Americop

Superherobox|

caption=Promotional artwork of Americop for "Thunderbolts: Desperate Measures"
character_name=Americop
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Captain America" vol. 1 #428 (June 1994)
creators =Mark Gruenwald
Dave Hoover
real_name=Bartholomew "Bart" Gallows
species =
homeworld =
alliances=Houston Police Department
aliases =
supports =
powers= Trained marksman and martial artist.|

Americop (Bartholomew Gallows) is a fictional vigilante published by Marvel Comics. He first appeared in "Captain America" (1st series) #428 (June 1994), and was created by Mark Gruenwald and Dave Hoover.

Fictional character biography

Bart Gallows was born in Sugar Land, Texas [Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z Vol.1] and later became a police officer in Houston, Texas. Disillusioned at the law's inability to protect society from crime, he resigned from the force and became a vigilante named 'Americop'. ["Captain America" (1st series) #428]

He travels across America and uses a police scanner to track down criminals. He is not above executing the criminals he thinks deserve it. He sometimes takes money from the drug-trafficking criminals he battles. When he does so, he keeps half and donates the rest to drug rehabilitation programs. Americop finds himself in conflict with Captain America while trying to bring down a child exploitation ring. Captain America is appalled by his brutality. ["Captain America" (1st series) #429]

Americop's investigation led him to the New Orleans mansion of indestructible munitions magnate Damon Dran. Although initially subdued by a gas grenade attack and imprisoned alongside Captain America, he manages to break free. During the fight he kills several of Dran's mercenaries. During the resulting fight, he shoots down Dran's helicopter. Americop believes Dran died during the crash when the criminal in fact survived. ["Captain America" (1st series) #430]

Civil War/Initiative

After the super-hero Civil War and Captain America's death, Americop became a target on the Thunderbolts' "Most Wanted" list.

Norman Osborn sends Penance and Bullseye to battle Americop, with the secret hope the vigilante will kill them both, as they have not been worth the trouble. Instead, they crash the vigilante's truck and Bullseye causes Penance to unleash his stored-up energy. This fries 80 percent of Americop's synaptic nerve endings. ["Thunderbolts: Desperate Measures"]

Powers and abilities

*A formidable martial artist and strategist, Americop carries .45 caliber pistols, a baton, and a fixed blade tactical knife
*He wears bulletproof Kevlar body armor, a ballistic facemask, and a customized cap which doubles as a throwing weapon.
*His pickup truck has a roof-mounted lightbar, police siren, public address system, and bulletproof armor and windows.

References

External links

* [http://www.marvel.com/universe/Americop Marvel Universe: Americop]
*http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix/americop.htm