RUSSELL DABOIARUSSELL DABOIA
Real Name: Unknown, possibly Russell Daboia
Identity/Class: Demon (Serpent Men)
Occupation: Executive in charge of Resort Management in Centerville for Patsy-Hedy Entertainment
Group Membership: Sons of the Serpent (ranked member)
Affiliations: Salem's Seven, Nicholas
Scratch ("Mayor Nicholas") and pretty much all of Centerville;
possible agent of Dormammu
Enemies: Avengers (Captain America, Hawkeye, Iron Man (Tony Stark), Moondragon, Scarlet Witch), Hellcat, Songbird, Hedy Wolfe
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None known. Russell Daboia may actually be an alias, in which case his real name is unknown
Base of Operations: Centerville
First Appearance: Avengers 2000 Annual (2000)
Powers/Abilities: Russell Daboia can transform into a giant snake-like form and also is a fairly decent mystic, being able to summon minions in the form of Salem's Seven and perform various mystical ceremonies.
History: (Avengers
2000 Annual) - After Patsy Walker was brought back to life by the Thunderbolts,
she appeared on the All-New "It's Amazing", talking about her new book,
"Gidget Goes to Hell." As Mac Sanders discussed her past, her early days in
Centerville were brought up, along with her comic series and short-lived
television show. Mac then surprised Patsy with a visit from her old best
friend Hedy Wolfe, who had since become the head of Patsy-Hedy
Entertainment.
Hedy took Patsy to her old hometown of Centerville, then transformed into an amusement park with the theme of America's Heartland Next-Door with everyone in town signed under contract. Hedy introduced Patsy to "Mayor Nicholas" and Russell Daboia, the executive in charge of the resort management. Daboia kissed Patsy's hand and introduced himself.
When the townspeople began to hug Patsy to the point of not letting her escape, Patsy discovered that she could see their true nature, that of demons. Patsy tried to escape and wished that she had her Hellcat costume and it magically appeared on her, aiding in her escape. She temporarily escaped to a hillside and used her demonic vision to see that the whole town was demonic.
Somewhat later, an Avengers' training session was interrupted by Moondragon who informed them that Hellcat needed their aid. Moondragon telepathically inserted the coordinates of her location in the Avengers' minds and the team went off on a rescue mission and were met with Hawkeye and Songbird from the Thunderbolts. Upon their arrival in Centerville Patsy explained that she made a mistake in calling them. Scarlet Witch used her hex power to exorcise the demons within Patsy and Hedy Wolfe and they escaped to the air with the aid of Moondragon's telekinesis. Hellcat then explained to the Avengers how the town had been taken over by demons and the Avengers infiltrated the amusement park and found the Sons of the Serpent performing a mystic ceremony. One of the Serpents' agents found out about the Avengers' infiltration of their base and blew the team's cover. The Avengers burst in from the ceiling and discovered that Russell Daboia was behind the whole thing. Daboia yelled for the Serpent agents to kill the Avengers, but they were quickly taken out by the team. Daboia then decided to take matters into his own hands and transformed into a giant humanoid snake form and used his magic prowess to teleport Salem's Seven into the fray. While the Avengers were distracted with the Serpent agents and Salem's Seven, Russell Daboia began a mystical ceremony that caused the smoke emanating from a brazier to take a snake-like form and attack the Avengers. Soon, the Avengers were overwhelmed and Hedy Wolfe grabbed the brazier and tipped it over, stopping the ceremony. Upon tipping the brazier, the ceremony was reversed and the forces that Daboia called forth turned on him and he disappeared in a smell of sulphur and carrion, as did Salem's Seven. The Sons of the Serpent surrendered and Scarlet Witch theorized that now that Daboia and the Salem's Seven were gone, his demons would also disappear, freeing the town. As the Avengers began to head home, Hellcat decided to stay in Centerville and start a new life, while being watched ominously by "Mayor Nicholas."
Comments: Created by Steve Englehart and Norm Breyfogle (I think, he first appeared in the part of the annual that was written by Kurt Busiek and drawn by Richard Howell, but at the end of the issue it says the story was by Steve Engleheart and Norm Breyfogle, and since the Hellcat mini-series which followed this issue was by Steve & Norm, I'm going to assume they created Daboia as well).
I'm truly shocked that this profile
does not mention Set, the supreme Serpent God/Demon. There's got to be some
connection. I'd expect Daboia to be a descendent of Set--Snood.
"surprisingly" Daboia was revealed to be a member of the Serpent Men in OHotMU 2006#10.
I believe that Elder God Set was mentioned in
that particuliar Avengers Annual (albeit, indirectly). The Sons of the
Serpent--as part of another attempt to "ethnically cleanse"
America--apparently VOLUNTEERED to be used as host-bodies for the spirits of
Lemurian Serpent-Men! And, it was Daboia who did the channeling, or
whatever--Carycomix
Technically, Hawkeye was not officially an Avenger at that time - much like Songbird, whom he brought along mostly out of unconscious memories of the events of Avengers Forever and may or may not become an Avenger in the future of main Earth-616 continuity. Even so, even the villains regard him as an Avenger anyway, so I include him in the Avengers membership. - Daevanator.
Clarifications: Russell Daboia is not to be confused with:
Appearances:
Avengers Annual 2000 (2000) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Norm Breyfogle (pencils/inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Last updated: 11/30/04
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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