Delphine Courtney
Encyclopedia
Delphine Courtney is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe
, an enemy of the super-team Alpha Flight
.
The character subsequently appears in Alpha Flight Vol. 1 #11–13 (June–August 1984), #22 (May 1985), and #25–28 (August–November 1985).
Delphine Courtney appeared as part of the "Omega Flight" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition
#9.
. The robot initially had a feminine shape and fully human appearance, and was referred to as "she" by its creators, to the point that Jaxon himself was unaware of "her" true nature. Courtney acted on Jaxon's behalf to recruit several superhumans that were former members of the Canadian
government's training teams, Gamma Flight
and Beta Flight
, that were dismissed after the government shut down Department H
, the division that oversaw Gamma, Beta, and the primary team, Alpha Flight
. Jaxon intended to form his own super-team, Omega Flight
, in order to revenge himself on James MacDonald Hudson, founder of Department H and leader of the still-active Alpha Flight as Guardian
, and through an "influencer" device built into its systems, Courtney was able to manipulate the already-disenfranchised recruits into seeking their own revenge on Alpha. However, Courtney was unable to influence Roger Bochs, inventor of the Box
robot, who was still loyal to Hudson and the Flight program, forcing Jaxon to directly involve himself by taking control of Box.
Luring James Hudson and his wife Heather to America with an offer of employment at Roxxon's New York City
holdings, Jaxon and Omega Flight executed an ambush of Guardian while Heather was detained by Courtney. When Heather made an attempt to escape and scuffled with Courtney, the robot's fleshlike facial covering was damaged and its true nature revealed. While Omega Flight's goal of revenge was attained with Guardian's apparent death, Courtney was witness to Jaxon's own death due to feedback from Box's destruction, and the remaining members of Omega were turned over to the New York City authorities.
Escaping capture, Courtney freed Omega Flight from jail and employed them in a new plot against Alpha Flight. Having its appearance reconfigured and incorporating facsimiles of Guardian's battlesuit technology into its systems, Courtney infiltrated Alpha Flight posing as a returned Guardian (using a cover story that was later revealed to be the actual fate of the real James Hudson), and eventually lured them into a second encounter with Omega Flight, using Alpha's trust of "Guardian" to ambush them. However, Omega Flight's victory was foiled by the arrival of the Beyonder
, and Courtney and its team were forced to flee.
Their escape was blocked by Madison Jeffries
, a former Flight trainee whom Courtney had avoided recruiting, fearing his ability to control machines and his loyalty to James Hudson. When Jeffries attacked with a construct created from an automobile, Courtney used one of the future duplicates of Omega Flight member Flashback
as a human shield, resulting in its death (and the mental breakdown of the original Flashback, now condemned to violent death in his future). This enraged Jeffries, who used his powers to destroy Courtney, forcing its internal circuitry out of its mouth.
Roger Bochs and Madison Jeffries later salvaged portions of Courtney's second incarnation to construct a new battlesuit functionally identical to James Hudson's original, which was used by Heather Hudson under her husband's former identity of Vindicator.
Courtney was also able to disguise itself as a human being with a fleshlike outer covering. It could masquerade as either gender
by altering its underlying structure, and could even impersonate specific individuals convincingly enough to fool those close to the person imitated. While impersonating James Hudson/Guardian, Courtney also contained technology that could replicate the properties of Guardian's original battlesuits, granting it all of Guardian's super-powers.
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...
, an enemy of the super-team Alpha Flight
Alpha Flight
Alpha Flight is a fictional superhero team published by Marvel Comics, noteworthy for being one of the few Canadian superhero teams. Created by John Byrne, the team first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #120 ....
.
Publication history
Delphine Courtney first appeared in Alpha Flight #7 (February 1984), and was created by John Byrne.The character subsequently appears in Alpha Flight Vol. 1 #11–13 (June–August 1984), #22 (May 1985), and #25–28 (August–November 1985).
Delphine Courtney appeared as part of the "Omega Flight" entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe
The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe is an encyclopedic guide which details the fictional universe featured in Marvel Comics publications...
#9.
Fictional character biography
Delphine Courtney was a servitor robot, built by the Roxxon Energy Corporation to serve Jerry JaxonJerry Jaxon
Jerome “Jerry” Jaxon is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:Jerome Jaxon first appeared in Alpha Flight #2-3 , and was created by John Byrne....
. The robot initially had a feminine shape and fully human appearance, and was referred to as "she" by its creators, to the point that Jaxon himself was unaware of "her" true nature. Courtney acted on Jaxon's behalf to recruit several superhumans that were former members of the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
government's training teams, Gamma Flight
Gamma Flight
Gamma Flight is the name of two fictional Canadian teams of superheroes in the Marvel Comics Universe.-Flight tier level:They first appeared in Alpha Flight vol. 1, #1 ....
and Beta Flight
Beta Flight
Beta Flight is a fictional superhero team owned by Marvel Comics that exists in that company's Marvel Universe. Along with Gamma Flight, Beta Flight is one of the "minor leagues" of the Canadian team Alpha Flight. Originally, Beta Flight was the intermediate level team. Members are more...
, that were dismissed after the government shut down Department H
Department H
Department H is a fictional organization in the Marvel Universe.-History:It is a branch of the Canadian Department of National Defence and is also responsible for the recruitment, provisioning, administration and deployment of Alpha Flight....
, the division that oversaw Gamma, Beta, and the primary team, Alpha Flight
Alpha Flight
Alpha Flight is a fictional superhero team published by Marvel Comics, noteworthy for being one of the few Canadian superhero teams. Created by John Byrne, the team first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #120 ....
. Jaxon intended to form his own super-team, Omega Flight
Omega Flight
Omega Flight is the name used by three teams of fictional characters with superpowers in the Marvel Universe, one of the few Canadian teams published by an American comic book company. Omega Flight first appeared in the pages of Alpha Flight as a supervillain team...
, in order to revenge himself on James MacDonald Hudson, founder of Department H and leader of the still-active Alpha Flight as Guardian
Guardian (Marvel Comics)
Guardian , also known as Weapon Alpha and Vindicator, is a fictional character, a Canadian superhero in the who was the leader of Alpha Flight. He was created by John Byrne, and first appeared in Uncanny X-Men #109 which was co-plotted by Byrne and his long-time collaborator Chris Claremont...
, and through an "influencer" device built into its systems, Courtney was able to manipulate the already-disenfranchised recruits into seeking their own revenge on Alpha. However, Courtney was unable to influence Roger Bochs, inventor of the Box
Box (comics)
Box is a superhero from Canada. He was featured in Marvel Comics publications, notably Alpha Flight.-Fictional character biography:...
robot, who was still loyal to Hudson and the Flight program, forcing Jaxon to directly involve himself by taking control of Box.
Luring James Hudson and his wife Heather to America with an offer of employment at Roxxon's New York City
New 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...
holdings, Jaxon and Omega Flight executed an ambush of Guardian while Heather was detained by Courtney. When Heather made an attempt to escape and scuffled with Courtney, the robot's fleshlike facial covering was damaged and its true nature revealed. While Omega Flight's goal of revenge was attained with Guardian's apparent death, Courtney was witness to Jaxon's own death due to feedback from Box's destruction, and the remaining members of Omega were turned over to the New York City authorities.
Escaping capture, Courtney freed Omega Flight from jail and employed them in a new plot against Alpha Flight. Having its appearance reconfigured and incorporating facsimiles of Guardian's battlesuit technology into its systems, Courtney infiltrated Alpha Flight posing as a returned Guardian (using a cover story that was later revealed to be the actual fate of the real James Hudson), and eventually lured them into a second encounter with Omega Flight, using Alpha's trust of "Guardian" to ambush them. However, Omega Flight's victory was foiled by the arrival of the Beyonder
Beyonder
The Beyonder is a fictional character in . Created by Jim Shooter and Mike Zeck, the immensely powerful Beyonder first appeared in Secret Wars vol. 1 #1 as an unseen force. He reappears in Secret Wars II #1 , which was created by Jim Shooter and Al Milgrom.-Publication history:The Beyonder was a...
, and Courtney and its team were forced to flee.
Their escape was blocked by Madison Jeffries
Madison Jeffries
Madison Jeffries is a fictional character, a mutant superhero in the . He first appears in Alpha Flight #16 and was created by John Byrne.- Publication history :...
, a former Flight trainee whom Courtney had avoided recruiting, fearing his ability to control machines and his loyalty to James Hudson. When Jeffries attacked with a construct created from an automobile, Courtney used one of the future duplicates of Omega Flight member Flashback
Flashback (comics)
Flashback is a fictional mutant character in the . His first appearance was in Alpha Flight #1.-Publication history:Flashback first appeared in Alpha Flight #1 , and was created by John Byrne...
as a human shield, resulting in its death (and the mental breakdown of the original Flashback, now condemned to violent death in his future). This enraged Jeffries, who used his powers to destroy Courtney, forcing its internal circuitry out of its mouth.
Roger Bochs and Madison Jeffries later salvaged portions of Courtney's second incarnation to construct a new battlesuit functionally identical to James Hudson's original, which was used by Heather Hudson under her husband's former identity of Vindicator.
Powers and abilities
Delphine Courtney possessed superhuman strength, and had a high degree of resistance to physical damage. Its sight and hearing were sharper than a human being's. It also possessed a device called an "influencer" that could affect pre-existing psychological conditions in the human mind, allowing Courtney to manipulate individuals with judicious use of the influencer combined with verbal interaction; however, it could not absolutely control human beings, as Roger Bochs' loyalty to James Hudson allowed him to resist its manipulations.Courtney was also able to disguise itself as a human being with a fleshlike outer covering. It could masquerade as either gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
by altering its underlying structure, and could even impersonate specific individuals convincingly enough to fool those close to the person imitated. While impersonating James Hudson/Guardian, Courtney also contained technology that could replicate the properties of Guardian's original battlesuits, granting it all of Guardian's super-powers.