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KATYUSHA

Real Name: Anya (last name unrevealed)

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

Occupation: Adventurer

Group Membership: First Line (Black Fox/Robert William Paine, Blackjack, Dr. Mime, Effigy/Velmax, Firefall, Flatiron/Russell, Frank, Liberty Girl/Beverly, Major Mercury/Makkari, Mr. Justice/Timothy 'Tim' Carney, Morph, Nightingale, Oxbow/Sam Matonabbe, Pixie, Positron/Veronica, Rapunzel, Rebound, Reflex, Squire, Templar/Ian Fitzwilliam Dare, Vulcan, Walkabout/William Carmody, Yankee Clipper/Patrick "Pat" Carney, Yeti)

Affiliations: Gadfly (T. Ruth McCrae), Cassandra Locke, Mako, Riot-Act, Uatu the Watcher

Enemies: Nocturne, Nocturne's zombies, Skrull invasion fleet

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: 'Russkie' (nickname given by Nocturne's zombie Sub-Mariner)

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
    formerly: Foxwood Farms, Woodstock, Illinois;
    formerly Zvyezdograd (Star City), USSR

First Appearance: Marvel: The Lost Generation I#7 (August 2000)

Powers/Abilities: Precious little is known about Katyusha's powers, save for the fact she received them through the Russian space-program. Katyusha could fly, had a modicum of super-strength (Class 10), agility and durability (she could slam into the fiery form of a zombie Human Torch with no ill effect).  Her mask contained large, protective goggles that shielded her eyes from the effects of high speed acceleration.
    Passionate and peace loving, she decided to defect to the United States upon the request of the Black Fox and didn't think twice to show or act on her affections.

Height: 5'5" (by approximation)
Weight: 125 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Brown

History:
(Marvel: The Lost Generation I#6 (fb) - BTS) - In the mid-1960s, The Russian woman Anya was given super powers in Star City, using technologies created by the USSR's cosmonaut program. Calling herself Katyusha, she met the American vigilante Black Fox (Robert William Paine), who was on a secret mission. During their initial encounter, he managed to convince her to defect to the United States.

(Marvel: The Lost Generation I#6) - On July 16, 1969, Katyusha and the Black Fox watched the launch of the Apollo 11 moon mission from Paine's home in Woodstock, Illinois, where she had been staying since the Fox had helped her defect. Grateful for his assistance, the passionate Katyusha initiated a romantic interlude which caused the two to miss the First Line's mission to the moon.

(Marvel: The Lost Generation I#7 - BTS) - Shortly after the lunar landing, Katyusha officially joined the First Line. By that time, she had greatly improved her English and served for an unrevealed amount of time.

(Marvel: The Lost Generation I#7) - Katyusha joined Templar, Vulcan, Pixie and Reflex in a rescue mission of fellow teammates Oxbow and Mr. Justice. Traveling to Cleveland, they found the two heroes were being held hostage by their old enemy Nocturne, the Red Skull and, curiously enough, the war-time heroic group known as the Invaders. Katyusha engaged the Sub-Mariner in aerial combat for a while, until Reflex realized the Invaders and the Skull were actually zombies created and controlled by Nocturne. Katyusha looked on in horror as Templar used his enchanted broadsword to disembowel the creatures with a single blow. She later assisted Pixie in helping chase down the escaping Nocturne, but they failed to capture the wily villain.

(Marvel: The Lost Generation I#8 - BTS) - After the First Line went underground following President Richard Nixon's hounding of the team, Katyusha apparently stepped down from active duty. 

(Marvel: The Lost Generation I#12) - Katyusha donned her costume once again when a Skrull invasion fleet approached Earth. Anya, along with First Line members past and present, their allies, and even some enemies, went out to stop the aliens. After boarding one of the many Skrull vessels, Katyusha was killed in a firefight. Her death was observed by Uatu the Watcher and the time-traveling 22nd century historian Cassandra Locke of Earth-700.

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

    The origin of her powers remains an intriguing mystery. She might well be connected to the Red Room Academy. Katyusha is most likely named after the rocket launchers invented and used by the Red Army during World War II. Furthermore, the name "Katyusha" is used as a pet-name for the more formal "Yekaterina," which in turn is the Russian equivalent of Catherine.

    A wonderful little, logical touch was the fact her English started out perfectly and steadily got worse as the series progressed further into the past.

Profile by Norvo.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Katyusha should not be confused with


images: (without ads)
Marvel The Lost Generation I#6, p4, pan3 (main image)
Marvel The Lost Generation I#6, p4, pan4 (without mask)
Marvel The Lost Generation I#12, p2, pan4 (dies)


Appearances:

Marvel: The Lost Generation I#12 (March 2000) - Roger Stern (writer), John Byrne (pencils), Al Milgrom (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Marvel: The Lost Generation I#7 (August 2000) - Roger Stern (writer), John Byrne (pencils), Al Milgrom (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Marvel: The Lost Generation I#6 (September 2000) - Roger Stern (writer), John Byrne (pencils), Al Milgrom (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor) 


First Posted: 02/01/2014
Last updated: 10/23/2019

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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