Nitro (character)

Fictional comic book villain

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Comics character

Nitro

Nitro
Cover to Captain Marvel #34, by Jim Starlin.

Publication information
Publisher| Marvel Comics
First appearance| Captain Marvel #34 (September 1974)[1]
Created by| Jim Starlin (writer)
Steve Englehart (artist)
In-story information
Alter ego| Robert Hunter
Species| Human mutate
Team affiliations| Hardcore's Untouchables[2]
Army of Evil
Notable aliases| Exploding Man
Living Bomb
Abilities| Self-detonation and reformation

Nitro (Robert Hunter) is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in 1974.[3]

Nitro is known for playing a part in the death of the Kree superhero Mar-Vell. He is also known for being responsible for the Stamford, Connecticut tragedy that started Marvel's Civil War crossover.

## Publication history

[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2015)

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Nitro first appeared in Captain Marvel #34 (September 1974) and was created by Jim Starlin.[4]

## Fictional character biography

[edit]

Robert Hunter was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania. He was an electrical engineer. Due to genetic alteration performed by the Kree Lunatic Legion, Hunter gained the ability to explode and reform himself at will and became a professional criminal.[5][6] In his first appearance, he exposes Captain Marvel to a carcinogenic nerve gas, which later causes him to develop cancer and die.[5][6][7][8][9] Since then, Nitro has clashed with Earth's superhumans, who have found creative ways to defeat him, such as preventing him from reforming his body after exploding.[10][11][12][13][14]

In Civil War, the New Warriors confront Nitro and several other villains after they escape from Ryker's Island. Namorita battles Nitro, who causes a massive explosion that kills Namorita, Night Thrasher, Microbe, sixty children at a nearby elementary school, and 600 people in Stamford, Connecticut.[5][6][15] Soon afterward, he is captured by Wolverine, who cuts off his right arm.[16]

In later appearances, Nitro joins the Hood's crime syndicate and Helmut Zemo's Army of Evil.[17][18][19]

## Powers and abilities

[edit]

Nitro can forcefully convert his whole body into gas, resulting in a violent explosion. This transformation could be limited to discrete portions of himself, such as his fist and aim the force in a specific direction. While in a gaseous form, he cannot reform if any fraction of his body is separated from the rest and must completely reconstitute himself before detonating again. The process does not have any healing qualities, so any wound received due to the explosion would be present when he reforms.[20]

## In other media

[edit]

### Television

[edit]

Nitro appears in the Wolverine and the X-Men episode "Time Bomb", voiced by Liam O'Brien. This version is a mutant who is willingly imprisoned by the Mutant Response Division (MRD) due to lacking control of his powers.[21]

### Video games

[edit]

* Nitro appears in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2, voiced by Steve Blum.[citation needed]
* Nitro appears as a boss in Marvel: Avengers Alliance.[citation needed]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Conroy, Mike (2004). 500 Comicbook Villains. Collins & Brown. ISBN 1-84340-205-X.
2. ^ Cage #3
3. ^ Rovin, Jeff (1987). The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains. New York: Facts on File. p. 248\. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.[1]
4. ^ DeFalco, Tom; Sanderson, Peter; Brevoort, Tom; Teitelbaum, Michael; Wallace, Daniel; Darling, Andrew; Forbeck, Matt; Cowsill, Alan; Bray, Adam (2019). The Marvel Encyclopedia. DK Publishing. p. 258\. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
5. ^ a b c Dodge, John (July 30, 2023). "Civil War's Original Villain is Back to Kill Another Captain Marvel". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
6. ^ a b c Donahue, Casey (August 9, 2023). "A Marvel Villain Too Deadly for the MCU Just Got a God-Tier Power Upgrade". Screen Rant. Retrieved February 28, 2025.
7. ^ Captain Marvel #34 (September 1974)
8. ^ The Death of Captain Marvel (January 1982)
9. ^ Brevoort, Tom; DeFalco, Tom; Manning, Matthew K.; Sanderson, Peter; Wiacek, Win (2017). Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History. DK Publishing. p. 166\. ISBN 978-1465455505.
10. ^ Omega the Unknown #8 (May 1977)
11. ^ Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #55 (June 1981)
12. ^ Secret Defenders #12 (February 1994)
13. ^ Iron Man (vol. 3) #15 (April 1999)
14. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Manning, Matthew K. (2012). Spider-Man Chronicle: Celebrating 50 Years of Web-Slinging. DK Publishing. p. 119\. ISBN 978-0756692360.
15. ^ Civil War #1 (July 2006)
16. ^ Wolverine (vol. 3) #45 (October 2006)
17. ^ Dark Reign: The Hood #1 (July 2009)
18. ^ Captain America: Steve Rogers #16 (June 2017)
19. ^ Secret Empire #0 (June 2017)
20. ^ All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #4 (December 2007)
21. ^ "Cartoon Review: Wolverine And The X-Men Ep. 8". Comic Book Revolution. March 20, 2009. Retrieved February 28, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* Nitro at Marvel.com

* v
* t
* e

Captain Marvel

* Stan Lee
* Gene Colan

Characters|

* Mar-Vell
* Monica Rambeau
* Genis-Vell
* Phyla-Vell
* Khn'nr
* Noh-Varr
* Carol Danvers

Supporting characters|

* Elysius
* Eros
* Hulkling
* Rick Jones
* Kree
* Mentor
* Ms. Marvel
* Kamala Khan

Teams|

* A-Force
* Avengers
* Guardians of the Galaxy
* Ultimates

Enemies|

* Captain Atlas
* Controller
* Dar-Benn
* Doctor Minerva
* Korath the Pursuer
* Kree
* Kree Sentry
* Living Laser
* Mercurio the 4-D Man
* Nitro
* Ronan the Accuser
* Skrull
* Karla Sofen
* Star
* Starforce
* Super-Adaptoid
* Supreme Intelligence
* Thanos
* Yon-Rogg

Other media|

* Captain Marvel
* soundtrack
* The Marvels
* soundtrack
* Carol Danvers (Marvel Cinematic Universe)

Alternative versions|

* Mahr Vehl

Related topics|

* Kree
* "Kree–Skrull War"
* The Death of Captain Marvel
* Civil War II
* Alien races

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Jim Starlin

Comics|

* Batman: A Death in the Family
* Batman: The Cult
* Breed
* Cosmic Odyssey
* DC Comics Presents
* Death of the New Gods
* Dreadstar
* Epic Illustrated
* Heroes Against Hunger
* Heroes for Hope
* Infinity Abyss
* Marvel Fanfare
* Marvel Feature
* Marvel Graphic Novel
* Master of Kung Fu
* Mystery in Space
* Punisher P.O.V.
* Strange Adventures
* Strange Tales
* The Infinity Gauntlet
* The Infinity Crusade
* The Infinity War
* The Price
* The Thanos Quest

Marvel Comics|

* Black Jack Tarr
* Blood Brothers
* Death
* Doppelganger
* Drax the Destroyer
* Dreadstar
* Eon
* Fu Manchu
* Gamora
* In-Betweener
* Infinity Watch
* ISAAC
* Korvac
* Kronos
* Lord Chaos
* Master Order
* Mentor
* Midnight Sun
* Nitro
* Pip the Troll
* Shang-Chi
* Star Thief
* Starfox
* Thanos
* Universal Church of Truth

DC Comics|

* Deacon Blackfire
* KGBeast
* Mongul
* Weird

Epic Comics|

* Aknaton

* v
* t
* e

New Warriors

Creators|

* Tom DeFalco
* Ron Frenz
* Fabian Nicieza

Members|

| Founders|

* Firestar
* Justice
* Namorita
* Night Thrasher (Dwayne Taylor)
* Nova (Richard Rider)
* Speedball

|

Others (Volume 1)|

* Aegis
* Bandit
* Cloak and Dagger
* Darkhawk
* Helix
* Hindsight Lad
* Rage
* Scarlet Spider (Ben Reilly)
* Silhouette
* Slapstick
* Timeslip
* Turbo
* Zero-G

Volume 2|

* Aegis
* Bolt
* Namorita
* Nova (Richard Rider)
* Speedball
* Turbo

Volume 3|

* Debrii
* Microbre
* Namorita
* Night Thrasher (Dwayne Taylor)
* Nova (Richard Rider)
* Speedball

Volume 4|

* Longstrike
* Night Thrasher
* Phaser
* Skybolt

Counter Force|

* Debrii
* Gauntlet
* Justice
* Komodo
* Night Thrasher (Donyell Taylor)
* Rage
* Scarlet Spiders (MVP)
* Slapstick
* Tigra
* Ultra Girl

Volume 5|

* Hummingbird
* Justice
* Nova (Sam Alexander)
* Speedball
* Scarlet Spider (Kaine Parker)
* Silhouette
* Sun Girl (Selah Burke)

Supporting characters|

* Andrew Chord
* Archangel
* Avengers
* Doctor Strange
* Edwin Jarvis
* Fantastic Four
* Foggy Nelson
* Guardians of the Galaxy
* Hercules
* Hulk
* Human Torch
* Hybrid
* Iron Fist
* Mariko Yashida
* Mary Jane Watson
* Namor
* Peggy Carter
* Sabra
* Spider-Man
* Sprocket
* Tai
* Uatu
* Wolverine
* X-Factor
* X-Men

Enemies|

* Bengal
* Bloodstrike
* Cardinal
* Firebrand
* Emma Frost
* Hellions
* High Evolutionary
* Juggernaut
* Machinesmith
* Mad Thinker
* Mephisto
* Midnight's Fire
* Mutant Force
* Nitro
* Orka
* Psionex
* Puppet Master
* Ragnarok
* Skrull
* Sphinx
* Terrax
* Tiger Shark
* Titanium Man
* Upstarts
* Zodiac

Storylines|

* Acts of Vengeance
* Forever Yesterday
* Child's Play
* Civil War

Other|

* New Warriors (TV pilot)
* Marvel's young adult television series

* v
* t
* e

Wolverine

* Len Wein
* John Romita Sr.

Teams|

* X-Men
* Alpha Flight
* Avengers
* New
* Uncanny
* Fantastic Four
* S.H.I.E.L.D.
* Team X / Weapon X
* X-Force
* Secret Defenders
* Horsemen of Apocalypse

X-Men allies|

* Angel/Archangel
* Armor
* Banshee
* Beast
* Bishop
* Cable
* Colossus
* Cyclops
* Emma Frost
* Forge
* Gambit
* Havok
* Iceman
* Jean Grey/Phoenix
* Jubilee
* Karma
* Kwannon
* Morph
* Nightcrawler
* Polaris
* Professor X
* Kitty Pryde
* Psylocke
* Rogue
* Storm
* X-23

Supporting
characters|

* Alpha Flight
* Heather Hudson (Vindicator)
* James Hudson (Guardian)
* Avengers
* Black Cat
* Black Widow
* Captain America
* Archie Corrigan
* Daken
* Agent Zero/Maverick
* Deadpool
* Elsie-Dee
* Jessica Drew
* Elektra
* Fantastic Four
* Feral
* Hawkeye
* Jimmy Hudson
* Hulk
* Iron Man
* Ka-Zar
* Moon Knight
* Namor
* Native
* Nick Fury
* Silver Fox
* Spider-Man
* Thor
* Weapon H
* John Wraith
* X-23
* X-Men (List)
* Mariko Yashida
* Yukio

Enemies|

* A.I.M.
* Agent Zero/Maverick
* Apocalypse
* Arnim Zola
* Bastion
* Bloodscream
* Bolivar Trask
* Brotherhood of Mutants
* Magneto
* Sabretooth
* Toad
* Mystique
* Juggernaut
* Blob
* Pyro
* Mastermind
* Avalanche
* Cameron Hodge
* Malcolm Colcord
* Collector
* Abraham Cornelius
* Cyber
* Genesis
* Gorgon
* Hand
* Hellfire Club
* Donald Pierce
* Harry Leland
* Sebastian Shaw
* Selene Gallio
* Brent Jackson
* Lady Deathstrike
* Lord Dark Wind
* Lord Shingen
* Dog Logan
* Thomas Logan
* Maggia
* Mister Sinister
* Mister X
* Mojo
* Nitro
* Nuke
* Ogun
* Omega Red
* Phalanx
* Professor Thorton
* Puma
* Reavers
* Romulus
* Roughouse
* Sauron
* Savage Land Mutates
* Sentinels
* Shadow King
* Silver Samurai
* Kenuichio Harada
* Shingen Yashida
* Spiral
* Sapphire Styx
* Symbiotes
* Taskmaster
* Tiger Shark
* Matsu'o Tsurayaba
* Vermin
* Viper
* Wendigo
* Wild Child
* William Stryker

Publications|

* 5 Ronin
* Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine
* Elektra and Wolverine: The Redeemer
* Hellverine
* Kitty Pryde and Wolverine
* Marvel Comics Presents
* "Weapon X"
* Origin
* Savage Wolverine
* Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk
* Wolverine
* Wolverine: Manifest Destiny
* Wolverine: Origins
* Wolverine: Snikt!
* Wolverine: The Best There Is
* Wolverine and the X-Men
* Wolverine and Deadpool
* Wolverine: Weapon X
* Death of Wolverine
* Wolverine/Nick Fury
* The Scorpio Connection
* Bloody Choices
* Scorpio Rising
* All-New Wolverine
* Hunt for Wolverine
* Predator vs. Wolverine
* Return of Wolverine
* X Lives of Wolverine and X Deaths of Wolverine
* Blood Hunt
* Venom War

Video games|

* Wolverine
* Wolverine: Adamantium Rage
* X-Men: Wolverine's Rage
* X2: Wolverine's Revenge
* X-Men Origins: Wolverine
* Marvel's Wolverine

In other media|

* X-Men Origins: Wolverine
* soundtrack
* The Wolverine
* soundtrack
* Logan
* soundtrack
* Deadpool & Wolverine
* soundtrack
* "Slash"
* Wolverine and the X-Men
* Wolverine (podcast)
* Marvel's Wastelanders (podcast)
* Marvel Anime

Alternative versions|

* Ultimate Wolverine
* Old Man Logan
* Film Logan

Related articles|

* Weapon X
* Weapon Plus
* Madripoor
* Landau, Luckman, and Lake

* Category

* v
* t
* e

X-Men characters

Mutant

Founding members|

* Warren Worthington III
* Beast
* Cyclops
* Iceman
* Jean Grey
* Professor X

Other
members|

* Akihiro
* Amanda Sefton
* Anole
* Armor
* Aurora
* Banshee
* Betsy Braddock
* Bishop
* Blindfold
* Blink
* Boom-Boom
* Cable
* Caliban
* Cannonball
* Cecilia Reyes
* Chamber
* Changeling
* Cipher
* Cloak and Dagger
* Colossus
* Cypher
* Darwin
* Dazzler
* Doctor Nemesis
* Domino
* Dust
* Elixir
* Fantomex
* Firestar
* Forge
* Frenzy
* Gambit
* Gentle
* Graymalkin
* Havok
* Hellion
* Hepzibah
* Hope Summers
* Husk
* Indra
* John Proudstar
* Jimmy Hudson
* Jubilee
* Juggernaut
* Kamala Khan
* Karma
* Kitty Pryde
* Kavita Rao
* Kid Omega
* Kwannon
* Lady Mastermind
* Loa
* Laura Kinney
* Legion
* Lifeguard
* Lockheed
* Longshot
* Madison Jeffries
* Maggott
* Magik
* Magma
* Magneto
* Marrow
* Mercury
* Mimic
* Mirage
* Moira MacTaggert
* Monet St. Croix
* Multiple Man
* Mystique
* Namor
* Neal Shaara
* Nightcrawler
* Northstar
* Old Man Logan
* Onyxx
* Omega Sentinel
* Pixie
* Polaris
* Primal
* Prodigy
* Pyro
* Rachel Summers
* Rockslide
* Rogue
* Sabretooth
* Sage
* Sebastian Shaw
* Sharon Friedlander
* Siryn
* Slipstream
* Spider-Man
* Stacy X
* Stepford Cuckoos
* Storm
* Sunfire
* Sunspot
* Surge
* Synch
* Temper
* Trance
* Trinary
* Vanisher
* Vulcan
* Warlock
* Warpath
* White Queen
* Wolfsbane
* Wolverine
* Wraith
* X-Man
* Xorn
* Xavier Institute students and staff

Secondary teams|

* Alpha Flight
* Alpha Squadron
* Avengers Unity Division
* Excalibur
* Exiles
* Fallen Angels
* Generation X
* Hellions
* Marauders
* Morlocks
* New Mutants
* New X-Men
* Quiet Council of Krakoa
* S.W.O.R.D.
* X-Corporation
* X-Corps
* X-Factor
* X-Force
* X-Statix
* X-Terminators
* X.S.E.
* X-Treme Sanctions Executive
* Xavier's Security Enforcers
* Young X-Men

Supporting characters|

* Callisto
* Gladiator
* Ka-Zar
* Layla Miller
* Legion
* Lilandra Neramani
* Quicksilver
* Shi'ar
* Imperial Guard
* Sabra
* Scarlet Witch
* Starjammers
* Ch'od
* Corsair
* Korvus
* Raza Longknife
* Hepzibah
* Valerie Cooper

Superhero allies|

* Avengers
* Black Widow
* Hawkeye
* Hulk
* Iron Man
* Captain America
* Thor
* Ms. Marvel/Captain Marvel
* Carol Danvers
* Fantastic Four
* S.H.I.E.L.D.
* Nick Fury
* Spider-Man
* S.W.O.R.D.

Antagonists|

| Central
rogues|

* Apocalypse
* Arcade
* Avalanche
* Black Tom Cassidy
* Blob
* Bolivar Trask
* Cassandra Nova
* Deathbird
* Exodus
* High Evolutionary
* Juggernaut
* Lady Deathstrike
* Magneto
* Mastermind
* Mister Sinister
* Mojo
* Mystique
* Omega Red
* Onslaught
* Pyro
* Sabretooth
* Sebastian Shaw
* Shadow King
* Silver Samurai
* Kenuichio Harada
* Toad
* William Stryker

|

Other
supervillains|

* Abraham Cornelius
* Adversary
* Azazel
* Bastion
* Belasco
* Beyonder
* Cameron Hodge
* Cyber
* Doctor Doom
* Donald Pierce
* Fabian Cortez
* Galactus
* Graydon Creed
* Harpoon
* Henry Peter Gyrich
* Holocaust
* Jason Stryker
* Kang the Conqueror
* Knull
* Krakoa
* Leper Queen
* Living Monolith
* Madelyne Pryor
* Master Mold
* Moira MacTaggert
* Mentallo
* Mesmero
* Mikhail Rasputin
* Nanny and Orphan-Maker
* Nimrod
* Norman Osborn
* Phantazia
* Predator X
* Proteus
* Robert Kelly
* Saturnyne
* Sauron
* Selene
* Spiral
* Steven Lang
* Stryfe
* Thanos
* Trevor Fitzroy
* Viper
* Vulcan

Organizations|

* A.I.M.
* Alliance of Evil
* Ani-Men
* Black Order
* Brood
* Brotherhood of Mutants
* Clan Akkaba
* Dark X-Men
* Externals
* Factor Three
* Fenris
* Freedom Force
* Hellfire Club
* Hellions
* Horsemen of Apocalypse
* Hounds
* Humanity's Last Stand
* Hydra
* Marauders
* Neo
* Phalanx
* Purifiers
* Reavers
* Savage Land Mutates
* Sentinels
* Shadow-X
* Sidri
* U-Men
* Upstarts
* Weapon X

Alternative versions|

* Magician
* Ultimate Wolverine

In other media|

* Apocalypse
* Betsy Braddock
* Cyclops
* Gambit
* Jean Grey
* film series
* Magneto
* film series
* Peter Maximoff
* Morph
* Mystique
* Professor X
* film series
* Rogue
* Spyke
* Storm
* Wade Wilson
* Wolverine
* film series

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