Cardiac (Elias Wirtham) is a fictional character, appearing in

American comic book An American comic book is a thin periodical literature originating in the United States, commonly between 24 and 64 pages, containing comics. While the form originated in 1933, American comic books first gained popularity after the 1938 publ ...

s published by

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...

Publication history

Created by writer

David Michelinie David Michelinie (; born May 6, 1948) is an American comic book writer best known for scripting Marvel Comics' ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' and ''Iron Man'' and the DC Comics feature Superman in ''Action Comics''. Among the characters he created or ...

and penciller

Erik Larsen Erik J. Larsen (born December 8, 1962) is an American comic book artist, writer, and publisher. He currently acts as the chief financial officer of Image Comics. He gained attention in the early 1990s with his art on Spider-Man series for Marvel ...

, he first appeared as Elias Wirtham in ''

The Amazing Spider-Man ''The Amazing Spider-Man'' is an ongoing American superhero American comic book, comic book series featuring the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man as its title character and main protagonist. Being in the Earth 616, mainstream continuity of t ...

'' #342 (December 1990)''

'' #342 (December 1990) and as Cardiac in ''

'' #344 (February 1991).

Fictional character biography

Elias Wirtham is a physician and surgeon, and the owner and administrator of a biological research firm. He is driven to research life-saving medicine by his brother Joshua's death from an rare condition. He later discovers Joshua's death could have been prevented: a company had found a cure for his condition, but did not distribute the medicine due to it not being "profitable". Motivated to battle corporate greed, Elias replaces his heart with a beta-particle reactor which supplies energy through a

vibranium Vibranium () is a fictional metal appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, noted for its extraordinary abilities to absorb, store, and release large amounts of kinetic energy. Mined only in the kingdom of Wakanda, the metal ...

weave mesh under his skin. This energy, channeled through his muscles, increases his physical abilities and can be fired through his fists or the power staff he wields. He adopts the moniker "Cardiac" in reference to the source of his power.''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #376 (April 1993)

Fighting resumes

Cardiac becomes a vigilante, believing himself an instrument of justice. He first encounters

Spider-Man Spider-Man is a superhero in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, he first appearance, first appeared in the anthology comic book ''Amazing Fantasy'' #15 (August 1962) in ...

while raiding Sapridyne Chemicals, a company owned by

Justin Hammer Justin Hammer is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is depicted as a villainous entrepreneur, head of Hammer Industries and a frequent adversary of the superhero Iron Man. He is the ...

which possesses chemicals vital for the production of

cocaine Cocaine is a tropane alkaloid and central nervous system stimulant, derived primarily from the leaves of two South American coca plants, ''Erythroxylum coca'' and ''Erythroxylum novogranatense, E. novogranatense'', which are cultivated a ...

. Hammer hires the

Rhino A rhinoceros ( ; ; ; : rhinoceros or rhinoceroses), commonly abbreviated to rhino, is a member of any of the five extant taxon, extant species (or numerous extinct species) of odd-toed ungulates (perissodactyls) in the family (biology), famil ...

to kill Cardiac for raiding his company, but Cardiac defeats him.''The Amazing Spider-Man'' #344 (February 1991) Cardiac returns periodically to perform his version of justice. He will kill criminals, but he is often bothered by his conscience as a result.

Working with Superior Spider-Man

Elias Wirtham opens the Hospital for Emergency Aid and Recuperative Therapy (H.E.A.R.T.) in the former site of

Mister Negative Mister Negative is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character is usually depicted as an enemy of Spider-Man, the Punisher, Shang-Chi, and Cloak and Dagger. The character was created by Dan Slott and ...

's homeless shelter F.E.A.S.T. He comes into conflict with the

Superior Spider-Man Superior may refer to: *Superior (hierarchy), something which is higher in a hierarchical structure of any kind Places * Superior (proposed U.S. state), an unsuccessful proposal for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to form a separate state *Lak ...

while attempting to treat Amy, a girl who has severe brain damage. However, Spider-Man learns of Cardiac's motivations and agrees to help him cure Amy.''

The Superior Spider-Man ''The Superior Spider-Man'' is the name of three separate superhero American comic book, comic book series published by Marvel Comics, following Otto Octavius as he becomes List of incarnations of Spider-Man, Spider-Man. The first volume, that r ...

'' #7 (April 2013)

Powers and abilities

Cardiac's heart has been surgically replaced with a compact beta-particle reactor, which grants Cardiac power. He can channel beta particles through the neural web of his vibranium-mesh skin into his muscles thereby endowing him with superhuman strength and regeneration, and enhanced speed, agility, reflexes and endurance, and he can channel these particles through external objects (such as his pulse staff and hang glider). He wields a pulse staff which fires concussive force bolts in a distinctive pulse-like energy signature, and rides a beta-propelled hang-glider, which were both invented by Wirtham and his associates. His vibranium-mesh skin is also able to block several bullet shots before the beta-particle energy is depleted. Elias Wirtham's business administrative skills provide him a strong power base with a number of connections to various enterprises. He has also earned an M.D. degree and is an accomplished physician and surgeon.

References

External links

World of Black Heroes: Cardiac Biography
*

Profile at ComicVine.com
{{Spider-Man African-American characters in comics Characters created by David Michelinie Characters created by Erik Larsen Comics characters introduced in 1990 Fictional characters from New York City Fictional characters with energy-manipulation abilities Fictional physicians Fictional stick-fighters Fictional surgeons Marvel Comics characters with accelerated healing Marvel Comics characters with superhuman durability or invulnerability Marvel Comics characters with superhuman strength Marvel Comics cyborgs Marvel Comics male superheroes Marvel Comics male supervillains Spider-Man characters Vigilante characters in comics