LETHAL LEGION
Membership: (from left to right ) Zyklon, Axe of Violence, Cyana, Coldsteel
Affiliations: Satannish (creator and leader), Hangman (field director)
Enemies: Avengers West Coast (Hawkeye, Mockingbird/H'rpra, Scarlet Witch, Spider-Woman, US Agent, War Machine), Mephisto
Base of Operations: Satannish's Hell dimension, mobile on Earth as needed, usually Los Angeles
First Appearance: Avengers West Coast#98 (September 1993)
History: (Avengers West Coast#98) - When the demon known as Satannish sought revenge on the Avengers West Cost, he stole the souls of four of mankind's most heinous murderers from the realm of Mephisto. He used his power to imbue these souls, Lizzie Borden, Josef Stalen, Lucretia Borgia, and Heinrich Himmler, with superhuman abilities to become Axe of Violence, Coldsteel, Cyana, and Zyklon, respectively. Satannish promised them that he would restore them to true life if they could gain him the souls of the Avengers West Coast, to replace theirs. Satannish appointed another superhuman agent of his, Hangman to act as their field director.
The Legion ambushed US Agent, beating him nearly to death before they were forced to flee by the arrival of the rest of the team.
(Avengers West Coast#99) - Axe of Violence then murdered Hangsman former lover, Stella Houston. Cyana and Hangman attacked Hawkeye and Scarlet Witch at Hangman's mansion in the Hills of Beverly. Mockingbird was left behind to watch over the injured US Agent. Coldsteel and Zyklon then attacked the two members, capturing Mockingbird, and nearly beating US Agent to death a second time before he was saved by the timely arrival of War Machine. The Legion brought Mockingbird back to Satannish's realm.
(Avengers West Coast#100) - The Scarlet Witch used a book of magic to transport the Avengers to his realm, which was actually Satannish's goal all along. The Avengers were overpowered and set to become prisoners for life to Satannish, when Mephisto, who sneaked into Satannish's realm inside the form of Hawkeye appeared and demanded his souls back.
Mephisto and Satannish battled it out, and Satannish was forced to drain his power from his human agents, returning them all to their human forms. The souls of the Legion members were actually destroyed in the process of Mephisto and Satannish struggling over them.
COMMENTS: Created by Roy Thomas and David Dzon.
Surely the possibility that one of the demons duped the other and stole the souls for himself exists.
The true loser in this story was Mockingbird, who lost her soul to Mephisto and died, when he sought to take the souls of the Avengers to replace the four he has lost. Don't worry, she'll be back before too long.
To clear up a few things about Lizzy and Lucretia Valerio Pastore send us the following:
Lizzy Andrew Borden: She was acquitted for the crime of manslaughter of
her father and stepmother, and the murder's true identity remains
unknown. The idea that she was the killer is in lack of evidence, more
a urban legend.
Lucretia Borgia: though she *did* marry several men and
some of them met an untimely fate, it is more possible that she did not
arrange those deaths, as her whole family was implied, as times
required, in intrcate political ploys. Again, it should be noted that
her *wickedness* is folklore legacy rather than documented history.
Profile by Snood, reformatted by Daevanator.
CLARIFICATIONS:
images: (without ads)
Avengers West Coast#99, p21, pan1 (main image)
Appearances:
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z Hardcover#6, Lethal Legion entry
(refurbed from Avengers West Coast#97, p21)
Avengers West Coast#98-100 (September-November, 1993) - Roy Thomas
(writer), David Ross (pencils), Tim Dzon (inks), Nel Yomtov (editor)
Last updated: 05/26/12
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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