Needle (comics)
Encyclopedia
The Needle is a comic book
character
. He is a mutant
supervillain
in Marvel Comics
' main shared
universe
. Created by Mark Gruenwald
, Carmine Infantino
, and Al Gordon
, the character first appeared in Spider-Woman
#9 (December 1978).
Creator Mark Gruenwald
brought the character back during his run on the West Coast Avengers
as a member of the villain team Night Shift
, which included other former Spider-Woman foes.
agent Jerry Hunt, the Needle incurs the wrath of Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)
, the agent's girlfriend. Somewhat resistant to the Needle's paralyzing gaze, Spider-Woman takes him out with a close-range venom blast. He is subsequently arrested.
With other superhuman adventurers and criminals, the Needle was imprisoned by the Locksmith
, but then freed by Spider-Woman.
The Needle joined the Night Shift
, and teamed with Captain America
against the Power Broker
and his augmented mutates. Alongside the Night Shift, he tested Moon Knight
to take over as the leader of the Night Shift. Later, alongside the Night Shift, he battled the West Coast Avengers
. Alongside the Night Shift, the second Hangman, and Satannish
, he battled the Avengers West Coast; his abilities had been enhanced by Satannish's black magic.
The Needle was later defeated by Armory
.
Needle appears with the Night Shift, as part of the Hood
's gang. They battle the Midnight Sons
, and Needle impales Daimon Hellstrom
with his needle, before Jennifer Kale
knocks him off with a spell. He and the Night Shift are killed when the zombie virus mutates and becomes airborne. The virus cloud begins to rain blood, and reanimates the Night Shift as zombies. Dormammu
assumes control of the Night Shift and uses them to fight the Midnight Sons. When Jennifer Kale
and the Black Talon
contain the virus within the Zombie
(Simon Garth), the Night Shift members are apparently restored to normal, and the Hood teleports away with them.
The Needle is a fair hand-to-hand combatant, and carries a needle-like weapon over 3 foot (0.9144 m) long.
For a time, the Needle's powers were enhanced by Satannish, increasing his physical attributes to that of an athletic man, allowing his hypnotic gaze to work instantaneously, and rendering his weapon sharp enough to rend cinder block.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
character
Character (arts)
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...
. He is 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...
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 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...
' main shared
Shared universe
A shared universe is a fictional universe to which more than one writer contributes. Work set in a shared universe share characters and other elements with varying degrees of consistency. Shared universes are contrasted with collaborative writing, in which multiple authors work on a single story....
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...
. Created by 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...
, Carmine Infantino
Carmine Infantino
Carmine Infantino Carmine Infantino Carmine Infantino (born May 24, 1925, in Brooklyn, New York is an American comic book artist and editor who was a major force in the Silver Age of Comic Books...
, and Al Gordon
Al Gordon (comics)
Alan Gordon is a comic book creator primarily known as an inker and writer. He is best known for his 1990s work on DC Comics' Legion of Super Heroes and the Justice League Of America, Marvel Comics' Fantastic Four, and Image Comics' creator-owned WildStar.- Star Reach and Marvel :Gordon's career...
, the character first appeared in Spider-Woman
Spider-Woman
Spider-Woman is the codename of several fictional characters in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Marvel Comics' then-publisher Stan Lee, said in 1978, shortly after Spider-Woman's debut in Marvel Spotlight #32 Spider-Woman is the codename of several fictional characters...
#9 (December 1978).
Publication history
The character's origin was recounted in his debut appearance in Spider-Woman #9.Creator 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...
brought the character back during his run on the West Coast Avengers
West Coast Avengers
The West Coast Avengers is a fictional group of superheroes that appear in publications published by Marvel Comics. The team first appear in The West Coast Avengers #1 and was created by Roger Stern and Bob Hall.- Publication history :...
as a member of the villain team Night Shift
Night Shift (comics)
The Night Shift is a fictional group of criminals in the Marvel Comics universe that first appeared in Captain America #330 .-Publication history:...
, which included other former Spider-Woman foes.
Fictional character biography
After being mugged one night while leaving work, an elderly tailor loses an eye and his ability to speak. However, he also discovers that he has the power to paralyze with his gaze. Seeking revenge, the unnamed tailor assumes the guise of the professional criminal the Needle. Armed with a yard-long needle, the mute villain attacks young men on the streets at night, sewing their mouths shut. After victimizing S.H.I.E.L.D.S.H.I.E.L.D.
S.H.I.E.L.D. is a fictional espionage and a secret military law-enforcement agency in the Marvel Comics Universe. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135 , it often deals with superhuman threats....
agent Jerry Hunt, the Needle incurs the wrath of Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)
Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew)
Spider-Woman is a fictional character, a superheroine in the Marvel Comics Universe. The character first appeared in Marvel Spotlight #32 , and 50 issues of an ongoing series titled Spider-Woman followed...
, the agent's girlfriend. Somewhat resistant to the Needle's paralyzing gaze, Spider-Woman takes him out with a close-range venom blast. He is subsequently arrested.
With other superhuman adventurers and criminals, the Needle was imprisoned by the Locksmith
Locksmith (comics)
Locksmith is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe.-Publication history:The Locksmith appeared in Spider-Woman #50 , and was created by Ann Nocenti and Brian Postman.-Fictional character biography:...
, but then freed by Spider-Woman.
The Needle joined the Night Shift
Night Shift (comics)
The Night Shift is a fictional group of criminals in the Marvel Comics universe that first appeared in Captain America #330 .-Publication history:...
, and teamed with 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...
against the Power Broker
Power Broker
Power Broker is the name of two characters in Marvel Comics.Power Broker, Inc. is a fictional criminal corporation in the Marvel Universe which provides individuals with superhuman physical abilities for a price...
and his augmented mutates. Alongside the Night Shift, he tested Moon Knight
Moon Knight
Moon Knight is a fictional character, a mercenary-turned-superhero appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character exists in the Marvel Universe and was created by Doug Moench and Don Perlin...
to take over as the leader of the Night Shift. Later, alongside the Night Shift, he battled the West Coast Avengers
West Coast Avengers
The West Coast Avengers is a fictional group of superheroes that appear in publications published by Marvel Comics. The team first appear in The West Coast Avengers #1 and was created by Roger Stern and Bob Hall.- Publication history :...
. Alongside the Night Shift, the second Hangman, and Satannish
Satannish
Satannish is a fictional character appearing in the Marvel Comics universe.-Fictional character biography:Satannish is a very powerful extra-dimensional demon who has clashed with Doctor Strange. Satannish is known for granting mortals mystical power in exchange for their souls...
, he battled the Avengers West Coast; his abilities had been enhanced by Satannish's black magic.
The Needle was later defeated by Armory
Armory (comics)
Armory is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe. Armory was one of the new Initiative recruits that arrived at Camp Hammond with Cloud 9, Hardball, Komodo, MVP, Trauma and others.-Fictional character biography:...
.
Needle appears with the Night Shift, as part of the Hood
Hood (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 gang. They battle the Midnight Sons
Midnight Sons
The Midnight Sons is fictional team of supernatural superheroes in the Marvel Comics Universe. The team first appears in Ghost Rider The Midnight Sons is fictional team of supernatural superheroes in the Marvel Comics Universe. The team first appears in Ghost Rider The Midnight Sons is fictional...
, and Needle impales Daimon Hellstrom
Daimon Hellstrom
Daimon Hellstrom, also known as the Son of Satan and Hellstorm, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:He first appeared in Ghost Rider Daimon Hellstrom, also known as the Son of Satan and Hellstorm, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics...
with his needle, before Jennifer Kale
Jennifer Kale
Jennifer Kale is a fictional character, a sorceress in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:Jennifer Kale was created by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerik, and debuted in Adventure into Fear #11 . She is the cousin of Ghost Riders Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch, and a founding member of the...
knocks him off with a spell. He and the Night Shift are killed when the zombie virus mutates and becomes airborne. The virus cloud begins to rain blood, and reanimates the Night Shift as zombies. Dormammu
Dormammu
Dormammu is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Strange Tales #126 Dormammu is a fictional character that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Strange Tales #126 Dormammu is a...
assumes control of the Night Shift and uses them to fight the Midnight Sons. When Jennifer Kale
Jennifer Kale
Jennifer Kale is a fictional character, a sorceress in the Marvel Comics universe.-Publication history:Jennifer Kale was created by Steve Gerber and Val Mayerik, and debuted in Adventure into Fear #11 . She is the cousin of Ghost Riders Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch, and a founding member of the...
and the Black Talon
Black Talon (comics)
The Black Talon is the name of a number of fictional characters, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe.-Black Talon :The first Black Talon was Pascal Horta, a painter who lost his hand in an auto-accident. Undergoing experimental surgery, he was given the hand of an African-American serial...
contain the virus within the Zombie
Zombie (comics)
The Zombie is a fictional supernatural character appearing in books published by Marvel Comics, in particular starred in the black-and-white, horror-comic magazine series Tales of the Zombie , usually in stories by Steve Gerber and Pablo Marcos...
(Simon Garth), the Night Shift members are apparently restored to normal, and the Hood teleports away with them.
Powers and abilities
Needle has the ability to hypnotically paralyze a victim with his gaze. The Needle appears to be mute and is mentally disturbed. He is an expert tailor.The Needle is a fair hand-to-hand combatant, and carries a needle-like weapon over 3 foot (0.9144 m) long.
For a time, the Needle's powers were enhanced by Satannish, increasing his physical attributes to that of an athletic man, allowing his hypnotic gaze to work instantaneously, and rendering his weapon sharp enough to rend cinder block.
External links
- The Needle's entry at the Marvel Directory
- http://www.marvel.com/universe/Needle