Leap-Frog (comics)

Leap-Frog is the name of two fictional supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The characters use a frog suit containing electrical coils on the soles of each of the two flippers which allow the wearer to leap great distances up to 60 ft (18 m) high or 100 ft (30 m) long. The boots' power source is worn on his back like a back pack, and triggered via hidden buttons in his gloves. Additionally, the costume later had a strength-boosting exoskeleton along with substantial internal padding and a computer-guided system for leaping accuracy.

Publication history

The first Leap-Frog appeared in Daredevil #25-26 (February-March 1967), and was created by Stan Lee, Gene Colan, and Frank Giacoia. The character subsequently appears in Daredevil Annual #1 (September 1967), The Defenders #64 (October 1978), Iron Man #126-127 (September-October 1979), Marvel Team-Up #121 (September 1982), #131 (July 1983), The Defenders #131 (May 1984), Marvel Fanfare #31-32 (March, May 1987), Damage Control #2 (December 1989), The Spectacular Spider-Man #185 (February 1992), Daredevil #16 (May 2001), Spider-Man's Tangled Web #12 (May 2002), and Wolverine #27 (June 2005).

The second Leap-Frog debuted in Daredevil Vol. 2 #16 and was created by Brian Michael Bendis and David W. Mack.

Fictional character biography

Vincent Patilio

Leap-Frog
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Daredevil vol. 1 #25 (February 1967)
Created by	Stan Lee Gene Colan Frank Giacoia
In-story information
Team affiliations	Defenders Impersonators Emissaries of Evil Damage Control
Notable aliases	Vincent Colorito, Frog-Face, Frog-Man
Abilities	Exoskeleton frog suit grants: Enhanced strength and agility Internal padding for impacts Computer-guided system for leaping accuracy Ability to leap great distances

Tired of his lack of success as an inventor of novelty items for toy companies, Vincent Patilio designed himself electrically powered coils that could be used for leaping great distances and incorporated them into a frog-like costume.^[1]

Calling himself Leap-Frog, Patilio was not known for being lucky in his criminal career. For example, he started by taking blind lawyer Matt Murdock hostage (Murdock being in fact the civilian identity of the superhero Daredevil).^[2] He was recruited by Electro to serve in his Emissaries of Evil in a revenge against Daredevil for previous defeats. However, Daredevil defeated them.^[3] Other attempts at being a criminal failed at the hands of Daredevil, before Leap-Frog was defeated by Iron Man and sent to jail.^[4]

Patilio served his time in prison and then returned to his wife Rose and young son Eugene. Rose's salary kept the family financially solvent until she died of cancer.^[5] Barely making enough money to support himself and his son, Patilio fell into despair. At this time, his son Eugene donned a version of his costume to attempt to create a heroic career as "Frog-Man." Patilio was at first proud of his son for capturing the villain Speed Demon, but his pride turned to disapproval as Eugene continued to serve as a superhero. Patilio forbade his son to adventure as Frog-Man.^[6]

Patilio later went undercover in the villainess White Rabbit's gang on behalf of the police, which brought him into conflict with his son, who, as Frog-Man, tried to take down the White Rabbit. Patilio ultimately defeated the White Rabbit with the help of his son and got a reward that considerably eased his financial worries.^[7]

When the White Rabbit reappeared, she teamed up with the Walrus to create mayhem which would not stop until the Frog-Man surrendered to her. Spider-Man went after the two. Meanwhile, Vincent ordered Eugene to stay at home while he donned a revamped version of his costume, announced himself as Frog-Man and joined Spider-Man. However, Eugene also donned his own costume and joined the struggle, and the trio managed to stop the criminals.^[8]

Currently, Patilio remains retired from adventuring.

Buford Lange

Leap-Frog
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Daredevil vol. 2 #16
Created by	Brian Michael Bendis David W. Mack
In-story information
Abilities	Exoskeleton frog suit grants: Enhanced strength and agility Internal padding for impacts Computer-guided system for leaping accuracy Ability to leap great distances

Buford Lange is an abusive father who lived in Hell's Kitchen with his wife Allison and their autistic son Timmy. He stumbled upon an abandoned Leap-Frog costume and began a short-lived criminal career by robbing small businesses. Lange fought Daredevil on a rooftop only to be electrocuted by Timmy who didn't want to see his hero, Daredevil, hurt. Lange fell off the rooftop and into a garbage truck on the street below and seemingly died.^[9]

He was killed and resurrected by the Hand and joined an assault on the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier which resulted in its destruction. He was killed again by Wolverine as were most of the super-villains and heroes The Hand were using in the attack.^[10]

Powers and abilities

Leap-Frog has no superpowers but wears an exoskeleton frog suit that gives him enhanced strength and agility. The suit is also equipped with electrically powered leaping coils that allow him to reach a height of 6 stories per jump. The boots' power source is worn on his back like a back pack. His suit also has an internal padding to protect him from impacts and a computer-guided system for leaping accuracy.

References

1. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition #4: Frog-Man/Marvel Knights
2. Daredevil vol. 1 #25-26
3. Daredevil Annual vol. 1 #1
4. Iron Man vol. 1 #126-127
5. Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe 2006 #4
6. Marvel Team-Up vol. 1 #121
7. Marvel Team-Up vol. 1 #131
8. Spectacular Spider-Man vol. 1 #185
9. Daredevil vol. 2 #16-19
10. Wolverine vol. 3 #26-27

External links

• Leap-Frog (Patilio) at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
• Leap-Frog (Lange) at the Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe