Black History Month Celebrates – Rage.

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Real Name: Elvin Daryl Haliday
Aliases: Blacksmith
Identity: Publically Known
Occupation: Student
Citizenship: United States Citizen with no criminal record, still a minor.
Place of Birth: Brooklyn, New York
Known Relatives: Mr. Haliday (father, deceased), Mrs. Haliday (mother, deceased), Edna M. “Granny” Staples (grandmother, deceased); Andrew Chord and Dwayne Taylor (legal guardians)
Group Affiliation: Formerly Avengers, New Warriors, Queen’s Vengeance, Psionex
First Appearance: Avengers #326 (1990)
History: Twelve-year-old Elvin Haliday was visiting an unfamiliar neighborhood to trade some comic books with another boy when he was attacked by a gang of racist bullies. Elvin eluded them by hiding in the heavily polluted waters of Newtown Creek, but before he could climb out, Fisk Biochem workers dumped more illegal chemical waste into the creek, dousing him with it. Terrified and in pain, Elvin ran home to his only family, Granny Staples, and she nursed him back to health over a period of days. The boy recovered quickly, and in the weeks and months that followed, he went through a tremendous growth spurt that gave him a superhumanly powerful adult body. He was discouraged from seeking vengeance on his tormentors by the devoutly religious Granny Staples, who felt he should use his new powers for good. Fashioning a makeshift costume from a ski mask and a leather outfit, Elvin began operating as the super-vigilante Rage at the age of 14, targeting street criminals and drug dealers such as L.D. 50. He applied for membership in the Avengers, berating the team for their elitism and lack of visible minorities. Despite this obnoxious introduction, he was appointed a probationary Avengers reservist alongside Sandman after aiding the group in an otherdimensional mission. Though technically part of a substitute roster serving as backup for the active team, Rage was a frequent participant in Avengers cases, facing foes such as Ngh the Unspeakable, the Tetrarchs of Entropy, Doctor Doom, the Brethren, the Collector and Grotesk.

Eventually, during a conflict with Hate-Monger and his racist pawns, the Sons of the Serpent, the Avengers discovered that Elvin was still a child and demoted him to trainee status. During that case, Elvin met the New Warriors, who befriended him and later convinced him to help them steal an Avengers quinjet for an emergency rescue mission. Expelled from the Avengers for this misconduct, Rage joined the New Warriors, becoming a mainstay of the group and forming a close friendship with Speedball. When the Poison Memories gang killed Granny Staples as part of a vendetta against the Warriors, Rage cold-bloodedly killed gang leader Kimeiko Ashu, though a judge later deemed his actions self-defense.

Warriors leader Dwayne Taylor (Night-Thrasher) and Dwayne’s mentor Andrew Chord were appointed Elvin’s legal guardians, and when Dwayne later had a falling-out with the other Warriors, Elvin left the team with him. Serving as mentors to the troubled super-youths Psionex for a time, Night-Thrasher and Rage eventually rejoined the Warriors, who began to drift apart as their members pursued differing goals. Rage has decided to concentrate on his studies at the Oatridge School for Boys and is only infrequently active as a super hero of late, though he has been willing to assist the Avengers and the Warriors against foes such as the Elements of Doom, Morgan Le Fay, Whirlwind, Taskmaster, A.I.M., Lord Templar and an insane Scarlet Witch.

Rage resurfaced when The Initiative was formed. He led a small band of heroes from the Initiative for awhile, including members such as Slapstick, Ultra-Girl, Thor Girl, and a few others. Rage found himself the center of an investigation when Gauntlet was beaten and left for dead.

At the Appalachian Safehouse, Night Thrasher finds that the entire area is undisturbed. He had hoped that if Dwayne were still alive he would be hiding here. He does however, managed to snag some of Dwayne’s DNA for testing. As he exits the house however, he discovers he’s not alone and is confronted by Counter Force which consists of: Justice, Rage, Debrii, Slapstick and two of the Scarlet Spiders.

Both Rage and Justice try to talk to Night Thrasher but he refuses to discuss it with them and a fight breaks out – and just when it seems like Night Thrasher’s been captured – the arrival of the New Warriors tips the balance once more.

Throughout the fight Night Thrasher is thinking about how Justice and the rest of Counter Force think he’s a Skrull – while he’s wondering if it was Skrull who perished at Stamford, not his own half-brother. As the fight processes, Night Thrasher realizes that this has to end quickly.

He decides to stop the fight and unveil who he is. He explains his actions about looking for the truth about Dwayne – and whether he would ever take part of some reality television show as a part of the “New Warriors.” Justice steps up and informs Donyell that he can help – because he knows the location of Dwayne’s body.

The New Warriors, along with Counter Force, arrive at the Helicarrier only to find it under attack by Skrulls. The New Warriors and Counter Force get out of the plane as Night Thrasher crashes it into one of the Skrull ships. After that, they follow Justice onto the Helicarrier and begin helping the S.H.I.E.L.D. Agents against the Skrulls.

As the New Warriors and Counter Force battle the Skrulls, Night Thrasher grabs Justice and enables “ghost mode” – allowing them to phrase through the floor. The others continue to battle the Skrulls – and just when it seems like they might be doing all right – the arrival of a Super Skrull, looking a lot like Nova, appears and tilts the odds back in favor of the Skrulls.

Meanhile Justice leads Night Thrasher to the bodies of what appears to be Dwayne and Microbe, with Nita’s ashes in a jar. Night Thrasher takes a sample from Dwayne’s body and begins the DNA comparison. All three turn out to be positive identifications – proving that the Dwayne, Namorita and Microbe did indeed die at Stamford. Night Thrasher turns to Justice and explains, he’s taking the remains with him. Justice, after a brief pause, agrees to help.

They bury the New Warriors and create a memorial plaque for Dwayne, Namorita and Zachary.

Later, Ragnarok, a clone of Thor, that killed Goliath, during Civil War, attacks Camp Hammond. Justice, leading Counter Force – now calling themselves “The New Warriors” with Night Thrasher as a member arrive to put a stop to Ragnarok. Vance nearly dies in the fight, saved only by the timely arrival of Ultra-Girl. They managed to defeat Ragnarok, and Vance gets MVP’s original corpse. This, however, exposes everything – allowing Norman Osborn to shut down Camp Hammond, placing villains on the Initiative teams. The New Warriors rescue Gauntlet and Tigra and form The Avengers Resistance.

During the events of Fear Itself, Prodigy holds a meeting about the “magical hammers” that have crashed onto the Earth. Among those in attendance, Rage was among them. He is later seen with Debrii rescuing survivors and helps the team in their battle against Thor Girl, who had recovered her designate powers.

Some time later, with the appearance of an organization called the Americops (a private police force with violent methods), Rage was at an Anti-Americops rally, where it was seen by the new Captain America (Sam Wilson, formerly Falcon). Captain America had Rage removed, before things escalated.

This would not, however, be the last time Rage would encounter the Americops. He stumbled across Speed Demon and Man Mountain Marko robbing a store, but the villains managed to get the best of him, and escaped. When the Americops arrived, they brutalized and arrested Rage. Because Rage wanted to stand for the African American community, he declined the help from the Avengers lawyers, because it would have been the “easy way out.” Despite footage found by the new Falcon, the evidence was found inadmissible, and Rage was sentenced and convicted.

He was moved to a block in the prison, specific to super-powered convicts where he was cornered by some of the very villains he had helped imprison, and was badly beaten and left comatose with extensive brain damage.

Despite the odds, Rage recovered from the coma and brain damage and was next seen along side D-Man, helping civilians escape during the invasion of Hive; in which he was bonded to one of the symbiotes which ended up being consumed by a Poison (an alien species of crystalline extraterrestrials), which appeared to result in his death when the time displaced Jean Grey destroyed them.

Rage, however, along side of Nova, Namorita, Speedball, and many other heroes is seen next helping against the fight in the Negative Zone, summoned by Nova. Together, at the cost of what appears to be Richard Rider’s life – the Annihilation Scourge is defeated.

Height: 6’6?
Weight: 450 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: None

Powers: A child possessed of a massive superhuman adult physique, Rage has tremendous superhuman strength and durability; for reasons unknown, his strength increases when he uses it in violent or aggressive ways. His speed is superhuman (enabling him to outrun an express train with ease), and his stamina, reflexes and recuperative powers are also enhanced beyond normal human levels.

Accessories: None

Note: Despite his height and appearance, Rage is still a very young teenager.