Billy Connors (comics)

The character was created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man #6 (November 1963).

Billy was born in Florida to Curt and Martha Connors, the former of whom is a biologist. The family moved to New York City so that Curt could continue his research in limb regrowth. The result was that Curt transformed into the Lizard and chased Billy in an attempt to eat him. Luckily, Billy was rescued by Spider-Man who turned his father back to normal with the antidote to the Lizard Formula.[1] During a major story arc, Martha and Billy were kidnapped by the Maggia branch led by Silvermane who wanted Curt to decipher an ancient tablet. Once again, Curt transformed into the Lizard and it took the combined effort Spider-Man and the Human Torch save Martha and Billy who were happily reunited with a cured Curt.[2]

At one point, Billy was kidnapped by the villain Stegron who demanded that Curt aid him in reviving a dinosaur army. Spider-Man and Lizard fought Stegron and saved Billy from a terrible fate.[3]

Curt eventually chose to leave his family greatly saddening Billy and Martha.[4]

However, Curt came back and turned Billy into another lizard creature dubbed Lizard Jr., but the two were captured and turned back to normal by Spider-Man.[5]

Sometime later, Curt mentions that Martha and Billy contracted cancer. Martha died while Billy survived, but was forced to live with his aunt.[6]

During The Gauntlet and Grim Hunt storyline, Lizard finally devoured Billy resulting in Lizard becoming a creature called the Shed.[7]

In a lead-up to the Dead No More: The Clone Conspiracy storyline, Billy was revived by Miles Warren, along with Martha, so that Curt could have a reason to work for him.[8] When New U Technologies suddenly breaks out in a melee, Billy and Martha are taken away by Curt who claims that he can cure them of the Carrion Virus.[9] Billy and Martha are injected with the lizard formula, turning Billy back into Lizard Jr., saving their lives, but now making them lizard-human hybrids.[10]

While Billy and his family have begun to live peacefully in the sewers, getting occasional friendly visits from Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson, he has started to openly talk of his longing to visit the outside world and attend a regular school; adding that kids with unusual appearances and abilities have begun going as well. Despite this, his father angrily rebuffs his pleas and he in turn has started to rebel.[11] He is later captured and used as a hostage by Kraven the Hunter as part of Kraven's efforts to test his cloned 'offspring' and provoke Spider-Man into becoming the 'hunter' Kraven feels his enemy should be. When trapped in a cage with Connors, Spider-Man learns that Connors took Billy to Doctor Strange after his resurrection, with Strange confirming that, for reasons he cannot understand, Billy is not 'just' a clone of the original Billy Connors, but is actually Billy's soul reborn in his cloned body, driving Connors to be willing to take any measures necessary to protect his son.[12]

• Billy Connors at Marvel Wiki