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TORSO

Real Name: Unrevealed

Identity/Class: Extradimensional (Earth-93060/Ultraverse) human cyborg mutate

Occupation: Mercenary;
   formerly US military

Group Membership: T.N.T.N.T. (Naiad, Neuronne, Tugun, Tyrannosaurus Rex);
   formerly US military

Affiliations: J.D. Hunt, NuWare

Enemies: Night Man (John Domingo), Rafferty, Rafferty imposter, Rafferty's agents, Strangers (Atom Bob, ElectroCute, Grenade, Lady Killer, Yrial, Zip-Zap)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Mobile in the USA;
   formerly mobile internationally (with military)

First Appearance: Strangers#3 (August, 1993)

Powers/Abilities: Torso's main body and head are trapped in an armored metal shell of unknown composition. Its semi-bulbous shape and technological attachments indicate internal power sources rather than excess body weight. Torso has the artificial ability to form limbs of pure energy in whatever shape and strength he wants by mental command and based on his will. A quadruple amputee, he chooses to manifest these energy projections as arms and legs, which he can stretch to at least four times normal human length, plus extended claws, but he must be conscious to generate these artificial limbs. He later honed his abilities to fly at will at speeds approximating a maximum of 70 mph. Although boastful, he has deep insecurities and is needlessly fearful of losing his energy-based limbs. He has US military training and has seen combat.

Height: Variable
Weight: Unrevealed
Eyes: Unrevealed
Hair: Unrevealed

History:

(Skybox Ultraverse Master Series card #70) - The man who would become Torso fought in the US invasion of Panama in which he lost both arms and both legs. His body healed but his mind was scarred.

(Night Man I#6 (fb) - BTS/Skybox Ultraverse Master Series card #70) - J.D. Hunt's firm NuWare developed and trained ultras (super-powered individuals), sometimes forming teams of them. Torso embraced Hunt's offer of arms and legs he could create with mind, but secretly feared his luck wouldn't last.

(Strangers#3 (fb) - BTS) - Torso trained for three years every day to use his enhancements and to master their limitations. He learned to use his powers as part of a NuWare team dubbed T.N.T.N.T.

(Strangers#2) - J.D. Hunt was keen to regain control of his now self-aware "female" android ElectroCute, but she had since joined a newly formed group of newly empowered super-humans called the Strangers. Hunt sent NuWare agents after her.

(Strangers#3) - T.N.T.N.T. attacked the Strangers in San Francisco. Initially the mercenaries had the upper hand due to their training over the uncoordinated new group who were still grappling with their powers. But swapping of foes saw the Strangers gain the advantage; while Torso initially overpowered the inexperienced Atom Bob, the mercenary was knocked out by ElectroCute's powerful electric blast.

(Night Man I#6 (fb) - BTS) - All the T.N.T.N.T. members were jailed, but J.D. Hunt secured their release and paid them to kill the troublesome Night Man. Meanwhile reports of the mercenaries' fracas with the Strangers had reached Night Man, so he knew of their abilities.

(Night Man I#6) - After ably training against violent battle androids, Hunt sent the team on their mission. After nightfall, they found Night Man at a foggy beachside construction site in San Francisco and attacked. Night Man lost them in the fog and the team separated to catch him. Night Man used a circular saw against Torso, who feared losing his limbs again, and with barely a cut in his armor, the amputee fell unconscious in fear, causing his energy limbs to dissipate. Night Man tied him up tightly in cable. After the rest of T.N.T.N.T. were defeated, Torso slowly revived, reforming his limbs, but could not break free.

(Skybox Ultraverse Master Series card #70) - After his team's defeats by the Strangers and Night Man, Torso lapsed into periods of bleak depression.

(Night Man I#14) - Partially due to secret attraction, Torso followed Neuronne's lead to hone their powers by taking on freelance mercenary work in New York, but they again encountered the vigilante Night Man. He arrested Neuronne and Torso flew in from a remote location to rescue her, but the serial killer of ultras, Rafferty, had sent an imposter to target Night Man. Instead, the imposter aimed for the cuffed Neuronne. Torso arrived to help Neuronne but the Rafferty imposter's crossbow bolt blasted through his helmet, causing the the severed electronics to explode his head. Neuronne despaired at his loss.

Comments: Created by Steve Englehart & Rick Hoberg.

The US invasion of Panama was only a few years before this book's publication and included many branches of the US military. Unfortunately, it's unclear which one he's from, but I'm guessing Army or Marine.

This profile was completed 2/24/2021, but its publication was delayed as it was intended for the Appendix 20th anniversary 's celebratory event.

Profile by Grendel Prime.

CLARIFICATIONS :
Torso has no known connections to:

images: (without ads)
Skybox Ultraverse Master Series card #70 (main image)
Night Man I#14, p4, pan3 (headshot)
Night Man I#6. p13, pan3 (attacking Night Man)

Appearances:
Strangers#3 (August, 1993) - Steve Englehart (writer), Rick Hoberg (pencils), Larry Welch & Tim Burgard (inks), Chris Ulm (editor)
Night Man I#6 (March, 1994) - Steve Englehart (writer), Kyle Hotz (pencils), Thomas Florimonte, Jr. (inks), Roland Mann (editor)
Night Man I#14 (November, 1994) - James Robinson & Steve Englehart (writers), Dean Zachary (pencils), Bruce McCorkindale (inks), Roland Mann (editor)
Skybox Ultraverse Master Series card #70 (1994) - Dave Dorman (art)

First posted: 09/17/2021
Last updated: 09/16/2021

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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