Mendel Stromm

Professor Mendel Stromm is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character has also been known as the Robot Master and Gaunt.

Professor Mendel Stromm
Mendel Stromm as depicted in Civil War II: Amazing Spider-Man #3 (August 2016). Art by Travel Foreman.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The Amazing Spider-Man #37 (June 1966)
Created by	Stan Lee (writer) Steve Ditko (artist)
In-story information
Species	Human cyborg
Team affiliations	Oscorp, Empire State University
Notable aliases	Robot Master Gaunt
Abilities	Genius-level intellect Cybernetic enhancement grants: Superhuman strength, durability, and athleticism Regeneration Technopathy

Publication history

In his first appearance, Mendel Stromm watches as Spider-Man battles two of his robots. From The Amazing Spider-Man #37.

Stromm first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #37 (June 1966), and was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.^[1]

Fictional character biography

Professor Mendel Stromm was Norman Osborn's college professor at Empire State University and later became a partner in Oscorp Industries. His early research was on a chemical that would provide enhanced strength in its test subjects and would eventually turn Osborn into the Green Goblin.^[2] Osborn, wanting the formula for himself, discovered that Stromm had been embezzling funds from Oscorp. Stromm explained that he was merely borrowing them, but Osborn turned him over to the police. After several years in prison, Stromm was released and tried to kill Osborn for revenge using deadly robots. He was stopped by Spider-Man and seemingly died of a heart attack when he was nearly shot.^[3][4]

Stromm had made plans for his death, however, by arranging to have his Spirit transferred to a robot double. Now calling himself "the Robot Master", Stromm returned in Spectacular Spider-Man #68 (1982). Spider-Man defeated and destroyed the robot double.^[5]

In Spectacular Spider-Man #233 (1996), Stromm returned again, this time as a cyborg called Gaunt.^[4] It was revealed that he survived through a cybernetic suit fused to his body by Osborn.^[6] Osborn had discovered that Stromm had survived his heart attack thanks to the Goblin Formula, but on a level of consciousness supported only by his suit. Eventually, via Seward Trainer, he was cured of his need for the suit and came back in a large suit of robotic armor,^[7] only for it to be destroyed by Ben Reilly and Peter Parker, despite Stromm's attempt to defeat them both with two flying robots and three childlike androids attacking simultaneously.^[8] Shortly afterward, Norman Osborn knocked him out with a laser blast and left him for dead, though he survived and only had amnesia.^[9] He came back in yet another robot suit, only to be stopped by Spider-Man once again.^[10]

In Peter Parker: Spider-Man #27 (2001), Stromm tried to create a sentient robot to kill Osborn, but it turned on him and destroyed his body, keeping his severed head alive. This artificial intelligence then attempted to take over New York City's electrical grid, but was stopped when Spider-Man fought his way into its core processor and uploaded a virus into it, rendering the A.I. and Mendel comatose.^[11]

In Penance: Relentless (2007), it is revealed that Spider-Man tipped S.H.I.E.L.D. off to Stromm's whereabouts, allowing them to rescue him from the suspended loop. He eagerly registered as part of the Initiative. Later, Penance goes AWOL on the Thunderbolts and stages an assault on Stromm's home, threatening to kill him unless Stromm tells him how to activate nuclear launch codes Penance has stolen in a bid to get Nitro deported from Latveria.^[12]

In Civil War II, Mendel Stromm meets Clash at the henchman bar Moynihan's Social Club during its happy hour. He gives Clash an offer to work for him in his plan to get revenge on Harry Osborn. However, they are both defeated by Spider-Man.^[13]

Mendel Stromm later obtained a Tri-Sentinel from the bunker of the bankrupt Life Foundation, where it faced an Isotope Genome Accelerator duplicate of Spider-Man. After it was defeated, Stromm broke down in tears. Stromm is then approached by Kindred, who gives him a Master Mold that specializes in creating Tri-Sentinels.^[14] After Spider-Man defeats the Tri-Sentinels, Stromm is confronted by Kindred, who states that his usefulness has ended and kills him.^[15][4]

Powers, abilities, and equipment

Mendel Stromm possesses extensive knowledge of chemistry and robotics, as well as cybernetic enhancements that give him the ability to fly, generate energy blasts, and manipulate technology.^[16][17]

Other versions

An alternate universe variant of Mendel Stromm from the Battleworld domain of Arachnia appears in Secret Wars as one of several scientists attempting to decipher the Web of Life and Destiny.^[18]

In other media

Television

Wardell Stromm appears in the Spider-Man (1994) episode "Enter the Green Goblin", voiced by Philip Abbott.^[19] He is Norman Osborn's assistant and one of the few who knows of Oscorp's connections to the Kingpin.

Film

• Mendel Stromm appears in Spider-Man (2002), portrayed by Ron Perkins. This version is a scientist employed by Oscorp to develop human performance enhancers, though he expresses doubts in their effectiveness due to their test mice demonstrating violent insanity. After being driven insane by the serum, Norman Osborn kills Stromm.^[2]
• Mendel Stromm appears in Superhero Movie, portrayed by Brent Spiner.

Video games

• Mendel Stromm appears in the Spider-Man (2002) tie-in game, voiced by Peter Lurie.^[20]
• Mendel Stromm appears in The Amazing Spider-Man, voiced by Fred Tatasciore. This version is an Oscorp scientist who helped create experimental hybrid creatures.^[21]