It always weirded me out that his mouth was seemingly part of the mask.
THE SCORPION I (MacDonald "Mac" Gargan)
Created By: Stan Lee & Steve Ditko
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #19 (Dec. 1964)
Role: Left-Behind Villain, Upgraded Villain
Spidey Villain Ranking: C-List
Group Affiliations: The Masters of Evil
PL 10 (152)
STRENGTH 10
STAMINA 9
AGILITY 4
FIGHTING 8
DEXTERITY 3
INTELLIGENCE 0
AWARENESS 1
PRESENCE 0
Skills:
Acrobatics 2 (+6)
Deception 4 (+4)
Expertise (Current Events) 2 (+2)
Insight 2 (+3)
Intimidation 8 (+8)
Investigation 4 (+5)
Perception 1 (+2)
Ranged Combat (Tail Sprays) 1 (+8)
Stealth 2 (+6)
Advantages:
All-Out Attack, Chokehold, Diehard, Great Endurance, Fast Grab, Improved Critical (Tail Strike) 2, Improved Hold, Improved Initiative, Improved Smash, Power Attack, Ranged Attack 4, Seize Initiative, Startle, Tracking
Powers:
"Scorpion Physiology"
Leaping 2 (30 feet) [2]
Movement 2 (Wall-Crawling 2) [4]
"Scorpion Costume" (Flaws: Removable) [36]
Protection 1 (Extras: Impervious 5) (6)
Extra Limb 1 (1)
"Tail Acid Spray" Blast 9 Linked to Weaken Toughness 6 (Extras: Ranged, Affects Objects) (36) -- (38)
- AE: "Tail Tear Gas Spray" Affliction 9 (Fort; Dazed & Impaired Vision/Stunned & Disabled Vision/Incapacitated) (Extras: Area- 15ft. Cloud, Extra Condition) (27)
- AE: "Tail Strike" Strength-Damage +2 (Feats: Reach 2) (Extras: Penetrating 8) (12)
-- (45 points)
Offense:
Unarmed +8 (+10 Damage, DC 25)
Tail Strike +8 (+12 Damage, DC 27)
Acid Spray +8 (+9 Damage & +6 Weaken, DC 24 & 16)
Tear Gas Spray +9 Area (+9 Affliction, DC 24)
Initiative +8
Defenses:
Dodge +8 (DC 18), Parry +8 (DC 18), Toughness +9 (+10 Costume, +3 Impervious), Fortitude +10, Will +5
Complications:
Motivation (Revenge)- Gargan hates J.Jonah Jameson for turning him into a freak, and Spider-Man for defeating him time and time again. He has ruined perfectly-good missions just because he got too focused on his vendettas.
Enemy (Spider-Man)
Responsibility (Insane)- The process which turned Gargan into The Scorpion has driven him insane, and he often spends time on a rampage.
Total: Abilities: 70 / Skills: 26--13 / Advantages: 18 / Powers: 42 / Defenses: 9 (152)
-The Scorpion, a Private Investigator hired to shadow Peter Parker (to uncover just WHERE he got those fabulous Spidey pix) then turned by JJJ into a super-powered menace, was initially a REALLY tough villain, capable of beating Spider-Man handily in a fight. It's a classic concept- the villain who takes the hero's powers and IMPROVES on them, thus becoming a major-league super-threat that requires the hero to use his head and natural talent to win. It wasn't to last, alas, as Spider-Man quickly gained in talent and experience, while Gargan got a never-ending supply of power-upgrades and new costumes, but never quite enough to be anything more than a one-note Jobber.
-I remember one particularly bad instance where Spidey had some stuff going on in his life, and was doing one of those "issue-long narration" things about it, while COMPLETELY IGNORING The Scorpion during a big fistfight between the two of them. He literally didn't mention Gargan the entire time, and basically ended up having beaten him while STILL narrating to himself. He'd pop up on Egghead's goofy-ass Masters of Evil team, fight Captain America of all people a couple times, and generally was just a "filler", non-epic Spidey villain- after all, Pete had a DOZEN better villains to choose from, no matter HOW cool it is to be based off of one of nature's most bad-ass killers. Gargan was thus as desperate as ANY villain for a major upgrade (all those sad '90s uniforms failed to last even a single story).
-Despite being a pathetic villain most of the time, The Scorpion is a PL 10 and rather dangerous, but mainly dependent on that tail. Most Scorpion stories only have the Tail Strike, but the '90s saw a series of upgrades with Tear Gas, Acid Spray (Blast linked to Weaken), and some other bits that got placed in and out depending on what the writers remembered. His Tail Strike is still easily his best attack, doing +12 damage (approaching Class 100 Powerhouse levels), and typically being boosted with Power Attack. He's rather inaccurate otherwise, but good enough to last a few rounds with Spidey, and his natural Strength & Toughness help him out. He's a pretty mediocre detective (I'm pretty sure his debut is the only time he'd ever used it), but packs a good deal of Combat Advantages onto his build. Not the prettiest PL 10, but he'd beat the PISS out of an Avengers Academy kid, even at this stage.
VENOM II (MacDonald "Mac" Gargan, aka The Scorpion)
Created By: Stan Lee & Steve Ditko
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #19 (Dec. 1964)
Role: Upgraded Villain, Mirror Image Villain, Chaotic Evil Psychopath
Villain/Ally Ranking: A-List
Group Affiliations: The Masters of Evil, The Thunderbolts, The Dark Avengers
PL 12 (235)
STRENGTH 10/11
STAMINA 9/11
AGILITY 4/8
FIGHTING 8/9
DEXTERITY 3
INTELLIGENCE 0
AWARENESS 1
PRESENCE 0
Skills:
Acrobatics 2 (+6, +10 Agility, +12 Spider-Sense)
Deception 4 (+4)
Expertise (Current Events) 2 (+2)
Insight 2 (+3)
Intimidation 8 (+8, +12 Face, +15 Size)
Investigation 4 (+5)
Perception 1 (+2, +8 Spider-Sense)
Ranged Combat (Tail Sprays) 1 (+8)
Stealth 2 (+6, +10)
Advantages:
All-Out Attack, Chokehold, Daze (Intimidation), Diehard, Extraordinary Effort, Great Endurance, Fascinate (Intimidation), Fast Grab, Fearless, Improved Critical (Tail Strike) 2, Improved Critical (Unarmed), Improved Hold, Improved Initiative, Improved Smash, Last Stand, Power Attack, Ranged Attack 4, Seize Initiative, Startle, Tracking
Powers:
"Symbiotic Costume"
"Immune to Spider-Sense" Concealment (Spider-Sense) 1 (Extras: Continuous) [3]
"More Than Proportionate to A Spider"
Enhanced Strength 1 [2]
Enhanced Stamina 2 [4]
Protection 1 [1]
Enhanced Agility 4 [8]
"Spider-Movement"
Movement 2 (Wall-Crawling 2) [4]
Speed 2 [2]
Leaping 2 (30 feet) [2]
"Mimicking Scorpion Tail"
Extra Limb 1 [1]
"Tail Strike" Strength-Damage +1 (Feats: Reach 2) (Extras: Penetrating 8) [11]
"Spider-Sense- Warns of Danger & Boosts Agility"
Senses 1 (Danger Sense) [1]
Enhanced Fighting 1 [2]
Enhanced Skills 10: Acrobatics 2 (+12), Perception 6 (+8), Close Combat (Unarmed) 2 (+11) [5]
Enhanced Advantages 2: Defensive Strike, Uncanny Dodge [2]
Enhanced Dodge 2 [2]
Enhanced Parry 2 [2]
"Cellular-Morphing Qualities"
"Scary-Ass Face" Enhanced Skills 4: Intimidation 4 (+14) [2]
Features 1: Carries Pocket [1]
Senses 1 (Radius Sight) [1]
Regeneration 4 [4]
Morph 2 (10) -- [11]
- AE: Concealment (Visuals) 2 (Flaws: Blending) (2)
"Self-Created Webbing"
"Web-Shooters"
"Web-Line" Movement 1 (Swinging) [2]
"Spider-Web" Snare 10 (Feats: Split, Tether) (32) -- [33]
- AE: "Tendril Burst" Snare 10 (Extras: Area- 30ft. Burst) (Flaws: Touch Range) (30)
"Inconsistent Growth Powers- 20 Feet Tall"
Growth 2 (Str & Sta +2, +2 Mass, +1 Intimidation, -1 Dodge/Parry, -2 Stealth) -- (8 feet) [4]
Growth 6 (+6 Mass, +3 Intimidation, -3 Dodge/Parry, -6 Stealth) -- (18 feet) (Flaws: Limited to Non-ST & STA Growths) [6]
"Height" Reach 2 [2]
Features 2: Increased Mass 2 [2]
Offense:
Unarmed +11 (+11 Damage, DC 26)
Tail Strike +9 (+12 Damage, DC 27)
Large Size +11 (+13 Damage, DC 28)
Web Burst +10 Area (+10 Ranged Affliction, DC 20)
Spider-Web +10 (+10 Ranged Affliction, DC 20)
Initiative +12
Defenses:
Dodge +4 (+10 Agility, DC 20), Parry +8 (+11 Senses, DC 21), Toughness +12, Fortitude +13, Will +6
"Growth" Dodge +8 (DC 18), Parry +9 (DC 19), Toughness +14, Fortitude +15, Will +6
Complications:
Motivation (Revenge)- Gargan hates J.Jonah Jameson for turning him into a freak, and Spider-Man for defeating him time and time again.
Obsession (Consumption of Flesh)- The Symbiote's bloodthirstiness has driven Gargan even madder than normal, and he will freely consume flesh whenever available to him, regardless of the consequences.
Enemy (Spider-Man)
Power Loss/Weakness (Webbing)- If Venom uses too much "Webbing", he will lose strength, or the ability to produce more, having used up too many of the symbiote's cells.
Power Loss (Fire & Sonics)- The Symbiote Race fears both fire and extremely loud noises. Being in proximity to either weakens Gargan to the point of losing all his abilities, moreso with more powerful applications.
Weakness (Fire & Sonics)- Similarly, Venom takes extra damage from fire and sonics. This depends on the writer (or the GM).
Power Loss (Growth)- Gargan can only grow to full size with enough effort, or after being injured. Usually it is only in response to an extremely large or tough foe, as well.
Total: Abilities: 70 / Skills: 26--13 / Advantages: 24 / Powers: 120 / Defenses: 8 (235)
-Gargan-As-Venom is one of the better ideas Marvel's had in the past ten years- it saved both a poisoned villain in the over-used Eddie Brock, and a poisoned villain in the jobbed-out Mac Gargan. Once Brock got rid of the symbiote and tried to commit suicide, the symbiote looked for a new host (after rejecting a mob boss' weak son, leaving him to die in mid-leap), and hooked up with Gargan, who was in the middle of a big scheme with Norman Osborn against Spidey. Though Gargan lost, he now had the big bad-ass push of most villains' dreams, and he went all-out. He appeared in TONS of books as a major character, especially during
Dark Reign and
Siege, and fought Anti-Venom and others, proving himself as a major star. Though he got jobbed-out a few too many times for my taste (Spidey still routinely mocks him as a "freaking loser", and he's given a world of trouble by guys like Spider-Kid and Andreas Von Strucker in
Thunderbolts), they did him a major boon with THAT push.
-Gargan is kind of a pain in the ass with that Growth power, but aside from that it's a standard addition of Venom's powers boosting up Gargan's frame, plus a tail he can make himself. The symbiote makes him tougher than Brock, and a notch stronger, but he's still a PL 11 at normal size. Enough to kick Spidey's ass, but he still maintains a losing record against him thanks to Spidey's added experience, smarts and luck.
THE SCORPION I (MacDonald "Mac" Gargan, aka Venom II)- Upgraded
Created By: Stan Lee & Steve Ditko
First Appearance: The Amazing Spider-Man #19 (Dec. 1964)
Role: Upgraded Villain, Mirror Image Villain, Chaotic Evil Psychopath
Villain/Ally Ranking: A-List
Group Affiliations: The Masters of Evil, The Thunderbolts, The Dark Avengers
PL 11 (164)
STRENGTH 11
STAMINA 9
AGILITY 4
FIGHTING 9
DEXTERITY 3
INTELLIGENCE 0
AWARENESS 1
PRESENCE 0
Skills:
Acrobatics 2 (+6, +8 Sense)
Deception 4 (+4)
Expertise (Current Events) 2 (+2)
Insight 2 (+3)
Intimidation 8 (+8)
Investigation 4 (+5)
Perception 1 (+2, +6 Sense)
Ranged Combat (Tail Sprays) 1 (+8)
Stealth 2 (+6, +10)
Advantages:
All-Out Attack, Chokehold, Daze (Intimidation), Diehard, Extraordinary Effort, Great Endurance, Fascinate (Intimidation), Fast Grab, Fearless, Improved Critical (Tail Strike) 2, Improved Critical (Unarmed), Improved Hold, Improved Initiative, Improved Smash, Last Stand, Power Attack, Ranged Attack 4, Seize Initiative, Startle, Tracking
Powers:
"Arachnid Movement"
Movement 2 (Wall-Crawling 2) [4]
Speed 2 [2]
Leaping 2 (30 feet) [2]
"Scorpion-Sense- Warns of Danger & Boosts Agility"
Senses 1 (Danger Sense) [1]
Enhanced Skills 6: Acrobatics 2 (+12), Perception 4 (+6) [4]
Enhanced Advantages 2: Defensive Strike, Uncanny Dodge [2]
Enhanced Dodge 2 [2]
Enhanced Parry 2 [2]
"Cybernetic Scorpion Systems"
Extra Limb 1 [1]
"Tail Strike" Strength-Damage +2 (Feats: Reach 2) (Extras: Penetrating 8) [12]
"Body Armour" Protection 3 (Extras: Impervious 7) [10]
Offense:
Unarmed +9 (+11 Damage, DC 26)
Tail Strike +9 (+13 Damage, DC 28)
Initiative +4
Defenses:
Dodge +8 (+10 Senses, DC 20), Parry +9 (+11 Senses, DC 21), Toughness +9 (+12 Armour), Fortitude +11, Will +6
Complications:
Motivation (Revenge)- Gargan hates J.Jonah Jameson for turning him into a freak, and Spider-Man for defeating him time and time again.
Enemy (Spider-Man)
Total: Abilities: 74 / Skills: 26--13 / Advantages: 24 / Powers: 42 / Defenses: 11 (164)
-Gargan was eventually separated from the Symbiote after a few years (it was then attached to FLASH THOMPSON of all people), which I feel is a big mistake- Marvel made COUNTLESS attempts at upgrading The Scorpion for years (especially in the '90s), and they all basically turned into nothing, as he already had a reputation as a Jobber by that point. With the Symbiote being taken away while he was in The Raft (post-
Siege), Gargan was given a new suit by Alistair Smythe, in another attempt to hurt J. Jonah Jameson. Doc Ock (in Spidey's body) was able to access Parker's memories and hatred of Gargan to fuel a SUPER-punch to rip Gargan's jawbone off. So yeah, he's a Jobber again, doomed to just show up as a "background villain" or a one-off. But still PL 10-11, since he's gotten some boosts with his Armour. He might get downgraded right back to PL 10 over time, but we'll see.