Gladiator (Melvin Potter)

Gladiator (Melvin Potter) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Potter was initially depicted as a supervillain and one of the first enemies of the superhero Daredevil. In civilian life, he is a costume-designer at the Spotlight Costume Shop in New York City. He eventually reformed and became one of the staunchest supporters of Daredevil.

Melvin Potter is portrayed by Matt Gerald in the Marvel Netflix series Daredevil as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Publication history

Gladiator first appeared in Daredevil #18 (July 1966), and was created by Stan Lee and John Romita Sr.

Fictional character biography

Melvin Potter was a costume designer who decided to become a professional criminal. He designed a suit of battle armor for himself, complete with deadly wrist blades, and became known as the Gladiator. He battled Daredevil in his first criminal outing, and then met the Masked Marauder, another enemy of Daredevil's.^[1] Gladiator later appeared in Europe, where he fought Daredevil again, and was then invited to join the Maggia.^[2] He joined Electro's Emissaries of Evil to attack Daredevil again.^[3] Later, Gladiator aided Whitney Frost in a raid of Stark Enterprises, where he first fought Iron Man.^[4]

Gladiator later battled Daredevil again.^[5] Some time later, he fought Daredevil aboard an airplane in flight.^[6] He later allied with the Death-Stalker,^[7] and later still allied with the Beetle.^[8] While under control of the Purple Man, he attacked Daredevil.^[9] Gladiator had one last battle against Daredevil before deciding to reform. He began undergoing therapy from Betsy Beatty,^[10] whom he later married.

Now reformed, the Gladiator later allied with Daredevil and Elektra against the Hand.^[11] Donning his Gladiator costume again, Potter met Spider-Man.^[12]

Potter was pressured into producing a Daredevil costume for a madman in the employ of the crime lord known as the Kingpin, but Murdock comes to tell him to play along.^[13] Potter later donned his Gladiator costume again to discourage a youth from a life of crime.^[14]

He was later forced into working for the Kingpin's elderly predecessor Alexander Bont, who claimed that Potter had a four-year-old daughter that he had never met and that she would die if Potter did not help. Gladiator brought Murdock to Bont, who attempted to kill Murdock and assume his old mantle but instead died of a drug-induced heart attack. The Gladiator was defeated by the new White Tiger, and went back to prison.^[15]

Gladiator is accused of murdering two fellow inmates and Matt Murdock's law firm is defending him. Murdock's super-senses indicate that he is telling the truth when he claims he is innocent. However, at the end of the issue, taunted by another inmate, Gladiator snaps his handcuffs and brutally assaults the inmate and a corrections officer, only to surrender to another officer and claim once again that he didn't do it. Later, after being broken out of an armored car, Melvin beats a confused Daredevil and moves to the sewers, heading for his Gladiator costume.^[16] Gladiator then goes on a rampage in Chinatown killing innocent people and then attacking Matt and Milla in a restaurant. After being knocked out, Matt reawakens in a police car to hear a voice that Gladiator will murder his wife. Matt finds the Gladiator and Milla, rescues Milla, and defeats the Gladiator. Melvin realizes what he has done and attempts suicide, but is saved by Daredevil. Potter is taken back to prison, and is heavily sedated after repeatedly banging his head against the wall. It is revealed that Mr. Fear had secretly administered chemicals to Potter that caused him to go irreversibly insane with rage.^[17]

Powers and abilities

Gladiator has no superhuman abilities. However, he is a superb martial arts fighter and is very physically powerful. He wore a thick metal armor with a helmet and metallic gauntlets, and was armed with an arsenal of edged weapons and whirling, jagged circular sawblades made of titanium steel, one mounted on each gauntlet. Small rotors in the gauntlets cause the blades to rotate at high speeds, and the whirling blades could also be detached to serve as short-range missile weapons.

In civilian life, Potter is an accomplished clothing designer, proficient in drafting, design and sewing.^[18]

Other versions

House of M

In the House of M universe, Gladiator appears as an assassin of the Kingpin.^[19]

Ultimate Marvel

In the Ultimate Marvel universe, Gladiator has a cameo appearance. He appears as an enemy of Spider-Man and is a crazed madman obsessed with "the emperor."^[20]

In other media

Television

• Melvin Potter appears in the live-action Netflix series Daredevil, portrayed by Matt Gerald.^[21] He designs protective suits for Wilson Fisk and his cohorts. Designs for and components of his Gladiator costume from the comic books appear scattered around his workshop in various episodes. He fights with circular sawblades, albeit only as an improvised weapon as he throws them at Daredevil. His relationship with Betsy Beatty is hinted at as he works exclusively for Fisk (and Fisk's allies) because Fisk has threatened to harm Betsy if Potter does not comply or if anyone shows up that wasn't in the company of Fisk. In the episode "The Path of the Righteous," Matt Murdock finds where Melvin works and has a brief skirmish with him. After Matt learns of Fisk's hold on him, Potter later assists Matt by creating a red costume (that resembles the classic comic book outfit for Daredevil) when Matt promises him that Fisk will never hurt Betsy again. By the season one finale, Potter has finished his first suit, in time for Matt's takedown of Fisk. Potter explains the design noting which areas of the armor are more protective against bullets and knives. In season 2, Potter provides Matt with a new mask capable of withstanding gunfire after his old mask is damaged by a bullet during a confrontation with the Punisher. In the episode "Penny and Dime", Potter is seen wearing a prototype version of his trademark Gladiator armor asking Matt if he would like to see the full suit, though Matt politely declines. In the season 2 finale, Potter gives Matt his trademark billy club with grappling hook capabilities. He also tailors a new uniform for Elektra before their final battle with the Hand.

Novels

• Potter appeared in the Daredevil novel Predator's Smile, written by Christopher Golden.

References

External links

• Gladiator at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe