Grasshopper (character)

(Redirected from Grasshopper (Neil Shelton))

The Grasshopper is the name of multiple humorous fictional superheroes appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics, all created by Dan Slott. No Grasshopper to date has survived past the issue in which they first appeared. The Grasshoppers are a simultaneous homage to and satire of stereotypical superheroes and Marvel's tendency towards animal-themed characters. They are also a lampoon of the tendency of superhero team books to introduce new, hastily developed characters only to dramatically kill them off within a few issues. The complicated romantic troubles of the first Grasshopper recall many characters with similar subplots (Spider-Man, for instance), as does the unlikely family background of the second.

Doug Taggert

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Grasshopper
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearance(Out of continuity):
GLA #1 (June 2005)
(In continuity):
GLA #2 (July 2005)
Created byDan Slott
Paul Pelletier
In-story information
Alter egoDoug Taggert
SpeciesHuman
Team affiliationsGreat Lakes Avengers
Roxxon Corporation
Notable aliasesThe Ever-Gregarious Grasshopper
AbilitiesArmored suit grants:
Superhuman leaping via robotic grasshopper legs
Insectroid Sensors
Zoom Lenses
Minimal protection from attacks

Grasshopper is a fictional superhero in the Marvel Comics universe who first appeared in the pages of the GLA miniseries of 2005. The character was created by Dan Slott and Paul Pelletier.

Fictional character biography

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The first Grasshopper is Doug Taggert, an employee of Roxxon who pines for fellow researcher Cindy Shelton. He joins the Great Lakes Avengers to battle Batroc's Brigade before Zaran kills him.[1][2][3]

Powers and abilities

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Grasshopper's suit gives him enhanced leaping abilities and enhanced vision.

Neil Shelton

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Grasshopper
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceGLX-Mas Special #1 (December 2005)
Created byDan Slott
Ty Templeton
In-story information
Alter egoNeil Shelton
SpeciesHuman
Team affiliationsRoxxon Corporation
Notable aliasesThe Ever-Gregarious Grasshopper
AbilitiesArmored suit grants:
Superhuman leaping via robotic grasshopper legs
Insectroid Sensors
Zoom Lenses
Maximum Jump
Minimal protection from attacks

The second Grasshopper is a fictional, corporate superhero in the Marvel Comics universe who first appeared in the pages of GLX-Mas Special #1, a Marvel Comics one-shot, in 2005. The character was created by Dan Slott and artist Ty Templeton, who based his design on Paul Pelletier's design for the original Grasshopper.[citation needed]

Publication history

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This Grasshopper is a combined homage to Iron Man and Spider-Man, borrowing many aspects of each's histories. Like Taggart before him, Shelton did not live more than one issue.

Fictional character biography

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Neil Shelton is a security guard for Roxxon who inherits the Grasshopper suit after Doug Taggert's death. He jumps into space to avoid Cindy Shelton's advances, where he dies.[4]

"The All-New Grasshopper"

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Grasshopper
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceDeadpool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular #1 (September 2007)
Created byDan Slott
Kieron Dwyer
In-story information
SpeciesHuman
Notable aliasesThe All-New Grasshopper
AbilitiesArmored suit grants:
Superhuman leaping via robotic grasshopper legs
Insectroid Sensors
Zoom Lenses
Maximum Jump
Minimal protection from attacks

The third Grasshopper is a fictional superhero in the Marvel Comics universe who first appeared in the pages of the one-shot Deadpool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular #1 in 2007. He was created by writer Dan Slott[5] and artist Kieron Dwyer, who based his design on Paul Pelletier's design for the original Grasshopper.[citation needed]

Virtually no information was revealed about him other than his status as "The All-New Grasshopper" before a disgruntled Deadpool killed him by snapping his neck after being kicked out of the Great Lakes Initiative.[6] Grasshopper is later shown in Hell when Deadpool and Thanos search for Death.[7]

Skrull imposter

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Grasshopper
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceAvengers: The Initiative #19 (December 2008)
Created byDan Slott
Christos Gage
In-story information
SpeciesSkrull
Team affiliationsGreat Lakes Initiative
AbilitiesShapeshifting
Armored suit grants:
Superhuman leaping via robotic grasshopper legs
Insectroid Sensors
Zoom Lenses
Maximum Jump
Minimal protection from attacks

The fourth Grasshopper is a Skrull imposter who helped infiltrate Earth during Secret Invasion. He was created by writers Dan Slott and Christos Gage.[8][9]

Fifth Grasshopper

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Grasshopper
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceFantastic Four Vol. 6 #43
Created byDan Slott
Rachael Stott
Andrea Di Vito
In-story information
SpeciesHuman
Team affiliationsGreat Lakes Avengers
AbilitiesArmored suit grants:
Superhuman leaping via robotic grasshopper legs
Insectroid Sensors
Zoom Lenses
Maximum Jump
Minimal protection from attacks

The fifth Grasshopper is a member of the Great Lakes Avengers. He was created by Dan Slott, Rachael Stott and Andrea Di Vito. Unlike the other Grasshoppers, he manages to survive past his initial appearance.[10][11][12]

References

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  1. ^ G.L.A. #2
  2. ^ G.L.A. #1
  3. ^ G.L.A. #4
  4. ^ GLX-Mas Special #1
  5. ^ Dan Slott post on his messageboard regarding writing on GLI/Deadpool
  6. ^ Deadpool/GLI Summer Fun Spectacular (2007)
  7. ^ Tim Seeley (w), Elmo Bondoc (p), Elmo Bondoc (i), Ruth Redmond (col), VC's Joe Sabino (let), Jordan D. White (ed). "Part Three" Deadpool vs. Thanos, vol. 1, no. 3 (14 October 2015). United States: Marvel Comics.
  8. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #19
  9. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #20
  10. ^ I Am An Avenger #1
  11. ^ Age of Heroes #3
  12. ^ Fantastic Four Vol. 6 #43
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