Blob getting a government job doesn't suddenly make him easy to be around. Fred Dukes brings his appetite for bullying, his confidence and his refusal to be pushed aside straigh…

Blob getting a government job doesn't suddenly make him easy to be around. Fred Dukes brings his appetite for bullying, his confidence and his refusal to be pushed aside straight into Freedom Force. Fred takes the government deal along with the rest of the Brotherhood. For the team, he is a very useful obstacle. Put him between somebody and an exit, or let him pin an opponent down, and the others get time to work. He doesn't need an elaborate plan to become the biggest problem in a crowded street. The difference is that his size and durability don't solve every situation. The X-Men already know him, and they know they need something more inventive than lining up to punch him. His arrogance gives them openings that raw strength alone might never create. Dallas supplies a wonderfully ridiculous example of the team using him properly. Avalanche launches him onto Wolverine, turning the man who is difficult to move into a projectile. There is actual coordination beneath the spectacle. Fred's powers become more useful when someone else helps decide where he lands. His introduction to Stonewall shows the other side of that confidence. Fred tries to embarrass the newcomer and ends up embarrassing himself. The scene makes the headquarters feel like a workplace full of people who cannot resist testing each other, even when they are supposed to be on the same side. There is also a practical rescue role available to somebody who can take punishment and hold his ground. During the Dallas emergency, Freedom Force has to use what it has to help people. Fred can contribute to that effort without becoming a different personality overnight. Watching him remain abrasive while doing something useful is more interesting than a sudden, spotless conversion into a hero.