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AXIS

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Human mutate (pre-modern era);
    American citizen

Occupation: Professional criminal

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Howler (Luke Garrow), Positron, the Scythe, Typhoon, unidentified Skrull agents

Enemies: First Line (Blackjack, Effigy/Velmax, Firefall, Mr. Justice/Timothy "Tim" Carney,  Nightingale, Oxbow/Sam Matonabbe, Pixie, Reflex)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: "Pious fascist" (nickname given by Howler)

Base of Operations: Unrevealed
    his corpse was apparently left on Earth's Moon;
    formerly:
mobile throughout the United States

First Appearance: Marvel: The Lost Generation#6 (September 2000)

Powers/Abilities: Axis possessed superhuman strength (at least class 50, possibly higher) allowing him to lift and throw a massive rock with no discernible effort. Though durable, he was by no means invulnerable--Howler managed to rip him apart in a fit of rage. The source of his powers has not been revealed (see comments). Fiercely nationalistic and devoted to the idea of the ubermensch from Nazi lore, the American born Axis firmly believed in his own purity, not thinking twice to remind everyone who was different of his superiority. Axis was also deeply religious, claiming to pray every night.

Height: 6'1"(by approximation)
Weight: 200 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Unrevealed, but considering his politics, it's probably blonde 

History:
(Marvel: The Lost Generation#6 (fb) - BTS) - The man who became Axis was born and raised in America, growing up with a firm belief in the Nazi theory of Aryan supremacy. Looking down on anyone and anything that did not meet his standards even before he received his powers, Axis soon gained a reputation as a super-criminal and even faced superheroes such as First Line member Oxbow.

(Marvel: The Lost Generation#6 - BTS) - Aware of the fact mankind was about to embark on their first major space exploration by landing on the Moon, the Skrull Empire sent three agents to Earth to destroy Apollo 11. Figuring the failure of the Apollo mission would discourage humanity from spreading out among the stars, the three Skrulls disguised themselves as humans and contracted Axis and several other super-villains (Howler, Positron, the Scythe and Typhoon) to do their bidding. Unaware he was dealing with aliens, Axis happily accepted the offer from three of his "fellow Aryans".

(Marvel: The Lost Generation#6) - Not too concerned about the fate of the astronauts (Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin) aboard the Apollo 11, Axis and the other villains gladly agreed to help the three disguised Skrull agents in light of the major compensation promised to them. However, Axis was annoyed he had to work with the animalistic Howler and the Asian Typhoon, whom he respectively referred to as a sub-human and a foreigner; Howler attacked him over these comments, but their argument was broken up by Positron, who fired a blast at the the two combatants shortly before they left for the Moon aboard the Skrulls' flying saucer (unbeknownst to them, the First Line's leader Effigy had learned of the planned attack on Apollo 11 and brought the First Line to the Moon as well).

    Axis and the others watched in awe as the Lunar Module landed on the surface of the Moon, impressed by the fact the astronauts dared such a feat in so fragile a craft. Axis then joined the other villains on the surface of the Moon while the three Skrulls remained on board their craft, unaware the First Line had arrived on Luna as well.

    The First Line member and reformed villain Blackjack was the first to spot the villains--maddened beyond reason, Howler stormed off to kill him. This led to a full on conflict between heroes and villains. Axis tried to smash the First Line members with a giant lunar rock, ignoring the claim of Oxbow that he was in fact working for aliens. Later during the battle, the arrogant Axis foolishly pushed the battle-crazed Howler aside to get a shot in. Even as Axis claimed that this was a job for a superman, Howler grabbed him and viciously ripped him in half.

Comments: Created by Roger Stern (writer), John Byrne (pencils), Al Milgrom (inks).

Ahh, Nazis, what would comics be without them?  Interestingly enough, Axis was a 'home-grown' Nazi, decades before the term "neo-Nazi" was invented for men like him. Still, why he insisted on wearing a Nazi inspired outfit if he didn't identify with much of the original Austro-German philosophies is a little odd.

So, how did he receive his powers? I'd hate to think Axis was one of the many failed attempts at creating a Captain America-like hero we've seen pop up over the years (Isaiah Bradley and Protocide come to mind). Axis' strength might also be fueled by his convictions of his own (race's) superiority. In other words: the more superior he felt, the greater the power to back up that belief. It would at least validate his endless, tiresome blustering, somewhat.

Profile by Norvo.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Character should not be confused with


images: (without ads)
Marvel The Lost Generation#6, p7, pan1 (main image)
Marvel The Lost Generation#6, p7, pan4 (slaps Howler around)
Marvel The Lost Generation#6, p19, pan4&5 (dies)


Appearances:
Marvel: The Lost Generation#6 (September 2000) - Roger Stern (writer), John Byrne (pencils), Al Milgrom (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)  


First Posted: 02/03/2014
Last updated: 05/11/2014

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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