Grizzly (comics)

Grizzly is the name of four unrelated characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first is a wild west villain, the second is an A.I.M. Agent, the third is a foe of Spider-Man, and the fourth is a mutant and member of Six Pack.

Publication history

The third Grizzly is ex-wrestler Maxwell "Max" Markham, one of Spider-Man's enemies.[1] He first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #139 (Dec. 1974) and was created by Gerry Conway and Ross Andru.[2]

The fourth Grizzly is Theodore Winchester. He first appeared in X-Force #8 and was created by Rob Liefeld.

Fictional characters biographies

Grizzly (Ace Fenton)

Grizzly
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceRawhide Kid vol. 4 #40 (June 1964)
Created byStan Lee
Dick Ayers
In-story information
Alter egoAce Fenton
SpeciesHuman
AbilitiesWears a steel-lined grizzly bear costume

Ace Fenton is a criminal in the Old West who went by the Grizzly name. During a bank robbery, he encounters Two-Gun Kid and Rawhide Kid. When Rawhide Kid is suspected of robbing a train, Two-Gun Kid advises him to turn himself over. Fenton begins stirring up the people of Tombstone to turn against the Rawhide Kid, claiming that he trained Grizzly to rob a train. On the day of the trial, Grizzly breaks into the courtroom and abducts Rawhide Kid to make it look like they are partners in crime. Rawhide Kid defeats Ace Fenton and hands him over to the authorities.[3]

Grizzly (A.I.M. operative)

Grizzly
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceCaptain America #120 (Dec. 1969)
Created byStan Lee
Gene Colan
Joe Sinnott
In-story information
Alter egoUnrevealed
SpeciesHuman
Team affiliationsA.I.M.
Notable aliasesAgent R-1
AbilitiesUse of a laser pistol

A.I.M. sends Grizzly and Agent R-2 to capture atomic scientist Paul Fosgrave at Manning University. Posing as students, they persuade Mart Baker to help them by using the Hypno-Ray to turn protests into hostile activities as a cover to capture Fosgrave. Baker demands that his committee be placed in control of the university, resulting in a massive fight. As Fosgrave is taken away, Captain America pursues Grizzly alongside Baker. Grizzly tries to escape on the copter with Fosgrave, but Captain America shoots the copter down with Grizzly's gun. Fosgrave is brought to safety, Agent R-2 is defeated, and Baker and his followers are granted amnesty by the university. Grizzly's fate after the copter crashed is unrevealed.[4]

Grizzly (Maxwell "Max" Markham)

Grizzly
Grizzly as seen on the cover of The Amazing Spider-Man #139 (Dec. 1974)
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe Amazing Spider-Man #139 (Dec. 1974)
Created byGerry Conway
Ross Andru
In-story information
Alter egoMaxwell "Max" Markham
SpeciesHuman
Team affiliationsLegion of Losers
Thunderbolts
PartnershipsJackal
Kraven the Hunter
Notable aliases"Crazy Max" Markham
AbilitiesAdept wrestler
Exoskeleton bear suit grants:
Superhuman strength and durability
Razor-sharp claws

Maxwell Markham is a professional wrestler who competed using the nom de guerre of Grizzly. His violent actions bring him to the attention of J. Jonah Jameson, whose news coverage results in Markham being expelled from wrestling. Ten years later, Markham meets with the Jackal, who gives him a bear-themed suit and an exoskeleton harness that amplify his strength and durability. Markham uses this harness to attack the Daily Bugle in an attempt to get revenge against Jameson for ruining his wrestling career, but Spider-Man defeats him.[5]

Grizzly allies with Gibbon, Spot, and Kangaroo to become the Legion of Losers. Planning only to get back at Spider-Man, Grizzly and Gibbon are shocked to see Kangaroo and Spot robbing a bank. They succeed in capturing Spider-Man, but release him, claiming that "He's an all-right guy".[6] Grizzly and Gibbon later become crime-fighters and help Spider-Man stop White Rabbit's bank robbery.[7][8]

Norman Osborn appoints Grizzly to the Thunderbolts, sending him on a mission against the Agents of Atlas. During this time, Grizzly uses a coat that has a bear-shaped hood on it instead of his usual exoskeleton bear suit.[9] Grizzly is also made the commander of a squadron of B.A.T.F.E. agents.[10]

Grizzly travels to Miami and attacks Scott Lang, mistaking him for his enemy Eric O'Grady and unaware that O'Grady is dead. After the misunderstanding is cleared up, Lang offers Grizzly a job at the newly established Ant-Man Security Solutions.[11]

Grizzly (Theodore Winchester)

Grizzly
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceX-Force #8 (March 1992)
Created byFabian Nicieza
Rob Liefeld
In-story information
Alter egoTheodore Wyatt Winchester
SpeciesHuman Mutant
Team affiliationsSix Pack
Weapon P.R.I.M.E.
AbilitiesSuperhuman strength, speed, stamina, senses and size
Razor-sharp claws and fangs
Use of conventional firearms

Theodore Winchester is one of the members of Cable's mercenary group originally named the Wild Pack. Grizzly participated in the Wild Pack's raid on a Hydra base ten years prior.[a] Grizzly also participated in the Wild Pack's mission in Iran. Because of conflicts with Silver Sable's group of the same name, they later changed their name to Six Pack. During a mission for the arms dealer Tolliver, Six Pack fell apart.[12]

Years later, G. W. Bridge recruits Grizzly into Weapon P.R.I.M.E., a group created to capture Cable. Weapon P.R.I.M.E. attacks Cable and his team, X-Force. Grizzly was defeated by Warpath, and the mission failed.[13] Grizzly leaves Weapon P.R.I.M.E., then works with Domino in her search for X-Force.[14]

Some time later, Grizzly becomes a serial killer under the mental control of Genesis, Cable's son. Domino investigates the deaths and confronts Grizzly. She is forced to kill him, but promises the dying Grizzly not to tell Cable about his actions.[15]

Grizzly reappeared alive in Deadpool & Cable: Split Second.[16]

Powers and abilities

Ace Fester wore a grizzly bear suit that is lined with steel to protect him from bullets. He can use his paws to manipulate rifles.

The A.I.M version uses a laser pistol in combat.

Maxwell "Max" Markham wears an exoskeleton bear suit which grants him superhuman strength and durability, designed by Miles Warren and later modified by the Tinkerer. The Grizzly suit also has razor-sharp claws. As a former professional wrestler, he is adept in hand-to-hand combat.

Theodore Winchester is a mutant who possesses a bear-like body with superhuman physical abilities and powerful claws and fangs.

Reception

Max Markham has been ranked in many lists noting him for his humorous or strange gimmick.[17][18][19]

The Theodore Winchester action figure was ranked 12th in CBR's "The Most Obscure X-Men Action Figures Of The 1990s".[20]

Other versions

Age of Apocalypse

An alternate universe version of Theodore Winchester / Grizzly appears in Age of Apocalypse. This version is a mass murderer and servant of Apocalypse until he is killed by Forge.[21][22]

Ultimate Marvel

An alternate universe version of Theodore Winchester / Grizzly appears in Ultimate X-Men. This version is a student of the Xavier Institute who can transform into a humanoid bear.[23] Additionally, a future version of Winchester appears as a member of Six Pack.[24]

1872

An alternate universe version of Maxwell Markham / Grizzly appears in the Secret Wars tie-in 1872. This version is a mercenary in the Valley of Doom, a domain of Battleworld.[25]

In other media

Theodore Winchester / Grizzly as he appears in X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse.

Notes

  1. ↑ As seen in flashback in X-Force #8.

References

  1. ↑ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains. New York: Facts on File. p. 6. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.
  2. ↑ Manning, Matthew K.; Gilbert, Laura (2012). "1970s". Spider-Man Chronicle Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. Dorling Kindersley. p. 77. ISBN 978-0756692360. With every bit of order in Spider-Man's life came a fair amount of disorder, and in this [Gerry] Conway/[Ross] Andru issue, that chaos came in the form of another new Spider-Man villain, the Grizzly.
  3. ↑ Rawhide Kid #40 (June 1964)
  4. ↑ Captain America #120 (December 1969)
  5. ↑ The Amazing Spider-Man #139-140 (December 1974 - January 1975)
  6. ↑ The Spectacular Spider-Man #245-246 (April - May 1997)
  7. ↑ The Spectacular Spider-Man #253 (January 1998)
  8. ↑ The Spectacular Spider-Man #256 (April 1998)
  9. ↑ Thunderbolts #139 (February 2010)
  10. ↑ Agents of Atlas (vol. 2) #3 (June 2009)
  11. ↑ Ant-Man #2 (April 2015)
  12. ↑ Cable: Blood and Metal #1-2 (October - November 1992)
  13. ↑ X-Force #12-13 (July - August 1992)
  14. ↑ X-Force #20 (March 1993)
  15. ↑ Cable #23-24 (September - October 1995)
  16. ↑ Deadpool & Cable: Split Second #5 (February 2016)
  17. ↑ Sparkle, Billie (August 19, 2022). "Spider-Man's 10 Funniest Villains". CBR. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  18. ↑ Chrysostomou, George (July 10, 2021). "Marvel: 10 Strangest Members Of The Thunderbolts". Screen Rant. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  19. ↑ George, Joe (February 9, 2024). "The Worst Spider-Man Villains Ever, Ranked". Den of Geek. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  20. ↑ Cronin, Brian (February 23, 2017). "The Most Obscure X-Men Action Figures Of The 1990s". CBR. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  21. ↑ X-Man #2 (April 1995)
  22. ↑ X-Man #3 (May 1995)
  23. ↑ Ultimate X-Men #81 (June 2007)
  24. ↑ Ultimate X-Men #77 (February 2007)
  25. ↑ 1872 #2 (October 2015)
  26. 1 2 "Grizzly Voices (Marvel Universe)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved September 30, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  27. ↑ "Grizzly Voice - X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (Video Game)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved September 30, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
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