SIR BENEDICT

Real Name: Benedict

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Otherworld) dragon-human hybrid (at least Age of Camelot to the modern era)

Occupation: Guardian of Excalibur

Group Membership: Excalibur (Black Knight/Dane Whitman, Captain Britain/Brian Braddock, Captain U.K./Linda McQuillan of Earth-238, Crusader X/Bran Braddock of Earth-2122, Meggan, Psylocke/Betsy Braddock)

Affiliations: Sir James Braddock, Captain Britain (Brian Braddock), King Arthur Pendragon, Roma, Strider

Enemies: Mastermind (computer), Warpies (AC-DC, Fern, Giggles, Lump, Quill, several others);
formerly anyone who sought Excalibur

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: "Dragon," "Guardian," Sir Benedict of the Falls

Base of Operations: The Forest of a Thousand Sorrows, Otherworld

First Appearance: Excalibur II#2 (March, 2001)

Powers/Abilities: Sir Benedict was a dragon-human hybrid with red, scaly skin and horned growths along his forehead. He could breathe fire from his mouth and was extremely long-lived, if not immortal, having survived since the original reign of King Arthur Pendragon.

Sir Benedict was also an extremely accomplished wielder, if not a complete master, of several weapons, especially swords, axes and energy-blasting guns.

Height: 8'5" (by approximation)
Weight: 500 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Gold (occasionally appearing black in times of anger)
Hair: None

History: (Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z HC Vol. 14 - Otherworld entry - BTS) - Otherworld resident Sir Benedict was apparently a dragon-human hybrid.

(Excalibur II#2 (fb) - BTS) - King Arthur Pendragon tasked Sir Benedict with watching over the Sword of Might, Excalibur. Guarding the sword, Sir Benedict slew thousands who sought Excalibur, secretly hoping that one day, the rightful monarch of Otherworld would prove himself and claim his birthright. At some point meeting Sir James Braddock, Sir Benedict was told that one day, James' son Brian would come to seek Excalibur.

(Excalibur II#2) - When Brian Braddock ventured out into Otherworld's Forest of a Thousand Sorrows to seek Excalibur, Sir Benedict fired on Brian, forcing him off his flying horse, Strider, and warning that Brian would be crossing Benedict's path at his own peril. Sir Benedict introduced himself before ordering Brian to state his business and when Brian revealed that he was searching for Excalibur, Benedict refused Brian access to the sword and tossed Brian a sword for his own defense, suggesting Brian die for the sword. Catching the sword hurled by Sir Benedict, Brian admitted that he had to be willing to die for the sword, as the fate of the cosmos itself rested in the balance. Sir Benedict then smiled, remarking that he just wanted to be clear, before starting the swordfight against Brian Braddock. Benedict quickly disarmed Brian, knocking him back and reminding Brian that he had to prove himself worthy of Excalibur by moving Sir Benedict himself from the bridge on which he stood. When Benedict gloated by asking Brian if he thought he was worthy enough to move Benedict, Brian whistled for his flying horse and the horse succeeded in knocking Benedict from the bridge and into the water below. Confronting Benedict in the water, Brian admitted that he could kill Benedict right now and Sir Benedict asked Brian to get it over with but when Brian refused, claiming he was there to save lives not take them, Benedict bowed to Brian and exclaimed that Brian's refusal to take lives is what made him worthy of Excalibur. Sir Benedict then proclaimed Brian his sire and revealed how he spent an untold amount of time hoping for the rightful heir to the throne of Otherworld to prove himself worthy. Proclaiming himself now freed of his duty, Sir Benedict remarked that it had to be Brian's destiny to become king of Otherworld or Brian would have been killed by Sir Benedict and Sir Benedict then announced himself the loyal servant of "Lord" Braddock. Sir Benedict then revealed that Sir James Braddock had once told him that Brian would come for the sword but when Brian questioned when Benedict had met his father, Sir Benedict suggested Brian hold his questions for later and led Brian to a lava fall, where Benedict claimed the answers to Brian's questions would be. At first thinking he would be burned alive by the firewall, Brian questioned Benedict's orders and Benedict explained that Brian had to have faith despite his concerns that the firewall could be a trap. Sir Benedict then watched as Brian decided to venture through the firewall, feeling that there was only one way to find out if it were a trap.

(Excalibur II#3) - As Brian was confronted with a holographic image of his father inside the cave behind the firewall, Sir Benedict waited outside the firewall with Strider, remarking to Strider that Brian had been inside the cave quite a long time, either being burned alive or facing the greatest challenge of his life. Benedict then grimly commented that he wasn't sure which fate was worse. Sir Benedict soon heard Brian screaming and prepared for trouble, only to be met with "Roma" (actually the computer Mastermind posing as Roma), who downed both Sir Benedict and Strider, remarking that Sir Benedict should not fear, as Brian's troubles would soon be over.

(Excalibur II#4 (fb) - BTS) - Once "Roma" had been revealed as the mad computer Mastermind and Mastermind captured Brian, who had re-assumed the mantle of Captain Britain, the surviving Sir Benedict disguised himself as Mastermind's executioner in an effort to free Captain Britain, whom he still pledged to serve.

(Excalibur II#4) - After Mastermind revealed his plan to destroy Otherworld by merging Excalibur with the Amulet of Right and ordered Captain Britain's death, Sir Benedict prepared to cleave the head of Captain Britain before revealing himself at the last moment by fighting off the Warpies in Mastermind's service, reminding Captain Britain that he had proclaimed himself a servant of Brian. Mastermind announced that Sir Benedict would share Captain Britain's fate as Sir Benedict cleaved the chains holding Captain Britain's Excalibur teammates. Joining Excalibur to battle Mastermind and his Warpies, Sir Benedict projected flames from his mouth to fight back the Warpies as the rest of Excalibur continued freeing themselves. Sir Benedict then summoned Strider back to the Black Knight and Captain Britain took the fight directly to Mastermind. While battling the Warpies, Sir Benedict remarked that the Warpies were pesky like locusts and twice as hard to kill. After Psylocke and Meggan succeeded in freeing the true Roma, who defeated Mastermind, Sir Benedict helped Psylocke back to her feet and remarked on how rough Captain Britain looked when he returned from his battle with Mastermind. He then witnessed Captain Britain use the magical sword Excalibur to restore the Warpies to their former selves, prior to Mastermind's influence. Later, after most of the Excalibur team were returned home, Sir Benedict stood near Captain Britain as Brian Braddock ascended to the throne of Otherworld.

Comments: Created by Ben Raab, Pablo Raimondi and Walden Wong.

Sir Benedict was never seen again after the 2001 Excalibur mini-series. Presumably, he's still in Otherworld somewhere...

Profile by Proto-Man.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Sir Benedict has no known connections to:

images: (without ads)
Excalibur II#2, front cover (Sir Benedict fighting Brian Braddock, main image)
Excalibur II#2, p16-17, p11 (Sir Benedict, headshot)
Excalibur II#4, p6, pan3 (Sir Benedict disguised as Mastermind's executioner)

Appearances:
Excalibur II#2 (March, 2001) - Ben Raab (writer), Pablo Raimondi (pencils), Walden Wong (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Excalibur II#3 (April, 2001) - Ben Raab (writer), Pablo Raimondi (pencils, inks), Walden Wong (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Excalibur II#4 (May, 2001) - Ben Raab (writer), Pablo Raimondi (pencils), Walden Wong (inks), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A to Z HC Vol. 14 (2010) - Jeff Christiansen, Mike Fichera (head writers, coordinators), Stuart Vandal, Sean McQuaid, Michael Hoskin, Ronald Byrd, Markus Raymond, Mike O'Sullivan, Madison Carter, Kevin Garcia, Gabriel Shechter, Jacob Rougemont, Rob London, Rich Green, Chris Biggs, David Wiltfong, Jeph York, Mark O'English, Mike Gagnon (writers), Eric J. Moreels, Chad Anderson, Al Sjoerdsma, Anthony Flamini, David Sexton, Jonathan Couper-Smartt, Bill Lentz, Barry Reese (past writers), Eliot R. Brown (Otherworld entry art), Jeff Youngquist, Jennifer Grunwald (editors)

First Posted: 04/22/2019
Last updated: 04/22/2019

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!

Back to Characters