Background

Morrie Bench became Hydro-Man when he was knocked into the water during the testing of a new under-water generator (see Amazing #211/#212). An unlikely set of circumstances including the failure of the device and the presence of undersea volcanic gasses lead to a situation whence quote 'the energy conversion reaction within the device combines with the gasses in the water to form an energy for which there may never be a name' unquote.

That is to say - a one-in-a-million situation which creates the super-villain under consideration. It's too extra-ordinary to try to explain, it's impossible to reproduce, and kids - for goodness sake don't try this at home in your bath-tub. OK?

Morrie Bench was actually a labourer on the ship involved in the experiment - however when he discovers the nature of his powers, his natural unlawful temperment combines with a psychologically destabilising side-effect of the accident to create what is essentially a super-villian waiting to happen.

Hydro-Man sets off for vengeance on Spider-Man, who coincidentally happened to be on-board the ship when this all started - and when he finds him, the scene is set for a battle-royal. Does Spider-Man have what it takes to mop-up Hydro-Man, or will the eensy-weensy spider get washed down the drain?

A note here also about Sadie. Sadie is a woman of loose morals who is approaching the later years of her life. She apparently knows Morrie Bench before his transformation - and makes an appearance in Amazing #212. In Amazing #217/#218 we see both Sandman and Hydro-Man vying for her affections, in an amusing little story which ends in a climactic (and rather sublime) melodramatic finish.

Bench is a typical low rent super criminal: like many others, when he cant win on his own, he joins a team. He was part of the Sinister Syndicate, made up of Beetle, Rhino, Boomerang and Speed Demon. They wanted to take over Wilson Fisk's empire and failed.

Since then Hydro-Man returned to attack Spidey several times. Though he is virtually indestructible, he never suceeded. He makes a living working for people like Justin Hammer, in the short intervals where he isn't pulling himself together after another defeat. Hydro-Man is another classic case of a villain with too much power but no clue on how to use it properly. With careful planning, Hydro-Man would be a nigh-unbeatable foe, instead of being defeated by a power cable 99% of the times.

Morrie joined the Sinister Twelve for the short while that the group existed and briefly teamed with the Shocker, but neither venture went well. He was part of the Frightful Four, along with the Wizard, Titania and Trapster. He's a team player, but he still is all muscle...er, water and no brain.

Thanks To:

The assistance of the Marvel Chronology Project is gratefully acknowledged.

Some of the above information is extracted from the various versions of the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe and the more recent Marvel Encyclopaedias.