FIREBRAND
Real Name: Broxtel (full name unrevealed)
Identity/Class: Human technology user
Occupation:
Thief, murderer,
possible eco-terrorist;
formerly janitor at Stark International
Group
Membership:
Force
of Nature;
Affiliations:
Aqueduct,
Boomerang, Corrupter, Fasaud, Firewall, R.A.I.D., Skybreaker,
Terraformer;
formerly Phillipe Bazin, Stark International
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of
Operations: New York, USA, and mobile internationally,
including London, England, and Trans-Sabal;
formerly a
subsidiary of Stark
International (location unrevealed)
First Appearance: Web of Spider-Man#77 (June,1991)
Powers/Abilities: Firebrand's exoskeleton allows him enhanced strength, durability, flight and flame projection "from anywhere and everywhere," including a protective sheath of flame enveloping his body. He possesses at least an above average intelligence to be able to hack into the Stark International computers, steal the Firebrand costume, enhance its capabilities and use it effectively (although Stark Int. may have enhanced the suit before he stole it.) He is mercenary and opportunist by nature with scant regard for human life.
History:
(Web of Spider-Man#78 (fb) - BTS) - The man known as Broxtel was employed on the custodial staff of Stark International. Using his humble station to his advantage, Broxtel hacked into company files and discovered the schematics for the Firebrand exo-skeleton, his "shortcut to success." Stealing the tech, Broxtel became the new Firebrand, hiring out his services to the crime lord Phillipe Bazin. Bazin sent Firebrand to extort money from Mr. Munson, who wished to convert the Poseidon Hotel, located on Bazin's "turf", into a homeless shelter. Munson paid Broxtel the money, but Broxtel double-crossed both men and kept the money, hiding it in the bumper of an abandoned car near the local homeless shantytown. He then informed Bazin that Munson hadn't paid up, and got the go-ahead to torch the Hotel.
(Web of Spider-Man#77) - At the gala opening of the Poseidon Homeless Shelter, Broxtel and Munson spoke briefly; Munson hadn't expected him to be there. Later, during the chaos caused by the Morlocks Ent and Pester, Broxtel slipped away. As Munson searched for him, he found Broxtel's tie and cummerbund, then was attacked by Firebrand, who sprayed fire over the terrified crowd.
(Web
of Spider-Man#78) - Firebrand's attack caused the
ceiling to collapse
on the Morlocks, Spider-Man and Anna, who were in the sub-basement. The
Morlock
Mother Inferior was killed by falling debris while saving Ent and
Spider-Man's
lives, while up above, Munson asked Firebrand why he was attacking
after
he'd paid Bazin off. Firebrand admitted he'd "forgotten" to give Bazin
the
money, then he burned Munson alive. As the NYFD arrived, Firebrand
attacked
them, drawing the attention of Cloak and Dagger who were searching for
Anna.
As the trio fought, the police attempted to arrest all three of them,
giving
Firebrand time to attack. Firebrand tried to fuse the heroes to the
ground,
but Dagger's light knives quickly freed them. Firebrand then
turned
his flame on the homeless shantytown, drawing Cloak and Dagger away to
protect
the endangered innocents. Cloak then tried to entrap Firebrand within
his
Dimension of Darkness, only to be blasted off by Firebrand's flame
abilities.
Firebrand used the distraction to recover the stolen money
and attempted
to escape. Spider-Man and Ent broke out of the flaming hotel, freeing
the
others, and Spidey took up the battle against Firebrand, snatching the
money
while he was distracted. As the raving Firebrand pursued him, Spidey
webbed
his hands together, slammed them into each other, and struck Broxtel in
the
face with his own hands, shorting out the costume's circuitry. Broxtel
awoke
in the middle of a very angry crowd and the cops took him away.
(New Warriors I#29 (fb) - BTS) - Firebrand was recruited as part of the Force of Nature and they entered the civil war conflict in Trans-Sabal.
(New Warriors I#29) - After several weeks of intense fighting with the Trans-Sabalian Army, Firebrand attacked a contingent of soldier alongside his team mates in the Force of Nature, which sought to stop the pollution generated by the civil war. However, this time, they encountered and fought the New Warriors, who were there to stop the carnage and violence.
(New Warriors I#30) - Finally
overwhelmed by the fighting, particularly against the super-powered
heroes,
Firebrand sought to escape the fray, but was knocked out from
behind by Sprocket. Recovering later, Firebrand rejoined the Force of
Nature and stormed the palace in the city of Jaffan alongside brief
allies the New Warriors and the opposition forces led by
Mezdbadah. He had the handcuffed would-be King Jalfaha Dahn in his
sights and blasted flames at him in an effort to kill him so that the
Force of Nature could set themselves up as the new rulers of the
oil-rich nation, but the fiery projections were blocked by Nova.
Namorita then bent the mercenary's arm back, breaking it at the elbow.
The New Warriors then left, leaving the warring forces behind.
(Union Jack II#1 (fb) - BTS) - Firebrand was hired by R.A.I.D. and helped into London by Fasaud.
(Union Jack II#2) - Sent to Heathrow Airport, Firebrand and Boomerang entered a stand-off with the Arabian Knight and the Contessa, taking a passenger plane hostage. The Arabian Knight confronted Firebrand who struck back with a wall of flame. Protected by his magic uniform, the Knight stopped Firebrand with a swing from his blade.
(Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America#3 (fb) - BTS) - Firebrand escaped custody and returned to the United States.
(Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America#3) - Donning a new suit, Firebrand attempted to rob a gas station. Stopped by Patriot and Hawkeye during his getaway, Firebrand shot flames at them. Pausing to laugh at Hawkeye's misfired attempt to hit him, Firebrand was engulfed in flame-retardant chemicals when the arrow ricocheted back at him. Patriot used his shield to knock a fire hydrant valve off, blasting Firebrand into unconsciousness.
Comments: Created by Terry Kavanaugh (writer), Alex Saviuk (pencils) and Keith Williams (inks).
The later appearances (New Warriors onward) have not actually been confirmed as being Broxtel, but it seems very likely to be the same character.
Woody Allen, Mia Farrow and Stan Lee made cameo appearances at the party in Web of Spider-Man#77. Flash Thompson also attended the party in full costume as the villain Stilt Man, thinking it a costume party, and caused quite a little commotion himself ...
Mother Inferior and Mr. Munson were the only known fatalities of the Poseidon Hotel fire, although Gina and Glory Grant apparently suffered serious injury. Gina had to be hospitalized and was in a wheelchair during her recovery. Kate Cushing may or may not have broken her arm; likewise, Harry Osborn was said to have had a broken arm, but Liz was apparently mistaken, as he was seen a few days later without an arm brace or cast.
The other mercenaries hired by
R.A.I.D. in the London attack included Crossfire and his Death-Throws,
Ecstacy, Jackhammer,
Jack
O'Lantern, Machete,
Shockwave
and Zaran. However, since Firebrand was partnered with Boomerang and
the Corrupter, and did not actually work with the others, they're not
counted as allies.
Profile by Darc_Light. Updated by G Morrow.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Firebrand (Broxtel) has no known
connections to:
Mr. Munson has no known relation to:
Mr. Munson was the head of the charity fund raiser committee attempting to convert the Poseidon Hotel into a homeless shelter designed to help people get back up on their feet. Bazin demanded payment to set up the shelter in his territory, but Broxtel stole it and claimed it was never received. Firebrand brutally burned Munson to death. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery, where Anna later visited his grave.
--Web of Spider-Man#77
(78
images:
Fallen Son: The Death of
Captain America#3, p12, pan1 (main image with new costume)
Web of Spider-Man#77, p14, pan 5 (head shot)
New Warriors I#29, p14, pan 3 (flying)
Union Jack II#2, p20, pan2 (vs. Arabian Knight)
Web of Spider-Man#77 p15, pan 5 (Mr. Munson)
Appearances
Web of Spider-Man#77-78 (June-July,1991) - Terry Kavanaugh (writer),
Alex Saviuk (pencils), Keith Williams (inks), Danny Fingeroth (editor)
New Warriors I#29 (November, 1992) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Darick
Robertson (pencils), Larry Mahlstedt & Brian Garvey (inks), Rob
Tokar (editor)
New Warriors I#30 (December, 1992) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Darick
Robertson (pencils), Larry Mahlstedt (inks), Rob Tokar (editor)
Union Jack II#1-2 (November-December, 2006) - Christos N. Gage
(writer), Mike
Perkins (pencils), Andrew Hennessy (inks), Andy Schmidt (editor)
Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America#3 (July, 2007) - Jeph Loeb
(writer), John Romita Jr. (pencils), Klaus Janson (inks), Bill
Rosemann (editor)
Last updated: 12/13/07
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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