Crusader (Marvel Comics)

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Crusader is the name of different fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Two versions have made significant appearances while others are minor characters who have utilized the alias.

The first version first appeared in Thor #330 (April, 1983) and was created by writer Alan Zelenetz and penciller Bob Hall.[1]

The second version is a Skrull superhero that first appeared in Marvel Team-Up vol. 3 #23 (Aug. 2006) and was created by Robert Kirkman and Andy Kuhn.

Fictional character biography

Arthur Blackwood

Crusader
Leinil Yu.
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThor #330 (April 1983)
Created byAlan Zelenetz
Bob Hall
In-story information
Alter egoArthur Charles Blackwood
Place of originDecatur, Illinois
AbilitiesMaster swordsman and jouster
Superhuman strength, speed, stamina, agility, dexterity, reflexes/reactions and resistance to injury
Wears mystical body armor
Use of mystical sword and shield

Arthur Blackwood was born in

Odin, the Crusader's belief in his own infallibility was shaken. The Crusader was unable to comprehend how a supposed agent of the devil like Thor could be superior to him, a self-styled messenger of the Lord. When Thor shattered his sword, the Crusader fled, filled with doubts about the righteousness of his cause.[2]

Blackwood re-forged the sword and went back into action. He killed two church thieves, and attacked the Emir of Ghulistan. He then battled the Black Knight, but was forced to surrender and his sword and shield were shattered.[3]

Blackwood's doubt has often caused him to lose battles rather than win them. Luke Cage was also able to defeat Blackwood after breaking his sword, once again causing Blackwood to doubt his cause leading, in turn, to yet another defeat.[4] His doubt also led him to defeat at the hands of Nate Grey. After this, Blackwood seemingly disappeared from continuing his crusade.[5]

Not too long after the Avengers were broken up, Electro conducted the breakout of many famous Marvel villains from The Raft, a prison island for super villains. Blackwood was held as a prisoner there but would soon escape along with many other prisoners.[6] This escape once again inspired Blackwood to continue his crusade, starting with Doctor Strange. However, his newest crusade would also be his last as Strange would use his powers to send Blackwood back to the Raft.[volume & issue needed]

During the "Civil War" storyline, it is revealed that the Crusader is still active and had organized a religious group of thugs for himself. After hijacking a plane filled with money and planning to bomb the headquarters of several super-heroes, the Crusader and his men are stopped by Wolverine after he hears about their operation. In the process, Wolverine gouges out the Crusader's right eye, while quoting the Bible with "An eye for an eye". However, Wolverine is unable to prevent the plane from crashing down into a cornfield. On impact, the plane suddenly explodes, with both Wolverine and Blackwood surviving the crash.[7]

The Crusader attended a meeting organized by the

Hood to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act.[8]
According to his entry in volume 3 of The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z, he did not accept Hood's invitation.

Powers and abilities

Arthur Blackwood gained superhuman powers after experiencing a religious vision in which he was seemingly bequeathed the combined power of his ancestors who had served God. The Crusader's physical attributes, as well as the power of his sword and shield, are directly related to his will and belief. While he is confident, his strength, speed, stamina, agility, dexterity, reflexes/reactions and resistance to injury are sufficient for him to stand toe-to-toe with the likes of

hammer
before shattering. As the Crusader, he is a master swordsman and jouster. Blackwood has earned a master's degree, though his studies towards Doctorate of Divinity remain uncompleted.

Z'Reg

Crusader
The Initiative
Notable aliasesAubrey Thompson
AbilitiesShapeshifting
Reality manipulation via cosmic powered ring

Z'Reg is a Skrull operative who was sent to spy on the Avengers after his training. However, he arrives on Earth shortly after the Avengers disbanded.[9] Falling in love with the planet's customs and superheroes under the civilian identity of Aubrey Thompson, Z'Reg decides to become a superhero and calls himself the Crusader (a name he chose specifically because it gives no clue as to his abilities).[9]

He soon became the mentor of

Titannus attacked the US, Crusader helped other superheroes to defeat the monster.[11]

Crusader is later seen on board a bus of new recruits arriving at

MVP known as "KIA" attacked Crusader and the other new trainees, and severed Crusader's hand in the battle.[13] His hand was surgically reattached by the Camp's doctor, Physique. Fearing a medical examination would reveal his true form, Crusader used the fragments of the Cosmic Cube in his ring to make himself appear human to the doctor's medical tests (in fact, an overly average human, so much so that the doctor comments on how generic his readings are).[14]

During the

the Skrull impersonating Pym running off and chases after him. Crusader fights and defeats the impostor, but 3-D Man then realizes that Crusader is a Skrull and shoots him through the head. His fellow Initiative members believe that "human" Crusader had simply been replaced by a Skrull. As Crusader lays mortally injured, he wishes "it could have ended differently" and then disappears.[18]

Powers and abilities

Z'Reg's Skrull physiology enables him to

shapeshift into virtually any form that he chooses and copy the powers of other heroes. Later, he takes Curtis Doyle's ring as an honor for his death. The ring was crafted from a fragment of a destroyed Cosmic Cube which allows the wearer to alter reality within a radius of roughly 15 feet (4.6m) around him, giving him a 30-foot (9.1 m) sphere of reality he can alter.[9]

Other characters named Crusader

References

  1. ISBN 0-8160-1356-X.[1]
  2. ^ Thor #330-331. Marvel Comics.
  3. ^ Avengers Spotlight #39. Marvel Comics.
  4. ^ Cage #17
  5. ^ X-Man #48. Marvel Comics.
  6. ^ The New Avengers #1-4. Marvel Comics.
  7. ^ Wolverine vol. 3 #42 (July 2006). Marvel Comics.
  8. ^ The New Avengers #35. Marvel Comics.
  9. ^ a b c d Marvel Team-Up vol. 3 #23. Marvel Comics.
  10. ^ Marvel Team-Up vol. 3 #24
  11. ^ Marvel Team-Up vol. 3 #25. Marvel Comics.
  12. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #8. Marvel Comics.
  13. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #9. Marvel Comics.
  14. ^ a b Avengers: The Initiative #12 (2008). Marvel Comics.
  15. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #14 (2008). Marvel Comics.
  16. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #15. Marvel Comics.
  17. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #16 (2008). Marvel Comics.
  18. ^ Avengers: The Initiative #19. Marvel Comics.

External links

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