The Gremlin (Kondrati Topolov) is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in The Incredible Hulk #163 (May 1973). Although initially an adversary of the Hulk, the Gremlin is apparently killed in battle with Iron Man during the Armor Wars.

Concept and creation

Co-creator Steve Englehart recounted, "I’ve always treated the entire run of a book, up to the point that I took it over, as worthy of respect. So I was always interested in where series started out, and how they developed in their early days. The Gargoyle had indeed been in Hulk #1, so I thought it would be fun to connect to him—but I had to make something interesting for my time, not just wave at the past. I thought, ‘Gargoyle + Kremlin = Gremlin’."

Fictional character biography

Kondrati Topolov is the son of Russian scientist Yuri Topolov, also known as the Gargoyle, and inherited his grotesque appearance and superhuman intelligence. Following Yuri's death, Kondrati creates a high-tech armor and becomes an enemy of the Hulk. He additionally created Droog, an intelligent Triceratops-like monster, via genetic engineering. The Hulk and Thunderbolt Ross later invade the Gremlin's base in Siberia to rescue the captured Glenn Talbot. The Gremlin and Droog contend with the Hulk, but Bitterfrost was destroyed by S.H.I.E.L.D. Later, the Gremlin helps defeat the alien Dire Wraiths before joining Soviet Super-Soldiers. The Gremlin next appeared as the second Titanium Man, wearing a new suit of the power armor he had originally created for Boris Bullsky. With the other Soviet Super-Soldiers, he contended with the X-Men and the Avengers in an attempt to capture Magneto. In Armor Wars, the Gremlin battles Iron Man before apparently being killed when his armor explodes. Gremlin later appears alive, having ejected from his armor prior to its destruction and worked with Hydra to kidnap and brainwash several children, including Spider-Woman's son Gerry.

Powers and abilities

The Gremlin is a mutant who has inherited the immense intelligence of his father, the Gargoyle. He had completed doctoral programs in various sciences and attained mastery over many areas of technology.

Equipment

Gremlin wore the Titanium Man battlesuit that granted him tremendous strength, physical resistance, hypersonic flight, and the ability to utilize energy as weapons. Gremlin's Titan armor resembles an armored Hulk and possesses super-strength.

Other characters named Gremlin