Black Talon (comics)

The Black Talon is a fictional character, a supervillain in the Marvel Comics universe.

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caption=
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Black Talon
real_name=Desmond Drew
species=Human
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Strange Tales" vol. 1 #173 (April 1974)
creators=Gene Colan and Len Wein
alliance_color=background:#c0c0ff
alliances=
partners=Mama Limbo
aliases=
powers=|

Fictional character biography

Black Talon is a voodoo priest who can create and control zombies. He wears a costume which resembles a chicken, and has an upside-down cross painted on his chest. He was a millionaire and voodoo witch doctor, and posed as a "living loa" to carry out the plans of his mother, Mama Limbo. He battled and became an enemy of Brother Voodoo. ["Strange Tales" Vol. 1 #172-173] He was later exposed as an impostor, and was beaten to death by his own cultists. ["Tales of the Zombie" #6]

Black Talon II

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caption=The second Black Talon (left) appears on the cover of She-Hulk #35.
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Black Talon
real_name=Samuel David Barone
species=
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Avengers" #152 (Oct 1976)
creators=Gerry Conway and John Buscema
alliance_color=background:#c0c0ff
alliances=Lethal Legion
aliases=
powers=|

The successor to the original Black Talon, Samuel David Barone, wore the same costume as the original and was an ally of the Grim Reaper, operating in the New Orleans area. He first appeared in "Avengers #152" (Oct 1976), created by Gerry Conway and John Buscema.

Due to Comics Code restrictions, his zombies were initially known as "zuvembies", as the word "zombie" was banned due to its association with EC Comics horror stories.Fact|date=August 2008

Fictional character biography

The second Black Talon was a professional criminal and cult leader, like the original. He resurrected Wonder Man as a zombie at the behest of the Grim Reaper and sent him to attack the Avengers. The Black Talon battled the Avengers himself, and was defeated by the Scarlet Witch. ["Avengers" vol. 1 #152] He then joined the second Lethal Legion. With the Grim Reaper and Nekra, he battled the Vision and Scarlet Witch. ["Vision & Scarlet Witch" Vol. 2 #1] Under the Grim Reaper's orders, he attempted a recreation of "Simon Williams" as a zombie. ["West Coast Avengers" Vol. 2 #2] With the Man-Ape, Black Talon deserted the Lethal Legion during a battle with the West Coast Avengers. ["Vision & Scarlet Witch" Vol. 2 #2]

Nekra learned the Black Talon's voodoo rites, and she later used them on two occasions to resurrect the Grim Reaper as a zombie. ["Vision & Scarlet Witch" Vol. 2 #12; "Avengers West Coast" #65]

When battling She-Hulk Black Talon formed X-Humed from four dead mutants Changeling, Scaleface, Living Diamond and Harry Leland but was unable to control all of them at once and Changeling was able to break his hold long enough for She-Hulk to triumph. ["Sensational She-Hulk" #34-35 (1991-1992)]

The Black Talon has also fought Deadpool, who viciously mocked him for his chicken costume. ["Deadpool" #29 (1999)]

Powers and abilities

Both Black Talons were voodoo cult leaders who gain their powers from the manipulation of the forces of voodoo magic. Each had the ability to create zombies and control zombies of his creation, either vocally or telepathically. However, the Black Talon cannot communicate with his zombies telepathically when they are not in his immediate vicinity.

Each Black Talon wore a costume with the trappings of various voodoo rituals, with razor-sharp taloned gloves and boots, and a ceremonial dagger.

Other versions

The first Black Talon was Pascal Horta, a Nazi secret agent who first appeared in "Captain America" #9, in 1941. He was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.

Black Talon also appeared in "Howard the Duck", under the name Thibodaux Boudreaux.

Notes

References

*comicbookdb|type=character|id=6762{|title=Black Talon (Desmond Drew)
* [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/blacktalonbv.htm Black Talon (Desmond Drew)] at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
*comicbookdb|type=character|id=2436{|title=Black Talon (Samuel Barone)
* [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix4/blacktaloncaga.htm Black Talon (Pascal Horta)] at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe
* [http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix3/blacktalonduck.htm Black Talon (Thibodaux Boudreaux)] at The Appendix to the Handbook of the Marvel Universe

External links

* [http://www.marveldirectory.com/individuals/b/blacktalon.htm "Marvel Directory"'s article on the two in-continuity Black Talons]