Fictional Character Biography
As Override, Dr. Gregory Herd wore a cybernetically enhanced costume that allowed him to control, or "override", any other electronic device (including but by no means limited to Spider-Man's web-shooters). Together with his wife (who operated under the name Aura), he worked as a mercenary for hire. Unfortunately, during the "Spider-Hunt" storyline, in which a massive bounty was placed on Spider-Man's head, Herd's wife was gravely injured and left in medical care. To cover her steadily mounting medical expenses, Override then went to work as one of Norman Osborn's costumed employees.
Desperate for some way to save his wife, Herd asks to join Osborn's "Gathering of Five" ceremony in order to gain one of five "gifts". However, Herd was the unfortunate recipient of death. In a turn of events, death gave Herd new powers while steadily destroying him over time. He fell under the thumb of a man named Dolman, who originally owned one of the five artifacts used in the Gathering ceremony; an artifact that was stolen by Osborn. Dolman intended to use Herd as a tool to regain what Osborn had stolen. Herd assaulted Osborn Industries but incidentally ran into Spider-Man (who at the time was portrayed by Mattie Franklin — ironically, another member of the Gathering ceremony).
Herd dismissed Franklin with little effort but was later forced to battle the original Spider-Man and Iceman while trying to tell officials the truth that Dolman was tampering with his mind. He managed to convince Iceman to freeze him entirely in an attempt to stay alive.
Though temporarily frozen, Shadrac was still dying albeit in a less painful manner. Later pursuing Dolman, Shadrac, Iceman, and Spider-Man teamed up to capture him. After Dolman merged with the Spindle and gained powers, Shadrac managed to "override" him and possess his body in a last-ditch effort to stop Dolman and save himself.
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