Crimson Commando
Encyclopedia
Crimson Commando is a fictional character
, a mutant
in the . He first appears in Uncanny X-Men
#215 and was created by Chris Claremont
and Alan Davis
.
. As the Crimson Commando, he was one of a trio of World War II veteran super-heroes recruited to be a member of Freedom Force
, the original government-sponsored mutant team. Earlier, along with his partners, Stonewall
and Super Sabre
, Bohannan had become a vigilante who captured criminals, released them and hunted them in Adirondack State Park
in upstate New York. The trio killed the criminals, both to reduce the criminal element in society and for the enjoyment of hunting them.
The trio captured Pamela Morrison, a drug dealer, and mistaking Storm (the leader of the X-Men
) for a criminal, the trio hunted and captured her as well. The women were set out for the vigilantes to hunt both to their deaths. The Crimson Commando killed Morrison, but Wolverine
arrived to help Storm. When Storm and Wolverine eventually defeated the trio, Stonewall and Crimson Commando agreed to turn themselves in to law enforcement authorities and confess their vigilantism. Stonewall, Crimson Commando, and Super Sabre (who had been presumed dead) agreed to join Freedom Force
, a U.S. government sponsored team of superhumans, in exchanged for a commutation of their sentences.
On his first mission with Freedom Force, he fought the X-Men in Dallas, and battled cavemen transported to Dallas by time-waves created by the Adversary
. He watched a telecast of the X-Men's deaths in order to defeat the Adversary, and then witnessed the return of Forge
to Dallas without the X-Men. While still in Dallas, Freedom Force also contended against the New Mutants
.
Crimson Commando was also a part of the Freedom Force mission to attempt capture Cyclops
and Marvel Girl
, who defeated Freedom Force. He also assisted the team's attempt to capture Rusty Collins
, which was thwarted by the New Mutants. He again fights Rusty Collins and his girlfriend Skids, alongside Freedom Force; this time, they captured Rusty and Skids. With Freedom Force, he also pursued Cable
, who had escaped federal custody.
Crimson Commando would be gravely wounded during a bungled mission in the Middle East
. Freedom Force was sent to Kuwait City to rescue or kill physicist Reinhold Kurtzmann, but they encountered the Arabic super-team called Desert Sword
. Teammate Super Sabre was killed, while the Crimson Commando's right hand was severed by the "cutting wind" of Aminedi
. Bohannan was seriously wounded, and Avalanche
was forced to abandon Blob
and Pyro
in the desert to save his life. Bohannan was evacuated from Kuwait for hospitalization.
and Ghost Rider
. Cyborg X would later assist Spider-Man in battling the Sinister Six
but was believed to have been killed in an explosion at CARE LABS.
. He was teamed-up with his former Freedom Force teammate Avalanche
to infiltrate the reclusive Empyrean's headquarters and put his operation out of commission. They were also ordered by a rogue government official to assassinate Polaris
of X-Factor
.
storyline. He was serving as one of Magneto's royal guards, and looked much as he had before becoming a cyborg. After this and M-Day
he lost his mutant powers.
After losing his mutant powers the cyborg implants start to slowly kill him because they were designed for his mutant physiology and his body no longer has that power. After hearing about Hope Summers
as the mutant messiah
he kidnaps her in an attempt to have her save him. Wolverine
tracks her down and rescues her from Crimson Commando and the military forces he had with him. In this rescue, Wolverine appears to decapitate Crimson Commando.
who has the ability to achieve the peak of human physical perfection, although just right beneath superhuman levels (similar to the physical enhancements granted by Captain America
's super-soldier treatments). More specifically, his mutation has kept his body at the very peak of physical perfection a baseline human can achieve without becoming a superhuman, and thus apparently ages at a much slower rate than normal human beings. This also seems to include enhanced resistance to injury, managing to survive having his right hand severed and bleeding continuously for an hour, before being maimed by a land mine
. Although he was on the brink of death, Commando managed to hang on long enough to receive medical attention and survive.
He can carry out actions while submerging his conscious thought processes so deeply within this mind that his mind is shielded from telepathic detection. Commando also exhibited some degree of super-vision, able to see his super-fast teammate Super Sabre
when the speedster was moving at superhuman velocities.
Crimson Commando wore a computer and modem device on his wrist, and carried knives, daggers, and conventional handguns as weapons. He is an extraordinary hand-to-hand combatant and commando fighter, and is also a highly skilled hunter and tracker.
Since becoming a cyborg, the extent of his abilities is largely unknown. One arm was replaced by a large gun, his legs are now metal and he can walk up the side of buildings, and at least one eye was replaced with an optical sensor able to see beyond the range of normal human vision.
's new Brotherhood of Mutants
. Her name was never stated, and her powers never exhibited, but Chris Claremont
previously stated there would be a new Super Sabre
, Mastermind
, and Crimson Commando. She only appeared briefly in X-Men vol. 2 #106.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
, a mutant
Mutant (Marvel Comics)
In comic books published by Marvel Comics, a mutant is an organism who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows the mutant to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
in the . He first appears in Uncanny X-Men
Uncanny X-Men
Uncanny X-Men, first published as The X-Men, is the flagship Marvel Comics comic book series for the X-Men franchise. It is the mainstream continuity featuring the adventures of the eponymous group of mutant superheroes...
#215 and was created by Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer, during which he is credited with developing strong female characters, and with introducing complex literary themes into superhero...
and Alan Davis
Alan Davis
Alan Davis is an English writer and artist of comic books, known for his work on titles such as Captain Britain, The Uncanny X-Men, ClanDestine, Excalibur, JLA: The Nail and JLA: Another Nail.-UK work:...
.
Fictional character biography
Frank Bohannan was born somewhere in MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. As the Crimson Commando, he was one of a trio of World War II veteran super-heroes recruited to be a member of Freedom Force
Freedom Force (comics)
Freedom Force is the name of two teams within Marvel Comics' universe.The original was a supervillain team, though they occasionally acted in a heroic capacity as well. It was a government-sponsored team originally composed mainly of Mystique's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants...
, the original government-sponsored mutant team. Earlier, along with his partners, Stonewall
Stonewall (comics)
-Louis Hamilton:Stonewall and his allies, Crimson Commando and Super Sabre, were all super-powered U.S. veterans of World War II. The trio wished to continue their government service after the war by combatting communism during the Cold War, but they were rebuffed by the U.S. government and forced...
and Super Sabre
Super Sabre (comics)
Super Sabre is a fictional character, a mutant in the Marvel Comics Universe. His first appearance was in Uncanny X-Men #215.-Fictional character biography:...
, Bohannan had become a vigilante who captured criminals, released them and hunted them in Adirondack State Park
Adirondack State Park
The Adirondack Park is a publicly protected area in northeast New York. It is the largest park and the largest state-level protected area in the contiguous United States, and the largest National Historic Landmark....
in upstate New York. The trio killed the criminals, both to reduce the criminal element in society and for the enjoyment of hunting them.
The trio captured Pamela Morrison, a drug dealer, and mistaking Storm (the leader of the X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
) for a criminal, the trio hunted and captured her as well. The women were set out for the vigilantes to hunt both to their deaths. The Crimson Commando killed Morrison, but Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
arrived to help Storm. When Storm and Wolverine eventually defeated the trio, Stonewall and Crimson Commando agreed to turn themselves in to law enforcement authorities and confess their vigilantism. Stonewall, Crimson Commando, and Super Sabre (who had been presumed dead) agreed to join Freedom Force
Freedom Force (comics)
Freedom Force is the name of two teams within Marvel Comics' universe.The original was a supervillain team, though they occasionally acted in a heroic capacity as well. It was a government-sponsored team originally composed mainly of Mystique's Brotherhood of Evil Mutants...
, a U.S. government sponsored team of superhumans, in exchanged for a commutation of their sentences.
On his first mission with Freedom Force, he fought the X-Men in Dallas, and battled cavemen transported to Dallas by time-waves created by the Adversary
Adversary (comics)
The Adversary is a fictional character, a demonic supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:The Adversary first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #187-188 , and was created by Chris Claremont and John Romita, Jr....
. He watched a telecast of the X-Men's deaths in order to defeat the Adversary, and then witnessed the return of Forge
Forge (comics)
Forge is a fictional character in the , a superhero associated with The X-Men.A mutant with an unsurpassed brilliance in technology, Forge has had a lengthy career as a government weapons contractor. He shared a romantic relationship with Storm, and a brief affair with Mystique which led him to...
to Dallas without the X-Men. While still in Dallas, Freedom Force also contended against the New Mutants
New Mutants
The New Mutants are a group of teenaged mutant superheroes-in-training published by Marvel Comics. They have been the main characters of three successive comic book series, which were spin-offs of the popular X-Men franchise....
.
Crimson Commando was also a part of the Freedom Force mission to attempt capture Cyclops
Cyclops (comics)
Cyclops is a fictional character, the leader of the X-Men superhero team in the . A mutant, Cyclops emits a powerful energy beam from his eyes...
and Marvel Girl
Jean Grey
Jean Grey-Summers is a fictional comic book superheroine appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She has been known under the aliases Marvel Girl, Phoenix, and Dark Phoenix and is best known as one of five original members of the X-Men, for her relationship with Cyclops, and for her...
, who defeated Freedom Force. He also assisted the team's attempt to capture Rusty Collins
Rusty Collins
Russell "Rusty" Collins, formerly known as Firefist, is a fictional character, a superhero from Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Created by Bob Layton and Jackson Guice, Rusty Collins first appeared in X-Factor #1 ....
, which was thwarted by the New Mutants. He again fights Rusty Collins and his girlfriend Skids, alongside Freedom Force; this time, they captured Rusty and Skids. With Freedom Force, he also pursued Cable
Cable (comics)
Cable is a fictional character appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared as an infant in Uncanny X-Men #201...
, who had escaped federal custody.
Crimson Commando would be gravely wounded during a bungled mission in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Freedom Force was sent to Kuwait City to rescue or kill physicist Reinhold Kurtzmann, but they encountered the Arabic super-team called Desert Sword
Desert Sword
The Desert Sword is a fictional human/mutant team in the Marvel Comics Universe. Their first appearance was in New Mutants Annual #7.-Fictional biography:...
. Teammate Super Sabre was killed, while the Crimson Commando's right hand was severed by the "cutting wind" of Aminedi
Aminedi
Aminedi is a fictional character, a mutant in the Marvel Comics Universe. His first appearance was in New Mutants Annual #7.-Fictional character biography:...
. Bohannan was seriously wounded, and Avalanche
Avalanche (comics)
Avalanche is a Marvel Comics supervillain and an enemy of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne, he first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #141 ....
was forced to abandon Blob
Blob (comics)
The Blob is a Marvel Comics supervillain, an adversary of the X-Men. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-writer Jack Kirby, he first appeared in X-Men #3 ....
and Pyro
Pyro (comics)
Pyro is a fictional character in Marvel Comics and an enemy of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne, he first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #141 ....
in the desert to save his life. Bohannan was evacuated from Kuwait for hospitalization.
Cyborg X
The Crimson Commando next appeared having been turned into a cyborg going by the name of Cyborg X. He had been rebuilt by CARE LABS but a testing accident had caused him to malfunction bringing him into a confrontation with Spider-ManSpider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
and Ghost Rider
Ghost Rider (Daniel Ketch)
Ghost Rider is a comic book character, a supernatural superhero in Marvel Comics' main shared universe. He is the third Marvel character to use the name Ghost Rider, following the Western hero later known as the Phantom Rider, and Johnny Blaze, the first supernatural Ghost Rider.-Publication...
. Cyborg X would later assist Spider-Man in battling the Sinister Six
Sinister Six
The Sinister Six are a group of supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe, drawn from Spider-Man's rogues gallery. The original incarnation of the group was organized by Doctor Octopus, and first appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 ....
but was believed to have been killed in an explosion at CARE LABS.
Project: Wideawake
Now going by only the name Commando, Bohannan next appeared on a mission for Project WideawakeProject Wideawake
Project: Wideawake is a fictional United States government program in the Marvel Comics universe. Its purpose is detecting and capturing mutants employing the robots known as Sentinels.-History:...
. He was teamed-up with his former Freedom Force teammate Avalanche
Avalanche (comics)
Avalanche is a Marvel Comics supervillain and an enemy of the X-Men. Created by writer Chris Claremont and artist/co-writer John Byrne, he first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #141 ....
to infiltrate the reclusive Empyrean's headquarters and put his operation out of commission. They were also ordered by a rogue government official to assassinate Polaris
Polaris (comics)
Polaris is a fictional comic book character appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, in particular the X-Men family of books. Created by Arnold Drake, Don Heck, Werner Roth and Jim Steranko, Polaris first appeared in The X-Men #49...
of X-Factor
X-Factor (comics)
X-Factor is an American comic book series published by Marvel Comics. It is a spin-off of the popular X-Men franchise, featuring characters from X-Men stories. The series has been relaunched several times with different team rosters, most recently as X-Factor Investigations.X-Factor launched in...
.
House of M and afterwards
Commando was not seen for quite some time after this, but did appear in the reality-altered House of MHouse of M
House of M is an eight-issue comic book limited series and crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics in 2005. Written by Brian Michael Bendis and illustrated by Olivier Coipel, its first issue debuted in June 2005 as a follow-up to the events of the Planet X and Avengers Disassembled...
storyline. He was serving as one of Magneto's royal guards, and looked much as he had before becoming a cyborg. After this and M-Day
Decimation (comics)
Decimation is the late 2005 Marvel Comics storyline spinning off from the House of M limited series. It focuses on the ramifications of the Scarlet Witch stripping nearly all of the mutant population of their powers, thereby reducing a society of millions to one of scant hundreds.This event, which...
he lost his mutant powers.
After losing his mutant powers the cyborg implants start to slowly kill him because they were designed for his mutant physiology and his body no longer has that power. After hearing about Hope Summers
Hope Summers (comics)
Hope Summers is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in X-Men #205 in 2007 , and was created by writers Mike Carey and artist Chris Bachalo during the "X-Men: Messiah Complex" event...
as the mutant messiah
X-Men: Messiah Complex
"Messiah Complex" is a comic book crossover storyline published by Marvel Comics from October 2007 to January 2008, which ran through the various X-Men books....
he kidnaps her in an attempt to have her save him. Wolverine
Wolverine (comics)
Wolverine is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. Born as James Howlett and commonly known as Logan, Wolverine is a mutant, possessing animal-keen senses, enhanced physical capabilities, three retracting bone claws on each hand and a healing...
tracks her down and rescues her from Crimson Commando and the military forces he had with him. In this rescue, Wolverine appears to decapitate Crimson Commando.
Powers and abilities
Commando is a mutantMutant (Marvel Comics)
In comic books published by Marvel Comics, a mutant is an organism who possesses a genetic trait called an X-gene that allows the mutant to naturally develop superhuman powers and abilities...
who has the ability to achieve the peak of human physical perfection, although just right beneath superhuman levels (similar to the physical enhancements granted by Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
's super-soldier treatments). More specifically, his mutation has kept his body at the very peak of physical perfection a baseline human can achieve without becoming a superhuman, and thus apparently ages at a much slower rate than normal human beings. This also seems to include enhanced resistance to injury, managing to survive having his right hand severed and bleeding continuously for an hour, before being maimed by a land mine
Land mine
A land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
. Although he was on the brink of death, Commando managed to hang on long enough to receive medical attention and survive.
He can carry out actions while submerging his conscious thought processes so deeply within this mind that his mind is shielded from telepathic detection. Commando also exhibited some degree of super-vision, able to see his super-fast teammate Super Sabre
Super Sabre (comics)
Super Sabre is a fictional character, a mutant in the Marvel Comics Universe. His first appearance was in Uncanny X-Men #215.-Fictional character biography:...
when the speedster was moving at superhuman velocities.
Crimson Commando wore a computer and modem device on his wrist, and carried knives, daggers, and conventional handguns as weapons. He is an extraordinary hand-to-hand combatant and commando fighter, and is also a highly skilled hunter and tracker.
Since becoming a cyborg, the extent of his abilities is largely unknown. One arm was replaced by a large gun, his legs are now metal and he can walk up the side of buildings, and at least one eye was replaced with an optical sensor able to see beyond the range of normal human vision.
Shelley Warkworth
A young, female, African-American version of the Crimson Commando appeared very briefly as a member of MystiqueMystique (comics)
Mystique is a fictional character associated with the Marvel Comics' franchise X-Men. Originally created by artist David Cockrum and writer Chris Claremont, she first appeared in Ms...
's new Brotherhood of Mutants
Brotherhood of Mutants
The Brotherhood of Mutants, originally known as the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, is a fictional Marvel Comics supervillain team devoted to mutant superiority over normal humans. They are among the chief adversaries of the X-Men...
. Her name was never stated, and her powers never exhibited, but Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont
Chris Claremont is an award-winning American comic book writer and novelist, known for his 17-year stint on Uncanny X-Men, far longer than any other writer, during which he is credited with developing strong female characters, and with introducing complex literary themes into superhero...
previously stated there would be a new Super Sabre
Sabre (comics)
Sabre is a mutant super villain in the Marvel Comics Universe. His first appearance was in X-Men #106.-History:Young and reckless, Sabre was chosen by Mystique to join her new Brotherhood of Mutants, though never actually participated in any missions. He had the mutant ability of super speed, and...
, Mastermind
Mastermind (comics)
Mastermind, in comics, may refer to:* Mastermind , the first Marvel Comics supervillain to use the title.* Mastermind , Wyngarde's daughter* Lady Mastermind , Wyngarde's other daughter...
, and Crimson Commando. She only appeared briefly in X-Men vol. 2 #106.
External links
- Cyborg X at marvunapp.com
- A rebuilt Commando in an X-Factor Proposal
- http://marvel.com/universe/Commando_%28Frank_Bohannan%29