Killer Shrike

Superherobox


comic_color=background:#ff8080
caption=
character_name=Killer Shrike
real_name= Simon Maddicks
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Rampaging Hulk" #1 (January, 1977)
creators=John Warner and John Buscema
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
alliance=
alliances= Thunderbolts Roxxon Oil Company Brand Corporation United States Army United States Air Force
aliases=Harold Simmons, Donnie Gardner
powers=Anti-gravity device grants:
Flight
Superhuman strength, speed and agility
Skilled with weapons and martial arts|

Killer Shrike (Simon Maddicks) is a fictional character, a Marvel Comics supervillain. He first appeared in "Rampaging Hulk" #1 (January 1977) and was created by John Warner and John Buscema

Fictional character biography

Simon Maddicks was born in Williamsburg, Virginia. He started out his life as a soldier in the United States military. However, after that, not even Maddicks recalls much about his own past for some reason. When he was selected to be a special agent of the Roxxon Oil Company, Maddicks became a mercenary and professional criminal, more specifically a special agent in covert operations. He was sent to the Mutagenics Laboratory of the Brand Corporation, where he underwent extensive conditioning which increased his human abilities. He also underwent surgery which implanted a miniature anti-gravity generator in his spine. Roxxon later gave Maddicks his super-villain costume and the codename "Killer Shrike".

For his first mission, Roxxon sent him to infiltrate the subversive organization called the Conspiracy, which Roxxon learned about through major purchases of technology from the Brand Corporation. The Conspiracy sent Killer Shrike to capture a monster known as Goram. Unfortunately for Killer Shrike, the plan was thwarted by the super-hero known as Ulysses Bloodstone who short-circuited the villain's electrical weapons, badly injuring him. Feeling sorry for Killer Shrike's condition, Bloodstone's agents sent the villain to a New York hospital, where he lay comatose for several weeks. ["Rampaging Hulk" #1-2]

Upon awakening from the coma, Maddicks was contacted once again by Brand scientists, led by Dr. Stephen Weems. Weems, better known as the villain Modular Man, sought revenge against his enemies Spider-Man and Beast. In return, the Modular Man promised Shrike information about his past. ["Rampaging Hulk" #4-5] In battle with Spider-Man and the Beast, Weems was killed before he could uphold his end of the bargain. ["Marvel Team-Up" #90] Shrike escaped and was soon contacted by agents of the Brand Corporation. They helped restore his memory, and assigned him to undercover work as bodyguard to Brand president James Melvin. His costume became controlled by the Will-o'-the-Wisp, and he was forced to abduct Dr. Marla Madison to reconstitute the immaterial Wisp. In the end, he was defeated by Spider-Man. ["Spectacular Spider-Man" #57] With Brand's public dissolution, Killer Shrike became a free agent.

With other superhuman adventurers and criminals, Killer Shrike was later captured and imprisoned by the Locksmith. He was freed by Spider-Woman. ["Spider-Woman" #50] He later robbed a bank, but was defeated by Spider-Man. ["Spectacular Spider-Man" #102] He then attempted a theft of a power booster from the Tinkerer, but was again defeated by Spider-Man. ["Amazing Spider-Man" #310]

During the events of the "Acts of Vengeance," Killer Shrike attacked Moon Knight, alongside the second Ringer and Coachwhip. He shot down the Mooncopter, seriously injuring Moon Knight's pilot Frenchie and then escaped. ["Moon Knight" Vol. 3 #10] Killer Shrike was later hired by Surge, and battled the She-Hulk alongside Grey Gargoyle and Dragon Man but was defeated. ["Sensational She-Hulk" #27]

Ever since, Killer Shrike was most often seen getting beaten up by several super-heroes, most often the Hulk. Killer Shrike was briefly a member of the Cardinal's team of flying super villains known as Air Force. Killer Shrike was oddly absent when the team was blackmailed by Night Thrasher into providing relief for Rwandan refugees. In New Warriors #54 Killer Shrike appears to have been murdered by the Soldiers of Misfortune. This was probably an art error as Oriole not Killer Shrike was with the team when blackmailed by Night Thrasher.

In the Secret War miniseries, Killer Shrike's powers got updated by the Tinkerer. Unfortunately, this still wasn't enough for Maddicks to gain a victory, as he was soon afterward defeated by the Avengers, and apprehended by S.H.I.E.L.D..

Civil War

Killer Shrike was later apprehended by Baron Zemo and forced to join the Thunderbolts, for so far unclear reasons.

Powers and abilities

Extensive conditioning and surgery by Brand Corporation scientists enhanced Simon Maddicks's strength and other physical abilities. He is capable of flight by means of a surgically-implanted anti-gravity generator at the base of his spine, activated by a neural link. Besides that, he has extensive training and experience in hand-to-hand combat and martial arts, and proficiency with hand weapons including guns and knives.

Killer Shrike wears body armor, an armored suit made of an insulated steel alloy mesh capable of protecting him from flight turbulence and small caliber weapons fire. His major weapons system is the twin power-blasters worn on his wrists, with titanium talons capable of slashing flesh, wood, cinderblock, and light metals, and of discharging high-frequency electrical bolts.

Other versions

Ultimate Killer Shrike

The Ultimate form of Killer Shrike made a cameo in Ultimate Spider-Man, issue 72, trying to rob Roxxon Industries of their supply of Adamantium - but was apprehended by Spider-Man. This version was a deranged, desperate man who seemed to almost froth at the mouth; Spider-Man himself referred to him as 'Steroid-Boy with a Laser Tag Fetish'. It was later revealed that he was an employee of the Ultimate Tinkerer, hired specifically to bother Roxxon as vengeance for firing him.

References

External links

*http://marvel.com/universe/Killer_Shrike