LEGION OF VENGEANCE

Membership: Bacillus, Mind's Eye, Strontium-90, Vesper

Purpose: Serving D'Kay

Affiliations: D'Kay (creator)

Enemies: Mo Chou, Ghost Rider (Dan Ketch/Noble Kale), Death Sting (Miranda Ran'd-Kai), Fat Cobra, Iron Fist (Daniel Rand), Iron Fist (Orson Randall), humans

Base of Operations: Cypress Hills Cemetery

First Appearance: Marvel Comics Presents I#113/3 (1992)

 

 

History:
(Marvel Comics Presents I#116/3 (fb)) - Each member of the Legion of Vengeance lived an average live until they got their powers through happenings initiated and observed by D'Kay who then controlled them through their sins and brought them together as the self-proclaimed super-hero team Legion of Vengeance.

(Marvel Comics Presents I#113/3) - Mind's Eye threw a man onto the railway because he saw him as a racist. Ghost Rider saved the men from the approaching train and Mind's Eye disappeared into the shadows of an alley. Vesper came into a church in her human form and turned into her fiery form when she felt the hypocrisy of the praying people. She attacked the people in the church with her fire. Iron Fist, who was among them as Daniel Rand, saved a child from the collapsing church and brought her to the outside while Vesper continued her vengeance in the church.

(Marvel Comics Presents I#114/3) - At Cypress Hills Cemetery, Mind's Eye saw two teenagers making out and called Bacillus for their punishment. Bacillus infected the boy with his decease spreading touch. Ghost Rider and Iron Fist arrived and stopped Bacillus from touching the girl, but Iron Fist was taken down by Bacillus with his touch and he and Mind's Eye got away. Meanwhile Vesper attacked a ceremony and then met Strontium-90, who didn't interfere yet, on a building.

(Marvel Comics Presents I#115/3) - Strontium-90 attacked all citizens he met with his radiation blasts, and Vesper followed him. Vesper destroyed several buildings and statues of holiness as they were built by hypocrites. Strontium-90 and Vesper were able to flee from Ghost Rider and Iron Fist who were attacked by the angry mob. The heroes followed the burning steps of Vesper and found their enemies in a tomb at Cypress Hills Cemetery. They explained to the heroes that they were the Legion of Vengeance and that they were the world's deadliest heroes. Iron Fist and Ghost Rider were attacked by them.

(Marvel Comics Presents I#116/3) - Iron Fist used the power of Bacillus to heal himself because it came to his mind that most cures were also made from germs and bacilli. Ghost Rider managed to use his penance stare on the Legion of Vengeance and they were tortured with the pain they inflicted on others. Ghost Rider also learned their origins and knew that somehow a demon was involved in all their lives. The demon D'Kay now showed himself to Ghost Rider and Iron Fist.

(Marvel Comics Presents I#117/3) - The Legion of Vengeance was paralyzed by a spell D'Kay cast on them. They watched their creator cause their enemies to vanish. When the heroes returned victorious from the Pit, the spell of D'Kay wore off and the Legion of Vengeance once again attacked Ghost Rider and Iron Fist.

(Marvel Comics Presents I#118/3) - Ghost Rider grabbed the arms of Bacillus with his chain and made him touch Strontium-90, who was defeated by the deceases of Bacillus. Iron Fist was nearly taken out by Mind's Eye and Vesper, but he managed to push them both into the arms of Bacillus, and they were defeated as well. At last, Ghost Rider pulled the arms of Bacillus into his own face, and the villain was taken down by his own power. Ghost Rider made it clear to the Legion of Vengeance that they had become mere pawns of the demon D'Kay and that they could use their powers for something worthwhile instead. They were turned back into humans by D'Kay, who was afraid that they would really become heroes. When Ghost Rider and Iron Fist were gone the former Legion of Vengeance discovered that their powers weren't really gone when Vesper was able to start a fire in her palm.

SECRET WARS III HAPPENED

(Iron Fist I#79-80 - BTS) - The Legion of Vengeance went to Hell and became henchmen of D'Kay.

(Iron Fist I#79) - Mind's Eye and Vesper were among D'Kay's flunkies that accompanied him to congratulate Orson Randall after winning his tenth fight.

   Mind's Eye, Vesper and three other demons picked up Iron Fist (Daniel Rand) and Fat Cobra from Orson's locker room to bring them to D'Kay's skybox. When Daniel's half-sister Miranda entered the cage as Orson's next opponent Daniel attacked D'Kay in anger, but was tackled by Vesper. Fat Cobra knocked out Mind's Eye before he was attacked by three other demons. Vesper was knocked out by Iron Fist, who then helped Fat Cobra to defeat the other demons.

(Iron Fist I#80) - Strontium-90 became part of D'Kay new and improved Legion of Vengeance, which consisted of him and eleven other demons. They were sent out to fight Orson Randall, Death Sting (Miranda Rand), Fat Cobra and Iron Fist (Danny Rand). D'Kay watched the fight from the skybox with Mind's Eye, Vesper and his other lowly henchmen and told them to watch and learn how real demons dealt with humans. The new Legion of Vengeance were defeated and Strontium-90 was hurled up to the skybox by a powerful attack from Orson Randall and landed on D'Kay and knocking out his former teammates Mind's Eye and Vesper as well. Moments after D'Kay was pulled out from beneath Strontum-90 he was ordered to come to Mephisto.

Comments: Created by Joey Cavalieri & Shawn McManus

The only member of the Legion who got a name was Mind's Eye (only a last name, but the others got nothing).

Oh yeah! These characters are one of the many characters hanging around at the Cypress Hills Cemetery. This place is really dangerous. I don't understand people hanging around there when each second a new monster, demon or something else rises from a grave or the ground beneath it. The two teenagers in Marvel Comics Presents I#114/3 felt the danger of being there.
My advice for everyone (the average folks of the MU): Don't go there!

What happened to the Legion of Vengeance after this storyline? They still had their powers and D'Kay was laughing and promised their return. Now in 2004 we are still waiting. Probably D'Kay got his head bitten off by a more powerful being in the Pit (where in hell is the Pit anyway?) and now his former agents are just stumbling through their average existences. They should get a chance to get their revenge on Iron Fist and Ghost Rider.

During the Damnation crossover D'Kay returned and had a few demons with him that clearly had some connection to the Legion of Vengeance, but I thought that it was just the demons that presumably empowered the Legion of Vengeance. Recently I re-read the story and saw that one of the demons fighting Iron Fist and his allies in the cage was still wearing the remnants of his Strontium-90 costume! While Mind's Eye and Vesper were pretty easy to identify I have no clue which one could've been Bacillus. Maybe D'Kay didn't employ him.

Profile by Markus Raymond

Clarifications:
The Legion of Vengeance has no known connection to:

Bacillus has no known connections to

Mind's Eye has no known connections to

Strontium-90 has no known connections to

Vesper has no known connections to

 

Bacillus

The man who would become Bacillus was a scientist and the partner of Strontium-90. They experimented with radiation on germs to find a way to cure mankind by finding out if the germs were intelligent. Observed by D'Kay, their experiment went wrong and after the radioactive ray hit a probe of bacilli they sprang onto him and he got his powers as Bacillus. From this moment on his touch brought diseases to all his victims. He was the second harbinger of doom and represented the betrayal of the body. With an increased strength level he soon joined the other members of the Legion of Vengeance together with his partner Strontium-90.

Bacillus was called by Mind's Eye as punishment to the two youths who were making out at the Cypress Hills Cemetery. He touched the boy whose skin was immediately covered with pustules. Ghost Rider grabbed Bacillus with his chain and threw him away. When Bacillus tried to touch the girl Iron Fist stood in his way and he touched him instead. Iron Fist, too, was immediately covered with pustules. Bacillus ran away with Mind's Eye after this attack.

He later met the other members of the Legion in a tomb where they were found by Ghost Rider and Iron Fist. Bacillus tried to touch Iron Fist again, but Iron Fist was able to get a hold of him and used the hand of Bacillus to heal himself. Bacillus couldn't resist the penance stare of Ghost Rider who learned the origin of his powers by it. Bacillus was down after it and when his creator D'Kay appeared, he was paralyzed by a spell of him.

Later when the heroes returned the spell wore off, and Bacillus was able to attack the heroes again. Ghost Rider got the arms of Bacillus with his chain and used them to infect all members of the Legion with the deadly diseases of Bacillus. Even Bacillus was touched by his own hands and was defeated by it. After that Ghost Rider told him and the others the truth about their existence and Bacillus was seemingly stripped of his powers by D'Kay. Bacillus learned that he still had his powers when he watched Vesper create a flame in her palm.

(Wolverine V#7 (fb) - BTS) - Bacillus moved to Melbourne, Australia.

(Wolverine V#7) - Bile (Tom Preston) met with Bacillus, who unfortunately had to reveal, that he had never called Bile to meet him in Melbourne. Bacillus realized too late that it was a setup by a sentient virus from the Microverse and they were both killed in a massive explosion.

Bacillus can infect others with virulent diseases, as well as cure infections. He appeared to have enhanced strength

--Marvel Comics Presents I#114/3 (115/3-118/3, Wolverine V#7

Mind's Eye

Mr. Meacham was an optician before he became Mind's Eye. He was grinding experimental lenses and when he put them on he saw the people around him different. Observed by D'Kay, he saw a police officer as a Nazi and a beautiful woman as a vicious drug addict. He thought to see through the hypocrisy of the people and put on a costume. As Mind's Eye he became the first harbinger of doom and represented the betrayal of the mind. With an increased strength level he soon joined the other members of the Legion of Vengeance.

Mind's Eye threw a man on a railway because he saw him as a racist. Ghost Rider rescued the man and Mind's Eye left the scene through a shadowy alley.

Mind's Eye observed two teenagers at the Cypress Hills Cemetery making out with each other and saw them practicing deceit and treachery. He called Bacillus to punish them. He ran away with Bacillus after Ghost Rider was distracted by the infection of his pal Iron Fist.

Later he met with the other members of the Legion in a tomb where they were found by Ghost Rider and Iron Fist. Mind's Eye was able to duck an attack from Ghost Rider with his chain and saw that Iron Fist wasn't able to help Ghost Rider anymore.

Ghost Rider pushed Mind's Eye to the ground and was able to use the penance stare on him. Ghost Rider now knew the origin of his powers and Mind's Eye was defeated and when his creator D'Kay appeared he was paralyzed by a spell of him.

Later when the heroes returned the spell wore off and Mind's Eye was able to attack the heroes again. He hid in the shadows and grabbed Iron Fist from behind. When Vesper tried to hit Iron Fist with a blast only the ground around Mind's Eye was hit by it and the smoke blinded him for a second. Iron Fist kicked him to the ground and threw him into Vesper. Mind's Eye stumbled into the arms of Bacillus and the disease defeated him. After he listened to the words of Ghost Rider he was seemingly stripped of his powers by D'Kay. Mind's Eye learned that he still had his powers when he watched Vesper create a flame in her palm.

SECRET WARS III HAPPENED

(Iron Fist I#79-80) - Mind's Eye ended up in Hell and as a demon became one of D'Kay's henchmen. He, Vesper and other demons delivered Iron Fist (Danny Rand) and Fat Cobra to D'Kay's skybox, but when a fight broke out was easily defeated. D'Kay later told him to watch and learn how real demons dealt with humans when the new and improved Legion of Vengeance, including Mind's Eye's former teammate Strontium-90, fought Orson Randall, Iron Fist (Danny Rand), Death Sting (Miranda Rand) and Fat Cobra in the cage. The new Legion of Vengeance were defeated and Mind's Eye was knocked out when Strontium-90 was hurled up to the skybox by a powerful attack from Orson Randall.

Mind's Eye believes self able to see hidden truths, though he actually sees distorted/corrupted versions of the truth. He is a telepath, can become invisible in shadows, has enhanced strength, and wears a green costume with spikes and a single large eye on the chest

--Marvel Comics Presents I#113/3 (115/3-118/3, Iron Fist I#79-80
 

Strontium-90

The man who would become Strontium-90 was a scientist and the partner of Bacillus. They experimented with radiation on germs to find a way to cure mankind by finding out if the germs were intelligent. Observed by D'Kay their experiment went wrong and after the radiation ray hit the bacilli it also hit Strontium-90. Empowered by the ray he was now able to shoot radioactive blasts by himself and poison everyone with it. He was the third harbinger of doom, the defiler of elements, despoiler of the environment and represented the betrayal of the Earth. He and his partner Bacillus soon met the other members of the Legion of Vengeance. With an increased strength level he soon joined the other members of the Legion of Vengeance together with his partner Strontium-90.

He watched Vesper's attack on the crowd and declared that the people would fear him twice as much as her while standing on a roof.

Strontium-90 hit people with his radioactive blasts and they were poisoned by it. Strontium-90 left the area with Vesper when Ghost Rider arrived and went to the tomb at Cypress Hill Cemetery where they met the other members of the Legion. The heroes followed them and Strontium-90 wanted to finish Iron Fist with his partner Bacillus.

Strontium-90 threatened Iron Fist when he held Bacillus in front of himself. He became a victim of Ghost Rider's penance stare when he attacked him. Ghost Rider now knew the origin of Strontium-90, who was defeated by the effect of the stare. He was paralyzed by a spell of his creator D'Kay when he appeared.

The spell wore off when the heroes returned, and Strontium-90 attacked them with the rest of the Legion. He was the first victim to the touch of Bacillus when Ghost Rider yanked his arms against Strontium-90. After Strontium-90 listened to the words of Ghost Rider he was seemingly stripped of his powers, but he later learned that he still had them when he watched Vesper create a flame in her palm.

SECRET WARS III HAPPENED

(Iron Fist I#80) - Strontium-90 ended up in Hell and as a demon became one of D'Kay's henchmen. D'Kay sent the new and improved Legion of Vengeance, which consisted of Strontium-90 and eleven other demons, to fight Orson Randall, Iron Fist (Danny Rand), Death Sting (Miranda Rand) and Fat Cobra in a cage. Though Strontium-90 was one of the last ones standing the Legion of Vengeance was defeated after a powerful attack from Orson Randall that hurled Strontium-90 up to the skybox. Strontium-90 landed on his master D'Kay and accidentally knocked out his former teammates Mind's Eye and Vesper.

Strontium-90 can generate and project radiation.

--Marvel Comics Presents I#114/3 (115/3-118/3, Iron Fist I#80
 

Vesper

The woman who would become Vesper was a very religious person. She was part of a choir in her church and was always fascinated with the candles. Observed by D'Kay she saw a vision of herself in the smoke of a candle. She held her arm into the fire and after her whole body caught fire she became one with it. She was now Vesper the fourth harbinger of doom, the living embodiment of spirituality, the goddess of the candlelight representing the betrayal of god. She soon joined the other members of the Legion.

Vesper entered as a normal woman a church and soon started to scream about the hypocrites posing as saints. She turned into her fiery form and blasted flames at everything and everyone around her. Many people fled from the burning church and Iron Fist saved a little girl from falling debris. Vesper continued her terror in the crumbling church.

Later Vesper attacked a ceremony and then met Strontium-90 on a roof.

Vesper followed Strontium-90 and destroyed icons of piety and holiness standing in her way. Vesper fled with Strontium-90 when Ghost Rider arrived to the tomb at Cypress Hills Cemetery where they met the other members of the Legion. Ghost Rider and Iron Fist were able to follow the burning footsteps of Vesper and found the tomb and the Legion in it. Vesper laughed when Iron Fist hit her with a weak punch. After that she went after Ghost Rider.

Vesper created smoke to stop Ghost Rider from saving Iron Fist. When she attacked Ghost Rider she too became a victim of his penance stare, and he found out her origin. Defeated Vesper was on her knees after that and was then paralyzed by a spell of her creator D'Kay.

When the heroes returned from the Pit the spell wore off, and Vesper was able to attack Ghost Rider and Iron Fist again. She tried to hit Iron Fist with her fire when Mind's Eye held him, but she only hit the ground and blinded Mind's Eye with it. Mind's Eye was thrown against her and she stumbled into the arms of Bacillus. She was defeated by an infection and after she listened to the words of Ghost Rider she was seemingly stripped of her powers by her creator D'Kay. After the heroes left she found out that she still had her powers when she was able to create a flame in her palm.

SECRET WARS III HAPPENED

(Iron Fist I#79-80) - Vesper ended up in Hell and as a demon became one of D'Kay's henchmen. Vesper, Mind's Eye and other demons delivered Iron Fist (Danny Rand) and Fat Cobra to D'Kay's skybox, but when a fight broke out was easily defeated. D'Kay later told her to watch and learn how real demons dealt with humans when the new and improved Legion of Vengeance, including Vesper's former teammate Strontium-90, fought Orson Randall, Iron Fist (Danny Rand), Death Sting (Miranda Rand) and Fat Cobra in the cage. The new Legion of Vengeance were defeated and Vesper was knocked out when Strontium-90 was hurled up to the skybox by a powerful attack from Orson Randall.

Vesper can fly, generate smoke, and cover her body with red flames which she can project at others.

--Marvel Comics Presents I#113/3 (114/3-118/3, Iron Fist I#79-80

images:
Marvel Comics Presents I#117, barcode side, p8, pan3 (Legion of Vengeance)
Marvel Comics Presents I#116, barcode side, p1, pan1 (Bacillus)
Marvel Comics Presents I#118, barcode side, p8, pan4 (Bacillus real face)
Marvel Comics Presents I#113, barcode side, p2, pan2 (Mind's Eye)
Marvel Comics Presents I#118, barcode side, p8, pan4 (Mind's Eye real face)
Iron Fist I#79, p13, pan2 (Mind's Eye demonic form)
Marvel Comics Presents I#115, barcode side, p1, pan1 (Strontium-90)
Marvel Comics Presents I#118, barcode side, p8, pan4 (Strontium-90 real face)
Iron Fist I#80, p15, pan2 (Strontium-90 demonic form)
Marvel Comics Presents I#115, barcode side, p6, pan1 (Vesper)
Marvel Comics Presents I#118, barcode side, p8, pan4 (Vesper real face)
Iron Fist I#79, p13, pan2 (Vesper demonic form)
Iron Fist I#79, p13, pan6 (Vesper demonic form, back)

Appearances:
Marvel Comics Presents I#113-118 (1992) - Joey Cavalieri (writer), Shawn McManus (artist), Terry Kavanagh (editor)
Wolverine V#7 (September, 2013) - Paul Cornell (writer), Mirco Pierfederici (pencils), Karl Kesel (inks), Jeanine Schaefer (editor)
Iron Fist I#79-80 (June, 2018) - Ed Brisson (writer), Damian Couceiro (artist), Mark Basso (editor)

First Posted: 04/12/2004
Last updated: 07/12/2023

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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