Clay Quartermain is a fictional character, a secret agent appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Publication history Created by writer-artist Jim Steranko, he first appeared in Strange Tales #163 (December 1967).
Described as a "blond-haired, fast-talking, grinning Burt Lancaster" sort, Clay Quartermain appears as an agent of the fictional espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D., beginning in the feature "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D." in Marvel Comics' Strange Tales in 1967, and continuing into the subsequent series Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. in 1968. He was the S.H.I.E.L.D. liaison to the "Hulkbusters" military program, and a supporting character since The Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #187 (May 1975).
A Life Model Decoy (LMD) replica of the character was a featured character in the 1988 miniseries Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D.
Quartermain has since had guest appearances in issues of Alias, Cable, The Defenders, Marvel Team-Up, The Pulse, Silver Sable and the Wild Pack, and the miniseries Secret War; in the "Nick Fury" feature in the omnibus Marvel Holiday Special (January 1994); and in the "Elite Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." feature in the one-shot Captain America 2000 (November 2000). He also led the S.H.I.E.L.D. Paranormal Containment Unit in the 2005–2006 series Nick Fury's Howling Commandos.
Fictional character biography Clay Quartermain is a high-ranking agent of the espionage agency S.H.I.E.L.D. who first worked with S.H.I.E.L.D. director Nick Fury during a conflict with Yellow Claw. Quartermain is part of the U.S. military's "Hulkbusters" operation, which attempted to capture and contain the Hulk. Quartermain and many other agents are seemingly killed by the "Deltan" variety of S.H.I.E.L.D. LMD androids (see below), but turns out to have survived.
Quartermain is later retconned into being a former romantic interest of Jessica Jones as well as the leader of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Paranormal Containment Unit and a new incarnation of the S.H.I.E.L.D. "Hulkbusters" unit while recruiting She-Hulk.She-Hulk (vol. 2) #14 - 17 (January - April 2007) He is also an advisor to a co-called commander during the Hulk's rampage.The Invincible Iron Man #19 (September 2007)
In the Alias series, Quartermain works with Jessica Jones to uncover a conspiracy against the President of the United States by investigating Mattie Franklin, a superheroine who was trapped in mysterious circumstances.Alias #1-4 (November 2001-February 2002)Alias #16 (January 2003) Additionally, it is revealed Quartermain initially met Jones while the latter was recovering from a months-long ordeal with the Purple Man.Alias #26 (November 2003)
Quartermain is found dead in a suspected attack of the Red Hulk.Hulk (vol. 2) #4 (June 2008) It is later revealed that Quartermain was killed by Doc Samson after inadvertently learning of a plot by Thunderbolt Ross and Samson to keep the Red Hulk's identity secret.Hulk (vol. 2) #23 (June 2010)
LMD doppelgänger A Life Model Decoy of the character is part of a self-aware, renegade "Deltan" variety of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s LMDs.Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #2 (July 1988) The most advanced of the Deltite LMDs, he rebels upon learning it was not human, and is killed after several confrontations.Nick Fury vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. #6 (November 1988) The LMD of Quartermain later returns as an ally of Deadpool and Spider-Man.Spider-Man/Deadpool #23 (January 2018)
Other versions An alternate universe version of Clay Quartermain from Earth-1610 appears in the Ultimate Marvel imprint.Ultimate Spider-Man #27 (November 2002)Ultimate Six #3 (December 2003)
In other media Clay Quartermain appears in Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., portrayed by Adrian Hughes. Clay Quartermain appears in The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, voiced by Troy Baker. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information. This version is a field agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and an acquaintance of the Avengers.
References
External links The Grand Comics Database The Unofficial Handbook of Marvel Comics Creators