Celebrating Black History Month – #BHM – Chord.

Chord

Real Name: Andrew Chord
Aliases: None
Identity: Publicly Known
Occupation: Formerly member of Executive Board of Taylor Foundation; former sergeant in US Army; member of Half-Fulls; former mercenary; former trainer of Night Thrasher and the rest of the New Warriors; former pilot of the New Warriors.
Citizenship: American Citizen With No Known Criminal Record
Place of Birth: Unknown
Known Relatives: Miyami (Wife, Deceased), Midnight’s Fire (Son), Silhouette Chord (Daughter), Tai (Mother In Law, Deceased)
Group Affiliation: New Warriors (Formerly)
First Appearance: Thor #411
History: Life for Andrew Chord has been a normal one; but that would drastically change when he began his career in the army during the Vietnam War. With his unit, who called themselves the “Half Fulls”, they searched for a possible locations to create landing bases for American Aircrafts. His unit consisted of himself, Daryl Taylor (the father of Night Thrasher), Diego Cassaes (later known as the Left Hand), and the other men who would become the fathers of the team that would become The Folding Circle). Just north of the Se Kong River in Cambodia, they stumbled across a mysterious building known as the Temple of the Dragon’s Breadth; along with an English speaking Cambodian geriatric named Tai who restrained them via magic.

She explained that they needed to mate with the six women from their cult, and that their children would grow up to be very special. Five of the six men agreed; only Daryl Taylor refused his mate, because he was already married back in the states.

Chord was married to Tai’s only daughter, Miyami and brought his new bridge home with him to the United States. She would eventually give birth to two biracial children, Silhouette and Midnight’s Fire. Fearing Tai’s manipulations and intentions, Miyami took her children and faked her death in an explosive car accident. The children were left in Manhattan’s Chinatown.

Chord believed his wife and children to be dead, so with no chains to bind him, he began traveling the world looking for who he was. This path led him into becoming a mercenary, where at some point he crossed paths with the time-traveling Cable. Unable to find happiness, Chord returned to the Temple of the Dragon’s Breadth, where he renewed his association with his mother-in-law, Tai.

Learning from Chord, the fate of his children, Tai sought a replacement to fulfill Chord’s role in the pact. Tai manipulated things so that Chord renewed his friendship with Daryl Taylor and his wife Melody. Chord even became the godfather of their son, Dwayne Taylor. Tai then told Chord to kill Daryl and Melody to fulfill his role in the pact. Chord did as she asked, reluctantly so, killing them both in a crowded restaurant. Tai, seeing that Dwayne had been present, erased his mind of the event, and who had been responsible.

Dwayne grew up in the hands of Chord and Tai, training to one day get revenge on those who had killed his parents. They also took over Dwayne’s business affairs, since Daryl was the owner of the wealthy Taylor Foundation. Dwayne would come to meet Silhouette and Midnight’s Fire in his early teen years and develop a friendship with them. Neither Chord nor Tai recognized the children as Chord’s very own children. Dwayne’s interest in Silhouette developed further, as he became romantically involved with her.

However, all of that came to an end, when Silhouette was crippled during a failed undercover operation against a Korean gang.

With the urging of Tai and Chord, Dwayne formed a superhero team by the name of “The New Warriors.” Chord initially served as their pilot, taking them places they needed to go; all the while Tai’s intent had been to prepare them for the sacrifice in the Well of the Dragon’s Breadth, along with the rest of the Folding Circle.

Dwayne eventually uncovered the financial abuse Chord had been involved in, using the Taylor Foundation – and rather than answer to it, Chord took his gun to his head and pulled the trigger, in an attempt to commit suicide. The attempt, however, was a failure and Chord managed to survive. Weeks on end in the hospital, Chord one day confessed to murdering Dwayne’s parents. While there, Miyami also came to visit him – Tai, learning of Miyami’s deception, killed her own daughter.

Chord was healed partially by the dark magics of Tai; and it still took months of rehab to recover from his injuries.

Tai’s end would come however, when she attempted to sacrifice the New Warriors and the Folding Circle, when Dwayne killed her before she could complete the sacrifice.

Chord and his former mercenary buddy, Sprocket, helped Dwayne discover the truth behind his father’s illegitimate son, Donyell. Chord also helped reform a new version of the New Warriors to help track down the time displaced Warriors after their battle with the Sphinx.

Height: 5’10”
Weight: 165 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: None
Powers: None.
Accessories: Varies; Andrew Chord is an excellent shot with a gun.

Note: As a mercenary, Andrew Chord is exceptional with the use of guns, knives and other weapons. He also has a large list of contacts.

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Celebrating Black History Month – #BHM – Impulse.

Impulse


Real Name: Dwight Hubbard
Aliases: None
Identity: Known to Authorities
Occupation: Vigilante, Gang Member
Citizenship: American Citizen with a Criminal Record
Place of Birth: Manhattan, New York
Known Relatives: Chantal (Sister, Deceased)
Group Affiliation: Psionex, The Initiative: Maryland
First Appearance: New Warriors #4 (V1)
History: Dwight Hubbard, much like the name sake he would adopt with Genetech, was an impulsive person, often acting before thinking. As a gang banger, Dwight made a name for himself, before Genetech took him in and experimented on him, turning him into Impulse. As Impulse, he had enhanced strength, agility, endurance and super human speed. The armor he was equipped with also had blades that were tainted with a powerful toxin that could instantly paralyze and render people unconscious. Impulse was one of the original members of Psionex, and as such, had several encounters fighting the New Warriors.

When the New Warriors fought against Terrax, only Mathemanic and Impulse remained from Psionex to help the New Warriors. Mathemanic was put into a coma when Terrax shifted the earth and buried Mathemanic under stone. Terrax also, with a swift strike, snapped Impulse’s back. Mathemanic eventually awoke from his coma, but Impulse remained bound in the wheel chair.

Impulse’s luck would continue to go poorly, as a young boy found the mask of the original Asylum, who had led Psionex and took it to show his older sister, Dorrel. The woman, intended to keep it and wear it, showed it to her boyfriend, who happened to be an extremely violent gang banger, by the name of Joachim, who beat her and took it from her. While wearing the mask, Joachim could suddenly see ‘the darkness’ in people’s souls, and his violent behavior escalated as he and his gang members simply began gunning down innocent people. One of those innocent people was Chantal, Impulse’s younger sister. He had witnessed the whole thing.

Later at his home, Night Thrasher (I) and Rage approached him and offered to help him, but he declined, only to have the new Asylum, along with Pretty Persuasions, Coronary, and Mathemanic. Asylum offered to clean up the streets, and get rid of the very gang members that had taken the life of Impulse’s sister.

During this time, Psionex became street vigilantes, helping put an end to crime.

Psionex turned up again, during the Superhuman Registration Act as a part of the Maryland Initiative Team. Their current whereabouts since then remains unknown.

Height: 6’1”
Weight: 205 lbs
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black (None, Bald)

Powers: As Impulse, he had enhanced strength, agility, endurance and super human speed.

Armor: The armor he was equipped with also had blades that were tainted with a powerful toxin that could instantly paralyze and render people unconscious.

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Celebrating Black History Month – #BHM – Midnight’s Fire

Midnight's Fire

Real Name: Aaron Chord
Aliases: “Mirror Brother”
Identity: Secret
Occupation: Mercenary, Street Gang, Folding Circle
Citizenship: American Citizen, with a criminal record.
Place of Birth: New York, New York
Known Relatives: Andrew Chord (Father), Miyami Chord (Mother, Deceased), Silhouette Chord (Sister), Tai (Grandmother, Deceased)
Group Affiliation: Concrete Dragons, Folding Circle
First Appearance: New Warriors #2 (V1)
History: The origin of Midnight’s Fire truly begins with the Vietnam War. His father, Andrew Chord, who served with a military unit known as the “Half-Fulls”, had stumbled upon an ancient Asian Cult of the Dragon’s Breadth, who were guardians of the Well of All Things; an inter-dimensional Well that was bursting with an array of untapped mystical energy. The Cult of the Dragon’s Breadth had been breeding children who would eventually be capable of accessing the Well’s energies better than any other ever had.

Tai, who would be directly responsible for the creation of the New Warriors, was one of the adults who knew that she would be giving birth to the ones that would bear the children of ‘The Pact.’ She had given birth to her daughter, Miyami; and the other mothers followed suit. Tai, however, killed all that would oppose her, except for the children who would bear the offspring of ‘The Pact’ thus leaving Tai as the sole beneficiary of the Well’s powers when the time was right.

Tai arranged for Andrew Chord to marry and mate with her own daughter, Miyami. Andrew Chord married her and brought her to the United States, where soon after, she would bare twins; Aaron and Silhouette. However, fearful of Tai’s plans, Miyami faked their death and went into hiding. She had left her children in New York’s Chinatown, where they learned to survive. It was during this time that their mutate powers developed. Aaron adopted the name Midnight’s Fire, and with his power he was at the peak of human possibility with enhanced speed, strength, agility, and sensory perception on par with Captain America. He is also an unparalleled martial artist.

Midnight’s Fire and Silhouette joined a gang by the name of the Concrete Dragons, who were later wiped out by a rival gang named Poisoned Memories. Having endured this loss, Midnight’s Fire and Silhouette turned their attention to battling gangs, and during this time met Night Thrasher. Together, the three of them had formed an alliance. Night Thrasher and Silhouette developed a love interest with one another during this time.

In a later bust, Night Thrasher prevented Midnight’s Fire from attacking an interfering police officer, whose stray bullets left Silhouette paralyzed. Midnight’s Fire swore vengeance against Night Thrasher and left a scar on his left cheek. Midnight’s Fire then rebuilt the Concrete Dragon gang, this time arming them with AIM (Advanced Idea Mechanics) technology and sparked a violent altercation with police, that left three officers dead, in an attempt to draw out Night Thrasher. Night Thrasher, as well as the rest of the New Warriors, arrived to put an end to it. During the battle, Night Thrasher successfully defeated Midnight’s Fire, and returned the favor by leaving a scar on his left cheek as well. Silhouette disowned her brother, claiming he had no honor.

Midnight’s Fire was later freed and recruited by The Left Hand, who promised him to reveal the truth about himself, with a promise of more power as well. Midnight’s Fire remained with The Left Hand as he formed “The Folding Circle” – a team composed of all the children of ‘The Pact.’ Together, they had gone to harvest the power of the Well of All Things. However, the New Warriors arrived as well; and during the battle, they were betrayed by Tai, who planned to sacrifice the New Warriors and use the members of the Folding Circle as her Avatars on the World, during her quest for domination. The Folding Circle and the New Warriors teamed up to stop Tai, and successfully managed to do so; only when Night Thrasher shot her, at point blank range, with a machine gun (after she had been weakened). The result, however, was Tai, Night Thrasher and The Left Hand falling into the Well of All Things; but Nova managed to rescue Night Thrasher before it was too late. Barely escaping, the Well of All Things collapsed unto itself, sealing it, seemingly forever.

During their escape, the Folding Circle, under the new leadership of Midnight’s Fire, stole the Avengers Quinjet that the New Warriors had originally taken from the Avengers. However, they did not get far as they crashed the jet in Madripoor. It was there, that Midnight’s Fire encouraged the other members of the Folding Circle that they could take a piece of the drug money that was flowing through Madripoor. Aligning themselves with Tyger Tiger, the Folding Circle went after Aardwolf, only to be thwarted by Night Thrasher and Silhouette.

After the events of Civil War, in which several members of the New Warriors perished (Night Thrasher, Namorita, and Debrii), Donyell Taylor (formerly Bandit) adopted the Night Thrasher guise. Midnight’s Fire would appear again, this time working for a shadowed figure (unrevealed to be Lady Sphinx) and agrees to help Donyell get a number of items needed to create a time machine that would allow him to travel back in time and prevent Dwayne Taylor’s death. The ultimate purpose for Midnight’s Fire assisting Donyell remains unknown, as the attempt to travel back in time and prevent Dwayne Taylor’s death is unsuccessful.

Midnight Fire’s current whereabouts remain unknown.

Height: 6’3″
Weight: 220 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black

Powers: Like all members of The Folding Circle; Midnight’s Fire is a mystically powered mutates who derived his power from the ancient Well of All Things. His mutated power grants him the peak of human possibility with enhanced speed, strength, agility, and sensory perception on par with Captain America. He is also an unparalleled martial artist.

Accessories: Midnight’s Fire carries an assortment of spikes, which he uses with lethal effectiveness.

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Celebrating Black History Month – #BHM – Left Hand

Smiling Tiger

Real Name: Diego Casseas
Aliases: None
Identity: Secret
Occupation: Military Soldier, Mercenary
Citizenship: American Citizen, with a criminal record.
Place of Birth: Unknown
Known Relatives: Wife (Deceased), Daughter (Comatose)
Group Affiliation: Folding Circle
First Appearance: New Warriors #16 (V1)
History:

The origin of Left Hand begins with the Vietnam War. Diego Casseas served with a military unit known as the “Half-Fulls”, and along with the rest of his unit, had stumbled upon an ancient Asian Cult of the Dragon’s Breadth, who were guardians of the Well of All Things; an inter-dimensional Well that was bursting with an array of untapped mystical energy. The Cult of the Dragon’s Breadth had been breeding children who would eventually be capable of accessing the Well’s energies better than any other ever had.

Tai, who would be directly responsible for the creation of the New Warriors, was one of the adults who knew that she would be giving birth to the ones that would bear the children of ‘The Pact.’ She had given birth to her daughter, Miyami; and the other mothers followed suit. Tai, however, killed all that would oppose her, except for the children who would bear the offspring of ‘The Pact’ thus leaving Tai as the sole beneficiary of the Well’s powers when the time was right.

Tai arranged for Diego Casseas Mack to marry and mate with one of the women. Six months later, she had come to live with him in the United States. They lived happily together, his wife giving birth to a daughter. However, tragedy would strike several years later, when an elevator with his wife in daughter in it slipped from its cables and fell several floors down to the bottom, instantly killing his wife and leaving his daughter in a coma.

Diego Casseas became obsessed with arcane magic, believing he could find a way to manipulate magic and bring his wife back to life and awaken his daughter from her coma. For ten long years, Diego Casseas studied and practiced magic, traveling all over the world, to gain whatever knowledge he could about the arcane arts. In that time, he discovered a way to wrestling the Darkforce abilities that had been born within his daughter and captured it for himself, extracting her powers and bringing them into himself, so that his left hand glowed with the Darkforce. Using those powers, he recruited the Folding Circle, which was made up of the children from his army unit – the children of the Pact – Midnight’s Fire, Smiling Tiger, Bloodstrike, and Silk Fever.

Together, they had gone to harvest the power of the Well of All Things. However, the New Warriors arrived as well; and during the battle, they were betrayed by Tai, who planned to sacrifice the New Warriors and use the members of the Folding Circle as her Avatars on the World, during her quest for domination. The Folding Circle and the New Warriors teamed up to stop Tai, and successfully managed to do so; only when Night Thrasher shot her, at point blank range, with a machine gun (after she had been weakened). The result, however, was Tai, Night Thrasher and The Left Hand falling into the Well of All Things; but Nova managed to rescue Night Thrasher before it was too late. Barely escaping, the Well of All Things collapsed unto itself, sealing it, seemingly forever.

Height: 6’1″
Weight: 205 lbs.
Eyes: Black (before becoming Left Hand), (As Left Hand) Pink Iris/Pupil (Black Sclera)
Hair: Black

Powers: Unlike the rest of the members of The Folding Circle; Left Hand’s power is a a combination of mystical arts he mastered and the Darkforce power that he had absorbed from his daughter. His daughter, in a coma, was like the rest of the Folding Circle, where her powers had been derived from the power of the Well of All Things.

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Celebrating Black History Month – #BHM – Cardinal

Cardinal

Real Name: Donald Joshua Clendenon
Aliases: Harrier
Identity: Known to the Authorities
Occupation: Inmate; former adventurer, criminal, mercenary
Citizenship: US Citizen With A Criminal Record
Place of Birth: Birmingham, Alabama
Known Relatives: Unidentified father, Valerie Barnhardt (Meteorite, daughter, deceased)
Group Affiliation: None; (formerly) Thunderbolts, Masters of Evil, Air Force
First Appearance: (as Cardinal) New Warriors #28 (1992); (as Harrier, in shadow) Thunderbolts #65 (2002); (as Harrier, fully) Thunderbolts #67 (2002)
History: Donald Joshua Clendenon is a Vietnam Veteran, who met Amelia Barnhardt (who later became Sprocket), and got her pregnant. It had been a one time thing, and he did not know until much later that he had a daughter by the name of Valerie Barnhardt (who went on to become Meteorite of the Redeemers). Clendenon came into possession of a power suit and adopted the name Cardinal, where he became a bodyguard for Jeremy Swimmingbear (also known as Sea Urchin). This job would bring him in direct conflict with the New Warriors, who had been tracking Jeremy Swimmingbear’s movements; which dealt with a Russian organized crime ring, trading stolen icons for sophisticated weaponry. Cardinal manages to defeat the New Warriors and make good of his escape. However, Cardinal would encounter the New Warriors, yet again, when the Warriors tracked down Jeremy Swimmingbear again. This time, both Jeremy Swimmingbear and Cardinal are captured; and Cardinal is placed in police custody.

Cardinal is later broken out of prison by his team Air Force (which consists of himself; Killer Shrike, Tanager, and Sparrow). They track down the signature reading from the Turbo costume, which brings them in direct conflict with the New Warriors, yet again. Thanks to Mike (who is currently wearing the Turbo outfit at the time, though it had been Mickey who had been wearing it when the New Warriors first encountered Cardinal) and Mickey, the entire team of Air Force is defeated, and once again, returned to prison.

Sometime later, Night Thrasher blackmailed Cardinal and the rest of the members of Air Force into assisting with the African relief efforts. Cardinal, who is African-American himself, was genuinely moved by the suffering and began diligently working to aid those who were in desperate need of food. However, Undertow (led by Protocol) and the Soldiers of Misfortune appeared and began slaughtering the refugees. Air Force attempted to stop the Soldiers of Misfortune, but Cardinal was badly wounded and Oriole (a new member of Air Force) and Tanager were both killed in the battle, while Sparrow was captured and later mutated to become the member known as ‘Fast’ in the Soldiers of Misfortune. There was something, despite the constant bickering, between Cardinal and Sparrow previously, in terms of a relationship, that was never fully explained; but it was clear that he cared for her.

Dismayed by the failure at becoming a hero, Cardinal once again returned to a life of self-profit and joined the Crimson Cowl’s Masters of Evil. They are however, defeated by the Thunderbolts and Cardinal is once again returned to Seagate Prison.

Sprocket (Amelia Barnhardt) would later visit Cardinal in prison and inform him of the death of their daughter, who had become Meteorite of the Redeemers and had been brutally killed by Graviton. Cardinal explained he never knew; and Sprocket asked how he would he; it had been a drunken one night stand in Rhodesia. Clendenon had left Amelia with the bar tab and disappeared never knowing that Amelia was pregnant from their one night stand. Later, when Hawkeye was incarcerated at Seagate Prison, the Crimson Cowl appeared and told Cardinal how Hawkeye was responsible for the death of Valerie Barnhardt, his daughter. However, Hawkeye was able to convince Cardinal, and the rest of the Masters of Evil, to turn on the Crimson Cowl and defeat them. Cardinal adopted the name Harrier and although he still harbored a grudge against Hawkeye, he still chose to return to prison in order to serve the remainder of his sentence.

Height: 6’2″
Weight: 257 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black

Powers: None

Armor: As both Cardinal and Harrier, he used winged body armor which granted him the cabability of jet-powered flight, capablity to travel underwater, and enhanced strength. Among his armor’s offensive capabilities were blasts of electricity, a titanium net, and “tar pellets” ensnaring projectiles.

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Celebrating Black History Month – #BHM – Sungirl

Sun Girl

Real Name: Selah Burke
Aliases: None
Identity: Secret
Occupation: College Student
Citizenship: United States Citizen With No Criminal Record
Place of Birth: New York City, New York
Known Relatives: Dr. Edward Lansky (Father, Lightmaster), Unnamed Mother
Group Affiliation: New Warriors
First Appearance: Super Spider-Man Team Up #1
History: Little is known about the hero calling herself “Sun Girl.” She seems to use a form of tech that allows her to fly. Her wings seem to be composed of an unknown energy source. Doctor Otto Ovatvius, who took over Peter Parker’s body and life, adopted the guise of “The Superior” Spider-Man and went on a violent streak where he fought Cloak (now Tandy Bowen) and Dagger (now Tyrone “Ty” Johnson), assaulting Cloak by punching her in the face when they had tried to stop a set of would be robbers. Superior Spider-Man’s fight escalated, and landed him in Hell’s Kitchen, where he fought Daredevil. Others he fought, and for no specific reason, included Gravity, Power Man & Iron Fist, Sun Girl, Moon Knight, and even Doctor Strange.

She was seen again, when the Wrecking Crew was tearing up the city. She was using a gun that she blasted The Wrecker with (although he deflected her blasts with his enchanted crowbar). She, along with the rest of the Wrecking Crew, were surprised when the Superior Spider-Man showed up with his own team – the Sinister Six, consisting of Sandman, Mysterio, Electro, Chameleon, and Vulture. The Wrecking Crew and Sun Girl both stop fighting to try and figure out what was happening (why a hero like the Superior Spider-Man had known criminals working for him). The fighting resumed when Wrecker called for the Wrecking Crew to take down Superior Spider-Man and the Sinister Six.

Sun Girl questions why a group of bad guys are working with Spider-Man, but he doesn’t answer her (rather, he tells her to be quiet because he’s concentrating). Not one to be left out of the fight, Sun Girl rejoins the battle and continues to blast Bulldozer with the laser gun that she has. Spider-Man saves her at the last moment, as Bulldozer slams into the car she was standing in front of. When Thunderball manages to steal the Particle Engine from the newly created corporation, Alchemax, Spider-Man’s team begins to fall apart. Sun Girl then blasts Thunderbolt with a blinding flash of laser light that nearly blinds everyone around her; but also does something else. It “awakens” the members of the Sinister Six. Before they can react however, Wrecker rips the road apart and he and the rest of the Wrecking Crew escape in the confusion. Spider-Man demands the Sinister Six to stop; and with those words, they simply freeze, a blank look on their faces. Spider-Man takes the Particle Engine and carries the unconscious Sun Girl with him.

Sun Girl wakes up, surrounded by the Spider Soldiers who serve Spider-Man. Freaking out, she blasts them with light and attempts to make her escape – only to be confronted by Spider-Man who explains that she is on Spider-Island. He then demands to know who she is and where she got the equipment she was using.

Elsewhere, we learn that it was Lightmaster who hired the Wrecking Crew, and he now plans on recreating the Masters of Evil to take on Spider-Man and his Sinister Six crew.

After attending another class at College, Sun Girl resumes scanning New York and comes across Whirlwind; who hopes to lure Spider-Man and the Superior Six, which he does and gets ambushed by the newest rendition of the Masters of Evil which includes: Wrecker, Thunderball, Piledriver, Bulldozer, Whirlwind, Absorbing Man, Titania, Mr. Hyde, and Blackout. Spider-Man figures out that the attack by the Masters of Evil is nothing but a diversion and goes back to Parker Industries, where he discovers that Lightmaster is stealing the much sought after engine. Spider-Man tries to convince the Masters of Evil that Lightmaster can’t afford to pay them – and in the confusion, when Lightmaster attempts to control the engine – the power is cancelled out by Sun Girl who reveals that Lightmaster is her father (explaining that she’s biracial – and clearly taking her mother’s maiden name).

Sun Girl, due to emphatic prodding from Spider-Man, blasts the engine and causes it to explode in a big white light.

She eventually goes on her own, trying to prove that she can be a hero. During one of the battles, an explosion rocks a subway. She flies in to investigate and finds three mysterious figures calling themselves The Evolutionaries, slaughtering the Morlocks. She joins the fight to help the defenseless Morlocks. She holds her own for a considerable amount of time, but when she’s finally wore down and the Evolutionaries give her a chance to step aside so that they can continue their work – she opts to stand with the Morlocks and die. However, just as death should claim her life – she finds she’s saved by a mysterious stranger; Haechi jumping in front of her and not only absorbing the blunt of the blast; but also physically devouring it.

At that moment, Justice and Speedball, of the New Warriors also arrived to examine what was going on; having been alerted about the blast while they had been in Avenger’s Mansion. With their arrival, the Evolutionaries flee. When questioned by Justice, Haechi explains that he never asked for any of this. Sun Girl gets in a debate with Haechi about how he should embrace the power he’s been given. Justice steps in and explains to Sun Girl that she has equipment that gives her her power; while Haechi was physically changed with the horn on his head – something he can not easily disguise. Sun Girl shoots at Haechi who consumes the energy fired at him. She explains that it wasn’t a coincidence that he showed up when he did – and that together, they need to stop the Evolutionaries. Justice finally agrees, and notes that they need to find Nova.

They eventually team up with Scarlet Spider (Kaine), Hummingbird, and Watersnake and defeat the High Evolutionary. They also assist Watersnake in her quest to find Namorita, who she believes is alive. The New Warriors are seen standing together, eventually, and Namorita is among them.

Height: 5’3”
Weight: 115 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
Powers: None.

Accessories: Sun Girl appears to use tech that allows her to fly. She was also seen brandishing a gun type weapon, when fighting Superior Spider-Man and the Wrecking Crew. Her equipment was upgraded by the Superior Spider-Man.

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Celebrating Black History Month – #BHM – Meteorite

Meteorite

Real Name: Valerie Barnhardt
Aliases: None
Identity: Known to the Authorities
Occupation: Air Force, Government Agent
Citizenship: US Citizen With A Criminal Record (Expunged)
Place of Birth: Unknown
Known Relatives: Amelia Barnhardt (Sprocket, Mother), Donald Joshua Clendenon (Cardinal, Father)
Group Affiliation: Redeemers
First Appearance: Thunderbolts (Volume One) #48
History: Valerie was the daughter of Amelia Barnhardt (Sprocket) and Donald Joshua Clendenon (Cardinal) during a one night stand in Rhodesia, during their days as mercenaries. Amelia never told Donald that she was pregnant and Valerie never knew who her father was. By the age of six, she was enrolled in a military academy and when Valerie was old enough, she left home and joined the Air Force, where she became an accomplished pilot. Amelia, her mother, was also an accomplished (helicopter) pilot. However, during her time with the Air Force, Valerie was raped by her commanding officer. Valerie would later retaliate, in an attack that left her commanding officer paralyzed. Because the rape was never properly reported, Valerie was held accountable for her actions that left her commanding officer paralyzed, and was charged as a criminal.

Valerie was eventually offered a chance to expunge her criminal record if she agreed to join the Redeemers program, using an experimental suit based off the Alpha Flight member known as Windshear. She adopted the name Meteorite and agreed to become a part of the Redeemers. During her time with the Redeemers, Valerie struck up a friendship with her fellow teammate, Leila Davis (who had become Beetle II).

Valerie would meet a (seemingly) tragic end, when during a fight with Graviton, he reversed her gravity from Earth and launched her into space, where she apparently suffocated and died.

S.H.I.E.L.D. was eventually able to locate and recover Meteroite’s body and did a DNA test that confirmed that Valerie was indeed Amelia’s daughter. After learning this, Amelia paid Donald (Cardinal) a visit in prison and explained why she never told him that they had a daughter together. Donald is furious and Crimson Cowl eventually shows up and convinces Donald that Hawkeye is to blame for Valerie’s death; and that the Crimson Cowl was forming a team to take down Hawkeye and the rest of the Thunderbolts.

He joins and becomes Harrier and seeks revenge against Hawkeye (and the rest of the Thunderbolts), but eventually accept that it wasn’t ever Hawkeye’s fault. He returns to jail with Abner Jenkins (better known as Beetle/Mach V).

Height: 5’5″
Weight: 110 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

Powers: None

Armor: Valerie wore an armor based off of Windshear, from Alpha Flight. The Meteorite suit utilities hard air technology in a variety of ways, allowing her to fly, protecting her with a limited force field (which also maintains a limited air supply), and allowing her to use their force field to turn herself into a battering ram.

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Celebrating Black History Month – #BHM – Sprocket.

Sprocket

Real Name: Amelia Barnhardt
Aliases: None
Identity: Publicly Known
Occupation: Former mercenary; former pilot of the New Warriors.
Citizenship: American Citizen With No Known Criminal Record
Place of Birth: Unknown
Known Relatives: Valerie Barnhardt {Meteorite} (Daughter, Deceased)
Group Affiliation: New Warriors (Formerly)
First Appearance: Night Thrasher: Four Control #2
History: Sprocket’s one night stand in Rhodesia with fellow mercenary Donald Joshua Clendenon – who would go on to become The Cardinal – nearly twenty one years ago would come back to haunt her.

Preganant with Clendenon’s child, Sprocket decided to keep it a secret and not tell the would be father of their child, and decided to raise the child on her own. Born Valerie Barnhardt, she was enrolled into the military academy when she was just six years old. By the time she turned eighteen, Valerie joined the Air Force and eventually became a Lieutenant, until she paralyzed her commanding officer, who had tried to rape her.

Amelia Barnhardt, better known as Sprocket, was an old friend of the New Warriors’ mentor, Andrew Chord, from their days as mercenaries together. During Andrew Chord’s recovery from an attempted suicide, Sprocket was called in to fill in for him as the pilot for the New Warriors. Known for her large cigars, larger guns, and perhaps larger (and far more profane!) mouth, Sprocket’s first mission was flying the New Warriors through the war torn land of Trans-Sable.

Even after Chord’s recovery, Sprocket remained around to fly the New Warriors around as Andrew Chord remained on the ground at the New Warriors’ base.

Sprocket and Cardinal would meet again, when Cardinal was leading his team called Air Force. Cardinal had managed to shoot Sprocket in the knee, before Night Thrasher defeated him, and the rest of Air Force. Cardinal and Sprocket would meet yet again when Air Force was attacked by a team calling themselves the Soldiers of Misfortune.

Night Thrasher was eventually kicked from the New Warriors, despite founding the team, and a short time later, Sprocket ceased flying for the New Warriors.

Sprocket eventually learned that her daughter, who had went on to become a superhero by the name of Meteorite, on a team calling themselves The Redeemers, had been brutally murdered by the villain Graviton. Valerie’s body was recovered by S.H.I.E.L.D. where Sprocket asked for a DNA sample and verified as she had suspected, that Cardinal had been her father. She paid him a visit in jail, where Sprocket told him everything and that she and her daughter, Valerie, hadn’t spoken in three years before her death, for reasons unknown.

Height: 5’8”
Weight: 205 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

Powers: None.

Accessories: Varies; Sprocket is an excellent shot with a gun, and even better at profanity.

Note: As a mercenary, Sprocket has learned a number of skills from unarmed combat, to sniping; but it can not even be debated that she is the best, hands down, at launching profanity at someone.

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Celebrating Black History Month – #BHM – Silhouette

Silhouette

Real Name: Silhouette Chord
Aliases: None
Identity: Secret
Occupation: Wanderer, Instructor at Danny Rand’s Martial Arts School (Sensei)
Citizenship: United States Citizen with no criminal record.
Place of Birth: Unknown
Known Relatives: Andrew Chord (father), Miyami (Mother, deceased), Midnight’s Fire (brother)
Group Affiliation: Formerly Concrete Dragons, New Warriors, Folding Circle
First Appearance: New Warriors #2 (Volume One)
History: In 1966 during the Vietnam War, an American recon patrol in Cambodia stumbled upon an ancient, hidden temple of a cult kown as the Dragon’s Breadth, which had remained hidden for centuries. It had been built upon a well-spring of raw, primal energy called the “Well of All Things”. The inhabitants decided to breed a superior race that would one day unite with the ways of the west. They believed that this union would produce children capable of harnessing the power of the Well. The members of the recon patrol were to be the fathers of these children, one of these men was Andrew Chord the man who would become Silhouette’s father.

Silhouette and her brother Midnight’s Fire are the only children of Andrew Chord, the former guardian of Dwayne Taylor (Night Thrasher). Silhouette and Midnight’s Fire were operating as independent vigilantes in the streets of New York City, when they met Dwayne (before he had become Night Thrasher), and the three began an organized effort to take down various New York City street gangs.

This partnership ended when Silhouette was shot and paralyzed from the legs down in a sting gone bad. Midnight’s Fire blamed Dwayne, becoming a cop killer and druglord in order to lure Dwayne into a physical confrontation he could not possibly win. Later the partially paralyzed Silhouette reunited with Dwayne, distancing herself from her brother’s evil actions.

Diego Cassias, one of the other members of the recon patrol, now calling himself The Left Hand, stole the power of the Well from his own child, then gathered the other children of the pact into a group called the Folding Circle. The Circle attempted to take control of the Well away from Tai. Members of the Circle, together with the New Warriors, managed to defeat Tai, but the Well was sealed, Cassias and Tai were apparently killed, and the surviving members of the Circle escaped in a stolen Avengers’ Quinjet.

The remaining members of the Folding Circle later crashed in Madripoor and attempted to usurp the role of local druglord (Aardwolf, a Mutant crimelord). They succeeded, but were later taken down by Night Thrasher and Silhouette.

For a time, Silhouette and Night Thrasher were lovers; in fact, Dwayne had been in love with her for a very long time, but his anger and single-minded obsession with his “mission” eventually pushed her away. Silhouette later hooked up with Dwayne’s half-brother Bandit, and they both left the team.

Silhouette and Bandit moved to Chicago together, and for a long time, nothing was heard from either of them until Bandit showed up in New Orleans, attempting to con Belladonna into helping him destroy the Thieves Guild. It is during this story that Gambit reveals the fact that Bandit and Silhouette are still together, and that he was only manipulating Belladonna. The Guild was destroyed and Bandit left New Orleans and presumably returned to Chicago.

Silhouette and Bandit parted ways for reasons unknown. Silhouette would turn up again as a part of the 50 State Initiative. She would also later meet the man calling himself Night Thrasher (despite having seen Dwayne, the original Night Thrasher, apparently perish in Stamford). She quickly discovered that it was actually Donyell. She tried to convince him to register and become a part of the Initiative and quit this business with the New Warriors before someone else got hurt – but he would have none of it.

Silhouette would eventually help The New Warriors that was led by Justice and Speedball against the Inhumans.

After the battle with the Inhumans, Silhouette became a Sensei / Instructor at the Martial Arts School run by Danny Rand (Iron Fist) and Misty Knight.

Height: 5’6″
Weight: 106 lbs.
Eyes: Black (No Visible Pupils)
Hair: Black

Powers: Silhouette is able to manipulate the Darkforce but on a more limited level than most. Silhouette originally had the power to shadowmelt, thereby becoming nearly invisible while under the cover of darkness, as well as the ability to teleport via dimension hop, using any available shadow as a portal. She could also open small portals anywhere shadows exist and use them to attack distant enemies. After a disturbance in the Darkforce that affected everyone who used it, she found that her powers had increased to the point where she could now teleport others. She has demonstrated this ability by teleporting small groups of people along with herself, although it is painful and leaves her exhausted. She can also now become ‘living darkness’, and can cause extreme pain by phasing through the bodies of her enemies. Like her brother Midnight’s Fire, Silhouette also has enhanced speed, strength, agility, and sensory perception.

Accessories: Crutches made by Dwayne Taylor that allow her to distribute an electrical shock to anyone she attacks.

Note: While still paralyzed, she is a capable martial artist but is not on par with her brother.

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Celebrating Black History Month – #BHM – Rage.

Rage

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.

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.

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