WILDSTREAK

Real Name: Tamika Bowden

Identity/Class: Human/technology user

Occupation: Adventurer, former gymnast

Group Affiliation: None

Affiliations: Dennis Bowden, Lectronn, Lightbright, Phone Ranger, Psi-Lord (Franklin Richards), Thing, Thunderstrike

Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 120 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black

History: (Fantastic Four Annual#26 (fb))- Tamika Bowden was born to Yvonne and Dennis Bowden. At the time, Dennis was a weapons designer for Hydra, but he retired from that organization to devote himself to raising her. Their bond grew stronger, and more important after Yvonne Bowden passed away.

(Thunderstrike#11 (fb))- During junior high, Tamika had a crush on Carl Washington, a boy who was a year older than her. Carl eventually dropped out of school, leaving Tamika unaware of the direction his life would later take, as he became a weapons dealer.

(Fantastic Four Annual#26 (fb))- Tamika became a stellar gymnast, and had a shot at becoming an olympic medal contender, but when Big John Buscelli, an upcoming gang lord, offered her father a part in his organization which he refused, Buscelli arranged an accident wherein Tamika lost the use of her legs. Her father then devoted himself to repairing as much of the damage as he could, by designing an exo-skeleton which would enable her not only to walk, but grant her enhanced strength, speed and agility. Convinced that she had a duty to use this power, Tamika became the costumed adventurer Wildstreak, and set out with her father to bring down Buscelli.

(Fantastic Four Annual#26)- Learning that Big John Buscelli was to be among several gang lords meeting with Manny King in Florida, Wildstreak and her father journeyed there in pursuit of him. Although Buscelli wound up not attending, Wildstreak did find herself facing the super-villain Dreadface, who had arranged an ambush for his enemies the Thing and Human Torch (continuing the trend of people not being there, Psi-Lord came instead of the Torch). Together, Wildstreak, the Thing, and Psi-Lord were able to evade Dreadface, who was seemingly destroyed when Manny King blew up his base of operations.

(Thunderstrike#11) - While busting up a gun dealing ring of Buscelli's, Wildstreak found herself face-to-face with Carl Washington again. Conflicted over how she felt, she inadvertantly let him get away, but later set out to track him down again. In the process, she met the super-hero Thunderstrike, and the two of them came upon Washington, just as his associates were about to execute him. As Thunderstrike fought off the killers, Wildstreak set after Washington, who recognized her, and shrugged off her pleas that he turn his life around, preferring instead the prospect of selling her true identity to the underworld. Although she was unable to pursue him because her powerpack had run out, Washington never had a chance to sell his secret, as the vigilante Sangre shot him first.

Tamika and her father visited Washington's grave two weeks later, and Tamika expressed her disdain for society, for bringing violence into playgrounds, and taking the lives of young men like Washington.

(Civil War: Front Line#5/4) - Wildstreak refused to sign the Superhuman Registration Act. Along with Lectronn, the Phone Ranger and Lightbright, she was arrested by Spider-Man and Iron Man.

(Fantastic Four I#540) - As Mr. Fantastic was preparing to send Wildstreak to his Negative Zone prison, she broke loose and the Invisible Woman helped facilitate her escape from the Baxter Building.

Comments: Created by Tom DeFalco and Herb Trimpe.

Early solicitations for Fantastic Four Annual#26 referred to Wildstreak as "the Black Marvel". They also promised she would become a major player in the Marvel Universe, but, alas, it was not to be.

Wildstreak was one of several all-new characters created in the 1993 Marvel annuals, each packaged with their own trading cards. Only Genis-Vell, the new Captain Marvel went on to any real acclaim, and outside of Bloodwraith and Annex, the others barely made even a return appearance. Which makes them perfect for the Appendix, 'natch.

Washington's headstone read "1966 to 1994". If she was a year younger than him, that would make her 27 at the time of Thunderstrike#11.

Wildstreak received an entry in the Civil War: Battle Damage Report.

by Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
Wildstreak should not be confused with:

• Wildpride, formerly Kyllian, @ Doctor Strange III#77
• or any other "Wild" or "Streak" characters

Dennis Bowden graduated MIT with top honors in mechnical engineering, but found himself unable to find suitable employment, based on the color of his skin. He finally joined Hydra, and became a weapons designer for them, because they didn't care about his skin color. However, when his wife Yvonne gave birth to their daughter, Tamika, Dennis retired from Hydra to devote himself to raising Tamika, especially after Yvonne passed away. However, his reputation in the criminal underworld was remembered, and an upcoming gang lord named "Big John Buscelli" asked him to join his organization. Dennis refused, and Buscelli responded by causing an accident where Tamika lost the use of her legs. Dennis then devoted himself to designing a new exo-skeleton for Tamika that would not only enable her to walk, but granted her enhanced strength, speed and agility. She devoted herself to using this power to bring down Buscelli, and Dennis has accompanied her on this mission, usually from the safety of their van, monitoring her in battle, and taking care of the exo-skeleton. -Fantastic Four Annual #26, Thunderstrike#11

Big John Buscelli was an upcoming gang lord who offered Dennis Bowden a place in his organization. When Bowden refused, Buscelli arranged an accident wherein his daughter Tamika lost the use of her legs. In her identity as Wildstreak, Tamika has devoted herself to tracking down Buscelli's operations and destroying them, having journeyed to a gang lord meeting in Florida (which Buscelli wound up not attending) and disrupting a gun shipping operation. She has yet to encounter him face-to-face. -Fantastic Four Annual#26, Thunderstrike#11

Despite him being a pivotal figure in Wildstreak's origin, and the object of Wildstreak's pursuit in both her appearances, Buscelli has not, to this date, made an on-panel appearance. Likely he was being saved for a prospective Wildstreak limited series. His name may be a tribute to "Big" John Buscema, though I can't say I'd be flattered to have a leg-breaking gangster named after me, personally.

Appearances:
Fantastic Four Annual#26 (1993) - Tom DeFalco (writer), Herb Trimpe (pencils), Bud LaRosa (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Thunderstrike#11 (August, 1994) - Tom DeFalco & Ron Frenz (writers), Keith Pollard (pencils), Sandu Florea (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Civil War: Front Line#5/4 (October, 2006) - Paul Jenkins (writer), Roy Allen Martinez (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Fantastic Four I#540 (November, 2006) - J. Michael Straczynski (writer), Mike McKone (penciler), Andy Lanning, Cam Smith (inkers), Tom Brevoort (editor)

Last updated: 05/06/04

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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