Scourge of the Underworld
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Scourge of the Underworld | |
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Publication information | |
Publisher | Marvel Comics |
First appearance | Iron Man #194 (May 1985) |
Created by | Mark Gruenwald (writer) John Byrne (artist) |
In-story information | |
Alter ego | Various |
Abilities | Master of disguise Exploding armor-piercing bullets |
The Scourge of the Underworld is the name of a series of fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Writer/editor Mark Gruenwald originally created the Scourge in 1985 as a plot device intended to thin the criminal population of the Marvel Universe, in particular eliminating those supervillain characters he deemed to be too minor, redundant, or ill-conceived.[1] Numerous other characters have used the name, often with differing motives and loyalties.
Organization
The Scourge is originally depicted as an individual vigilante dedicated to the assassination of criminals. This person, whose true name has never been revealed, is seen over the course of several months murdering known supervillains. The Scourge approaches a supervillain in disguise, shoots him or her with an explosive-tipped bullet, shouts his catchphrase "Justice is served!" and disappears. This first iteration's killing spree reaches its apex in Captain America #319, where he guns down eighteen such criminals at an underworld meeting which is, ironically, held to devise a way of countering the menace of the Scourge. The Scourge disguises himself as the bartender, whom nobody thinks to search. When Captain America captures the Scourge in the following issue, the character claimed to be the brother of the Enforcer, whom Scourge has killed because his sibling's criminal activities has shamed their father. He claims that this crime led to him creating the Scourge persona with help from a private investigator only identified as "Domino", who provides him detailed information on the supervillain community. Immediately after making this confession, the Scourge is himself shot and killed by an unseen assailant, who is heard to cry "Justice is served!" in the fashion of the Scourge's other killings.
In Captain America #326, Captain America is confronted by a hologram of the Scourge, operated by
In Captain America #351, the Commission on Super-Hero Affairs had an agent impersonate the Scourge of the Underworld to "kill" Captain America due to Walker's identity having been made public and whose parents had been killed as a result of retaliation by the Watchdog organization. This story featured the first in-story appearance of the Scourge's official costume (see Appearances below).
A new Scourge appeared in Captain America #358-362, in a story where a new version attempts to kill the criminal super-scientist "The Power Broker". This version appears to be operating independently of the Red Skull, claiming to want the Power Broker dead due to the fact that his "treatment" to give people super-powers, had left his brother horribly deformed instead.
Another version of the Scourge, working for Red Skull, shows up in Captain America #394; after a failed attempt by the German government to arrest and try Red Skull for crimes against humanity ended in Red Skull escaping, Skull went into hiding and had a Scourge of the Underworld under his employment murder three clones, of himself and his two associates (Crossbones and Mother Night) to fake their deaths. During a later meeting of his various terrorist groups, a man identified as the Scourge is executed via the Red Dust of Death after lying about several failed attempts on lives of super-villains Red Skull had marked for death. The exchange between the Skull and the Scourge, implies that Red Skull stole the identity of the Scourge for his own agenda when he accuses his henchman of "ruining the good name of the Scourge of the Underworld" with his failures. Mother Night later uses her illusion casting power to create an illusion of the Scourge, to allow additional henchmen of the Red Skull to avoid capture by Captain America.
In 1993, Mark Gruenwald, who had created the Scourge of the Underworld and written nearly all of the main appearances of the character in Captain America, wrote a four-part USAgent mini-series, in order to resolve the looming mysteries involving the character and his various forms and masters.
The mini-series revealed that the Scourge of the Underworld was created by Thomas Holloway, the former Golden Age superhero known as Angel, who ran the organization with help from Domino and two henchmen known as Caprice and Bloodstain. Holloway had initially gone into retirement after a battle with a villain resulted in the death of a civilian. When the second Age of Heroes came about decades later, Halloway vowed to eliminate the newer generation of supervillains through any means necessary to protect the people, and therefore established the Scourge organization. The mini-series also confirmed the existence of female Scourge of the Underworld agents, as one of the villain's previous kills (Titania by a Scourge impersonating fellow villain Gold Digger in a women's locker room) had left unanswered questions to whether or not the murder of Titania was done by a female Scourge, since the villain would not be able to pass as a woman in such an intimate setting as a women's locker room.
The series has Vagabond trying to join the group and is sent on her first mission. Unfortunately she finds her first victim, a former Daredevil villain known as the Matador, to now be a single father who has served his time and abandoned his criminal lifestyle, who begs Vagabond to spare him for his son's sake. Marked for death for failing to do her assignment, Vagabond recruits USAgent to help bring down the organization. During the ensuing fight, the Scourge sent to kill Vagabond and USAgent is captured but killed as USAgent is taken before Bloodstain, who attempts to brainwash USAgent into joining the Scourges. Bloodstain reveals himself to be USAgent's deceased brother Mike Walker, though it's never revealed if this is true or just a disguise designed to manipulate USAgent, with Walker himself denying the idea that his brother would be part of such an organisation. Walker is informed of Halloway's role in running the organization and in the ensuing final battle, Domino and Bloodstain are killed while a large angel-shaped gravestone falls on the invalid Halloway. Though the USAgent mini-series implies the statue killed him, Captain America #440 reveals that Halloway survived and managed to avoid arrest due to his army of lawyers and had gone back into seclusion.
Later entries for the Scourge in various Official Marvel Handbook specials, would clarify the Red Skull connection, which the USAgent mini-series never outright addressed. These entries ultimately state that the Red Skull learned of the existence of the Scourge of the Underworld organization and managed to convince several of Halloway's agents to switch sides and work for him.
Appearance
The Scourge mainly appeared in disguise, though for the final battle with Captain America in Captain America #320, he dressed in an all-black commando costume, which his hologram self later is seen wearing in Captain America #326. For his entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition, a new costume was designed for the character: white skull mask, opera hat, and a white buttoned-up trenchcoat and white gloves. This costume was used sporadically in later stories.
The Deadly Foes of Spider-Man
The Scourge plays a major role in several storylines involving the Shocker in the early 1990s. The mini-series The Deadly Foes of Spider-Man,
In Amazing Spider-Man #364, Shocker attempts to rob several research centers in order to gain technology to enhance his suit's weapons, so as to increase his chances in battle against the Scourge.
Later versions
In the pages of
Five characters bearing the names of the Scourge's previous victims –
The Punisher impersonates the Scourge again in an attempt to take down the Kingpin.[7]
During the "
The original version of Scourge of the Underworld is among the various people in Erebus when
Another person christened with identity is assigned to the
Another iteration joins up with Villains for Hire, the villain counterpart of Heroes for Hire.[15] This character was in fact Paladin in disguise as part of a massive con to take down the Purple Man.[16]
Another new version is shown to be using a list of the locations of supervillains who have been relocated via the witness protection program and killing them, most recently
Villains killed by the Scourge
Name | First appearance | Last appearance | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Enforcer | Ghost Rider #22 | Iron Man #194 | The Scourge is disguised as a homeless woman. |
Miracle Man | Fantastic Four #3 | Thing #24 |
The Scourge is disguised as a long-haired and bearded bus passenger. |
Hate Monger Android | Fantastic Four #279 | Secret Wars II #2 | The Scourge's disguise is not seen. |
Megatak | Thor #328 | Thor #358 | The Scourge is disguised as a homeless man. |
Melter | Tales of Suspense #47 | Avengers #263 |
The Scourge disguised as Melter's assistant Keegan (who was also killed by Scourge). |
Titania |
Marvel Two-in-One #54 | Thing #33 |
The Scourge is disguised as a female wrestler named "Golddigger". |
Basilisk (Basil Elks) |
Marvel Team-Up #16 | Fantastic Four #289 | The Scourge is disguised as a construction worker. |
The Human Fly (Richard Deacon) |
The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #10 | The Amazing Spider-Man #276 | The Scourge is disguised as a garbage man. |
Death Adder |
Marvel Two-in-One #64 | Captain America #318 | The Scourge is disguised as a taxicab driver.
|
Blue Streak (Don Thompson) |
Captain America #217 | Captain America #318 | The Scourge disguised as a truck driver. |
Wraith (Brian DeWolff) | Marvel Team-Up #48 | The Amazing Spider-Man #278 | The Scourge is disguised as a police officer. |
Red Skull (Albert Malik) | Captain America Comics #61 | Captain America #347 | The Scourge is disguised as a pilot. |
An unnamed member of the Watchdogs | Captain America #351 | Captain America #351 | The Scourge is disguised as a government agent. |
Minions of the Power Broker | Captain America #358 | Captain America #358 | No disguise. |
Black Abbott |
Marvel Team-Up #147 | Captain America #394 | Disguise unknown. |
Wrench (Kurt Klemmer) | Omega the Unknown #6 | Captain America #394 | Death is mentioned only. |
Hammer and Anvil | Incredible Hulk #182 | Marvel Fanfare #29 | The Scourge is disguised as an old Native American. Hammer was the one that was shot and Anvil dies due to a psychic link between them. |
Blowtorch Brand | Defenders #135 | U.S. Agent #2 |
The Scourge disguised as a movie patron. |
Jaguar |
Daredevil #120 | Captain America #319 | Killed in the Bar with No Name. |
Mirage | The Amazing Spider-Man #156 | Captain America #319 | Killed in the Bar with No Name. |
Hellrazor |
Marvel Team-Up #87 | Captain America #319 | Killed in the Bar with No Name. |
Shellshock |
Fantastic Four Annual #5 | Captain America #319 | Killed in the Bar with No Name. |
Bird-Man |
Daredevil #157 | Captain America #319 | Killed in the Bar with No Name. |
Cyclone (André Gerard) | The Amazing Spider-Man #143 | Captain America #319 | Killed in the Bar with No Name. |
The Ringer (Anthony Davis) |
Defenders #51 | Captain America #319 | Although thought killed in the Bar with No Name, A.I.M. turns him into a cyborg named Strikeback. Following a fight with Stegron, Strikeback dies again.[19][20] |
Turner D. Century | Spider-Woman #33 | Captain America #319 | Killed in the Bar with No Name. |
The Grappler | She-Hulk #18 | Captain America #319 | Killed in the Bar with No Name. |
The Cheetah |
Captain Marvel #48 |
Captain America #319 | Killed in the Bar with No Name. |
The Vamp |
Captain America #217 | Captain America #319 | Killed in the Bar with No Name. |
Commander Kraken | Sub-Mariner #27 | Captain America #319 | Killed in the Bar with No Name. |
Letha |
Marvel Two-in-One #54 | Captain America #319 | Killed in the Bar with No Name. |
Steeplejack | Ms. Marvel #14 | Captain America #319 | Killed in the Bar with No Name. |
Mind-Wave | Daredevil #133 | Captain America #319 | Killed in the Bar with No Name. |
Rapier |
The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #2 | Captain America #319 | Killed in the Bar with No Name. |
Firebrand (Gary Gilbert) | Iron Man #27 | Captain America #319 | Killed in the Bar with No Name. |
Hijacker | Tales to Astonish #40 | Captain America #319 | Killed in the Bar with No Name. |
Villains who escaped The Scourge
Name | Notes |
---|---|
Constrictor |
The Scourge fails to kill him due to Captain America's intervention.[21] |
Kraven the Hunter | The Scourge fails to kill him because Kraven was battling Tigra and Scourge could not get close enough to kill him without harming Tigra.[22] |
Solarr | He dies in a government project before the Scourge can get to him.[23] |
Water Wizard | Delayed by a flat tire, he does not arrive at the "Bar With No Name" meeting until afterwards. A badly shaken Water Wizard then turns himself in to Captain America for his own protection while also telling him what happened.[24] |
Diamondback and Cobra | The Scourge shoots at their vehicle, but misses the fuel tank.[24] |
Hobgoblin (Roderick Kingsley) |
When Flash Thompson is framed as the Hobgoblin and arrested, the Scourge attempts to assassinate him in jail, but Spider-Man stops him. The real Hobgoblin remains on the Scourge's list when the Scourge is himself assassinated.[25] |
Puppet Master | He is on the Scourge's list when the Scourge is himself assassinated.[24] |
The Phone Ranger | He is attacked in Marvel Age Annual #1 by the Scourge disguised as a workman, but he turns up alive in the "Civil War" storyline. |
The Matador |
He is allowed to live by a rookie Scourge who takes pity on him.[26]
|
Shocker |
He is attacked in Deadly Foes of Spider-Man #3, but the bullet bounces off the vibration field around his body. His attacker is later revealed to be an agent of the Kingpin sent to scare him away from the scene.[27] |
Steel Wind |
The Scourge fails to kill her.[28] |
Gamecock | The Scourge fails to kill him.[28] |
Lionfang | Although initially thought to have died at the hands of a Scourge,[28] he is revealed to be a middle management heroin dealer in North Philadelphia. He uses a wheelchair due to a back injury inadvertently caused by Luke Cage.[29] |
Reception
- In 2014, WhatCulture ranked Scourge of the Underworld 7th in their "7 Unused Spider-Man Villains Who'd Be Great In The Marvel Cinematic Universe" list.[30]
References
- ISBN 978-1465455505.
- ^ Thunderbolts #35. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Thunderbolts #39. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Thunderbolts #45. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Thunderbolts #49. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Citizen V and the V-Battalion #1-3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Civil War: Kingpin #3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Punisher vol. 7 #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Punisher vol. 7 #5. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Punisher vol. 7 #6. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Punisher vol. 7 #7-10. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Incredible Hercules #129. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Thunderbolts #133. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Thunderbolts #136. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Villains for Hire #1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Villains for Hire #4. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Captain America vol. 6 #11. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Captain America vol. 6 #12. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Lethal Foes of Spider-Man #4. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Thunderbolts #56. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Captain America #311. Marvel Comics.
- ^ West Coast Avengers #3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Power Man & Iron Fist #113. Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b c Captain America #320. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Amazing Spider-Man #278. Marvel Comics.
- U.S. Agent#1. Marvel Comics.
- ^ The Deadly Foes of Spider-Man #4. Marvel Comics.
- ^ a b c Captain America #394. Marvel Comics.
- ^ New Avengers: Luke Cage #2-3. Marvel Comics.
- ^ Stewart, K. J. (2014-05-12). "7 Unused Spider-Man Villains Who'd Be Great In The Marvel Cinematic Universe". WhatCulture.com. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
External links
- Scourge of the Underworld at Marvel.com
- Victims of Scourge of the Underworld at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe