Michael Marko (Earth-616)

Man Mountain Marko
Name	Michael Marko
Current Alias	Man Mountain Marko
Affiliation and Relationships
Affiliation	ATF; Maggia Formerly Sinister Sixteen
Marital Status	Single
Physical Characteristics
Gender	Male
Height	6′11″ (2.11 m)
Weight	270 lbs (122.47 kg)
Eyes	Irises: Blue
Hair	Brown
Origin and Living Status
Origin	Mutated by Maggia Scientists. Steroid User.
Living Status	Alive
Reality	Earth-616
Personal Information
Identity	No Dual
Citizenship	American
Occupation	ATF Agent; Former singer, henchman, criminal
Education	High School Dropout
Base of Operations	Galby Building, New York City, New York
Creators and Appearances
Creators	Stan Lee, John Romita Sr.
First	Amazing Spider-Man #73 (March, 1969)
First	Amazing Spider-Man #73 (March, 1969)

 Well, when the meat wagon comes to pick up what's left of you -- tell'em it was Man Mountain Marko who stomped you into the floor!! 

—Man Mountain Marko

History

Early Life

Michael "Man Mountain" Marko was a street thug living in New York City, on day like any other he and his gang spotted someone to harass. The ordinary looking teenager was none other then Peter Parker. Peter was distracted by his Aunt May's illness, just knocked Marko away like he was nothing. It was from that day that Marko began his quest to gain powers. His first step was bodybuilder and taking work as a body guard.

Maggia

File:Michael Marko (Earth-616) from Amazing Spider-Man Vol 2 73.jpg

Working for the Maggia

Man Mountain Marko joined the Maggia. They gave him his wish and had he strength body enhanced through genetic engineering. Using his new found strength he became the loyal lieutenant to Silvermane. He was sent by Silvermane to steal the ancient tablet taken by the Shocker. He was confronted and defeated by Spider-Man.

He then threatened Curt Connors until the scientist agreed to work with Louis Wilson to crack the Lifeline Tablet's secret code.

When Silvermane drank the elixir of life, made with the tablet's formula, at first he was deceived by Caesar Cicero into thinking that the young man was an impostor; nevertheless, when Spider-Man busted in the Galby Building, he tried to protect his master, but he was easily defeated again.

Heroes for Hire

File:Michael Marko (Earth-616).jpg

Marko was sent after Big Ben Donovan, who went to the Heroes for Hire for help. He crashed into the office followed by Marko. He managed to knock out Luke Cage out when their fight exposes live electrical wires which Marko uses electrocute him. He took them both to Caesar Cicero, who wanted Donovan to reveals the location of stolen drugs and is preparing Cage to be buried alive. However Iron Fist arrived and defeated Marko and saved Cage from his fate.

Marko was sent to free Hammerhead from a prison transport protected by the Heroes for Hire. Marko along with the Eel are easily matched against the heroes. However Luke and Danny trade partners, pitting the Eel against Luke, and Man Mountain against Iron Fist, the Heroes for Hire manage to beat their foes. Hammerhead crashed into the prison wall and was arrested.

He teamed up with Nightshade, Stiletto, Discus and the Eel to kidnap Jeryn Hogarth daughter but were stopped by the Heroes for Hire.

Marko obsession with becoming more powerful and he started to use horse steroids. He collected protection money for the Maggia when he went a bit crazy. He trashed an entire bar with Spider-Man inside. Ben Urich told Spidey that Marko took off after kidnapping a kid. Spider-Man learned the truth about the steroids. He tracked Marko to his home but he got the the better of Spider-Man as they fight at first but he tires and Spider-Man fights back and knocks him out. Meanwhile, the 'kidnapped' boy was just a fan of Marko's who wanted to be as big as him.

Jessica Jones

Marko was hired by Mr. Zoumas to kill the private detective Jessica Jones He attempted to strangle her, but Jessica easily defeated him. She dumped the unconscious body of Marko at the feet of Mr. Zoumas during his golf game. They were both the arrested by Agent Clay Quartermain of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Dazzler

Marko tried to quit his life of crime and became a relatively successful singer, even touring Europe. On a flight back to the United States, Marko got drunk and harassed the other passengers. Dazzler was also on the same flight. She used her powers against him to no avail, threatening a stewardess he forced her to sing. The song did not calm him, so she used her powers again knocking him out.

Civil War

Marko joined Hammerhead's group who planned to take advantage of the upheaval during the Civil War. However their base was raided by Iron Man and S.H.I.E.L.D.

Dark Reign

During Dark Reign; Norman Osborn became head of H.A.M.M.E.R.. He offered Marko a job as an ATF agent. He is tasked with Hunting down the Agents of Atlas. However he was no match for Namora. and was teleported to the desert by the Uranian. At another mission to the Temple of Atlas one of the ATF goes rogue, but when Marko confronted him he revealed that he was Jimmy Woo. The Agents of Atlas attacked and Marko fled frightened of Namora. He hid but was found by Mr. Lao the giant dragon who swallowed up Marko whole.

He was later revealed to be alive and working for Boomerang's Sinister Sixteen.

Attributes

Power Grid

Powers

• Marko possesses various superhuman physical attributes after been enhanced by Maggia scientists.
  • Superhuman Strength: Marko's strength was increased to superhuman levels. He could almost hold his own against Luke Cage in his early days.
  • Superhuman Stamina: Marko's muscles generate less fatigue toxins than the muscles of ordinary humans, granting him superhuman stamina.
  • Superhuman Durability: Marko's skin and his muscle and bone tissues are considerably denser than the tissues of an ordinary human, granting him much greater resistance to physical injury than an ordinary human.

Weaknesses

• Steroid Abuse: Marko was addicted to steroids as he wished to increase in size and strength. But a life time of abuse has destroyed his liver.

Notes

• Marko at one point implies he has committed (or would at least be willing to engage in) necrophilia; while trying to fatally strangle Jessica Jones, he exclaims, "Best part of these work-for-hire gigs? Is that after I'm done with you here--I don't have to hand you over... after I'm done with you, I can take your lifeless body out somewhere remote and I can do whatever I want with you. Then you'll really find out why they call me Man Mountain Marko".

See Also

• 34 appearance(s) of Michael Marko (Earth-616)
• 3 appearance(s) in handbook(s) of Michael Marko (Earth-616)
• 2 minor appearance(s) of Michael Marko (Earth-616)
• 6 mention(s) of Michael Marko (Earth-616)
• 15 image(s) of Michael Marko (Earth-616)
• 4 quotation(s) by or about Michael Marko (Earth-616)

Links and References

• Michael Marko on Wikipedia.org