Strong Guy

Origin

Exaggerated-upper body-man

Guido Carosella was a typical kid who was tormented and bullied by others. That all changed the day his mutant power developed. Guido has the ability to absorb kinetic energy. While trying to get away from some bullies, Guido was struck by a bus and absorbed the energy.

Because he did not release the energy immediately, his body swelled and the growing muscles became disproportionate. Although Guido was no longer bullied by his peers, the gentle giant was still perceived as being different and separated from them. Soon after, his parents were in a freak accident when a satellite fell on them. Guido was able to settle out of court and received a huge sum of money.

Unfortunately, he did not have good judgment when it came to spending his money. Soon his finances were just about depleted. He then became a bodyguard for the intergalactic mutant rock star, Lila Cheney. Guido later became a member of the government incarnation of X-Factor. It was at this time that he came up with the name Strong Guy.

Guido always put on a front due to his insecurities and became close to fellow member, Jamie Madrox, Multiple Man due to their crazy sense of humor. On a mission that involved aliens chasing Lila Cheney, Guido threw himself on a bomb to absorb the blast. He absorbed more energy than his body could handle and he suffered a heart attack. He spent several months recovering. By the time he was able to leave the hospital, X-Factor had disbanded.

X-Factor Investigations

Strong Guy is a member of the most current incarnation of X-Factor, X-Factor Investigations, which is led by his friend, Jamie Madrox. When the cryptic child, Layla Miller joined the team, Guido became quite protective of her (i.e. when Rictor blames Siryn getting attacked on Layla, he tells Rictor that he shouldn't insult Layla, and if he does he'll hurt him).

Guido went to see a hypnotist to see if it was possible for him to stop the constant pain that he feels because of his powers. But, Singularity Investigations intervened, and had the hypnotist make Guido a sleeper agent. During his time as a sleeper agent, Layla Miller's precognitive abilities couldn't see anything that would happen to Guido. Guido was hit by a missile (but was fine), while defending Henry Buchanun, an ex-worker of Singularity Investigations, who had come to X-Factor to help them take down Singularity.

When Guido was taking Henry Buchanun to his locker, he received a phone call, and killed Henry. When he returns to HQ, Wolfsbane smells the blood that had been cleaned of his hands. Madrox orders M to take him and, while she's telepathically looking through his mind, she causes the sleeper agent personality to surface. They fight Guido for a while, but he was eventually stopped by Quicksilver.

The damage was undone, and when the group went to see Doc Samson, Guido and Samson talked about how a hypnotist can't create a personality, only cause it to surface, so the killer must have always been there. Guido also admitted that he makes jokes to hide the constant pain he feels because of his powers.

Guido and Rahne went to see Alix Buchanun to tell them about Henry and Guido blurts out that he killed Henry. After they explain everything to Alix, she forgives Guido. Furthermore, Alix understands Guido didn't do it willingly and she doesn't believe that he's supposed to spend the rest of his years rotting in jail. Guido is next seen eating ice cream at the HQ, and later fighting Abyss. During this time he is offered the position as the Sheriff of Mutant Town by Valerie Cooper.

When the Isolationist attacks, Guido is teleported away to an arctic type place with Madrox and Rahne. While they were there, Guido told Madrox about the job offer and told Madrox to see that as his two weeks notice. Guido is then teleported back with the others when Rictor figures out how to work the Isolationist's teleporting device/door. Guido was seen fighting in the battle finale of Messiah CompleX on Muir Island. Guido was next seen saving Rictor as he was being beaten up by a bunch of ex-mutants. Guido then talks to Madrox, and Madrox asked about the job offer. Guido tells him that he told Valerie Cooper to shove it, but Madrox is able to tell he's lying (apparently because Guido makes big hand gestures when he lies). He then stands outside an abandoned building while Madrox goes in to beat up some Purifiers.

Guido tears up the sidewalk outside the HQ to reveal a trap door. He then punches through a wall with M, revealing themselves to be back outside the HQ. M, Siryn and a Madrox dupe fly off to find Rictor, he and Madrox stay outside HQ. The place suddenly turns into a jungle, and a boulder rolls towards the two. Guido tells Madrox not to move because all of it is a hologram, but he is hit and crushed into the boulder, stuck with it as it rolled.

World War Hulk

During World War Hulk, Guido goes toe-to-toe with the Hulk. When he absorbs the energy from one of the Hulk's punches, it almost overloads him immediately. Emma Frost says that he shouldn't do that again, because there's too much energy and the next time it will probably kill him.

Powers

-Guido is superhumanly strong. He can bench press about 20 tons under normal conditions, but when an object in motion comes in contact with him, he absorbs the kinetic energy and becomes stronger for a short time. Guido must release this energy inside him by using his strength at full power for a few seconds and that can drain him of the increase.

-Guido is considerably durable also. His durability becomes greater when his muscle tissue increases. Bullets have virtually no effect on Guido, but some powerful explosives can harm him.

Weaknesses

-Guido can only store the kinetic energy for about 90 seconds (1 1/2 minutes) before he becomes permanently deformed from the increase in muscle mass.

-Guido is nearsighted and wears corrective glasses.

-Guido also has a heart condition that does not allow him to put too much strain on his body or else he will suffer a major heart attack

Trivia

• Guido apparently makes big hand gestures when he lies.
• Was also in the Age of Apocalypse still as a bodyguard for Lila Cheney, but much more controlling. He hated Gambit for being in love with Lila, but he was eventually kidnapped by the Infinites. While kidnapped he had a bomb placed in his skull. To save his life he stole the son of Rogue and Magneto.
• Guido is a fan of Calvin and Hobbes. In Strong Guy Reborn #1, Guido is seen dressed as Calvin's alter-ego Spaceman Spiff, and in X-Factor Annual #7, Guido protects a Marvel 616 reality version of Calvin from some bullies.
• Guido describes himself as a "lapsed Catholic".

Other Media

X-Men Animated Series

X-men Animated Series

Iceman's beloved girlfriend Lorna Dane was thought to be abducted by the X-Factor. Unknowingly, Polaris is really one of their members and not abducted. He brought Jubilee with him to help him rescue his beloved girlfriend but Strong Guy appeared and blocked them. Iceman have used his powers to freeze Strong Guy but his unparalleled strength was enough to break the ice, free himself and defeat Iceman. The X-Men have then arrived to help the two of them but only led to a fight between them and the X-Factor who knows the potentials of the team's abilities. Later on, Forge as the team leader surfaced to reveal that they are not enemies but a government influenced team called X-Factor. The fight had then finished and it was clear to everyone what the situation is all about.