Eugene Patilio (Earth-616)

Eugene Patilio's father, Vincent Patilio, was an inventor who had never created anything successful. Eugene's mother, Rosie, was the breadwinner in the family, and her salary kept them afloat financially until she died of cancer. With Vincent earning barely enough to pay the rent for his and Eugene's home, the young boy had to get his own job while he was still in school. Eugene worked his tail off after school and had less time for studying.

Vincent eventually devised electrically-powered coils that he then fashioned into a costume and embarked on an ill-fated career as the villainous Leap-Frog, which saw him end up in prison. When searching through a closet in their home, Eugene discovered the Leap-Frog suit. Eugene took the suit to his own bedroom, then started wearing it. Believing that there was only one way for Vincent to stop being haunted by the ghost of Leap-Frog, Eugene decided to adopt the costume and identity to use it as a powerful symbol for good. Eugene began an earnest, if somewhat clumsy, battle against crime. In attempting to help Spider-Man and the Human Torch, Eugene accidentally succeeded in defeating the criminal Speed Demon. Greatly encouraged by this victory, Patilio rechristened himself "the Fabulous Frog-Man," feeling that his new codename had more pizzazz than the previous one.^[2]

Vincent was proud of his son for capturing the Speed Demon, but his pride turned to disapproval as Eugene continued to serve as a super hero. Patilio assisted, of sorts, Captain America, and later tried unsuccessfully to join the super team Defenders. Afterward, Patilio was encouraged by Spider-Man to join with the Toad and Spider-Kid in forming the Misfits, although they disbanded almost immediately afterward. Later, Patilio defeated the villain White Rabbit with the help of his father, who had donned a version of the Leap Frog costume again.^[6]

Frog-Man was soon captured by Alyosha Kravinoff and used like an ordinary animal, for Kraven's hunting pleasure. He was held on a boat with other animal-themed super-criminals, such as Rhino, Vulture, the second Kangaroo, Swarm and others. Kraven would drug them and fight them to prove his superiority. He was stopped by the Punisher, but Kraven got away.^[7]

After the superhuman civil war, Frog-Man was listed as a potential recruit for the Initiative,^[8] and was recruited into the Action Pack team.^[9] During the Secret Invasion, this Patilio was revealed to be a Skull infiltrator and after the invasion was over, the real Frog-Man joined a support group meeting for people who had been replaced by Skrulls.^[10]

During Spider-Island, Frog-Man helped The Avengers to defeat Flag-Smasher and U.L.T.I.M.A.T.U.M., who were attacking the U.N. at the moment. He wished to establish a partnership with Ms. Marvel. As usual, through sheer luck, Frog-Man helped the team win the battle and save the day.^[11]

Eugene once started working as a busboy at Isaac's Oysters, a restaurant in Greenwich Village run by retired vigilante Gargoyle.^[12] After the android Korvac resurfaced and embarked in a plan to regain his godhood, he came to blows with Iron Man and Hellcat.^[13] When Stark saw himself forced to recruit allies under Korvac's radar, Frog-Man was one of the heroes suggested by Hellcat.^[14] Alongside Gargoyle, Frog-Man became part of the ragtag group of heroes,^[12] which joined Iron Man as he pursued Korvac into outer space.^[15]

Iron Man and his "Space Friends" raced Korvac to Taa II. They barely failed, and the villain managed to tap into the Power Cosmic to attain godhood. Iron Man followed suit in a last-ditch effort that saw Korvac's defeat.^[16] The heroes returned to Earth, but Tony had become corrupted by the Power Cosmic.^[17] The Space Friends colluded with Doctor Doom to strip him of the Power Cosmic, but the plan backfired after they lured Stark into a trap, and he killed all of them, save for Hellcat, in a fit of blind rage.^[4] After snapping out of it, Iron Man relinquished the Power Cosmic and returned to normal, but not before bringing everybody back to life.^[5]

American Sign Language: Frog-Man can read American Sign Language.^[12]

The springs in Frog-Man's suit make it almost impossible to stay in a straight line. He has had considerable navigation problems when moving.^[2]

• Leap-Frog's Suit: Suit equipped with electrically powered leaping coils that allow him to reach a height of 6 stories per jump.
  • Superhuman Agility: The main power given him by the suit is the ability to perform great leaps. He can leap for 60 feet at a 45° parabolic arc reaching 15 feet at the apex or 30 feet straight.^[1]
  • Superhuman Durability: The suit is heavily padded and smaller coils inside the suit's skin enable him to bounce off walls with minimal damage.
  • Superhuman Strength: The suit possesses an exoskeleton that enables him to lift 1 ton.^[1]

• In his first appearance in Marvel Team-Up #121, Eugene is described as only 15-years-old.
• The first time Leap Frog defeated muggers, he ended up attacked and insulted by the mugging victim. He realized that some people have no sense of gratitude.^[2]