Big Bertha (character)

Big Bertha (born Ashley Crawford and legally changed to Bertha Crawford) is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by John Byrne, the character first appeared in ''West Coast Avengers'' vol. 2 #46 (July 1989). Big Bertha belongs to the subspecies of humans called mutants, who are born with superhuman abilities. She is also a member of the Great Lakes Avengers.

Publication history

Big Bertha debuted in ''West Coast Avengers'' vol. 2 #46 (July 1989), created by writer and artist John Byrne. She appeared in the 2005 ''GLX-Mas Special'' one-shot. She appeared in the 2016 ''Great Lakes Avengers'' series. She appeared in the 2018 ''Fantastic Four'' series. She appeared in the 2022 ''Avengers Unlimited Infinity Comic'' series.

Fictional character biography

Not much is known of Bertha's life before she responded to Mr. Immortal's advertisement for a hero team, the team who would become the Great Lakes Avengers. The ''G.L.A.'' mini-series reveals her to be a mutant.

When not using her powers, Ashley is a proverbial "big fish in a small pond," being a famous fashion model in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, her hometown. Although offers have come her way numerous times for more prospective opportunities, she has declined them all, choosing to stay in Milwaukee with the team she considers family.

GLA: Misassembled

During the ''G.L.A.'' mini-series, the team took on Maelstrom who was trying to destroy the universe. After Dinah Soar's death, Big Bertha considered quitting the team to focus on her modeling career but decided to stay. She later captures Leather Boy, a rejected GLA member, who had infiltrated the team's headquarters disguised as Doctor Doom and killed Mr. Immortal and Monkey Joe, Squirrel Girl's sidekick. During the final battle, she tried to save Flatman from being sucked into a vortex made from the device that Maelstrom created to achieve universal destruction. Fortunately, it turned out that only his clothes had been sucked off and he was merely standing at an extreme angle so he wouldn't be seen naked. After their victory, they returned to their headquarters only to find that Tony Stark had sent a cease and desist notice ordering them to stop using the Avengers name. After discovering that they were all mutants, the team changed their name to the Great Lakes X-Men, complete with new costumes.''GLA: Misassembled'' #1–4 (2005)

Civil War/The Initiative

All of the Great Lakes Champions registered with the United States government as required by the Superhuman Registration Act, as revealed when Deadpool mistakenly attempted to apprehend them for violating the Act, only to be defeated and informed that they had already registered.

Big Bertha and her teammates became the Initiative group in charge of Wisconsin, calling themselves the Great Lakes Initiative. They were given a rescue mission to save Dionysus after he fell from Mount Olympus and was captured by A.I.M., who planned to use his powers to cause mental instability on all the superheroes they consider a threat. During the task, Deadpool ambushes Mr. Immortal and Flatman. Flatman recruited him as a reserve member of the team but the mercenary eventually overstayed his welcome. In an attempt to evict Deadpool from their Initiative-sponsored headquarters, Big Bertha agrees on one date. Confusion reigns as she appears for the date in her slim form. After saving lives in a dockside all-you-can-eat restaurant, Bertha realizes that Deadpool was only attracted to her large form. She lectures him, telling of her experiences of only being valued for her looks in her slim form. In response, Deadpool removes his mask revealing his cancer-scarred face. Bertha promptly vomits in the parking lot, much to Deadpool's chagrin. Later, Squirrel Girl manages to evict Deadpool.

Great Lakes Avengers (2016 series)

In the ongoing series ''The Great Lakes Avengers'', it is revealed that the team had disbanded. However, the Great Lakes Avengers reunite after being recruited into the Avengers and battle Dr. Nod, who attempts to obtain Bertha's DNA for use in his weight-loss products.

Powers and abilities

Big Bertha has the ability to alter her own body's fat contents at will. In this form, she possesses superhuman strength and durability, and is bulletproof. Bertha suggested that these capabilities are actually based on the manipulation of body mass, so she can selectively increase fatty tissues in those specific anatomical parts to control their size. She is able to purge the excess fat from her body through induced vomiting, and retain a slim figure.

In addition to her mutant powers, she is also a wealthy supermodel, formidable unarmed combatant, skilled aircraft pilot, and a proficient card player.

Reception

Critical response

Deirdre Kaye of ''Scary Mommy'' called Big Bertha a "role model" and a "truly heroic" female character. ''Comic Book Resources'' ranked Big Bertha 2nd in their "Great Lakes Avengers: Every Member" list, 4th in their "Marvel: 10 Most Powerful Members Of The Great Lakes Avengers" list, and 7th in their "Avengers: The 10 Most Powerful Recruits From The Fifty State Initiative" list.

Analysis

Jack Gaul of ''Comic Book Resources'' included Big Bertha in their "10 Marvel Comics That Accurately Portray Mental Health Conditions" list, writing, "Bertha's transformations require behaviors associated with bulimia. She doesn't eat in excess to grow, but she must induce vomiting if and when she decides to shed the mass, which is always disturbing and likely traumatic. Before she was comfortable as Bertha full-time, Ashley's routine of vomiting to maintain a beauty standard had striking similarities to dysmorphic disorders, despite the drastic physical change it brought."

Other versions

Ultimate Marvel

An alternate universe variant of Big Bertha from Earth-1610 makes a minor appearance in ''Ultimate X-Men'' #50 as a Coney Island freak show attraction.

Deadpool MAX

An alternate universe variant of Big Bertha from an unidentified universe appears in ''Deadpool Max''. This version is a human stripper.''Deadpool MAX'' #9 (August 2011)

In other media

Big Bertha makes a non-speaking cameo appearance in the '' Wolverine and the X-Men'' episode "Greetings from Genosha".

References

External links

Big Bertha
at Marvel.com
{{Great Lakes Avengers
Avengers (comics) characters
Characters created by John Byrne (comics)
Comics characters introduced in 1989
Female characters in comics
Fictional aviators
Fictional characters from Milwaukee
Fictional characters who can change size
Fictional models
Marvel Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability
Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength
Marvel Comics female superheroes
Marvel Comics mutants