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F- EX (20)
A- RM (30)
S- IN (40)
E- IN (40)
R- GD (10)
I- GD (10)
P- GD (10)
H- 130
K- 30
R- TY
P- 0
Powers: Annexing Unit Armor
The Annex armor accesses a substance called the BREW (see background) that allows the user to create any type of object needed. Any type of weapon that is in the data base can be created. In the past, a jet pack has been used for flight.
Body Armor RM
Talents: Guns.
Height: 6' 1"
Weight: 300 lbs.
First Appearance: Amazing Spiderman Annual #27
Background: The Annex armor was an attempt to use prostheses artificial limbs. The main lab has a vat of transmittable biological material - living matter that can be transmitted over ultra high frequency radio waves and configured into any shape. It is called Bio-Regenerative Energy, or the BREW. From the Annex armor you can activate the computer links and access the BREW.
A glitch occurred when the first volunteer accessed the command program. It downloaded his personality and memory, leaving nothing to guide the suit. Alex Ellis lost his lower left leg during Desert Storm. Alex was chosen as the test subject for the Annexing Unit. He was able to create an artificial leg, but then began accessing weapons and munitions files.
Spiderman stopped Annex during his initial rampage, and they went back to the building he busted out of. Dr. Hillman Barto was there, and the story was told. They discovered the program was written to download Alex's memory, and it would have replaced it with another in the system. The memory patterns of David Dunson, a casualty of Desert Storm, was the mind to be replaced in Alex's body. In a twist of irony, David's father is the one who set this system up, and Alex had tried to save David during the conflict. David's father was only trying to bring his son back to life.
Annex went after Abner Dunson at a photo awards banquet. Abner also had made a cerebral access helmet to use the BREW to pull weapons from. Spiderman had Dr. Barto download part of Abner's son's memories to Annex. He tried to tell his father what he was doing was wrong, but Abner fired at him instead. The terminal was destroyed and random data downloaded into Abner's brain. All plans were lost for the BREW and Annex. Barto and Alex are working on the system on their own.
F- EX (20)
A- EX (20)
S- EX (20)
E- AM (50)
R- TY (6)
I- TY (6)
P- GD (10)
H- 110
K- 22
R- N/A
P- O
Powers: Telekinesis MN
Lazarus used hit telekinesis mostly for grabbing and throwing things as weapons, or picking up oppoenents and getting rid of them. He developed precision enough to grab bullets out of the air.
Equipment: Armor Suit
Body Armor AM (50)
Height: 6'
Weight: 135 lbs.
First Appearance: Incredible Hulk Annual #19
Background: Todd Hunter returned from the grave after being murdered by his wife and the man she was cheating on him with. Somehow he came back with Telekinetic powers. He wanted revenge and got it, but also made the Incredible Hulk an enemy at the same time. Each time they fought, he held his own against the emerald skined giant and was able to get away. The origin of his rebirth and powers is unknown, as is where he will strike next.
F- EX (20)
A- EX (20)
S- RM (30)
E- MN (75)
R- TY (6)
I- TY (6)
P- AM (50)
H- 145
K- 62
R- FB
P- (-20)
Powers: Darkforce Manipulation MN
Darkforce Generation MN
Shadowcasting MN
Teleportation MN
Flight AM
Energy Solidification MN
Energy Body - Darkforce
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 155 lbs.
First Appearance: New Warriors Annual #3
Background: Born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, addict Henrique Gallante was also born with the mutant ability to harness the properties of the Darkforce dimension. Now known as the Darkling, he can teleport, create weapons out of inky nothingness, and use the Darkforce in myriad ways, making this demented man a grave danger.
F- EX (20)
A- EX (20)
S- RM (30)
E- IN (40)
R- EX (20)
I- EX (20)
P- RM (30)
H- 110
K- 70
Powers: Eldritch Hellfire AM
Summoning AM
Equipment: Gondola
Focuses Eldritch Blast to MN
AM material strength
Height: 6'
Weight: 190 lbs.
First Appearance: X-Factor Annual #8
Background:
Charlie, as a boy, witnessed the shooting deaths of his parents by a mutant (Random, apparently *). Bounced around foster families, he is in Guido's school when his power first manifests (he is hit by a school bus, see issue #87). Charlie lashes out at Guido and gets worse than he gave. After a hospital stay, he has to use a cane. He turns to the dark side, killing a cat and becoming generally spooky.
Alex, Pietro, Rahne, and Jamie work out in X-Factor's Danger Room, which because of government budget cuts, consists only of Val shooting at them with a machine gun. They stop to watch Guido and Lorna interviewed on Donahue, defending mutancy as "normal." Charlie recognizes Guido on TV and summons the demon Cloot to destroy him. Instead, he is forced to make a deal: he must turn X-Factor to allegiance with Cloot, and he is transformed into Charon, ferryman of the dead.
He gets the deceased Chalkers (see issues 77, 83, 89) to help him attack X-Factor, who have never even heard of the Chalkers but easily defeat them. (Lorna pushes Vic into Rick so they slice each other apart, and Jamie makes a dupe inside Dick's stomach, killing him.) Charon decides to just kill Guido, but Cloot sends him to hell for reneging on their deal before he can try.
* Yes, we know it's supposed to be Random. But this appears to be inconsistent with Random's origin story, which would seem to make him far too young to have been working as a mercenary some ten years ago.
Powers: Teknomagic AM
Equipment: Battle Armor
Wings - EX Flight
Body Armor RM
Swords
Khoas can channel his teknomagical energy through his blades for IN magical damage.
Teknomagical Icon - Ibic
IBIC manipulates teknomagical energy such as producing blinding burst of light, energy blasts, and force fields. Allows him to channel his magic through his swords.
Talents: Leadership, Swords.
Contacts: Excalibur.
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 155 lbs.
First Appearance: Excalibur Annual #1
Identity-- extra dimensional
Nationality-- dark elf
Affiliations-- the alternate reality Irth's version of Excalibur
Base of Operations-- formerly Irth, now the British Isles
Occupation-- former mercenary and political leader, now wanderer
History: Khaos hails from a perpetually war-torn alternate earth "Irth" which is populated by elves, humans, goblins, etc. and rife with a technological/magical energy called "teknomagic." (It is believed that Khaos is this alternate world's version of the mutant hero Nightcrawler.)
Khaos, born to the emperor of the dark elves, is heir to the two major elven thrones, but was spirited away by mystical forces to be raised without this knowledge by fair elven royalty. An object of bigotry, Khaos chose a life of an excitement-seeking mercenary when he came of age, soon joining others of like minds. They adventured for many years in a dungeons-and-dragons type world, until an encounter with a "teknomagical" artifact called "IBIC" revealed his true origin. Now charged by the gods to stop the great war between the elven houses, Khaos found his archenemy in the arch mage Ghath who was then taking complete control of the world.
Eventually, Khaos brought peace to the world, and even captured Ghath. Instead of utterly destroying him, however, Ghath was shunted to the main Marvel earth, where Ghath tried to gain access back to Irth. Sensing that Ghath was still alive, Khaos prepared a soldier to follow Ghath, but Khaos instead ended up on Earth. With the help of the British mutant team Excalibur, Khaos fought Ghath both on Earth and on Irth when Ghath returned there. Khaos finally killed his archenemy, but when Excalibur was sent back to Earth, Khaos was inadvertently sent back as well, and presumably still remains on Earth, trying to find his way back home.
Chameleon UN
Claws AM
Jaws AM
Eldritch Blast MN
Multiple Tentacles AM
Growth IN
Body Resistance AM
Talents: Swords.
Height: varies
Weight: varies
First Apperance: Iron Man Annual #14
Creighton McCall drops an expensive antique -- and the Face Thief is free!! An ancient demon is he -- a "Shinma" -- and the Masters of Silence have been alerted to his presence on earth! The MoS enlist the aid of their former ally, Iron Man (from IM #282-283), and IM knows who McCall is -- the dad of his former squeeze Meredith! Meredith volunteers to become a Master of Silence after the Face Thief cuts one of them down.
Centuries ago, the demon known as Kao-Goto Suru -- the Face Thief -- crossed the dimensional boundary onto Earth. He soon stole the face of a Japanese warlord named Tezuka, and led all of his followers on a fruitless quest against the Japanese emperor. Of all those betrayed by this subterfuge, only three survived. These three prayed to the heavens for three storms to aid them in their quest for vengeance against the demon...and the storms answered.
Thus, the warrior souls of lightning, wind and thunder were bestowed upon the trio of samurai -- along with the combined power to "become one with the silent whisperings of the night." Over the generations, many have taken the role of the Masters, for their quest for vengeance never dies!
The Masters came into conflict with Iron Man after Japan-based Akane Fusion suffered a major industrial accident. Stark Enterprises had apparently manufactured their faulty safety valves. The CEO of Akane contacted the Masters via the Yakuza -- the Asian Mafia -- to take vengeance on Stark.
Tony, who was bedridden by his nervous system failure, first had his Telepresence Armor battle the Masters, but it proved quite insufficient. He then prepared a very new suit of armor to deal with the Masters -- the War Machine!! While Stark fought the MOS to a standstill, Jim Rhodes went about finding out who really was responsible for the Akane disaster. Lo and behold, it turns out that old business rival Justin Hammer was the culprit! Stark and the MOS then teamed up to thoroughly trash Hammer's Pacific fortress.
Currently, one of Tony's old flames, Meredith McCall, is a member of the Masters (IM Annual #14).
First IM Appearance: Iron Man #281.
Masters of Silence. Appearances: Iron Man #281-283, Iron Man Annual #14. Peter Weitzman contributes the following origin, verbatim, from Iron Man.
There is a world of darkness beyond our own--where dwell evil gods who cast envious eyes at the world of men, coveting death and destruction. The world of the Shinma. From time to time through sorcerous means, a Shinma contrives to cross the gulf between worlds and so walks the earth. Many centuries ago, one such demon came to Nippon, a demon with the power to steal the identities of mortals. We know him as Kao-Goto Suru, the Face Thief. And he is the reason that we walk the path of vengeance.
It is said that the Face Thief's greatest pleasure is in leading humans to bring about their own doom, and this he preceded to do upon his arrival. He stole the face of a great and noble warlord called Tezuka, who was known throughout the nation for his honor and wisdom. Disguised as Tezuka, he led his loyal followers to a shameful and hopeless rebellion against the Emperor. Of those betrayed in this way by the Face Thief, only three survived. Those samurai discovered the true nature of the fiend they had followed and swore vengeance against him, no matter the price. But no mortal--no matter how driven by righteousness--can contend with the powers of a Shinma and live. And so, they lifted their voices to the heavens and besought the Three Storms for aid, to strike against the demon. And the Three Storms answered. Thus were the warrior souls of Lightning, Wind & Thunder bestowed upon men, fierce spirits possessed of great skill--and the power to become one with the silent whisperings of the night. Through stealth alone can mortals stand against the power of the Shinma, which are vulnerable only when in mortal form. In return, those warriors swore to serve the cause most dear to the Three Storms: The path of vengeance. They vowed a tradition of service to that goal which would survive long after they themselves had fallen. That heritage is our own.
The ever-reliable Ronald Byrd adds to this:
Who the Three Storms might be is more than I know, but judging by the way we see their giant forms looming within the sky they are evidently gods, and, bizarrely, they too look white. With the three warriors agreeing to serve the cause of vengeance (described as "the cause most dear to the Three Storms"), the Storms bestow the "warrior souls" of lightning (inazuma), wind (kaze), and thunder (kaminari) upon the three; these warrior souls are "fierce spirits possessed of great skill---and the power to become one with the silent whisperings of the night." Each Master of Silence "is bound to remain shackled to mortal flesh until he has passed on the warrior soul" to another; even if the Master in question has suffered fatal wounds, he (or she) will live on in agony until the mantle has been passed "to one who will willingly walk the path of vengeance. One who has been irrevocably wronged." The Masters of Silence are always a trio, although the warrior souls have been passed on countless times over the centuries, so that the members of the trio might be replaced one by one, two at a time, or all at once, depending upon the circumstances, I guess. The Masters of Silence have the twin purposes of battling the Face Thief when he again rears his, uh, face in the Earth dimension and of serving the cause of vengeance by acting as assassins "who kill only those who deserve death" (sort of like the Punisher, I guess, although the Masters at least have the stereotypical giri/bushido/etc. stuff to lend them some sort of "nobility"; I wonder what cookie-cutter traits the Japanese give Americans in THEIR comic books).
In armor, the original Masters of Silence looked pretty much like the ones of today although of course their weaponry is presumably not as high-tech as the modern ones (Inazuma, from whom we get all of this information, notes that "through the centuries, we have honed our skills and refined our weapons," and they demonstrate familiarity with computers, holographics, and such, so they are not as tradition-bound as the stereotype of eastern warriors might suggest.), about whose capabilities we know at least something. All three carry swords and wear armor (complete with rocket belts); Inazuma ("lightning") wears white and uses shuriken (radio-controlled in modern times), Kaze ("wind") wears green and uses a chain with a grappling hook on one end and what looks like a boomerang on the other (no doubt this weapon has a name, but I don't know it) and Kaminari ("thunder") wears red and uses a large two-pronged trident. Their swords and other weapons are charged with energy and their armor immune to the likes of Iron Man's repulsor rays, but whether this is magic or more technological updating, I don't know. All three share the mystic ability to become invisible, although on one occasion they disguise themselves as ordinary men in suits, and I can't tell if that's a variation on their talent or a use of holograms.
The modern-day Masters of Silence (up to the end of the annual) are the mystic sage Kaze (he senses the Face Thief's return to activity, whereas the other two must be informed of it by him), the headstrong youth Inazuma, and the silent Kaminari. In the course of the story, Kaze mentions that "decades ago, a great battle was waged in which the demon was confined within a work of art," the very work of art from which the Face Thief emerges in the story. The Face Thief recognizes this Kaze, so obviously his Master of Silenceship dates back at least to that decades-ago encounter; moreover, the Face Thief taunts Kaze by insulting Kaze's lost lover, Yuki Nakagawa, slain by the Face Thief, which suggests that Kaze's "irrevocable wrong" was the death of his beloved by the Face Thief, dating his MoSness back even further. In the course of the annual, Kaze is slain, and the warrior soul is passed on to Meredith McCall, former lover of Tony Stark (evidently last seen prior to this as far back as Iron Man (vol. I) #28); her fiancé was killed by the Face Thief (in possession of her father), so she qualifies as one who has been wronged. Bizarrely enough, in a later story arc, Meredith is seen as a college instructor, suggesting that either she chose to pass the warrior soul on to someone else (something we're not actually TOLD you can do while remaining alive, but who knows?) or, more interestingly, that she was on some sort of covert mission for the Masters of Silence; I prefer the latter.
