DEATH ADDER

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Real Name: Roland Burroughs
Aliases: None
Identity: Secret
Occupation: Professional Criminal, Assassin
Citizenship: United States Citizen with a Criminal Record
Place of Birth: Rochester, New York
Known Relatives: Unknown
Group Affiliation: Roxxon, Serpent Squad, Serpent Society, Hood’s Gang, Savage Six, Serpent Solutions
First Appearance: Marvel Two-In-One #64
History: Roland Burroughs was recruited by the Roxxon Oil Company to undergo experimental procedures which would give him gills, claws, and a bionic tail. However, during the process of giving him gills, Roland Burroughs’ vocal chords were utterly destroyed and rendered him a mute. Once the process was complete, he was given his costume and adopted the name Death Adder and joined Serpent Squad along side Sidewinder, Anaconda, and Black Mamba. Their first mission was to acquire the legendary Serpent Crown, which brought them in great conflict with a number of heroes. After their first mission, Sidewinder realized there was much more he could do – and recruited a number of other “serpent themed” villains and formed the Serpent Society, running it like a business (providing health benefits and salary to those who offered to join).

With the team nicely rounded, Sidewinder put their name out there, as assassins for hire and A.I.M. paid them to track down and kill M.O.D.O.K. which Serpent Society was able to successfully do – with Cottonmouth and Death Adder providing the killing blows, while the other members of Serpent Society fought against Captain America.

Princess Python, who had not signed up to be murderers, tried to leave; but Sidewinder captured her and erased her memories of Serpent Society, so that she could not betray them. Sidewinder had Death Adder escort her back on the Serpent Saucer to return her to the Circus of Crime, from which she had originally come from. On transit to their location, the saucer malfunctioned and crashed. Princess Python remained unconscious and Death Adder sought a taxi, dressed in normal clothing over his costume – unfortunately, the taxi he got into belonged to someone named Scourge, who had been killing a number of villains. Death Adder was murdered in the taxi, shot through the front seat.

Death Adder would be resurrected by the Hood and join his gang, however, his life would again be cut short, as he came into conflict with Venom, who broke his neck.

Oddly, Death Adder is seen, yet again, when Pit Viper gathered former members of Serpent Society and formed Serpent Solutions, in an effort to call forth Mephisto, who they deemed the Great Red Serpent. It’s unclear how Death Adder was resurrected yet again, but it stands to reason, Viper (Jordon Dixon) who was now Pit Viper had also died – and his soul appeared in Mephisto’s realm and he was returned to life – it could be, in an effort to recreate Serpent Society, Mephisto granted Death Adder to be resurrected as well, devoid of his soul.

Regardless, while he appears to be present initially, he’s never seen again, during any of the battles that Serpent Solution clashed with the newly formed AVENGE.R.S. It’s assumed, he was fighting off panel, and too was defeated and arrested by the AVENGE.R.S. team to face justice for their crimes.

Height: 5’6?
Weight: 151 lbs
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Unknown

Powers: Through the experiment he endured, Roland Burroughs became amphibious, able to breathe water by extracting oxygen molecules from the water, by means of the gills installed on his body. The surgery also gave him a tail and claws. The tail was nearly four feet in length and connected to his nervous system, giving him full control of his tail. He was able to move the tail to the speeds of 60 mph. Both the tail and his claws were decorated with sharpened prongs, that were laced with fast acting poison that could kill superhuman beings (for example, M.O.D.O.K.). The bones in his body were also enhanced to allow him to endure ocean pressures up to 400 feet deep, with the adaption to his eyes allowing him to see in pitch blackness (such as one might experience at 650 feet deep in water). This also strengthened the muscles in his body allowing him to lift at least one ton, with ease. His reflexes were also enhanced, giving him rapid speed – allowing him to swim at 34 miles per house.