DEATHRAVENDEATHRAVEN
Real Name: Joshua Raven
Identity/Class: Alternate reality (Earth-691) human mutate
Occupation: Exterminator
Affiliations: agent of the Martian
Masters;
ally of the High Overlord;
uses wolves as allies
Enemies: Freemen, Carmilla Frost, Keeper Raker, Killraven, Jenette Miller, Old Skull, Saunders, M'Shulla Scott
Known Relatives: Jonathan Raven (Killraven, brother), Maureen Raven (mother, deceased)
Aliases: Death-Raven, Exterminator Raven
Base of Operations: Mobile across
the USA of Earth-691 circa the early 21st century
formerly the Yellowstone Mercenary Sector
First Appearance: (As a youth, unidentified) Amazing Adventures II#18 (May,
1973)
(Deathraven identified) Amazing Adventures II#30 (May,
1975)
(Deathraven in shadows) Amazing Adventures II#36
(May, 1976)
(Deathraven seen) Marvel Graphic Novel#7:
Killraven, Warrior of the Worlds "Last Dreams Broken" (1983)
Powers/Abilities: Deathraven could transform into a hybrid humanoid-lupine form with superhuman strength (enhanced human), speed, agility, etc.
He had razor-sharp fangs and claws, and likely had enhanced olfactory (smelling) senses, and increased night-vision.
He could communicate with and
control other wolves.
History:
(Amazing Adventures II#18 (fb)) - <2006> - Maureen Raven
was slain by Exterminator Saunders and Dr. Raker, two human
agents of the Martian Masters. John Raven was taken to the
Masters for training in the gladiatorial arena, but Joshua's fate
was left to the discretion of Saunders. Joshua was believed by
Jonathon to have been killed.
(Amazing Adventures II#30 (fb) - BTS) - <April, 2019> - The High Overlord's records reveal that Joshua was trained as an understudy of Exterminator Saunders in the Yellowstone Mercenary Sector, where he became an exterminator himself, under the codename Deathraven.
(Amazing Adventures II#36) <December, 2019>
- Deathraven, now the head of the Mercenary Elite at Yellowstone,
met with the High Overlord, who informed him of news on his
brother, who was trying to locate him after learning of his
existence from the records.
(Marvel Graphic Novel: Killraven) - <February, 2020> - As Killraven and his Freemen traveled through Cape Canaveral, they encountered Joshua Raven, who pretended to be under attack by a wolf. After Killraven "saved" him from the wolf, Joshua revealed that he was Killraven's brother.
Joshua told Killraven a false story of
escaping the Martian Masters before they could initiate their
program to turn him into a weapon.
Joshua immediately got off on
the wrong foot with Old Skull, "What is he, retarded?"
Joshua followed Killraven he led the others to infiltrate a base of the Martian Masters. However, once inside, Joshua showed his true colors. Knocking out the newest Freeman, Jenette Miller, he then assumed his wolf-form and confronted his brother as Deathraven.
The High Overlord and a few other Martian Masters
observed the fight, while Deathraven summoned wolves to bring
down M'Shulla while he himself attacked Killraven. Telling Old
Skull to stay out of the family fight, Killraven was nonetheless
unable to force himself to fight his brother (or if he was
trying, he was pretty ineffective).
Deathraven battered his brother relentlessly, until Old Skull could stand it no longer and he assaulted Deathraven, who easily overpowered him and began to choke him to death. Realizing he could not physically stop Deathraven himself, Killraven instead unleashed his psychic powers, taking control of one of the Martian Masters and forcing it to attack, rend, and devour Deathraven.
Looking in the Martian Master's eyes, Deathraven realized that it was his brother killing him.
Comments: First shown as a youth by
Gerry Conway and Neal Adams.
Deathraven created by Don McGregor and P.
Craig Russell.
As Earth-691 exists outside of the sliding "Modern era" timescale of Earth-616, I would consider all dates mentioned to be correct.
In their first appearance,
John (Killraven) was a pre-adolescent youth, six years of age,
and Joshua was an infant at that time. The Masters only wanted
the older brother, John, for gladiatorial training and left the
infant with Saunders.
In Marvel Graphic Novel: Killraven, however,
Joshua discusses being the older of the two. For the purpose of that
story, it makes more sense
for Joshua to be older, as if he were only an infant in 2006, he
would be only 14-15 years old when he fought Killraven in 2020.
However, whether it makes sense or not, that's not how it happened.
Presumably, the Martian Masters artificially aged
him.
Old Skull is a friendly sort, but he is kind of
annoying. Deathraven taunting him as he prepared to kill him was
both amusing and disturbing:
"Old Skull's gonna die...He surely is!"
CLARIFICATIONS:
No known connection to:
Last updated: 10/27/2003
Last updated: 10/30/2022
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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