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Attributes

Height: 6' 5"

Weight: 255 lbs

Eyes: Brown

Hair: Before Transformation: Brown After Transformation: Gold

Features: Skin replaced with a golden-colored liquid metal alloy.

Summary

Created By: Stan Lee, Steve Ditko

Real Name: Mark Raxton

Current Aliases: None

Former Aliases: None

Dual Identity: Known to authorities

Current Occupation: Security Guard for Osborn Industries

Former Occupation: Lab Assistant for Prof. Spencer Smythe

Citizenship: U.S. Citizen

Legal Status: Criminal Record in U.S.

Place of Birth: U.S.

Marital Status: Single

Known Relatives: Liz Allan, Mr. Raxton (father, deceased), Mrs Allen (step-mother), Liz Allen Osborn (step-sister), Harry Osborn (step-brother-in-law, deceased), Norman Osborn (step-father-in-law), Norman Osborn Jr. (step-nephew).

Known Confidants: Liz Allan

Known Allies: Spider-Man, Second Green Goblin

Major Enemies: Formerly Spider-Man

Usual Bases: Manhattan

Former Bases: None

Current Groups: None

Former Groups: None

Education: Presumably High School/College graduate

Powers & Paraphenalia

Strength Level: Superhuman

Powers: Can generate and project intense heat and fire. Metal alloy makes his body more resistant to damage.

Abilities: Skilled fighter

Equipment: None

Weapons: None

Limitations: His body temperature is not controlled, and at one point threatened to melt his skin. Will lose his molten properties if submerged in water.

Background

Raxton spent most of his super villain career seeking desperately to find a way to reverse his condition. After a fight at the suburban home of the now-married Liz Allen Osborn, a quick dousing into the pool put out his fire. Since then, Raxton has worked side by side with Spider-Man more than once. While still a bit of a (ahem) hothead, Raxton seems to have switched to the side of the angels... at least for now.

Life has not been easy for Mark Raxton, as his dysfunctional family and criminal past has caused him countless headaches. His brother in law gave him a job at the Osborn Chemical factory, but this seeming struck of luck turned bad. He was coerced by Tombstone into stealing an experimental plant preservation chemical called DIOX-3 from Osborn Chemical. The robbery was foiled by Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, as Harry Osborn was attempting to reform himself at the time. Spider-Man vouched for Mark's innocence when the police arrived and Harry gave him a job as head of security at the factory.

As Harry's sanity continued to fall apart, Spidey asked Mark to keep an eye on him. Harry kidnapped Mark, Liz Allan and Norman Osborn, Jr, and forced them to sit together at dinner as a family. As Harry ranted and raved about how the Osborns would rule New York, Raxton activated a spider tracer that Spider-Man had given him, which alerted Spidey to the danger. After Harry beat the Molten Man into submission for alerting Spider-Man, the Goblin was defeated and sent to prison.

Mark had been forced to relocate to a new job in a California OsCorp plant by Harry (after he got out of prison) and wasn't able to aid Spidey when Harry and Peter had their final battle. He was much more helpful when Norman Jr was kidnapped by a trio of robotic Goblin women. Harry created the robots to kidnap and expose his young son to the Green Goblin formula, not knowing that the chemicals were toxic. Liz called her step brother to watch Spider-Man and Daily Bugle reporter Ben Urich's backs. He protected Urich as Spidey battled the Goblin robots and destroyed the mind control device that Harry used on Liz.

Mark had advanced to chief of operations at OsCorp when he got wind of another company, MultiVex, skimming funds away from OsCorp. He broke into the MultiVex headquarters to access their database when he was confronted by Ben Reilly and Peter Parker. Both Spider-Men had been attacked by goons that led them to believe OsCorp was involved. Ben only knew Raxton as a criminal and instantly assumed he was behind the assaults.

Three stories down in the MultiVex building, Seward Trainer and Gaunt were going about healing Gaunt's withered body. Molten Man's heat powers melted through the floors and landed the three of them into the rejuvenation room. Gaunt, desperate to be human again, ordered the guards to kill the Molten Man but keep the spiders alive. Naturally, the ensuing fight destroyed the rebirth machine and the building. In the end, Ben and Peter had no answers as to who had attacked them, besides Gaunt's taunt that it was someone from their past.

Mark was next used as a pawn by Norman Osborn, who used mind control to make Raxton attempt to assassinate Alison Mongrain, whom Norman considered a threat to his plans. Mark was stopped at the last minute, when Joe Robertson got rid of the homing device that allowed the Molten Man to follow them.

Raxton continued trying to turn his life into a more positive direction by becoming a mentor to a young boy, but this backfired when the Chameleon threatened to kill the boy unless the Molten Man agreed to join the Deadly Foes of Spider-Man (made up of Swarm, Will O the Whisp, Electro and Scarecrow). He reluctantly agreed but was defeated. Scarecrow and Molten Man were later used as bait to draw out Captain America's New Avengers, but instead brought out the Punisher. The incident left Raxton badly injured.

Raxton's condition was still unstable and he was getting treatment hired by his step sister. His mental state also seemed to be declining, as he went on a rampage when a surprisingly alive Harry showed up at Liz's home. Wanting to be protective of his step sister, he failed to realize that the fight with Spider-Man was destroying her home. In the course of the fight, Harry revealed the secret he had hoped would make Liz hate him a little less: a possible cure for Mark's condition. He had managed to find a cure after studying Charlie Weiderman, the second Molten Man. After a human again Mark was taken to a hospital, Liz thanked Harry.

Thanks To:

The assistance of the Marvel Chronology Project is gratefully acknowledged.

Character Appearances