sandman

Flint Marko or William Baker, better known as the Sandman, is a supporting antagonist in the Marvel Universe, specifically serving as a major antagonist in the Spider-Man franchise. He is a petty supervillain and criminal whose body is entirely made of sand, which he can freely manipulate and control as well as one of Spider-Man's longest lasting foes. He is a founding member of both the Sinister Six and the Frightful Four. Born as William Baker, the Sandman was the son of the thug Floyd Baker and his wife but never really knew his father as Floyd went to jail whilst William was still a child. Young Willaim loved building sandcastle and going to beach, but trips to the beach were few and far between because his mother was an alcholic. One day, William built a large and detailed sand castle only to watch it wash away when it started to rain. The young Baker boy became determined that he was going to make something that would last. William took his love of making things out of sand and used it for school art projects. He developed a crush on his teacher Miss Flint, but was heartbroken when he learned that she was engaged to a stockbroker. This made William believe that the only way to attract a beautiful woman was with money. When he grew up, the now named Flint Marko originally an ordinary petty criminal wanted by the New York Police Department for an assortment of minor crimes. The events that led up to William Baker becoming the Sandman vary from account to account with the Sandman himself never giving a complete account of his origins. In one telling, Flint caught Vic and Marcy having an affair. After beating up Vic, he went on a crime spree that led to yet another incarceration. Sent to Ryker's Island, Flint eventually broke out of prison, causing the manhunt that led to him getting his powers. Another states that during one of his later arrests, Flint learned that his father was released from prison and broke out in order to be with him. It was during his flight from the authorities that Flint Marko was exposed to the radiation that gave him his powers. Accounts of the actual cause vary. Originally, it was stated that Flint hid from the authorities at the site where a nuclear bomb was being tested. Another account states that Marko was near the site of a nuclear reactor that detonated, and yet another states that he hid in a cave where radioactive waste was being stored. Whatever the case, after being exposed to radiation, his body interacted with the sand under his feet, mutating Marko in such a way that he could turn his body into sand and manipulate each grain to shape any form he desired. With his newfound indestructability and power, the Sandman goes on a major crime spree across New York City; robbing jewelry stores and banks with the NYPD unable to stop him as their bullets pass straight through him. Spotting him fleeing from another robbery, Spider-Man battles the Sandman but is forced to flee when his mask rips open in order to protect his secret identity. Later the Sandman decides to hide out from the law at Midtown High School where he decides to try and force the principal to give him a high school diploma, but he refuses. Baker's big mistake is choosing the high school that Spider-Man attended in his alter ego of Peter Parker. Spotting the villain, Peter slips away and battles him as Spider-Man. Ultimately the Sandman is defeated when Spider-Man sucks up his sand form in a vacuum cleaner and leaves him for the authorities. After being released from prison, the Sandman and several other Spider-Man villains (Electro, Vulture, Mysterio and Kraven the Hunter) are contacted by Doctor Octopus. At their meeting, Ock proposes that they form the Sinister Six to trap and destroy Spider-Man with all the villains reluctantly agreeing to the one-time team-up. Even this plan fails however and the Sandman and his cohorts are once again imprisoned; arguing and deciding to never team-up again. During a clash with the Human Torch, the Wizard is sent floating uncontrollably into the upper atmosphere when one of his anti-gravity disks fail to work. This coincides with a break out by the Sandman and Paste-Pot Pete who hijack a plane to escape. While flying through the air, they spot the Wizard during his ascent and rescue him from suffocation in the upper atmosphere. Realizing that they all have unique powers and a mutual hatred of the Fantastic Four, the Wizard suggests that they form a group that would be the evil counterparts to the Fantastic Four. Needing a fourth member to their group, the Wizard convinces Madame Medusa to join their ranks; becoming the Frightful Four. They are fairly successful at first, almost killing the Fantastic Four and turning the Thing against his team but are eventually defeated and put back in prison. With Medusa regaining her memories shortly thereafter and leaving the team, the now Frightful Three disband with the Sandman returning to his loner ways. Retirement Later in his career, Sandman reforms and abandons his criminal activities, even joining the Avengers. Even today, he continues to go back and forth between supervillain and superhero; making him a very interesting and untrustworthy character. Marko now spends the majority of his time raising his daughter Keemia. Powers and Abilities Amazing Spider-Man Vol 1 684 Textless Sand Physiology: Due to his accident, the Sandman has the ability to transform his body at will into sand for a variety of effects. Marko can will his body hardened, compacted, dispersed or shaped, or a combination of those qualities, an Earth manipulation of sand and rock particles. Strength: In addition to his superb endurance, the Sandman possesses superhuman strength several times more than Spider-Man's and on par with the Thing's. Blow Immunity: More often than not in combat, his body being composed entirely of sand allows the Sandman to absorb most blows with little to no ill effect other than reforming himself, a relatively fast action. He is nearly indestructible, making him a formidable opponent who cannot be beaten by sheer strength. Bulletproof: Due to being composed entirely of sand, bullets pass harmlessly through the Sandman. Self Growth: Even when soaked, he was able to stretch his sand molecules, growing to double his size; becoming as tall as entire buildings at times. Shape Molding: The Sandman can mold his arms and hands into shapes such as a mace or a sledgehammer to battle Spider-Man and his other enemies. Imitation: The Sandman can take on the appearances of other beings by reshaping and recoloring the sand that makes up his body. Sand Empowerment: The Sandman's mass, strength and shape shifting ability correspond to the number of sand and rock particles that comprise him. The more he incorporates (nearby) sand grains and rock granules into his body, the more those qualities are enhanced. Even though he controls every particle in his body, his mind exists in the astral plane. Sandstorm Creation: The Sandman can turn himself into a sandstorm, which enables him to fly great distances a8nd to suffocate his enemies. Lock Picking: The Sandman can pick locks with his finger by molding it into the shape of the corresponding key Weaknesses Even though Sandman displays a unique and vast set of powers and abilities, there are also many limitations. Water: Much like bodies of sand itself, the Sandman can easily absorb water into his body causing him to lose control of his physique at a certain amount. When exposed to enough, Marko's body turns to a dark mud-like substance. Extreme Heat: The Sandman’s body reacts towards fire of 3,400° Fahrenheit which causes his entire body to turn into glass, which immobilizes him until restored to normal. Shattered Form: Even though he is still capable of retaining his consciousness if shattered into glass pieces, the Sandman is still trapped within his own body. Hydro Man: Possibly the strongest weakness the Sandman has is with the villain known as Hydro Man, who views Marko the same way. Both men whose bodies each consist of a different element controlled by their consciousness to accidentally bond by fighting would most likely form into a single monstrous-like being consisting of mud. With both men sharing no conscious or control, the after effects of being separated would cause both Sandman and Hydro Man a lengthy and traumatizing reaction. Cement: It is shown that cement can be used to immobilize the Sandman, such as when the police used cement guns against him. Illness: Possibly kept secret and rarely seen is that Sandman does retain human form and does retain full functions and weaknesses. During his career as the Sandman, he has successfully contracted physiology sicknesses and even cancer. Even though he’s capable of reverting his body into sand at will, Sandman still carries any type of contracted sickness, cancer, or obtained diseases. Stress: The greatest flaw in the Sandman’s powers is the amount of mental stress his powers can cause. It’s a fact that Sandman can easily survive if his head is separated from his body and that he would still retain full consciosness, but it also reacts towards his mental state. Over the years of mastering his abilities, the amount of creativity, and time he’s spent as a being made entirely of sand has taken a great amount stress on his mental health. Even though Sandman was an honored member of the Avengers and lived a career as a respectful hero, his mind was kept at a balanced state to where it was easy for the Wizard to change the Sandman back to his original criminal mindset. Separate Beings: After managing to separate himself into multiple beings, the Sandman would not realize that he also separated parts of his consciousness that each being developed on their own. This caused the Sandman to perform actions without his full knowledge and capable of causing a conflict with himself in a mental confrontation.