Stegron

Stegron the Dinosaur Man is a Marvel Comics super-villain, primarily an antagonist of Spider-Man.

Publication history

Stegron first appeared in Marvel Team-Up #19 and was created by Len Wein and Gil Kane.

Fictional character biography

Vincent Stegron was hired by S.H.I.E.L.D. to work with Dr. Curt Connors to study DNA of dinosaurs from the Savage Land. Inspired by the experiment that turned Connors into the Lizard, Stegron stole some dinosaur DNA and injected himself with it. In moments Stegron transformed into an orange semi-humanoid Stegosaurus-like creature. Stegron gained the ability to command real dinosaurs, and he planned to use them in his plans for conquest of the world and converting all of humanity into creatures like himself. Taking several dinosaurs with him from the Savage Land to New York City, he encountered Spider-Man, Black Panther, and Ka-Zar. During the battle that followed, Stegron was beaten by being knocked into a nearby river.^[1]

Months later, Stegron returned and blackmailed Connors into helping him restore several dinosaur remains from a museum. Connors did what Stegron asked and accidentally turned into the Lizard. The two reptiles clashed as Spider-Man arrived and put Stegron into hibernation using the extremely cold temperatures the weather was producing.^[2]

Months later Stegron, now back in his human form, woke from hibernation and wandered New York. During a battle between the Vulture and Spider-Man, Stegron regained his powers and joined many of Spider-Man's enemies (including Doctor Octopus, Vulture, Rhino, Beetle, Boomerang, Answer, Swarm, Strikeback, and Hardshell) in an all out battle to defeat him. Stegron was knocked unconscious and was taken in by the authorities.^[3]

Stegron battling Spider-Man

Stegron eventually returned to the Savage Land, where he took over a S.H.I.E.L.D. installation which drew the attention of Thunderstrike, Black Widow, and Black Panther. During the battle over the installation, Stegron was forced into an extremely cold environment and again went into hibernation.^[4] Sometime later, Stegron managed to awaken from his slumber and terrorized Roxxon Oil (who was illegally drilling in the Savage Land). Soon, Stegron was opposed by Ka-Zar, Shanna the She-Devil, and Spider-Man. During the battle, the Hulk and a gigantic bird/ox-like creature known as Chtylok arrived and helped Stegron fight Roxxon Oil. The heroes joined forces with Stegron when they realized he was trying to protect the Savage Land. Eventually, Stegron managed to scare the Roxxon agents and was left in peace in the Savage Land.^[5]

Sometime later, Stegron (reverted to his human form) exiled himself to wander the Arctic Circle when he stumbled upon the Rock of Life. Inspired by its de-evolving abilities, he took it with him back to New York where he slowly began to transform back into his dinosaur form. He then sent the Rock to a friend of his, who then put it on display at the Museum of Natural History in hopes that it would devolve the inhabitants of New York City into prehistoric creatures like himself with him as their leader. As a result, various heroes and villains with connections to the animal kingdom such as Spider-Man, Puma, Black Cat, Vulture, Lizard, Man-Wolf, and Vermin were affected by its power, causing an increase in their savagery. Spider-Man maintained control, and he discovered Stegron's plans at the museum where the two battled. With the help of Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman, Spider-Man managed to stop the Rock's powers from reaching others in New York using a piece of his armor. He then beat Stegron into submission. Stegron was then taken into custody by the authorities as the Fantastic Four placed the Rock in a secure vault in the Baxter Building.^[6]

Stegron again returned to the Savage Land, but shortly after his return, Roxxon Oil attacked again, intent on obtaining vibranium. Stegron was recruited by Ka-Zar and Brainchild to help fight the attackers.^[7]

Stegron was later seen in the Negative Zone's Prison during Secret Invasion.^[8] Somehow, he escaped and returned to the Savage Land. While there he happened upon the starving Devil Dinosaur, who had slumped into a depression after his companion Moon-Boy was kidnapped by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. Fearing for the survival of the beast (as it was the last of its species), Stegron left the Savage Land without informing Ka-Zar to wage war on S.H.I.E.L.D. Building an army of reanimated dinosaurs, Stegron marched across the US, attacking military base after base, searching for the missing primate. He met little opposition. His only serious challenge coming from attacks by the Fifty State Initiative. Eventually, due to the help of their new recruit Reptil, Stegron was defeated and taken into custody. Learning the motive behind his attack, they agreed to return Moon Boy to the Savage Land to be reunited with his companion.^[9]

Stegron later collaborates with Sauron in a plan to turn humanity into dinosaurs where they fought Spider-Man and the mutant students from the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. The duo's plans are unraveled by their own infighting, purposely exacerbated by their mutual crush Shark Girl who caused their powers to neutralize each other.^[10][11]

Powers and abilities

Stegron has superhuman strength, speed, stamina, and durability. Stegron possesses a prehensile tail which he can use as a weapon or to grasp items. His skin is very durable and is virtually bulletproof. Stegron also has the mental ability to control or manipulate any dinosaur in an unknown area around him. Recently he has exhibited the power to control or manipulate the reptilian part of the brain in any life form.

During their ill-fated alliance, Sauron granted Stegron the ability to drain life force from others through physical contact.^[12]

Like reptiles, Stegron is vulnerable to cold temperatures.

Other versions

Marvel Adventures

In the Marvel Adventures universe, the Avengers encounter Stegron in the Savage Land.^[13]

Spider-Island

During the Secret Wars storyline, a variation of Stegron lives in the Battleworld domain of Spider-Island. When Vincent Stegron was infected by the Spider Queen's Spider Virus, he was inducted into her Brain Trust. This lasted until Agent Venom and his Resistance attacked their base where Agent Venom gave Vincent Stegron his serum which transformed him into Stegron as he sides with the Resistance.^[14] Stegron later works with Iron Goblin on a Retro-Generation Ray where the Resistance had to relocate to Avengers Mansion.^[15] Stegron later broke into the American Museum of Natural History where he used the Retro-Generation Ray on the dinosaur remains causing the dinosaurs there to live again.^[16] After Agent Venom and his symbiote sacrifice their lives to get the Spider Queen to fall into Columbus Circle, Stegron and his fellow dinosaurs ate her. Some days later, Stegron joined up with the re-assembled Avengers where he helped to rebuild Avengers tower and was present when Dino-Thor swore Spider-Man in as the new Baron of Spider-Island.^[17]

In other media

Video games

• Stegron appears in Marvel: Avengers Alliance. He is seen in Spec-Ops #21 where he is on the High Evolutionary's side at the time when he was in a power struggle against Sauron and A.I.M. in the Savage Land.

Miscellaneous

• Stegron appeared in issue 6 of "Super Hero Squad" (based on The Super Hero Squad Show). He is featured as an archaeologist who is turned into Stegron by an Infinity Fractal.^[18]

References

External links

• Stegron at Marvel.com
• Stegron at Marvel Wiki
• Stegron at Comic Vine
• Info on spiderfan.org
• Stegron at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe