Justin Hammer

Justin Hammer
Justin Hammer. Art by Ron Lim.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Iron Man #120 (Mar 1979)
Created by	David Michelinie John Romita, Jr. Bob Layton
In-story information
Full name	Justin Hammer
Team affiliations	Hammer Industries
Abilities	Brilliant and shrewd financier, businessman, and strategist

Justin Hammer is a fictional character that has appeared in various comic book series published by Marvel Comics. As a frequent adversary of the superhero Iron Man, Justin Hammer exists in Marvel's main shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe. He first appeared in Iron Man (1st series) #120 (March 1979).

As he explains in his first major appearance, Hammer is the reason why many of Iron Man's supervillain enemies have access to extremely advanced technology, and why these foes use their equipment for violent crimes instead of profiting by bringing the designs to market. Hammer reveals that the villains are his underworld mercenaries, secretly armed and contractually obligated to fulfill missions against Hammer's competitors and enemies, such as Tony Stark.

Actor Sam Rockwell portrays a younger, American version of Justin Hammer in the 2010 film, Iron Man 2.

Fictional character biography

Justin Hammer was born in Surrey, England, and later became a citizen of Monaco. A rival of industrialist Tony Stark (Iron Man), multi-billionaire businessman Hammer later became a criminal financier using unethical methods. In exchange for fifty percent of the crime profits, he would pay bail for costumed criminals and finance the development and replacement of both their weaponry and equipment. In the event that a mercenary under his employ violated his contract, Hammer would send an enforcement unit, usually led by his most reliable supervillain employee, Blacklash, to attack the rogue and confiscate his assigned equipment.

At the start of the Demon in a Bottle storyline, Justin Hammer invented a device called the hypersonic scan transmitter, which allowed him to take control of Iron Man's armor. He tested this remote control, affecting Iron Man's unibeam, sealing plates, and boot jets. Angered that he had lost a lucrative bid to Stark International, Hammer took control of Iron Man's armor and forced him to kill the Carnelian ambassador, and set an army of superhuman criminals against Iron Man. Ultimately, Stark not only cleared his name and destroyed the control device, but finally learned that he has had a major enemy behind multiple attacks on his interests for years.

With help from the supervillain Force, Hammer next hijacked yachts to smuggle opium into the United States. They battled Iron Man and were defeated. When Stark lost his company to Obidiah Stane, Hammer left the destitute Stark to his own devices while continuing with his own enterprises; when Stark recovered and re-entered the business world with Stark Enterprises, Hammer sent the Adap-Tor (a robotic attack drone disguised as a helicoptor) to attack the new company as a way of "welcoming" Stark back.

For a time, Hammer frequently hired the villain group known as the Death Squad in an attempt to kill both Stark and Iron Man, but fired the group after they constantly failed.

When Force later attempted to go straight, Hammer sent the Beetle, Blacklash, and the second Blizzard to retrieve Force, but they were defeated by Force with help from Iron Man and Jim Rhodes.

During the "Armor Wars" storyline, Justin Hammer had Stark's Iron Man technology stolen by the Spymaster and sold it to a number of superhumans who wore powered armor—including, among others, the Stilt-Man, the Raiders, the Mauler, the Beetle, Crimson Dynamo and the Titanium Man. Iron Man set about to disable the Stark-based technology in the suits in question, going so far as to also disable sanctioned technology in the armor of S.H.I.E.L.D.'S Mandroids and the Vault's Guardsmen, leading him into conflict with The Captain and his fellow Avengers.

Justin Hammer later sent the Rhino to break the Blizzard out of prison. He sent his "B-Team" (Blacklash, Blizzard, and Boomerang) to battle the Ghost and Iron Man.

Justin Hammer redesigned the Scorpion's tail, and sent him to abduct General Musgrave. Justin Hammer sent Blacklash and the Rhino to retrieve the tail when the Scorpion refused to complete his mission. Hammer later learned that Tony Stark had been shot, and ordered a batch of orchids to be sent to him, with a card expressing condolences should he live. Hammer sent Boomerang to raid a Stark Enterprises security office. Hammer hired the Taskmaster to train the second Spymaster.

Later, Hammer agreed to design a new costume for the Rhino. Hammer sent the Rhino and Boomerang to battle Cardiac. With the Life Foundation, Roxxon Oil, Stane International, and the Brand Corporation, Hammer abducted a number of superhuman beings to analyze their abilities. Hammer also helped the first Sphinx to reclaim the Ka-Stone.

It was revealed, years later, that Justin Hammer had obtained Stane International after the death of its chairman Obadiah Stane, causing problems for Tony Stark through his old company. With operatives of HYDRA, Roxxon Oil, Moroboshi International, and the Trinational Commission, Hammer tricked the Masters of Silence into attacking Stark Enterprises. Even when Hammer was forced to sell his stock in Stane International to Stark for the sum of one dollar, Hammer had the last laugh, when all the shady dealings and irresponsible, or even criminal actions of Stane International came back to bite Tony later.

Much later, after Justin Hammer had been diagnosed with an incurable illness, he resolved to destroy Tony Stark before he died. Justin Hammer infected Stark's bloodstream with mood-altering nanites that made Stark irrational and temperamental. In a final confrontation between Iron Man and Hammer on Hammer's own space station, Hammer was accidentally frozen in a block of ice and lost in space.

Justin is the father of Justine Hammer (a.k.a. Crimson Cowl), and the grandfather of Sasha Hammer.

Powers and abilities

Justin Hammer is a normal, middle aged man. He has a degree in commerce and business, and is an extremely efficient administrator with a genius-level intellect. He has access to various forms of advanced technology designed by his technicians.

Other versions

Ultimate Justin Hammer

File:Justinhammerultimate.JPG

Ultimate Justin Hammer.

In the Ultimate Universe, Justin Hammer first appeared in Ultimate Spider-Man #16 (2002). His late father, Justin Hammer, Sr. was a head industrialist for his time, and now he, Justin Jr. is CEO of Hammer Industries and is from the south of the US rather than from Britain. He was rivals with Norman Osborn and was Osborn Industries' main competitor. In an effort to surpass Osborn Industries, Hammer hired Osborn's top scientist Otto Octavius and paid him for inside information. When Otto Octavius was caught in a lab accident, he was grafted with four metal arms. He blamed Hammer for this, and sought him out for revenge. He attacked Hammer in his limo, and Hammer subsequently died from a heart attack.

Justin Hammer has also been secretly funding superhuman testing directly violating the Superhuman Test Ban Treaty. Two of his more significant subjects were Electro and Sandman, both petty criminals who were given superhuman powers.

His daughter, Justine Hammer, appears in the Ultimate Armor Wars series. She is found in a facility under Stark Industries that is being shut down by Stark after the Ultimatum attack on New York. The changes made to her by her father are degrading and killing her, until she is saved by Stark. She subsequently joins him on an international mission to recover stolen information regarding Iron Man tech.

In other media

Television

• Justin Hammer appeared as a villain on the 1990s animated Iron Man TV series voiced by Tony Steedman and later by Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.. Justin Hammer is not only shown to be a rival of Tony Stark like in the comics, he was also an ally of the Mandarin here as well as the one who orchestrated the death of Tony's father (which was later revealed to be a cover-up by S.H.I.E.L.D. in "Not Far From the Tree"). In "The Armor Wars" two-part episode, he had Ghost steal the Stark Armor designs and sold them to each of the armored criminals. He also created the Firepower robot to eliminate his competition. After Firepower was defeated, Iron Man appeared in Justin Hammer's office to confront him. Iron Man then placed a virus-containing disc in Justin's computer that completely wiped out any records of his designs and uploaded it to the internet and Hammer’s computers. The same virus completely deleted all of Hammer’s files, and presumably left his company bankrupt. It is also implied that he isn't aware that Stark and Iron Man are one and the same. He was one of the few first season villains who appeared in Season 2 episodes besides the season premiere and the season finale.

• A younger version of Justin Hammer appears in Iron Man: Armored Adventures voiced by Michael Adamthwaite. After Howard Stark's disappearance, he has become the most powerful weapons dealer, surpassing Stark Enterprises. In the episode "Invincible Iron Man: Dissassembled", he and Obadiah Stane are kidnapped by Whiplash. In the episode "Invincible Iron Man: Reborn," it was revealed that Justin Hammer had orchestrated his own kidnapping as he had become allies with Mr. Fix, Whiplash, and Blizzard. He also had some nanites implanted into Justin Hammer that would remotely shut down his body should he fail him. In the episode "Look into the Light," Justin Hammer has Mr. Fix reassemble Living Laser in order to use him as research for Project Titanium which ends up splitting Living Laser into a Light Half and a Dark Half. After Living Laser was freed and reassembled, Justin Hammer scolds Mr. Fix for losing Living Laser. As a consolation prize, Justin Hammer was given the disk which contained the info they gathered for Project Titanium. In the episode "Ghost in the Machine," Ghost gives a copy of the blueprints for the Iron Man Armor to Justin Hammer which he uses to create an armor for Project Titanium. In the episode "Line of Fire," Justin Hammer's vibranium smuggling operation from Wakanda is disrupted by Black Panther causing Justin Hammer to call in Black Knight to dispose of Black Panther. In the episode "Titanium vs. Iron," Justin Hammer completes his Project Titanium yet the unveiling of the project before Nick Fury and the other military members ends up disrupted by Iron Man in his stealth armor who ends up learning of Project Titanium. Justin Hammer's secretary Sasha ends up rescheduling his meeting with S.H.I.E.L.D. and the other military members as Justin plans to spring a trap for when Iron Man tries another attempt to delete Project Titanium. Justin Hammer then sends an invite to Tony Stark which quotes "I know your secret" indicating to them that Ghost told him about Tony Stark's identity of Iron Man. Later that night, Tony Stark meets with Justin Hammer where Justin Hammer reveals at dinner that Tony was contributing designs to Stark International claiming that he helped Obadiah Stane with the Iron Man designs. Pepper later tells Tony that S.H.I.E.L.D. has suspected of criminal activities with the supervillain members of the Maggia, the Masters of Evil, and A.I.M. Justin Hammer has Mr. Fix work with the prototype Project Titanium armor despite Mr. Fix's objection that the titanium and vibranium will need to be melded together. Justin Hammer then has Mr. Fix prepare the camera-bots to record the event where he takes down Iron Man. Later that night, Iron Man infiltrates Hammer Multinational to finish the job in his stealth armor. Just then, Iron Man is ambushed by Justin Hammer in the Titanium Man armor who sees through Iron Man's stealth armor. War Machine comes to Iron Man's aid only for Titanium Man to knock out War Machine. Titanium Man ends up chasing after Iron Man (who ends up carrying Titanium Man away) and ends up dropping War Machine. Iron Man has his armor do a proposal which spins Iron Man free and pick up War Machine. When Titanium Man catches up, he destorys the stealth armor only to discover that Tony had bailed at the last minute. Titanium Man ends up chasing after Tony until War Machine wakes up. In the nick of time, Tony Stark's Mark II armor arrives and helps War Machine fight Titanium Man. Iron Man was able to bind Titanium Man enough to warm up the Titanium Man armor. Upon returning to Hammer Multinational, Justin Hammer bails from the suit as Blizzard freezes it. Mr. Fix tells Justin that he had warned him about not letting him meld the titanium with the vibranium. Justin Hammer declares that Mr. Fix has failed for the last time and ends up shutting him down. Justin then places a disk containing Mr. Fix's conscious into his computer systems so that Mr. Fix can work nonstop to perfect the Titanium Man armor.

Film

File:Justinhammeriron2.jpg

Sam Rockwell as Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2.

• Sam Rockwell portrays Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2, as the secondary antagonist of the film. This version of Hammer is only loosely based on his comics counterpart. He is much younger than the comic book version, closer to Tony Stark in age, is American instead of British, and his personality is much less icy. In fact, he is quite incompetent and bumbling both as villain and businessman. Like in the comics, Hammer is a defense contractor and rival of Tony Stark who attempts to replicate Stark's technology. When it came to Tony Stark being subpoenaed to Congress, Justin Hammer was there. Tony Stark used his PDA to hack into the television monitors showing attempts at an Iron Man armor (with one of them being from Hammer Industries) which went horribly awry. Justin Hammer commented that the man in the armor is still alive. After Ivan Vanko publicly attacks Stark with his homemade, arc reactor-powered "Whiplash" suit, Hammer secretly hires the Russian villain in order to "make Iron Man look like an antique". Vanko manufactures a line of military drones for Hammer, who unveils them at the Stark Expo alongside the War Machine armor. However, Vanko rigs the drones and the War Machine armor to attack Iron Man, double-crossing Hammer and exposing their alliance. In retribution, Hammer aids Pepper and Black Widow in attempting to break Vanko's control over the drones, although Hammer is still arrested for his crimes. He swears revenge on both Stark and Pepper as he is taken away by the police.

Novels

• The novelization of Iron Man 2 mentioned that Hammer has been taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody.

External links

• Justin Hammer at Marvel.com