Talon (Marvel Comics)

Superherobox|

caption=
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Talon
real_name=
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut=
creators=Jim Valentino
alliance_color=background:#cccccc
alliances=Guardians of the Galaxy
partners=The Sorcerer Surpreme
aliases=
powers=Feline attributes, ability to fire claws, minor mystical talents such as levitation

Talon is a feline Inhuman in the Earth-691 timeline of the fictional Marvel Universe, sorcerer apprentice to Krugarr. He is a member of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Fictional character biography

In one of his earliest appearances, he helps the team battle a gang of murderous criminals who take after the Punisher. One of the gang injures Major Victory with a shot to the forehead. With the assistance of Hollywood, Krugarr manages to save the Major's life.

Talon personally battles the villain Rancor, later taking delight in the violence. He tries to bond with fellow teammate Yondu over the fact both are very different from the rest of the team. Talon confesses to Yondu he was unable to keep up with the demands made upon him by Krugarr and was forced to leave. In explaining why he is still friends with Krugarr, Talon states 'I may be a flake--but I'm a nice one.' Soon after this conversation, Talon joins in the effort to help stop Galactus once and for all.

Around this time, Talon and the Guardians travel to the past, during the Infinity War incident. Inside Avengers Mansion, they fight an incarnation of the Masters of Evil led by Doctor Octopus. This gains the attention of the Magus, who sends evil doubles of the Guardians and the Masters, in an attempt to absorb and overwhelm everyone. The two teams work together and slay all the doubles. When Doctor Octopus urgers the Masters to again attack, they turn on him as they do not wish to harm the people who had helped them survive. Talon and the heroes are roped into cleaning up the mess made by the battle.

Also, Talon and the Guardians battle the ancient villain Dormammu. The villain had slain Doctor Strange, who had taken on the role of the Ancient One/Mentor to Krugarr.

The Guardians are taken into the realm of the Beyonder, a powerful other-dimensional entity. They battle the entity called 'the Protégé'. Talon receives a serious spinal injury; he cannot move around very much without intense pain.

Talon utilizes a device that had brought back Charlie-27 from near death. However, Talon's repaired spine brings with it new problems, an altered appearance and behaviour; he even attempts to wrest leadership from the hands of Vance.

The team later comes to view Talon as a liability. They do not bother to establish contact with him before taking a trip back in time to battle the original 'Martian' invasion.

Origins

Initially, Jim Valentino wanted to use Wolverine in a storyline where the Guardians had briefly returned to Earth, but Bob Harras, the X-Men editor of the time, did not want it established that Wolverine could live that long. Thus, Valentino created Talon, influenced by Steve Englehart's take on the Beast during Beast's "party harty" time with the Avengers. [http://www.imagecomics.com/messageboard/viewtopic.php?t=144&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15&sid=b15a56f754d4ebc6f50fd8e6c4c8a603]