HORSE

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Presumably human mutate or mutant vs. other;
    former Chinese citizen

Occupation: Mercenary;
    former Chinese government agent

Group Membership: Part of a group of mercenaries led by Dog, including Gold (Zhao Thang; later aka Auric), Monkey, She-Devil, Silver (Jhimon Zhou);
    formerly China Force

Affiliations: Employed by Kingpin (Wilson Fisk) and Teng Yun-Suan;

Enemies: Agent (Rick Mason), China Force (Ox, Rabbit, Rat, Snake)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
    formerly Hong Kong

First Appearance: (Mentioned) Alpha Flight I#69 (April, 1989);
    (full) Marvel Graphic Novel: Rick Mason: The Agent (1989)

Powers/Abilities: Horse had enhanced strength (sufficient to crush a Volkswagen into a little ball) and agility, as well as a proficiency in the martial arts.

    He may have had some degree of enhanced durability, but it apparently was not enough to save him from falling 15+ stories and landing on cement, marble, etc.

History:
(All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z#2) - In response to the growing number of super-powered beings within their country’s borders, the communist Chinese government formed the clandestine People’s Protection Agency (PPA). Tasked with seeking out, removing, containing, and controlling Chinese superhumans, the PPA formed China Force, a government-sanctioned team of artificially enhanced super-beings with powers and codenames taken from the animals of the Chinese calendar. The inaugural roster included the super-leaping Rabbit, stretchable-bodied Snake, super-strong Ox, poison-clawed Rat, canine-like Dog, super-kicking Horse, and the super-agile Monkey.

(Alpha Flight I#69 (fb) - BTS) - Horse, Monkey and Dog defected from China Force....

(All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z#2) - ...as did trainee agents Gold (Zhao Tang, able to generate heat), Silver (Jimon Tang, able to generate cold) and She-Devil, intended for China Force membership upon graduation;

(Alpha Flight I#69 (fb) - BTS) - China Force's remaining members, Ox, Rabbit, Rat and Snake were dispatched to recover the defectors, as well as Jade Dragon, who had been teleported out of China against his will.

(Marvel Graphic Novel: Rick Mason, the Agent (fb) -BTS) - Teng Yun-Suan -- a master of Kung Fu, a Feng Shui Man, and the former sifu (Kung Fu teacher) to Rick Mason -- became associated with Wilson Fisk, aka the Kingpin of Crime, who acted as his financial partner in a plot to use super-human agents in a series of coups to gain control of small countries, in order to start a power base for grander schemes.

    Teng set Dog and his allies up to take over Hong Kong.

(Marvel Graphic Novel: Rick Mason, the Agent (fb) - BTS) - Julie Somers, apparently an agent of some government or security agency, hired Rick Mason to investigate any clandestine activities going on in Hong Kong.

(Marvel Graphic Novel: Rick Mason, the Agent (fb) - BTS) - Mason discovered Dog's plot.

(Marvel Graphic Novel: Rick Mason, the Agent (fb) - BTS) - Dog or one of his allies discovered that Mason was spying on him, and Horse was sent to take him out.

(Marvel Graphic Novel: Rick Mason, the Agent (fb) - BTS) - Mason reported to Somers that he had uncovered a plot to overthrow the government. While they both considered that that seemed foolish, as they would have no chance of holding off the Communist Chinese, Mason provided her information on "the leader...Dog. He and two others are defectors from Mainland China. They were part of a government strike force used for internal security work. The others are the Monkey, She-Devil, the Horse, Silver and Gold."

(Marvel Graphic Novel: Rick Mason, the Agent) - Horse followed Mason up to his hotel room, and Mason appreciated that he was being followed. Horse confronted Mason in glass-lined elevator as it ascended to the high-level floors of his hotel, asking if he thought they would not know that he was spying on them. When Mason jokingly responded, "Well, I kind of hoped -- " Horse threw a punch, which Mason dodged, striking back with an elbow to his back.

Appreciating Horse's enhanced abilities, Mason considered that he didn't have much of a chance against him. After dropping low to dodge a devastating kick, Mason punched Horse in the testicular region, which only earned a grunt from Horse. Dodging another punch, Mason desperately tackled Horse, shattering the glass of the elevator and intending to knock him out of the car.     Horse, however, grabbed Mason's jacket and pulled him with him. As the two men fell the more than 15 floors, Mason shoved Horse away and aimed for the pool, which cushioned his landing.     Horse landed on the edge, apparently killing him...or maybe his body landed on the hard cement, marble, whatever, but his neck being off the end led to a broken neck...

Comments: Created by James D. Hudnall and John Ridgway.

    Rick Mason notes that the names of Horse and his allies are translated from Kuo-Yu. I'm not familiar with that, but some internet searches tell me it is Mandarin, and that the translation would be ----------------------------->

    The Agent Graphic Novel was published a relatively short time before the communist government retook control of Hong Kong in 1997, and the story referenced this turnover. However, that would be a topical reference, as the sliding timescale moves this story from 1989 to a little over 7 years before the current year, which would be 2019 at the time this profile was published.
    I think Julie Somers was an agent of the British government just prior to this transition, so I'm not sure what her role would be in 21st Century stories.

    This profile was completed 10/20/2025, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 25^th anniversary 's celebratory event.

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Horse should be distinguished from:

• HORSE (    )- Dormammu's priest, drug dealer--Dr. Strange II#6
• HORSE - Ani-Mates--New Mutants I#60
• HORSE (   ) - Sovel Redhand's former(?) crew, mercenary, salvage/junker; large and powerful, orange, four-armed, addicted to "happy pills"--X-Men Legacy#220
• horse (or mule) of Khrag 'Thung, the Tibetan/Buddhist Spirit of Vengeance--Ghost Rider VI#28
• horse of Two-Gun Hulk of Earth-84112--Marvel Super-Heroes II#104
• HORSE-MAN - enemy of Fire Ball--Spider-Man Magazine I#10
• Other "Horse" characters, groups, items, events, races or places...
  

First posted: 09/26/2026
Last updated: 10/20/2025

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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