BEAK

 

BEAK

Real Name: Barnell Bohusk

First Appearance: New X-Men (Vol. 1) #117, October 2001

Powers: The Beak possesses an avian-like mutation which grants numerous bird-like features and abilities. He has pneumatic/porous, but durable bones (extensions of his respiratory system) that enable him enhanced aerial agility, a beaked nose, beady eyes with enhanced eyesight (particularly both night and distance vision), a body covered in feathers, finger talons sharp enough to rend flesh, and feathered wings that fold up along his arms and allow a limited ability to glide, but not mastered controlled flight. His endurance appears to be enhanced as he has fallen several stories whereas a fall from such a height would have severely injured an ordinary human. His ribs are fused to his vertebrae to enhance the strength of his flying muscles.

After being depowered on M-Day, he joined the New Warriors as Blackwing. He wore an electromagnetic harness and a set of retractable wings under his arms, based on the Vulture's designs. The harness gave him the power of levitation, and the wings could be manipulated to catch air currents and allow silent, highly-maneuverable flight. Presumably, the harness also boosted Barnell's natural vitality as it did for the Vulture, allowing him to lift at least 800 to 1,000 lbs and giving him heightened speed, agility, endurance, and reflexes. His costume is reinforced to protect him from physical injury, has telescopic lenses in the visor, and also uses vibro-shock blaster weapons built into his gloves, apparently based on Shocker's technology.

Like all members of the new New Warriors, Barnell had a utility belt with cartridges containing Pym Particles for reducing opponents down to size or impact webbing for quickly wrapping up and restraining felons. His suit also generated an anti-gravity platform for flight and propulsion, and contained a "Ghost Mode" that rendered him intangible and utterly unaffected by physical assaults. Night Thrasher was able to remotely trigger the ghost circuitry, but it is unknown if he has granted independent control of the ability to his teammates prior to the New Warriors' disbandment.

His mutant powers were later restored by the weaponized Mothervine.