BLOODHAWK

Real Name: Apparently Bloodhawk

Identity/Class: Mutant human

Occupation: Former prisoner and would-be defender of Muara

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Avengers (Black Panther, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, Thor, Vision, Wasp, Wonder Man, Yellowjacket), former resident of Muara

Enemies: Monolith, Stinger

Known Relatives: Teacher (father, real name unknown)

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: The island of Muara

First Appearance: Avengers I#179 (January 1979)

Powers: Bloodhawk possessed large wings on his back, enabling him to fly at great speeds. He was highly maneuverable and possessed a rapid reaction time. He was sufficiently strong enought to stun the Vision with a single blow. He was highly resilient, although his bones were hollow. He possessed keen eyesight and razor-sharp talons. He could also summon and control most other birds.

Unfortunately, he was plagued by periodic bouts of insanity, which appeared to occur most frequently under periods of stress.

History: (Avengers I#179 (fb) ) - The man known only as Bloodhawk was the result of genetic experiments performed on his pregnant mother by his own father. His father was a reputed geneticist who sought to expand man's evolutionary boundaries and create a proud new race. His mother died in childbirth and his father, not able to accept the monstrosity he had created, abandoned the infant to the care of the man known only as Teacher. Teacher brought the infant to the barely inhabited south sea island of Muara. Unfortunately, the mutant was plagued by periodic bouts of savage insanity, which necessitated his caging even on the island.

(Avengers I#179-180) - Teacher and the now-adult Bloodhawk traveled to the United States of America in an effort to return the totem known as "He who Protects" to their island. This totem apparently prevented the emergence of a monstrous entity imprisoned on Muara known as the Monolith. It had been bought or stolen and was being featured at the Museum of Natural History. Bloodhawk entered into a rage upon seeing the totem once again, and was eventually subdued by the combined efforts of the Avengers. Teacher explained the purpose of the totem to the Avengers, who voted to return it to Muara.

The Avengers, Bloodhawk, and Teacher arrived minutes too late to prevent the revival of the Monolith, who rampaged on the island, despite the efforts of the Avengers. Bloodhawk's insanity resurfaced and remembering that he needed the totem, Bloodhawk took it and flew off. The Beast managed to catch up to and knock him out, enabling him to replace the totem and render the Monolith inert. Upon revival, Bloodhawk was pleasantly surprised by the Beast's invitation to return to America with them, where he could be trained by Professor X, along with other mutants. Bloodhawk accepted the invitation, but sacrificed his life taking an energy blast meant for Thor from a criminal known as Stinger. As he lay dying, he asked his Teacher if his father would be proud of him and love him, and Teacher reponded, "He is and he does," apparently indicating that he was himself actually Bloodhawk's father.

Comments: Created by Tom DeFalco and Jim Mooney.

He seemed to be a character with potential, but unfortunately he bit the dust in his first story. He likely suffered from a chemical imbalance, which might have responded to medical therapy (in my non-expert opinion).

Clarifications: Bloodhawk is not to be confused with

• Bloodhawk 2099, Lemuel Halcon, @ XMen2099#1
• Screemies, mutant sea-gulls @ Yellow Claw#4