Randall Darby

Paralyzer (Randall Darby), also known as the second Shocker, is a fictional character, a mutant appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.

Publication history

Shocker II's first appearance was in Captain America Annual #4 (1977) and he was created by Jack Kirby.

The character subsequently appears in Defenders vol. 1 #78-80 (December 1979-February 1980), 83 (May 1980), 87 (September 1980), 125-126 (November-December 1983), and 128-130 (February-April 1984). The character appears as Paralyzer in Captain America vol. 1 #343 (July 1988), 346 (October 1988), 368 (March 1990), 394 (November 1991), Midnight Sons Unlimited #3 (October 1993), and Captain America 426 (April 1994). The character returns to his Shocker identity, appearing in New Warriors vol. 2 #6 (March 2000), X-Men vol. 2 #132 (November 2002), Uncanny X-Men #442-443 (June 2004), Excalibur vol. 3 #2 (August 2004), and New Avengers #16-19 (April-July 2006).

Shocker II appeared as part of the "Mutant Force" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #9.

Fictional character biography

Randall Darby was discovered and recruited by Magneto to become a member of his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, taking the code-name Shocker.^[1] After being abandoned by Magneto, Darby and his teammates become known as Mutant Force.^[2] Under this name they work for the United States government,^[3] and, later, the Secret Empire.^[4]

Darby changes his code-name to Paralyzer when the Mutant Force become the Resistants. The Resistants' protest against the United States' Mutant Registration Act was cut short by a clash with John Walker, who was the current Captain America.^[5][6] Later, the Resistants revert to their Mutant Force identities and costumes.^[7] Their next clash is with the New Warriors.^[8]

Paralyzer later battles Spider-Man, subduing him with a lucky blow. Spider-Man later teams up with several members of the Midnight Sons who were investigating the activities of a more demonic Spidey-duplicate. While pursuing this creature, the heroes discover and stop the Paralyzer's plan to recreate Zzzax.^[9]

After the Sentinels destroy Genosha, Paralyzer, again called the Shocker, helps Toad and other mutants create a statue of Genosha's former ruler Magneto. Unus becomes the leader of the group.^[10][11]

Shocker is seen during a meeting of Unus' people, after Unus himself was swallowed by Freakshow, one of the other mutants on the island. Their group was not sure if they would take Unus back if, in fact, he had survived. He does return, prompting Shocker and the others into attacking him in order to prove he still had the skills.^[12]

Shocker loses his powers on M-Day and the energies that he used to control were then drawn to The Collective.^[13]

Powers and abilities

Darby can generate powerful fields of bio-electromagnetic energy from his body. He also has cybernetic claws of unknown origin in lieu of his hands and feet, and can channel his electrical energy through them into shock bolts or high-voltage fields of electromagnetic energy.

Other versions

Civil War: House of M

Randall Darby is among the mutants in Magneto's army. He is punished for wanting to kill an injured enemy.^[14] Later, Shocker is killed during the liberation of Genosha, an island that has mutant slaves.^[15]

References

External links

• Randall Darby at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe