NEKRANEKRA
Real Name: Nekra Sinclair
Identity/Class: Human mutant
Occupation: Criminal;
formerly cult priestess, terrorist
Group Membership: Exiles (Madison Jeffries, Melter/Chris Colchiss, Nanny/Eleanor Murch, Orphan-Maker/Peter, Oya/Idie Okonkwo, Third Eye, Toad/Mortimer Toynbee);
formerly Lethal Legion
(Absorbing Man, Grey Gargoyle,
Grim Reaper, Mr. Hyde,
Tiger
Shark,
Wonder Man), Lethal Legion (Black
Talon/Samuel Barone, Goliath/Erik Josten, Grim Reaper, Man-Ape/M’Baku,
Ultron-12), Black
Spectre, Cult of Kâli
Affiliations: Asp, Baby Icon, Black Talon, Bling! (Roxanne Washington), Carolyn, Chaos King (Mikaboshi), Cypher (Doug Ramsey), Dan, Dragonfly, Elwood, Ms. Florio, Frenzy (Joanna Cargill), Gibbon, Grim Reaper, Hate-Monger (Man-Beast), Hemingway, Madison Jeffries, Katie, Brady Kent, Jeanette Latour, Dr. Leaman, Mr. Livingston, Llan the Sorcerer, Mandrill, Lindsey McCabe, Melter (Christopher Colchiss), Mentallo, Mikaboshi, Mr. Hyde, Mr. Pain, Mole Man, Nanny (Eleanor Murch), Norma, Orphan-Maker (Peter), Oya (Idie Okonkwo), Owl, Quasimodo, Redeyes, Roughhouse, Scorpion (Mac Gargan), Shanna the She-Devil, Silver Samurai (Kenuichio Harada), Son of Satan/Daimon Hellstrom, a Scrier, Shocker (Herman Schultz), Slyde (Jalome Beacher), Terraformer, Third Eye, Tiger Shark, Titania (Mary MacPherran), Toad (Mortimer Toynbee), Trapster (Peter Petruski), Venom (Eddie Brock), Jeff Wainwright, Warlock, White Rabbit
Enemies: Alpha Flight (Box/Madison Jeffries, Diamond Lil, Sasquatch, Talisman/Elizabeth Twoyoungmen, Vindicator/Heather McNeil), Avengers (Captain Marvel/Mar-Vell, Deathcry/Lifecry, Dr. Druid, Hawkeye/Clint Barton, Iron Man/Tony Stark, Mockingbird, Hank Pym, Scarlet Witch, She-Hulk, Starfox/Eros, Swordsman/Jacques Duquesne, Tigra, Vision, Wasp/Janet Van Dyne, Wonder Man, Yellowjacket/Rita Demara), Dr. Barrington, Bernie, Biri, Black Widow (Natasha Romanova), the Creation (Kruger), Daredevil (Matt Murdock), Dark Avengers (Ares, Hawkeye/Bullseye, Iron Patriot/Norman Osborn, Marvel Boy/Noh-Varr, Ms. Marvel/Moonstone/Karla Sofen, Sentry, Spider-Man/Mac Gargan, Wolverine/Daken), Darkhawk (Chris Powell), Dry Academy, Freedom Force (Avalanche, Blob, Crimson Commando, Mystique, Pyro, Super Sabre), Gamma Flight (Auric, Nemesis, Silver, Wild Child, Witchfire), Green Goblin (Phil Urich), Adrienne Hatros, Humanity Now!, Ini, Lightspeed (Julie Power), Locksmith, Magneto, Patrick McShane, "Foggy" Nelson, Robert “Ironguts” O’Hara, Quiet Council (Magneto/Max Eisenhardt, Professor X/Charles Xavier), Hank Pym, Red Ronin (Namie), Ricochet (Johnny Gallo), Sabretooth (Victor Creed), Scarlet Witch, Second Assembly, S.H.I.E.L.D. (Laura Brown, Cochran, Huff, Jerry Hunt, others), Shroud, Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew), Spider-Woman (Mattie Franklin), Thing, Tick-Tock, Tigra, Turbo (Micki Musashi), Underworld, Vision, Wonder Man, X-Men (Angel/Warren Worthington, Armor, Bling!, Dazzler, Karma, Match, Northstar)
Known Relatives: Gemma Sinclair (mother, deceased), Buck Sinclair (father, deceased), Mandrill (Jerome Beechman, former common-law husband), Death Reaper (daughter, unconfirmed - see comments), unidentified grandparents, unidentified cousins
Aliases: Priestess of Hate, Adrienne Hatros, High Priestess of the Cult of Hatred, High Priestess of Darkness, Death Priestess
Base of Operations: New York City, New
York, USA;
formerly Shriver Cover,
Massachussets, USA; San Francisco, California, USA; western coast of
Africa
First Appearance: Shanna the She-Devil I#5 (August, 1973)
Powers/Abilities: Possessing chalk-white skin and a vampiric appearance including prominent and sharp canine teeth, Nekra possessed the ability to channel her extreme emotional states, particularly the feeling of hatred, to enhance her own physical strength and durability, both increasing the more hatred she feels. The upper limits of Nekra's strength were once listed at the ability to lift ten tons but Nekra has also held her own against the ionic-powered Wonder Man. The greater her hate, the greater her invulnerability, making her bulletproof, impervious to pain, electric shock, flame and extremes in temperature, but her powers faded completely when she was no longer experiencing these heights of emotions and she had been easily defeated while calm. She seemed particularly susceptible to drugs and chemical compounds including those of Spider-Woman and Mandrill. When her powers were briefly enhanced by Mikaboshi, she could send waves of hatred outward to affect others.
Nekra had studied with African tribes, as well as Black Talon, and she utilized her mystical training to perform complex spells, some of them voodoo in nature. She raised the dead more than once and once gave the undead Grim Reaper the power to stay alive by draining the life forces of others. Nekra had also utilized science in her schemes, including the poisoning of a town's water supply using a chemical compound that blocked her from being manipulated by pheromones, and using brain-washing technology. She had in the past commanded armies in the form of Black Spectre and the Cult of Kâli.
Nekra was a trained unarmed combatant.
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 145 lbs.
Eyes: Black
Hair: Black
History:
(Daredevil I#110 (fb)/Official
Handbook of the Marvel
Universe I#8 (fb) - BTS) – In 1944 (see comments), a black woman, Gemma
Sinclair, was working as a janitor at a nuclear testing facility (the
Los
Alamos Atomic Proving Grounds) in New Mexico and she absorbed nuclear
radiation during an explosion, altering her genetic structure. A white
employee
affected by the same explosion later fathered a child who turned into
the
monstrous Mandrill. The woman and her husband Buck soon had a daughter,
Nekra, and they were disturbed by her albino skin, tufts of black body
hair
and fangs.
(Daredevil I#110 (fb)) – Nekra grew up ridiculed by her black peers for having white skin. At age ten, she ran away into the desert and met Mandrill, who had been abandoned by his parents there. She offered him water and the two became fast friends, fending for each other and working together to survive. They spent six years educating themselves by listening to lessons from outside school windows and reading books.
(Daredevil I#110/All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z I#9 (fb) – BTS) – When Nekra and Mandrill were both 16, they were near a schoolhouse in Missouri when a group of angry civilians attacked them. Feeling tremendous hate for their assailants, Nekra's powers manifested when a man tried stabbing her with a pitchfork and she realized she had super strength and invulnerability when she wasn't hurt. They defeated the men, killing all of them, and Mandrill began to plot ways to change the world.
(All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z I#9 (fb) – BTS) – Mandrill and Nekra moved to western Africa, where they planned to create an enlightened utopia by using their powers to overthrow the governments of several African nations.
(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#8 (fb) – BTS) – Mandrill built an army full of black women, all loyal to him because of his powers, and Nekra helped train them. At some point, Nekra realized her loyalty to Mandrill was based in part on his pheromone powers.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#12 (fb) – BTS) – Nekra spent time learning mystic rituals among the west African tribes, where Mandrill had built his base of power.
(Shanna the She-Devil I#5) – After Mandrill was captured by Shanna the She-Devil, Nekra, the Priestess of
Darkness, stood in front of the Mandrill's temple, screaming of hate
before the
female army, all who had their faces painted and tattooed like the
Mandrill.
She absorbed the hate, showing her invulnerability by walking on fire
and her
strength by ripping apart a straw man, stating it represented all they
hated.
She planned to use the army to destroy Shanna and free Mandrill. Nekra
drew out
Shanna by setting fire to the home of Patrick McShane. Shanna attacked
with her
leopards Ini and Bira, saved McShane, then fought Nekra, struggling
against her
invulnerability before finally choking Nekra unconscious.
(Daredevil I#111 (fb)) – Shanna tied up Nekra and questioned her but Nekra refused to give up any intel. As Shanna went for help, Nekra was left under the watch of McShane. She escaped, killing McShane with her bare hands before she fled.
(Daredevil I#109) – In San Francisco, Nekra attacked Black Widow, taunting her and showing off in an attempt to get the heroine to join up with Black Spectre. Nekra easily knocked out Widow then took her aboard the waiting nearby ship.
(Marvel Two-In-One I#3) – Nekra, with Black Spectre, infiltrated an American play and mechanically hypnotized two of the actors, dressed as Hitler and Captain America, into hating then killing each other. Daredevil and the Thing attacked their ship and Nekra fought them as they landed back at the Mandrill's temple, where Black Widow was under Nekra's control. Daredevil was knocked out and Nekra controlled the Thing. She ordered both heroes aboard the ship, which was set to crash and kill them but they escaped.
(Daredevil I#110) – From her headquarters with Black Widow, Nekra saw that two Black Spectre agents had blown themselves up after being captured by Daredevil and the police. She delivered the good news to Mandrill, who went off to face Daredevil on his own, as Black Widow had revealed his true identity as Matt Murdock.
(Daredevil I#111) – Nekra attacked the office of "Foggy" Nelson with Black Spectre agents. As Nekra shouted at him, Silver Samurai kidnapped Shanna and Nekra knocked Daredevil unconscious.
(Daredevil I#112) – Nekra attacked Daredevil on the hanging ladder underneath Mandrill's zeppelin. Daredevil managed to sneak past her to fight Mandrill but Nekra soon knocked the hero out. She learned that communications had been shut down across the nation, the super hero teams were being held off with threats of nuclear bombs, and Mandrill planned to invade Washington D.C. while the country was in a state of confusion. Mandrill had Shanna and Daredevil bound, planning on doing brain surgery on them, and left Black Widow to guard them. Nekra and Mandrill dropped a huge Mandrill statue in front of the White House then led Black Spectre to attack. Mandrill and Nekra next entered the Oval Office. Black Widow came to her senses, freed Shanna and Daredevil, then equipped them with jet-packs, and they attacked. When the zeppelin exploded and Mandrill was believed dead, Nekra was distracted and lost her invulnerability, allowing Black Widow to knock her out.
(Spider-Woman I#15 (fb)) – Nekra spent months in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, drugged to block her powers while they kept her watching television. When the Hate-Monger broadcast emotions over the television, it restored Nekra's mind and powers. Nekra escaped and laid low for a time until she came across the Cult of Kâli. She offered herself as a sacrifice then proved invulnerable. Claiming to be Kâli restored, she had the other priestesses sacrificed to show their loyalty. Taking over the Cult, she decided she wanted to research hate itself.
(Spider-Woman I#15 (fb)/Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#8 (fb) – BTS) – Nekra murdered the wealthy, reclusive widow Adrienne Hatros, who had been married to a famous mental health clinician. Stealing her identity, she set up the Hatros Institute for Emotional Research in San Francisco. There, she helped the Cult of Kâli perform regular sacrifices.
(Vision and the Scarlet Witch II#12 (fb) – BTS) – Nekra spent time learning mystic rituals from the Cult of Kâli.
(Spider-Woman I#13) – Jessica Drew heard news about murdered victims being found in ritualistic slayings then she heard about the revolutionary therapy techniques being used at the Hatros Institute for Emotional Research. Drew went there, wanting to work through her own trauma, and she signed up for an introductory session with Dr. Leaman. He told her that the original Dr. Hatros (secretly Nekra herself) started the clinic years before and they had been making major breakthroughs in emotion-therapy. Leaman started by taking electronic readings of Drew's psychological reactions to various stimuli and they had her open up in group therapy. Leaman wanted to treat Drew, who couldn't afford it, so he offered her a receptionist job there in exchange for her treatment costs. Dr. Hatros fired the current receptionist and looked forward to seeing the results of the experiments on Drew, who Hatros figured could unlock the key to all emotion. Weeks later, during which Drew had been working and participating in therapy, she was present when the Shroud attacked, and, as Spider-Woman, fought back. Spider-Woman and Shroud soon found themselves surrounded by men in purple robes and turbans with knives, members of the Cult of Kâli.
(Spider-Woman I#14) – Spider-Woman and Shroud chased off the members of the Cult of Kâli. Later, after Jessica reported the invasion to the police, she attended another therapy group, with group leader Norma, in which she befriended Lindsey McCabe. Nekra continued to watch, fascinated by Jessica's emotional-manipulation powers, wondering how she could harness that for herself.
(Spider-Woman I#16 (fb) – BTS) – S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Cochran and Huff investigated the Cult robbery at the Hatros Institute and Nekra had them kidnapped and sacrificed to Kâli.
(Spider-Woman I#15) – S.H.I.E.L.D. agents Jerry Hunt and Laura Brown questioned Dr. Leaman at the Hatros Institute but he reported that Dr. Hatros was out of town on business. Nekra watched from the shadows and called Armand, saying she had more agents for that night's ritual. That evening, Nekra stood in robes over the two unconscious agents, as she had before with others, and chanted to Kâli as she prepared to kill them with a knife in front of 25 cultists. Spider-Woman and Shroud attacked, defeating the agents. Nekra narrowly escaped and was furious, planning revenge on Spider-Woman, whose true identity she now knew.
(Spider-Woman I#16) – When Jessica arrived at work, she found Ms. Florio tending to the receptionist job and Dr. Leaman showed her back for treatment with a specialist, Dr. Morgan Sachs, who soon realized Jessica gave off pheromones that altered moods and that some humans were responding with attraction (some men) or repulsion (some men and women). Jessica dressed up to attend a party at the home of Adrienne Hatros, who she had never met. Once there, she found Nekra waiting and Nekra revealed that Jessica's pheromone powers had inspired loyalty in her, and she realized that if she could overcome Jessica, she could also overcome Mandrill. Nekra, having taken pills, rejoiced that she was blocking the pheromones. Jessica changed to Spider-Woman and savagely fought Nekra. Nekra's powers kept increasing until the pills wore off then she weakened, susceptible to Jessica's powers once again. Jessica lost control and beat Nekra until she was in a coma.
(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#8 – BTS) – Nekra spent months in a coma, in S.H.I.E.L.D. custody, expected to make a full recovery.
(Spider-Woman I#50 (fb) – BTS) – Locksmith, working with Ticktock, captured many of Spider-Woman's foes and put them in a specially-designed prison in cells individualized to keep them contained. Among them was Nekra, now awake.
(Spder-Woman I#50) – Spider-Woman was brought to the jail. Working with Tigra, she caused a jailbreak and Nekra escaped.
(West Coast Avengers II#2 (fb)
– BTS) – Nekra fell in love
with the Grim Reaper. He soon formed a new Lethal Legion alongside
Nekra to help him in his
plots to get revenge on the Avengers, recruiting Man-Ape, Black Talon,
Goliath
and Ultron-12.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#12 (fb) – BTS) – Nekra spent months studying alongside Black Talon, learning the dark arts.
(West Coast Avengers I#1 – BTS) – Nekra and the Lethal Legion battled the Avengers, and apprehended Wonder Man and Hank Pym.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#1) – Nekra was frustrated with Black Talon's failure to capture the Vision with his zombie hordes. While Scarlet Witch was briefly captured, Nekra went to look for Vision and saw Starfox looking for him. Nekra went with Black Talon to the cemetary, where she danced while he raised more dead then they returned to Grim Reaper, who Nekra greeted with a kiss. Vision and Scarlet Witch attacked and Nekra battled both before Vision threatened the corpse of Brady Kent, prompting Grim Reaper to take the Lethal Legion away peacefully.
(West Coast Avengers II#2) – Nekra tightly hugged the Grim Reaper, who she kept calling her love (and comparing him to a "mandrill in her jungle"), while the Lethal Legion stood by. Grim Reaper held Wonder Man and Hank Pym hostage and he considered Wonder Man a copy of his real brother, whose brain patterns had been used in the creation of the Vision. When Grim Reaper yelled racist epithets at Man-Ape, Nekra reminded him that she was black but he kissed her, saying she was the purest white he had ever seen.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#2) – Ultron-12 captured the west coast Avengers team, with Vision and Scarlet Witch, and brought them to Grim Reaper, who had prepared another man's corpse to be the recipient of Wonder Man's mind. Mockingbird attacked, freeing the heroes, who attacked. Tigra and Pym fought with Nekra in her new red costume and Nekra tossed them aside and escaped. Grim Reaper fell to his death during the fight.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#12 (fb) – BTS) – Nekra found Grim Reaper's corpse and hid him from the Avengers. She placed him in the tunnels of Subterranea, ruled by the Mole Man.
(Vision and Scarlet Witch II#12) – After careful preparation, Nekra cast a spell, raising Grim Reaper as a zombie, though he slowly transformed from zombie to fully human after. Grim Reaper, disoriented and feeling as if his death had been a dream, was shown the Wonder Man corpse lookalike, who Nekra identified as a paid mob assassin named Brady Kent, and she used her magics to restore his life. Brady, Reaper and Nekra robbed weapons from Bernie's Sporting Goods and Nekra seemingly killed Bernie when he shot at her. The trio then went to the local hospital, where they planned to attack Vision and Scarlet Witch. They were attacked by Wonder Man and Magneto and during the battle, Nekra was hit in the face by Magneto wielding Reaper's scythe. When Wonder Man realized the two men were zombies, Nekra furiously attacked him, angry with the exposure, and her strength matched Wonder Man's as her hatred increased. Grim Reaper, furious over being lied to, kissed Nekra and her powers vanished as she faced the man she loved. He then stabbed her in the abdomen, defeating her and dying after she could no longer maintain the spells.
(Web of Spider-Man I#46 (fb) –
BTS) – Nekra preserved Grim
Reaper's corpse in stasis, vowing to find a way to revive him again.
After
healing, she relocated to Shriver Cove, Massachussets and adopted the
alias of
Hatros again, setting up another emotional research institute. Using
skills she
learned in Africa, she developed a compound to add to the water supply
that
would make the locals more susceptible to hypnosis and suggestion. She
then
began performing rituals on those who came into the clinic, making them
more
susceptible to hate. She planned to turn the entire town into a hate
cult over
time. Word of strange attacks from civilians over hate began to spread
and those
impacted included Elwood.
(Web of Spider-Man I#46) – Peter Parker arrived in Shriver Cove on his book tour and civilian Dan attacked, furious to see an outsider, but Dan was arrested. Jeff Wainwright showed Peter around the town and checked him into the local hotel but that night Peter was awakened when a mob blew up his car. He rushed outside as Spider-Man and others ransacked his room while he was out. The next morning, Parker did an interview on Cape Cod Today with Jeanette Latour, another of the Hatros patients, along with her assistant Carolyn. Jeff returned to the clinic for treatment and Peter began to get suspicious when secretary Katie wouldn't let him inside. As Spidey, he saw them dancing a ritual around Jeff then he heard them talk about the water supply. Evading guards, Spider-Man called Hank Pym for help and Pym soon arrived in his airship. As Pym was testing the water supply and developing an antidote, the locals subdued him and brought him to Nekra and she immediately recognized him as the one ultimately responsible for the creation of the Vision, whose creation had hurt her beloved Grim Reaper so badly. Spider-Man attacked and worked with Pym to fight the brainwashed civilians and Nekra, who they briefly managed to contain with a metal device. When the heroes used an antidote on the brainwashed, Nekra grabbed Grim Reaper's stasis unit and fled in a ship, getting away.
(Alpha Flight I#79) – After the Super Human Registration Act passed in the United States, Nekra passed through the Canadian border in Minnesota, stating the reason for her visit was pleasure. She did not realize that she was being drawn to Canada by a spell from the Llan the Sorcerer and she went shopping in Winnipeg, wondering what she was doing there. Vindicator (Heather McNeil) attacked Nekra, who fought back and ended up getting dropped ten stories to the ground, though she knew her invulnerability would save her.
(Alpha Flight I#80) – Nekra fell to the ground and renewed her fight with Vindicator. The fight grew more complicated as Scorpion, Owl and Asp arrived to help Nekra, and Diamond Lil, Box, Sasquatch (all of Alpha Flight) and Gamma Flight arrived to help Vindicator. Nekra kept fighting until Witchfire of Gamma Flight cancelled the Sorcerer's spells and Nekra and the other villains fell unconscious.
(Avengers Spotlight I#29/2) – Apprehended, Nekra was transferred to the Vault alongside many other criminals.
(Avengers GN: Deathtrap: The Vault) – When Venom staged a breakout at the Vault with a large bomb planted, many villains sought to escape but Nekra made out with Mr. Hyde instead. Members of the Avengers and Freedom Force attacked with She-Hulk and Blob beating on Nekra, demanding intel on the bomb. In the end, the bomb was defused and the Avengers forced Mentallo to mentally convince the villains to surrender and return to their cells.
(Avengers West Coast I#65 (fb) – BTS) – Out of jail, Nekra spent months learning more of the Black Talon's rituals so that she could revive the Grim Reaper. She found a particular ritual that would bring him back to life but he would have to take one human life every 24 hours.
(Avengers West Coast I#65) – At a cemetery, Nekra revived Grim Reaper but he was angry, wishing he had just stayed dead. As a civilian approached, she encouraged him to take that man's life as his first sacrifice but Grim Reaper chose to kill Nekra instead, killing her to preserve his own life. She fell, having been stabbed through the abdomen with his scythe.
(Druid I#4 (fb) – BTS) – Nekra was imprisoned in the pits of Hell. When Son of Satan/Daimon Hellstrom realized Dr. Druid was achieving too much power, he chose to resurrect Nekra. Hellstrom then tasked Nekra with seeking out Druid to determine how powerful he was and if he was unstable. He gave her orders to defuse him if necessary.
(Druid I#2 (fb) – BTS) – Nekra
established a new Cult of
Kâli church in California, where she considered herself the Death
Priestess.
She changed her appearance, wearing golden hoops, nose rings,
bracelets,
chains and crowns. Nekra and the Cult began collecting the corpses of
robbers,
murderers and rapists, planning to reanimate them for amusement. When
the
corpses were stolen from her, Nekra questioned mystics and learned the
culprits
were the Second Assembly, a branch of the Dry Academy, a Siberian cult
that
practiced cannibalism of the mystical and insane in order to absorb
their
knowledge. Nekra learned they planned to use the corpses to build a new
god to
worship.
(Druid I#2) – At Parnell's Ruin bar, Hemingway recognized the perfume Nekra was wearing, "Kâli's Breath," and he flirted with her. She warned him that she was trouble but he invited her to meet his boss Dr. Druid, who was using the name Ludgate. Nekra told him of the Second Assembly and Ludgate sent Hemingway and his aides Baby Icon and Redeyes to look for intel.
(Druid I#3) – Nekra, recognizing Ludgate as an authority figure, told him more of the Dry Academy. Ludgate went after the Second Assembly himself. He returned, saying that the Second Assembly and the corpses had been destroyed but he now planned to go after the Dry Academy in Siberia. Ludgate pulled Nekra in for a private council.
(Druid I#4 (fb) – BTS) – Nekra seduced Druid, knowing that loving a witch was his "Geis," an act that would negate his powers.
(Druid I#4) – Druid sacrificed Hemingway in order to regain his powers then he lashed out around him. Nekra shot him several times and a spell showed her as a reanimated corpse. Hellstorm revealed himself and killed Druid.
(Witches I#1) – When the Tome of Zhered-Na was opened, releasing the creature Hellphyr into the world, Nekra sensed powerful magic and smiled.
(Marvel Knights: Spider-Man I#6) – Back in her classic costume, Nekra attended the auction of the Venom suit held by Eddie Brock.
(Underworld I#4-5) – Nekra,
wearing a costume with a
plunging neckline, was part of the army sent by Owl's agent Mr. Pain
against
Underworld but Underworld escaped.
(Loners I#1) – Ricochet, Spider-Woman (Mattie Franklin) and Darkhawk found a clinic that creating Mutant Growth Hormone. Inside, they found Nekra, who was being paid to give her blood. Weakened, she attacked them and the heroes took her out with a blast from Darkhawk's crystal. Spider-Woman looked her up in the villain index and read about Nekra's mutant ability to produce "neo-adrenaline," which increased her strength when she grew more emotional.
(Loners I#2) – Nekra was transferred to S.H.I.E.L.D. custody.
(Loners I#4) – Nekra tracked down the support group meeting that Ricochet, Darkhawk, Spider-Woman, Turbo, Green Goblin (Phil Urich) and Lightspeed were attending and attacked.
(Londers I#5) – Nekra battled the six heroes, making short work of them and planning to majorly injure or kill some of them, but she was defeated by their new ally Red Ronin (Nomi) with a red energy blade through the chest.
(Dark Reign Files I#1 – BTS) – Quasimodo researched Nekra for Norman Osborn.
(Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia I#1 (fb) – BTS) – Hearing about the possibilities of a mutant utopia in San Francisco, Nekra went to investigate along with many others.
(Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia I#1) – When Humanity Now! tried passing laws that would forbid mutants to have more children, there were protests in San Francisco. As human rioters set the Castro on fire, Nekra, with Frenzy, argued with Angel, Bling!, Karma, Armor and Match of the X-Men about the lies of Utopia. Ms. Marvel (Karla Sofen) of the Avengers arrived and hit Nekra with a blast to quiet her. Soon, many mutants were being arrested.
(Uncanny X-Men I#513) – Ms. Marvel hit Nekra with another blast. The riots continued.
(Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus I#1) – Bling!, Frenzy and Nekra took the fight back to Ms. Marvel with Nekra kicking her in the head during the fight. Soon, the Dark Avengers and Humanity Now! were defeated.
(Uncanny X-Men I#528) – Enraged at a display at the Museum of Modern Art, Nekra and Frenzy went to destroy the display. Dazzler and Northstar of the X-Men swiftly defeated them.
(Dark Reign: Lethal Legion I#1 (fb)) – Grim Reaper assembled a new Lethal Legion including Nekra, Grey Gargoyle, Tiger Shark, Mr. Hyde and Absorbing Man, in order to get revenge on Norman Osborn.
(Dark Reign: Lethal Legion I#1 (fb) – BTS) – The Lethal Legion went on a crime spree and were very successful until Wonder Man joined the team. They all assumed that Nekra was there just to please Grim Reaper.
(Dark Reign: Lethal Legion I#2 (fb)) – Nekra was present when Wonder Man proposed the team tone down the violence and focus on kidnapping Osborn. The villains were upset and Absorbing Man quit the team. The heroes attacked Avengers Tower and the Dark Avengers fought back.
(Dark Reign: Lethal Legion I#1 (fb)) – The Lethal Legion went to war with the Dark Avengers and Nekra herself attacked Ms. Marvel/Moonstone.
(Dark Reign: Lethal Legion I#2 (fb)) – Nekra was punching Marvel Boy while Wonder Man kidnapped Iron Patriot/Osborn.
(Dark Reign: Lethal Legion I#3 (fb)) – When Grim Reaper learned that Nekra and Mr. Hyde had had sex once years before, he was furious and attacked Hyde with Wonder Man's help. Nekra chose not to step in, wanting Hyde to learn a lesson. Osborn escaped and returned with the Dark Avengers and the Lethal Legion were swiftly defeated.
(Dark Reign: Lethal Legion I#2) – In prison, Nekra (her skin color normal, presumably due to her powers being blocked) cried in her cell after getting word that the Grim Reaper had died, stabbed in a prison fight.
(Dark Reign: Lethal Legion I#3) – Nekra was annoyed when she learned how Hyde had spoken ill of her. She interviewed with Mr. Livingston about recent events. She admitted that she had forgiven the Grim Reaper time and again because she believed he loved her, and that he hadn't been himself when he'd killed her before. She was content to be in prison for now and relieved the Lethal Legion had disbanded.
(Heroic Age: X-Men I#1 – BTS) – Captain America wrote about Nekra in his Heroic Age report.
(Chaos War: Dead Avengers I#2 (fb) – BTS) – Nekra remained in love with Grim Reaper, inspired by his intense hatred and drive. When Reaper sensed that Mikaboshi was about to infect the world, he made a deal with the god, receiving enhanced power and influence and agreeing to fight the Avengers. Nekra remained at his side.
(Chaos War: Dead Avengers I#1) – While the world's heroes were sleeping due to a spell from Mikaboshi, several deceased heroes were deposited on Earth including a group of Avengers (Dr. Druid, Yellowjacket/Rita Demara, Vision, Deathcry, Captain Marvel/Mar-Vell and Swordsman/Jacques Duquesnes). Nekra and Grim Reaper, with a group of followers including demons, prepared to attack.
(Chaos War: Dead Avengers I#2) – Nekra and Grim Reaper, with their men, tried breaking through the barrier around the revived Avengers. In his astral form, Dr. Druid confronted Nekra and his spirit kissed her as she rejoiced in the hatred but she was furious when Druid revealed he stood with the Avengers against her. She lashed out with a wave of hatred that incapacitated Druid for a time. As the Avengers collapsed a building on Grim Reaper's crew, Nekra battled Deathcry. Captain Marvel blasted Nekra aside then Grim Reaper killed Mar-Vell once more.
(Chaos War: Dead Avengers I#3) – Nekra marshalled her followers into a final attack, calling for death to the Avengers. Nekra burst through into the Olympus Group building, where the living Avengers remained asleep. She fought Dr. Druid (who had shaken off the effects of her hatred) but he was soon struck down by Grim Reaper. Nekra then fought Deathcry, who was now calling herself Lifecry. As the battle concluded, Nekra collapsed, weak, and she called out for help from the Grim Reaper but he walked away, leaving her there.
SECRET WARS III HAPPENED
(Power Man and Iron Fist III#4 (fb)) – Jennie Royce was placed as Nekra's cell-mate in jail. When Jennie confided in Black Mariah about feeling week all the time, Nekra hinted that she could get them access to real power.
(Power Man and Iron Fist III#2 (fb)) – Jennie learned about the Supersoul Stone artifact and learned the incantations from Nekra necessary to access it.
(Savage Avengers I#14) - Nekra was at the Bar With No Name.
(Savage Avengers I#16) - Nekra was at the Bar With No Name, partying with Conan the Barbarian.
(Sabetooth IV#3 (fb) - BTS) - After moving to the mutant island of Krakoa, Nekra formed a close friendship with Oya and Bling!.
(Sabretooth IV#5 (fb) - BTS) - Nekra settled into a section of Krakoa on the bay and called it Nanny's Cove, after Nanny and the Maroons, slaves legendary for fighting back against their oppressers. They kept a boat there.
(Sabretooth IV#4 (fb) - BTS) - When pirates attacked Krakoa, there to harm mutants, Nekra and Oya killed the men. They were later apprehended by the ruling council for breaking the law.
(Sabretooth IV#2 (fb)) - Nekra and Oya were taken along with Madison Jeffries, Third Eye, and Melter before Magneto and Professor X of the Quiet Council, who sentenced them to the Pit for their crimes.
(Sabretooth IV#1) - Nekra and the others arrived in the Pit and found themselves in a version of Hell with Sabretooth, the Pit's first prisoner, as the ruler of Hell.
(Sabretooth IV#2) - Sabretooth tortured Nekra and the others in his Hell, and Nekra began to realize that Xavier didn't know what was happening on the surface. Nekra and the others fought Sabretooth until Third Eye helped them realize this was all happening in their minds. Sabretooth changed the location to a cell, and Nekra confessed she'd killed some men on purpose. Sabretooth announced he had a plan to get revenge on those who'd sentenced him.
(Sabretooth IV#3) - During a mock jailbreak, Sabretooth showed Nekra and the others how to manifest themselves on the surface of Krakoa in rock and sand, and he sent them to recruit his allies to help them escape. Nekra and Oya were sent to find Scrambler. On the surface, Nekra opened up to Oya about how one of her heroes was Thomas Paine, then the two went to Bling! instead, learning she'd been looking for them, assuming they had died, and they informed her they had been sentenced in a secret court and sent to the Pit. Soon, Melter's powers activated in the Pit and nearly killed the bodies of Nekra and the others.
(Sabretooth IV#4) - Nekra and the others were saved by Third Eye, then they joined Sabretooth for a meal in his mind, where they had a conversation about their parents, and Nekra shared how she had chosen to leave the bad memories of her parents behind and instead focus on the happier memories of her grandparents and cousins.
(Sabretooth IV#5) - After Sabretooth escaped the Pit, Nekra and the others had a consultation with Cypher and Warlock, who agreed to free them if they went after Sabretooth. They reluctantly allowed Nanny, Orphan-Maker, and Toad, new Pit prisoners, to join them. As they sailed away from Krakoa, Nekra told Oya they would never return.
(Sabretoth and the Exiles#1) - Aboard the Exiles' ship, Nekra and Oya bonded, and Oya challenged Nekra to keep challenging herself to be better, changing her relationship with rage. They soon landed on an island where they found a mass grave of mutant bodies, then they battled the new genetic experiment of Dr. Barrington, the Creation, who soon captured Orphan-Maker and fled. As Orchis' ship blew up, then Sabretooth, aboard his ship, picked up the Exiles.
(Sabretooth and the Exiles#2) - Nekra punched Sabretooth repeatedly, realizing that his healing factor was on the fritz. Nekra confessed to Oya that she was refusing to use the seed Cypher had given her because she didn't trust the government. Nanny explained to the others the urgency of finding Orphan-Maker before his armor was breached. Infiltrating the base of Dr. Barrington, the Exiles found several captive mutants, including Bab and Herd. As the Creation rushed by in fear, Nanny realized that Peter's mask had been breached, and she immediately worried that the entire world was in danger unless they got the mask back on. Third Eye recommended that they enter the Astral Plane to stay safe.
(Sabretooth and the Exiles#3) - On the Astral Plane, Sabretooth and the Exiles, along with the Creation (who they inadvertently pulled there with them) discovered that Orchis had a station there that was mining living astral creatures for energy. While they worked to rebuild Peter a new suit of armor, Oya found an emaciated Victor Creed in a stasis unit.
(Sabretooth and the Exiles#4 (fb) - BTS) - The Exiles finished the new armor and got Peter in it before he could destroy the world. They then pursued Orchis aboard their new ship, the Maroon, and populated it with over 1000 mutant refugees.
(Sabretooth and the Exiles#4) - The Exiles arrived on the Maroon at Station Four, where mutant infants were being experimented on. Nekra saw Sabretooth educating the refugees on the ship and she worried about what that meant, then worried about Nanny around mutant infants. Energy from the infants lashed out, tearing Madison Jeffries in half, then the Maroon was pulled beneath the water.
(Sabretooth and the Exiles#5) - Nanny used her powers to revert the minds of Nekra and the others to infants to calm the babies down, but then absconded with the babies. As Sabretooth escaped, Nekra gathered all the survivors and (though she considered the name Morlocks) called them Maroons. She was ready to use the Death Seed against Sabretooth when she had a chance.
Comments: Created by Steve Gerber (writer), Ross Andru (penciler) and Vince Colletta (inker).
Nekra received entries in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#8, All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z I#9 and various Marvel Encyclopedias including Fantastic Four, Marvel Knights and Spider-Man.
While her birth year is listed as 1944, due to Marvel's sliding time scale, this remains subject to the interpretations of the writer.
Nekra and Mandrill are maybe my favorite Marvel villains ever.
Buck and Gemma Sinclair's real names were revealed in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#8, in the Nekra entry.
Death Reaper, who teamed up with Zodiac in Dark Reign: Zodiac#1-3, claimed that Nekra was her mother but that she didn't know who her father was.
Profile by Chadman.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Nekra has no known connections to:
Buck & Gemma Sinclair(Daredevil I#110 (fb)/Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#8 (fb) - BTS) – In 1944 (see comments), a black woman, Gemma Sinclair, was working as a janitor at a nuclear testing facility (the Los Alamos Atomic Proving Grounds) in New Mexico and she absorbed nuclear radiation during an explosion, altering her genetic structure The woman and her husband Buck, soon had a daughter, Nekra, and they were disturbed by her albino skin, tufts of black body hair and fangs. In time, Nekra ran away.
--Daredevil I#110 (Daredevil I#110 (fb), Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#8 (fb) – BTS,
images: (without ads)
Official Handbook of the Marvel
Universe A to Z HC Vol. 8, p58, Nekra entry main image (main)
Shanna the She-Devil I#5, p12, pan7 (face)
Shanna the She-Devil I#5, cover (fighting Shanna)
Shanna the She-Devil I#5, p10, pan1 (with female army)
West Coast Avengers II#2, p15, pan1 (Nekra with Grim Reaper)
Web of Spider-Man I#46, cover (red costume)
Druid I#2, p4, pan4 (Death Priestess costume)
Underworld I#4, p22, pan1 (surrounded by glowing energy)
Daredevil I#110, p12, pan1 (Nekra’s parents)
Appearances:
Shanna the She-Devil I#5 (August, 1973) – Steve Gerber
(writer), Ross Andru (penciler), Vince Colletta (inker), Roy Thomas
(editor)
Daredevil I#109 (April, 1974) – Steve Gerber (writer), Bob
Brown (penciler), Don Heck (inker), Roy Thomas (editor)
Marvel Two-In-One I#3 (May, 1974) – Steve Gerber (writer),
Sal Buscema (penciler), Joe Sinnott (inker), Roy Thomas (editor)
Daredevil I#110 (May, 1974) – Steve Gerber (writer), Gene
Colan (penciler), Frank Chiarmonte (inker), Roy Thomas (editor)
Daredevil I#111 (June, 1974) – Steve Gerber (writer), Bob
Brown (penciler), Jim Mooney (inker), Roy Thomas (editor)
Daredevil I#112 (July, 1974) – Steve Gerber (writer), Gene
Colan (penciler), Frank Giacoia (inker), Roy Thomas (editor)
Spider-Woman I#13-16 (April-July, 1979) - Mark Gruenwald
(writer), Carmine Infantino (penciler), Al Gordon (inker), Roger Stern
(editor)
Spider-Woman I#50 (June, 1983) - Ann Nocenti (writer), Brian
Postman (penciler), Sam Delarosa (inker), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Vision and Scarlet Witch II#1 (October, 1985) - Steve Englehart
(writer), Richard Howell (penciler), Andy Musyynsky (inker), Jim
Salicrup (editor)
West Coast Avengers II#2 (November, 1985) – Steve Englehart
(writer), Allen Milgrom (penciler). Kim DeMulder (inker), Mark
Gruenwald
(editor)
Vision and Scarlet Witch II#2 (November, 1985) – Steve
Englehart (writer), Richard Howell (penciler), Andy Mushynsky (inker),
Jim
Salicrup (editor)
Vision and Scarlet Witch II#12 (September, 1986) – Steve
Englehart (writer), Richard Howell (penciler), Frank Springer (inker),
Jim
Salicrup (editor)
Web of Spider-Man I#46 (January, 1989) – Richard Howell
(writer/penciler), Keith Williams (inker), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Alpha Flight I#79 (December, 1989) – James D. Hudnall
(writer), John Calimee (penciler), Mike Manley (inker), Carl Potts, Dan
Fingeroth (editors)
Alpha Flight I#80 (January, 1990) – James D.
Hudnall (writer), John Calimee (penciler), Mike Manley (inker), Danny
Fingeroth
(editor)
Avengers I#29/2 (February, 1990) – Dwayne McDuffie (writer),
Dwayne Turner (penciler), Christopher Ivy (inker), Mark Gruenwald
(editor)
Avengers GN: Deathtrap-The Vault (July, 1991) – Danny Fingeroth
(writer), Ron Lim (penciler), Jim Sanders, Fred
Fredericks (inkers), Kelly Corvese, Howard Mackie (editors)
Avengers West Coast I#65 (December, 1990) – Roy Thomas, Dann
Thomas (writers), Paul Ryan (penciler), Danny Bulanadi (inker), Howard
Mackie
(editor)
Druid I#2-4 (June-August ,1995) – Warren Ellis (writer),
Leonard Manco (artist), Marie Savins (editor)
Witches I#1 (August, 2004) – Brian Patrick Walsh (writer),
Mike Deodato Jr (artist), Axel Alonso (editor)
Marvel Knights: Spider-Man I#6 (November, 2004) – Mark
Millar (writer), Terry Dodson (penciler), Rachel Dodson (inker), Axel
Alonso
(editor)
Underworld I#4-5 (July-August, 2006) – Frank Tieri (writer),
Staz Johnson (pencils), Tom Palmer (inker), Axel Alonso (editor)
Loners I#1-2,4-5 (June-July, September-October, 2007) – C.B.
Cebulski (writer), Karl Moline (artist), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Dark Reign Files (April, 2009) – various writers
Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Utopia I#1 (August, 2009) –
Matt Fraction (writer), Marc Silvestri, Michael Broussard, Eric
Basaldua, Tyler
Kirkham, Sheldon Mitchell (pencilers), Joe Weems, Marco Galli, Rick
Basaldua,
Jason Gorder, Jay Leisten, Sal Regla, Jon Sibal, Ryan Winn (inkers),
Nick Lowe
(editor)
Uncanny X-Men I#513 (September, 2009) – Matt Fraction
(writer), Terry Dodson (penciler), Rachel Dodson (inker), Nick Lowe
(editor)
Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus I#1 (November, 2009) –
Matt Fraction (writer), Mike Deodato, Terry Dodson, Rachel Dodson
(inkers),
Nick Lowe (editor)
Dark Reign: Lethal Legion I#1-3 (August-November, 2009) –
Frank Tieri (writer), Mateus Santoluoco (artist), Jeanine Schaefer
(editor)
Uncanny Avengers I#528 (October, 2010) – Matt Fraction
(writer), Whilce Portacio (penciler), Ed Tadeo (inker), Nick Lowe
(editor)
Heroic Age: X-Men I#1 (February, 2011) – various writers
Chaos War: Dead Avengers I#1-3 (January-March, 2011) – Fred
Van Lente (writer), Tom Grummett (penciler), Cory Hamscher (inker),
Mark
Paniccia (editor)
Power Man and Iron Fist III#2 (May, 2016) –
David Walker (writer), Sanford Greene (artist), Jake Thomas (editor)
Power Man and Iron Fist III#4 (July, 2016) –
David Walker (writer), Sanford Greene (artist), Jake Thomas (editor)
Savage Avengers I#14 (March, 2022) - Gerry Duggan (Writer), Patch Zircher (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Savage Avengers I#16 (May, 2022) - Gerry Duggan (writer), Patrick Zircher (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Sabretooth IV#1-5 (April-August, 2022) - Victor LaVelle (writer), Leonard Kirk (artist), Lauren Amaro (editor)
Sabretooth and the Exiles#1-5 (January-May, 2023) - Victor Lavelle (writer), Leonard Kirk (artist), Jordan White (editor)
First Posted: 10/29/2018
Last updated: 05/09/2023
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
Non-Marvel Copyright info
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