Hydro-Man
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Hydro-Man (Morris Bench) is a fictional character, a supervillain in Marvel Comics' universe.
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[edit] Fictional character biography
Morris "Morrie" Bench was born in the Bronx, New York. He gained his powers while a crewman on a cargo ship, having been knocked overboard while a powerful experimental generator was being tested in the ocean. He is a frequent antagonist of Spider-Man and an occasional ally/enemy of the Sandman.
He has been a member of multiple villain teams in the Marvel Universe, including the Frightful Four, the Sinister Syndicate, the Masters of Evil, and the Sinister Twelve. Morrie holds a wary view of Sandman, as the two were once merged into a mud/quicksand-like creature.
While working with the Sinister Syndicate, Hydro-Man demonstrated a willingness to put up with just about anything in the name of financial gain. He ignored the constant politicing of the other members and looked past the Beetle's betrayal of the group to the Kingpin in the belief that the group was economically beneficial to him.
Hydro-Man was seen in the employ (or rather, being terminated from) Hammer Industries. He then teamed up with Shocker in an attempt to rob a federal reserve bank, but was accidentally evaporated by one of the Shocker's blasts. He appeared again in writer Mark Millar's Marvel Knights run, first attempting to buy the Venom symbiote for his girlfriend, then later as part of the Sinister Twelve. His current status is unknown.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Being able to transform into a watery substance, Hydro-man can access secure areas and small openings with relative ease and when his bodily mass is dispersed in this form it simply reforms, albeit slowly depending on how far apart the mass was. All of Hydro-Man's molecules remain fully under his control even when he is in his liquid state, as his consciousness apparently exists as a sort of vapor in this state. Hydro-Man can also merge with and manipulate larger bodies of water when he is in his water form. He can turn parts of his body to liquid while retaining the rest of his human form, allowing him to slip from a foe's grasp or have projectiles like bullets harmlessly pass through him. With concentration, Hydro-Man can also turn to ice and steam, but this exerts him greatly depending on the ambient temperature. Other examples of manipulating his watery form include firing off small streams at high velocities like bullets, shaping parts of his body into 'solid-water' constructs, and mixing himself with other compounds for different effects. However, this last example can be used against him, since certain substances can either harden him (like cement or concrete), or make him feel sick (such as fire-extinguishers and chlorine). Recently, The Wizard enhanced his powers, giving him control over all water near him, which he demonstrated by absorbing nearly all the moisture in The Trapster's body.
Though possessing no superhuman abilities aside from his ability to transform into water, Morris is physically strong (for a normal human) and a skilled brawler.
[edit] Weaknesses
He is not among Spider-Man's brightest foes and is often tricked into electrocuting himself or mixing his water form with concrete. He does not seem to possess even an elementary understanding of physical science. As with Electro and Sandman, Hydro-Man would be a much more dangerous opponent if he were fully aware of the possibilities his powers afford him.
He also reverts to his liquid form when asleep, and must sleep in a water tight container or else he will drain away. In the story "Senseless Violence" a leaky bathtub led to him waking up one morning under the streets of New York.
[edit] Appearance
Hydro-Man is one of the few Marvel supervillains who does not normally wear a "conventional" costume. Instead he usually appears in a black t-shirt and blue or green jeans. This is presumably because this outfit was equally affected by the accident that gave him his powers.
While appearing as a member of the Sinister Twelve he appeared in a blue, turquoise, and silver jumpsuit which has presumably been bestowed with the same abilities as he has. He also wears this suit during his stint with the Frightful Four.
[edit] In other media
[edit] Spider-Man: The Animated Series
In Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Hydro-Man was played by Rob Paulsen. Here, he was portrayed as Mary Jane Watson's former boyfriend. In the entire episode, Hydro-Man stalked Mary Jane and Spider-Man tried to stop him, but Hydro-Man was too powerful in battle as he can create and control water. In the end of the episode, Spider-Man and Mary Jane worked together to defeating Hydro-Man once and for all. They led him away from any water source, weakening him so much that when he tried to attack Spider-Man, he collapsed and, too weak to regenerate, ended up evaporated.
In "The Return of Hydro-Man", Dr. Miles Warren created the clone of Hydro-Man, using what was left of the original Hydro-Man from the ground he was killed in. However, the clone was still in love with Mary Jane. So it demanded that Warren would make a clone of Mary Jane as well. Even though it was hard to clone Mary Jane (she fell into a dimensional portal in Episode #41), Warren succeeded but Mary Jane's clone decided to be with Peter than Hydro-Man. When all that was revealed in the next episode, Warren figured out the clones were not stable and will vapourize. The clone of Hydro-Man went first and before MJ's clone.
[edit] Fantastic Four animated series
Hydro-Man appeared in the 1994 Fantastic Four television series except he was voiced by Brad Garrett. In his appearance, he is a member of the Wizard's Frightful Four.
