Mr. Fish

Publication history

The Mortimer Norris incarnation of Mr. Fish first appeared in Luke Cage, Power Man #29 (April 1975), and was created by writer Bill Mantlo and artist George Tuska. Initially, Luke Cage, Power Man #29 was intended to continue a storyline from the 28th issue. The continuation of that story was running late. Because of these deadline considerations, the splash page admits, this fill-in story, "No One Laughs at Mr. Fish", was created to ensure #29 hit the stands on schedule.

The Bill Morris incarnation of Mr. Fish first appeared in Daughters of the Dragon #4 (April 2006), and was created by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, and Khari Evans.

Fictional character biography

Mortimer Norris

Mortimer Norris is a crook who discovers stolen radioactive material while on a job. The exposure makes him dizzy and causes him to fall into the East River. Norris is mutated into an amphibious fish-man with enhanced strength and establishes a Maggia branch in his area, aided by a group of thugs and his second-in-command, a dwarf named Shrike. As Mr. Fish, Norris battles Luke Cage and utilizes a concussive ray gun that knocks him out. Despite Shrike's advice to finish Cage off before he awakens, Fish waits until Cage wakes up so that he can recount his origin and master plan. Cage makes short work of Fish's men. In a desperate move, Fish rushes towards Cage with a steel girder, but Cage dodges and Fish falls off the building, seemingly dying on impact.

Mr. Fish appears alive in the All-New, All-Different Marvel relaunch. He warns Tombstone that Black Cat will be targeting him and his criminal empire during an upcoming gang war for control of Harlem. Burgeoning crime lord Alex Wilder later crashes one of Tombstone and Mr. Fish's meetings, beating Tombstone and magically banishing Fish to Hell. After recovering from the attack, Tombstone rescues Fish from Hell with the help of Black Talon.

During the "Devil's Reign" storyline, Mr. Fish appears as an inmate of the Myrmidon. Moon Knight battles and defeats him in a prison match.

During the "Gang War" storyline, Mr. Fish is among the villains hired by Hobgoblin to guard his hideout. Scorpion eventually convinces the group to turn against Hobgoblin.

Bill Norris

The second Mr. Fish is Bill Norris, Mortimer's similarly-mutated brother. He is introduced visiting an exotic nightclub with the Walrus.

Mr. Fish joins the Flashmob, a group of former opponents of Luke Cage, during the Shadowland storyline. The assemblage of villains confront the new Power Man (Victor Alvarez), and are remanded to Ryker's Island after being defeated by Power Man and Iron Fist. A few members of the Flashmob, including Mr. Fish, are bailed out by Big Ben Donovan.

When a virus begins giving people spider-powers similar to Spider-Man's during the Spider-Island storyline, Mr. Fish and the Flashmob are among those infected, prompting them to try and escape from the quarantined Manhattan. They are stopped by the Heroes for Hire.

Powers and abilities

Mr. Fish has enhanced strength and a fish-like physiology that enables him to survive on land and in water.

Other versions

The Mortimer Norris incarnation of Mr. Fish appears in Marvel Adventures.

In other media

The Mortimer Norris incarnation of Mr. Fish appears in the Luke Cage episode "Wig Out", portrayed by Hakim Callender. This version is a human crime lord with no superhuman abilities.

References

References

1. ''[[Luke Cage, Power Man]]'' #29 (February 1976)
2. ''[[Power Man and Iron Fist]]'' (vol. 3) #10 (January 2017)
3. ''Power Man and Iron Fist'' (vol. 3) #11 (February 2017)
4. ''Power Man and Iron Fist'' (vol. 3) #14 (May 2017)
5. ''Devil's Reign: Moon Knight'' one-shot (May 2022)
6. ''[[Miles Morales: Spider-Man]]'' (vol. 2) #15-16 (March - April 2024)
7. ''[[Daughters of the Dragon]]'' #4 (June 2006)
8. ''[[Shadowland (comics). Shadowland: Power Man]]'' #2 (November 2010)
9. ''Spider-Island: Heroes for Hire'' one-shot (December 2011)
10. ''Fantastic Four Giant-Size Adventures'' one-shot (August 2009)
11. "Wig Out".