Carmilla Black

Superherobox|

caption=Cover to "Amazing Fantasy" vol. 2 #7.
Art by James Jean
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Scorpion
real_name=Carmilla Black
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Amazing Fantasy" (vol. 2) #7
creators=Fred Van Lente
Leonard Kirk
alliance_color=background:#ffc0c0
alliances=S.H.I.E.L.D.
aliases=Thanasee Rappaccini (birth name
powers=Immunity to poisons
Left arm delivers "sting" ranging from causing mild discomfort to killing with a touch
Trained martial artist.|

Carmilla Black is a fictional character who appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. She uses the code-name Scorpion. With the exception of her name, she has no connection to the original Scorpion of the Marvel Universe. Carmilla first appeared in "Amazing Fantasy" vol. 2 #7 and was created by Fred Van Lente and Leonard Kirk.

Fictional character biography

After the vicious murder of her adoptive parents, Carmilla discovered her biological mother, Monica Rappaccini, is the Scientist Supreme of the worldwide terrorist network A.I.M. (Advanced Idea Mechanics). Carmilla is now trying to find her real mother under the auspices of S.H.I.E.L.D., who are attempting to use her to infiltrate AIM. She appears in "Incredible Hulk" #87, a one-shot story that takes place immediately after House of M. Peter David, who wrote her appearances in "Hulk", made suggestions that Bruce Banner may be her biological father. [ [http://www.comicboards.com/hulk/view.php?rpl=050804014043 Comicboards, 04 August 2005] ]

Captain Universe

Carmilla and her S.H.I.E.L.D. handler, agent Derek Khanata, had been sent to New York under orders to track down and capture The Uni-Power before it could fall into the hands of the terrorist organization A.I.M., watching over the spot where a Captain Universe empowered Daredevil fought four Class Three A.I.M. Commandos, Scorpion and Khanata waited to see if A.I.M. (who was also at the site) would find anything. A group of kids interrupted the A.I.M. Agents work and were nearly killed until Laura Kinney a.k.a. X-23 stepped in. The A.I.M. Commandos who fought Daredevil before begin to assault X-23 when she becomes Captain Universe. Scorpion entered the fray, helping X-23/Captain Universe defeat the Commandos. Soon afterwards X-23 began to search for a hidden base. Scorpion joined her so that she could capture Captain Universe and get the information on it from A.I.M., however X-23 convinced Scorpion to see the light and let Captain Universe go. X-23 took Captain Universe to a safe hiding place while Scorpion brought an A.I.M. scientist back to S.H.I.E.L.D. for interrogation.

Civil War/The Initiative

Carmilla has been identified as one of the 142 registered superheroes who appear on the cover of the comic book "" #1. [ [http://www.marvel.com/news/comicstories.947 Avengers: The Initiative #1 Character Map] ] In "Spider-Man Family" #3 (set prior to "Civil War: Choosing Sides" #1) she appears in a short story again written by Van Lente and drawn by Leonard Kirk. Here she is infiltrating the unregistered superhero underground for SHIELD, and is sent on missions to establish a presence as a superhero. When the current Venom and former Scorpion Mac Gargan finds out about her, he challenges her to a fight, since he is negotiating for a movie based on his life story and does not want her diluting his trademark. She defeats him by absorbing some of his webbing, creating a "neo-symbiote" which disintegrates after she has defeated him.

World War Hulk

Carmilla is seen trying to aid S.H.I.E.L.D upon the Hulk's return. When she finally got to battle the Hulk, she filled his body with a S.H.I.E.L.D-devised poison concoction specially designed to kill him, but the sole effect was to cause boils to erupt on his skin. The Hulk's healing factor returned him to normal after just a few minutes, after he was prompted to a sudden rush of anger by Amadeus Cho.

Powers and abilities

Genetically designed by her "mother" as part of a group of similar kids called Wakers, Scorpion mutated and developed an arm that absorbs poisons from her body and environment and then releases them at her will. Originally uncontrolled and resulting in her boyfriend's death at the prom, after 3 years she's gotten relative control over it and can alter the strength of her poisonous touch from making people sick to knocking someone out to killing them. She also gained nearly indestructible mind controlled gauntlets packed full of SHIELD technology and a body suit that manages to stop most if not all weapons and has other built in gadgets. Her unique body chemistry makes her immune to most types of poisons and unhealthy chemicals, gases, radiation (in fact she can absorb and possibly gain nutrients from them), and diseases. She is even capable of overcoming poisons designed to be allowed in by the other members of the Wakers and in fact the mind controlling chemicals meant to make her loyal to her mother's agenda were what she originally absorbed and accidentally used to kill her boyfriend. She's physically gifted since her body's chemistry keeps her in top physical shape regardless of what she ingests. There's also evidence that she may have honed her skills as a thief in the 3 years she was on the street. She may have other powers yet to develop.

Other versions

Victorious

In an alternate future, a version of Scorpion is a member of the Avengers, led by Heroine, Gertrude Yorkes. She died fighting Victorious, Victor Mancha.

"House of M"

In the "House of M" reality, the Scorpion was raised by her mother, and has a good relationship with her (as she was never adopted, she also goes by her birth name of Thanasee Rappaccini , although she retains the Scorpion codename). She is thus an agent of the semi-heroic AIM, and recently helped recruit the Hulk, her mother's former lover, to overthrow Exodus' totalitarian Australian government.

Behind the scenes

* The name Rappaccini is an allusion to the short story "Rappaccini's Daughter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne [ [http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=5018 Richards, Dave; "Angst & Espionage: Van Lente on "Amazing Fantasy"; comicbookresources.com; March 28, 2005] ] . The title character of that story is a beautiful young woman whose breath and touch have been rendered poisonous by the experiments of her father.
* Scorpion was originally intended to be the daughter of Silver Samurai and Viper, explaining Carmilla's hair color. [ [http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2007/04/26/comic-book-urban-legends-revealed-100/ Comic Book Urban Legends Revealed #100] ]

Bibliography

*"Amazing Fantasy vol. 2 #7-12
*"Incredible Hulk vol. 4 #83-87, 109-110
*"Captain Universe/X-23 #1
*"Spider-Man Family #3
*"Heroes For Hire #11-13

References