TATTOOTATTOO
Real Name: Unrevealed
Identity/Class: Extra-dimensional (alternate Earth, New Universe), human mutate, ninja-type
Occupation: Mercenary, Assassin
Affiliations: agent of Daedalus "Dad" Darquill and Damon Conquest employers); Danielle Towson (lover); Hoyt Pittman (victim, pawn)
Enemies: Rebecca Chambers, Justice (John Tensen), Hoyt Pittman
Known Relatives: None
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Earth-New Universe
First Appearance: Justice#3 (January, 1987)
Powers/Abilities: see comments. Tattoo (like
most characters named Tattoo) is covered with tattoos. These
tattoos could be removed and would seem to come to life and enter
the bodies of others, placing them under Tattoo's control. The
"creature" could the exit the body of its victim as
needed--Usually it would exit forcefully and violently, tearing
its way out, killing its host in the process. These
"creatures" could also attack others directly.
Different forms had snake-like or other seemingly demonic forms.
In addition, Tattoo is apparently a ninja, and possesses their
traditional fighting and stealth skills.
History: Uncertain. See comments. Daedalus Darquill claimed to have recruited Tattoo, and provided for his enhancements.
(Justice#8(fb)-BTS) <1969> - Tattoo had a romantic encounter with Danielle Towson.
BTS - Damon Conquest sent Tattoo to eliminate Justice, who was interfering with his drug operations.
(Justice#3) <8/12/1986> - Tattoo tracked Justice to a truck stop in Oklahoma, as he made his way towards Los Angeles to confront Conquest. Tattoo took control of Hoyt Pittman, the partner of Rebecca Chambers, whom Justice had befriended. When Justice and his group restarted their journey, Tattoo's creature emerged from Pittman, killing him, and then attacked Justice. It latched onto his right hand, and Justice was forced to use his "sword" to destroy the creature--destroying his own right hand in the process. Justice returned to the diner and found Tattoo had killed everyone there who had seen he or Justice. Justice tried to stop him, but Tattoo escaped in his car.
(Justice#5) <11/1/1986> - In Baja,
California, Justice and Rebecca again encountered Tattoo. He
ambushed Rebecca and succeeded in disarming and then defeating
her. He activated one of his tattoos to take control of her, but
found that either her purity or her association with Justice
prevented it from entering her. Justice located them, and Tattoo
fled.
<11/5/1986> - Tattoo was at Darquill's Los Angeles base
when Justice and Rebecca arrived there. Justice battled Darquill
to a stalemate, but Tattoo grabbed Rebecca and vanished, along
with Darquill and Conquest. They brought Rebecca to Darquill's
illusionary realm, the Far Place.
(Justice#8) <12/27/1986> - With Rebecca missing, Darquill had Tattoo frame Justice for her murder using a body double. Darquill then sent Tattoo to renew his old romantic affair with Danielle Towson, who had been appointed as Justice's lawyer. Tattoo presumably persuaded her to manipulate Justice to their own ends.
Comments: Created by Steve Englehart and Geof Isherwood.
If you read Prime Eternal's primer on the New Universe,
you'll see that in the first year, a lot of the writers and
creative teams missed the point entirely. The team(s) behind
Justice were the biggest offenders, as they used a large group of
alternate dimension characters. This was all revealed/ret-conned
to have been a warping of reality by Daedalus Darquill. This
occurred in Justice#15, by Peter David, who brought Justice into
line with the NU's stated properties and premises.
That being said, all info behind Tattoo, who appeared during the
reality warping issues, should be regarded as uncertain. He was
supposed to have had magical abilities, presumably granted by
Darquill or Conquest, but this should not be the case. He may
have been a real paranormal of the NU, or he may have been made
to appear to have powers, or he may not have existed as anything
more than an illusion of Darquill.
I think there is a prerequisite that all comic companies have a Tattoo character.
CLARIFICATIONS:
No known connections to:
Tattoo, an agent of Obadiah Stane, @ Iron Man
I#162
Tattoo, of Tektos, @ Genetix#2
Irezumi, aka Tattoo, of the Pacific Overlords, @
Avengers West Coast#72
Tattoo of the Ultraverse, @ Mantra II#5
Tattoo, Hervé Villachez, of Fantasy Island, " 'ey boss,
de plane, de plane!"
New Universe characters have no known connection to other characters in more mainstream, or other, worlds, unless specifically stated.
Appearances:
Justice#3 (January, 1987) - Steve Englehart (writer), Geof Isherwood (pencils), Vince Colletta (inks), Michael Higgins (editor)
Justice#5 (March, 1987) - Steve Englehart (writer), Tony Salmons & Tom Morgan (pencils), Vince Colletta (inks), Michael Higgins (editor)
Justice#8 (June, 1987) - Geof Isherwood (writer/pencils), Vince Colletta (inks), Michael Higgins (editor)
First Posted: 07/02/2002
Last updated: 08/01/2002
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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