardiac, the anti-terrorist vigilante Solo and many other New York superheroes fought a rampaging Wolverine, who had been psychically possessed by the extraterrestrial Aria. Wolverine defeated them all. Cardiac and Solo subsequently confronted a Skrull that was impersonating Wolverine to determine if the hero had gone rogue, but Nightcrawler vouched for Wolverine's temporary possession, satisfying Cardiac. When last seen, Cardiac was pursuing Drugco, a pharmaceutical company which had tainted its drug supplies, and he again clashed with Spider-Man.[5]

Powers and Abilities

Powers

  • Beta Particle Reactor: Cardiac's heart has been replaced by this device, giving him access to powers and abilities incapable of being performed by normal humans. The Beta Particle Reactor even enables him to channel the energy for a variety of purposes.
  • Vibranium Mesh Skin: Cardiac's skin and muscle tissue has been grafted with a mesh composed of Vibranium, which allows him to move without making a sound. It also channels his beta particles.
  • Superhuman Strength: By channeling Beta Particles into his Vibranium mesh, Cardiac is able to grant himself superhuman strength sufficient to lift about 15 tons under optimum conditions.
  • Superhuman Speed: Cardiac is capable of running and moving at speeds greater than even the finest human athlete, assisted by his Beta Particle Reactor pumping his blood.
  • Superhuman Stamina: As with his strength and speed, Cardiac can channel Beta Particles throughout his body, causing his muscles to produce considerably less fatigue toxins during physical activity than the muscles of an ordinary human. He can exert himself at peak capacity for several hours before fatigue begins to affect him.
  • Superhuman Durability: Due to a combination of the Vibranium mesh grafted to his body and hse control of Beta Particles, Cardiac's body is much more resistant to physical injury than that of an ordinary human. He is capable of withstanding great impact forces and even small caliber bullets without sustaining physical injury.
  • Beta Particle Blasts: Cardiac is able to project Beta Particles through either end of a specially designed staff that he caries, creating powerful blasts of energy.

    Abilities

  • High Intellect: Cardiac is a highly gifted and intelligent human being and inventor.
  • Bio-Technics Expert: From all of his gadgets and experience using biological cyberneticss, Elias is one of the foremost experts on bio-technics.
  • Skilled Surgeon: Elias is a skilled surgeon, having taken medical school.

    Strength level

Able to lift about 15 tons under optimum conditions.

Weaknesses

  • Reactor/Heart Failure: Elias' heart requires regular recharging to sustain his life. Over taxing the reactor, or going for long periods of time without recharging it, can prove fatal.

Paraphernalia

Equipment

  • Pseudoskin: In order to avoid people noticing his cybernetic enhancements, Elias wears a layer of artificial "pseudoskin" over his reengineered parts to disguise them.

    Transportation

Flight

Weapons

  • Beta Staff: Cardiac wields an extendable metal staff. It can project electric bolts and be used for acrobatic maneuvers. The staff also connects to a cybernetically controlled, ultra-light, hang-glider that supports his weight during flight for short distances.
  • Stingray Hang-Glider("Hawk-Glider"): Controlled by Beta particles, the Stingray Hang-Glider links to Cardiac's beta staff to engage in flight.

Links

Discover and Discuss

  1. ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Spider-Man - Back In Black
  2. ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Spider-Man - Back In Black
  3. ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Spider-Man - Back In Black
  4. ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Spider-Man - Back In Black
  5. ↑ Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe - Spider-Man - Back In Black
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