Guys Who Should've, Ought've Known Better

The Beetle

Real Name: Abner Jenkins, although these days he prefers "Abe."

AKA: M.A.C.H. 1

First Appearance: Strange Tales 123

What's His Problem? Hard to tell, really. The guy had a good job and no reason to go bad, but after a disappointment at work he decided to dress up as a big bug and steal stuff. No accounting for taste, sometimes.

Abilities: The Beetle is a superior mechanical engineer who built his first suit from scratch (that's the one with the dangle-ly digits) and provided the design specs for his second Beetle suit, which was actually constructed by the Tinkerer. No word yet as to who designed and built the newest battle gear, but given the Thunderbolts' need for secrecy it was likely Jenkins himself. He is often the leader in various super-villainous team-ups, mostly because he tends to think quickly and clearly in messy situations -- as long as he isn't facing Spidey or Silver Sable, both of whom make ol' Abner lose his cool. When forced to fight alongside Spidey as a T-Bolt, he had a hard time maintaining his composure.

Heroes He Keeps Running Into: Although his original run-in was with the Human Torch, and although he's dealt with the Avengers, Iron Man and DareDevil, the Beetle in recent years has become one of the Spider-Man regulars. The Beetle has bigger problems than the occasional hero, however. He's run afoul of the Kingpin, crossed Boomerang and has the Ringer's extremely vengeance-minded widow after him. Heroes will just throw you in prison; those other folks play for keeps! All of which may explain why he chucked the Beetle identity to join the Thunderbolts; nothing like hiding in plain sight!

Favorite Quote: "Please, God, don't let him find me. I swear I'll go straight, if you just don't let him--" (Spectacular Spider-Man 164, which is told from Abner's point of view. Oh, Spidey found him. Did you think he wouldn't?)

People Who Think He's Not So Bad: Justin Hammer has repeatedly hired the Beetle over the years, although Abner's double-dealings have alienated just about everyone else he's worked with. Baron Zemo, AKA Citizen V, apparently thinks enough of Abner to give him a new identity and invite him into the Thunderbolts. Jenkins has been seen on the town with his Thunderbolts' teammate Songbird, but where the relationship will ultimately lead is open to question.

Most Despicable Act: Attaching a smoke bomb to the Ringer's costume, telling him it was a powerful explosive that would detonate unless the Ringer fought Spider-Man. The futile battle cost the Ringer most of his expensive dental work and, eventually, his life. When crossed by the Rhino, Abner killed the one doctor that could return the Rhino to normal -- guess that's one more ticked off super-villain he'll have to deal with one of these days!

Beetle Mug Shots!