The Freak (Eddie March) is a fictional character associated with

Iron Man Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, the character first appearan ...

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 ...

. He was introduced as a boxer who looked up to

Tony Stark Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, the character first appearan ...

, and called himself "Iron Man" in the ring.

Publication history

Eddie March is the second Marvel Comics character to use the Freak name. Like the first, Happy Hogan, Eddie March was another friend of Tony Stark. He wore Iron Man's armor in ''Invincible Iron Man'' #21 (Jan 1970), in a fight against the

Crimson Dynamo Crimson Dynamo ( Russian: Багровое Динамо, '; also Красное Динамо (Krasnoe Dinamo)) is the name of several characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics who have all been powered armor–weari ...

. He was the first African-American to wear Iron Man's armor. Eddie March first appears as the Freak in ''

'' #67 (April 1974), by

Mike Friedrich Mike Friedrich (; born March 27, 1949) is an American comic book writer and publisher best known for his work at Marvel and DC Comics, and for publishing the anthology series '' Star*Reach'', one of the first independent comics. He is also an ar ...

and George Tuska.

Fictional character biography

While wearing the

Iron Man armor Iron Man's armor is a fictional powered exoskeleton appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is built and worn by billionaire Tony Stark when he assumes the identity of the superhero Iron Man. The first armor was cre ...

, Eddie March is badly injured in a fight with

Thor Thor (from ) is a prominent list of thunder gods, god in Germanic paganism. In Norse mythology, he is a hammer-wielding æsir, god associated with lightning, thunder, storms, sacred trees and groves in Germanic paganism and mythology, sacred g ...

. Stark decides to use the Enervator on Eddie in a desperate attempt to save him. Though Stark takes precautions to prevent the device from transforming Eddie into a monstrous creature, Eddie nonetheless becomes a second version of the Freak. Stark, as Iron Man, tries to subdue him while simultaneously protecting him from the police. He is able to knock out the Freak with a few nerve punches. Once unconscious, the Freak reverts to human form and Thor's alter ego, Dr. Donald Blake, is able to operate on March to save his life.''Iron Man'' #67 (April 1974) Eddie has not transformed into the Freak again since this incident.

References

External links

* * {{Iron Man Characters created by George Tuska Characters created by Mike Friedrich Comics characters introduced in 1970 Iron Man characters