| 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]
Nedle'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.
Josef Saint is an elderly tailor who was mugged one night while leaving work, losing an eye and his capability of speech. While recuperating, he discovers that he has the ability to paralyze others with his gaze. Seeking revenge, Saint assumes the guise of the vigilante Needle. Armed with a yard-long needle, Needle attacks young men on the streets at night, sewing their mouths shut. After victimizingS.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jerry Hunt, Needle is attacked by Hunt's girlfriendSpider-Woman, who takes him out with a close-range venom blast. Needle is subsequently arrested.[3]
The Needle joins theNight Shift and works withCaptain America to battle thePower Broker and his augmented mutates.[4] Alongside the Night Shift, he testsMoon Knight to take over as the group's leader.[5] Needle later battles theWest Coast Avengers alongsideSatannish, who enhances his abilities using black magic.[6]
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. Needle and the Night Shift are killed and subsequently resurrected as zombies after being exposed to an airborne virus.[7][8] WhenJennifer Kale and theBlack Talon contain the virus withinZombie, the Night Shift members are restored to normal.[9]
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 rendcinderblock.[volume & issue needed]