Crash Course in Villainy, part five

This month’s edition of CCIV (late, I admit) will cover the ever bountiful Blob, Bullseye (whose costume sorta reminds me of Havok’s), and the insanely powerful Dark Phoenix!

check out more of the artist's work at http://big-ogre.deviantart.com/

Blob

Frederick J. Dukes was a mutant performing in the circus freak show when Professor Xavier locates him and invites him to the X-Men. Due to various disagreements between Blob and the X-Men, Xavier wipes his memory and Blob returns to the circus only to then be recruited by Magneto. This too, doesn’t work out well and he again returns to the circus. Several events, including joining up with Unus occur, and Blob joins the Brotherhood of the Mutants for quite some time, engaging in several fights against the X-Men and Avengers. He is also one of the mutants effected by M-Day and was last seen much thinner and star of a future movie with Magneto as his side.

Fred’s powers include fat that can absorb bullets and physical force, amazing strength and can create a field of gravity around himself that makes him virtually impossible to move.

For a good story line involving Blob, check out Ultimatum as there’s an amazing sequence where his cannibalism is revealed.

Best Blob quote: “There’s too much skin…it won’t cut.”

view more of the artist's work @ sarpsozdinler.deviantart.com

Bullseye

Bullseye’s real name and origin are still unknown and whilst we have seen an origin story for him, this was later revealed to be wildly fabricated. He is an assassin with virtually no superpowers, aside from uncanny aim and accuracy and has worked for Kingpin. Labeled as Daredevil’s prime foe, he has fought other superheroes as well, such as Captain America and Punisher. Supposedly rendered insane due to a brain tumor, he eventually breaks his back and a Japanese scientist heals him by fusing his spinal cord with adamantium. He is subsequently imprisoned after returning to life of crime and also does a couple of appearances costumed as Hawkeye and Daredevil. During the Civil War arc, he is recruited to lead the Thunderbolts by Iron Man and then recruited by Norman Osborn to lead the Dark Avengers (this is when he wears the costume of Hawkeye). Following the events of Siege, Bullseye was killed by Daredevil in Shadowlands.

Bullseye’s “powers” include perfect accuracy and aim, expert martial artist and adamantium laced spinal column.

For a good story line involving Bullseye, check out Daredevil Noir. It’s an alternate form of Bullseye but I enjoyed the story a lot.

Best Bullseye quote: ” Thanks for the shotgun…was almost out of cards.”

art is courtesy of http://rocom.deviantart.com/

Dark Phoenix

After  being manipulated by Mastermind and the Hellfire Club into believing illusions he created, Phoenix is overwhelmed and renames herself Dark Phoenix. She departed into the heavens after a  brief fight with the X-Men and ate a star’s energy causing a host of intergalactic beings (including the Sh’iar and Kree) to view her as a threat larger than Galactus. Beast eventually creates a device that mutes her powers a little and Jean Grey is able to keep the destructive impulses in check. The Shi’ar still demand her death as payment for her star eating actions (which killed millions of aliens in the process) and Xavier consents to a duel of honor. This doesn’t go well for the X-Men and it leaves Cyclops and Jean to fight the Imperial Guard. Scott is hit by a stray bolt of energy and Jean goes into a panic, unleashing Dark Phoenix. The Shi’ar then activate their Plan Omega or Plan Destroy The Entire Solar System and Xavier orders the X-Men to subdue Jean. Jean regains control and after an emotional goodbye to Cyclops, sacrifices herself.

Dark Phoenix’s powers include omnipotence, heightened energy and life force manipulation, cosmic awareness as well as heightened powers that Jean Grey possesses.

A great story arc to read is Uncanny X-Men #130-140.

Best Dark Phoenix quote: “She’s GONE, Gambit and if you think you’re hurting now – if you even think you’ve BEGUN to suffer – then you have no idea what you’re up against.”

Hopefully you all enjoyed this month’s installment and I’ll try to be more diligent in getting these uploaded in time! Leave your comments/thoughts/corrections/suggestions in the comments below!