Brigade (Imperfects)

brigade-imperfects-mnti4-cover brigade-imperfects-mnti3-faceeye BRIGADE

Real Name: Rick Landau;
also composed of Pvt. Jose Alvarez, Pvt. David Finkelstein, Pvt. Glenn Glennson, Pvt. Frank Kalahaki and 95 others

Identity/Class: Human mutate (composite being)

Occupation: Warrior;
former soldier

Group Membership: Imperfects (Fault Zone/Maria Petrov, Hazmat/Dr. Keith Kilham, Johnny Ohm/Johnny Ostrum, Paragon/Maya, Solara/Reiko Kurokaki, the Wink/Benedetta);
formerly the U.S. Army Special Forces

Affiliations: Dr. Van Roekel and his crew/staff

Enemies: Formerly Elektra (Elektra Natchios, Human Torch (Johnny Storm), Iron Man (Tony Stark), Reed Richards (aka Mr. Fantastic), Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Storm (Ororo Munroe), the Thing (Ben Grimm), Wolverine (James Howlett/Logan); unidentified alien forces

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Van Roekel's ship

First Appearance: (Unidentified soldiers) Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#1 (July, 2005);
(composite being) Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#3 (July, 2005);
(Brigade) Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#4 (July, 2005)

Powers/Abilities: Large and powerfully built, Brigade is superhumanly strong and durable to an unspecified degree (see comments).

He allegedly had the intelligence, strength and density of 100 soldiers, which I think would likely put him in the range of lifting around 10 tons (see comments).

He appears to have bionic arms of an unidentified composition. brigade-imperfects-mnti1-4men

Guided by the consciousness of Sgt. Rick Landau, Brigade apparently has a gestalt consciousness composed of the minds of Landau, Pvt. Jose Alvarez, Pvt. David Finkelstein, Pvt. Glenn Glennson, Pvt. Frank Kalahaki and 95 others. He likely eventually had access to the knowledge of all of these men, but I don't think there is anything to support that he has 100x human intelligence (more accurately, he may have had the knowledge of 100 men).
In fact, the various personalities actually caused him some problems (particularly initially), as they distracted him with different desires, emotions and goals.

He was apparently resistant to all forms of damage (notably acid, fire and electricity) and may have been able to heal rapidly from injuries. Dr. Roekel's technology could

He carried a pair of blaster weapons which were effective over a long range and he was likely a skilled marksman, proficient in armed and unarmed combat.

Height: 7'6" (previous height of Rick Landau and/or any of his other components is unrevealed)
Weight: 800 lbs. (previous weight of Rick Landau and/or any of his other components is unrevealed)
Eyes: Black (previous hair color of Rick Landau and/or any of his other components is unrevealed)
Hair: Black (previous eye color of Rick Landau and/or any of his other components is unrevealed)

History:

(Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#1 (fb) - BTS) <Approximately 2000 years ago, "give or take a century"> - Seeking the means to fight off unidentified invaders, Dr. Roekel -- a member of another, unidentified race -- developed a mutagenic compound, which he called the extract, but those on whom it was used perished soon after transforming. Seeking stronger stock, Roekel resolved to travel to Earth and test humanity.

(Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#1 - BTS) - Roekel's people captured Elektra, Spider-Man, the Thing, Wolverine.

(Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#1 (fb) - BTS) - ...and Storm.

(Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#1) - The four men who would become Brigade were monitored by a scout ship from Roekel's people until Roekel called the ship and others like it back.

(Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#1 - BTS) - The captured heroes were injected the extract, with enhanced their powers and made them feel both unbeatable and more combative.

(Marvel Nemesis - Rise of The Imperfects Official Game Guide (fb) - BTS) - During the U.S. invasion of Iraq, a "black bag" operation led by elements of the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) went awry, and a nerve agent, planted to be connected to Iraqi forces, detonated prematurely, and the 100-man Special Forces U.S. platoon led by Sgt. Rick Landau were slain.

(Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#2) - After the super heroes rejected the extract, Dr. Roekel sought candidates more suitable and controllable for the extract, and he had the ships sent back out out to collect the soldiers.

(Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#3) - Dr. Roekel's technology fashioned fragments of the body of Sgt. Rick Landau and others into the Frankenstein-like composite the would eventually become known as Brigade. Roekel or another noted that while it seemed to be a bit of a mess at first, the extract had worked beautifully, preserving cell walls and nerve function. That same person noted that the body was coming along nicely but that they would see about the brain.

    The composite form, like others being mutated and receiving the extract, rampaged somewhat, and it grabbed Dr. Roekel by the neck. Dr. Kilham, also mutated by the extract, instructed the composite being to put down Dr. Roekel so that they might all receive more of the extract.

    After Elektra boarded Roekel's ship and he launched the ship into the air, Roekel apparently used a control to incapacitate the anxious mutates, advising them to have patience, as they would all soon have the chance to flex their muscles.

(Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#4) - Aboard the ship, "Brigade" (not yet identified) heard a remote message from Roekel telling them that their semi-paralysis would wear off once the troop transport hit the ground: "You'll have all of your faculties and powers, and you'll need them. You're facing the most deadly warriors I've ever seen. I honestly don't know if you'll survive. Good luck." "Brigade" replied, "Hoo-wah!"

    After they landed, Johnny suggested they all sound off to make sure everyone was OK, and "Brigade" sounded off for 1-6, leading Fault Zone to reply, "Big Man's Cuckoo Crazy Clown." Hazmat advised her that that was not nice and that Brigade just had a little multiple personality disorder (although I have zero training in human psychology, those I know who have such training have advised me that "dissociative identity disorder" is the most appropriate term), which was entirely reasonable for a man made out of a hundred others. Brigade then informed Hazmat that all troops were present and accounted for.

    The group was dropped into the Brazilian rainforests. As the alien forces attacked, Brigade had multiple aspects/persona speak up, and he voiced them each, including "Fire at will!", "I don't wanna die!", "I don't wanna kill!" and "Keep it together, solider!"

    Interested as the island native Maya fought valiantly against the alien invaders, Roekel instructed his agents to kill the aliens (the ones with the claws), but save the girl.

    Ultimately, Roekel's warriors slew the aliens but were left severely injured as well, but they were taken back aboard his ship and restored. After dubbing his warriors the Imperfects, Roekel discovered a crystal within the body of one of the aliens that he felt was used to coordinate their movements. He prepared to further enhance Elektra body.

(Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#5) - After Elektra slew other aliens and brought the control crystals back to Roekel, he had them implanted into the Imperfects, which mentally networked them with each other and with him, allowing the Imperfects to see each other's memories. Elektra then took control of the Imperfects under Elektra's direction and led them to confront the heroes -- Daredevil, Human Torch, Iron Man, Spider-Man, Storm, Thing, Wolverine -- who had tracked them there via technology from Reed Richards and Tony Stark.

    Brigade was punched down by the Thing, and calmly waited until he -- along with the other Imperfects -- received a call from the extract-enhanced/controlled Elektra -- who had located a large crystal resembling the control crystals in some sort of ruins/temple and been confronted by local natives Maya and her tribe. The other heroes followed the Imperfects to the temple, where Elektra ordered the Imperfects to kill them all...and Storm and Iron Man had fallen under control of the extract & crystals and were fighting alongside the Imperfects.

(Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#6) - With Reed Richards' remote aid, Iron Man and Storm freed themselves from control of the extract & crystals, after which Iron Man jammed Roekel's signals and freed the Imperfects and Elektra from his control. While Elektra, Hazmat, the Wink +/- Johnny Ohm still considered transporting Maya to Roekel, who saw her as the perfect candidate to receive his extract. Brigade was opposed to this, noting that this didn't look like the fight he had signed up for.

(Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#6 - BTS) - Further discussion was interrupted by the arrival of the alien invaders. The heroes and the Imperfects defeated the alien invaders, but Roekel had Maya's village destroyed and people slain. When she realized this, Roekel explained that her entire line had to be eliminated or the enemy could have replicated the conditions that created her, which would have entirely undermined his advantage in collecting her. Roekel subsequently transported Maya and the Imperfects back to his ship.

(Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#6) - Brigade and the rest of the Imperfects observed as Maya was transformed into Paragon via cybernetic implantation, the extract and perhaps crystals.

Comments: Created by Greg Pak and Renato Arlem.

    I've read the comic series a few times now (once when it came out and twice for this profile), and it is certainly a little hard to follow, but I've never played that game. At some point, I designated the Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects series as Earth-50701 on the Master List. However, in reviewing the series and via a little superficial research into the video game (with files and guidance from Loki), it's clear to me that Earth-50701 is meant to refer the the video game Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects, which differs in several ways from the comic.
    As the comic book characters were based on the game characters, information from the Marvel Nemesis - Rise of The Imperfects Official Game Guide MAY BE accurate unless contradicted in-story. Information from the Guide is listed in italics to clarify it as unconfirmed.

    The strength of 100 men: For Brigade, we can assume these 100 men were soldiers, so athletic to some degree. Peak human like Captain America (lifting 800 lbs. in a standing military/overhead press) is one thing in comics, as the world record military press is 500 lbs. Not many people are anywhere close to that, and even for the average athletic soldier, being able to press 200 lbs. is probably an over-estimation. Working from 200 lbs. per component, Brigade would be able to lift 20,000 lbs. or ten tons.

The density of 100 men is a little unclear. If he had the weight/mass of 100 men, that would likely make him around 10 tons, which is extremely massive and seems unlikely. The Thing seemed to drop him with a single punch, but he also may have been deliberate stalling the Thing until he was ready to go into action.

Power Grids SUCK! However...

If the power grid listed in the Marvel Nemesis - Rise of The Imperfects Official Game Guide (with the comic characters being somewhat based on the game versions) is accurate, his stats would be:

Intelligence: 4: Gifted (certainly learned, with extensive knowledge, but Landau and/or others may make him gifted)
Strength: 5: Lifting between 25-75 tons (certainly possible, but he didn't demonstrate his full strength level in the comics; see above comments/discussion)
Speed: 2: Normal (it would seem like with the combined abilities, his speed might be greater than normal, but he didn't demonstrate enhanced speed in the comics)
Durability: 5: Bulletproof (Seems likely, but unconfirmed in the stories)
Energy Projection: 4: Single energy type, medium range and duration (I don't think he had any energy powers, but he did carry blaster weapons that may fit that definition/level)
Fighting Skills: 6: Master of several forms of combat (certainly an experienced fighter; amongst the 100 soldiers from which he was composed, being a master of one or more forms of combat seems likely, but he did not demonstrate significant combat skills in the comics)
Of course, the problem with the power grids is that most people just pick what seems cool, rather than basing it on documented abilities. Even if the character strictly fits a certain level, editors and others adjust them because it just seems like someone should have a higher number.

brigade-imperfects-mnrotigg His bio in the Marvel Nemesis - Rise of The Imperfects Official Game Guide says he had the environmental disadvantage of being unable to "recover from ring-out situations." I have no idea that what that is supposed to mean.
It also notes that he tended to throw objects in combat; that he did not feel pain and often didn't block attacks due to his durability and lack of pain; that he often executed a "super rising attack" from a prone position that did critical damage to the victim;

This profile was completed 05/06/2026, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25^th anniversary 's celebratory event.
Thanks to Loki for recommending Brigade to represent Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Brigade should be distinguished from:

FRANKENSTEIN's MONSTER - created by Victor von Frankenstein in late 18^th Century, made from bodies of several corpses, brought to life by lightning, terrorized Victor Frankenstein and his family before attempting to commit suicide by jumping into arctic waters, sent into suspended animation, revived in late 19^th Century, battled and temporarily destroyed Dracula, frozen again until more heroic age--X-Men I#40, Monster of Frankenstein#1
FRANKENSTEIN's MONSTER of WORLD WAR II - created by Basil von Frankenstein as first of zombie Nazi soldiers, powers enhanced by siphoning of Human Torch’s android energies, mind cleared when ran into electrical equipment during battle with Invaders, carried Basil and Kitigawa to top of castle and leapt to his death to end his slavery--Invaders I#31
BEAST of FRANKENSTEIN - circa World War II; created by Anna Frankenstein and the Nazi Rotzz--USA Comics#13
FRANKENSTEIN's MONSTER android - created by aliens, sent to Earth circa 1850, went on rampage until frozen in ice, found and brought to museum in modern era by Dr. Powell, broke free and went on another rampage until destroyed by intense cold by Iceman--X-Men I#40
FRANKENSTEIN's MONSTER of BATTLEWORLD - possibly created by Thing (Ben Grimm)'s subconscious--Fantastic Four I#277
FRANKENSTEIN MONSTER - created by another Igor using his master's notes (an alleged descendant of Victor's) and given the brain of "the original Baron Frankenstein" (presumably not Victor)--Creatures on the Loose#12/2
FRANKENSURFER - see BORGO. Empowered by the Ludwig Frankenstein's X-Machine--Silver Surfer I#7, Dr. Strange III#37
FRANKENCLONES - creations of Walston Kraft--Spider-Man Unlimited#21
CLONE of FRANKENSTEIN - enigmatic member of the S.H.I.E.L.D.'s monstrous Howling Commandos--Nick Fury's Howling Commandos#1
MONSTER of the "Son of Frankenstein" - circa 1918-1933 A.D., at least, served his creator, friend of Iron Fist (Orson Randall)--Iron Fist: Orson Randall and the Green Mist of Death#1
FRANKEN's TEEN ( ) - an unholy assemblage of parts from dead soccer hooligans, previously dated Elsa Bloodstone, later battled Elsa and Tabitha Smith--Astonishing Tales: One Shots (Boom Boom & Elsa) digital comic#1
MANAAK - Frankenstein monster-like being, turned on its creator as it no longer needed him--Chamber of Darkness#7/3
TUTENSTEIN (Tutankhensetamun) - young Egyptian pharaoh, preserved as a mummy after heroic death, awakened in modern times--Tutenstein#1 (based on, if not the same, as the character from the Tutenstein cartoon on Discovery Kids (November 1,2003)
CHORUS (Al Gentle, Theodore Kroeber, Phillip LeGuin, Georgia Orr, Ursula Richards, Mindy Williams) - group of people with extra-sensory perceptions, originally gathered by August Masters to implement his plans for World War III via psychic attack on Russia, bodies destroyed in explosion of Masters’s base, minds survived and merged into composite entity--Defenders I#102, 112
other composite physical or psychic characters, groups, items, events, races or places...

images: (without ads)
Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#1, pg. 15, panel 3 (four soldiers (cropped out ship high above in background);
    #2, pg. 15, panel, panels 11-12 (in action; captured or something?);
    #3, pg. 6, panel 1 (composite assembled from multiple corpses);
          panel 3 (composite body, recumbent profile);
          panel 4 (face/eye, close-up);
    #4, pg. 14 (upper profile, firing gun);
    #5, cover (fullish) - art by Jae Lee
Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects Official Game Guide, pg. 54, panel 1 (face/upper);
          panel 2 (not including text boxes; full body image from video game);
       pg. 55, panel 1 (mostly full body image from video game; better detail);

Appearances:
Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#1-3 (July, 2005) - Greg Pak (writer), Renato Arlem (artist), Mark Paniccia (editor)
Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#4 (October, 2005) - Greg Pak (writer), Renato Arlem (artist), Nathan Cosby (assistant editor), Mark Paniccia (editor)
Marvel Nemesis: The Imperfects#5-6 (November-December, 2005) - Greg Pak (writer), Renato Arlem (artist), Nathan Cosby (assistant editor), Mark Paniccia (editor)

First posted: 09/27/2026
Last updated: 08/21/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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