- Cloud 9 (comics)
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Cloud Nine is also the name of a fictional comics rock band/superhero group from the Zenith series in 2000 AD Magazine
Cloud 9 
Interior to Avengers: The Initiative #1. Art by Stefano CaselliPublication information Publisher Marvel Comics First appearance Avengers: The Initiative #1 (March, 2007) Created by Dan Slott
Stefano CaselliIn-story information Alter ego Abigail "Abby" Boylen. Species Human Mutate Team affiliations Freedom Force
The InitiativeAbilities manipulation of an unidentified cloud-like gas form on which she can fly Cloud 9 (Abigail "Abby" Boylen[1]) is a fictional teenage comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. She was created by writer Dan Slott and artist Stefano Caselli, and first appeared in Avengers: The Initiative #1 (June 2007).
Contents
Fictional character biography
Abby first demonstrated her powers while flying on the cloud in Evanston, Illinois. She was spotted by the Initiative program and was recruited into it by War Machine, who told Abby that if she wanted to keep on flying, she needed a license. Once at the base, Abby was discovered to actually be a very shy girl and self-conscious about her body, comparing it to the other girls' bodies there who she felt looked like they came right out of Vogue magazine. During a uniform exchange, Abby accidentally slipped into the boys' showers and was found by fellow new hero MVP. He took a liking to Abby and watched her train. However, when the training with another new hero, Armory, went wrong, MVP was shot by one of Armory's blasts while he was trying to protect Abby from harm. Armory was grounded from superhero-ing and expelled out of the base.[2] Abby is one of the cadets sent on an emergency mission to protect the President from an assassination attempt by HYDRA. It is revealed that she is the top marksman among the Initiative cadets, and she shoots down a HYDRA fighter with a pulse rifle. She becomes distressed when she realizes the Hydra pilot actually perished in the explosion. Her drill instructor, Gauntlet makes sure to drive this point home. [3] Later, in a fight with the Warbound, she intentionally tries to kill her opponent, Elloe Kaifi. She is talked out of her actions.[4]
She has stated that she has no intention of superhuman heroics. As she puts it, "I'm only here because I want to fly. Man, this blows."
During the "Killed In Action" story arc, Abby learns that the Initiative had secretly made clones of MVP, and that one of them, who dubs himself KIA, has gone on a rampage. She and a group of fellow Initiative members travel to the Van Patrick home, attempting to convince the first MVP clone to download his memories into a device that will transmit them into KIA's brain, essentially reprogramming KIA, but possibly leaving the first clone mindless. Cloud 9 manages to distract KIA by playing on the latent memories of the original MVP, and kissing him, allowing her to fill his lungs with her vapor. The MVP clone, rather than wipe his own mind, instead places the helmet on KIA, leaving him an empty shell. Abby and the clone decide to start things over, with Abby acknowledging that the clone is not the MVP she knew.
When Cloud 9 completed her Initiative training, she was assigned to Freedom Force; the Montana team. She is then seen in action alongside Challenger, Think Tank, Equinox, and Spinner.[5] When Equinox is revealed to be a Skrull infiltrator, it is Cloud 9 who kills Equinox.[6]
Initiative instructor Tigra has expressed concerns about Cloud 9 having developed an outwardly cold attitude towards killing in the line of duty after graduating to active service. Believing that Cloud 9 is merely bottling up her emotions rather than dealing with them, Tigra worries about the psychological trauma that may result if Cloud 9 is forced to confront those feelings.[7]
Dark Reign
New Initiative leader Norman Osborn orders Freedom Force to attack the Heavy Hitters after they secede from the Initiative. Cloud 9 is ordered to assassinate Night Thrasher but she misses on purpose.[8] Even though she claims that she genuinely missed, Taskmaster sees through her lie and places her on probation.[9] She joins Hardball in battling the demon Nightmare after he took over Trauma. Nightmare has Abby plagued by visions of undead with bullet wounds to the head. She fights them off and yells at Trauma to fight off his possession. Trauma hears her but Nightmare knocks her out.[10] Following the events of the Siege storyline, Cloud 9 comes to the assistance of a depowered Komodo in capturing Baron Von Blitzschlag.[11]
Heroic Age
Following Steve Rogers's replacing Norman Osborn, he offers her the opportunity to become a trainer at Avengers Academy, but declines when Steve tells her that it is optional and that the Superhuman Registration Act was abolished. She tears up her superhero registration card, and removes her costume as she flies away, now that she can do anything she wants.[12]
Fear Itself
Cloud 9 refuses to attend a meeting held by Prodigy regarding magical hammers that have crashed into the earth.[13] However, when Thor Girl is apprehended and accosted by men outside her holding cell, Cloud 9 arrives to rescue her and subdues the men.[14]
Powers and abilities
Abigail has the ability to create an unidentified cloud-like gas form on which she, and others, can fly on. She can also use this gas in an offensive manner, asphyxiating Elloe Kaifi, one of the Hulk's Warbound by filling her lungs with it.
Cloud 9 has a rating of below class 50. However, Abigail is one of the better marksmen in the Initiative with War Machine stating she had the highest cadet score on the shooting range.[15]
References
- ^ Last name revealed in Avengers: The Initiative #11
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #1 (June 2007)
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #2 (July 2007)
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #5 (2007)
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #12
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #18
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative featuring Reptil #1
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #28
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #29
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #30
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #35
- ^ Age of Heroes #4
- ^ Fear Itself: Youth In Revolt #1
- ^ Fear Itself: Youth In Revolt #2
- ^ Avengers: The Initiative #2
Fifty State Initiative Characters StaffBaron Von Blitzschlag · Black Widow · Gargoyle · Gauntlet · Henry Peter Gyrich · Hellcat · Justice · Nighthawk · Stingray · Taskmaster · Thing · Tigra · War MachineGraduatesDark Avengers · Mighty Avengers · Action Pack · The Battalion · The Called · The Cavalry · The Command · Defenders · Desert Stars · Earth Force · Force of Nature · Force Works · Freedom Force · The Garrison · Great Lakes Initiative · Heavy Hitters · Liberteens · The Mavericks · The Order · Point Men · Psionex · Rangers · Spaceknights · U-Foes · The Women WarriorsPublications See also Categories:- Fictional characters from Illinois
- Marvel Comics superheroes
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