# Octopus (comics) > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Octopus_(comics) > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Octopus_(comics).md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_(comics) > Source revision: 1353829254 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Infobox comics character | character_name = Octopus | image = | publisher = | debut = "The Postage Stamp" (14 July 1946) | creators = [Will Eisner](/source/Will_Eisner) | full_name = }} '''Octopus''' is a [supervillain](/source/supervillain) from the comic book ''[The Spirit](/source/The_Spirit_(character))'' by cartoonist [Will Eisner](/source/Will_Eisner). He first appeared in ''The Spirit'' on July 14, 1946, and became the primary nemesis in later stories. ==Fictional character biography== The Octopus has never showed his face in the stories, but readers could always identify the character by the distinctive purple gloves he always wore. A master of disguise, The Octopus was involved in the epic fight with The Spirit, which left Denny Colt temporarily blind. These gloves become a symbol of his identity, a constant in the ever-changing disguises he employs to confound his adversaries and maintain his anonymity. As a master of disguise, The Octopus's ability to seamlessly transform his appearance makes him a formidable foe, one who can infiltrate any setting or situation undetected. ==Appearances== *14 July 1946 – "The Postage Stamp" *17 November 1946 – "Return to Caramba" *1 December 1946 – "The Portier Fortune" *6 July 1947 – "Wanted – Mortimer J. Titmouse" *10 August 1947 – "Sign of The Octopus" aka "Klink Versus The Octopus" *17 August 1947 – "The Picnic" *24 August 1947 – "Showdown with The Octopus" *28 December 1947 – "Umbrella Handles" *25 January 1948 – "Montabaldo" *1 February 1948 – "El Espirito" *1 August 1948 – "The Eisner Travel Agency" *31 October 1948 – "Hallowe'en Spirit" *5 December 1948 – "Stop the Plot" *26 December 1948 – "Will Eisner's Almanack" (cameo) *4 February 1951 – "Showdown with The Octopus" (reprint) *11 February 1951 – "Octopus Back in U.S.A." *18 February 1951 – "To The Spirit with Love" *25 February 1951 – "The Portier Fortune" (revised reprint) *18 March 1951 – "Darling Unmasks The Octopus" *15 July 1951 – "Heat" (cameo) *22 July 1951 – "Hospital Zone – Quiet" *25 November 1951 – "I Hate The Spirit Because Contest" aka "The League of Liars" (cameo) ==Film== {{main|The Spirit (2008 film)}} On July 19, 2006, ''[The Hollywood Reporter](/source/The_Hollywood_Reporter)'' reported that [comic book](/source/comic_book) writer/artist [Frank Miller](/source/Frank_Miller) would write and direct the feature film adaptation of ''[The Spirit](/source/The_Spirit_(2008_film))'' with [Samuel L. Jackson](/source/Samuel_L._Jackson) as the Octopus. Unlike the comics his face is seen in the film, depicted with eight ["prison tears"](/source/teardrop_tattoo) under his eyes like octopus tentacles; he brags to have "eight of everything". In another departure from the comic, he holds a love of powerful firearms, including two [Desert Eagle](/source/Desert_Eagle)s, two [minigun](/source/minigun)s, two [.500 S&W Magnum](/source/.500_S%26W_Magnum)s, two [Sawed-off shotgun](/source/Sawed-off_shotgun)s, and a pair of four-barreled shotguns. He also wears a series of outlandish costumes such as a long [fur coat](/source/fur_coat) and hat inspired by [blaxploitation films](/source/blaxploitation) and [Russians](/source/Russians), a Nazi uniform, and a samurai robe and hairpiece inspired by classic kung-fu movies.[https://web.archive.org/web/20080922041358/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2008/07/26/samuel-l-jackson-takes-us-through-his-spirit-wardrobe/ Samuel L. Jackson Takes Us Through His 'Spirit' Wardrobe] The film combines elements of [Dr. Cobra](/source/The_Spirit_(character)) from ''The Spirit'' comics with the Octopus in that he is revealed to have been responsible for the Spirit's resurrection and immortality thanks to a regenerative formula he invented and injected himself with as well after succeeding. The Octopus is served by Silken Floss and a group of cloned henchmen (all portrayed by [Louis Lombardi](/source/Louis_Lombardi)). His quest in the film is to get his hands on the Blood of [Heracles](/source/Heracles) to drink and become a [god](/source/god). Following a fight with the Spirit, the Octopus escapes but ends up with [Jason](/source/Jason_(Greek_mythology))'s [Golden Fleece](/source/Golden_Fleece) desired by Sand Saref, now with the blood. After going to desperate measures trying to find Sand and kill the Spirit, the Octopus hires a beautiful assassin, Plaster of Paris, to take down his nemesis. At the end of the film, the Octopus is finally defeated in a manner similar to his demise in the comic, being blown up by a grenade. However, his severed finger is found by Silken Floss and two of his cloned henchmen, implying he may return. ==''Project Superpowers''== The Octopus is mentioned in [Alex Ross](/source/Alex_Ross) and [Jim Krueger](/source/Jim_Krueger)'s ''[Project Superpowers](/source/Project_Superpowers)'' series. In that series he has supposedly been killed by [The Flame](/source/Flame_(comics)), and his criminal empire is now run by his widow. ==References== {{reflist}} {{The Spirit}} {{Will Eisner}} Category:Comics characters introduced in 1946 Category:Golden Age supervillains Category:Comic strip supervillains Category:Fictional serial killers Category:Male characters in comics --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Octopus (comics)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_(comics)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_(comics)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.