MALICEMALICE
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Human mutate
Occupation: Revolutionary
Group Membership: Killmonger's Legions
Affiliations: Agent of Erik Killmonger; ally of Baron Macabre, the Death Regiments, Kazibe, King Cadaver, Salamander K'Ruel, Lord Karnaj, Preyy, Sombre, Tanzika, Tayete, Venomm; presumably Madame Slay and Mute
Enemies: Black Panther (T'Challa), Monica Lynne, Taku, W'Kabi, Zatama, the Wakandan ruling body and army
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: N'Jadaka Village, Wakanda
First Appearance: (Cameo) Jungle Action II#7 (November, 1973); (full) Jungle Action II#8 (January, 1974)
Powers/Abilities: Malice possesses superhuman physical attributes, including strength (enhanced human to Class 5), speed, agility, endurance, etc. She is a skilled and savage combatant, and is highly proficient with her spear, which she can throw with sufficient force to shatter a marble column at least two feet thick.
History: The past history of Malice is unknown. She is presumably a native of Wakanda, and was recruited by into Erik Killmonger into his army against T'Challa and the current ruling body of Wakanda. Like many of Killmonger's agents, Malice was empowered by the energies of the Resurrection Altar.
(JungAct#8)-As T'Challa was undergoing a ritual of the Black Panther, Killmonger sent Malice into the Royal Palace to free Venomm. She overpowered Zatama and several other guards, and broke Venomm out of his cell, which was guarded by Taku. She encountered and overpowered T'Challa and nearly slew him, but was distracted by Monica Lynne, allowing T'Challa to throw her off. Venomm was recaptured, but Malice escaped.
(JA#11)-Alongside Baron Macabre, Lord Karnaj, and the Death Regiments, Malice attacked the Black Panther and his army when the entered N'Jadaka Village. Malice succeeded in wounding W'Kabi, before being captured along with the rest of Killmonger's agents present. She was placed in the prison in the Royal Palace.
(JA#17)-Killmonger's legion of dinosaurs assaulted the Royal Palace, freeing Malice and the others. In the midst of the resultant chaos, Malice escaped the palace, but she was cracked over the back of the head with a spear by Monica Lynne, taking her out for the count. She was presumably reimprisoned.
Comments: Created by Don McGregor and Rich Buckler.
-Alternate future versions of many of
Killmonger's other former allies were seen in the "Once and
Future King" timeline @ Black Panther III#36 and 37. Malice,
however, did not.
As detailed by Bob
Almond, the inker for the current
series:
"Malice did not show up in 'The Once and Future
King' (Earth-11236) because Priest didn't want to confuse the readers since
Nakia Malice had just appeared in "Seduction of the
Innocent". The JUNGLE ACTION reprint in the back would
have resolved that confusion but at the time of the story having
been written and drawn the office hadn't yet decided on which
reprints to use from the few we suggested. BTW, the
original script had King Kadaver but not Madam Slay. I
reminded everyone that Kadaver was last seen squashed by a
dinosaur and since Priest didn't use Slay we'd just substitute.
As for Venomm, last seen being an ally of Panther, being villainous
again...remember, this is an alternate, possible future.
Anything could've happened in that time span to sour his
outlook again."
As far as I know, she's not dead (not that that
stops anyone anyway), so she could be back someday.
As noted by Bob
Almond: "Malice
did show up on a monitor on page 3 of DEADPOOL # 44 (part one of
Cat Trap) but the text reads 'If Killmonger has returned from the
grave...so has she.' Priest could've been speaking in
symbolic terms but, if not, this is an error on his part since
she has never been shown to have died on-camera. I've
wanted to resolve this mystery but being that I don't actually
write the book this question of her status has been left
unresolved...for now."
While she hasn't been seen since, her spear has
made a few appearances, as detailed to me by Bob Almond:
The Spear is seen in T'Challa's trophy room in issue #23, page
12. "--Sal and I had the Nakia version of
Malice use Malice I 's spear in BP#31. My feeling is that
since she had infiltrated T'Challa's techno-jungle and trophy
room in issue 23 that she took the spear--having been familiar as
to who its owner used to be and used it later with her arsenal of
weapons. Upon her disappearance T'Challa picked up the spear and
put it back in his trophy room as seen in issue 41, page 10."
CLARIFICATIONS:
She should be distinguished from:
Malice, an independently wealthy criminal out
for kicks, @ Ghost Rider II#25
Malice, an
alias/personality of the Invisible Girl/Woman, used under the
influence of the Psycho-Man's Hate Monger, @ Secret Wars II#2
Malice, of the Marauders, that collar-thang that
would possess others, @ Uncanny X-Men#210
Malice, the Infinity War
doppelganger of the Invisible Woman, mirrored after her other
personality (above), @ Fantastic Four I#369
Malice, Nakia, the former member of the Dora
Milaje who allied herself with Killmonger, @ Black Panther
III#21, 23
Appearances:
Jungle Action II#7-8 (November, 1973 - January, 1974) - Don McGregor (writer), Rich Buckler (pencils), Klaus Janson (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Jungle Action II#11 (September, 1974) - Don McGregor (writer), Billy Graham (pencils), Klaus Janson (inks), Roy Thomas (editor)
Jungle Action II#17 (September, 1975) - Don McGregor (writer), Billy Graham (artist), Len Wein (editor)
Black Panther III#36-37 (December, 2001 - January, 2002) - Christopher Priest (writer), Sal Velluto (pencils), Bob Almond (inks), Mike Marts (editor)
First Posted: 05/11/2002
Last updated: 08/02/2002
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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