Answer (comics)
title: "Answer (comics)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["characters-created-by-al-milgrom", "characters-created-by-dan-jurgens", "comics-characters-introduced-in-1984", "comics-characters-introduced-in-1999", "fictional-assassins", "marvel-comics-characters-with-superhuman-strength", "marvel-comics-mutates", "marvel-comics-spies", "marvel-comics-supervillains"] topic_path: "general/characters-created-by-al-milgrom" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Answer_(comics)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox comics character "]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| character_name | Answer |
| real_name | Aaron Nicholson |
| species | Human mutate |
| publisher | Marvel Comics |
| debut | Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #91 |
| (June 1984) | |
| creators | Al Milgrom (writer) |
| Jim Mooney (artist) | |
| alliances | Hydra |
| aliases | Answer |
| powers | *Ability to temporarily develop whatever superhuman attribute he needs for any situation |
| :: |
Answer is the name of several supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first incarnation of Answer, Aaron Nicholson, first appeared in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #91 (June 1984). The second incarnation, David Ferrari, debuted in Captain America (Vol. 3) #20 (June 1999). The third incarnation, an unnamed criminal, made his first appearance in Superior Spider-Man #26 (January 2014).
Publication history
Aaron Nicholson debuted in Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #91 (June 1984), created by writer Al Milgrom and artist Jim Mooney. David Ferrari debuted under the codename Answer after Aaron Nicholson's "death" in Captain America (Vol. 3) #20 (June 1999), created by Dan Jurgens. An unnamed criminal debuted under the codename Answer in Superior Spider-Man #26 (January 2014), created by Dan Slott and Christos Gage.
Fictional character biography
Aaron Nicholson
|image= |caption= |character_name=Answer |real_name=Aaron Nicholson |species=Human mutate |publisher=Marvel Comics |debut=Peter Parker, the Spectacular Spider-Man #91 (June 1984) |creators=Al Milgrom (writer) Jim Mooney (artist) |alliances=Hydra |aliases=Answer |powers=*Ability to temporarily develop whatever superhuman attribute he needs for any situation
- Superhuman intuition
- Genius level intellect
- Body armor granting the ability to slip from any grasp or prevent anything from adhering to him Aaron Nicholson is a criminal genius and a former member of the Kingpin's criminal organization. He is a former hitman in the Las Vegas division of Hydra and was empowered by the laboratory machines of Farley Stillwell's brother Harlan Stillwell, becoming the Answer.
The Answer studies Spider-Man's powers, and then attacks Spider-Man and the Black Cat to test the limits of their powers. He kidnaps Black Cat to misdirect Spider-Man's attention as he steals Silvermane's body from the police morgue, and assists the Kingpin in partially resurrecting Silvermane. He then kidnaps Dagger in hopes that her powers would cure the Kingpin's ailing wife Vanessa. Silvermane rampages mindlessly; to end the rampage, the Answer sacrifices his corporeal form and converts himself to energy to revive Dagger, who possesses Silvermane's life force. The Answer manages to telepathically contact Doctor Octopus, who restores him to life.
During the Civil War: War Crimes storyline, he is seen among an army of super-villains organized by Hammerhead. Answer is later captured by Iron Man and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents.
The Answer is a self-confessed loser at the wake of Stilt-Man. Almost all of the supervillains at the wake are the victims of murder or attempted murder. The Punisher disguises himself as a barman and then blows up the bar.
Answer has since been hired by the Hood to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act. He helps them fight the New Avengers, but is taken down by Doctor Strange. During the Secret Invasion storyline, Answer assists the Hood's syndicate in battling the invading Skrull force.
David Ferrari
|image= |caption= |character_name=Answer |real_name=David Ferrari |publisher=Marvel Comics |debut=As David Ferrari: Captain America vol. 3 #20 (June 1999) As Answer: Captain America vol. 3 #42 (2000) |creators= Dan Jurgens |alliances=S.H.I.E.L.D. U.S. Army Furnace |partners=Crimson Dynamo |aliases=Answer |species=Human}} David Ferrari is a former agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and a member of the U.S. Army and Furnace. He is also the brother of Connie Ferrari. Ferrari leads a mission to an A.I.M. base to prevent the release of the Omega Compound. He later uses drugs to control Nick Fury, at which point he had allied with Crimson Dynamo in an attempt to steal missiles from Khamistan and take over Earth. He is opposed by Captain America.
Unnamed criminal
After Aaron Nicholson's apparent death, his gear was sold to Roderick Kingsley, who in turn gave it to an unknown criminal. Answer is present when Hobgoblin (Kingsley's butler Claude) leads his forces into battle against the Goblin King's Goblin Nation. After Hobgoblin is killed by Goblin King, Answer is among the villains who defect to the Goblin Nation.
Powers and abilities
Aaron Nicholson
The first Answer underwent genetic manipulation to grant him the ability to develop any power needed in a certain situation. For example, if surrounded by thugs, he will gain superhuman strength and durability, allowing him to defeat them. In another situation, he may obtain pyrokinesis or the ability to turn himself into pure energy. Flight may be an ability that is always active. Other than that, at rest or not in any sort of situation, he will display no abilities. The powers he manifests typically last for five minutes, and he can display up to two separate powers at once. Additionally, Aaron Nicholson is highly intelligent and has a superhuman-like level of intuition. The Answer wears body armor that was created with the help of the Kingpin's scientists. The armor is coated with a friction-eliminating chemical that allows him to slip from any grasp and prevents anything from adhering to him.
References
References
- Rovin, Jeff. (1987). "[[The Encyclopedia of Super-Villains]]". Facts on File.
- Iacobucci, Jordan. (April 22, 2023). "10 Worst Spider-Man Villains With The Best First Impressions".
- ''[[The Spectacular Spider-Man]]'' #91 (June 1984)
- ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' #92 (July 1984)
- ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' #93 (August 1984)
- ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' #94 (September 1984)
- ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' #95 (October 1984)
- ''The Spectacular Spider-Man'' #96 (November 1984)
- Beard, Jim. (October 19, 2017). "The History of Spider-Man: 1984".
- ''Lethal Foes of Spider-Man'' #1 (September 1993)
- ''Lethal Foes of Spider-Man'' #2 (October 1993)
- ''Civil War: War Crimes'' one-shot (February 2007)
- ''[[The Punisher War Journal]]'' (vol. 2) #4 (April 2007)
- ''[[New Avengers]]'' #35 (December 2007)
- ''New Avengers Annual'' #2 (February 2008)
- ''[[Secret Invasion]]'' #6 (November 2008)
- ''[[Captain America (comic book). Captain America]]'' (vol 3) #20 (August 1999)
- ''Captain America'' (vol. 3) #42 (June 2001)
- ''[[The Superior Spider-Man]]'' #26 (March 2014)
- ''[[I ♥ Marvel. ''I ♥ Marvel: Outlaw Love'']]'' one-shot (April 2006)
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