(of Earth-6311)
SCARLET
CENTURION
(of Earth-6311)
Real Name: Marcus Kang
Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Earth-6311) and extra-temporal human technology user
Occupation: Conqueror, imperial heir
Group Affiliation: None
Affiliations: Kang (Nathaniel Richards) (second-in-command to his armies);
He was number 23 in a line of cloned Marcuses
Enemies: Avengers (Goliath/Hank Pym, Iron
Man/Tony Stark, Jack of Hearts/Jack Hart, Triathlon/Delroy Garrett,
Jr., Vision/"Victor Shade," Warbird/Carol Danvers, Wasp/Janet Van Dyne)
(although he really, really
dug
Warbird), Master
of the World
and the other international forces of modern day Earth (all of Earth-616)
Known Relatives: Nathaniel Richards
(Kang, father), unidentifed mother, Nathaniel Richards, Cassandra
Richards, unidentified son of Nathaniel and Cassandra, matriarch of the
Eyriennes (ancestors), Tara Richards (Huntara), Reed Richards (Mister
Fantastic), Franklin Richards, Valeria Richards, various Eyriennes
(common ancestry), Victor von Doom (Doctor Doom, alleged ancestor),
Ramades (half-brother), Marcus I-XXII (half-brothers, deceased)
Aliases: Marcus XXIII
Place of Birth: Unrevealed planet in an alternate future
Base of Operations: Damocles Base, an orbiting space station base of Kang
First Appearance: (seen in shadows): Avengers
III#38
(March, 2001);
(fully seen): Avengers III#40 (May, 2001)
Powers/Abilities: The Scarlet Centurion did not possess any superhuman powers but he had access to advanced futuristic technology including his Halberd, which he could project energy blasts through, armor that enhanced his strength and his floating one-man hovercraft. In addition to those devices, he had access to the virtually limitless armies and advanced weaponry of his native alternate 40th century timeline.
The Scarlet Centurion had been trained as a warrior ever since his
infancy and as such, he may have had some measure of fighting prowess in armed and
unarmed
combat, the use of conventional and non-conventional weaponry and
perhaps
military strategy as well.
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 205 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown
History: (Avengers III#45 (fb)) - Born outside the timestream, the child that would become the Scarlet Centurion was the son of Kang, who had handpicked a perfect mate to create an exceptional warrior. Kang's child was sent back in time and trained from birth to be such a warrior. As an adult, Kang's son, now known as the Scarlet Centurion, was reunited with his father to fight by his side.
(Avengers III#38) - Scarlet Centurion remained by Kang's side, scanning the unknowing Avengers for data. When Scarlet Centurion determined Captain America to be nothing more than human, Kang reminded him that they were human as well, only with access to advanced technology. Kang then told the Scarlet Centurion that their technology user was ultimately nothing and suggested the Scarlet Centurion review and study the surveillance feeds on Captain America, as Captain America often won using his spirit, cunning, courage and skill alone. Kang then warned that the Avengers were building better defenses and that they had to be prepared for them if they were to achieve victory.
(Avengers
III#39) - The Scarlet Centurion viewed more data on the Avengers,
noting that they were currently occupied, vulnerable and in disarray,
suggesting to Kang that they strike at that point. Kang, who was
sparring with some robots, noted that the Scarlet Centurion was being
impetuous and that a good commander took all measures into account
before striking. Scarlet Centurion responded by claiming it was easy
for Kang, who had proven himself time and again, and that he wished to
prove himself, admitting that he was tired of all the waiting and
inaction. Kang suggested Scarlet Centurion fear not, as he would have
his chance to prove himself, and warned that he considered impatience a
mortal sin. Kang then informed Scarlet Centurion that would proceed
with their preparations and follow them.
(Avengers III#40) - Scarlet Centurion was seen with Kang as the latter revealed the secret plans he had for the Avengers.
(Avengers III#41) - Scarlet Centurion arrived at the United Nations Plaza to make way for Kang and battled the Avengers. He was beginning to lose the battle when Kang arrived and destroyed a building to show what would happen if anyone defied him.
(Avengers III#42) - Scarlet Centurion was at Kang's
side when
Kang revealed his plan to take over the world
to prevent the wrongs that could potentially happen in the future. Warbird
recognized the Centurion's voice as Marcus when he
asked for there
to peace between them. As Kang finished his speech, Prince Edward
Island was invaded by the Atlanteans and China was invaded by
Deviants. Also, the Presence arrived with a legion of radioactive
beings under his control.
(Avengers III#43-44) - Scarlet Centurion spoke to Kang about his father's plan for global domination.
(Avengers III#45) - Kang revealed the Scarlet Centurion's origin to his son. Afterwards, the Master of the World surrounded major cities of the world with pillars of "protection."
(Avengers III#46) - Scarlet Centurion viewed images of the war his father caused and secretly viewed images of Warbird until Kang arrived. Again, they spoke about the war.
(Avengers III#47) - As Warbird was unconscious in the snow, she dreamt of the birth of Marcus Immortus outside of time. A Plodex wolf attacked her and she awoke to battle it, only to be saved by the Scarlet Centurion. She battled him until he demanded there be peace between them and revealed himself to be Marcus Kang--the son of Kang, not Immortus, insisting he was a different person than Marcus Immortus, whom Warbird was the mother of. More Plodex aliens soon attacked and the Centurion received serious injuries while defending the both of them. The duo defeated the Plodex drones and Marcus left, saying that if she should need him, call.
(Avengers
III#48) - Once more, Scarlet Centurion viewed pictures of Warbird
as Kang arrived. They then prepared to defend Damocles Base from the
Avengers. While Kang and the Centurion readied to defend
themselves
from both the Avengers and a contingent of the robotic Sentinels,
Warbird killed the Master of the
World by impaling him with a metallic piece of his ship. When the
Sentinels arrived at Damocles Base, Kang destroyed the Avengers
Quinjet and sent the Sentinels back toward Earth, leaving the
Avengers stranded in space.
(Avengers III#49/Avengers III#51 (fb)) - Kang set the Sentinels loose on the major cities of the world, their only defenses being the pillars set up by the Master of the World. The Avengers battled the Sentinels until a bomb detonated in the heart of Washington, D.C., leaving only Thor and the President of the United States, whom Thor had rescued, as the only people to survive the blast. Scarlet Centurion stood proudly next to Kang as Wasp prepared to sign an Articles of Surrender.
(Avengers III#52-53) - The Avengers assaulted Damocles Base and defeated Kang's forces. Kang sent Marcus forward in time to save him while he prepared for a final battle with the Avengers. Kang was subsequently imprisoned.
(Avengers III#54) - The Scarlet Centurion returned to Earth and freed Kang from prison. As the Centurion began making plans for their next attack on the Avengers, Kang skewered him with his sword, telling Marcus he could not live with his betrayal, as there had been numerous occasions when he had early knowledge of the Avengers' attacks but had not acted due to his attraction to Warbird. Kang then allowed his successor to die and Kang's computers marked the death of Marcus XXIII, requesting authorization to activate Marcus XXIV. Kang decided to postpone this.
Comments: The third incarnation of the Scarlet Centurion, Marcus Kang, was created by Kurt Busiek (writer), Alan Davis (artist) and Mark Farmer (inker).
A halberd is a weapon used in the 15th and 16th Centuries, consisting typically of a battle-axe and pike mounted on a handle about six feet long.
Scarlet Centurion had an entry in All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z I#9 (2006), where his main entry was miscredited as George Perez when, in fact, it was by Alan Davis.
A young-looking Scarlet Centurion appeared in
S.H.I.E.L.D. III#12 (2016) but it seems unlikely that this Scarlet
Centurion would be Marcus Kang, as Marcus Kang died over the course of
his first real outing as the Scarlet Centurion. One could argue that
due to the time-travel, Marcus Kang might have traveled into
Earth-616's future from a point during the "Kang War" in the early
2000s Avengers comic but Odin transforms the Scarlet Centurion in
S.H.I.E.L.D. III#12 into sand within an hourglass at the end of the
S.H.I.E.L.D. story. We see Marcus Kang get killed in Avengers III#54 so
it seems unlikely that he would have been transformed into sand, only
to be later returned to a point during the "Kang War" and restored to
normal, only to be killed by Kang. It seems more likely that the
Scarlet Centurion seen in S.H.I.E.L.D. III#12 was a divergent Kang that
had adopted the Scarlet Centurion identity much earlier in his life
than the prime Kang did. Either that or it was a totally different
person who had usurped the Scarlet Centurion armor and time-travel
motif...either way, I reiterate the unlikelihood of it being Marcus
Kang.
Profile by Proto-Man, originally updated/edited by Kyle Sims
Clarifications:
Scarlet Centurion (Marcus Kang) should be distinguished from:
images: (without ads)
Avengers III#41, p12, pan2 (main image)
Appearances:
Avengers III#38 (March, 2001) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Alan Davis
(pencils), Mark Farmer (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers III#39 (April, 2001) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Alan Davis (pencils), Mark Farmer (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers III#40-43 (May-August, 2001) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Alan
Davis (pencils), Mark Farmer (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers III#44-47 (September-December, 2001) - Kurt Busiek (writer),
Manuel Garcia (pencils), Bob Layton (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers III#48-49 (January-February, 2002) - Kurt Busiek (writer),
Kieron Dwyer (pencils), Rick Remender (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers III#51 (April, 2002) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Brent Anderson (pencils), Tom Palmer (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers III#52 (May, 2002) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Ivan Reis
(pencils), Randy Emberlin (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Avengers III#53-54 (June-July, 2002) - Kurt Busiek (writer), Kieron Dwyer
(pencils), Rick Remender (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
First posted: 01/16/2002
Last updated: 05/11/2019
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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