Swarm (Marvel Comics)

Swarm (Fritz von Meyer) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character's entire body is composed of bees,^[3] and is mainly featured as an enemy of Spider-Man.^[4]

Swarm
Swarm as depicted in Runaways vol. 2 #7 (August 2005). Art by Takeshi Miyazawa.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The Champions #14 (July 1977)
Created by	Bill Mantlo John Byrne
In-story information
Alter ego	Fritz von Meyer
Species	Human mutate
Team affiliations	Nazi Germany Exterminators[1] Sinister Six[2] Hateful Hexad
Abilities	Superhuman strength Flight Intangibility Shapeshifting Bee manipulation

Publication history

Swarm first appeared in The Champions #14 (July 1977). He was created by Bill Mantlo and John Byrne.^[5]

Fictional character biography

Fritz von Meyer was born in Leipzig, Germany and became one of Adolf Hitler's top scientists specializing in toxicology and melittology. Escaping capture after World War II, he was a beekeeper in South America and discovered a colony of mutated bees. Intrigued by their intelligence and passive nature, von Meyer attempted to enslave the queen bee but failed and the bees devoured him, leaving only his skeleton. Von Meyer's consciousness was absorbed into the bees, allowing him to manipulate the hive to do his will while his skeletal remains are inside the swarm itself.^[6]

Swarm becomes a recurring enemy of Spider-Man as well as the Champions and Mighty Avengers, and joins the Sinister Six and the Hateful Hexad.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Powers and abilities

Fritz von Meyer is a composite being of thousand bees driven by his human intelligence. He is also technically intangible, as his body is an aggregate of tiny forms. As Swarm, he can fly, assume any shape or size at will, and mentally influence other bees. Additionally, Swarm possesses expertise in beekeeping, robotics, and toxicology.^[11]

Other versions

Marvel Fairy Tales

An alternate universe variant of Swarm from Earth-7082 appears in Spider-Man: Fairy Tales #2.^[12]

Marvel Adventures

An alternate universe variant of Swarm from Earth-20051 appears in Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man #38.^[13]

Ultimate Marvel

An original incarnation of Swarm from Earth-1610 appears in the Ultimate Marvel universe. This version is Petra Laskov, a Syrian mutant who is also known as the Insect Queen and Red Wasp.^[14][15]

Marvel Noir

An original incarnation of Swarm from Earth-90214 appears in the Marvel Noir universe. This version is Madame Sturm, a female scientist whose powers are derived from a Spider-God totem.^[16]

In other media

Television

• An original incarnation of Swarm appears in a self-titled episode of Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, voiced by Al Fann.^[17] This version is a beehive irradiated by a fallen meteorite's energy, gaining sentience as well as the ability to increase other bees' size and mutate humans into insect hybrid drones. Swarm attempts to spread its hive mind throughout the universe until Spider-Man, Firestar, and Iceman intervene and launch the meteorite into space to reverse Swarm's effects.
• An original incarnation of Swarm, Michael Tan, appears in Ultimate Spider-Man, voiced by Eric Bauza in his self-titled episode and Drake Bell in "Sandman Returns".^[17][18] This version is a disgruntled employee of Stark Industries whose body is made of self-replicating nanobots.
• Swarm appears in Marvel Super Hero Adventures, voiced by Ian James Corlett.^[18]
• An original incarnation of Swarm, Jefferson Davis, appears in Spider-Man, voiced by Alex Désert.^[19] This version utilizes purple nanotech bees that grant him a solid form and have mind-controlling stingers.
• An original, female incarnation of Swarm will appear in Iron Man and His Awesome Friends, voiced by Vanessa Bayer.^[20]

Video games

Swarm appears as an unlockable playable character in Marvel Strike Force.^{[citation needed]} This version is a member of the Sinister Six.

Miscellaneous

• Swarm appears in Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, portrayed by Gerald Avery. This version was originally an Oscorp scientist before he was manipulated into becoming Swarm by the Green Goblin and joining the Sinister Six.
• The Symbiotic Warfare Anthophila Restraining Model (S.W.A.R.M.) appears in Spider-Man: City at War.^[21][22]

Reception

In August 2009, TIME listed Swarm as one of the "Top 10 Oddest Marvel Characters".^[23]

Swarm was ranked #29 on a listing of Marvel Comics' monster characters in 2015.^[24]