The Scarlet Centurion
Real Name: Unknown, but he could be Kang. Or Doom. Or not.
First Appearance: Avengers Annual 2
What's His Problem? As a possible future (past?) incarnation of Kang the Conqueror, the time-traveling Scarlet Centurion wished to become master of everything he saw. To do this, he brainwashed the original Avengers into defeating all other super-humans, thus taking over the world. After this, the Centurion called the "real" Avengers into his timeline to defeat the "evil" Avengers so the Centurion could take over that Earth himself! An "alternate" Centurion, who may or may not be the same one the Avengers encountered, battled the alternate-earth heroes, the Squadron Supreme. That Centurion had succeeded in ruling almost all time periods except the Squadron's 20th century earth. Presumably, that Centurion never became Kang or Immortus. Unless he already did. Or will yet. (Jeez! And you thought time traveling with the X-Men made your head hurt!)
Abilities: As a time traveler, the Centurion possessed great intelligence and a desire for power. He was a bit more successful in his conquering than his counterpart, Kang. That's assuming, of course, the Scarlet Centurion really is Kang! (Uh-oh, the headache is starting again!)
Weapons: As well as a time machine to travel through time, the Red Menace can project a hologram of himself through time (just like Dean Stockwell). He also wears a powerful suit of armor that can protect him from psionic attacks and project force beams.
Favorite Quote: "Woman, I would make a very poor babysitter." To Squadron member Arcanna, after she asked him to take her infant son to the future he controlled, as seen in the Squadron Supreme Graphic Novel, "Death of a Universe."
Heroes He Keeps Running Into: The Scarlet Centurion first encountered the "mainstream" Avengers when he wanted them to defeat the Avengers of an alternate earth. He later on duked it out with the Squadron Supreme on a semi-regular basis. Of course, that may not be the same Centurion, just a divergent one. (OW! My head!)
People Who Think He's Not So Bad: The "alternate" Avengers followed Big Red after he brainwashed them. The Centurion who bugged the Squadron, and who could be someone completely different that just took the name and costume by coincidence (ARRGGHH!) created a group called the Institute of Evil as part of a game he played with the Grandmaster, and had trillions of followers on the 50th century Earth he controlled. He also was buddies with the Overmind, an alien with the psionic capability of billions of minds that almost destroyed the Squadron's earth.
Most Despicable Act: The Scarlet Centurion's worst act would be what he did to Squadron Supreme member Tom Thumb. Thumb was dying of cancer and stole a "panacea potion" which the Centurion claimed would cure all diseases from the Centurion's 50th century Earth. It turned out the potion was a fake, and Thumb died. The Scarlet Centurion had let Thumb steal the potion, amused at his futile attempt to ward off his own death. Gee, maybe he really is Kang.
by Bobby Coakley
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