Gregory Herd

Dr. Gregory Herd is a fictional character, a supervillain who appears in the comic books published by Marvel Comics. His first appearance was in The Spectacular Scarlet Spider #1. He originally operated as the villain Override and worked with his wife, who operated as Aura. He later became the fiery villain Shadrac in The Amazing Spider-Man vol. 2 #2.

Fictional character biography[]

As Override, Dr. Gregory Herd wore a cybernetically enhanced costume that allowed him to control, or "override", any other electronic device (including but by no means limited to Spider-Man's web-shooters). Together with his wife (who operated under the name Aura), he worked as a mercenary for hire. Unfortunately, during the "Spider-Hunt" storyline, in which a massive bounty was placed on Spider-Man's head, Herd's wife was gravely injured and left in medical care.^[1] To cover her steadily mounting medical expenses, Override then went to work as one of Norman Osborn's costumed employees.^[2]

Desperate for some way to save his wife, Herd asks to join Osborn's "Gathering of Five" ceremony in order to gain one of five "gifts".^[3] However, Herd was the unfortunate recipient of death. In a turn of events, death gave Herd new powers while steadily destroying him over time. He fell under the thumb of a man named Dolman, who originally owned one of the five artifacts used in the Gathering ceremony; an artifact that was stolen by Osborn. Dolman intended to use Herd as a tool to regain what Osborn had stolen. Herd assaulted Osborn Industries but incidentally ran into Spider-Man (who at the time was portrayed by Mattie Franklin — ironically, another member of the Gathering ceremony).^[4]

Herd dismissed Franklin with little effort but was later forced to battle the original Spider-Man and Iceman while trying to tell officials the truth that Dolman was tampering with his mind. He managed to convince Iceman to freeze him entirely in an attempt to stay alive.^[5]

Though temporarily frozen, Shadrac was still dying albeit in a less painful manner. Later pursuing Dolman, Shadrac, Iceman, and Spider-Man teamed up to capture him. After Dolman merged with the Spindle and gained powers, Shadrac managed to "override" him and possess his body in a last-ditch effort to stop Dolman and save himself.^[6]

Civil War[]

Somehow separated from both Shadrac and Dolman, with Aura restored to human form, and back in his original costume, Herd joined Hammerhead's "villain army" that was captured by Iron Man and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.^[7]

Powers and abilities[]

As Shadrac[]

Herd's entire body was constantly consumed in intense flames which he could manipulate in the form of blasts emitted from his hands or an aura he could expand at will. It is unknown what high temperatures he could reach, but Shadrac was able to melt metal at the touch of his hands. Originally, he had a mechanical apparatus in his costume that allowed him to override and control electrical and mechanical devices. Due to the Gathering Of The Five ceremony, this has been absorbed into his physiology and can now override emotions as well, but his main power is the mystical flames which are killing him.

References[]

External links[]

• "Override (Marvel)" at the Comic Book DB