Madman

Real Name: Phil Sterns

First Appearance: as Phil Sterns:Incredible Hulk #363

as Madman: Incredible Hulk #364

Origin: The Incredible Hulk #467

Powers/Abilities: Super-human strength. Able to increase and decrease his mass and change his shape and form from a human appearance to the Madman personna. Great knowledge of gamma radiation and of poisons.

Artist Reprsentation Gallery

Origin: Phil Stern was a graduate student at at the same time as Bruce Banner. Whereas Bruce was at the top of the class, Phil was at the bottom. Phil was always an admirer of Bruce, but never made any type of contact. After graduation, he started research into gamma radiation as a weapon. But once again, Bruce got the best when the government funded his research instead of Phil's. After news that Bruce Banner was the Hulk was made public, Phil was even more jealous feeling that the power of the the Hulk should have been his. Over the years, he purposely exposed himself to gamma radiation, trying to duplicate the conditions that turned Bruce into the Hulk. He eventually gained the powers of the Madman. Phil Sterns and Madman are two separate personalities existing in the same body, similar to the differenct incarnations of the Hulk along with Bruce. It is not clear whether the two personalities were present from the beginning or if the jeolousy and exposure to gamma radiation caused the formation of the Madman personality. Over the years, the Madman personality amassed a large sum of money but it is unsure as to exactly how he earned it.

GREAT MOMENTS IN HISTORY

The Incredible Hulk #363: While on the Watcher's homeworld on a mission from the Leader to get the Ultimate Machine (a device capable of granting the bearer all the knowledge in the world), the Hulk is attacked by Amphibion.

The Incredible Hulk #364: While at his house, Phil "talks" to Madman (which is just his reflection in the mirror). Madman tells Phil he has to help him kill Bruce for revenge for stealing from him. He gives Phil a ring which will kill Bruce and the Hulk. While at work, Phil acts friendly to Bruce and slaps him on the back, injecting him with the poison.

The Incredible Hulk #365: Doc Samson goes to the research facility to question people about the appearance of the Hulk. Samson questions Phil, asking him if he knew that the janitor was actually Bruce Banner. Phil says he had no idea but Samson doesn't believe him.

The Incredible Hulk #366: While at the research base, Madman spots the Hulk. The Leader spies on Madman at the same time. The Leader kidnaps the Hulk to his base and tells him he wants the Hulk to stop Madman because he is afraid of Madman.

The Incredible Hulk #367: Bruce & the Hulk work together using common knowledge to realize that the Leader and Phil Sterns are related. The Hulk gets the jump on the Leader and forces him to tell him how there are related, namely brothers. The Leader tells the Hulk half the truth, implying that Phil and Madman are two separate people. He transports the Hulk off to stop Madman. The Hulk enters Phil's house and stumbles across a secret passage to Madman's underground lair. Madman steps forth and challenges the Hulk to a fight but the Hulk just asks for the antidote to the poison. Madman gets mad and increases his mass greatly and proceeds to beat up the weakened Hulk. The Hulk fights back but is just too weak for any real resistance. The Phil personality comes out and helps the Hulk, whereas the Hulk realizes that Phil and Madman are the same person. Madman takes over again, telling Hulk his origin, in which the Hulk laughs. Phil comes out again and tells the Hulk where the poison ring is in the lab and also that there is an antidote available. Madman and Phil fight for control until Madman permanently (?) gets rid of the Phil half. By this time, the Hulk has gotten the ring with poison and injects Madman on the back, giving him minutes to live. He hits the Hulk aside and goes about making an anitdote. Right before Madman is aobut to inject himself, the Hulk knocks him down and they fight over the syringe. The Hulk gets it and is able to inject himself only during the transformation back to Bruce. Bruce puts the antidote just out of the weakened Madman's reach and walks away, leaving him to his fate.

The Incredible Hulk #407: While fighting Piecemeal, the Hulk is ambushed and knocked unconscious by Madman.

The Incredible Hulk #408: After dropping the Hulk into Lock Ness in chains, Madman kidnaps some people, including a former member of the Pantheon, Scott Shannon. Scott punches Madman who then, instead of doing anything directly to Scott, instead kills one of the innocent kidnap victims, just to upset Scott. Madman informs the people that when Bruce left the antidote, Madman just increased his size to reach it and cure himself in time. The Hulk gets out of the chains and comes back to attack Piecemeal and Madman. During the fight, Scott tries to help but Madman kills him. The Hulk, very incensed, appearantly kills Piecemeal and turns to face Madman, who has disappeared.

The Incredible Hulk #409: The Hulk takes off after Madman, who is trying to make a getaway in a jet. The Hulk catches up but Madman ejects and blows up the jet with the Hulk in it. The Hulk lands in London where he runs into Motormouth and Killpower. Madman, meanwhile, has kidnapped Prince Charles and demands to be elected king of England. The Hulk, along with Motormouth and Killpower, manage to rescue Prince Charles. During an all-out battle between Madman and the Hulk, Madman reveals that everything he has done was because he loved Bruce. Needless to say, the Hulk is quite shocked. At that moment, the bridge they were fighting on crumbles and Madman disappears into the water.