GRISSOM
(Earth-7484)

Real Name: Presumably Grissom (more likely a surname than a first name)

Identity/Class: Alternate reality (Earth-7484) human, conventional weapons-user

Occupation: Assassin

Group Membership: Unrevealed government agency (see comments)

Affiliations: Strake;

Enemies: Deathlok (Luther Manning), Spider-Man (Peter Parker) of Earth-616

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Unrevealed (presumably somewhere in reasonable proximity to Manhattan, New York)

First Appearance: Marvel Team-Up I#46 (June, 1976)

Powers/Abilities: Grissom was experienced as an assassin, and he had some experience in stealth and using binoculars.

    He also had some experience with a gun, although he failed to hit Spider-Man when he was distracted by fighting Strake (although, perhaps he had already been shot by Deathlok, throwing of his aim (plus, if he was actually going to hit Spider-Man, Spidey most likely would have sensed it and dodged)).

History:

(Official Marvel Index to Marvel Team-Up#3: Marvel-Team-Up#46) - Grissom and Strake were apparently government assassins (see comments).

(Marvel Team-Up I#46 (fb) - BTS) - After the Omni-Computer identified Deathlok as being near Times Square. Grissom and Strake then hid out behind a billboard-type sign, observing the nearby streets via the open mouth of the figurine holding a cigarette on the billboard.

(Marvel Team-Up I#46) - After Deathlok -- joined by the time-traveling Spider-Man (Peter Parker) of Reality-616 -- had encountered and battled a group of ("Cubist") "Muties," the pair wandered below the billboard, and Grissom advised Strake that the cyborg was coming into sight. Strake considered that it was about time as they had been waiting all morning since the Omni-Computer had latched onto signals coming from that freak.

    Strake wondered who was "the guy in the 'party suit' with him"; having never seen Spider-Man before, Grissom suggested that they should check with Central, but Strake countered that they had been ordered to stay clear of the CIA as "somethin' funny was going on with them these days." Regardless, Grissom concluded that if the other guy was with Deathlok than he must be a target as well; Strake agreed and noted "they both go...but the cyborg gets it first" as he took aim.

    As Strake fired, however, Spider-Man's spider sense warned him (and presumably Deathlok's computer similarly warned him) and he warned Deathlok; both Deathlok and Spider-Man avoided the gunfire, but the "Mutie" who was being carried by Spider-Man took at least three bullets in the back, apparently killing him.

    Enraged at the senseless death, Spider-Man took off after the shooter's location while Deathlok's computer located them and he fired with his laser pistol as well. Grissom chastised Strake for missing Deathlok and noting that he had spotted them, but Strake told him to shut up, countering that the cyborg could not hit them from the angle he had and that Deathlok could not get back out onto the street without them getting him.

    Strake initially considered that it would be like shooting fish in a barrel as they could pick up their targets nice and easy. However, as Spider-Man swung toward them, evading his fire, Strake called out to Grissom, warning him of the "dude in the costume" swinging at them on some kind of web and moving so fast that he could not draw a bead on him. When Spider-Man swung right into the crosshairs on his rifle's sight, Strake was sure that there was no way he could miss, and he slowly tightened his finger on the trigger. However, he severely underestimated Spider-Man's speed, and before he could fire, Spider-Man crashed through the billboard and kicked Strake in the face.

Comments: Created by Bill Mantlo, Sal Buscema and Mike Esposito.

    Grissom had the blond crew cut hair. Strake was the one with the rifle and with the longer, strawberry-blond hair. 

    The story tried to fit with existing continuity, but it was a bit off. It is supposed to occur within Astonishing Tales I#36, well after the defeat and containment of Ryker and after Deathlok's mind was copied and transferred into the Simon Ryker/CIA Luther Manning clone and before Deathlok gets sent into the past of Earth-616 by Godwulf.
    HOWEVER:

1. Strake notes that the Omni-Computer had located Deathlok that morning.
• The Omni-Computer was not shown to be active after Simon Ryker had been pulled out of it and then incarcerated while maddened.
• The Omni-Computer was presumably under CIA control as they are the ones who showed up to claim Ryker after his extraction left him incapacitated.
• Who would have had the Omni-Computer and then directed Strake and Grissom to assassinate Deathlok?
  
2. After Grissom suggests they check with "Central," Strake also notes that they had been ordered to stay clear of the CIA as there was "somethin' funny going on with them these days."
• The major known factions vying for control of America were Simon Ryker, who apparently controlled the US Army; the CIA; and Hellinger
• With Ryker incapacitated, who was telling them to stay away from the CIA?
• I guess there may have been other US government agencies still active at this point?
  

    The Official Marvel Index to Marvel Team-Up#3 entry on Marvel-Team-Up#46 notes Strake and Grissom to be government assassins.

    Yes, the billboard picture is...comical. Now, let us never speak of it again.

    This profile was completed 08/26/2022, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25^th anniversary 's celebratory event.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
There is no KNOWN connection between Strake the government assassin:

• other "Grissom" characters, groups, items, events, races or places...
  

Appearances:
Marvel Team-Up I#46 (June, 1976) - Bill Mantlo (writer), Sal Buscema (pencils), Mike Esposito (inks), Marv Wolfman (editor)

First posted: 09/02/2026
Last updated: 08/26/2024

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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