The Scourge of the Underworld
Real name: Various, mostly unknown. The Scourge identity is the creation of a covert group masquerading as a lone vigilante; there have been seven operatives known as Scourge to date.
First appearance: Iron Man 194
Died In: The original Scourge died in Captain America 320, but others soon followed. The Scourge organization was exposed and crippled in USAgent 1-4, which included the deaths of several Scourge operatives.
What's His/Their Problem? The Scourges were founded by a major 1940s Marvel hero, The Angel, who retired after a bystander was killed by a criminal he was battling. Consumed by rage and guilt, the aged Angel later used his personal fortune to found and fund the Scourge of the Underworld organization, which is dedicated to the assassination of so-called super-criminals.
Abilities: Scourge operatives are trained in unarmed combat and marksmanship, as well as acting and disguise skills used to approach their targets and infiltrate a given venue. In addition, all Scourge agents carry a rifle loaded with explosive bullets, their usual method of execution.
Favorite quote: "Justice is served!" The Scourge catch-phrase, used every time they complete a kill. First used in Iron Man 194, when the original Scourge ventilated the Enforcer, his first victim. Which is more Freudian than you might think, seeing as the original Scourge claimed to be the Enforcer's brother! -- editor Jeanne
Heroes He/They Keep Running Into: Scourge crossed paths with numerous heroes while killing Miracle Man, Hate-Monger III, Megatak, Melter, Titania, Basilisk, Hammer, Anvil, Fly, Death Adder, Blue Streak, Wraith (a good guy who got in the way, and an utterly throwaway death that still makes me mad just thinking about it -- editor Jeanne, keeper of the Wraith flame), a Watchdog, Red Skull II and Blowtorch Brand. It was Captain America who first tracked and confronted the original Scourge, and it was Cap's associate USAgent who later exposed and crippled the organization. Novice adventurer Vagabond (Priscilla Lyons) joined the Scourges for a while, but defected when she couldn't bring herself to kill her first victim, the Matador. She later helped USAgent bust the Scourge operation.
People Who Think He's Not So Bad: Jaded fanboys who think killing villains is "kewl." See also The Punisher.
Most Despicable Act: Captain America 319, wherein the original Scourge infiltrated the "Bar with No Name" criminal hangout and single-handedly slew Bird-Man II, Turner D. Century, Cheetah, Commander Kraken, Cyclone, Firebrand, Grappler, Hellrazor, Hijacker, Jaguar, Letha, Mind-Wave, Mirage, Rapier, Ringer, Shellshock, Steeplejack II and Vamp. That's gotta be some kinda record.
by Sean McQuaid
