Armless Tiger Man

Gustav Hertz, better known as the Armless Tiger Man, is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

As the name indicates, the Armless Tiger Man does not have any arms, having lost them in an industrial accident in his youth. Instead, he is a skilled fighter with his sharpened teeth and feet. Being recruited by the Gestapo he was used as a Nazi-henchman in several Marvel comic stories set in World War II. He was originally an enemy of the Golden Age Angel but also had run-ins with Captain America as well as the WW II-era Black Panther.

Publication history

Armless Tiger Man first appeared in Marvel Mystery Comics #26 and was created by Paul Gustavson and Al Bellman.

Fictional character biography

Gustav Hertz is a man who worked in a mechanical laboratory in his youth. One day, his arms were caught in the machine and ended up amputated. After being discharged from the hospital, Gustav learned how to use his teeth and feet to act like his hands. After years of training, Gustav became the Armless Tiger Man and started a campaign to destroy machines as his revenge for the loss of his arms. He was finally caught by the Gestapo. When the Gestapo learned about his hatred towards machines, they sent Armless Tiger Man to North America to do as he would. After Armless Tiger Man murdered a man named Dill (who provided him with information on the Johnston Defense Plant), Angel was put on the trail of Armless Tiger Man. Angel traced Armless Tiger Man to his hotel room due to his wine Chateau Quim. Disguised as a hotel waiter, Armless Tiger Man recognized Angel and kicked him in the face. Angel fought back against Armless Tiger Man who slid down the chandelier chain. Angel followed until Armless Tiger Man kicked him off the chain. Angel later caught up with Armless Tiger Man at the Johnston Defense Plant where he was seen wrecking the machines. Angel fought with Armless Tiger Man and incapacitated him by jamming a piece of pipe in his mouth. After tying up Armless Tiger Man and interrogating him on his motives, Angel handed him over to the police.^[1]

Armless Tiger Man later assisted Master Man and Warrior Woman into partaking in an all-out assault on Wakanda where they fought Captain America, T'Chaka, and Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos. Armless Tiger Man even threatened to kill T'Chaka if he didn't have Wakanda's forces surrender.^[2] Armless Tiger Man was shot and killed by Gabe Jones while attempting to hold a Wakandan child hostage. ^[3]

Armless Tiger Man was next seen in the Underworld serving on Pluto's jury (alongside Abomination, Artume, Baron Heinrich Zemo, Commander Kraken, Iron Monger, Jack O'Lantern, Kyknos, Nessus, Orka, Scourge of the Underworld, and Veranke) at Zeus's trial.^[4] Hercules attacked Armless Tiger Man and the other jury members, but they overpowered him before the trial.^[5] Armless Tiger Man and the jury members later attacked Pluto when he refused to honor their promises to release them from the Underworld.^[6]

Powers and abilities

Armless Tiger Man can use his teeth and feet in many ways. He can slide down a chain with his teeth, bite people and swing on a rope by biting it. His teeth have been sharpened for use as weapons. With his feet, he can hurl knives from between his toes, catch heavy weights, and perform nimble tasks of agility.

In other media

Video games

• Armless Tiger Man appears in a teaser image for Season Two of Marvel: Avengers Alliance, parodying the cover of X-Men 141, the opening issue of Days of Future Past.^[7] He is one of the victims of the Circle of Eight and is found dead alongside Lady Octopus.

References

External links

• Armless Tiger Man at Marvel Wiki
• Armless Tiger Man at Marvel Appendix
• Armless Tiger Man at Comic Vine