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Killer Shrike is the name of two fictional characters appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics.
![[icon]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aWiki_letter_w_cropped.svg) | This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(August 2019) |
The Simon Maddicks version of Killer Shrike first appeared inTheRampaging Hulk #1 (Jan. 1977) and was created byJohn Warner andJohn Buscema.[1]
| Killer Shrike | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | TheRampaging Hulk #1 (Jan. 1977) |
| Created by | John Warner John Buscema |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Simon Maddicks |
| Species | Human |
| Team affiliations | |
| Notable aliases | Harold Simmons |
| Abilities | Expert hand to hand combatant and martial artist Possesses various weapons Anti-gravity device grants: Enhanced physical attributes Flight Armored suit grants: Resistance to injury Electrical bolt projection via twin power-blasters |
Simon Maddicks was born inWilliamsburg, Virginia. He began his career as a soldier in the United States Army. After that, he recalls little of his own past for some reason. When he was selected to be a special agent of theRoxxon Oil Company, Maddicks became a mercenary and professional criminal, more specifically, a special agent in covert operations. He was sent to the Mutagenics Laboratory of the Brand Corporation, where he underwent extensive conditioning which increased his human abilities. He also underwent surgery which implanted a miniature anti-gravity generator in his spine. Roxxon later gave Maddicks his super-villain costume and the codename "Killer Shrike".[2]
For his first mission, Roxxon sent him to infiltrate the subversive organization called theConspiracy, which Roxxon learned about through major purchases of technology from the Brand Corporation. The Conspiracy sent Killer Shrike to capture a monster known as Goram. The plan was thwarted by the super-hero known asUlysses Bloodstone who short-circuited the villain's electrical weapons, badly injuring him. Feeling sorry for Killer Shrike's condition, Bloodstone's agents sent the villain to a New York hospital, where he lay comatose for several weeks.[3]
Upon awakening from the coma, Maddicks was contacted once again by Brand scientists led by Dr. Stephen Weems. Weems, better known as the villainModular Man, sought revenge against his enemiesSpider-Man andBeast. In return, Modular Man promised Shrike information about his past.[4] In battle with Spider-Man and the Beast, Weems was killed before he could uphold his end of the bargain.[5] Shrike escaped and was soon contacted by agents of the Brand Corporation. They helped restore his memory, and assigned him to undercover work as a bodyguard to Brand president James Melvin. His costume became controlled by theWill-o'-the-Wisp, and he was forced to abduct Dr. Marla Madison to reconstitute the immaterial Wisp. In the end, he was defeated bySpider-Man. With Brand's public dissolution, Killer Shrike became a free agent.[6]
With other superhuman adventurers and criminals, Killer Shrike was later captured and imprisoned by theLocksmith. He was freed bySpider-Woman.[7] He later robbed a bank, but was defeated by Spider-Man.[8] He then attempted a theft of a power booster from theTinkerer after commissioning him to build it for him, but was again defeated both by Spider-Man and a failsafe function the Tinkerer installs in his products to deal with such situations.[9]
During the events of the "Acts of Vengeance", Killer Shrike attackedMoon Knight, alongside the secondRinger andCoachwhip. He shot down theMooncopter, seriously injuring Moon Knight's pilotFrenchie and then escaped.[10]
Killer Shrike was later hired by Surge and battled theShe-Hulk alongsideGrey Gargoyle andDragon Man, but was defeated.[11]
Ever since, Killer Shrike was most often seen getting beaten up by several super-heroes, most often theHulk. Killer Shrike was briefly a member of the Cardinal's team of flying super villains known as Air Force.[12] Then, Killer Shrike appeared to have been murdered by the Soldiers of Misfortune.[13]
In the "Secret War" miniseries, Killer Shrike's equipment got updated by the Tinkerer. This still was not enough for Maddicks to gain a victory, as he was soon afterward defeated by theAvengers, and apprehended byS.H.I.E.L.D.[14]
During theGLX-Mas Special, Killer Shrike tried to steal a device from Roxxon Company known as "Project Z" but was defeated by theGrasshopper, an employee of the company.[15]
Killer Shrike was later apprehended byBaron Helmut Zemo and forced to join theThunderbolts, for so far unclear reasons.[16]
Killer Shrike later made a cameo at the Bar With No Name.[17]
Killer Shrike was beat up by Moon Knight and attacked in the hospital by theBlack Spectre.[volume & issue needed]
Killer Shrike later appeared as a member of theShadow Council'sMasters of Evil. Killer Shrike is present when Max Fury and the Masters of Evil captureJohn Steele after he attempts to escape Bagalia with the Serpent Crown and the Crown of Thorns.[18]
Killer Shrike was among the villains to joinSwarm'sSinister Six when they attacked Spider-Man and the students of the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. After Swarm was defeated byHellion, Killer Shrike and the other villains surrendered.[19]
During the "Hunted" storyline, Killer Shrike is among the animal-themed characters that were captured byTaskmaster andBlack Ant forKraven the Hunter's "Great Hunt" that was sponsored byArcade's company Arcade Industries. He watched the fight between Spider-Man andScorpion until the Hunter-Bots created by Arcade Industries arrived.[20] He then ran from the Hunter-Bots.[21] Killer Shrike later helped the animal-themed characters fight the Hunter-Bots.[22]
During the "Devil's Reign" storyline, Killer Shrike was seen as an inmate of the Myrmidon. Moon Knight fought him andCactus in one of the prison matches and defeated them.[23]
Killer Shrike sold his original costume toRoderick Kingsley, who then sold it to an unnamed criminal. Killer Shrike was present withHobgoblin (who was actually Roderick Kingsley's butler Claude) when he led his forces into battle against theGoblin King's Goblin Nation. After Hobgoblin was killed by Goblin King, Killer Shrike was among the villains that defected to the Goblin Nation.[24]
Following Spider-Man's victory over the Goblin King, Killer Shrike was seen with the former Hobgoblin henchmen at the Bar with No Name where they encounterElectro.[25] Killer Shrike is later among the villains at the Bar with No Name that convincesBlack Cat to lead them.[26]
During the "AXIS" storyline, Killer Shrike was among the supervillains that Missile Mate assembled to join the side ofPhil Urich (who was operating as Goblin King) and the remnants of the Goblin Underground upon claiming that Roderick Kingsley "abandoned" them.[27]
Killer Shrike andMelter later beat upRinger to serve as Black Cat's warning to anyone who steals from her.[28]
Extensive conditioning and surgery by Brand Corporation scientists enhanced Simon Maddicks's strength and other physical abilities. He is capable of flight by means of a surgically implanted anti-gravity generator at the base of his spine, activated by a neural link.
Besides that, he has extensive training and experience in hand-to-hand combat and martial arts, and proficiency with hand weapons including guns and knives.
Killer Shrike wears body armor, an armored suit made of an insulated steel alloy mesh capable of protecting him from flight turbulence and small caliber weapons fire. His major weapons system is the twin power-blasters worn on his wrists, with titanium talons capable of slashing flesh, wood, cinderblock, and light metals, and of discharging high-frequency electrical bolts.
An unidentified alternate universe variant of Killer Shrike makes a cameo appearance inUltimate Spider-Man #72.[29]
The Simon Maddicks incarnation of Killer Shrike appears inIron Man: Armored Adventures, voiced byTy Olsson.[citation needed] This version is an enforcer for theMaggia in the first season andJustin Hammer /Titanium Man in the second season who is often paired with theUnicorn. Additionally, his anti-gravity generator is incorporated into his wrist blasters.
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