| Needle | |
|---|---|
 The Needle Pencils byCarmine Infantino | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Spider-Woman #9 (Dec 1978) |
| Created by | Mark Gruenwald Carmine Infantino Al Gordon |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Josef Saint[1] |
| Species | Human Mutant |
| Team affiliations | Night Shift |
| Abilities | Ability to paralyze his foes with his one good eye Stronger and more spry than a typical man his age Wields a yard long needle. |
TheNeedle is a fictionalcharacter, amutantsupervillain appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created byMark Gruenwald,Carmine Infantino, andAl Gordon, the character first appeared inSpider-Woman #9 (December 1978).[2]
The character's origin was recounted in his debut appearance inSpider-Woman #9.
CreatorMark Gruenwald brought the character back during his run on theWest Coast Avengers as a member of the villain teamNight Shift, which included other former Spider-Woman foes.
After being mugged one night while leaving work, Josef Saint, an elderly tailor, lost an eye and his ability to speak. While recuperating, he discovered that he has the power to paralyze with his gaze. Seeking revenge, Saint assumed the guise of the vigilante theNeedle. Armed with a yard-long needle, the mute villain attacked young men on the streets at night, sewing their mouths shut. After victimizingS.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jerry Hunt, the Needle incurred the wrath ofSpider-Woman, the agent's girlfriend, and she took him out with a close-range venom blast. He was subsequently arrested.[3]
With other superhuman adventurers and criminals, the Needle was imprisoned by theLocksmith, but then freed by Spider-Woman.[4]
The Needle joined theNight Shift, and teamed withCaptain America against thePower Broker and his augmented mutates.[5] Alongside the Night Shift, he testedMoon Knight to take over as the leader of the Night Shift.[6] Later, alongside the Night Shift, he battled theWest Coast Avengers.[7] Alongside the Night Shift, the secondHangman, andSatannish, he battled the Avengers West Coast; his abilities had been enhanced by Satannish's black magic.[8]
The Needle was later defeated byArmory.[9]
Needle appears with the Night Shift, as part of theHood's gang. They battle theMidnight Sons, and Needle impalesDaimon Hellstrom with his needle, beforeJennifer Kale knocks him off with a spell. He and the Night Shift are killed when the zombie virus mutates and becomes airborne.[10] The virus cloud begins to rain blood, and reanimates the Night Shift as zombies.[11]Dormammu assumes control of the Night Shift and uses them to fight the Midnight Sons. WhenJennifer Kale and theBlack Talon contain the virus within theZombie (Simon Garth), the Night Shift members are apparently restored to normal, and the Hood teleports away with them.[12]
Needle has the ability to hypnotically paralyze a victim with his gaze, and is also gifted with enhanced agility and strength.[volume & issue needed] The Needle is mute and mentally disturbed.[volume & issue needed] He is an expert tailor.[volume & issue needed]
The Needle is a fair hand-to-hand combatant, and carries a needle-like weapon over 3 feet (0.91 m) long.[volume & issue needed]
For a time, the Needle's powers were enhanced by Satannish, increasing his physical attributes to that of an athletic man, allowing his hypnotic gaze to work instantaneously, and rendering his weapon sharp enough to rend cinder block.[volume & issue needed]