| Gideon Mace | |
|---|---|
_from_Captain_America_and_the_Mighty_Avengers_Vol_1_3_001.jpg) Gideon Mace as depicted inCaptain America and the Mighty Avengers #3 (February 2015). Art by Iban Coello (penciller/inker) and Rachelle Rosenberg (colorist). | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Luke Cage, Hero for Hire #3 (1972) |
| Created by | Archie Goodwin,George Tuska |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | United States Army Maggia |
Gideon Mace is a villain appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics.
Gideon Mace is a colonel who led his men on an unauthorized assault against an enemy village, during which a mine destroyed his right hand. He was dishonorably discharged on the orders of GeneralWilliam Westmoreland for insubordination, mental incompetence, and suspicion of combat activity independent of orders. Mace replaced his lost hand with a spiked mace and formed a private army by recruiting ex-soldiers loyal to him.[1]
Needing financing, Mace enlists enlisted disgruntled veterans, telling them that they will take control ofManhattan by seizing strategic points. Mace secretly intends the veterans to be decoys, diverting police away fromWall Street while his troops loot it. When one veteran, Owen Ridgely, learns of Mace's true goals, he seeks help fromLuke Cage, but is murdered by Mace's men. Cage proceeds to locate and attack Mace's base. When Mace flees in a helicopter, Cage causes him to crash into theHudson River.[2]
Mace survives and establishes Security City, an isolated planned community where paranoid ultra-conservatives can live away from society. Mace trains the city's residents to follow him unconditionally and serve as his personal army. Luke Cage and his friendDavid Griffith arrive and expose Mace's plans.[3]
Mace convinces several illicit organizations, such as theMaggia and Halwani Freedom Front, to fund him in targeting and murdering superheroes. He choosesWhite Tiger (Hector Ayala) as his first target, murdering most of Ayala's immediate family to lure him into his trap and shoot him. Mace's men dump Ayala outside theDaily Bugle, which Peter Parker witnesses. As Spider-Man, Peter overpowers Mace, who orders his guards to shoot regardless. Spider-Man avoids the shots, with Mace being hit instead and hospitalized.[4]
Gideon Mace is killed by a mysterious creature, who tears out his heart.[5] The creature begins growing a new body for Mace using his heart.[6] However, Mace's body is destroyed once more, leaving only his heart intact.[7]
Gideon Mace is a trained soldier and a skilled strategist. He is an excellent shot with his left hand and an adept unarmed fighter. His right hand has been replaced by a foot-diameter titanium steel, spiked mace, which has also been adapted to spray chemical mace or to fire like a cannonball from his wrist.
Gideon Mace appears inThe Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes "To Steal an Ant-Man" as a member ofWilliam Cross's gang.[citation needed]
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