Eel (comics)
The Eel is an alias used by two fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first character to take up the identity was Leopold Stryke who first appeared in Strange Tales #112 created by Stan Lee and Dick Ayers, while his successor, Edward Lavell, first appeared in Power Man and Iron Fist #92. Both Eels were at one point members of the Serpent Squad even though the character they portray was not actually based on a snake, but on a fish that resembled a snake. Neither Eel has ever been featured as a regular character in any of Marvel's ongoing or limited series.
The original Eel, Leopold Stryke, wore a suit that could generate an electrical charge like an electric eel and was coated with a slippery substance. He was often depicted as a henchman, normally teaming up with other criminals such as Plantman, Porcupine, Scarecrow and Unicorn. He later became a founding member of the Serpent Squad along with his brother Jordan, the original Viper. He even worked for Madame Hydra, unaware that she had killed his brother. Stryke was killed by the Gladiator during a heist.
The second Eel, Edward Lavell, started out as a foe of Power Man and Iron Fist, but later became a general henchman like the original Eel working for Justine Hammer's Masters of Evil and the Maggia. At one point Lavall appeared to have been killed, but later appeared as part of the latest incarnation of the Serpent Squad led by Sin, the daughter of the Red Skull. Subsequently, the Eel became part of "Serpent Solutions", the next incarnation of the Serpent Society.
Publication history
The original Eel first appeared in Strange Tales #112, and was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. The character subsequently appears in Strange Tales #117, Daredevil #6, Fantastic Four Annual #3, X-Men #22-23, Captain America #158-159, #163, #180-181, Defenders #36-38, and Ghost Rider #21-22, in which he died. The character appeared posthumously in Alpha Flight Special Edition #1, Untold Tales of Spider-Man #11, and Marvel: Heroes and Legends #1. The original Eel received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #17, and in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition #2.The second Eel first appeared in Power Man and Iron Fist #92 and was created by Kurt Busiek and Denys Cowan.
Fictional character biography
Leopold Stryke
Leopold Stryke was the first criminal known as the Eel. In Stryke's first appearances, he battled the Human Torch when he stole a nuclear device. Stryke was also a teammate of Plantman, the original Porcupine, the Scarecrow and the original Unicorn when they worked as henchmen for Count Nefaria. He was dispatched to battle the original team of X-Men. He then served as a henchman of the original Mister Fear, along with the Ox as part of the Fellowship of Fear.Leopold and his brother Jordan, who was the original Viper, were later members of the original Serpent Squad. This first lineup battled Captain America. Leopold also aided the Serpent Squad in a plot to raise the continent of Lemuria. They battled the original Nomad and Namor. When Madame Hydra reorganized the second Serpent Squad, Leopold remained unaware that she had murdered his brother and taken his alias.
Leopold Stryke is fatally mutilated in Las Vegas by Gladiator, who was sent to acquire a disintegrator ray that the Eel had in his possession.
Edward Lavell
Edward Lavell is first seen attempting to break Hammerhead out of prison. He battles Power Man and Iron Fist. Later working with Nightshade, the second Eel is defeated again by Iron Fist and reformed criminals Discus and Stiletto.The Eel is seen working with the criminals Blitz and the Vanisher. The trio is defeated by Spider-Man. Lavell also aids a group of villains attacking the Fantastic Four.
In hopes of gaining revenge against the criminal Mister Hyde, the Eel arranged a murder of a woman he had befriended, framing Hyde. Lavell also secretly impersonated Snake Marston, joining his team, the Enforcers, and led them in throwing off Daredevil’s attempts to find the true killer. Ultimately, the Eel sucker-punched Daredevil and gloated of his plans, but the Enforcers overheard and turned on him. The Eel was taken into court to clear Hyde’s name and was remanded to custody.
Lavell was a member of Justine Hammer's Masters of Evil, and is defeated by the Thunderbolts. After the Masters of Evil are apprehended, he was seen among the Maggia leaders assembled by the Grim Reaper who tried to claim leadership of the scattered, fractious families on behalf of Count Nefaria. He was captured when the hero team Avengers invaded the meeting place. Eel once worked against Hammerhead, transporting the Lifeline Tablet on behalf of Caesar Cicero, although Hammerhead soon recovered the Tablet for his own purpose.
Lavell was next seen participating in the Bloodsport tournament at Madripoor. There, he put on a poor showing. He is defeated by Toad, who seemingly crushes Lavell using his extremely long and powerful tongue.
Lavell apparently survives the fight and is briefly seen as a client for the law firm Goodman, Lieber, Kurtzberg & Holliway. He is discussing action to be taken against Power Man and refers to an 'Eel-Mobile'.
Lavell plays a small role in the "Secret War" crossover event.
During the Civil War storyline, Eel is apprehended by the Thunderbolts to serve in the so-called Thunderbolt Army.
Following the disbanding of the Thunderbolt Army, Eel was among the villains at Stilt-Man's funeral at the Bar with No Name at which Punisher poisoned the drinks and then blew up the bar.
Lavell turned up as a member of a new Serpent Squad led by Sin, the daughter of the Red Skull. He participates in several murderous missions, including one intended to damage the Asian stock markets. He breaks Crossbones out of jail and later attacked the White House, but he was stopped by the new Captain America.
During the Original Sin storyline, Eel is relaxing in his lounge alongside his goons when he receives an unexpected visit from Black Cat. Eel taunts her with the fallout from her capture by the Superior Spider-Man and then attacks her. Black Cat retaliates revealing her companion Electro who attacks Eel's goons while Black Cat taunts Eel saying that she will take everything from him. Mister Negative and Phil Urich are waiting for Eel in order to divide the criminal underground after Norman Osborn's downfall, but they are stunned by seeing Eel crashing into the place when Black Cat comes into view.
As part of the All-New, All-Different Marvel event, Eel appears as a member of Viper's Serpent Society under its new name of Serpent Solutions.