Not every villain is gifted with superpowers, alien technology, or a super-genius mind. Sometimes even a self-professed loser like Vincent Patilio can make a claim for infamy by refusing to quit despite numerous defeats and the ridicule that can come with it. His Leap-Frog persona has been mocked by the likes of Stilt-Man, the Matador, and the Jester. However, with nothing more than electric powered springs on his feet he has taken on Daredevil, Falcon, Spider-Man, Valkyrie, and even Iron Man!
"If the shoe don't fit, you must acquit!"
When unsuccessful inventor Vincent Patilio stumbled upon a way to use enhanced springs on his shoes to leap great distances, he saw it as a way to get rich quickly as the super-villain Leap-Frog. After bouncing away from Daredevil on a successful jewel heist, he decided to try his luck as a bank robber. While the initial robbery went as planned, Daredevil tracked him down and was able to subdue Leap-Frog after a short battle (Daredevil #25).
Foggy Nelson (Matt Murdock's law partner) ended up defending Vincent Patilio in court (Daredevil #26). Vincent claimed he had never before seen the Leap-Frog suit or boots. When the boots were introduced as evidence, Vincent was asked to see if they fit. Of course, they did, and Vincent used them to hastily bounce out the courtroom window. Unfortunately, he had not taken the time to properly fasten them. He broke his leg on the fall, landing at Stilt-Man's feet. Unknown to Vincent, Stilt-Man had come to rescue Leap-Frog and recruit him as a partner. However, he now viewed him as unworthy and left him to be recaptured by the police.
Leap-Frog: A Team Player
Soon afterward, Electro recruited Leap-Frog to join his Emissaries of Evil, along with several other former Daredevil foes (Daredevil Annual #1). Leap-Frog led Daredevil into a trap where his partners were waiting to ambush the hero. The Man Without Fear tricked Matador with a quick switch. Thinking that he had Daredevil beneath his cape he mercilessly pummeled him into unconsciousness. Only to discover it was really Leap-Frog. Daredevil went on to defeat the remaining villains.
Leap-Frog next appeared with a group of villains disguised as the Defenders (Defenders #64). Leap-Frog ended up battling the Falcon before a hallucinating Valkyrie made short work of the two of them.
Despite his failures, Justin Hammer hired Leap-Frog and several other villains as bodyguards. None of them was a match for the mighty Iron Man when he attacked Hammer's estate (Iron Man #126 and #127).
A Change of Heart
While Vincent languished in prison his wife passed away, leaving his son in the care of his sister. His son discovered one of Vincent's old costumes and donned it, calling himself Frog-Man. The Frog-Man surprised everyone by defeating the villain, Speed Demon (Marvel Team-Up #121).
Vincent disapproved of his son's choice and feared for his safety as well as his self-esteem if he followed in his father's footsteps. When Vincent was asked to join the White Rabbit's criminal gang he went to the police. There, he agreed to wear a wire to infiltrate the gang. With the help of Spider-Man and Frog-Man, he was able to take down the gang (Marvel Team-Up #131).
Leap-Frog and Frog-Man went on to have a hand in foiling a plot by the Yellow Claw with the help of several heroes (Marvel Fanfare #31). The White Rabbit and her accomplice, the Walrus, sought revenge on the pair only to be defeated again with Spider-Man's help (Spectacular Spider-Man #185).
Leap-Frog's career is best summed up in an article in Marvel Year-In-Review 1992. Several villains were sitting at the Bar With No Name. The villain, Jester, entered the Bar. Seeing the Matador seated there, he heckled him as Daredevil's most ludicrous adversary.
"Oh, thank God," I overhear Stilt-Man whisper to Leap-Frog. "He didn't see us."
For comic collectors, Leap-Frog's only hope for fame would be if he were included in a group of villains battling one of the MCU heroes in a television series. But Leap-Frog earned his way onto the Almost Infamous list by taking one of the most ridiculous superpowers and making the most of it.
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