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Marlo Chandler

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Marlo Chandler
Marlo Chandler, from The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #417 (May 1994). Art by Gary Frank and Cam Smith.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #347 (September 1988)
Created byPeter David (writer/artist)
In-story information
Full nameMarlo Chandler Jones
SpeciesHuman mutate
Supporting character ofCaptain Marvel
Hulk
Notable aliasesDeath
Harpy
AbilitiesAs Harpy:
  • Superhuman strength and durability
  • Energy bolt projection
  • Flight

As Death:

  • Reality manipulation via "death wish" power

Marlo Chandler is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Peter David and artist Jeff Purves, the character first appeared in The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #347 (September 1988).[1]

Introduced as a fitness instructor based in Las Vegas, Chandler was set up on a date with Joe Fixit, a local enforcer who was secretly the Hulk in his gray form. The two developed a brief romantic relationship before eventually parting ways. She subsequently became romantically involved with Rick Jones, one of the Hulk's longtime allies. Although the couple eventually divorced, they later reconciled on several occasions.[2] At one point, Chandler was possessed by the personification of Death, granting her cosmic abilities and a connection to Death.[3]

Development

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Concept and creation

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In keeping with her introduction during a storyline in which the Hulk was involved with organized crime, Marlo Chandler's name combines the surnames of fictional detective Philip Marlowe (with the spelling changed to Marlo, a top-1000 name for girls born in the 1960s and 1970s) and his creator Raymond Chandler.[4]

Publication history

[edit]

Marlo Chandler debuted in The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #347 (September 1988),[5] created by writer Peter David and artist Jeff Purves. She subsequently appeared in several Marvel series, including Incredible Hulk Annual (1976),[6] Captain Marvel (1999),[7] Incredible Hulks (2010),[8] and Genis-Vell: Captain Marvel (2022).[9]

Fictional character biography

[edit]

Marlo Chandler is introduced as an aerobics and swimming instructor and as a love interest for the casino security enforcer Joe Fixit. Unbeknownst to Marlo, Fixit is an alternate identity of the Hulk.[10] She leaves him after seeing him appearing to have committed a brutal murder[11] but, after the Hulk reaches out to her in a rare display of emotion, their relationship ends in a more amicable way.[12]

As the comic book progresses, Marlo makes an appearance as the girlfriend of Rick Jones.[13] She had met Rick while he was on a book tour promoting his memoir, Sidekick. Rick, not knowing of Marlo's previous relationship with the Hulk, introduces her to Bruce Banner and Betty Ross. Marlo discovers that Joe Fixit was really the Hulk, and that Banner is not merely Fixit's friend but his alter ego.[14]

Marlo is stabbed to death by Jackie Shorr, who claims to be Rick's mother.[15] Rick eventually revives Marlo using the technology of the Leader.[16] She does not come back all the way at first, and spends some time in a near vegetative state, only snapping out of it and regaining some form of consciousness when her brothers try to issue a court order to take her into care.[17]

Rick and Marlo marry, although the wedding is nearly called off. At his bachelor party, Rick discovers a soft porn film that featured Marlo stripping nude at the beach, which was one of several such films she appeared in just after she had finished high school. The two reconcile thanks to Hulk's intervention.[18][19]

Marlo and Rick separate for a time, and she occupies herself with running the couple's Los Angeles-area comic book store.[20] She and Rick reunite shortly after he is bonded with Genis-Vell.[21]

In the series Captain Marvel, Marlo is possessed by Death. Her cosmic powers leave her with a literal death wish, which manifests itself as reality changing to suit her desires. After she comes to understand the situation, Marlo removes her powers by simply wishing for them to be gone.[22][23]

At one point she develops an attraction for the superheroine Moondragon which surprises the pair. At first both were unsure of what to do and before they can explore the possibility Marlo is whisked away by her husband.[24] When the truth eventually comes out Rick stands aside to let Marlo and Heather figure out their feelings. After some time passes Marlo and Heather break up when Marlo realizes that whatever feelings she had, they are stronger towards Rick. Heather, brokenheartedly, states she must have subconsciously used her telepathy to enamor Marlo. This is not true, just Heather trying to make the split easier for Marlo.[25]

Marlo goes missing for some time and is revealed to have been kidnapped by the Leader, who turns her into a harpy-like form. Using his telepathy as a mental leash, the Leader sends her to battle Bruce Banner and Skaar. Afterwards when she recognizes Rick in his A-Bomb form, she returns to normal and reunites with Rick.[26]

During the World War Hulks storyline, Marlo turns herself back into Harpy to help A-Bomb fight a drunken Ulik after averting a disaster on the train tracks he destroyed. When Ulik starts to choke Marlo, A-Bomb beats him into unconsciousness.[27]

Powers and abilities

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For a time, Marlo possessed a "death wish" power after her time serving as host to Death, which results in her being able to unconsciously shape reality when she makes wishes, although this power only works if she is not consciously trying to use it. She eventually erases this power after she wishes that she no longer had it. It has been revealed the connection with Death can be rekindled under extreme circumstances, allowing her to access the powers of Death herself.

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Cronin, Brian (March 15, 2020). "Was Hulk's Ex, Marlo Chandler, Originally Going to be a Prostitute?". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  2. ↑ Lapin-Bertone, Joshua (November 23, 2022). "A longtime Marvel Universe character just became the new Death". Popverse. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  3. ↑ Craig, Richard (March 14, 2025). "After 17 Years, I'm Convinced These 10 Major Hulk Characters Need To Appear In The MCU Now More Than Ever". Screen Rant. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  4. ↑ Jackson, Gordon (October 25, 2024). "The Comic Book History Behind Agatha All Along's Big Rio Reveal". Gizmodo. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  5. ↑ 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. 200. ISBN 978-1-4654-7890-0.
  6. ↑ "Religion and Characters in The Incredible Hulk Annual #18 (June 1992): "Four on the Floor"". Comic Book Religion. November 11, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Captain Marvel #31 (2002) - Earth's Mightiest Blog". Earth's Mightiest Blog. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  8. ↑ Dodge, John (September 14, 2022). "One Marvel Icon Keeps Showing Up Even Though She's Been Missing for Years". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  9. ↑ Gribbin, Sean (November 26, 2022). "A Classic Hulk Character Is Now Marvel's New Personification of Death". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  10. ↑ The Incredible Hulk #347 (September 1988)
  11. ↑ The Incredible Hulk #355 (May 1989)
  12. ↑ The Incredible Hulk #362 (November 1989)
  13. ↑ The Incredible Hulk #375 (November 1990)
  14. ↑ The Incredible Hulk #376 (December 1990)
  15. ↑ The Incredible Hulk #398 (October 1992)
  16. ↑ The Incredible Hulk #400 (December 1992)
  17. ↑ The Incredible Hulk #406 (June 1993)
  18. ↑ The Incredible Hulk #417 (May 1994)
  19. ↑ The Incredible Hulk #418 (June 1994)
  20. ↑ Captain Marvel (vol. 3) #2 (January 1996)
  21. ↑ Captain Marvel (vol. 3) #6 (May 1996)
  22. ↑ Captain Marvel (vol. 4) #25 (January 2002)
  23. ↑ Captain Marvel (vol. 4) #31 (June 2002)
  24. ↑ Captain Marvel (vol. 4) #35 (October 2002)
  25. ↑ Captain Marvel (vol. 4) #24 (December 2001)
  26. ↑ The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #604 (January 2010)
  27. ↑ World War Hulks #1 (June 2010)
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