Background

Norton G. Fester was an unappreciated scientist. His theory of microscopic life forms in meteorites was not conducive to receiving funding. He flunked science at high school, and many thought him a crack-pot. His fellow scientists ignored his efforts in favor of more commercial ventures - such as hair tonic.

A field trip uncovers a freshly-fallen meteorite, but without funding he is forced to perform his own crude investigations. Chiseling open the recent find, an escaping gas chokes him as it clings to his skin... leaving him with super-human strength.

His focus immediately turns to crime, stealing from a society who rejected him. He starts with grand theft, stealing from banks and other institutions. As his powers start to wane, however, he realizes he must look to steal a renewed supply of the meteoric gas.

He barges into a local museum... a museum where Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy are both engaged on their separate erudite pursuits. Parker disappears, to emerge as Spider-Man, leaving Gwen with the conviction that Peter is a frightened wimp.

Spider-Man fails in this first meeting, but in a second encounter, he captures The Looter as the villain attempts to flee in his helium balloon. This first meeting is a recurring theme from the subsequent issues. Larceny, search for meteorites, helium balloons, and defeat at the hands of Spider-Man. Such is the Lot of The Looter.

Norton tried to improve on the transmission of the meteor gas into his nervous system, but the microwave transmitter used too much power, causing it to backfire and explode. Another loss for the Looter. After becoming an alcoholic, Fester tried to rob the elderly Nathan Lubensky but again, was beaten down by Spider-Man. (Sheesh, he cant even get away with assaulting a senior citizen?) Later, Looter was captured by Ben Reilly as Fester told him that he finally made a break through in his research. His work was so important that even S.H.E.I.L.D. wanted it.

Looter has never been a serious threat to Spider-Man but he does sometimes know things about the goings on of other criminals. Spidey captured him during Norman Osborn's Dark Reign, and Fester told him that with Osborn in control of H.A.M.M.E.R., he wouldn't be in jail for long. Spider-Man gave him a wedgie as thanks for the info. Spider-Man suspected him of possibly having a part in the abduction of Harry Osborn and Lily Hollister's baby, Stanley Osborn. Looter tells him he had nothing to do with it.

The Looter hired Power Man to attack Spider-Man while being given the key to the city of New York by mayor J. Jonah Jameson. While they fought, an accomplice of Fester stole the key. Power Man (an apprentice of Iron Fist and a Hero for Hire) told Spidey that he had been told that there was a bomb in the key and the tip came from Norton G. Fester. (This is why Fester fails as a crook. He signs his real name to things.) The key was needed by Fester to open a secret door under Federal Hall on Wall Street. He had heard a conspiracy theory that many of the Founding Fathers were 33rd degree Freemasons and he wanted the meteorite under Federal Hall that had been a part of the Mason's ceremonies. Once he got to it, it released a space creature that attacked Looter, Spider-Man and Power Man. Power Man impaled the alien with a flag pole and Looter was taken back to prison. The best part?

Looter: Forget about my Dazzle Gun, Spider-Man? Spidey: Da-aah! I tried to!

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.