TEMPLAR

Real Name: Ian Fitzwilliam Dare

Identity/Class: Human technology or magic user;
citizen of the United Kingdom (pre-modern era) (see comments)

Occupation: Adventurer

Group MembershipFirst Line (Black Fox/Robert William Paine, Blackjack, Doctor Mime, Effigy/Velmax, Firefall, Flatiron/Russell, Frank (see comments), Katyusha/Anya, Liberty Girl/Beverly, Major Mercury/Makkari, Mr. Justice/Timothy "Tim" Carney, Morph, Nightingale, Oxbow, Pixie, Rapunzel, Rebound, Reflex, Squire, Vulcan, Walkabout/William Carmody, Yankee Clipper/Patrick "Pat" Carney, Yeti)

Affiliations: Gadfly (T. Ruth McCrae), Cassandra Locke, Riot-Act, Uatu the Watcher;
    brief alliance of convenience with Mako

Enemies: Nocturne and his zombie minions, Skrull Invasion Forces;
    formerly Mako

Known Relatives: Rossalyn Dare (wife), Squire (son, deceased);
    possible relationship to Sir Steel and the Silver Squire (World War I era British heroes sharing the "Fitzwilliam Dare" surnames (see comments))

Aliases: "Pink-skin" (nickname given by Mako)

Base of Operations: Unrevealed;
    formerly mobile throughout the United Kingdom;
    formerly First Line headquarters, Colorado Rockies

First Appearance: Marvel: The Lost Generation#12 (March 2000)

Powers/Abilities: Scottish native Ian Dare possessed no known superhuman abilities.

    As Templar, he donned a suit of armor of unrevealed composition that greatly increased his endurance and durability, though it remained vulnerable to certain types of energy-based weaponry. Templar used a sword of unrevealed origin that was durable enough to effortlessly slice through most materials.

    Charismatic and effortlessly exuding the air of a natural leader, Templar served as the First Line's field leader for an extended period of time. Even when he eventually returned to the fold in the mid- to late-1980s, he still commanded respect and insisted on observing proper ethics and heroic behavior during combat (down to refraining from using profanity).

main image

Height: 6'2" (by approximation)
Weight: 190 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Green
Hair: Strawberry blonde

History: main image
(Marvel: The Lost Generation#7 (fb) - BTS) - At some point during the mid- to late-1960s, Scotsman Ian Fitzwilliam Dare decided to take an active hand in opposing evildoers. Donning highly durable armor and wielding a blade of unrevealed origin, Dare became Templar, a modern day knight who made a name for himself fighting crime across the British Isles. During this period, Dare met and fell in love with Rossalyn, to whom he eventually proposed. Still as Templar, he met and befriended the Scottish plasma-wielding blacksmith Vulcan, who pledged his allegiance to his cause. Sometime later, Vulcan accompanied Dare when he traveled to America in the early-1970s, where they both joined the US's premiere superhero team the First Line. As part of the First Line, Templar became fast friends with the Black Fox, to the point where Ian asked him to be his best man as Rossalyn planned their wedding.

(Marvel: The Lost Generation#7) - One day before his wedding to Rossalyn, Templar led a group of First Liners (Katyusha, Reflex, Pixie and Vulcan) to rescue captured teammates Oxbow and Mr. Justice. This mission brought them to a seemingly abandoned warehouse in Cleveland, where, upon closer examination, they discovered the missing heroes were being held hostage by their old enemy Nocturne, the Red Skull and (curiously enough) what appeared to be the war-time heroic group known as the Invaders. During the inevitable confrontation, Templar prevented Cap from striking the tied up Oxbow and Mr. Justice with his shield--figuring his sword would deflect the supposedly indestructible artifact, Templar was surprised to see his blade actually cut it in half. This caused his teammate Reflex to realize the Invaders weren't quite what they seemed. Reflex unmasked "Cap" and discovered he, the other heroes, and the Skull were actually zombies created and controlled by Nocturne. No longer forced to hold back, Templar slew them all with a single blow of his enhanced broadsword. He then ordered the team to spread out and search for Nocturne, who nevertheless managed to escape. Satisfied that they had at least rescued their teammates and stopped Nocturne's latest scheme, the First Line declared victory. Joined by Vulcan, the Black Fox and an unrevealed number of other First Liners, Templar rushed to the UK to get ready for his wedding. Right before he was about to be wed by the archbishop, Templar revealed to the startled Black Fox that he was retiring and that he'd even promised his sword to Vulcan--after that particular bombshell, he urged the Fox to hurry and not keep the archbishop waiting.

(Marvel: The Lost Generation#12 (fb) - BTS) - Despite Rossalyn's misgivings, Ian Dare eventually resumed the mantle of Templar. By then, his firstborn son joined him in the field as Squire, and the duo reconnected with the First Line, but also had several solo adventures--during one of these, they encountered the Atlantean warrior woman hybrid Mako; Templar and Squire defeated the frantic, bloodthirsty creature and made sure she was imprisoned.

(Marvel: The Lost Generation#12 (fb) - BTS) - When Effigy of the First Line summoned team members past and present to deal with an approaching Skrull armada, Templar pulled some strings to have Mako released so she could help out. Together with Squire, they joined the First Line as they went into space to fight the Skrulls.

(Marvel: The Lost Generation#12) - Not too long after boarding the lead vessel of the Skrull armada, Templar was shot by a Skrull soldier (an event witnessed by the Watcher and time-traveling historian Cassandra Locke of Earth-700). Stumbling to keep his balance and carry on the fight, Templar was supported by Squire as he made his way across the Skrull ship; they eventually ran into Mako, who was happily killing any and all foolish enough to stand in her way. Despite his injuries, Templar tried to reason with Mako, hoping to contain her growing bloodlust. Before he could get through to her, Templar was shot in the head by a Skrull and died in front of his son, Squire.

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

    The exact origin of Templar's weaponry and armaments remains unrevealed--the blade he wielded might have had mystical properties, not unlike the Black Knight's Ebony Blade. From comments made by the Black Fox (@ Marvel: The Lost Generation#7), one might deduce the sword was drawn from a rock, not unlike King Arthur's Excalibur. After his wedding and subsequent retirement, Dare donated the blade to his close ally Vulcan--Vulcan has not been seen since, however Templar was depicted as using the sword (or at least one with a similar appearance) during the final battle with the Skrulls.

   
    It was rather difficult to find a decent full picture of Templar from this series.

    It's not clear whether Frank from the First Line is definitely the Frankenstein monster or not. The First Line and Frankenstein Monster profiles in the OHotMU are contradictory in this regard, with the former saying they are the same and the latter saying it is "unknown."
    As the head writer of the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe at that time, I can tell you, the official policy is:
Frank of the First Line is apparently either a Frankenstein monster (meaning a creature created in the manner of Victor Frankenstein's first creation) or just a being with a similar appearance and abilities who adopted the name Frank due to the notable similarities. However, it as yet remains unrevealed whether Frank is actually the original creation of Victor Frankenstein, aka "the Frankenstein monster." Previous entries referencing Frank as "Frankenstein monster" were unclear in specifying/clarifying this point.
--Snood.

Fitzwilliam isn't a middle name. Fitzwilliam is a surname. So Ian Fitzwilliam Dare (need to dig out the issues and check it isn't hyphenated, though not all double barreled names are) has a first name Ian, and a surname of Fitzwilliam Dare - what we term in the UK as a "double barreled surname." (Not sure if it gets called that elsewhere). Until recently, this was only usually found in upper-class families, usually where the wife's side of the family was felt to be as or more important than the husband's, so the family wanted the prestigious surname she carried to not be lost in the marriage - it meant the wife didn't lose some of her social status for "marrying down" and the husband gained some. Alternatively, it was done to prevent a family name from dying out - Jacqueline Crichton probably should have gone double-barreled to keep the Falsworth name alive, for instance.
   And yes, it is no coincidence that Templar and Squire share the same surnames as Sir Steel and Silver Squire - two British teamings of an adult and youth dressed in medieval gear--in the latter case, we have the father training the son, implying a potential family legacy being handed down. So, while there might or might not be a connection, the possibility is definitely there, as approved by Roger Stern.
--Loki

Profile by Norvo.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Though unconfirmed, it seems very likely to me (Snood), that there is some relationship to:

Templar should not be confused with


Rossalyn Dare

Ian Dare met and fell in love with Rossalyn at some point in the mid- to late-1960s. Not wanting to leave her an early widow, Dare decided to abandon his alternate identity as the superhero Templar after their wedding in 1973. The couple was wed in the United Kingdom by the archbishop himself, with Dare's First Line teammate Robert William Paine (aka Black Fox) as their best man. A short while afterwards, Rossalyn became pregnant with a son, who would eventually join his father as the teenage hero Squire.


--Marvel: The Lost Generation#7














Squire

    The unidentified son of Templar (Ian Fitzwilliam Dare) and his wife, Rossalyn

    Despite the fact he had intended to leave super-heroics behind after getting married in 1973, Templar (Ian Dare) couldn't help himself. The subsequent birth of his son did not change his hankering for adventure: at some point, Dare assumed his costumed identity once again. Inspired by his father's example, Dare's son joined him in battle when he was barely in his teens. Templar dubbed his boy Squire, and together they faced several unspecified supernatural menaces. One of their adventures revolved around the genetically-engineered Atlantean warrior woman hybrid Mako, who went to prison after that particular encounter.

    Eventually becoming involved with the First Line again, Templar had Squire join him when the team and several of their allies went into space in an attempt to halt the approaching Skrull invasion fleet. During the fight aboard the Skrull flagship, Squire was shocked to see his dad get shot. Even as he supported his father, carrying his lance and dragging him to safety, they ran into Mako (whom Templar had arranged to be released so she could help during the Skrull crisis). Templar tried to calm the crazed Atlantean, only to get shot in the head by Skrull forces. Watching his dad die pushed the already slightly punkish Squire over the edge. He grabbed the lance and stabbed his father's murderer, who in turn used his dying moments to kill Squire himself. Mako witnessed their deaths and grew incensed at seeing these "pink-skins" get slaughtered.

    Although Squire did not exhibit any supernatural abilities, he was proficient in the use of a lance; he was dressed in chain-mail that offered some protection, but it proved useless against Skrull blaster pistols.


--Marvel: The Lost Generation#12











images: (without ads)
Marvel: Lost Generation#7, p1, pan1 (main image)
Marvel: The Lost Generation#7, p19, pan2 (out of costume)
Marvel: The Lost Generation#7, p6, pan2&3 (in action)
Marvel: The Lost Generation#7, cover (side view)
Marvel: The Lost Generation#12, p8, pan3 (death)
Marvel: The Lost Generation#7, p19, pan2 (Rossalyn Dare)
Marvel: The Lost Generation#12, p8, pan1 (Squire)


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


First Posted: 02/22/2014
Last updated: 11/23/2019

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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