DON OF THE DEAD

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Human

Occupation: Drug cartel leader, former espionage agent

Group Membership: Leader of his own cartel, Narcorridos; formerly S.H.I.E.L.D.

Affiliations: The Org, Rodrigo
(formerly) Taskmaster (Tony Masters)

Enemies: The Bank (Simon Banks), Mariana Banks, Hudson Banks, Deadpool (Wade Wilson), DEA, Iron Fist (Daniel Rand), Mercedes Merced, Miguel, Power Man (Victor Alvarez), Taskmaster (Tony Masters), Zeta Cartel

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: El Don de los Muertos

Base of Operations: Michoacan, Mexico

First Appearance: Taskmaster II#2 (December, 2010)

Powers/Abilities: The Don of the Dead was an excellent swordsman. He carried two pistols in his belt. He was also a musical performer.

Height: Unrevealed (approximately 6')
Weight: Unrevealed (approximately 170 lbs.)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond

History:

(Taskmaster II#2 (fb) - BTS) - The Don of the Dead was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who was sent to train Mexican Special Forces in the drug war. Instead, he decided to become the head of the drug cartel in Michoacan, Mexico. Donning a skull mask, the Don spoke with an exaggerated Spanish accent, pretending to be Mexican. The Don became so powerful, people would turn to him for help rather than the police. He also recorded albums with himself as the singer and his cartel members playing the instruments as "the Narcorridos." He was friends with Tony Masters, who trained Mexican Special Forces agents to instead become his enforcers in the cartel. Masters was inspired by the cartel's garb to wear a skull in his identity as Taskmaster.

(Taskmaster II#2 (fb)) - The Don of the Dead received word from the Org that Taskmaster had a bounty on him. When Taskmaster and Mercedes Merced came to the Don's hideout in Mexico, the Don offered him his protection. As he showed his operation to Taskmaster, the Don killed his subordinate Rodrigo for talking to the DEA. The Don was mortified when he remembered this meant his band was deprived of Rodrigo's electric guitar skills.

    When the Don tried to kill Mercedes for the bounty on her, Taskmaster offered to replace Rodrigo in the Narcorridos. Taskmaster performed with the Don of the Dead, but ultimately beat a quick retreat with Mercedes in a captured bus.

(Taskmaster II#2) - The Don fought Taskmaster atop the bus but Taskmaster stabbed him, then removed his mask, discovering he wasn't Mexican. Masters had forgotten his past with the Don but before he could learn more, Mercedes turned the bus sharply and the Don was thrown from the bus.

(Power Man and Iron Fist II#1) - Heading to Brooklyn in pursuit of Miguel, who had stolen from him, the Don of the Dead performed a raid on a West Indian Carnival to catch Miguel but was stopped by the heroes Power Man and Iron Fist. The Don shot Power Man in the back of the head but it failed to even wound him, while Iron Fist knocked out the Don with a blow to his neck.

(Deadpool vs. the Punisher I#1 (fb)) - Deadpool was sent after the Don of the Dead's cartel by the Bank, who forced the Don to repay his loan. Deadpool killed many of the Don's men before the Don finally gave back the money.

(Deadpool vs. the Punisher I#2) - Incensed that Deadpool had given him a wedgie in front of his men, the Don of the Dead went out for revenge. In the course of this, the Don of the Dead went after the Bank's wife, Mariana Banks and met up with the Punisher remarking how much he liked his chest symbol. The Don intended to ransom Mariana and her son Hudson, but kill the Punisher. However, Deadpool interrupted the Don and attacked him. As they fought, the Don objected to Deadpool using chimichangas as a catchphrase because it was "defiling the foodstuffs of my people." The Don suggested shouting something like "Hot Pockets" as a way of mocking Deadpool. The fight ended when the Punisher gave the Don a wedgie.

Comments: Created by Fred Van Lente and Jefte Palo.

    Initially, he seemed like a fun idea for a new villain, but the moment he was unmasked as a white guy impersonating a Latino man, the concept became a farce. Moreso.

    This profile was completed on 03/26/2026 but its publication was delayed, as it was intended for the Appendix's 25th anniversary celebratory event.

Profile by Prime Eternal.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Don of the Dead should not be confused with:

THE DON OF THE DEAD'S CARTEL

The Don of the Dead's cartel had formerly been in the Mexican Special Forces until they were made to switch sides. They were trained by Taskmaster. Their ranks included Rodrigo and many of them performed in the band "Narcorridos" with the Don. His men wore skull masks and black outfits. They were armed with automatic weapons and shotguns.






--Taskmaster II#2) 2 (fb), 2, Power Man and Iron Fist II#1, Deadpool vs. the Punisher I#1 (fb), 2



images: (without ads)
Taskmaster II#2, page 2, panel 4 (main)
Taskmaster II#2, page 17, panel 2 (unmasked)
Taskmaster II#2, page 9, panel 2 (gang)

Appearances:
Taskmaster II#2 (December, 2010) - Fred Van Lente (writer), Jefte Palo (artist), Lauren Sankovitch (editor)
Power Man and Iron Fist II#1 (April, 2011) - Fred Van Lente (writer), Wellington Alves (penciler), Nelson Pereira (inker), Tom Brennan (editor)
Deadpool vs. the Punisher I#1-2 (June, 2017) - Fred Van Lente (writer), Pere Perez (artist), Jordan White (editor)

First posted: 09/30/2026
Last updated: 03/26/2026

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™ and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Special Thanks to http://www.g-mart.com/ for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!

Back to Characters