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The Melter is the name of three fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The original Melter, Bruno Horgan, first appeared in Tales of Suspense #47 (Nov. 1963). He was both an enemy to Iron Man and a founding member of the Masters of Evil.
He was an industrialist who specializes in providing to the United States government. After an initial encounter with hero Iron Man, the character reappears in The Avengers #6 (Jul. 1964) as part of supervillain team the Masters of Evil. A version of the Masters of Evil return in The Avengers #15-16 (Apr.-May 1965), with the Melter being jailed. The Melter reappears to battle Iron Man in Tales of Suspense 89-90 (May-Jun. 1967), and then The Avengers #54-55 (Jul.-Aug. 1968) as part of the next version of the Masters of Evil (formed without the villains' knowledge by the robot Ultron) and again in The Avengers #83 (Dec. 1970). The character becomes a perennial villain in the title Iron Man, appearing in issues #72 (Jan. 1974); #92 (Nov. 1976) and #123-124 (Jun.-Jul. 1979) and #127 (Oct. 1979). After another attempt to sabotage the company Stark International in Iron Man #166 (Jan. 1983), the character reappears in Marvel Two-in-One #96 (Feb. 1983) before being assassinated during the Scourge of the Underworld storyline in The Avengers #263 (Jan. 1986). As writer Mike Conroy stated "Bruno Horgan was one of those villains who suited simpler times...Times moved on, though, and Stan Lee and Steve Ditko's creation didn't. Despite numerous upgrades to his weaponry, the Melter was never a major player."
Long-time Marvel writer Roger Stern recalled:
Another character using the name "Melter" debuted during the Dark Reign storyline in the limited series Dark Reign: Young Avengers #1 - 5 (July-Dec. 2009).
The Melter reappears as an employee of Heinrich Zemo (who has upgraded the melting beam to affect all metals) as part of supervillain team the Masters of Evil. He helps spray Adhesive X over the city. The Melter meets Iron Man as the Avengers first meet the Masters, but Iron Man knocks him away using his magnetic repulsor. The Masters are defeated, with the Melter being jailed after Iron Man drenches him with water, preventing his beam from working. The Avengers #6 (July 1964) Melter is placed in a cell with bars that have been chemically treated so they cannot be melted. The Masters of Evil have a second encounter with the Avengers after Melter and Black Knight are broken out of jail by the Enchantress and Executioner. The Melter nearly finishes Iron Man after welding his boots to a roof, but he is stopped by Thor using his uru hammer, which the Melter cannot melt. The Masters of Evil are eventually defeated after Thor transports them and the Avengers to another dimension with different laws of physics, making their weapons rebound. The villains are bound and returned to Earth. The Avengers #15-16 (April-May 1965)
The Melter has several battles with Iron Man: at the direction of Black Lama, the Melter joins fellow villains Whiplash and Man-Bull to form the Death Squad. Iron Man #72 (January 1974) Melter reappears, with many other villains, as an employee of criminal mastermind Justin Hammer. Iron Man #124 (July 1979)
Eventually, the Melter manages to augment his melting ray's power to its peak. Before he can employ it, he is ambushed and killed by the Scourge of the Underworld, who destroys his melting ray. The Avengers #263 (January 1986)
Christopher Colchiss is a mutant with innate melting abilities who later adopts the Melter name and is recruited to lead the "Young Masters", a teenage super team opposing the Young Avengers. Unlike the original Melter, his abilities also extend to organic material. Melter has serious doubts about the moral conviction of most his teammates, and twice he has made mistakes with his powers that killed people. These incidents have resulted in making him hesitant to use his powers in combat. #1-5 (July-December 2009)
Melter is later recruited by Mandarin and Zeke Stane, who give him an upgraded suit and recruit him to assist a group of villains in taking down Iron Man. The Invincible Iron Man #513 (April 2012)
During the storyline, Melter appears an inmate of Pleasant Hill, a gated community established by S.H.I.E.L.D. Howling Commandos of S.H.I.E.L.D. #6 (May 2016)
Christopher is welcomed into the mutant nation of Krakoa and given a clean slate. For unknown reasons, he begins destroying parts of the island and spying on the Quiet Council of Krakoa. Despite claiming he only wanted to help Krakoa and being given two warnings, Melter is thrown into the Pit of Exile. Once in the pit, he and the other prisoners are greeted by Sabretooth. Sabretooth (vol. 4) #1 (April 2022) Sabretooth teaches the prisoners to channel their consciousnesses through the island to manifest themselves above ground in artificial bodies. He sends them all on missions to recruit people to their cause. However, Melter holds back due to his loyalty to Professor X. Sabretooth attacks Melter, who destroys his body. Sabretooth (vol. 4) #3 (June 2022) The destruction of Sabretooth's body almost kills everyone in the Pit due to it being controlled by his mind. Third-Eye saves everyone by dragging their consciousnesses into the astral plane while Krakoa fixes their bodies. Melter is taken to a recreation of Sabretooth's childhood home with the other prisoners. After having dinner together, they all discuss what they did to get thrown in the pit and whether they deserve to be there. Sabretooth (vol. 4) #4 (July 2022) Shortly afterwards, they meet with Cypher, who informs them that Sabretooth has betrayed them and escaped the Pit on his own. He offers to release them from the Pit on the condition that they take fellow prisoners Nanny, Orphan-Maker, and Toad with them and hunt down Sabretooth so he can be punished for his crimes. Sabretooth (vol. 4) #5 (September 2022)
While tracking down Sabretooth, Melter and the exiles infiltrate a series of mutant prisons and experimentation centers established by Orchis. After Orphan-Maker is kidnapped and manipulated into taking off his armor by Doctor Barrington, meaning his potentially world ending powers are no longer contained, Third-Eye takes the exiles to the astral plane to buy time while Nanny and Madison Jeffries build a new suit for Orphan-Maker. Sabretooth & the Exiles #1-3 (January - March 2023) The team escapes with the freed Orchis prisoners on their boat, which Madison transforms into a vessel large enough to contain them all. After arriving at the final Orchis base underwater, the team are hit by a tidal wave and trapped in the base with a group of mutant children, who attack them out of fear that they are there to perform more experiments. Nanny shuts down the brains of everyone except herself and Orphan-Maker, allowing them to escape. Nanny, Orphan-Maker, Barrington, and Sabretooth all leave to pursue their own goals, with Nanny and Orphan-Maker taking the mutant children with them. Sabretooth & the Exiles #4-5 (April - May 2023)
Melter is later killed by Wolverine. Wolverine (vol. 7) #46 (May 2024)
Melter appears as a member of Swarm's Sinister Six, who attack Spider-Man and the students of the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. After Hellion defeats Swarm, Melter and the other villains surrender. Spider-Man and the X-Men #4 (May 2015)
The Christopher Colchiss incarnation of Melter is a mutant with the ability to mentally agitate the molecules in solid matter, causing it to lose cohesion and melt. Unlike the first Melter, he is able to affect organic matter, with fatal effects.
The third Melter wields the original Melter's equipment.
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