Avengers Assemble! Week Seven: Stingray

Place of Birth: Gloucester, Massachusetts

Aliases: Sir Devilfish

First Appearance: Tales to Astonish #95 (1967)

Becomes an Avenger: Avengers Vol. 1 #319 (1990)

Best Moment: Defeating the legendary Namor in a one-on-one battle in Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #19 (1969).

Worst Moment: Leaving Luke Cage’s resistance movement after the defeat of Captain America in Iron Man/Captain America: Casualties of War #1 (2007).

Background: Dr. Walter Newell was a famous oceanographer who was made in charge of an undersea city in the Atlantic. Meeting Namor and helping him to save the city, the two became friends until the government tasked Newell with bringing Namor into custody due to false information in Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner #19 (1969).

Newell went about building a specialized suit that would grant him superhuman strength, speed and aquatic capabilities, which he used to battle Namor. After the two clashed, Newell and Namor became friends, realizing the truth behind Namor’s involvement. Newell then became involved as caretaker of Hydrobase, an underwater research station in Marvel Two-In-One #64 (1980).

After Newell married Diane Arliss, sister of the villainous Tiger Shark in Marvel Two-In-One #74 (1981), the Avengers needed a new base of operations, they turned to Newell, who provided them with Hydrobase. He then donned the Stingray costume on multiple occasions, helping the team fight various super-villains including Kang.

After initially taking Captain America’s anti-registration side during the superhero Civil War, Newell joined Iron Man’s Fifty-State Initiative in Iron Man/Captain America: Casualties of War #1 (2007), where he has remained since.

Analysis: Stingray came to the aid of the team during a rough period, offering them shelter and providing them with another teammate to replenish their diminishing ranks. Though he served well, his importance to the team has never been great.

Willie’s Avenger Rating: 4 out of 10