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VIPER

Real Name: Viper

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Earth-93121) sentient magical construct (ca. Middle Ages)

Occupation: Warlord, military leader

Group Membership: Warriors of Vulcan's Forge

Affiliations: Axe, Bash, Blackwing, Lucan, Morgana, Slasher

Enemies: King Arthur and the Knights of Camelot, King Arthur (Arthur King) and the Knights of Justice (Breeze, Brick, Darren, Gallop, Lance, Lug, Phil, Tone, Trunk, Wally, Zeke), Queen Guinevere, Merlin, Camelot and its inhabitants

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Earth-93121

First Appearance: King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#1 (December, 1993)

Powers/Abilities: Although human in appearance, Viper was a self-aware, magical construct composed of rock. Generally impervious to steel, he was susceptible to magically empowered weapons. He had limited magical abilities, being able to weave spells, and relied on brute force and aggression. Heavily armored, he used bladed weapons, notably with serrated edges. He was very loyal to his creator, the sorceress Morgana, and was served unquestioningly by his fellow Warlords.

   He rode a demonic-looking, fanged, horse-like steed, and used the gem-like Talisman of Blood.

Height: Unrevealed
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: Green
Hair: Unrevealed

History:

(King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#2 (fb) - BTS) - Offended by the purity of love in Camelot between King Arthur and Queen Guinevere, Lady Morgana used magic to create an army of beings of animated rock, her Warriors of Vulcan's Forge, led by the loyal but brutal Warlord Viper and his team of warlord underlings - Axe, Bash, Blackwing, Lucan, Slasher and others, to overthrow the rulers and take over the kingdom for herself. King Arthur used his knights and wizard Merlin to protect Camelot.

(King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#2 (fb)) - Viper openly battled King Arthur, both in full battle armor.

(King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#2 (fb) - BTS) - Morgana dampened Merlin's magic and imprisoned King Arthur and his knights.

(King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#1) - Viper commanded a strategic attack on Camelot that led to the successful kidnapping of Queen Guinevere by Warlord Blackwing. Viper took the victim to Morgana's castle to be chained with the intention that Camelot would soon fall once the rulers had been removed. However, Merlin instead called in an amateur American football team from the 20th Century as substitute knights to help fight against Morgana's brutal warlords.

(King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#2) - Back at the besieged Camelot, Viper was confused at the seeming return of King Arthur and his knights, actually Merlin's magically empowered footballers, now the Knights of Justice. Viper communicated with Morgana via the mystical, gem-like Talisman of Blood regarding strategy against the advancing victorious Knights of Justice after Warlords Slasher and Blackwing fell. Following her plan, he combined magic and the crystal to deploy a trap, but first sent Warlord Lucan to delay his foes. Viper's plan succeeded and the Knights Lance and Trunk were magically sent to Morgana's castle dungeon. Arthur, the Knights' leader, decided to follow alone.

(King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#3) - Viper found the shattered remains of Blackwing and grew concerned at the power of Arthur's magical sword Excalibur. Morgana sent Viper to her castle's tunnels to stop Arthur and the newly freed Lance, Trunk and Guinevere. Despite his murderous frenzy in the confrontation, Viper was propelled back by a blast from Excalibur and a cave-in ensued. Trapped while the others escaped, Viper felt forsaken by Morgana as rocks fell around him.

Comments: Created by Diane Eskenazi & Avi Arad (animation); adapted by Mike Lackey (writer), Keith Wilson (pencils), and Evelyn Stein (inks).

Another warlord from the cartoon was Hammer; he appears to be shown from behind riding in shadow on horseback attacking Camelot in issue 1, but I can't be sure it's meant to be him. The other prominent warlords from the cartoon not clearly depicted in the comic are Blinder and Spike.

Unlike those in the cartoon series, the Warlords in the comic did not utilize battle carts.

Back in the 20th Century, Arthur King's football team, the Knights, beat opposing team, the Rhode Island Vipers (with green-purple team colors), the day before they were whisked away to Camelot during a storm. Odd little coincidences - as if the Camelot adventure could almost have been a dream sequence of Arthur's.

Earth-93121 is the Marvel Comics adaptation of the "King Arthur and the Knights of Justice" cartoon (1992-1993). There was also a video game spin-off for Super NES (1995) in which several of the warlords each turn into a villain boss, with Viper transforming into a massive green serpent.

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Warlord Viper has no known connections to:

Axe

Axe

Another sorcerous construct, Warlord Axe led one wave of the attack against Camelot. He answered to Viper and was very fond of axes(!), even adorning his helmet with blades.

Axe was not named in the comic series but matches his cartoon counterpart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#1

Bash

Bash

Another magical construct, Warlord Bash stayed beside Viper while Warlord Axe led his charge against Camelot. Silent, he wielded a bone club, but was not shown in battle.

Bash was not named in the comic series but matches his cartoon counterpart.

 

 

 

 

 

--King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#1

Blackwing

Blackwing

Another sorcerous construct, Warlord Blackwing had wings for flight. Distracting Merlin by having the wizard defend Camelot against arrow and catapault attacks, Viper had Blackwing fly in past the magical shield and kidnap Guinevere to leave Camelot leaderless and vulnerable. Blackwing passed the victim to Viper and returned flying around Camelot to observe the siege. However, Blackwing saw the newly arrived Knights of Justice overwhelm Warlord Slasher and he flew down and pounced on armored Arthur. Quickly recovered, Arthur smote him with his sword Excalibur and Blackwing shattered. His broken remains later appeared at Morgana's castle; still conscious, Blackwing warned Viper of Excalibur's power. Morgana told Viper she could easily repair him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#1 (2-3

Lucan

Lucan

Another of Morgana's magical constructs, Warlord Lucan obediently followed Viper's order to delay Arthur and the Knights of Justice so that a spell could be generated to trap them. Powerfully strong and armored, he withstood combined attacks from the Knights, and only fell in combat when Arthur made a giant oak tree fall on top of him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#2

Slasher

Slasher

Another sorcerous construct, Warlord Slasher was heavily armored and armed with spikes. A very strong and savage fighter, he sought glory in combat and praise from  Morgana, but defeating his enemies did not necessarily mean killing them. Individually, no Knight of Justice could beat him during a forest fight. King Arthur decided on teamwork to counter Slasher and it took four Knights and their mystical weapons to stop the Warlord. Seeing Slasher fall, Blackwing then entered the fray.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#2

Lucan

Talisman of Blood

The Talisman of Blood was a mystical gem. Warlord Viper used it to talk strategy with Morgana when the battle against the Knights of Justice was going badly. It could also generate illusions using a ghost-like spirit of the crystal, commanded via a spell, that Viper used to draw Arthur and the Knights of Justice into a trap.

   Seemingly a unique item, Viper also once referred to it as the "Crystal of Blood".

 

 

 

--King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#2

images: (without ads)
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#2, p5, pan1 (main image)
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#1, p1 (headshot)
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#1, p2 (on steed)
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#1, p4, pan2 (Axe)
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#1, p2 (Bash)
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#2, p15, pan5 (Blackwing)
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#2, p19, pan2 (Lucan)
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#2, p14, pan2 (Slasher)
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#2, p13, pan5 (Talisman of Blood)

Appearances:
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#1 (December, 1993) - Mike Lackey (writer), Keith Wilson (pencils), Evelyn Stein (inks), Tom DeFalco (editor)
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#2 (January, 1994) - Mike Lackey (writer), Keith Wilson (pencils), Marie Severin (inks), Renee Witterstaetter (editor)
King Arthur and the Knights of Justice#3 (February, 1994) - Mike Lackey (writer), Keith Wilson (pencils), Marie Severin (inks), Renee Witterstaetter (editor)

First Posted: 07/08/2017
Last updated: 07/08/2017

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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