BATROC THE LEAPER
The bombastic baddie and legendary kickboxer Georges Batroc leaps into action as a paid mercenary who enjoys a good fight! After his time with the French Foreign Legion, Batroc earned the moniker of “Batroc the Leaper,” a nod to his agility and skill as a word-class combatant. Long defined by his ties to Captain America, Batroc is now breaking out on his own!
GET TO KNOW...
First Appearance
In Tales of Suspense (1959) #75
After learning Savate while a part of the French Foreign Legion, the flamboyant Batroc tried his hand at being a mercenary instead. That same twisted sense of honor is in full display with his Marvel debut!
Loyalties Tested
In Tales of Suspense (1959) #85
Desiring a rematch following issue #75, Batroc accepted a Hydra contract to eliminate Cap, kidnapping Sharon Carter as bait to draw the hero in. However, when Hydra agents shot at Cap during their fight, the enraged mercenary attacked them for their dishonorable actions, and helped Cap rescue Sharon instead!
Friends in Low Places
In Captain America (1968) #105
Batroc would later form a mercenary partnership with Jacques Duquesne, AKA Swordsman, and the Living Laser. This trio was hired to obtain a seismo-bomb hidden in New York by a foreign agent shortly before he was captured. Likewise hunting the weapon, Captain America overcame both of Batroc’s allies in turn, before setting his sights on the main contender!
Batty Brigade of Batroc
In Captain America (1968) #130
When Baron von Strucker felt Captain America was threatening his plans to sow divisions within United States society, he hired Batroc and his “Brigade” (Whirlwind and the Porcupine) to kill Cap. But the trio was ignominiously defeated on live television!
“Eurohit”
In The Punisher (1987) #67
Kingpin recruited Batroc in a plot to slay several European underworld leaders, working alongside fellow killers Snakebite and Rapido. In their final London showdown, Batroc fought the Punisher’s ally Luis Alvarez, AKA Tarantula, happily testing his skills against another kick-fighter. Batroc won the bout, but fled in search of an antidote after being scratched by Tarantula’s venom-covered foot-spike!
“Traceur”
In Captain America and Batroc (2010) #1
The phone rings. The voice speaks. They want you to fight Captain America. Again. The man who beat you before. The man who you know will beat you again. What can you say? You say "Yes". Things get deeply personal when Batroc plays an incredible game of leap frog against Captain America: Steve Rogers!
“Eight Legs to Kick You”
In Deadpool (2012) #10
Following his tumultuous tussle with Cap, Batroc ended up working for mob boss Daniel Gump and battled Wade Wilson, AKA Deadpool. But this encounter ended quickly with Deadpool breaking Batroc’s leg, leaving him embarrassed and in great pain!
Versus Sam Wilson
In All-New Captain America (2014) #1
When Sam Wilson took over the mantle of Captain America, Batroc faced him and his ally Nomad at a Hydra base where he was protecting a machine that was apparently harming a young Inhuman boy. This battle also included Ian Zola who struck Batroc, apparently killing him. Batroc survived, and sought revenge against Zola...
“Any Friend of Gwen Poole...”
In The Unbelievable Gwenpool (2016) #2
As an employee of the Mercenary Organization Dedicated Only to Killing, Batroc, under the leadership of M.O.D.O.K., trained the secretly powerless Gwen Poole. This mentorship later came in handy when Gwen rescued her teacher from an alien army of Teuthidans! Read Batroc’s co-starring series through issue #25!