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| Constrictor | |
|---|---|
 Constrictor. Art byAndrea Di Vito. | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Incredible Hulk vol. 2 #212 (June 1977)[1][2] |
| Created by | Len Wein John Romita Sr. Sal Buscema |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Frank Payne |
| Team affiliations | Corporation Frightful Four Masters of Evil Initiative Shadow Initiative S.H.I.E.L.D. Sinister Syndicate Six-Pack |
| Notable aliases | Frank Schlicting |
| Abilities | Skilled street fighter and unarmed combatant Wears cybernetic coils made ofvibranium oradamantium Formerly: Possessed bionic arms with fingers that functioned like his old coils |
Constrictor is the name of two characters appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. The first version seen isFrank Payne. The second version is his unnamed son.
The Frank Payne version of Constrictor made his first appearance inThe Incredible Hulk (vol. 2) #212 (1977) and was created byLen Wein andJohn Romita Sr.,[3] then drawn in his first issue bySal Buscema.
The character went on to feature as a supervillain inCaptain America #228-229, 231 (1978–1979),Iron Man #126-127 (1979),Power Man & Iron Fist #66 (1980),Captain America Annual #5 (1981),Power Man & Iron Fist #78, 84 (1982),Captain America #281-283 (1983), #309-311 (1985),Fantastic Four #334 (1989),Marvel Comics Presents #74, 86-87. 89-92 (1991),The New Warriors Annual #2 (1992),The Spectacular Spider-Man Annual #12 (1992),Web of Spider-Man Annual #8 (1992),Iron Man #284 (1992),Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (vol. 3) #36 (1992),Marvel Comics Presents #119-120 (1993),Alpha Flight #121 (1993),Captain America #412 (1993),Sabretooth #1-3 (1994),Marvel Fanfare (vol. 2) #6 (1997),Thunderbolts #24-25 (1999),Gambit (vol. 3) #12 (1999), #16-19 (2000),Gambit Annual 2000 (2000),The Hood #2-4, 6 (2002),Agent X #6 (2003),Weapon X (vol. 2) #26, 28 (2004),Secret War #3-5 (2004–2005),Marvel Team-Up (vol. 3) #7 (2005) andShe-Hulk #9 (2005).
Constrictor appeared as a supporting character inDeadpool #35 (1999), 38-45 (2000) and 61 (2002). The character went on to feature inCable & Deadpool #7-12 (2004–2005) andThe Thing (vol. 2) #1-3, 8 (2006) in a more heroic role. Constrictor later appeared as a member of theInitiative inAvengers: The Initiative #1, 4-5, 8, 10, 12-15, 17 (2007–2008) and featured prominently in #20-24, 26-35 (2009–2010) during theDark Reign andSiege story lines.
Frank Payne was an agent of the international espionage organizationS.H.I.E.L.D., and the father of an adult daughter, Mia. When S.H.I.E.L.D. needed a costumed "supervillain" to go undercover in the criminal organization called theCorporation, Frank was given a snake-themed costume and a pair of wrist-mounted electrified metal coils. Using the false identity of "Frank Schlicting" fromRacine, Wisconsin, and the codename of "Constrictor", he infiltrated the group, only to suffer a nervous breakdown and become a career criminal in earnest. As a result of his defection, S.H.I.E.L.D. allowed his daughter to believe that he had died. As Constrictor, "Schlicting" debuted in combat against theHulk, while attempting to assassinate the Hulk's friendJim Wilson on behalf of the Corporation.[4] The Corporation next sent him to assassinateCaptain America; Constrictor was trapped in a cave-in of S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters, and was freed by Captain America.[5]
Constrictor would remain an independent mercenary, criminal, and assassin after the dissolution of the Corporation. He next battledIron Man as a member ofJustin Hammer's criminal army.[6] He next teamed withSabretooth to safeguard a stolen jade tiger statuette, and battledPower Man and theDaughters of the Dragon.[7] He teamed with Sabretooth again to help Sabretooth get revenge onMisty Knight.[8] They foughtIron Fist, Power Man,El Águila, and Misty Knight.[9]
Constrictor was also invited to join theSerpent Society, which he turned down and walked out after the first meeting. He subsequently tried to turn them over to theAvengers, andAnaconda later exacted revenge on him. While in the hospital recuperating from the beating, he was nearly killed by theScourge of the Underworld disguised as a nurse, but was saved by Captain America.[10]
Constrictor appeared as a supporting character inDeadpool wherein he andTitania moved in with him as his roommates. During their uncomfortable living situation, Constrictor was convinced that Titania was actually a man. It would turn out that he was right that she was not what she seemed; but not about her gender as Titania was revealed to actually be the mutantshapeshifter and Deadpool's former lover,Copycat. He was later found to be under the employment ofJustin Hammer. When cutbacks forced his supervisor to lay him off, he responded by brutally attacking him.
He did join the seventh incarnation of theMasters of Evil led by theCrimson Cowl.[11] During the Deadpool story arc, it was also revealed that Constrictor had been part of a short-lived rendition of theWizard'sFrightful Four.[12]
After a severe beating fromHercules, Constrictor is awarded several million dollars in a lawsuit.Nighthawk convinces Constrictor that with all his money there was no need to be a criminal anymore, resulting in him reforming. He is currently under the employment of S.H.I.E.L.D. as a member of the newSix-Pack. Constrictor is seen at a charity poker tournament hosted by the Thing, where Hercules regains at least a large portion of the money he lost to Constrictor.[13]
Constrictor is one of the 142 registered superheroes who have registered as part of theFifty State Initiative and join Camp Hammond's staff.[14][15] Constrictor was later revealed to be part of theShadow Initiative, a black ops version of the Initiative under the command ofHenry Peter Gyrich.[16]
Constrictor saved Gyrich from the clone ofMVP known as "KIA"; however, KIA severed Constrictor's forearms in retaliation. Constrictor was quickly ferried away to safety by fellow team memberBengal.[17] He was given bionic hands which functioned like his coils and was also given aPurple Heart for his efforts.[18]
During a conflict with the Initiative and some terrorists, Constrictor helps theWomen Warriors, one of the official government hero teams. He stops an out-of-control passenger plane, saving many lives, including that of the heroDiamondback. Constrictor is visibly distressed as civilians thank him for his heroic actions. Soon after, he and Diamondback begin a romantic relationship.[19]
Constrictor is recruited by Max Fury to join theShadow Council's incarnation of theMasters of Evil.[20]
Frank Payne later retires from crime and moves in with Rachael Leighton. After learning that Payne has an unspecified terminal illness, Rachael becomes Diamondback again and joins Serpent Solutions to get the money to help with his medical treatment. Despite her efforts, Payne ends up dying.[21][22]
When Frank Payne had a brief relationship with Sandy and later left him, Sandy gave birth to a son who hated his father for his abandonment. After Payne died, he left his battlesuit for his son in his will and he became the new Constrictor. The son considered this as a way to get back at his late father.[22]
Liwei hires Constrictor to break into Danny Rand's apartment and obtain the Book of the Iron Fist for Chosin.[23] When Chosin refuses to pay Constrictor double and plans to have him tortured, Constrictor summons the Serpent Society. The fight is crashed by Iron Fist and Sabretooth.[24] Constrictor is poisoned by Rat of 12 Plagues and taken to a hospital by Sabretooth as Chosin takes the Book of the Iron Fist.[22]
Constrictor's primary weapon is a pair of cybernetically-controlled, electrified, prehensile, wrist-mounted metal coils provided byJustin Hammer. The coils eject and retract from special appliances running from shoulder to wrist. These cables are able to extend to a maximum length of 30 feet (9.1 m) and can be used as whips, capable of rending steel or lesser metals; or as bonds, capable of entwining an object or human being and constricting.
The previous sets of coils were made from anadamantium alloy, then fromvibranium. The adamantium coils were traded toGambit in exchange for a favor and are then subsequently used byMister Sinister to reinforce an ailingSabretooth's skeleton.[25] The strength of the coils varies based on their construction, but the adamantium coils were powerful enough to lift and restrain the Hulk.[4] The vibranium coils have a contact-based aura that suppresses sound.[26]
Constrictor's costume is lightly armored with partial bulletproofing around the chest and head area and the entire costume is electrically insulated, covering his entire body except for his lower face and chin. Although Constrictor is a skilled unarmed combatant and street fighter, he usually uses his coils in a fight.
After his encounter with KIA, Constrictor is implanted with cybernetic arms, which replicate the abilities of his old coils.[18]
An alternate universe version of Constrictor appears inHouse of M: Masters of Evil as a member ofthe Hood'sMasters of Evil who is later killed bySebastian Shaw.[27][28]
Alternate universe versions of Constrictor makes minor appearances in theWhat If? storylinesWhat If?:World War Hulk #1 (2010) andWhat If?:Secret Invasion #1 (2010).
The Frank Payne incarnation of Constrictor appears inThe Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, initially voiced byCam Clarke and later byTroy Baker.[29] This version is a member of theSerpent Society.
The Frank Payne incarnation of Constrictor appears as a boss and unlockable playable character inMarvel: Avengers Alliance.[citation needed]
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