SWORDSMAN I

 

SWORDSMAN I

Real Name: Jacques Duquesne

First Appearance: Avengers (Vol. 1) #19, June 1965

Powers: A baseline human with no superhuman powers, Jacques "Jack" Duquesne was a master of swordsmanship, knife-throwing and the combat use of bladed weapons in general, the Swordsman was an exceptional hand-to-hand combatant, acrobat and strategist, with far more combat experience than most other Avengers.

He could even mesmerize or at least distract unwary opponents using the motions of his swinging blade and flashes of reflected light off its metal. He was a skilled pilot of the Avengers' supersonic Quinjets. An experienced thief, he accumulated knowledge of both ancient and modern architecture via many break-ins. During his pre-Avengers career, he wielded two traditional swords, one over a half-century old, but durable enough to slice through most metals; he later wielded a sword equipped with Makluan-based technology operated by buttons on its handle and hilt. This blade could project a concussive force beam, a disintegrating ray, a flame jet, heat rays, electrical bolts, ultra-sonic shockwaves, a ray which disrupted electrical impulses, or nerve gas which induced temporary unconsciousness. The Swordsman occasionally used other bladed weapons as necessary. He was a recovering alcoholic.

HAWKEYE II

 

HAWKEYE II

Real Name: Katherine Elizabeth Bishop

First Appearance: Young Avengers (Vol. 1) #1, February 2005 (As Kate Bishop); Young Avengers (Vol. 1) #12, Jume 2006 (As Hawkeye II)

Powers: Katherine "Kate" Bishop is a baseline human with no superhuman powers. However, she undertook an intensive physical fitness and self-defense training regimen while also studying archery, fencing, kickboxing, and various martial arts. While at Avengers Mansion, she modeled her costume and code-name after Hawkeye, "borrowing" the Swordsman's broadsword, Mockingbird's battle staves, and Hawkeye's bow and quiver of trick arrows.

Mockingbird's staves could link together into a quarterstaff or vaulting pole, the Swordsman's weapon could fire force blasts, electro-bolts, flames, a disintegration ray, or anesthetic gas, and Hawkeye carried a near endless supply of trick arrows. Captain America retook these weapons when he disbanded the group, but Kate apparently had replicas made when she began financing them. Whether these weapons had any special features is unknown, but after receiving Cap's approval, Kate was given a supply of trick arrows like Hawkeye would carry.

She has access to great wealth through her father (publishing magnate Derek Bishop) and is an excellent cellist.

FENRIS

 

FENRIS

Real Names: Andrea von Strucker & Andreas von Strucker

First Appearance: The Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 1) #194, June 1985

Powers: Andrea and Andreas von Strucker are fraternal twin siblings who were genetically altered at birth so as to have their natural mutations enhanced. Their mutant abilities are now conditioned to generate bio-energy through symbiosis. Whenever they come into physical contact with each other, the twins are capable of producing blasts of energy from their hands. They each have a specific energy signature: Andrea is capable of projecting a disintegration beam while Andreas can project a concussive force blast.

After Andrea's death, Andreas became Swordsman III and carried a set of short daggers and two broadswords, all lined with Adamantium to make them highly sharpened and durable. One of his swords acts as a projectile spike, firing off its blade on an unraveling spool of wire. He can use this as a grappling cable or a surprise weapon. The other sword has a handle wrapped in the tanned flesh of his dead sister, enabling him to channel his mutant power through the blade, firing concussive force bolts.