Crossfire (comics)
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| Crossfire | |
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| Publication information | |
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| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Marvel Two-in-One #52 (June, 1979) |
| Created by | Steven Grant Jim Craig |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | William Cross |
| Team affiliations | CIA |
| Notable aliases | Prisoner V22503 |
| Abilities | Skilled in various arts of espionage Expert marksman Skilled in hand to hand combat |
Crossfire (William Cross) is the name of a supervillain in the Marvel Comics fictional Marvel Universe. He was created by writer Steven Grant and artist Jim Craig in Marvel Two-in-One #52 (June 1979).
Contents |
[edit] Fictional character biography
William Cross was born in Madison, Wisconsin. He is a former CIA operative and master of brainwashing techniques, out to save the world by destroying all superheroes. He forms his own private army, and becomes a professional subversive and criminal entrepreneur with his company, Cross Technological Enterprises.
Crossfire abducts the Thing to test a brainwashing device on him. He is defeated along with his private army by the Thing and Moon Knight.[1]
He hires Silencer, Oddball, and Bombshell to capture Hawkeye as bait to capture other superhuman crime-fighters. A vengeful Crossfire stalks Hawkeye and Mockingbird to the estate of former film star Moira Brandon. The elderly actress assists the heroes in capturing Cross.[2] The criminal mercenary jugglers known as the Death-Throws free Cross from police custody. When he proves unable to pay them, they held him for ransom until Captain America, Hawkeye, and Mockingbird capture the whole gang.[3] Crossfire later escapes and places a bounty on Hawkeye's arm, hoping to destroy the hero's archery skills and break his spirit. Cross and his small army of superhuman bounty hunters (including Brothers Grimm, Mad Dog, Bobcat, Razor Fist, Bullet Biker, and the Death-Throws) are defeated and captured by Hawkeye, Mockingbird, and Trickshot.[4]
[edit] Raft
At some point during one of his prison stays he befriends Vector of the U-Foes whose secret power nullification technology Cross had hoped to exploit. Recaptured following an encounter with S.H.I.E.L.D., Cross is imprisoned in the Vault, a super-human prison, where Rozalyn Backus (long since exonerated) was a member of the Vault's Guardsman force. Seemingly aiding and then foiling an escape plot by the U-Foes and Crossfire, Backus turns the criminals against each other, fakes her own death, and steals a fortune in cash and goods from the criminals. This includes including Vector's power nullification chamber (which Backus later claimed she secretly destroyed since she felt it was too dangerous to preserve). The criminals are later transferred to the new Raft super-prison and all escape during Electro's mass breakout. During this, Crossfire leads a gang of his fellow mind-manipulators: Controller, Corruptor, Mandrill, and Mister Fear. Pursuing Backus, the chamber and their grudges against each other, the U-Foes and Crossfire's gang fight a super-powered gang war in New York until the Avengers break it up. Crossfire and his gang are recaptured (except the Corruptor) and Backus surrenders herself to the authorities.
[edit] Secret War
Crossfire plays a small role in the "Secret War" crossover event.
[edit] Civil War
Crossfire is hired by the criminal known as the Hood to take advantage of the split in the superhero community caused by the Superhuman Registration Act.[5] He helped them fight the New Avengers but was taken down by Doctor Strange.
[edit] Powers and abilities
Crossfire has no superhuman powers, but has a gifted intellect. He is highly skilled at the various arts of espionage. He possesses sufficient technical ability to develop and modify moderately sophisticated computer technology without aid. He also has specialized knowledge of applied ultra-sonics.
He is highly trained by the CIA in unarmed combat and is proficient in delivering killing blows and is an excellent marksman.
His various paraphernalia was built either by himself, or his company Cross Technological Enterprises. His uniform is composed of Kevlar and has special hidden compartments containing various weaponry and devices. He uses conventional handguns, also various small single-shot weapons concealed within his uniform. He has also employed the "undertaker" machine, which employs ultrasonic waves to stimulate rage in the emotion centers of his victims' brains. His left eye has been replaced by an infrared imaging device which affords him a semblance of sight even in total darkness. His left ear has been replaced by an audio sensor that is far more sensitive than the human ear. An explosion caused 85% hearing loss in his right ear, and thanks to his near-deafness in this ear he is immune to the effects of his own ultrasonic machinery as long as he adjusts his artificial ear to be unaffected by it. He has a compressed oxygen tank and various miniature surveillance devices concealed within his uniform.
[edit] Bibliography
- Marvel Two-In-One #52
- Spider-Man: Breakout #1-5
- Hawkeye vol. 1 #2-4
- Avengers West Coast #100
- Captain America vol. 1 #317
- Avengers Spotlight #22-25
- Nick Fury: Agent of SHIELD vol. 3 #40-41
- Agent X #6
- New Avengers #1-4
