{{Short description|Comic book character}} {{Multiple issues| {{in-universe|date=February 2014}} {{missing information|the chartacter's publication history|date=January 2015}} {{Notability|date=April 2023}} {{Primary sources|date=April 2023}} }} {{Infobox comics character <!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Comics--> | image = Thegladiatordaredevil.jpg | caption = The Gladiator by Alex Maleev | character_name = Gladiator | real_name = Melvin Potter | publisher = Marvel Comics | debut = ''Daredevil'' #18 (July 1966)<ref>{{cite book |last=Conroy |first=Mike |authorlink=Mike Conroy (writer) |title=500 Comicbook Villains |publisher=Collins & Brown |date=2004 |isbn=1-84340-205-X |url=https://archive.org/details/500comicbookvill0000conr/page/54/mode/2up |language=en}}</ref> | creators = Stan Lee (writer)<br>John Romita Sr. (artist) | alliances = Emissaries of Evil<br/>Maggia | aliases = | powers = Accomplished clothing designer<br>Superb martial artist<br>Peak physical condition<br>Wears thick metal armor<br>Possesses arsenal of edged weapons }} '''Gladiator''' ('''Melvin Potter''') is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Potter was initially depicted as a supervillain and one of the first enemies of the superhero Daredevil. In civilian life, he is a costume designer at the Spotlight Costume Shop in New York City. He eventually reformed and became a consistent supporter of Daredevil.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}}
Potter was portrayed by Matt Gerald in the streaming television series ''Daredevil'', set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
==Publication history== {{expand section|date=January 2015}} Gladiator first appeared in ''Daredevil'' #18 (July 1966), and was created by Stan Lee and John Romita Sr.
==Fictional character biography== Melvin Potter is a costume designer who delusionally believes that he was far better than any superhero. To prove his point, he designs a suit of battle armor for himself, complete with deadly wrist blades, and becomes known as the Gladiator.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Brevoort |first1=Tom |last2=DeFalco |first2=Tom |last3=Manning |first3=Matthew K. |last4=Sanderson |first4=Peter |last5=Wiacek |first5=Win |title=Marvel Year By Year: A Visual History |date=2017 |publisher=DK Publishing |isbn=978-1465455505 |page=117}}</ref> During his first criminal outing, he battles Daredevil before encountering his recurring enemy, the Masked Marauder.<ref name="Daredevil #18">''Daredevil'' #18 (July 1966)</ref> Gladiator later appears in Europe, where he fights Daredevil again and joins the Maggia.<ref>''Daredevil'' #22-23 (November - December 1966)</ref> Eventually, he joins Electro's Emissaries of Evil to attack Daredevil once again.<ref>''Daredevil Annual'' #1 (September 1967)</ref> Gladiator has one last battle against Daredevil before deciding to reform. He attends therapy with Betsy Beatty,<ref>''Daredevil'' #166 (September 1980)</ref> whom he later marries.
Potter is forced into working for Alexander Bont, who claims that Potter had a four-year-old daughter who he had never met and that she would die if Potter did not help. Gladiator brings Murdock to Bont, who attempts to kill Murdock, but instead died of a drug-induced heart attack. Gladiator is defeated by White Tiger and went back to prison.<ref>''Daredevil'' (vol. 2) #67-70 (January - April 2005)</ref>
In prison, Gladiator is accused of murdering two fellow inmates. Matt Murdock's law firm defends him after Murdock's super-senses indicate that he is telling the truth about his innocence. After being taunted by another inmate, Gladiator snaps his handcuffs and assaults the inmate and a corrections officer, only to surrender to another officer.<ref>''Daredevil'' (vol. 2) #95 (May 2007)</ref> Gladiator embarks on a rampage in Chinatown, killing civilians and culminating in an attack on Murdock and Milla Donovan.
After this incident, Potter realizes the weight of his actions and attempts suicide, only to be saved by Daredevil. Potter is taken back to prison and heavily sedated after repeatedly banging his head against the wall. Separately, it was revealed that Mr. Fear had secretly administered chemicals to Potter that caused him to go insane with rage.<ref>''Daredevil'' (vol. 2) #99 (September 2007)</ref>
==Powers and abilities== Gladiator has no superhuman abilities. However, he is a superb martial arts fighter and is very physically powerful. As a villain, he wore thick metal armor with a helmet and metallic gauntlets. He was armed with an arsenal of edged weapons and whirling, jagged circular sawblades made of titanium, one mounted on each gauntlet. Small rotors in the gauntlets cause the blades to rotate at high speeds, and the whirling blades could also be detached to serve as short-range missile weapons.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}
In civilian life, Potter is an accomplished clothing designer, proficient in drafting, design and sewing.<ref name="Daredevil #18" />
==In other media== * Melvin Potter appears in ''Daredevil'', portrayed by Matt Gerald.<ref>White, Brett (March 11, 2015). [https://www.cbr.com/netflixs-daredevil-announces-casting-for-turk-gladiator-more/ "Netflix's 'Daredevil' Announces Casting for Turk, Gladiator & More"] . CBR.com. Retrieved March 4, 2019.</ref> This version is an inventor who was forced by Wilson Fisk to make protective suits for him. Upon learning of this, Matt Murdock convinces Potter to make him a suit in exchange for ensuring Fisk cannot threaten him anymore. In the third season, Fisk forces Potter to make a replica of Murdock's suit for Benjamin Poindexter to frame Murdock as a criminal. Potter later attempts to corroborate the lie, but is arrested for violating his parole and assaulting federal agents. * Melvin Potter appears in the Daredevil novel ''Predator's Smile'', written by Christopher Golden.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://marvel.wikia.com/wiki/Melvin_Potter_(Earth-616) Gladiator] at Marvel Wiki * {{Marvunapp|http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix4/gladiatorpotter.htm|Gladiator}}
{{Daredevil}} {{Iron Man}} {{John Romita Sr.}} {{Stan Lee}}
Category:Characters created by John Romita Sr. Category:Characters created by Stan Lee Category:Comics characters introduced in 1966 Category:Daredevil (Marvel Comics) characters Category:Fictional characters from New York City Category:Fictional inventors in comics Category:Fictional people in fashion Category:Marvel Comics male supervillains Category:Marvel Comics martial artists Category:Marvel Comics supervillains