Flashback Friday: Icemaster

Each Friday, I take one of the entries from my old Super Posts and expand it into its own featured article.

This week: Icemaster!

Icemaster first appeared as a villain in the Hostess comic book ad "The Human Torch in 'The Icemaster Cometh!'" (1979). 

He first appeared in an actual comic book story as a member of the Masters of Evil in Thunderbolts #24 (January 1999).

I have seen mentioned that this Masters of Evil team - which featured 25 members for the 25th issue - was part of a contest to see who could name the most villains on the team. I can't find any proof of that, but if it's true, Icemaster was likely added because he's so obscure.

Regardless, he has continued to pop up here and there, in books as diverse as Gambit, Avengers Academy, and X-Men: Legacy. Surprisingly, he's never fought Iceman, but you never know when - or where - someone will use him next!

Character Spotlight: The Pigeon (Person)

Canon immigrants can come from a whole host of sources, which you've seen if you've spent any amount of time on this blog. They can even come from ads, and Hostess ads are especially popular in this regard. In the past, this has been something that Marvel alone did, but DC recently got into the game in Nightwing #11 (December 2016) with the introduction of the Pigeon.

CBR did a great write-up on her, and I encourage you to read it.

Spider-Verse: Hostess Spider-Man

As I've mentioned before, Hostess used to run a series of one-page ads in the 70s and 80s that featured superheroes defeating villainy with the power of Hostess snacks. Here's an example:

In Spider-Verse #1 (November 2014), there are six stories about six different Spider-Men either being killed or joining the group that will fight the killers. (You can read more about "Spider-Verse" here.) One of these stories is about the Spider-Man featured in the Hostess ads, and rather cleverly, it's a one-page story done in the style of Hostess ads.

This Spider-Man unfortunately doesn't make it, but it was nice to see him while it lasted!

Marvel Hostess Ads Super Post!

In the 1970s, Marvel ran a series of Hostess ads that featured Marvel heroes defeating villains by using Hostess Fruit Cakes.  Many of the villains featured eventually found their way into actual Marvel canon, and they're detailed below.

The Fly

The Fly first appeared in the Hostess ad "Spider-Man! in 'The Spider-Man and The Fly!'" (1976). He later appeared in the Fin Fang Four Marvel Digital Comics limited series which was later printed in Fin Fang Four Return #1 (July, 2009) and confirmed as being in the Marvel Universe in the "Elektro" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #2 (August 2010).

The Chairman

The Chairman first appeared in the Hostess ad "Spider-Man Vs. The Chairman!" (1977). He later appeared in the Fin Fang Four Marvel Digital Comics limited series which was later printed in Fin Fang Four Return #1 (July, 2009) and confirmed as being in the Marvel Universe in the "Elektro" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #2 (August 2010)

Legal Eagle

Legal Eagle first appeared in the Hostess ad "Spider-Man in 'Legal Eagle'" (1977). He later appeared in the Fin Fang Four Marvel Digital Comics limited series which was later printed in Fin Fang Four Return #1 (July, 2009) and confirmed as being in the Marvel Universe in the "Elektro" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #2 (August 2010)

Printout Man

Printout Man first appeared in the Hostess ad "Spider-Man in 'Break the Bank'" (1977). He later appeared in the Fin Fang Four Marvel Digital Comics limited series which was later printed in Fin Fang Four Return #1 (July, 2009) comic and confirmed as being in the Marvel Universe in the "Elektro" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #2 (August 2010)

Simon the Swami

Simon first appeared in the Hostess ad "Spider-Man! in Will Power!" (1977). He later appeared in the Fin Fang Four Marvel Digital Comics limited series which was later printed in Fin Fang Four Return #1 (July, 2009) and confirmed as being in the Marvel Universe in the "Elektro" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #2 (August 2010)

Home Wrecker

Home Wrecker first appeared in the Hostess ad "Spider-Man Meets The Home Wrecker" (1978). He later appeared in the Fin Fang Four Marvel Digital Comics limited series which was later printed in Fin Fang Four Return #1 (July, 2009) and confirmed as being in the Marvel Universe in the "Elektro" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #2 (August 2010)

Photoman

Photoman first appeared in the Hostess ad "Spider-Man Puts Himself In The Picture" (1978). He later appeared in the Fin Fang Four Marvel Digital Comics limited series which was later printed in Fin Fang Four Return #1 (July, 2009) and confirmed as being in the Marvel Universe in the "Elektro" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #2 (August 2010)

Demolition Derby

Demolition Derby first appeared in the Hostess ad"Spider-Man and the Demolition Derby" (1979). He later appeared in the Fin Fang Four Marvel Digital Comics limited series which was later printed in Fin Fang Four Return #1 (July, 2009) and confirmed as being in the Marvel Universe in the "Elektro" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #2 (August 2010)

June Jitsui

June Jitsui first appeared in the Hostess ad "Spider-Man Meets June Jitsui!" (1979). He later appeared in the Fin Fang Four Marvel Digital Comics limited series which was later printed in Fin Fang Four Return #1 (July, 2009) and confirmed as being in the Marvel Universe in the "Elektro" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #2 (August 2010). [I couldn't find a picture of her, but you can see her in Demolition Derby's, above.]

Hot Shot

Hot Shot first appeared in the Hostess ad "Hot Shot on the Block" (1979). He later appeared in the Fin Fang Four Marvel Digital Comics limited series which was later printed in Fin Fang Four Return #1 (July, 2009) and confirmed as being in the Marvel Universe in the "Elektro" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #2 (August 2010)

Larcenous Lil

Larcenous Lil first appeared in the Hostess ad "Spider-Man in 'The Trap'" (1980). She later appeared in the Fin Fang Four Marvel Digital Comics limited series which was later printed in Fin Fang Four Return #1 (July, 2009) and confirmed as being in the Marvel Universe in the "Elektro" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #2 (August 2010)

The Human Computer

The Human Compute first appeared in the Hostess ad "Spider-Man vs. The Human Computer!" (1981). He later appeared in the Fin Fang Four Marvel Digital Comics limited series which was later printed in Fin Fang Four Return #1 (July, 2009) and confirmed as being in the Marvel Universe in the "Elektro" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Update #2 (August 2010).