| Taskmaster | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | The Avengers #195 (May 1980)[1] |
| Created by | |
| In-story information | |
| Alter ego | Anthony "Tony" Masters |
| Species | Human mutate |
| Team affiliations | |
| Notable aliases |
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| Abilities |
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Taskmaster (Anthony "Tony"Masters) is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic books published byMarvel Comics. Created by writerDavid Michelinie and artistGeorge Pérez, the character made his debut inThe Avengers #195 (May 1980).[2] Possessing photographic reflexes that allow him to mimic any fighting style at the cost of his long and short-term memory, he has served as an adversary ofMarvel Universesuperheroes such asCaptain America,Ant-Man, andSpider-Man. He is usually depicted as amercenary hired by criminal organizations to act as a training instructor.[3] He is the biological father ofFinesse.
The character has been adapted from the comics into various forms of media, including several animated television series and video games. A female version of Taskmaster namedAntonia Dreykov appears in theMarvel Cinematic Universe filmsBlack Widow (2021) andThunderbolts* (2025), portrayed byOlga Kurylenko.
The Taskmaster first appeared briefly inThe Avengers #195 (May 1980), created by writerDavid Michelinie and artistGeorge Pérez.[4] making his full debut inAvengers #196 (June 1980).[5]
The Taskmaster appeared in his own limited seriesTaskmaster #1–4 (2002), which was followed by a supporting role inAgent X #1–15 (2002–2003). The character went on to feature prominently inAvengers: The Initiative as a supporting character in #8–19 (2008–2009) andAvengers: The Initiative Annual #1 (2008) then later as a central character in #20–35 (2009–2010) during theDark Reign andSiege storylines.Age of Heroes #3 (2010) provided the prologue for the Taskmaster's second limited seriesTaskmaster vol. 2 #1–4 (2010–2011). In 2011, Taskmaster received a solo graphic novel collecting a four-issue story—Taskmaster: Unthinkable.
In Marvel's 2012–2015 rebranding,Marvel NOW!, Taskmaster joins a new incarnation of theSecret Avengers.[5]
Taskmaster is a mysterious figure believed to have been born in theBronx, New York City. He is able to mimic the physical movements of anyone he witnesses; writers differ on whether this counts as a "super power".[6] He claims to have had this ability since childhood.
Designing a costume with a white cowl and skull mask, Masters takes the name "Taskmaster" and begins training thugs at criminal academies across the United States. His existence is eventually revealed when Pernell Solomon uses the school's resources to clone himself when the administrator required an organ donation, as he possesses a rare blood type. Learning of his intended death, the clone contacts theAvengers for help. Taskmaster capturesYellowjacket,Wasp, andAnt-Man when the Avengers invade the school trying to rescue the clone,[7] but the other Avengers follow, exposing his operations.[6]
Taskmaster is captured by a group of U.S. Secret Service agents and taken into custody.[8] Douglas Rockwell, head of theCommission on Superhuman Activities, arranges for Taskmaster's sentence to be shortened in return for him trainingJohn Walker.[volume & issue needed]
Taskmaster is hired by theTriune Understanding — a religious group secretly masterminding a smear campaign to paint the Avengers as being religiously and racially intolerant — to stage an attack on a Triune facility. Posing as Captain America, he contactsWarbird, Ant-Man,Silverclaw, andCaptain Marvel, claiming that he needs their help to destroy a Triune building containing a mind-control machine. The building is destroyed in the ensuing battle and Taskmaster escapes, leaving the heroes lacking any evidence of his activities.[9]
When the "Civil War" breaks out, Taskmaster is hired to join theThunderbolts and given temporary amnesty to take down theSecret Avengers.[10] After being stopped by theInvisible Woman, Taskmaster is sent toNegative Zone Prison Alpha. He is freed byDeadpool and pardoned for testing the security of theHelicarrier, which he is able to break into.[11][12]
Taskmaster replacesGauntlet asCamp Hammond's drill instructor and is tasked with training registered superheroes for theFifty State Initiative. Taskmaster is also involved inMichael Van Patrick's cloning process, imprinting Van Patrick's skills onto his clones.[13]
During the "Dark Reign" storyline, Taskmaster is chosen to lead theShadow Initiative after theSkrullinvasion.Norman Osborn appoints Taskmaster to train criminals for the new Initiative, to behave like heroes. His first task is to retrainPenance.[14] WhenEmma Frost andNamor resign from theCabal, Taskmaster is offered membership, but declines.[15] After Osborn's defeat, Taskmaster andConstrictor return to mercenary work.[16]
Avengers Academy studentFinesse seeks out Taskmaster, believing him to be her long-lost father. When she finds Taskmaster, Finesse ends up sparring with him. After much sparring, Taskmaster relents to tell Finesse that he likely is her father, but that his abilities have affected his memories. Knowing he likely will not remember the conversation in a couple days, Taskmaster tells Finesse that he wanted to fight her so he might remember her.[17]
During the "Secret Empire" storyline, Taskmaster appears as a member ofHydra's Avengers.[18] During the battle in Washington DC, Taskmaster andBlack Ant witness their teammate Odinson having enough of working for Hydra and striking them down. The two of them defect from Hydra and free the captiveChampions. When Taskmaster and Black Ant asks for them to put in a good word for them,Spider-Man webs them up anyway.[19]
In the "Hunted" storyline, Taskmaster and Black Ant work withKraven the Hunter andArcade in capturing animal-themed individuals for Kraven's hunt. After Spider-Man thwarts the hunt, Taskmaster and Black Ant escape.[20]
During the "King in Black" storyline, Taskmaster is among the villains recruited by MayorWilson Fisk to lead hisThunderbolts duringKnull's invasion.[21]
In the "Carnage Reigns" storyline, Taskmaster joinsJulia Gao'sCape-Killers.[22] After the failure of the Cape-Killers, Taskmaster joins Deadpool's assassin business, Deadpool and Daughters.[23]
Taskmaster injected himself withSS-Hauptsturmführer Horst Gorscht's primer, an elaborate modification of the adrenal steroidcortisol designed to unlock the mind'sprocedural memory potential.[24] This increased Taskmaster's natural ability to absorb knowledge. This ability is linked to hismuscle memory, allowing Taskmaster to instantly replicate the physical movement of peak-level humans. Taskmaster cannot duplicate a physical feat that requires superhuman effort, like lifting a car. These "photographic reflexes" have made Taskmaster highly skilled in various forms of combat: martial arts, swordfighting, and marksmanship.[25] A side effect of the primer is severedeclarative memory loss. As he gains implicit memories (i.e., knowledge and abilities), he loses explicit memories (i.e., personal experiences).[24]
By viewing a video in fast-forward, Taskmaster can learn to replicate human movement at near-superhuman speed. However, this puts his body under intense strain and can only be used for short periods of time. He can manipulate his vocal cords to mimic others' voices. The Taskmaster is skilled in meditation techniques that allow him to slow his breathing and heart rate, allowing him to play dead or and survive for extended periods of time without air. Taskmaster was once shown to haveaquaphobia (fear of water), but later overcame his fears.[26]
Taskmaster carries many weapons. He most commonly uses a sword and a replica of Captain America's shield, but also carries a bow and a quiver of arrows, a billy club, a lasso,nunchaku, throwing darts, and various firearms. Taskmaster once used a stolenS.H.I.E.L.D. device that was able to create various forms of weaponry (such as arrows and shields) using solid energy.[27]
An alternate universe version of Taskmaster from Earth-61112 appears inAge of Ultron. He works withBlack Panther andRed Hulk to battleUltron's drones, only for Red Hulk to kill Taskmaster after he attempts to take one of the drones for his own use.[28]
Deathmaster, a fantasy-themed incarnation of Taskmaster from the artificial planet Eurth, appears inAvataars: Covenant of the Shield.[29]
A female version of Taskmaster from an unidentified universe appears in theMarvel Max seriesDeadpool Max. This version became a mother figure and mentor to a young version ofDeadpool after kidnapping his Muskrat troop. She is later revealed to be a potential cult leader and child molester.[30]
An alternate universe version of Taskmaster from Earth-58163 appears inHouse of M. This version is a member of the Brotherhood strike force.[31]
Taskmaster appears inJLA/Avengers #4 as a brainwashed minion ofKrona.[32]
An alternate universe version of Taskmaster from Earth-38831 appears inMarvel Apes.[33]
An alternate universe version of Taskmaster from Earth-22000 appears in the one-shotMarvel Universe: Millennial Visions. This version was hypnotized by theRingmaster and forced to reform and become a member of theThunderbolts.[34]
An alternate universe version of Taskmaster from Earth-11080 appears inMarvel Universe vs. the Punisher #4, where he is killed by a cannibalistic Red Hulk.[35]
An alternate universe version of Taskmaster fromEarth-1610 appears inUltimate Comics: Spider-Man. This version is African-American and possesses the ability to absorb and redirect energy.[36]
An alternate universe version of Taskmaster from Earth-8909 appears inWhat If? #3. This version trainedSuper-Patriot to replaceCaptain America.[37]
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| Title | Material Collected | Published Date | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taskmaster: Anything You Can Do... | Avengers #195–196, 223;Marvel Team-Up #103 and 146;Thing #26;Amazing Spider-Man #308;Iron Man #254;Daredevil #292–293;Deadpool (vol. 2) #2;Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman #1;Avengers (vol. 2) #26;Captain America (vol. 2) #44; material fromCaptain America Annual #11 | March 3, 2020 | 978-1302921316 |
| Taskmaster: Unthinkable | Taskmaster (vol. 2) #1–4 | May 18, 2011 | 978-0785152606 |
| Taskmaster: The Right Price | Taskmaster (vol. 1) #1–4,Taskmaster (vol. 2) #1–4, and material fromMarvel Comics Presents (vol. 2) #2,Age of Heroes #3 | March 31, 2020 | 978-1302921323 |
| Taskmaster: The Rubicon Trigger | Taskmaster (vol. 3) #1–5 | July 29, 2021 | 978-1302921712 |
Created by writer David Michelinie and artist George Pérez, Taskmaster could mimic any physical skill he had ever seen.
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