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| Asp | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Captain America #310 (October 1985) |
| Created by | Mark Gruenwald Paul Neary |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Cleo Nefertiti |
| Species | Human mutant |
| Team affiliations | BAD Girls, Inc. Femizons Secret Avengers Serpent Society Women Warriors |
| Notable aliases | The Temptress (stage names) |
| Abilities | Accomplished dancer Ability to generate and project "venom bolts" of bioelectric energy that can paralyze or kill living beings |
Asp (Cleo Nefertiti) is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The character has been depicted as a member of the villainousSerpent Society as well as the groupBAD Girls, Inc., an all-female group of adventurers.
Egyptian Cleo Nefertiti took up her criminal career using the name Asp as part of the Serpent Society. There she formed a friendship withBlack Mamba andDiamondback. During one her first jobs with the Serpent Society, she was contracted to killMODOK, but ran intoCaptain America during the job. WhenViper took control of the Serpent Society fromSidewinder; Asp, Black Mamba, andBushmaster refused to betray their leader. With the aid of Captain America they managed to defeat the Viper.
Together with Black Mamba and Diamondback, Asp broke away from the Serpent Society and formed BAD Girls, Inc., who, while not being outright heroes, often aided Captain America and others in taking down various supervillains. During the MarvelCivil War the BAD Girls, Inc. sided with Captain America's forces. She later returned to the Serpent Society.
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She was created by writerMark Gruenwald and artistPaul Neary, and first appeared inCaptain America #310, published October 1985.
Asp was born inTanta,Egypt, where she worked as astripper. She was recruited into theSerpent Society bySidewinder, who was impressed with her ability to generate paralyzing blasts of energy.[1]
Asp becomes firm friends withDiamondback andBlack Mamba afterViper attempts to take over leadership of the Serpent Society. Viper captures and poisons Asp, Black Mamba, andBushmaster after they refuse to betray Sidewinder. They are later rescued byCaptain America and Diamondback.[2]
Asp joins Diamondback and Black Mamba in formingBAD Girls, Inc., adopting a new costume.[3] After being ambushed byAnaconda and captured by the Serpent Society, the B.A.D. Girls are rescued byMODAM. With other female costumed criminals, the B.A.D. Girls are invited to joinSuperia'sFemizons.[4]
Asp is one of the few mutants who retained their powers after the events ofM-Day.[5]
During theCivil War storyline, Asp and the other B.A.D. Girls were revealed to be members of Captain America's "Secret Avengers", openly opposing theSuperhuman Registration Act. She took part in the final battle of the "war", but did not accept the offer of amnesty that came with Captain America's surrender.[5][6]
During theDark Reign storyline, Asp is revealed as a member of theInitiative's new team for the state ofDelaware, theWomen Warriors.[7]
During theAvengers vs. X-Men storyline, Asp was once again seen as part of the Serpent Society, apparently having abandoned her attempts at reformation. The group was quickly defeated byHope Summers during a botched bank robbery.[8]
As part of theAll-New, All-Different Marvel, Asp appears as a member of Viper's Serpent Society under its new name Serpent Solutions.[9]
Asp is a mutant with the ability to generatebioelectricity that she can channel as lightning-like blasts. Upon striking a living being, the electricity causes a rapid paralysis of the nervous system similar to the effect of theneurotoxic bite of certainvenomous snakes. Her body constantly generates and stores this energy, but it can be temporarily expended after firing several "venom-bolts" in rapid succession, requiring her to recharge. Asp can accelerate the speed at which her body regenerates energy by engaging in physical activity that increases her heart rate and metabolism.
Asp's "venom-bolts" have different effects depending on how far they travel before reaching a target and on how much power she uses in a single bolt. A full-force blast can instantly kill an adult human. Normally, however, her bolts paralyze her victims for several hours, but cause no lasting damage. She can also release blasts of lower intensity that do not instantly paralyze targets, but instead cause neural delays which result in a loss of muscular control and coordination. Her energy bolts can travel roughly twenty-five feet before dissipating.
When fully charged, Asp's body releases low levels of energy at all times, making prolonged physical contact with her fatal. She can also release a blast of paralytic energy through physical contact without any visible effect.
Asp is also an accomplished dancer with superb muscular control.
A thief named Asp (real name Rich Harper) appeared with theN'Kantu, the Living Mummy in theSupernatural Thrillers series. He first appeared inSupernatural Thrillers #9, October 1974.
Asp appears in theUltimate Marvel imprint as a member of theSerpent Squad.[10]
A zombified version of Asp appears in the seriesThors as an inhabitant of the Deadlands before being killed byThor.[11]
Asp appears in theMarvel Future Avengers episode "Mission Black Market Auction", voiced byYūko Kaida in Japanese andLaura Bailey in English.[12] This version is a member of B.A.D. Girls, Inc.[13]
