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Crossbones (comics)
Encyclopedia
Crossbones is a fictional character
, a supervillain
in the Marvel Comics
universe
. He was created by writer Mark Gruenwald
and artist Kieron Dwyer
in Captain America
#359-360 (1989). Crossbones usually appears as a henchman of the Red Skull
. He carried out the assassination of Captain America
, although Sharon Carter
, who was under hypnosis at the time, is believed to have fired the fatal shots.
before knocking her unconscious.
lower east side. After he brutalized fifteen year old Rachel Leighton
, two of her brothers assaulted Brock, and the elder brother was killed. Rumlow fled, entering Taskmaster's
school for criminals. Within three years, he became an instructor there under the name Bingo Brock.
Red Skull
, in Algeria
, serving him under the name Frag until he was sent to invade Arnim Zola's
Switzerland
chateau. Ultimately the only team member to survive the assault, Rumlow there met and impressed the original Nazi
Red Skull, Johann Schmidt; this Skull accepted Brock’s services, code-naming him “Crossbones.”
Red Skull
sent Crossbones to observe Baron Zemo's progress acquiring the Bloodstone
fragments and to obtain them. He stole aboard Captain America
's flagship, and entered Zemo's ship to steal the Bloodstone fragments. He overpowers Diamondback
, and shoots a crossbow bolt that couples with Captain America's shield
. Crossbones is forced to shatter the Bloodstone fragments when the alien entity known as the Hellfire Helix uses it to take control of the body of Heinrich Zemo; the destruction of the Bloodstone discorporates the Hellfire Helix. Knowing that his master would be infuriated by the loss of the Bloodstone, Crossbones kidnaps Diamondback, taking her to Madripoor
as bait for Captain America. He challenges Captain America to retrieve her, but the Captain defeats him, Diamondback escapes, and the Red Skull orders Crossbones to desist and return to headquarters. The Red Skull then orders him to retrieve the Controller
after the Controller's breakout from the Vault
. With the Machinesmith
, Crossbones investigates the disappearance of the Red Skull.
Crossbones assembles the Skeleton Crew
from the Skull's henchmen and becomes their leader, searching for the missing Red Skull with them. They battle the Black Queen
and her Hellfire Club
mercenaries. Crossbones enlists the aid of psychic Tristam Micawber to locate the Skull. Upon finding him, Crossbones takes the Skull to Skullhouse for convalescence. Crossbones always remains loyal to the Red Skull, even tracking him down when he is imprisoned and is left to die by Magneto
.
He next attends AIM
's weapons exposition. He battles Daredevil
during a failed assassination attempt against the Kingpin
. He battles Bullseye
during Bullseye's failed assassination attempt against the Red Skull. He battles Captain America again and is bested in combat. He later recounts how he met the Red Skull. The Red Skull assigns him to discover who killed the Skull's spare clone bodies. Alongside the Skeleton Crew, he battles the Schutzheilligruppe in an attempt to rescue the Red Skull and is captured. He is rescued from the Schutzheilligruppe's custody by Arnim Zola
's ersatz Avengers.
Crossbones is eventually fired for questioning the Red Skull's decision to ally himself with the Viper
.
Desperate to regain his position as leader of the Skeleton Crew, Crossbones kidnaps Diamondback, imprisoning her in an abandoned subway station and forcing her into a brutal regime of combat training. Crossbones believes that he has brainwashed her into betraying Captain America, but Diamondback is actually laying a trap for Crossbones. She steals samples of Captain America's blood from the Avengers' mansion, then accompanies Crossbones to the Red Skull's mountain fortress. The two are captured and imprisoned, and Crossbones is rehired by the Red Skull
on a temporary basis. He is later attacked by Cutthroat
, new leader of the Skeleton Crew, who fears that Crossbones will try to take back his position as the Red Skull's right-hand man. Crossbones kills him, never realizing that Cutthroat is actually Diamondback's older brother, Danny. Crossbones later stabs Diamondback during her escape attempt, only to later save her with a blood transfusion in order to use her as bait. Ironically, he is critically wounded by flying shrapnel during an assault on the fortress by Captain America and Falcon
, and imprisoned.
He is imprisoned in the Raft
, when Electro breaks the inmates out. He is seen fighting Spider-Man
and Captain America and gets kicked in the face by Spider-Man and gets knocked out.
After he escapes from prison, Crossbones hires himself out as a mercenary and assassin to a number of villainous organizations, until he is rehired by the Red Skull, who is later apparently assassinated by the Winter Soldier. Since then, Crossbones and his new lover, Synthia Schmidt (the Red Skull's daughter), have been hunting the Soldier's commander, Aleksander Lukin. They plot to crash a stolen World War II era plane into the new Kronas Headquarters in London, only to have their plane destroyed by Red Skull's Sleeper
robot. While they escape the destruction of the plane, they find Agent 13, and are about to kill her, only to be stopped by the appearance of the Red Skull. They are currently working with Red Skull/Lukin, whose minds both share Lukin's body.
event, Captain America and his Anti-Registration heroes surrender to Iron Man
and his Pro-Registration heroes. While being led from Federal Courthouse, Captain America is shot in the shoulder by Crossbones, who is taking orders from Red Skull. Crossbones tries to escape in a helicopter but is tracked by Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Winter Soldier then beats Crossbones into unconsciousness, while Crossbones simply laughs in his face. Falcon then turns Crossbones over to SHIELD custody.
, Wolverine
along with Daredevil
and the help of Doctor Strange
, broke into S.H.I.E.L.D to interrogate Crossbones and threatened to kill him. Crossbones revealed no knowledge of his hiring by the Red Skull. Wolverine leaves him a bloody mess on the floor after being convinced by Daredevil to spare his life.
S.H.I.E.L.D Director Tony Stark
arranged for Professor X
to scan Crossbones' mind for information, but Professor X found that someone (implied to be Doctor Faustus
) had erased several parts of his memory in order to prevent such a scan. Sin and a new incarnation of the Serpent Squad
have broken Crossbones free of S.H.I.E.L.D custody. They then capture Winter Soldier when he confronts Lukin to find out his relationship with the Red Skull.
When Sin and the Serpent Squad attack the Senate Building, Bucky Barnes (formerly Winter Soldier), arrives as the new Captain America. After battling and injuring many of the Squad, Crossbones attacks Barnes. After a brutal fight in which Crossbones launches Barnes out of the building. Bucky is saved by the intervention of Natalia Romanova, and he shoots Crossbones several times in the chest. The gravely wounded Crossbones is then taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody once again.
and Juggernaut
. During the attempt, Crossbones uses his new ability to fight an unsuspecting Steve Rogers. Crossbones was defeated and discharged from the Thunderbolts, after Ghost reveals his role in the murder of a police officer in Shadowland.
storyline, Crossbones was constantly harassed while he was behind bars, because he was both a former Thunderbolt member and a neo-nazi. Shortly after when he was being beaten up by more thugs, the Juggernaut unintentionally causes a break out in the raft. Man Mountain Mario (the cousin of Man Mountain Marko
) helps defend Crossbones from the thugs. While the two of them were trying to escape, Mario told Crossbone about his grandma who helps criminals leave the border. Crossbones manages to escape from the Raft and returned the favor for Mario helping him by killing him to help with his escape.
In Fear Itself: Youth in Revolt #2 he confronts some of the former Avengers Initiative
members in New Jersey after he escapes the Raft
. He fights Gravity
, Frog-Man
, Geiger
, Scarlet Spider, and Firestar
; when he's surrounded he tosses a grenade at Gravity but Geiger catches it and is seriously injured, creating an easy distraction for him to escape.
, various forms of martial arts, and is a student of the Taskmaster
. Physically, Crossbones is tall and very heavily muscled, but moves with an athletic grace uncommon for a man of his bulk. He is a skilled pilot and driver. In addition, he's an expert marksman with guns, bows, and throwing knives. Crossbones usually arms himself with a fighting knife and a small collapsible crossbow, and various throwing daggers, and spring-loaded stiletto blades in his gauntlets. He also has some experience with torture and brainwashing, having effectively "reprogrammed" Sin, and nearly so with Diamondback
.
As a member of the Thunderbolts, Crossbones was exposed to corrupted Terrigen Mists during a mission, and shortly after manifested the ability to generate a circle of energy in front of his face which could fire energy beams capable of piercing and burning his targets. The ability developed to the point where flames engulfed the entirety of his head while still allowing him to fire focused energy beams, though these flames could seemingly be doused in water. While his power is active, Crossbones does not appear to be entirely impervious to the flames he generates; after the flames died following his first usage, his mask appeared to have been burnt away and his face was heavily scarred.
's Masters of Evil. Before the Red Guard attacks Santo Rico, Crossbones leaves the team alongside, Cobra, Mister Hyde, and Thunderball.
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 supervillain
Supervillain
A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the villain character type, commonly found in comic books, action movies and science fiction in various media.They are sometimes used as foils to superheroes and other fictional heroes...
in the Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
universe
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
. He was created by writer Mark Gruenwald
Mark Gruenwald
Mark E. Gruenwald was an American comic book writer, editor, and occasional penciler. Gruenwald got his start in comics fandom, publishing his own fanzine, Omniverse, which explored the concept of continuity...
and artist Kieron Dwyer
Kieron Dwyer
Kieron Dwyer is an American comic book artist and penciller.-Biography:Dwyer is best known for his work on Captain America vol. 1 , Danger Unlimited , Action Comics , Avengers Kieron Dwyer (born March 6, 1967) is an American comic book artist and penciller.-Biography:Dwyer is best known for his...
in 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...
#359-360 (1989). Crossbones usually appears as a henchman of the Red Skull
Red Skull
The Red Skull is a name shared by several fictional characters, all supervillains from the Marvel Comics universe. All incarnations of the character are enemies of Captain America, other superheroes, and the United States in general....
. He carried out the assassination of Captain America
The Death of Captain America
"The Death of Captain America" is an eighteen-issue Captain America story arc written by Ed Brubaker with art by Steve Epting and published by Marvel Comics. The arc first appears in Captain America #25-#42. The first issue of the story arc, Captain America #25, was the highest selling comic for...
, although Sharon Carter
Sharon Carter
Sharon Carter, alias Agent 13, is a fictional character, a secret agent in the Marvel Comics universe. She is an ex-field agent of S.H.I.E.L.D...
, who was under hypnosis at the time, is believed to have fired the fatal shots.
Publication history
Crossbones first appeared during the "Bloodstone Hunt" storyline in the issues of Captain America. Technically, he first appears in issue #359, in one panel as a figure watching from the shadows. In the next issue, he is shown in costume, but again he simply observes the Captain and his allies from afar. He later reveals his name to DiamondbackDiamondback (comics)
Diamondback is the name of four fictional characters appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Diamondback first appeared in Captain America #310 , written by Mark Gruenwald and illustrated by Paul Neary.-Willis Stryker:The first Diamondback was a foe of Luke Cage...
before knocking her unconscious.
Origins
Young Brock Rumlow led the Savage Crims gang on New York'sNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
lower east side. After he brutalized fifteen year old Rachel Leighton
Diamondback (comics)
Diamondback is the name of four fictional characters appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Diamondback first appeared in Captain America #310 , written by Mark Gruenwald and illustrated by Paul Neary.-Willis Stryker:The first Diamondback was a foe of Luke Cage...
, two of her brothers assaulted Brock, and the elder brother was killed. Rumlow fled, entering Taskmaster's
Taskmaster
Taskmaster is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. The character is primarily a supervillain but is often portrayed as an antihero. The Taskmaster first appeared in Avengers vol.1 #195 and was created by David Michelinie and George Pérez...
school for criminals. Within three years, he became an instructor there under the name Bingo Brock.
Mercenary
As a mercenary, Rumlow enlisted with Albert Malik, the communistCommunism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
Red Skull
Red Skull
The Red Skull is a name shared by several fictional characters, all supervillains from the Marvel Comics universe. All incarnations of the character are enemies of Captain America, other superheroes, and the United States in general....
, in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, serving him under the name Frag until he was sent to invade Arnim Zola's
Arnim Zola
Arnim Zola is a fictional character a supervillain appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. He is a master of biochemistry, and frequent foe of Captain America and the Avengers.-Publication history:...
Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
chateau. Ultimately the only team member to survive the assault, Rumlow there met and impressed the original Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
Red Skull, Johann Schmidt; this Skull accepted Brock’s services, code-naming him “Crossbones.”
Red Skull
Red Skull
The Red Skull is a name shared by several fictional characters, all supervillains from the Marvel Comics universe. All incarnations of the character are enemies of Captain America, other superheroes, and the United States in general....
sent Crossbones to observe Baron Zemo's progress acquiring the Bloodstone
Ulysses Bloodstone
Ulysses Bloodstone is a fictional character, an immortal monster-hunter in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:John Warner has explained the development of Ulysses Bloodstone: "Len Wein and Marv Wolfman came up with the spark that would become Bloodstone—the premise of a man who fights...
fragments and to obtain them. He stole aboard 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 flagship, and entered Zemo's ship to steal the Bloodstone fragments. He overpowers Diamondback
Diamondback (comics)
Diamondback is the name of four fictional characters appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Diamondback first appeared in Captain America #310 , written by Mark Gruenwald and illustrated by Paul Neary.-Willis Stryker:The first Diamondback was a foe of Luke Cage...
, and shoots a crossbow bolt that couples with Captain America's shield
Captain America's shield
Captain America's shield is a fictional item, the primary defensive and offensive piece of equipment used by the Marvel Comics superhero Captain America; he is seldom seen without it. Over the years, Captain America has had the use of several different shields of varying composition and design...
. Crossbones is forced to shatter the Bloodstone fragments when the alien entity known as the Hellfire Helix uses it to take control of the body of Heinrich Zemo; the destruction of the Bloodstone discorporates the Hellfire Helix. Knowing that his master would be infuriated by the loss of the Bloodstone, Crossbones kidnaps Diamondback, taking her to Madripoor
Madripoor
The Principality of Madripoor is a fictional island located in Southeast Asia in the Marvel Comics universe. Based on illustrations, it is in the southern portion of the Strait of Malacca, southwest of Singapore.-Publication history:...
as bait for Captain America. He challenges Captain America to retrieve her, but the Captain defeats him, Diamondback escapes, and the Red Skull orders Crossbones to desist and return to headquarters. The Red Skull then orders him to retrieve the Controller
Controller (Marvel Comics)
The Controller, real name Basil Sandhurst, is a fictional character, a supervillain appearing in the Marvel Universe. He specializes in mind control, and is a frequent foe of Iron Man. Marvel Comics writer Archie Goodwin created the character, and Marvel artist George Tuska designed him.-Fictional...
after the Controller's breakout from the Vault
Vault (comics)
The Vault is the widely used nickname of a fictional defunct prison facility for technological-based superhuman criminals in Marvel Comics' Marvel Universe. The prison's full official name is the United States Maximum Security Installation for the Incarceration of Superhuman Criminals.It first...
. With the Machinesmith
Machinesmith
Machinesmith is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Universe. He specializes in robotics, and is able to make convincing doubles of other superhumans...
, Crossbones investigates the disappearance of the Red Skull.
Crossbones assembles the Skeleton Crew
Skeleton Crew (comics)
The Skeleton Crew is a fictional organization in the Marvel Universe.-Fictional team history:The Skeleton Crew was an organization built by the Red Skull from his operatives. The original lineup was headed by Crossbones, and consisted of Mother Night , Machinesmith, the Voice, and the fourth Sleeper...
from the Skull's henchmen and becomes their leader, searching for the missing Red Skull with them. They battle the Black Queen
Selene (comics)
Selene Gallio is a fictional character, a comic book supervillainess from the Marvel Comics universe. She is a mutant, and an enemy of the X-Men often associated with the Hellfire Club's Inner Circle.-Publication history:...
and her Hellfire Club
Hellfire Club (comics)
The Hellfire Club is a fictional society within the Marvel Comics Universe that often comes into confrontation with the mutant superhero team, the X-Men...
mercenaries. Crossbones enlists the aid of psychic Tristam Micawber to locate the Skull. Upon finding him, Crossbones takes the Skull to Skullhouse for convalescence. Crossbones always remains loyal to the Red Skull, even tracking him down when he is imprisoned and is left to die by Magneto
Magneto (comics)
Magneto is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. He is the central villain of the X-Men comic, as well as the TV show and the films. The character first appears in X-Men #1 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby...
.
He next attends AIM
Advanced Idea Mechanics
A.I.M. is a fictional terrorist organization in the . The organization first appeared in Strange Tales #146 and was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.-Publication history:...
's weapons exposition. He battles Daredevil
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
during a failed assassination attempt against the Kingpin
Kingpin (comics)
The Kingpin is a fictional character, a supervillain in the . Kingpin is one of the most feared and powerful crime lords in the Marvel Universe. The character is a major adversary of Daredevil, the Punisher, and Spider-Man...
. He battles Bullseye
Bullseye (comics)
Bullseye is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe.A psychopathic assassin, Bullseye uses the opportunities afforded by his line of work to exercise his homicidal tendencies and to work out his own personal vendetta against Daredevil.Although he possesses no...
during Bullseye's failed assassination attempt against the Red Skull. He battles Captain America again and is bested in combat. He later recounts how he met the Red Skull. The Red Skull assigns him to discover who killed the Skull's spare clone bodies. Alongside the Skeleton Crew, he battles the Schutzheilligruppe in an attempt to rescue the Red Skull and is captured. He is rescued from the Schutzheilligruppe's custody by Arnim Zola
Arnim Zola
Arnim Zola is a fictional character a supervillain appearing in the Marvel Comics universe. He is a master of biochemistry, and frequent foe of Captain America and the Avengers.-Publication history:...
's ersatz Avengers.
Crossbones is eventually fired for questioning the Red Skull's decision to ally himself with the Viper
Viper (Madame Hydra)
Viper, formerly known as Madame Hydra, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe who is a foe of the Avengers and the X-Men...
.
Desperate to regain his position as leader of the Skeleton Crew, Crossbones kidnaps Diamondback, imprisoning her in an abandoned subway station and forcing her into a brutal regime of combat training. Crossbones believes that he has brainwashed her into betraying Captain America, but Diamondback is actually laying a trap for Crossbones. She steals samples of Captain America's blood from the Avengers' mansion, then accompanies Crossbones to the Red Skull's mountain fortress. The two are captured and imprisoned, and Crossbones is rehired by the Red Skull
Red Skull
The Red Skull is a name shared by several fictional characters, all supervillains from the Marvel Comics universe. All incarnations of the character are enemies of Captain America, other superheroes, and the United States in general....
on a temporary basis. He is later attacked by Cutthroat
Cutthroat (comics)
Cutthroat is a comic book character, a supervillain in Marvel Comics' main shared universe. The character first appeared in Marvel Team-Up #89. He is the brother of Diamondback.-Fictional character biography:...
, new leader of the Skeleton Crew, who fears that Crossbones will try to take back his position as the Red Skull's right-hand man. Crossbones kills him, never realizing that Cutthroat is actually Diamondback's older brother, Danny. Crossbones later stabs Diamondback during her escape attempt, only to later save her with a blood transfusion in order to use her as bait. Ironically, he is critically wounded by flying shrapnel during an assault on the fortress by Captain America and Falcon
Falcon (comics)
The Falcon is a fictional comic book superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics.Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Gene Colan, and introduced in Captain America #117 , the character is mainstream comics' first African-American superhero...
, and imprisoned.
He is imprisoned in the Raft
The Raft (comics)
The Raft is a fictional island prison facility in New York City for psychopathic superhuman criminals appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics...
, when Electro breaks the inmates out. He is seen fighting Spider-Man
Spider-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 Captain America and gets kicked in the face by Spider-Man and gets knocked out.
After he escapes from prison, Crossbones hires himself out as a mercenary and assassin to a number of villainous organizations, until he is rehired by the Red Skull, who is later apparently assassinated by the Winter Soldier. Since then, Crossbones and his new lover, Synthia Schmidt (the Red Skull's daughter), have been hunting the Soldier's commander, Aleksander Lukin. They plot to crash a stolen World War II era plane into the new Kronas Headquarters in London, only to have their plane destroyed by Red Skull's Sleeper
Sleeper (Marvel Comics)
Sleeper is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Fictional character biography:The Sleeper was the most powerful of four robots designed in Berlin by Nazi Germany as agents of destruction. After World War II, the Sleeper was entombed within a crypt that was sunk into the sea...
robot. While they escape the destruction of the plane, they find Agent 13, and are about to kill her, only to be stopped by the appearance of the Red Skull. They are currently working with Red Skull/Lukin, whose minds both share Lukin's body.
Civil War
During Marvel's Civil WarCivil War (comics)
Civil War is a 2006-2007 Marvel Comics crossover storyline built around a self-titled seven-issue limited series written by Mark Millar and penciled by Steve McNiven, which ran through various other titles published by Marvel at the time...
event, Captain America and his Anti-Registration heroes surrender to Iron Man
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
and his Pro-Registration heroes. While being led from Federal Courthouse, Captain America is shot in the shoulder by Crossbones, who is taking orders from Red Skull. Crossbones tries to escape in a helicopter but is tracked by Falcon and the Winter Soldier. Winter Soldier then beats Crossbones into unconsciousness, while Crossbones simply laughs in his face. Falcon then turns Crossbones over to SHIELD custody.
The Death of Captain America
In Fallen Son: The Death of Captain AmericaFallen Son: The Death of Captain America
Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America is a comic book limited series dealing with various superheroes' reactions to death of Captain America in the Marvel comics universe after the Civil War....
, 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...
along with Daredevil
Daredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
and the help of Doctor Strange
Doctor Strange
Doctor Stephen Strange is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was co-created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko, and first appeared in Strange Tales #110 ....
, broke into S.H.I.E.L.D to interrogate Crossbones and threatened to kill him. Crossbones revealed no knowledge of his hiring by the Red Skull. Wolverine leaves him a bloody mess on the floor after being convinced by Daredevil to spare his life.
S.H.I.E.L.D Director Tony Stark
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
arranged for Professor X
Professor X
Professor Charles Francis Xavier, also known as Professor X, is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics superhero known as the leader and founder of the X-Men....
to scan Crossbones' mind for information, but Professor X found that someone (implied to be Doctor Faustus
Doctor Faustus (comics)
Doctor Faustus is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain.An Austrian by birth, he is most commonly associated with Captain America, first appearing in issue #107 of his first series.-Creative origins:...
) had erased several parts of his memory in order to prevent such a scan. Sin and a new incarnation of the Serpent Squad
Serpent Squad
The Serpent Squad is a fictional mercenary group composed of snake-themed criminals in Marvel Comics. Most often antagonists of Captain America, the roster has changed through various incarnations...
have broken Crossbones free of S.H.I.E.L.D custody. They then capture Winter Soldier when he confronts Lukin to find out his relationship with the Red Skull.
When Sin and the Serpent Squad attack the Senate Building, Bucky Barnes (formerly Winter Soldier), arrives as the new Captain America. After battling and injuring many of the Squad, Crossbones attacks Barnes. After a brutal fight in which Crossbones launches Barnes out of the building. Bucky is saved by the intervention of Natalia Romanova, and he shoots Crossbones several times in the chest. The gravely wounded Crossbones is then taken into S.H.I.E.L.D. custody once again.
Thunderbolts
Crossbones has become a member of the new Thunderbolts team formed in the aftermath of Siege. Government agents, working with Luke Cage, add Crossbones to the team knowing that he cannot be reformed, hoping that his extreme methods will alienate the other Thunderbolt members and push them towards rehabilitation. During the team's first mission, Crossbones is exposed to corrupted Terrigen Mists; during the events of Shadowland, Crossbones manifests the ability to fire a powerful, piercing beam of energy from his face, theorizing that this ability originates from his exposure to the Terrigen mists. Fearing that the Thunderbolts are close to being disbanded following Cage's decision to leave, Crossbones attempts to escape alongside GhostGhost (Marvel Comics)
Ghost is a fictional character appearing in comics books set in the . He first appears in Iron Man #219 and was created by David Michelinie and Bob Layton. Originally portrayed as a supervillain, the character is later portrayed as more of an anti-hero or mercenary.-Fictional character...
and Juggernaut
Juggernaut (comics)
The Juggernaut is a fictional character that appears in publications published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in X-Men #12 , and was created by writer Stan Lee and artist/co-plotter Jack Kirby....
. During the attempt, Crossbones uses his new ability to fight an unsuspecting Steve Rogers. Crossbones was defeated and discharged from the Thunderbolts, after Ghost reveals his role in the murder of a police officer in Shadowland.
Fear Itself
During the Fear ItselfFear Itself (comics)
"Fear Itself" is a 2011 crossover comic book storyline published by Marvel Comics, consisting of a seven-issue, eponymous miniseries written by Matt Fraction and illustrated by Stuart Immonen, Wade Von Grawbadger, and Laura Martin, a prologue book by writer Ed Brubaker and artist Scott Eaton, and...
storyline, Crossbones was constantly harassed while he was behind bars, because he was both a former Thunderbolt member and a neo-nazi. Shortly after when he was being beaten up by more thugs, the Juggernaut unintentionally causes a break out in the raft. Man Mountain Mario (the cousin of Man Mountain Marko
Man Mountain Marko
Man Mountain Marko is a Marvel Comics supervillain. Marko was and remains an affiliate of numerous organized-crime entities in the Marvel universe, including the Maggia...
) helps defend Crossbones from the thugs. While the two of them were trying to escape, Mario told Crossbone about his grandma who helps criminals leave the border. Crossbones manages to escape from the Raft and returned the favor for Mario helping him by killing him to help with his escape.
In Fear Itself: Youth in Revolt #2 he confronts some of the former Avengers Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative
Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series from Marvel Comics. Written by Dan Slott and Christos Gage with artwork initially by Stefano Caselli, Steve Uy and Harvey Tolibao, the series dealt with the aftermath of Marvel's Civil War crossover Avengers: The Initiative was a comic book series...
members in New Jersey after he escapes the Raft
The Raft (comics)
The Raft is a fictional island prison facility in New York City for psychopathic superhuman criminals appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics...
. He fights Gravity
Gravity (comics)
Gravity is a fictional character, a superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. He first appeared in Gravity #1 and was created by Sean McKeever and Mike Norton.-Publication history:...
, Frog-Man
Frog-Man
Frog-Man is a minor comedic superhero created by writer J. M. DeMatteis and artist Kerry Gammill for Marvel Comics. His first appearance was in Marvel Team-Up #121.- Fictional character biography :...
, Geiger
Geiger (comics)
Geiger is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. She first appeared in Doc Samson #1 , created by Dan Slott.-Fictional character biography:...
, Scarlet Spider, and Firestar
Firestar
Firestar is a fictional mutant superhero in the . Debuting in 1981 on the NBC animated television series Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends, she has the ability to generate and manipulate microwave radiation, which allows her to generate intense heat and flames, and to fly...
; when he's surrounded he tosses a grenade at Gravity but Geiger catches it and is seriously injured, creating an easy distraction for him to escape.
Powers and abilities
Although Crossbones does not have any superhuman powers, he is still a very dangerous combatant; he kills lesser superheroes and villains with ease and has gone toe-to-toe with Captain America on a number of occasions. Crossbones is one of the world's best hand-to-hand combatants, with extensive training in street-fighting, military combativesCombatives
Combatives is a United States Army term for hand-to-hand combat training and techniques.-History:Militaries have long taught unarmed combat, both as physical conditioning and as a supplement to armed combat. Among the samurai of Japan, such combatives were known as Bujutsu...
, various forms of martial arts, and is a student of the Taskmaster
Taskmaster
Taskmaster is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe. The character is primarily a supervillain but is often portrayed as an antihero. The Taskmaster first appeared in Avengers vol.1 #195 and was created by David Michelinie and George Pérez...
. Physically, Crossbones is tall and very heavily muscled, but moves with an athletic grace uncommon for a man of his bulk. He is a skilled pilot and driver. In addition, he's an expert marksman with guns, bows, and throwing knives. Crossbones usually arms himself with a fighting knife and a small collapsible crossbow, and various throwing daggers, and spring-loaded stiletto blades in his gauntlets. He also has some experience with torture and brainwashing, having effectively "reprogrammed" Sin, and nearly so with Diamondback
Diamondback (comics)
Diamondback is the name of four fictional characters appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Diamondback first appeared in Captain America #310 , written by Mark Gruenwald and illustrated by Paul Neary.-Willis Stryker:The first Diamondback was a foe of Luke Cage...
.
As a member of the Thunderbolts, Crossbones was exposed to corrupted Terrigen Mists during a mission, and shortly after manifested the ability to generate a circle of energy in front of his face which could fire energy beams capable of piercing and burning his targets. The ability developed to the point where flames engulfed the entirety of his head while still allowing him to fire focused energy beams, though these flames could seemingly be doused in water. While his power is active, Crossbones does not appear to be entirely impervious to the flames he generates; after the flames died following his first usage, his mask appeared to have been burnt away and his face was heavily scarred.
House of M: Masters of Evil
Crossbones appears as a member of HoodHood (comics)
The Hood is a fictional character, a supervillain, and a crime boss in the . Created by writer Brian K. Vaughan and artists Kyle Hotz and Eric Powell, the character first appeared in The Hood #1 .-Publication history:...
's Masters of Evil. Before the Red Guard attacks Santo Rico, Crossbones leaves the team alongside, Cobra, Mister Hyde, and Thunderball.
Video games
- In the video game Captain America and the AvengersCaptain America and the AvengersCaptain America and the Avengers is an arcade game released by Data East in 1991. It features the Marvel Comics characters The Avengers in a side-scrolling brawling and shooting adventure to defeat the evil Red Skull.-Gameplay:...
, Crossbones appears as a BossBoss (video games)A boss is an enemy-based challenge which is found in video games. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight...
.
External links
- Crossbones at Marvel.com