By Matt Powell
The creative team of writer Christos Gage and artist Mike Perkins continue their tour of the alternate Marvel Universe known as the House of M, with HOUSE OF M: AVENGERS #4 hitting stands January 30. In this issue, Luke Cage's Avengers go head-to-head with the new alliance of Thunderbird's Brotherhood and the Kingpin's assassins.
While Gage and Perkins, have re-imagined some of the best and brightest Avengers throughout their series, they certainly haven't forgotten about the foes that make those heroes great.
Wrapping up our profiles of the best of the worst, Marvel.com targets the Kingpin's assassins-for-hire, to discover if you truly get what you pay for.
KINGPIN
IN OUR WORLD: A self-made man, Wilson Fisk emerged from a childhood of poverty and ridicule to become the well-respected Kingpin of organized crime in New York City. Fisk generally has as many nefarious plans to gain wealth and power as he has lawyers to maintain his image as a legitimate business man; however the super hero community knows him better.
With the aid of his vast resources and army of assassins and henchmen, Fisk has been at odds with Spider-Man and Daredevil for years, and while the Man Without Fear recently chased him away to Europe, the Kingpin has never stayed down for long.
CHRISTOS GAGE: "[In comparing the Marvel Universe Kingpin to the House of M Kingpin], they're more or less the same, except that I'd call the House of M Kingpin perhaps a bit less experienced and crafty, because he hasn't had the defeats at the hands of Daredevil and Spider-Man that his 616 counterpart has. Coming back from those defeats made the mainstream Marvel Universe's Kingpin tougher. But the House of M Kingpin still has that Wilson Fisk intelligence and strength, and he's not one to mess with!"
ELEKTRA
IN OUR WORLD: Daughter of Greek Ambassador Hugo Natchios, Elektra Natchios became the college sweetheart of Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil. Disillusioned after witnessing the murder of her father, Elektra struck out on her own, studying vast martial arts, training to be an assassin, and eventually, leading the ninja assassin guild, The Hand.
When her skills became well-known, Elektra came under the employ of the Kingpin. When tasked by Kingpin to murder Daredevil, Elektra became conflicted upon the discovery of DD's true identity, and subsequently got killed by another of Matt's foes, Bullseye.
The future would see Elektra's resurrection from death, team-ups with Daredevil and eventually her rejoining the Hand as their leader. Recently the Avengers discovered the woman they thought to be Elektra for some time has apparently been a Skrull imposter, leaving the whereabouts of the real Elektra Natchios up in the air.
CHRISTOS GAGE: "She never experienced the calming influence of Matt Murdock. She has all the coldest, most ruthless qualities of the Elektra you know and none of the positive ones."
BULLSEYE
IN OUR WORLD: Perhaps the most resourceful and deadly of all Daredevil's foes, Bullseye possesses impeccable aim that allows him to use virtually any object as a weapon able to hit its intended target without fail. As a constant weapon in the Kingpin's arsenal, Bullseye has left in his wake a lengthy body count of victims, including two past lovers of Daredevil: Elektra and Karen Page. A certified psychopath, Bullseye has resisted many attempts to rein in his anti-social
behavior, remaining the Marvel Universe's premiere psychopath."
CHRISTOS GAGE: "[He's] the same as the 616 version. I don't think he could get any crazier! Both he and Elektra are ruthless assassins who will gladly kill at the Kingpin's command."
GLADIATOR
IN OUR WORLD: A tailor whose jealousy of the adoration and glamour super-heroes received provided the fuel to empower Melvin Potter's rage against do-gooders.
Fashioning a costume with razor sharp blades and durable body armor, Potter set out to take Daredevil out and has continued to
be a looming threat to Hornhead despite brief periods of reform as the Gladiator.
CHRISTOS GAGE: "He's the same as he 616 version, except his delusions of being a gladiator in ancient Rome were never cured. So, in other words, he's totally nuts! He considers the Kingpin [as] his emperor and obeys him without question."
BLACK CAT
IN OUR WORLD: Felicia Hardy carries on a tradition of cat burglary passed on to her by her father, Walter Hardy. After suffering through a traumatic college experience, Felicia strove to take control of her life, and taking whatever she wanted, be it jewels or revenge.
Her path would eventually cross with Spider-Man, and the two
became partners and then, for a time, lovers. With Olympic-level acrobatic skill, fighting prowess, and a suit that increases her strength and senses, the Black Cat gives her opponents plenty of reason not to cross her path.
CHRISTOS GAGE: "She's always been more of a thrill-seeker than a killer. It remains to be seen if the House of M version is more bloodthirsty than the one Marvel fans know!"
TYPHOID MARY
IN OUR WORLD: The insane assassin Typhoid Mary first emerged when Mary Walker got accidentally knocked out of a window by a young Matt Murdock. The attack left Mary mentally fractured and caused her to create two abnormal personalities capable of savage
brutality.
In her later battles with Daredevil, the two personas would soon develop a love/hate relationship. Her deranged personality disorder, along with her abilities of telekinesis, pyrokinesis, and mental suggestion, brought her to the attention of the Kingpin, who frequently uses her as a weapon against Daredevil.
CHRISTOS GAGE: "She has the same multiple personality disorder as her main Marvel Universe counterpart, without the attempts at curing her. Perhaps [she's] the craziest of a crazy lot...and highly dangerous."
HOUSE OF M: AVENGERS #4 goes on sale January 30, but in the mean time, relive the first four issues of HOUSE OF M with Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.
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 "HOUSE OF M: AVENGERS #4 cover by Mike Perkins")
 "HOUSE OF M: AVENGERS #4 interior art by Mike Perkins")
 "HOUSE OF M: AVENGERS #4 interior art by Mike Perkins")
 "HOUSE OF M: AVENGERS #4 interior art by Mike Perkins")
 "HOUSE OF M: AVENGERS #4 interior art by Mike Perkins")
 "HOUSE OF M: AVENGERS #4 interior art by Mike Perkins")
