Grey Gremlin II
See also Grey Gremlin I
As Nemesis of the Replacements
The Replacements struggled against, and eventually defeated the Grey Gremlin in Episode 4, Episode 5, and Episode 6.
The Grey Gremlin is currently at large following the mass escape of supervillains from Stronghold in August 2006.
from Gremlin Task Force file
The following is an excerpt from the multi-agency task force charged with apprehending the Grey Gremlin. The file was last updated in April of 2006, just before the Gremlin's capture.
SUBJECT: FRANKLIN ALLAN GRAY
ALIASES: Grey Gremlin; Frank Miller
MAJOR CRIMINAL CHARGES
Terrorism, Murder, Attempted Murder, Kidnapping, Arson, Possession of Explosives and Other Controlled Substances.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
Mixed race (African American/Caucasian) seventy-seven year-old male; salt and pepper hair; grey eyes; medium height & build.
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Citizenship: U.S.
Place of Birth: Cleveland, Ohio
Occupation: Consultant; Retired Chemical Engineer
Education: B.S. in Chemistry; M.S. in Chemical Engineering
Military Service: Sergeant in U.S. Army (1948-1951)
Group Affiliation: None Known
Known Relatives:
Esther Gray (Mother, deceased)
Emily Gray (Wife, deceased)
Donna Gray (Daughter)
BACKGROUND / HISTORY
Franklin Gray was born in 1929 in Cleveland, Ohio. The year before his birth, his mother dropped out of high school, left her parent’s home in Harlem, and was taken in by a cousin in Ohio. Shortly after Franklin’s birth, his mother acquired work as a domestic and moved with her child to a small apartment. The identity of Franklin’s father is unknown, though it appears he was raised to believe that his father was Frank Fatale, now known as “The Gumshoe,” a member of the superhero team known as the Replacements (now the New Champions).
Gray entered the U.S. army in 1948, at the age of nineteen. He was originally stationed with U.S. occupation forces in Japan, but was transferred to Korea at the start of the Korean War. After the war, Gray attended college on the G.I. Bill. After receiving his undergraduate degree in Chemistry, he worked as a laboratory technician for several years. He then returned to school and met his wife Emily while pursuing an advanced degree in Chemistry. Shortly after completing his education he was hired by a pharmaceutical corporation in Ohio; he married Emily and they had a daughter, Donna.
Several years ago Gray retired and moved with his wife to Columbus, Ohio, where he continued to work occasionally as a consultant for a chemical abstracting company. Gray had become estranged from his daughter over his disapproval of her choice of spouse. His wife was killed in a car accident in 2005; his mother very recently died of cancer.
RECENT ACTIVITIES / TASK FORCE INVESTIGATION
It appears that Gray’s criminal activities began following the death of his mother in March 2006.
Recent interviews with Michael Bane (conducted by the FBI) indicate that Gray approached him in Montana in early April. Gray argued that Fatale had harmed both of them by, in different ways, denying them a father. He sought to convince Gray to enter into a pact to exact revenge against Fatale. Bane claims that he refused and that Gray threatened to harm his family if he discussed Gray’s visit with anyone.
Next, Gray moved to Millennium City, leasing a house in a university neighborhood. He appears to have adopted the persona of the Grey Gremlin at this time, apparently to conceal his identity and to mislead Fatale. He contacted Fatale on April 20, by means of a booby-trapped card and decaying flowers (our psychological expert speculates that these may have been flowers from his mother’s funeral).
During the black out that followed the Steel Serpent’s attack on the OSEC power plant, Gray started a fire that burned down three homes in a suburb of Millennium City, killing four residents.
On April 27, Gray kidnapped Martin Bane. Martin Bane was reported missing on May 1, 2006. The elder Bane reports that he was contacted by Gray at this point, who offered to return his son in exchange for all documents relating to the original Gray Gremlin in his possession. The elder Bane confirms that he sent these materials to a P.O. Box in Millennium City.
Two days later, Gray kidnapped Madeleine Stewart, an MCU student and secretary to Fatale. He then contacted Fatale and provided him with clues to the location of the two victims. Fatale and the Replacements arrived at the charred remains of the suburban home Gray had previously destroyed and rescued the students. Both victims had been drugged and Stewart had been poisoned.
On Saturday, May 6, Gray administered mind-controlling drugs to a UPS driver, loaded the delivery truck with a package containing explosives, and instructed the driver to ram the vehicle into a diner known to be frequented by the Replacements.
The Replacements cleared the streets and diverted the truck into a telekinetic barrier. The truck exploded on impact with the barrier, critically injuring the driver, who remains in a coma. It is believed that Gray then left the city.
On Monday, May 9, the Replacements contacted the MCPD and provided evidence indicating that Franklin Gray was, in fact, the Grey Gremlin. Upon confirming this information, the MCPD held a press conference; Gray’s photo was displayed on local and national news.
On Tuesday, May 10, Gray’s landlord contacted the MCPD, who, along with members of the bomb squad and the Watch, raided the house. Several officers were seriously injured by booby-traps and the house is still being swept for traps. Thus far, materials for the production of explosives and pharmaceuticals have been discovered at the site. It appears that Gray abandoned the house several days earlier.
Michael Bane has been detained by the FBI on charges of aiding and abetting a fugitive. Thus far, he has proven uncooperative.
WEAPONS / TACTICS
Gray favors chemical weapons and explosives. In his activities to date, he has utilized acid, “knock-out” gas, incendiary devices, conventional explosives, as well as injected mind-altering drugs and poisons.
Based on an examination of materials found in his workshop, it is believed that Gray wears a mask, which protects him from his own gas attacks and may also provide him with an independent air supply. It also appears that he wears an armored costume.
Whenever possible, Gray prefers to attack indirectly—- through booby-traps or involuntary agents. His attacks are also designed to endanger the lives of innocents in order to provide maximum tactical advantage against law enforcement and heroes.
PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILE
Although it is unclear whether Gray previously suffered from any psychiatric illness, it appears that his inability to cope with the personal tragedies in his life have resulted in a state of dysphoric mania—a manic episode with depressive symptoms. Gray now occupies a delusionary world in which he has a grandiose role. Seeking an object and outlet for his grief, he has committed himself to the destruction of Fatale.
From statements he has made, it appears that Gray believes himself to be an agent of fate. He believes that the accident that resulted in the return of Fatale was actually the work of fate. In his mind, Fatale returned so that Gray might avenge himself and his mother on the man he believes abandoned them. Because he believes he is an agent of destiny, he is able to rationalize all of his actions as pre-ordained, even when they result in the death of innocents.
Comments (0)
You don't have permission to comment on this page.