The Trapster
Real Name: Peter Petruski
AKA: Paste Pot Pete. But I don't recommend calling him that; it sends him into a frenzy!
First Appearance: Strange Tales 104, although Fantastic Four 38 was when he first decided "the Trapster" was a more appropriate code name.
What's His Problem? Heck if I know. Originally a brilliant research chemist, Pete's invention of a super-adhesive for some reason made him turn to crime instead of a marketing consultant. Maybe there was something in the fumes...
Abilities: The Trapster invented not only the multi-polymer sticky stuff he's famous for, but several specialized weapons capable of firing or projecting the adhesive without clogging. He also created a lubricant to dissolve the paste. This latter invention once won him early release from prison, when he offered it to the Avengers so they could dispose of Baron Zemo's Adhesive X. As his name implies, the Trapster is actually fairly adept with strategy, setting clever traps that have ensnared Captain America, various members of the Fantastic Four, and Spider-Man.
Favorite Quote: "I deserve respect!" (The Sensational Spider-Man 12). The Trapster's most familiar quote is "Don't call me Paste-Pot Pete!" He can usually be heard screaming the latter at critical junctions during battles with super-heroes.
Heroes He Keeps Running Into: Early pastings by the Human Torch taught Petruski nothing. Teaming up with the Wizard, Paste-Pot Pete repeatedly took on the Fantastic Four with dismal results. He's since been trounced, singly or accompanied by super-villainous pals, by the likes of Captain America, Ghost Rider, the Avengers, and DareDevil. He also had the unbelievably lousy luck to be the first bad guy to tackle Spidey when the Webbed One got his cosmic powers.
People Who Think He's Not So Bad: As a member of the Frightful Four, the Trapster was a willing flunky of the Wizard, and rubbed shoulders with other baddies like Medusa, the Sandman, the Brute, Electro, Whirlwind and Thundra. The reformed Sandman was willing to give Peter a shot at the straight and narrow working with Silver Sable's Wild Pack; alas, the Trapster sacrificed legitimacy for a shot at a few jewelry heists, and headed back into the world of crime.
Most Despicable Act: Back when the Invisible Woman was the Invisible Girl, the Trapster captured her and rigged her to explode when any rescue was made, an effort to destroy the Fantastic Four thwarted by DareDevil (DareDevil 35-36). Another cold-blooded murder attempt found him sending Stuntmaster Johnny Blaze into a crowd of innocent bystanders (Marvel Team-Up 58); obviously Pete didn't realize that Blaze and the Ghost Rider shared a body. After getting engulfed in Ghost Rider's hellfire flame, Pete truly repented his endeavors to off people and stuck to petty theft.
Other Appearances: "Traps" by Ken Grobe, a short story in "The Ultimate Super-Villains" where Peter finds fortune and romance marketing his paste products in infomercials. A story so good I would love to see it become part of the Marvel Canon!
Trapster Sound Bytes!
From the Fantastic Four animated series. All files in .wav format.
Reed Richards: "It's a trap!" Pete: "And I'm the Trapster! Poetic, huh?"
From the Marvel Action Heroes, an animated series in the 1960s. Pete didn't actually appear in this episode, but they couldn't stop talking about him -- and he saved the day off-screen!
Iron Man: "I have an idea. Paste Pot Pete!"
Captain America: "Who's Paste Pot Pete?"
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