This is part twenty-eight and the conclusion of a series of posts examining the original Scourge storyline in the 1980s to 1990s, in which an organization devoted to the assassination of super-villains, usually with a modified submachine gun with explosive shells went into action, usually uttering the catch-phrase "Justice is served!" just after killing the villain. Adapted from material I previously wrote in the 1990s on an older website. Previously I was going from memory but in 2014 I purchased the Scourge of the Underworld trade. I also have the most recent Marvel Index volumes. I am therefore editing this series accordingly. This series covers Iron Man#194 to USAgent#4. It does not cover subsequent appearances of characters called Scourge as all subsequent appearances deviated in key ways from the original concept. On the other hand, hits that were considered unsuccessful even at the time are covered. For successful hits, postmortem uses of victims are now noted.
USAGENT #4 by Mark Gruenwald (writer) and M.C. Wyman & Keith Williams (artists)
Would-be victims: USAgent (John Walker), Priscilla Lyons (formerly Scourge, occasionally Vagabond)
Actual victim: Scourge (Decker)
Disguise: Decker targeting USAgent: in his underwear; Bloodstain targeting USAgent the first time, Caprice targeting Priscilla: white trenchcoat/skull cowl/hat; Bloodstain targeting USAgent the second time, female nurse, then blue Bloodstain costume.
Synopsis: While in Bloodstain's gun sights as Bloodstain talks to a Scourge in shadows, USAgent arrives at Minister Ned Nordstrom's place; Bloodstain mentions the bug he has planted on USAgent. Ned complains about the prisoner not having been fed in days. USAgent agrees to feed him. USAgent brings food to the door of the room Scourge (Decker) is being kept in and Priscilla Lyons tells him that Scourge has been silent of late. USAgent opens the door and can't see anyone. As he enters, Scourge, having untied himself, tries to choke him with the rope. USAgent easily subdues him and ties his wrists again. When USAgent asks Scourge who Bloodstain is, Scourge tells him Bloodstain is his trainer, but when asked about the Scourge organization having government sanction, Scourge tells him he doesn't know about that; USAgent believes him. USAgent and Priscilla take Scourge to USAgent's car, which won't start. Another Scourge appears and demands they make the Decker Scourge get out of the car. They toss him out and the new Scourge kicks the door shut, but USAgent tears the roof open and flings his shield at the new Scourge before he can kill Decker. As USAgent and Scourge fight, Priscilla tries to get Decker to safety, only for a third Scourge to point a gun at her, much to the dismay of Ned, watching through his window. The standoff ends when Priscilla attacks the third Scourge, then the Scourge fighting USAgent throws a grenade at him, knocking him out before killing Decker. He tries to shoot Priscilla but misses, hitting the third Scourge. Priscilla uses his Scourge as a shield, and the second Scourge's thoughts reveal the third one to be Caprice. Priscilla shoots the second Scourge in the abdomen but he gets away. USAnget tells Priscilla to go inside and call an ambulance for Caprice. Inside, as Ned tends to Caprice, USAgent picks up the phone and calls "Mike Walker"/Bloodstain, who proves to be the remaining Scourge, reaching his van. He answers the phone and USAgent pretends to agree to join him. Bloodstain tells him to be at the warehouse he was interrogated in in three hours. USAgent, uncertain if Mike is the Scourge he just fought, asks Caprice who is behind the Scourge program. Caprice tells him to ask Domino. USAgent tells her to tell him Domino's location. As the ambulance arrives, USAgent tells Priscilla to go with Caprice to protect her. Two hours later USAgent smashes into Domino van and forces Domino to drive him to his employer, a Mr. Halloway. A guard lets Domino and USAgent through with Halloway's permission. They meet with Mr. Halloway (in a wheelchair) and his apparent nurse. Halloway tells him he was the 1940s superhero the Angel who retired after an innocent died taking a bullet meant for him. He relates that he met with Dominic Dunsinane (Domino) and the two started the Scourge program, with Halloway providing the money and Domino providing the personnel. USAgent tells Halloway he'll be back with the police. The nurse shoots USAgent in the shoulder and the removes the nurse disguise, revealing the Bloodstain costume underneath. As they fight, Domino tries to get Halloway to safety. Bloodstain's attempts to shoot USAgent causes the stone angels in the yard to fall like dominoes, one landing on Domino, killing him. Another statue pins USAgent's feet. Two more statues start to fall towards but hit each other instead. USAgent, now free leaps towards Bloodstain who tries to shoot him. USAgent protects himself from the bullets with his shield and some of the ricochet kills Bloodstain. USAgent walks away as Halloway rants. Priscilla and Ned visit him in the hospital and Priscilla tells him Caprice is expected to recover. USAgent plans to seek salvation.
Is it a key part of the overall Scourge storyline? Definitely. It is conclusion of the storyline that reveals many of the Scourge secrets. This issue reveals the origins of the organization. Domino and Bloodstain getting killed and Halloway being revealed as the financier effectively shuts down the Scourge operation
Does it tie into the main story in these issues? Other than a few bits about USAgent's past, the story is largely about Scourge.
Posthumous use of victim: Decker remains dead. A brainwashed Jack Monroe borrowed elements of Scourge but was not a true successor to Decker et al, and Frank Simpson even less so. Dennis Dunphy recently became a brainwashed Scourge not unlike Monroe.
Other comments: There is a religious theme running through this series and it's particularly strong in this issue, particular as a light seems to shine throne the stone angels that colliding with each other and USAgent thinks, "I'm... I'm saved!" This is the only time a character previously targeted by Scourge under one name was targeted again under another: John Walker (USAgent) was previously targeted by the rogue Scourge while he was Captain America. It is ambiguous whether Bloodstain really was Mike Walker; Caprice seemed to suspect he may of been but USAgent concluded he wasn't. Halloway's first name is later revealed to be Thomas. After this issue was published, Mark Gruenwald later learned about an earlier then-modern appearance of the Angel. In Captain America #442, that Angel was revealed to be his brother who substituted for him; this brother was then killed by Zeitgeist. The same story revealed that Halloway was released due to lack of evidence. However, other than appearances from his time as the Angel, he has not appeared since. If Caprice is the same one as Kendra Louise Price, she was killed by Bullseye in Thunderbolts #121. This is the final appearance of the original Scourge of the Underworld organization and the last time the late Mark Gruenwald used Scourge.
This ends the Scourge files. PUM-SPAK Justice is served!
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Justice is Served!: The Scourge of the Underworld Files 27: USAgent's Interrogation
This is part twenty-seven of a series of posts examining the original Scourge storyline in the 1980s to 1990s, in which an organization devoted to the assassination of super-villains, usually with a modified submachine gun with explosive shells went into action, usually uttering the catch-phrase "Justice is served!" just after killing the villain. Adapted from material I previously wrote in the 1990s on an older website. Previously I was going from memory but in 2014 I purchased the Scourge of the Underworld trade. I also have the most recent Marvel Index volumes. I am therefore editing this series accordingly. This series covers Iron Man#194 to USAgent#4. It does not cover subsequent appearances of characters called Scourge as all subsequent appearances deviated in key ways from the original concept. On the other hand, hits that were considered unsuccessful even at the time are covered. For successful hits, postmortem uses of victims are now noted.
USAGENT #3 by Mark Gruenwald (writer) and M.C. Wyman & Keith Williams (artists)
Victim/Disguise: While the Scourge organization is heavily involved in this issue, no one is actually targeted.
Synopsis: USAgent has a nightmare about being in a war in southeast Asia with his brother Mike. He wakes up chained in a steam room as Caprice and a man in a blue suit. Caprice asks USAgent what his brother's name is and he correctly tells her Mike; when asked what his own real name is, he tells her John or Jack Daniels, John being his actual real name and Jack Daniels being his cover identity. Caprice lets USAgent rest and the suited man leaves the steam room to contact Domino, who identifies him as Bloodstain. Bloodstain tells Domino what they know. Domino is annoyed that they haven't learned more. Bloodstain replies that it took hours to get the right dosage of sodium pentathol with USAgent's metabolism. Domino runs the surname Daniels through his computer but only comes up with Drew Daniels, the Texas Twister. Dismissing a connection with that hero as not probable, he pulls up a list of patriotic heroes and starts playing with that list. USAgent has a nightmare about his parents' deaths at the hands of the Watchdogs. When USAgent wakes up, Caprice learns from the hero that his parents' names were Caleb and Emily. At the church, Reverend Ned Norstrom expresses to Priscilla Lyons his concerns about holding Scourge without food or water. Through the door, Scourge begs for water but Priscilla tells him to shut up. Ned tries to calm Scourge down and asks him to be patient. Scourge complains that his treatment is Unamerican and demands a lawyer, threatening to sue. When Ned starts to consider his point, Priscilla tells him Scourge will say anything to get out and suggests to Scourge he tell Ned about his victims. Scourge refuses to say anything without an attorney present even with an offer of water from Priscilla. US Agent has a nightmare about killing Left-Winger and Right-Winger. As he awakens Caprice considers the possibly that USAgent might before one of their best Scourge. Having learned that someone died, she asks him who and learns his friends Hector and Jerry died. Bloodstain contacts Domino, who has already pieced together USAgent's identity from his parents. Domino contacts another person and tells them they may be able to create the best Scourge ever. Bloodstain frees USAgent over Caprice's protests. He appears to unmask as USAgent's brother Mike Walker, claiming that his death was faked and he joined the CIA. He further claims that the Project Scourge was a CIA operation. He offers USAgent a role in the Scourge operation, pointing out that USAgent has killed before. When USAgent asks about Priscilla, Bloodstain claims they weren't really going to kill her, just give her a new identity. Bloodstain gives USAgent a card with contact info and lets him leave. Ned agonizes over what to do with Scourge and gets a call from USAgent, who admits he is feeling confused. He promises to get back when he can but that he might be an hour or two yet. After he leaves the phone booth Caprice offers him a ride to his car. Bloodstain contacts Domino and says he's ninety percent certain USAgent bought his story and points out that even if USAgent doesn't join, he'll lead Bloodstain to the other Scourges. He says he'll handle this personally.
Is it a key part of the overall Scourge storyline? Definitely. It is part of the storyline that reveals many of the Scourge secrets; this issue focuses on their information gathering and recruitment techniques.
Does it tie into the main story in these issues? Other than a few bits about USAgent's past, the story is largely about Scourge. In this part in particular the bits about USAgent's past largely blend into the Scourge storyline.
Other comments: Bloodstain seems surprised by the names of USAgent's parents, suggesting he may in fact be the real Mike or someone who knows him. However, this is never followed up on. While he appeared last issue in flashback as Priscilla's trainer, this is Bloodstain's first appearance in costume as Bloodstain. The CIA story was false, however. The person Domino contacts is revealed next issue. Not counting afterlife appearances, this is the only Scourge appearance where no Scourge is trying to kill anyone.
USAGENT #3 by Mark Gruenwald (writer) and M.C. Wyman & Keith Williams (artists)
Victim/Disguise: While the Scourge organization is heavily involved in this issue, no one is actually targeted.
Synopsis: USAgent has a nightmare about being in a war in southeast Asia with his brother Mike. He wakes up chained in a steam room as Caprice and a man in a blue suit. Caprice asks USAgent what his brother's name is and he correctly tells her Mike; when asked what his own real name is, he tells her John or Jack Daniels, John being his actual real name and Jack Daniels being his cover identity. Caprice lets USAgent rest and the suited man leaves the steam room to contact Domino, who identifies him as Bloodstain. Bloodstain tells Domino what they know. Domino is annoyed that they haven't learned more. Bloodstain replies that it took hours to get the right dosage of sodium pentathol with USAgent's metabolism. Domino runs the surname Daniels through his computer but only comes up with Drew Daniels, the Texas Twister. Dismissing a connection with that hero as not probable, he pulls up a list of patriotic heroes and starts playing with that list. USAgent has a nightmare about his parents' deaths at the hands of the Watchdogs. When USAgent wakes up, Caprice learns from the hero that his parents' names were Caleb and Emily. At the church, Reverend Ned Norstrom expresses to Priscilla Lyons his concerns about holding Scourge without food or water. Through the door, Scourge begs for water but Priscilla tells him to shut up. Ned tries to calm Scourge down and asks him to be patient. Scourge complains that his treatment is Unamerican and demands a lawyer, threatening to sue. When Ned starts to consider his point, Priscilla tells him Scourge will say anything to get out and suggests to Scourge he tell Ned about his victims. Scourge refuses to say anything without an attorney present even with an offer of water from Priscilla. US Agent has a nightmare about killing Left-Winger and Right-Winger. As he awakens Caprice considers the possibly that USAgent might before one of their best Scourge. Having learned that someone died, she asks him who and learns his friends Hector and Jerry died. Bloodstain contacts Domino, who has already pieced together USAgent's identity from his parents. Domino contacts another person and tells them they may be able to create the best Scourge ever. Bloodstain frees USAgent over Caprice's protests. He appears to unmask as USAgent's brother Mike Walker, claiming that his death was faked and he joined the CIA. He further claims that the Project Scourge was a CIA operation. He offers USAgent a role in the Scourge operation, pointing out that USAgent has killed before. When USAgent asks about Priscilla, Bloodstain claims they weren't really going to kill her, just give her a new identity. Bloodstain gives USAgent a card with contact info and lets him leave. Ned agonizes over what to do with Scourge and gets a call from USAgent, who admits he is feeling confused. He promises to get back when he can but that he might be an hour or two yet. After he leaves the phone booth Caprice offers him a ride to his car. Bloodstain contacts Domino and says he's ninety percent certain USAgent bought his story and points out that even if USAgent doesn't join, he'll lead Bloodstain to the other Scourges. He says he'll handle this personally.
Is it a key part of the overall Scourge storyline? Definitely. It is part of the storyline that reveals many of the Scourge secrets; this issue focuses on their information gathering and recruitment techniques.
Does it tie into the main story in these issues? Other than a few bits about USAgent's past, the story is largely about Scourge. In this part in particular the bits about USAgent's past largely blend into the Scourge storyline.
Other comments: Bloodstain seems surprised by the names of USAgent's parents, suggesting he may in fact be the real Mike or someone who knows him. However, this is never followed up on. While he appeared last issue in flashback as Priscilla's trainer, this is Bloodstain's first appearance in costume as Bloodstain. The CIA story was false, however. The person Domino contacts is revealed next issue. Not counting afterlife appearances, this is the only Scourge appearance where no Scourge is trying to kill anyone.
Justice is Served!: The Scourge of the Underworld Files 26: Blowtorch Brand & ???; also Priscilla Lyons (Failed Hit)
This is part twenty-six of a series of posts examining the original Scourge storyline in the 1980s to 1990s, in which an organization devoted to the assassination of super-villains, usually with a modified submachine gun with explosive shells went into action, usually uttering the catch-phrase "Justice is served!" just after killing the villain. Adapted from material I previously wrote in the 1990s on an older website. Previously I was going from memory but in 2014 I purchased the Scourge of the Underworld trade. I also have the most recent Marvel Index volumes. I am therefore editing this series accordingly. This series covers Iron Man#194 to USAgent#4. It does not cover subsequent appearances of characters called Scourge as all subsequent appearances deviated in key ways from the original concept. On the other hand, hits that were considered unsuccessful even at the time are covered. For successful hits, postmortem uses of victims are now noted.
USAGENT #2 by Mark Gruenwald (writer) and M.C. Wyman & Keith Williams (artists)
Would-be victim: Priscilla Lyons (formerly Scourge, occasionally Vagabond)
Actual victims: Blowtorch Brand (Peter Brand) and unidentified homeless former super-villain
Disguise: Businessman (hit on homeless victim), movie goer (hit on Blowtorch Brand), trucker (failed hit on Lyons)
Synopsis: USAgent visits a former Scourge training area but finds it abandoned. When Lisa Winters enters after him to act as backup, USAgent scolds her, saying he needs her alive as she's his only lead, Driving off after an incident with a would-be hubcap thief, USAgent tells Lisa to tell her story from then beginning. Lisa admits to being Nomad's ex-partner Priscilla Lyons, aka Vagabond.. He tells USAgent a bit about her pre-Scourge life, then reminds USAgent that they'd actually met before, during the earlier Scourge's attack on Power Broker. Priscilla relates how she had attempted to leave town but was approached by a representative of the Scourge operation, Caprice. She says she was trained by the best fighter she'd ever seen other than Captain America, who taught her martial arts, firearms, surveillance and eavesdropping, and escape techniques. She relates how she followed a Scourge do a hit undetected before being given her first hit, the failed hit on Manuel Elongato. Domino over a van radio tells the active Scourge to proceed with his mission. Disguised as a patron, Scourge enters an adult movie theatre and sits behind Blowtorch Brand. He shoots Brand through his seat and says, "Justice is served." Priscilla tells USAgent about her abandoned van. As part of a trap, Lyons contacts Domino through the van radio and asks to come in. The Scourge who killed Blowtorch Brand arrives and shoots at disguises placed around the van steering wheel to appear to be a sleeping Priscilla. USAgent jumps at Scourge. Scourge uses tear gas to try to get away, but USAgent manages to capture him with Priscilla's help. As Priscilla drives, USAgent strips Scourge to his underwear and puts tape over his mouth, then has her drive them to Reverend Ned Nordstrom's church. Ned reluctantly agrees to let USAgent store Scourge in the basement, and USAgent tells Priscilla to guard him. USAgent returns to Scourge's van to find it being towed away before he could search it. He instead goes to Priscilla's van and, pretending to be Scourge, contacts Domino and arranges for a pick-up; he puts on a disguise. Ned gives Priscilla food; she tells him she won't open the door for any reason, not even to give Scourge food, drink, or amenities. A woman USAgent doesn't recognize picks him up, calling him Decker. After they drive off, the woman shoots him, telling him she knows he's not Decker.
Is it a key part of the overall Scourge storyline? Definitely. It is part of the storyline that reveals many of the Scourge secrets. It also has Scourge's final successful hit on a villain not connected to the Scourge operation.
Does it tie into the main story in these issues? Other than a few bits about USAgent's past, the story is largely about Scourge.
Postmortem use of victims: The homeless victim has apparently never been revived and it is unknown if anyone ever took up his super-villain identity. Peter Brand has never beenn revived nor has anyone else taken up the alias Blowtorch Brand.
Other comments: The woman who picks up USAgent resembles Caprice in the flashback and is confirmed to be her next issue. While never confirmed in-story, some Handbooks claim she was the Scourge who killed Golddigger. This is her first appearance as Caprice. With Decker, this is the first time real names of a Scourge is revealed; Caprice, assuming she's the woman in Thunderbolts #121, is another alias. With Mark Gruenwald's death, we'll likely never know who if anyone he had intended the homeless victim to be; no subsequent writers have revealed his identity either. Priscilla's trainer is identified in the next issue. It is unclear why Priscilla's radio is intact after she shot it in the previous issue. Perhaps she had multiple vans. It appears from next issue that Caprice's goal was to incapacitate USAgent, not kill him, hence his not being listed as a would-be victim.
USAGENT #2 by Mark Gruenwald (writer) and M.C. Wyman & Keith Williams (artists)
Would-be victim: Priscilla Lyons (formerly Scourge, occasionally Vagabond)
Actual victims: Blowtorch Brand (Peter Brand) and unidentified homeless former super-villain
Disguise: Businessman (hit on homeless victim), movie goer (hit on Blowtorch Brand), trucker (failed hit on Lyons)
Synopsis: USAgent visits a former Scourge training area but finds it abandoned. When Lisa Winters enters after him to act as backup, USAgent scolds her, saying he needs her alive as she's his only lead, Driving off after an incident with a would-be hubcap thief, USAgent tells Lisa to tell her story from then beginning. Lisa admits to being Nomad's ex-partner Priscilla Lyons, aka Vagabond.. He tells USAgent a bit about her pre-Scourge life, then reminds USAgent that they'd actually met before, during the earlier Scourge's attack on Power Broker. Priscilla relates how she had attempted to leave town but was approached by a representative of the Scourge operation, Caprice. She says she was trained by the best fighter she'd ever seen other than Captain America, who taught her martial arts, firearms, surveillance and eavesdropping, and escape techniques. She relates how she followed a Scourge do a hit undetected before being given her first hit, the failed hit on Manuel Elongato. Domino over a van radio tells the active Scourge to proceed with his mission. Disguised as a patron, Scourge enters an adult movie theatre and sits behind Blowtorch Brand. He shoots Brand through his seat and says, "Justice is served." Priscilla tells USAgent about her abandoned van. As part of a trap, Lyons contacts Domino through the van radio and asks to come in. The Scourge who killed Blowtorch Brand arrives and shoots at disguises placed around the van steering wheel to appear to be a sleeping Priscilla. USAgent jumps at Scourge. Scourge uses tear gas to try to get away, but USAgent manages to capture him with Priscilla's help. As Priscilla drives, USAgent strips Scourge to his underwear and puts tape over his mouth, then has her drive them to Reverend Ned Nordstrom's church. Ned reluctantly agrees to let USAgent store Scourge in the basement, and USAgent tells Priscilla to guard him. USAgent returns to Scourge's van to find it being towed away before he could search it. He instead goes to Priscilla's van and, pretending to be Scourge, contacts Domino and arranges for a pick-up; he puts on a disguise. Ned gives Priscilla food; she tells him she won't open the door for any reason, not even to give Scourge food, drink, or amenities. A woman USAgent doesn't recognize picks him up, calling him Decker. After they drive off, the woman shoots him, telling him she knows he's not Decker.
Is it a key part of the overall Scourge storyline? Definitely. It is part of the storyline that reveals many of the Scourge secrets. It also has Scourge's final successful hit on a villain not connected to the Scourge operation.
Does it tie into the main story in these issues? Other than a few bits about USAgent's past, the story is largely about Scourge.
Postmortem use of victims: The homeless victim has apparently never been revived and it is unknown if anyone ever took up his super-villain identity. Peter Brand has never beenn revived nor has anyone else taken up the alias Blowtorch Brand.
Other comments: The woman who picks up USAgent resembles Caprice in the flashback and is confirmed to be her next issue. While never confirmed in-story, some Handbooks claim she was the Scourge who killed Golddigger. This is her first appearance as Caprice. With Decker, this is the first time real names of a Scourge is revealed; Caprice, assuming she's the woman in Thunderbolts #121, is another alias. With Mark Gruenwald's death, we'll likely never know who if anyone he had intended the homeless victim to be; no subsequent writers have revealed his identity either. Priscilla's trainer is identified in the next issue. It is unclear why Priscilla's radio is intact after she shot it in the previous issue. Perhaps she had multiple vans. It appears from next issue that Caprice's goal was to incapacitate USAgent, not kill him, hence his not being listed as a would-be victim.
Justice is Served!: The Scourge of the Underworld Files 25: Matador, Priscilla Lyons (Failed Hits)
This is part twenty-five of a series of posts examining the original Scourge storyline in the 1980s to 1990s, in which an organization devoted to the assassination of super-villains, usually with a modified submachine gun with explosive shells went into action, usually uttering the catch-phrase "Justice is served!" just after killing the villain. Adapted from material I previously wrote in the 1990s on an older website. Previously I was going from memory but in 2014 I purchased the Scourge of the Underworld trade. I also have the most recent Marvel Index volumes. I am therefore editing this series accordingly. This series covers Iron Man#194 to USAgent#4. It does not cover subsequent appearances of characters called Scourge as all subsequent appearances deviated in key ways from the original concept. On the other hand, hits that were considered unsuccessful even at the time are covered. For successful hits, postmortem uses of victims are now noted.
USAGENT #1 by Mark Gruenwald (writer) and M.C. Wyman & Keith Williams (artists)
Would-be victims: Manuel Elongato (formerly Matador), Priscilla Lyons (occasionally Vagabond)
Disguise: White trenchcoat/skull cowl/hat (hit on Matador); mercenary (hit on Lyons)
Synopsis: Scourge enters a rundown apartment and sees two kids playing. Scourge tells the kids to be "very, very quiet". Scourge enters the bedroom and finds Manuel Elongato with three more kids (Elongato is feeding one, a baby). Elongato swears on his mother's grave that he has no intentions of returning to villainy. Elongato resigns himself to his fate but asks Scourge to send the kids out of the room so the kids will not see him being killed. Scourge decides to spare Elongato and runs to his van. Domino on a radio asks how the hit went and Scourge shoots the radio. USAgent, flying ona jet-cycle spots a minister struggling with a flat tire and helps him change the flat. The minister, Ned Nordstrom gives him a pamphlet with his contact information. After passing on a party at Avengers Compound (and finding that someone, likely Hawkeye, has left him a party doll in his bedroom), USAgent decides to join Sandrose in the Communications Center. A woman's voice comes in saying that Scourge is targeting her. Flying on a jet-cycle to the bar. USAgent gives a code phrase to different women until one identifies herself as the caller. The woman claims to be Lisa Winters and claims that Scourge is targeting her due to her twin sister Mysteria. USAgent flies off with a form wearing his trenchcoat. The form is shot, revealing it to be the party doll. The jet-cycle is shot. Upon landing, USAgent spots a van and reaches it, getting on the roof, where the driver shoots at him. The shooter bails out before the van hits a mountain; USAgent also manages to jump to safety. USAgent is unable to find the probable Scourge and arranges for a Quinjet flown by Wonder Man to pick him and Lisa up. USAgent figures out that Lisa is a Scourge herself. She confesses she is but that she wasn't able to go through with her first assignment.
Is it a key part of the overall Scourge storyline? Definitely. It is the start of the storyline that reveals many of the Scourge secrets.
Does it tie into the main story in these issues? Other than a few bits about USAgent's past, the story is largely about Scourge.
Other comments: Scourge (Lisa)'s "Be very, very quiet") comment is likely a reference to Elmer Fudd; she called Elongato the Masked Matador but he was more often simply called Matador. This is the only time a Scourge spared the life of a victim out of a sense of mercy. Lisa Winters' real name is revealed in the next issue. It is not clear why Wonder Man does not continue to aid USAgent after this story; while USAgent can be grating, Lisa's life was in danger. While this is the first time the second shooter is seen, he is most likely the Scourge who killed the Scourge who was previous captured by USAgent in the failed hit on the Power Broker. His surname is revealed next issue.
USAGENT #1 by Mark Gruenwald (writer) and M.C. Wyman & Keith Williams (artists)
Would-be victims: Manuel Elongato (formerly Matador), Priscilla Lyons (occasionally Vagabond)
Disguise: White trenchcoat/skull cowl/hat (hit on Matador); mercenary (hit on Lyons)
Synopsis: Scourge enters a rundown apartment and sees two kids playing. Scourge tells the kids to be "very, very quiet". Scourge enters the bedroom and finds Manuel Elongato with three more kids (Elongato is feeding one, a baby). Elongato swears on his mother's grave that he has no intentions of returning to villainy. Elongato resigns himself to his fate but asks Scourge to send the kids out of the room so the kids will not see him being killed. Scourge decides to spare Elongato and runs to his van. Domino on a radio asks how the hit went and Scourge shoots the radio. USAgent, flying ona jet-cycle spots a minister struggling with a flat tire and helps him change the flat. The minister, Ned Nordstrom gives him a pamphlet with his contact information. After passing on a party at Avengers Compound (and finding that someone, likely Hawkeye, has left him a party doll in his bedroom), USAgent decides to join Sandrose in the Communications Center. A woman's voice comes in saying that Scourge is targeting her. Flying on a jet-cycle to the bar. USAgent gives a code phrase to different women until one identifies herself as the caller. The woman claims to be Lisa Winters and claims that Scourge is targeting her due to her twin sister Mysteria. USAgent flies off with a form wearing his trenchcoat. The form is shot, revealing it to be the party doll. The jet-cycle is shot. Upon landing, USAgent spots a van and reaches it, getting on the roof, where the driver shoots at him. The shooter bails out before the van hits a mountain; USAgent also manages to jump to safety. USAgent is unable to find the probable Scourge and arranges for a Quinjet flown by Wonder Man to pick him and Lisa up. USAgent figures out that Lisa is a Scourge herself. She confesses she is but that she wasn't able to go through with her first assignment.
Is it a key part of the overall Scourge storyline? Definitely. It is the start of the storyline that reveals many of the Scourge secrets.
Does it tie into the main story in these issues? Other than a few bits about USAgent's past, the story is largely about Scourge.
Other comments: Scourge (Lisa)'s "Be very, very quiet") comment is likely a reference to Elmer Fudd; she called Elongato the Masked Matador but he was more often simply called Matador. This is the only time a Scourge spared the life of a victim out of a sense of mercy. Lisa Winters' real name is revealed in the next issue. It is not clear why Wonder Man does not continue to aid USAgent after this story; while USAgent can be grating, Lisa's life was in danger. While this is the first time the second shooter is seen, he is most likely the Scourge who killed the Scourge who was previous captured by USAgent in the failed hit on the Power Broker. His surname is revealed next issue.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Justice is Served!: The Scourge of the Underworld Files 24: Bio-Plastoids, Black Abbott, Dragonfang, Wrench (Failed Hits: Gamecock, Shocker, Steel Wind)
This is part twenty-four of a series of posts examining the original Scourge storyline in the 1980s to 1990s, in which an organization devoted to the assassination of super-villains, usually with a modified submachine gun with explosive shells went into action, usually uttering the catch-phrase "Justice is served!" just after killing the villain. Adapted from material I previously wrote in the 1990s on an older website. Previously I was going from memory but in 2014 I purchased the Scourge of the Underworld trade. I also have the most recent Marvel Index volumes. I am therefore editing this series accordingly. This series covers Iron Man#194 to USAgent#4. It does not cover subsequent appearances of characters called Scourge as all subsequent appearances deviated in key ways from the original concept. On the other hand, hits that were considered unsuccessful even at the time are covered. For successful hits, postmortem uses of victims are now noted.
CAPTAIN AMERICA#394 by Mark Gruenwald (writer), Rik Levins & Bob LaRosa (artists)
Would-be victims: Gamecock, Shocker (Herman Schultz), Steel Wind (off-panel)
Actual victims: Bio-Plastoids (Secondus, Tertius, Quarternius); off-panel: Black Abbott (real name unknown), Lionfang (Alejandro Cortez), the Wrench (Kurt Klemmer)
Disguise: White trenchoat/skull cowl/hat (Bio-Plastoids); unknown (everyone else)
Synopsis: Captain America and Hauptmann Deutschland find the bodies of Red Skull, Sin, and Crossbones and call in the police and government agents including Duane Freeman, Another agent shows Freeman footage of Scourge killing Red Skull, Sin, and Crossbones. The actual Red Skull, listening in with Sin and Crossbones gloats about the Bio-Plastoids faking their deaths. He leaves them for a meeting with other agents, including Scourge. After a Watchdog gives a report, Scourge reports killing Black Abbott, Lionfang, and the Wrench. The Red Skull gets him to admit failing to kill Gamecock. Shocker, and Steel Wind, then kills him for his failure.
Is it a key part of the Scourge storyline? Marginally. It concludes the Red Skull agent aspect of the Scourge storyline.
Is it part of the main story in these issues? In the sense that Red Skull, Sin, and Crossbones were recurring villains at the time.
Posthumous use of victims: Black Abbott was revived by the Hood; he had no previous successors. Alejandro Cortez later turned alive with no reference to the Scourge shooting; there were no subsequent Lionfangs. Kurt Klemmer has not been revived; other characters called Wrench are unrelated to him. The Bio-Plastoids have not been revived.
Other comments: As noted previously, the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition confirms what one can extrapolate from the US Agent mini-series: the Scourge in the Red Skull plot thread is a renegade, and the Red Skull lied about coming up with and running the show. This makes sense since while one can see the Red Skull taking advantage of the Scourge operation to eliminate the competition, had he thought of the idea on his own, he most likely would have targeted heroes first. No other Scourges are co-opted by the Red Skull; in fact this is the final Scourge appearance before the USAgent mini-series which answers most of the remaining questions about the Scourge operation. There is some question of the veracity of the kills (or even the kill attempts) other than the Bio-Plastoids, as they happened off panel; even the Black Abbott looked different upon revival, suggesting he may not have been the original. This is the second time Shocker has been shot at in Scourge related matters: the Kingpin sent an imposter after him in Deadly Foes of Spider-Man.
CAPTAIN AMERICA#394 by Mark Gruenwald (writer), Rik Levins & Bob LaRosa (artists)
Would-be victims: Gamecock, Shocker (Herman Schultz), Steel Wind (off-panel)
Actual victims: Bio-Plastoids (Secondus, Tertius, Quarternius); off-panel: Black Abbott (real name unknown), Lionfang (Alejandro Cortez), the Wrench (Kurt Klemmer)
Disguise: White trenchoat/skull cowl/hat (Bio-Plastoids); unknown (everyone else)
Synopsis: Captain America and Hauptmann Deutschland find the bodies of Red Skull, Sin, and Crossbones and call in the police and government agents including Duane Freeman, Another agent shows Freeman footage of Scourge killing Red Skull, Sin, and Crossbones. The actual Red Skull, listening in with Sin and Crossbones gloats about the Bio-Plastoids faking their deaths. He leaves them for a meeting with other agents, including Scourge. After a Watchdog gives a report, Scourge reports killing Black Abbott, Lionfang, and the Wrench. The Red Skull gets him to admit failing to kill Gamecock. Shocker, and Steel Wind, then kills him for his failure.
Is it a key part of the Scourge storyline? Marginally. It concludes the Red Skull agent aspect of the Scourge storyline.
Is it part of the main story in these issues? In the sense that Red Skull, Sin, and Crossbones were recurring villains at the time.
Posthumous use of victims: Black Abbott was revived by the Hood; he had no previous successors. Alejandro Cortez later turned alive with no reference to the Scourge shooting; there were no subsequent Lionfangs. Kurt Klemmer has not been revived; other characters called Wrench are unrelated to him. The Bio-Plastoids have not been revived.
Other comments: As noted previously, the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Master Edition confirms what one can extrapolate from the US Agent mini-series: the Scourge in the Red Skull plot thread is a renegade, and the Red Skull lied about coming up with and running the show. This makes sense since while one can see the Red Skull taking advantage of the Scourge operation to eliminate the competition, had he thought of the idea on his own, he most likely would have targeted heroes first. No other Scourges are co-opted by the Red Skull; in fact this is the final Scourge appearance before the USAgent mini-series which answers most of the remaining questions about the Scourge operation. There is some question of the veracity of the kills (or even the kill attempts) other than the Bio-Plastoids, as they happened off panel; even the Black Abbott looked different upon revival, suggesting he may not have been the original. This is the second time Shocker has been shot at in Scourge related matters: the Kingpin sent an imposter after him in Deadly Foes of Spider-Man.
Justice is Served!: The Scourge of the Underworld Files 23: Deadly Foes of Spider-Man/Lethal Foes of Spider-Man
This is part twenty-three of a series of posts examining the original Scourge storyline in the 1980s to 1990s, in which an organization devoted to the assassination of super-villains, usually with a modified submachine gun with explosive shells went into action, usually uttering the catch-phrase "Justice is served!" just after killing the villain. Adapted from material I previously wrote in the 1990s on an older website. Previously I was going from memory but in 2014 I purchased the Scourge of the Underworld trade. I also have the most recent Marvel Index volumes. I am therefore editing this series accordingly. This series covers Iron Man#194 to USAgent#4. It does not cover subsequent appearances of characters called Scourge as all subsequent appearances deviated in key ways from the original concept. On the other hand, hits that were considered unsuccessful even at the time are covered. For successful hits, postmortem uses of victims are now noted.
DEADLY FOES OF SPIDER-MAN#1-4 by Danny Fingeroth (writer) and Al Milgrom #1-4, Kerry Gammill #1-2, Mike Machlan #1-4, Harry Candelario #4 (artists)
LETHAL FOES OF SPIDER-MAN #1-4 by Danny Fingeroth (writer); Scott McDaniel #1-2, Brad Vancata #1-2/4, Frank Turner #2, Keith Pollard #3, David Boller #3-4, Ian Akin #3-4, Keith Aiken #3-4, Jim Amesh #3-4, Mike DeCarlo #4 (artists)
Victim/Disguise: No Scourge is actually present.
Synopsis:
Deadly: The Shocker has recurring nightmares about Scourge and is obviously extremely scared about being hit by him. Taking advantage of the Shocker's fears the Kingpin send a Scourge imposter to kill the Shocker but the Shocker survives. The Ringer's wife Leila Davis becomes the villain Hardball in tribute to her husband who was apparently killed by Scourge.
Lethal: Hardball's grief-stricken plot is finally ended when the Ringer, now Strikeback shows up and explains how he survived Scourge's massacre.
Is it a key part of the overall Scourge storyline? Not really. No Scourge actually appears in this stories, but we do get to see the effect Scourge has on other villains, more so in the first limited series.
Does it tie into the main story in these issues? Only indirectly: Scourge's past activities are felt throughout both mini-series but he is not an active player.
Other comments: Both limited series are about the Sinister Syndicate. Because Scourge's involvement is only indirect, these mini-series only get a barebones coverage in the Scourge Files. The first limited series happened before the next actual appearance of a Scourge (Captain America #394) and the second one after that. Since the first limited series had a greater Scourge influence, this coverage is placed accordingly. Strikeback finally dies later from the Scourge shooting when his Strikeback suit runs out.
DEADLY FOES OF SPIDER-MAN#1-4 by Danny Fingeroth (writer) and Al Milgrom #1-4, Kerry Gammill #1-2, Mike Machlan #1-4, Harry Candelario #4 (artists)
LETHAL FOES OF SPIDER-MAN #1-4 by Danny Fingeroth (writer); Scott McDaniel #1-2, Brad Vancata #1-2/4, Frank Turner #2, Keith Pollard #3, David Boller #3-4, Ian Akin #3-4, Keith Aiken #3-4, Jim Amesh #3-4, Mike DeCarlo #4 (artists)
Victim/Disguise: No Scourge is actually present.
Synopsis:
Deadly: The Shocker has recurring nightmares about Scourge and is obviously extremely scared about being hit by him. Taking advantage of the Shocker's fears the Kingpin send a Scourge imposter to kill the Shocker but the Shocker survives. The Ringer's wife Leila Davis becomes the villain Hardball in tribute to her husband who was apparently killed by Scourge.
Lethal: Hardball's grief-stricken plot is finally ended when the Ringer, now Strikeback shows up and explains how he survived Scourge's massacre.
Is it a key part of the overall Scourge storyline? Not really. No Scourge actually appears in this stories, but we do get to see the effect Scourge has on other villains, more so in the first limited series.
Does it tie into the main story in these issues? Only indirectly: Scourge's past activities are felt throughout both mini-series but he is not an active player.
Other comments: Both limited series are about the Sinister Syndicate. Because Scourge's involvement is only indirect, these mini-series only get a barebones coverage in the Scourge Files. The first limited series happened before the next actual appearance of a Scourge (Captain America #394) and the second one after that. Since the first limited series had a greater Scourge influence, this coverage is placed accordingly. Strikeback finally dies later from the Scourge shooting when his Strikeback suit runs out.
Justice is Served!: The Scourge of the Underworld Files 22: Power Broker (Failed Hit) & Scourge; also Kalousek & Scanlon
This is part twenty-two of a series of posts examining the original Scourge storyline in the 1980s to 1990s, in which an organization devoted to the assassination of super-villains, usually with a modified submachine gun with explosive shells went into action, usually uttering the catch-phrase "Justice is served!" just after killing the villain. Adapted from material I previously wrote in the 1990s on an older website. Previously I was going from memory but in 2014 I purchased the Scourge of the Underworld trade. I also have the most recent Marvel Index volumes. I am therefore editing this series accordingly. This series covers Iron Man#194 to USAgent#4. It does not cover subsequent appearances of characters called Scourge as all subsequent appearances deviated in key ways from the original concept. On the other hand, hits that were considered unsuccessful even at the time are covered. For successful hits, postmortem uses of victims are now noted.
CAPTAIN AMERICA #358-362 (backup tale) Mark Gruenwald (writer) Mark Bright & Don Hudson (artists)
Would-be victim: Power Broker (Curtiss Jackson) (all issues)
Actual victims: Kalousek (guard), Scanlon (either guard or maid), other guards, maid if not Scanlon (#358); Scourge (real name unknown; the one who killed the above) (#362)
Synopsis:
#358: Scourge II eliminates some of the Power Broker's guards and shoots dead the maid as he enters the mansion; he cuts the phone line. Curtiss Jackson, with Priscilla Lyons, hears the shooting and first tries the phone, then a walkee-talkkee; in the latter case Scourge tells him he's coming for him. Jackson uses a special phone to alert others he's in trouble and a general contacts USAgent at Avengers Compound to rescue Jackson. USAgent flies off in a scooter.
#359: USAgent arrives at Jackson's place and finds the bodies. Jackson and Lyons get on a bed that's a secret elevator down. Scourge tries shooting through the floor after the elevator closes. Once the shooting stops Jackson and Lyons run through a tunnel. USAgent hears shots and runs upstairs and finds a hole in the floor, Scourge apparently having shot his way down. USAgent jumps into the hole, which causes Scourge to shoot towards his shield.
#360: USAgent breaks Scourge's gun with his shield and chases after him. Jackson locks himself and Lyons into a secure room, where the Power Brokjer augmentations happen. Scourge, now armed with a backup gun, shoots at the ceiling to cause debris to fall down on USAgent. Scourge tells USAgent he hopes he hasn't killed him. He shoots at the door to the secure room and when that doesn't work, he plants a charge and blows up the door.
#361: Scourge learns there is still one more door to go. Jackson starts to use the machine on himself, US Agent starts to wake up. Scourge blows up the inner door. Jackson, powering up, tells Lyons to distract Scourge. She partly changes into Vagabond and confronts Scourge. Scourge, undecided about her decides to leave her alone for now, but Jackson has left. He finds Jackson and seems amused by what he sees. He says, "Justice is served, Power Broker!"
#362: USAgent makes it out of the debris and runs after Scourge. Scourge finds that shooting the Power Broker doesn't seem to be working and doublesback, findign both USAgent and Vagabond. Scourge tries using Vagabond as a hostage but she kicks hium in nthe groin, allowing USAgent to throw his shield at Scourge. USAgenet beats Scourge but then is distracted by Power Broker, now misshapen. After calling an ambulance and escorting Lyons out, USAgent starts to fly the unconscious Scourge in his scooter, but Scourge is shot by an unseen assailant. USAgent opts to try to find the other killer, presumably another Scourge rather than taking the captured Scourge to the hospital, but is unsuccessful.
Is it a key part of the overall Scourge storyline? More or less: it's a full-length Scourge story involving a previously seen Scourge who dies in this story, and yet another Scourge is introduced (though not actually seen)
Is is a part of the main backup story in these issues? The entire backup story revolves around Scourge (Captain America is of course the lead in the main story these issues).
Postmortem use of victims: None of Power Broker's employees have returned from the dead, nor has anyone taken on the mantles of Kalousek or Scanlon.
Other comments: Vagabond's presence would have further implications in the USAgent series. There's a definite contrast between #362 and #320. When the first Scourge is fatally wounded, Captain America stays with him and tries to save him until he dies. When this Scourge is fatally wounded, USAgent lets him die and goes after the assailant. The unseen Scourge is likely Decker. Vagabond is not listed as a would-be victim as Scourge had not yet decided if she was a target; when he was shooting at the bed elevator, he was actually trying to kill Jackson, with Lyons just in the way.
CAPTAIN AMERICA #358-362 (backup tale) Mark Gruenwald (writer) Mark Bright & Don Hudson (artists)
Would-be victim: Power Broker (Curtiss Jackson) (all issues)
Actual victims: Kalousek (guard), Scanlon (either guard or maid), other guards, maid if not Scanlon (#358); Scourge (real name unknown; the one who killed the above) (#362)
Synopsis:
#358: Scourge II eliminates some of the Power Broker's guards and shoots dead the maid as he enters the mansion; he cuts the phone line. Curtiss Jackson, with Priscilla Lyons, hears the shooting and first tries the phone, then a walkee-talkkee; in the latter case Scourge tells him he's coming for him. Jackson uses a special phone to alert others he's in trouble and a general contacts USAgent at Avengers Compound to rescue Jackson. USAgent flies off in a scooter.
#359: USAgent arrives at Jackson's place and finds the bodies. Jackson and Lyons get on a bed that's a secret elevator down. Scourge tries shooting through the floor after the elevator closes. Once the shooting stops Jackson and Lyons run through a tunnel. USAgent hears shots and runs upstairs and finds a hole in the floor, Scourge apparently having shot his way down. USAgent jumps into the hole, which causes Scourge to shoot towards his shield.
#360: USAgent breaks Scourge's gun with his shield and chases after him. Jackson locks himself and Lyons into a secure room, where the Power Brokjer augmentations happen. Scourge, now armed with a backup gun, shoots at the ceiling to cause debris to fall down on USAgent. Scourge tells USAgent he hopes he hasn't killed him. He shoots at the door to the secure room and when that doesn't work, he plants a charge and blows up the door.
#361: Scourge learns there is still one more door to go. Jackson starts to use the machine on himself, US Agent starts to wake up. Scourge blows up the inner door. Jackson, powering up, tells Lyons to distract Scourge. She partly changes into Vagabond and confronts Scourge. Scourge, undecided about her decides to leave her alone for now, but Jackson has left. He finds Jackson and seems amused by what he sees. He says, "Justice is served, Power Broker!"
#362: USAgent makes it out of the debris and runs after Scourge. Scourge finds that shooting the Power Broker doesn't seem to be working and doublesback, findign both USAgent and Vagabond. Scourge tries using Vagabond as a hostage but she kicks hium in nthe groin, allowing USAgent to throw his shield at Scourge. USAgenet beats Scourge but then is distracted by Power Broker, now misshapen. After calling an ambulance and escorting Lyons out, USAgent starts to fly the unconscious Scourge in his scooter, but Scourge is shot by an unseen assailant. USAgent opts to try to find the other killer, presumably another Scourge rather than taking the captured Scourge to the hospital, but is unsuccessful.
Is it a key part of the overall Scourge storyline? More or less: it's a full-length Scourge story involving a previously seen Scourge who dies in this story, and yet another Scourge is introduced (though not actually seen)
Is is a part of the main backup story in these issues? The entire backup story revolves around Scourge (Captain America is of course the lead in the main story these issues).
Postmortem use of victims: None of Power Broker's employees have returned from the dead, nor has anyone taken on the mantles of Kalousek or Scanlon.
Other comments: Vagabond's presence would have further implications in the USAgent series. There's a definite contrast between #362 and #320. When the first Scourge is fatally wounded, Captain America stays with him and tries to save him until he dies. When this Scourge is fatally wounded, USAgent lets him die and goes after the assailant. The unseen Scourge is likely Decker. Vagabond is not listed as a would-be victim as Scourge had not yet decided if she was a target; when he was shooting at the bed elevator, he was actually trying to kill Jackson, with Lyons just in the way.
Justice is Served!: The Scourge of the Underworld Files 21: Government Agent Posing as Watchdog
This is part twenty-one of a series of posts examining the original Scourge storyline in the 1980s to 1990s, in which an organization devoted to the assassination of super-villains, usually with a modified submachine gun with explosive shells went into action, usually uttering the catch-phrase "Justice is served!" just after killing the villain. Adapted from material I previously wrote in the 1990s on an older website. Previously I was going from memory but in 2014 I purchased the Scourge of the Underworld trade. I also have the most recent Marvel Index volumes. I am therefore editing this series accordingly. This series covers Iron Man#194 to USAgent#4. It does not cover subsequent appearances of characters called Scourge as all subsequent appearances deviated in key ways from the original concept. On the other hand, hits that were considered unsuccessful even at the time are covered. For successful hits, postmortem uses of victims are now noted.
CAPTAIN AMERICA#351 by Mark Gruenwald (writer) and Kieron Dwyer & Al Milgrom (artists)
Victim: Government agent posing as Watchdog (real name unknown)
Disguise: White trenchcoat/skull cowl/hat
Apparent Synopsis: A member of the Watchdogs kills Captain America (John Walker) while Captain America (Steve Rogers) is present. The Watchdog is then shot in the head by Scourge who drives off before Rogers can reach him.
Actual Synopsis: The government arranges for an agent disguised as a Watchdog to pretend to shoot Captain America (John Walker) so that Walker can assume the identity of USAgent. Unaware of the ruse, Scourge kills the agent and then drives off before Captain America (Steve Rogers, also present) can reach him.
Postmortem use of victim: The unidentified government agent has never been revived, nor has anyone else taken on the mantle of "government agent posing as Watchdog".
Is it key to the overall Scourge storyline? Somewhat; it's the return of the Scourge who killed Wraith and the first Scourge after a lengthy absence. At the time the return didn't seem so dramatic since it was then possible that he was the Scourge the Red Skull was using.
Is is part of the main story in this issue? Only in the sense of inadventently helping the government's deception, which is followed up more in later issues of this title and West Coast Avengers.
Other comments: This is the only time Scourge inadvertently killed an innocent. The ruse is revealed in Captain America #354. This Scourge was probably lying low to take the heat of Captain America's search. It's possible that the renegade Scourge's actions resulted somehow in this Scourge returning to action.
CAPTAIN AMERICA#351 by Mark Gruenwald (writer) and Kieron Dwyer & Al Milgrom (artists)
Victim: Government agent posing as Watchdog (real name unknown)
Disguise: White trenchcoat/skull cowl/hat
Apparent Synopsis: A member of the Watchdogs kills Captain America (John Walker) while Captain America (Steve Rogers) is present. The Watchdog is then shot in the head by Scourge who drives off before Rogers can reach him.
Actual Synopsis: The government arranges for an agent disguised as a Watchdog to pretend to shoot Captain America (John Walker) so that Walker can assume the identity of USAgent. Unaware of the ruse, Scourge kills the agent and then drives off before Captain America (Steve Rogers, also present) can reach him.
Postmortem use of victim: The unidentified government agent has never been revived, nor has anyone else taken on the mantle of "government agent posing as Watchdog".
Is it key to the overall Scourge storyline? Somewhat; it's the return of the Scourge who killed Wraith and the first Scourge after a lengthy absence. At the time the return didn't seem so dramatic since it was then possible that he was the Scourge the Red Skull was using.
Is is part of the main story in this issue? Only in the sense of inadventently helping the government's deception, which is followed up more in later issues of this title and West Coast Avengers.
Other comments: This is the only time Scourge inadvertently killed an innocent. The ruse is revealed in Captain America #354. This Scourge was probably lying low to take the heat of Captain America's search. It's possible that the renegade Scourge's actions resulted somehow in this Scourge returning to action.
Justice is Served!: The Scourge of the Underworld Files 20: Captain America (Failed Hit)
This is part twenty of a series of posts examining the original Scourge storyline in the 1980s to 1990s, in which an organization devoted to the assassination of super-villains, usually with a modified submachine gun with explosive shells went into action, usually uttering the catch-phrase "Justice is served!" just after killing the villain. Adapted from material I previously wrote in the 1990s on an older website. Previously I was going from memory but in 2014 I purchased the Scourge of the Underworld trade. I also have the most recent Marvel Index volumes. I am therefore editing this series accordingly. This series covers Iron Man#194 to USAgent#4. It does not cover subsequent appearances of characters called Scourge as all subsequent appearances deviated in key ways from the original concept. On the other hand, hits that were considered unsuccessful even at the time are covered. For successful hits, postmortem uses of victims are now noted.
CAPTAIN AMERICA#350 by Mark Gruenwald (writer) and Kieron Dwyer & Al Migrom (artists)
Would-be victim: Captain America (John Walker)
Disguise: White trenchcoat/skull cowl/hat
Synopsis: The employer of the Scourge from #347, revealed to be the original Red Skull claims that the Scourge operation was his idea. He has Scourge and other agents of organizations who had fought Captain America (Steve Rogers and/or John Walker) of late attack Captain America (at the time John Walker) who defeats Scourge. Scourge is not captured, however.
Is it a key part of the Scourge storyline? Only marginally. It makes for an interesting red herring, but Scourge is basically used as a token gunman here
Is it part of the main story in this issue? Scourge is part of the main plot, but mainly as window dressing.
Other comments: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Masters confirms what one can extrapolate from the US Agent mini-series: the Scourge in the Red Skull plot thread is a renegade, and the Red Skull lied about coming up with and running the show. This makes sense since while one can see the Red Skull taking advantage of the Scourge operation to eliminate the competition, had he thought of the idea on his own, he most likely would have targeted heroes first. While a darker version of the Scourge costume had appeared previously and the all-white version in a Handbook entry, this is the first time the all-time costume is used in a story. This is the first time a Scourge made a full attempt at killing a hero, though the first one threatened to shoot Steve Rogers previously.
CAPTAIN AMERICA#350 by Mark Gruenwald (writer) and Kieron Dwyer & Al Migrom (artists)
Would-be victim: Captain America (John Walker)
Disguise: White trenchcoat/skull cowl/hat
Synopsis: The employer of the Scourge from #347, revealed to be the original Red Skull claims that the Scourge operation was his idea. He has Scourge and other agents of organizations who had fought Captain America (Steve Rogers and/or John Walker) of late attack Captain America (at the time John Walker) who defeats Scourge. Scourge is not captured, however.
Is it a key part of the Scourge storyline? Only marginally. It makes for an interesting red herring, but Scourge is basically used as a token gunman here
Is it part of the main story in this issue? Scourge is part of the main plot, but mainly as window dressing.
Other comments: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Masters confirms what one can extrapolate from the US Agent mini-series: the Scourge in the Red Skull plot thread is a renegade, and the Red Skull lied about coming up with and running the show. This makes sense since while one can see the Red Skull taking advantage of the Scourge operation to eliminate the competition, had he thought of the idea on his own, he most likely would have targeted heroes first. While a darker version of the Scourge costume had appeared previously and the all-white version in a Handbook entry, this is the first time the all-time costume is used in a story. This is the first time a Scourge made a full attempt at killing a hero, though the first one threatened to shoot Steve Rogers previously.
Justice is Served!: The Scourge of the Underworld Files 19: Red Skull
This is part nineteen of a series of posts examining the original Scourge storyline in the 1980s to 1990s, in which an organization devoted to the assassination of super-villains, usually with a modified submachine gun with explosive shells went into action, usually uttering the catch-phrase "Justice is served!" just after killing the villain. Adapted from material I previously wrote in the 1990s on an older website. Previously I was going from memory but in 2014 I purchased the Scourge of the Underworld trade. I also have the most recent Marvel Index volumes. I am therefore editing this series accordingly. This series covers Iron Man#194 to USAgent#4. It does not cover subsequent appearances of characters called Scourge as all subsequent appearances deviated in key ways from the original concept. On the other hand, hits that were considered unsuccessful even at the time are covered. For successful hits, postmortem uses of victims are now noted.
CAPTAIN AMERICA#347 by Mark Gruenwald (writer) and Kieron Dwyer & Al Milgrom (art)
Victim: Red Skull (Albert Malik)
Disguise: Helicopter pilot.
Synopsis: Mercenaries break the Albert Malik out of prison and get him to a helicopter. One mercenary tries to join Malik in the helicopter but Malik kicks him off. After the helicopter takes off Malik dons the cowl of the 1950s Red Skull. The pilot literally shoots him out of the helicopter and declares, "Justice is Served". Shortly thereafter he calls up a man in red light to tell him what happened, which causes the mysteryman to laugh in delight
Is it a key part of the overall Scourge storyline? Somewhat. It shows that the Scourge operation is back in business in some fashion. It also begins a lengthy red herring.
Does it tie into the main story in this issue? Yes. The mysteryman, whose identity is revealed in this Scourge's next appearance, #350 (see the next Files) had been behind the scenes regarding many of Captain America's recent problems when this story was written.
Portmortem use of victim: Albert Malik has never been revived. Sinthea Shmidt has since assumed the identity of the Red Skull, but she is more a successor to her father, the original Red Skull than to Malik.
Other comments: This is the first appearance of a Scourge working for the man in red light (see next Files). At least retroactively the Red Skull is Scourge's oldest victim
CAPTAIN AMERICA#347 by Mark Gruenwald (writer) and Kieron Dwyer & Al Milgrom (art)
Victim: Red Skull (Albert Malik)
Disguise: Helicopter pilot.
Synopsis: Mercenaries break the Albert Malik out of prison and get him to a helicopter. One mercenary tries to join Malik in the helicopter but Malik kicks him off. After the helicopter takes off Malik dons the cowl of the 1950s Red Skull. The pilot literally shoots him out of the helicopter and declares, "Justice is Served". Shortly thereafter he calls up a man in red light to tell him what happened, which causes the mysteryman to laugh in delight
Is it a key part of the overall Scourge storyline? Somewhat. It shows that the Scourge operation is back in business in some fashion. It also begins a lengthy red herring.
Does it tie into the main story in this issue? Yes. The mysteryman, whose identity is revealed in this Scourge's next appearance, #350 (see the next Files) had been behind the scenes regarding many of Captain America's recent problems when this story was written.
Portmortem use of victim: Albert Malik has never been revived. Sinthea Shmidt has since assumed the identity of the Red Skull, but she is more a successor to her father, the original Red Skull than to Malik.
Other comments: This is the first appearance of a Scourge working for the man in red light (see next Files). At least retroactively the Red Skull is Scourge's oldest victim
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Justice is Served!: The Scourge of the Underworld Files 18: Handbook Entries
This is part eighteen of a series of posts examining the original Scourge storyline in the 1980s to 1990s, in which an organization devoted to the assassination of super-villains, usually with a modified submachine gun with explosive shells went into action, usually uttering the catch-phrase "Justice is served!" just after killing the villain. Adapted from material I previously wrote in the 1990s on an older website. Previously I was going from memory but in 2014 I purchased the Scourge of the Underworld trade. I also have the most recent Marvel Index volumes. I am therefore editing this series accordingly. This series covers Iron Man#194 to USAgent#4. It does not cover subsequent appearances of characters called Scourge as all subsequent appearances deviated in key ways from the original concept. On the other hand, hits that were considered unsuccessful even at the time are covered. For successful hits, postmortem uses of victims are now noted.
THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE v2 #11 & 19 & v4 #33 by Mark Gruenwald or Peter Sanderson (writer #11), Peter Sanderson (writer #19), Glenn Herdling, Peter Sanderson, or Murray Ward (writer#33), John Byrne & Josef Rubinstein (artists #11), Tom Palmer & Josef Rubinstein (artists #19), Keith Pollard & Josef Rubinstein (artists #33) (credits only for new material)
General Comments: #11 is subtitled Deluxe Edition while #19 is subtitled Book of the Dead Deluxe Edition. #33 (Master Edition) is strictly speaking beyond the USAgent #4 cut-off point but was published not long after so is an exception to the rule. Handbooks after the 1990s are not covered. This Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition series concluded prior to Scourge's next hit, hence its placement after Captain America #320. The Master Edition came later but I've opted to let it piggy-back on the earlier Handbooks.
v2 #11 Comments: Only handbook entry Scourge noted. This is a rare instance in the Deluxe Edition where a deceased character appears in the main section and not the Book of the Dead. Scourge trenchoat/skull cowl/hat are all white, which wasn't the case for the Scourge discussed here (in Captain America #320 he wore a black variant of this) but was the costume most frequently used by his successors. This entry outlines why Scourge could not have been whom he claimed to be (in short, the director he mentioned was Coot Collier while the Enforcer was Charles Delazny). One note suggests that originally every Scourge victim was going to get an entry in the Book of the Dead, which did not prove to be the case. The retroactive Marvel Fanfare #29 story had not yet been published.
v2 #19 Comments: Only handbook entry Scourge's Victims noted. This entry summarizes Scourge's history more briefly than in #11, then gives headshots of Scourge's victims to date, including alter ego if known, First Appearance, Final Appearance (at the time). By this time Marvel Fanfare #29 had been published, and Hammer and Anvil are placed between Basilisk and Fly.
v4 #33 Comments: Only Scourge entry noted. Roman numerals given for many of various Scourges are now considered false for Known former members (e.g. Caprice is now considered to be the second or third Scourge due to her hit on Titania), not sixth and at least one hit in the Bibliography is considered to be wrongly attributed (Scourge I is listed as Titania's killer)
THE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE v2 #11 & 19 & v4 #33 by Mark Gruenwald or Peter Sanderson (writer #11), Peter Sanderson (writer #19), Glenn Herdling, Peter Sanderson, or Murray Ward (writer#33), John Byrne & Josef Rubinstein (artists #11), Tom Palmer & Josef Rubinstein (artists #19), Keith Pollard & Josef Rubinstein (artists #33) (credits only for new material)
General Comments: #11 is subtitled Deluxe Edition while #19 is subtitled Book of the Dead Deluxe Edition. #33 (Master Edition) is strictly speaking beyond the USAgent #4 cut-off point but was published not long after so is an exception to the rule. Handbooks after the 1990s are not covered. This Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition series concluded prior to Scourge's next hit, hence its placement after Captain America #320. The Master Edition came later but I've opted to let it piggy-back on the earlier Handbooks.
v2 #11 Comments: Only handbook entry Scourge noted. This is a rare instance in the Deluxe Edition where a deceased character appears in the main section and not the Book of the Dead. Scourge trenchoat/skull cowl/hat are all white, which wasn't the case for the Scourge discussed here (in Captain America #320 he wore a black variant of this) but was the costume most frequently used by his successors. This entry outlines why Scourge could not have been whom he claimed to be (in short, the director he mentioned was Coot Collier while the Enforcer was Charles Delazny). One note suggests that originally every Scourge victim was going to get an entry in the Book of the Dead, which did not prove to be the case. The retroactive Marvel Fanfare #29 story had not yet been published.
v2 #19 Comments: Only handbook entry Scourge's Victims noted. This entry summarizes Scourge's history more briefly than in #11, then gives headshots of Scourge's victims to date, including alter ego if known, First Appearance, Final Appearance (at the time). By this time Marvel Fanfare #29 had been published, and Hammer and Anvil are placed between Basilisk and Fly.
v4 #33 Comments: Only Scourge entry noted. Roman numerals given for many of various Scourges are now considered false for Known former members (e.g. Caprice is now considered to be the second or third Scourge due to her hit on Titania), not sixth and at least one hit in the Bibliography is considered to be wrongly attributed (Scourge I is listed as Titania's killer)
Justice is Served!: The Scourge of the Underworld Files 17: Scourge (also Failed Hits: Cobra, Diamondback & "Mirage")
This is part seventeen of a series of posts examining the original Scourge
storyline in the 1980s to 1990s, in which an organization devoted to
the assassination of super-villains, usually with a modified submachine
gun with explosive shells went into action, usually uttering the
catch-phrase "Justice is served!" just after killing the villain.
Adapted from material I previously wrote in the 1990s on an older
website. Previously I was going from memory but in 2014 I purchased the
Scourge of the Underworld trade. I also have the most recent Marvel
Index volumes. I am therefore editing this series accordingly. This
series covers Iron Man#194 to USAgent#4. It does not cover subsequent
appearances of characters called Scourge as all subsequent appearances
deviated in key ways from the original concept. On the other hand, hits
that were considered unsuccessful even at the time are covered. For
successful hits, postmortem uses of victims are now noted.
CAPTAIN AMERICA #320 by Mark Gruenwald (writer) and Paul Neary & Dennis Janke (artists)
Would-Be Victims: Cobra (Klaus Voorhees), Diamondback (Rachel Leighton), "Mirage" (Steve Rogers disguised as Desmond Charne)
Actual Victim: Scourge (real name unknown)
Disguises: Blond-haired woman (while talking with Domino); Man in trenchcoat and hat with skull cowl (attempt on Cobra & Diamondback); camouflage gear (attempt on "Mirage"); unknown (Scourge's killer).
Synopsis: Captain America evades an attack by Water Wizard, demanding to know why Water Wizard attacked him after calling him. Water Wizard apologizes and explains he had to confirm Captain America was genuine. Water Wizard takes Captain America to the Bar with No Name and shows him the bodies. He explains that he had met with Greg Gilbert about attending the meeting to deal with Scourge, only a flat tire delayed his arrival until after the massacre had happened and Scourge had left. Captain America promises the scared super-villain to keep him safe. Captain America briefs a sheriff that evening but leaves out the Water Wizard to prevent word from getting back to Scourge. Scourge hears a video phone ring and puts on a fake woman's cowl on before answering. Domino briefs him on various super-villain sightings. After hanging up, Scourge removes his disguise and decides to target Diamondback. Cobra breaks Diamondback out of the hospital and takes her to a Serpent Society hovercraft. Scourge shoots at the craft but it only sustains minimal damage. Diamondback wants to get Scourge but Cobra, piloting the craft, decides they need reinforcements. Captain America arranges with the sheriff to pretend to be Mirage and report that he survived the massacre in order to smoke Scourge out. After the fake news is leaked, Domino sees "Mirage" leaving the police station in protective custody and follows them to a cabin. After the police leave, Scourge attempts to kill Mirage and finds himself in a conflict with Captain America. Captain America captures Scourge, who turns out to be an anonymous white haired man. Scourge claims that he has only killed people convicted of a crime, and that he was the son of a famous movie director and the Enforcer's brother. He says he killed the Enforcer to end the shame to the family, then continued the killing spree with the help of a private detective. Scourge is then shot to death by an assailant hiding in the bushes, who declares, "Justice is Served!" Captain America unsuccessfully tries to save the Scourge who was shot rather than pursue his killer.
Is it a key part of the overall Scourge storyline? Yes. Domino, a former member of the Conspiracy, is revealed to be working with Scourge, giving Scourge info on various villains' whereabouts. The Scourge responsible for most of the original killings dies in this story. This is the first irrefutable proof that there is more than one Scourge, and by extension the first time two Scourges appear in the same story.
Is is part of the main story in this issue? The whole issue is devoted to the hunt for Scourge
Portmortem use of victim: A Scourge later appeared in the afterlife in Pluto's realm; while other Scourges were dead by then, it is probable that it is the Scourge who died here who appeared, being the most worthy of being with other combatants in the afterlife. Two other Scourges were already active at this point (a woman later revealed to be Caprice and the first Scourge's killer) and four more confirmed Scourges are examined in later Files. Subsequently a brainwashing Jack Monroe became a Scourge but was not part the true Scourge operation. Frank Simpson (Nuke) also went by Scourge but was even less connected to the Scourge operations. No dead Scourges have been revived.
Other comments: Scourge's assailant, according to various Marvel Handbooks starting with Master Edition, is the same person who killed the Wraith. It's debatable whether Scourge is telling the truth about only killing people who have been convicted of a crime. Some victims such as Hate-Monger and Wraith had no criminal record, but it's possible that this specific Scourge only targeted people who were convicted (though his "Go ahead and check" line about the convictions is an obvious bluff). Enforcer's bogus story coincides with inaccurate info in the first Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe as to whom the Enforcer really was (both the original Ghost Rider stories and The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition get the true alter ego correct; the latter even used the true scenario to point out why Scourge had to be lying, which was not clear from this issue. Domino apparently did not know what this Scourge really looked like. It's possible given Scourge's willingness to work with Domino that he really did think Domino was a private detective, albeit a costumed one rather than a Conspiracy member. Given that this is the third time that this Scourge dressed as a woman (previous times being when he killed Enforcer and shot at Constrictor; Titania's murderer was a real woman) he may have had a taste for cross-dressing. As noted in Files 15, Ringer's body is still present, making his revivial in Lethal Foes of Spider-Man rather unlikely. Other than the hat and trenchcoat being black here and white elsewhere, the costume Scourge used when shooting at Cobra and Diamondback becomes the standard Scourge costume in most subsequent appearances.
CAPTAIN AMERICA #320 by Mark Gruenwald (writer) and Paul Neary & Dennis Janke (artists)
Would-Be Victims: Cobra (Klaus Voorhees), Diamondback (Rachel Leighton), "Mirage" (Steve Rogers disguised as Desmond Charne)
Actual Victim: Scourge (real name unknown)
Disguises: Blond-haired woman (while talking with Domino); Man in trenchcoat and hat with skull cowl (attempt on Cobra & Diamondback); camouflage gear (attempt on "Mirage"); unknown (Scourge's killer).
Synopsis: Captain America evades an attack by Water Wizard, demanding to know why Water Wizard attacked him after calling him. Water Wizard apologizes and explains he had to confirm Captain America was genuine. Water Wizard takes Captain America to the Bar with No Name and shows him the bodies. He explains that he had met with Greg Gilbert about attending the meeting to deal with Scourge, only a flat tire delayed his arrival until after the massacre had happened and Scourge had left. Captain America promises the scared super-villain to keep him safe. Captain America briefs a sheriff that evening but leaves out the Water Wizard to prevent word from getting back to Scourge. Scourge hears a video phone ring and puts on a fake woman's cowl on before answering. Domino briefs him on various super-villain sightings. After hanging up, Scourge removes his disguise and decides to target Diamondback. Cobra breaks Diamondback out of the hospital and takes her to a Serpent Society hovercraft. Scourge shoots at the craft but it only sustains minimal damage. Diamondback wants to get Scourge but Cobra, piloting the craft, decides they need reinforcements. Captain America arranges with the sheriff to pretend to be Mirage and report that he survived the massacre in order to smoke Scourge out. After the fake news is leaked, Domino sees "Mirage" leaving the police station in protective custody and follows them to a cabin. After the police leave, Scourge attempts to kill Mirage and finds himself in a conflict with Captain America. Captain America captures Scourge, who turns out to be an anonymous white haired man. Scourge claims that he has only killed people convicted of a crime, and that he was the son of a famous movie director and the Enforcer's brother. He says he killed the Enforcer to end the shame to the family, then continued the killing spree with the help of a private detective. Scourge is then shot to death by an assailant hiding in the bushes, who declares, "Justice is Served!" Captain America unsuccessfully tries to save the Scourge who was shot rather than pursue his killer.
Is it a key part of the overall Scourge storyline? Yes. Domino, a former member of the Conspiracy, is revealed to be working with Scourge, giving Scourge info on various villains' whereabouts. The Scourge responsible for most of the original killings dies in this story. This is the first irrefutable proof that there is more than one Scourge, and by extension the first time two Scourges appear in the same story.
Is is part of the main story in this issue? The whole issue is devoted to the hunt for Scourge
Portmortem use of victim: A Scourge later appeared in the afterlife in Pluto's realm; while other Scourges were dead by then, it is probable that it is the Scourge who died here who appeared, being the most worthy of being with other combatants in the afterlife. Two other Scourges were already active at this point (a woman later revealed to be Caprice and the first Scourge's killer) and four more confirmed Scourges are examined in later Files. Subsequently a brainwashing Jack Monroe became a Scourge but was not part the true Scourge operation. Frank Simpson (Nuke) also went by Scourge but was even less connected to the Scourge operations. No dead Scourges have been revived.
Other comments: Scourge's assailant, according to various Marvel Handbooks starting with Master Edition, is the same person who killed the Wraith. It's debatable whether Scourge is telling the truth about only killing people who have been convicted of a crime. Some victims such as Hate-Monger and Wraith had no criminal record, but it's possible that this specific Scourge only targeted people who were convicted (though his "Go ahead and check" line about the convictions is an obvious bluff). Enforcer's bogus story coincides with inaccurate info in the first Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe as to whom the Enforcer really was (both the original Ghost Rider stories and The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition get the true alter ego correct; the latter even used the true scenario to point out why Scourge had to be lying, which was not clear from this issue. Domino apparently did not know what this Scourge really looked like. It's possible given Scourge's willingness to work with Domino that he really did think Domino was a private detective, albeit a costumed one rather than a Conspiracy member. Given that this is the third time that this Scourge dressed as a woman (previous times being when he killed Enforcer and shot at Constrictor; Titania's murderer was a real woman) he may have had a taste for cross-dressing. As noted in Files 15, Ringer's body is still present, making his revivial in Lethal Foes of Spider-Man rather unlikely. Other than the hat and trenchcoat being black here and white elsewhere, the costume Scourge used when shooting at Cobra and Diamondback becomes the standard Scourge costume in most subsequent appearances.
Justice is Served!: The Scourge of the Underworld Files 16: Wraith (also Failed Hit: Flash Thompson)
This is part sixteen of a series of posts examining the original Scourge storyline in the 1980s to 1990s, in which an organization devoted to the assassination of super-villains, usually with a modified submachine gun with explosive shells went into action, usually uttering the catch-phrase "Justice is served!" just after killing the villain. Adapted from material I previously wrote in the 1990s on an older website. Previously I was going from memory but in 2014 I purchased the Scourge of the Underworld trade. I also have the most recent Marvel Index volumes. I am therefore editing this series accordingly. This series covers Iron Man#194 to USAgent#4. It does not cover subsequent appearances of characters called Scourge as all subsequent appearances deviated in key ways from the original concept. On the other hand, hits that were considered unsuccessful even at the time are covered. For successful hits, postmortem uses of victims are now noted.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #278 by Tom DeFalco, Peter David, & Jo Duffy (writers) and Ron Frenz & Vince Colleta (artists)
Would-Be Victim: Flash Thompson
Actual Victim: The Wraith (Brian DeWolff)
Disguise: Jack Brennan (police officer)
Synopsis: A man disguises himself as a police officer while listening to a news broadcast of the Bar with No Name massacre. He arrives at the prison at the same time as Peter Parker, who is there to visit Flash Thompson. While not an immediate threat to Parker he mildly triggers Parker's spider-sense, but Parker attributes this to the police officer's gun. Brian DeWolff puts on his Wraith costume, preparing to seek vengeance on the police force for their role in his sister Jean's death. Police officer Jack Brennan enters the men's room and the fake cop follows, emerging soon after with his ID. After visiting Flash Thompson, being held for allegedly being the Hobgoblin, Parker enters the men's room after the imposter triggers his spider sense again, and he finds the real Brennan. Parker changes to Spider-Man. Unaware that Thompson has been framed, fake Brennan is about to shoot him and starts to utter the Scourge catchphrase, but Spider-Man intervenes. SWAT cops see the fight and try to stop Spider-Man. Scourge takes advantage of the chaos to try to escape. He opens the cells and announces that he is Scourge. He tells the the prisoners that he'll kill them if they don't leave. The prisoners run towards the SWAT team and Spider-Man. With the good guys distracted. He escapes to the roof top just as the Wraith is breaking in, knocking out a guard. Scourge decides his trip wasn't wasted here after all and tells the Wraith, "I am the Scourge. Learn my name... and die!". He shoots the Wraith dead and declares "Justice is served!" Spider-Man and the SWAT team find Wraith's body and Scourge's disguise just before the guard wakes up.
Is it a key part of the overall Scourge storyline? Marginally. Next month's Captain America #320 more or less confirms this is a hit by a second male Scourge, though earlier hits have subsequently been attributed to this Scourge as well.
Is it part of the main story in this issue? The attempt on Flash Thompson definitely is the main plot of the issue. The actual hit on the Wraith is more incidental, with the Wraith going on a revenge trip and being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Postmortem use of victim: Brian DeWolff's mind was transferred to a new body and he was killed by Morbius. He was revived a third time by the Hood and killed once more by the Punisher. There are other characters called Wraith but none using Brian DeWolff's costume or motif.
Other comments: This issue came out the same day as the massacre issue of Captain America (#319). However, the announcement of the massacre at the beginning of the story means it takes place after. Chronology it has to takes place after page 9 of Captain America #320, when Domino offers the Hobgoblin hit to the first Scourge. Likely it starts closer to page 14: the news report in this story mentions "17 or 18 victims", suggesting that Captain America's fake story of one victim surviving was starting to hit the news. One of the SWAT team members resembles Lt. Howard Hunter, played by James Sikking on Hill Street Blues.
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #278 by Tom DeFalco, Peter David, & Jo Duffy (writers) and Ron Frenz & Vince Colleta (artists)
Would-Be Victim: Flash Thompson
Actual Victim: The Wraith (Brian DeWolff)
Disguise: Jack Brennan (police officer)
Synopsis: A man disguises himself as a police officer while listening to a news broadcast of the Bar with No Name massacre. He arrives at the prison at the same time as Peter Parker, who is there to visit Flash Thompson. While not an immediate threat to Parker he mildly triggers Parker's spider-sense, but Parker attributes this to the police officer's gun. Brian DeWolff puts on his Wraith costume, preparing to seek vengeance on the police force for their role in his sister Jean's death. Police officer Jack Brennan enters the men's room and the fake cop follows, emerging soon after with his ID. After visiting Flash Thompson, being held for allegedly being the Hobgoblin, Parker enters the men's room after the imposter triggers his spider sense again, and he finds the real Brennan. Parker changes to Spider-Man. Unaware that Thompson has been framed, fake Brennan is about to shoot him and starts to utter the Scourge catchphrase, but Spider-Man intervenes. SWAT cops see the fight and try to stop Spider-Man. Scourge takes advantage of the chaos to try to escape. He opens the cells and announces that he is Scourge. He tells the the prisoners that he'll kill them if they don't leave. The prisoners run towards the SWAT team and Spider-Man. With the good guys distracted. He escapes to the roof top just as the Wraith is breaking in, knocking out a guard. Scourge decides his trip wasn't wasted here after all and tells the Wraith, "I am the Scourge. Learn my name... and die!". He shoots the Wraith dead and declares "Justice is served!" Spider-Man and the SWAT team find Wraith's body and Scourge's disguise just before the guard wakes up.
Is it a key part of the overall Scourge storyline? Marginally. Next month's Captain America #320 more or less confirms this is a hit by a second male Scourge, though earlier hits have subsequently been attributed to this Scourge as well.
Is it part of the main story in this issue? The attempt on Flash Thompson definitely is the main plot of the issue. The actual hit on the Wraith is more incidental, with the Wraith going on a revenge trip and being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Postmortem use of victim: Brian DeWolff's mind was transferred to a new body and he was killed by Morbius. He was revived a third time by the Hood and killed once more by the Punisher. There are other characters called Wraith but none using Brian DeWolff's costume or motif.
Other comments: This issue came out the same day as the massacre issue of Captain America (#319). However, the announcement of the massacre at the beginning of the story means it takes place after. Chronology it has to takes place after page 9 of Captain America #320, when Domino offers the Hobgoblin hit to the first Scourge. Likely it starts closer to page 14: the news report in this story mentions "17 or 18 victims", suggesting that Captain America's fake story of one victim surviving was starting to hit the news. One of the SWAT team members resembles Lt. Howard Hunter, played by James Sikking on Hill Street Blues.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Updated List of Actors 80 Plus Who are Still Alive Part 3
Fifty names
not previously listed.
1.
Kenny Baker (b. 1934): R2-D2 in Star Wars movies
2.
Brigette Bardot (b. 1934): Juliete Hardy in And
God Created Woman; Babette in Babette Goes to War
3.
Len Birman (b. 1932): Rocket Robin Hood on
Rocket Robin Hood; Simon Mills in first Captain America TV movie
4.
Pat Boone (b. 1934): best known as singer, has
also acted, e.g. Angel at the Tomb in The Greatest Story Ever Told
5.
Wilford Brimley (b. 1934): Ben Luckett in
Cocoon; Harold Smith in Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins; Gus Witherspoon on
Our House
6.
Pat Crawford Brown (b. 1929): Ida Greenberg on
Desperate Housewives
7.
Fidel Castro (b. 1926): best known as President
of Cuba, has had bit parts in movies e.g. Holiday in Mexico
8.
George Chakiris (b. 1934): Professor Peterson on
Superboy
9.
Richard Chamberlain (b. 1934): James Kildare on
Dr. Kildaire; John Blackthorne on Shogun; Allan Quatermain in Allan Quatermain
and the Lost City of Gold
10.
Carol Channing (b. 1921): Carol Honeycutt on The
Carol Channing Show; Muzzy Van Hossmere in Thoroughly Modern Millie
11.
Maria Charles (b. 1929): Mrs. Reaper in Hot Fuzz
12.
Bill Cobbs (b. 1934): Elmer Greentree on The
Others; Reginald in Night at the Museum
13.
Roger Corman (b. 1926); best known as a
Director/Producer; has also acted e.g. Antonio Sordi in Blood Bath
14.
Judi Dench (b. 1934): M in 1990s-2010s James
Bond movies; Jean Hardcastle on As Time Goes By
15.
Paul Dooley (b. 1928): Wimpy in Popeye; John
Shirley on Grace Under Fire
16.
Donnie Dunagan (b. 1934): Young Bambi in Bambi
17.
Louise Fletcher (b. 1934): Nurse Ratched in One
Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
18.
Clu Gallagher (b. 1928): Burt in The Return of
the Living Dead; Bartender in the Feast movies
19.
Barbara Hale (b. 1922): Della Street on Perry
Mason
20.
Rolf Harris (b. 1930): best known as singer but
has acted e.g. Narrator on Olive the Ostrich
21.
Jonathan Haze (b. 1929): Seymour Krelboyne in
The Little Shop of Horrors
22.
Brian Humphries (b. 1934): Dame Edna Everage in
various talk shows
23.
Patricia Hitchcock (b. 1928): Caroline in Psycho
24.
Michael Jackson (b. 1934): not to be confused
with the singer; Ganthet in two animated Green Lantern movies; Alfred
Pennyworth in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1-2
25.
Jackie Joseph (b. 1933): Audrey Fulquard in The
Little Shop of Horrors
26.
Jake LaMotta (1921): best known as boxer but
various acting role, e.g. Bartender in The Hustler
27.
Norman Lear (b. 1922): best known as Writer (All
in the Family, The Jeffersons), has done a small amount of acting, e.g.
Benjamin Franklin on South Park
28.
Herschell Gordon Lewis (b. 1929) which best
known as a Director (Blood Feast, Two Thousand Maniacs), has also acted, e.g.
Fred Sandy in Smash Cut
29.
Sophia Loren (b. 1934): Dulcinea in Man of La
Mancha; Teresa Leoni in Verdict
30.
Tina Louise (b. 1934): Ginger Grant on Gilligan’s
Island
31.
Shirley Maclaine (b. 1934): Aurora Greenway in
Terms of Endearment; Ouiser Boudreaux ibn Steel Magnolias
32.
Jean Marsh (b. 1934): Rose in Upstairs,
Downstairs; Roz Keith on 9 to 5; Sara Kingdom on Doctor Who
33.
Chuck McCann (b. 1934): The Thing on 1990s
Fantastic Four cartoon series
34.
Ted V. Mikels (b. 1929): while best known as
Director (Astro-Zombies movies), has also acted, e.g. Leo in Ten Violent Women
35.
Dick Miller (b. 1928): Walter Paisley in
Chopping Mall; Fosnight in the 1990s Flash series; Uncle Willy in Tales from
the Crypt: Demon Knight
36.
Maureen O’Hara (b. 1920): Esmerelda in The Hunchback
of Notre Dame Louisa Frederici Cody in Buffalo Bill
37.
Betsy Palmer (b. 1926): Pamela Voorhees in Friday
the 13th
38.
Priscilla Pointer (b. 1924): Rebecca Barnes
Wentworth on Dallas; Mrs. Beaumont in Blue Velvet; Nora Allen on 1990s Flash
series
39.
Estelle Parsons (b. 1927): Blanche in Bonnie and
Clyde; Mrs. Trueheart in Dick Tracy; Beverly Harris on Roseanne
40.
Nancy Reagan (b. 1921): best on as First Lady,
played Herself on an episode of Diff’rent Strokes
41.
Carl Reiner (b. 1922): Alan Brady on The Dick
Van Dyke Show
42.
George Segal (b. 1934): Dick Harper in Fun with
Dick and Jane; Buddy Arnett in Me Myself and I
43.
Gene Shalit (b. 1925); mostly known film critic
for Today, has gone a small amount of acting (an episode of The Critic and SpongeBob
SquarePants)
44.
James Sikking (b. 1934): Howard Hunter on Hill
Street Blues; David Howser on Doogie Howser, M.D.
45.
Maggie Smith (b. 1934): Diana Barrie in California
Suite; Thetis in Clash of the Titans; Minerva McGonagall in Harry Potter
movies; Violet Crawley on Downton Abbey
46.
Jerry Stiller (b. 1927): Maury Ballstein in
Zoolander; Arthur Spooner on The King of Queens
47.
Russ Tamblyn (b. 1934): Anchor in Satan’s
Sadists; Rico in Dracula vs. Frankenstein; Lawrence Jacoby on Twin Peaks
48.
Peter Vaughn (b. 1923): Mr. Helpmann in Brazil
49.
Gregory Walcott (b. 1928): Jeff Trent in Plan 9
from Outer Space; Roger Havilland in 87th Precinct
50.
Van Williams (b. 1934): Britt “The Green Hornet”
Reid on The Green Hornet
Updated List of Actors 80 Plus Who are Still Alive Part 2
Fifty names
not previously listed. I'll eventually fold them into the Feb 14 post.
1.
Alan Arkin (b. 1934): John Yossarian in Catch-22; Lester Siegel in
Argo
2.
Carroll Baker (b. 1931): Baby Doll Meighan in
Baby Doll; Veronica in The Greatest Story Ever Told
3.
Tom Baker (b. 1934): The Doctor on Doctor Who
4.
Claire Bloom (b. 1931): Hera in Clash of the
Titans
5.
Donald Bluthal (b. 1929): Professor Pacoli in The
Fifth Element; Karl Harris in Dark City
6.
Stan Boreson (b. 1925): host of King’s Klubhouse
7.
Carol Burnett (b. 1933): various roles on The
Carol Burnett Show
8.
Ellen Burstyn (b. 1932): Ellen Brewer on The
Ellen Burstyn Show; Barbara Bush in W
9.
Edd Byrnes (b. 1933): Kookie on 77 Sunset Strip
10.
Michael Caine (b. 1933): Harry Palmer in The
Ipcress File, etc; Wilbur Larch in The Cider House Rules; Alfred Pennyworth in
Batman Begins, etc
11.
Leslie Caron (b. 1931) Gigi in Gigi
12.
William Christopher (b. 1932): Francis Mulcahy
on MASH
13.
Roy Clark (b. 1933): fictionalized version of
self on Hee Haw, Cousin Roy on Beverly Hillbillies
14.
Dabney Coleman (b. 1932): Merle Jeeter on Mary
Hartman, Mary Hartman; Joseph Prang ion Young Doctors in Love; Bill Bittinger
on Buffalo Bill
15.
Joan Collins (b. 1933): Alexis Colby on Dynasty
16.
Tim Conway (b. 1933): Charles Parker on McHale’s
Navy; various roles in The Carol Burnett Show
17.
Irwin Corey (b. 1914) Judge Gabriel in Stuck on
You
18.
Olympia Dukakis (b. 1931): Clairee Belcher in
Steel Magnolias; Anna Madrigal on the three Tales of the City mini-series
19.
Barbara Eden (b. 1931) Jeannie on I Dream of
Jeannie, Stella Johnson on Harper Valley PTA
20.
Jamie Farr (b. 1934): Maxwell Q. Klinger on
MASH, Sheik in Cannonball Run I-II
21.
Don Francks (b. 1932): Walter on Nikita
22.
Joel Grey (b. 1932): Chiun in Remo Williams: The
Adventure Begins; Lemuel Idzik on Oz
23.
Florence Henderson (b. 1934): Carol Brady on The
Brady Bunch
24.
Richard Herd (b. 1932): Dennis Sheridan on TJ
Hooker; Walt in Planes, Trains & Automobiles
25.
John Hillerman (b. 1932): Higgins on Magnum PI
26.
Shirley Jones (b. 1934): Shirley Renfrew
Partridge on The Partridge Family
27.
Bernie Kopell (b. 1933) Siegfried on Get Smart,
Adam Bricker on Love Boat
28.
Robert Mandan (b. 1932): Chester Tate on Soap; Lawrence
Fielding on Private Benjamin
29.
Wink Martindale (b. 1933): while mainly known as
a game show host (Tic Tac Dough), has done some acting, e.g. Hercules
30.
Bob McGrath (b. 1932): Bob on Sesame Street
31.
Donald Moffat (b. 1930): Rem on Logan’s Run
(series); Garry in The Thing; Edgar Halcyon opn Tales of the City
32.
Jim Nabors (b. 1930): Gomer Pyle on The Andy
Griffith Show and Gomer Pyle: USMC
33.
Joe Negri (b. 1926): Handyman Negri on
MisteRogers' Neighborhood
34.
Willie Nelson (b. 1933): mostly known as singer
but has acted e.g. Wendell in The Electric Horseman
35.
Julie Newmar (b. 1933) Catwoman on 1960s Batman
series
36.
Nichelle Nichols (b. 1932): Nyota Uhura on Star
Trek
37.
Kim Novak (b. 1933): Madeline Elster in Vertigo;
Kit Marlowe on Falcon Crest
38.
Regis Philbin (b. 1931): while best known as
talk show and game show host (Who Wants to Be a Millionnaire?), has also acted
a fair bit, e.g. Shrek 3-4
39.
Roman Polanski (b. 1933): mostly known as
director, but has acted including Alfred in The Fearless Vampire Killers
40.
Wayne Rogers (b. 1933): John McIntyre on MASH,
Charley Michaels on House Calls
41.
Prunella Scales (b. 1932): Sybil Fawlty on
Fawlty Towers
42.
Tom Skerritt (b. 1933): Duke Forrest in MASH
movie; Jimmy Brock on Picket Fences
43.
Caroll Spinney (b. 1933): Big Bird on Sesame
Street
44.
Inga Swenson (b. 1932): Gretchen Wilomena Kraus
on Benson
45.
Joe Turkel (b. 1927): Lloyd the Bartender in The
Shining; Eldon Tyrell in Blade Runner
46.
Mamie Van Doren (b. 1931): Gwen Dulaine in High
School Confidential
47.
Robert Vaughn (b. 1932): Napoleon Solo on The
Man from UNCLE; Hunt Stockwell on The A-Team
48.
Gene Wilder (b. 1933): Leo Bloom in The Producers;
Willy Wonka in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory; Dr. Frankenstein in
Young Frankenstein
49.
Fred Willard (b. 1933): Jerry Hubbard on America
2 Night, Buck Laughlin in Best in Show; Real People co-host
50.
Dana Wynter (b. 1931): Becky Driscoll in
Invasion of the Body Snatchers
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