Aliases: 3-D Man
Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
First Appearance: Avengers (Vol.3) #8 (1998)
Becomes an Avenger: Avengers (Vol.3) #27 (2000)
Best Moment: Receiving cosmic powers and banishing the other-worldly force known as the “Triple Evil” in Avengers (Vol. 3) #53 (2002)
Worst Moment: Being stripped of his Olympic gold medals for steroid use in Avengers (Vol. 3) #9 (1998)
Background: Delroy Garrett was a gifted athlete, competing in the Olympics for his skills as a sprinter. When it was discovered that he had used steroids, Garrett’s livelihood was destroyed, leaving him without faith.
Joining the Triune Understanding, a mysterious sect, Garrett was imbued with stolen powers from classic hero the 3D Man, including superhuman speed, strength, healing and the unique ability to see true forms such as a possession or a Skrull imposter (Avengers Vol.3 #9).
Garrett met the Avengers when the group foiled a plot by arms dealer Moses Magnum. Over the next few months, the Triune began a smear campaign against the Avengers, making them out to be “intolerant” of others. The team then decided to add Triathlon to the team to end the bad publicity (Avengers Vol.3 #27).
After some time on the team, Triathlon was forced to fight his former comrades of the Triune when its leader, Jonathan Tremont was discovered to have been behind much of the teams’ recent problems. Tremont planned to harness the power of the Triple-Evil, a cosmic threat that gave its master unbelievable cosmic power. Tremont was unsuccessful, leading Garrett to absorb the power himself, using it to destroy Tremont and his plans for good.
Garrett then went on to help the team thwart yet another attack from Kang and eventually left the team when they restructured in the early 2000s. He has recently joined the Agents of Atlas and continues to fight crime, taking the name 3D Man.
Analysis: Though his time with the team was filled with in-fighting and conspiracy, Triathlon managed to single handedly stop one of the teams’ biggest threats of the time. His powers are unique and under the right writer, he could be used well. He shouldn’t be written off because of the silly costume and name.
Willie’s Avenger Rating: 6 out of 10