COLONEL LING

Real Name: Wai Ling

Identity/Class: Human (Chinese)

Occupation: Chinese intelligence operative

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Yuri Brushov, Dr. Yen, (former) Red Guardian (Alexi Shostakov)

Enemies: Avengers, Black Widow (Natasha Romanova), Hercules, Red Guardian

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Unnamed military base, China

First Appearance: Avengers I#41 (June, 1967)

Powers/Abilities: Colonel Ling had access to sophisticated laser guns, and also employed the Psychotron. He also employed special guards at his facility.

History: (Avengers I#41) - When the Black Widow came to China on a mission for S.H.I.E.L.D. to infiltrate her former allies, Colonel Ling and Dr. Yen were aware that she was working for S.H.I.E.L.D. and cast her into the Psychotron in order to test it and break her will.

(Avengers I#42) - When Colonel Ling turned off the Psychotron, the Black Widow claimed to be too shaken up to speak. However, Ling and Yen monitored her from another room, and witnessed her attempt to escape. Colonel Ling was disappointed in the Psychotron and in Dr. Yen, and filled the Black Widow's room with gas to knock her out.

(Avengers I#43) - Colonel Ling met with General Yuri Brushov, a Russian officer who Ling hoped to form an alliance with. He presented to Brushov the Red Guardian, a former Russian pilot now trained to be a master fighter, and demonstrated the Red Guardian's abilities by having him fight some of his guards. When Hawkeye and Hercules invaded Ling's base, he sent the Red Guardian after him, and the Red Guardian defeated both men.

(Avengers I#44) - Ling and Brushov viewed the captured Hawkeye and Black Widow and congratulated the Red Guardian. Ling then described to Brushov how he hoped to use the Psychotron as a weapon against other nations, overcoming entire populations with the power of fear. He then placed the Black Widow to a lie-detector test because of her insistence that she was on his side, and she passed the test. He had her released to assist them.

When the Avengers invaded the facility, Ling sent the Red Guardian to defeat Captain America, but when it seemed that the battle was going on too long, Ling defeated Captain America by activating an electrical grid he was standing on. The Red Guardian was annoyed with Ling for stealing his victory. Just then, Ling realized that the Black Widow had tricked his test, having been given hypno-therapy by S.H.I.E.L.D. When she went to destroy the Psychotron, Ling tried to shoot her, but the Red Guardian stood in his path and was shot instead. Hawkeye struck Brushov down with an arrow, and he fell on top of Ling, causing Ling to fire a wild shot that started a fire. As his facility came down around him, Ling saw the Avengers escaping. He tried to shoot Captain America, but the Red Guardian lunged up and his blast went wild, setting off an explosion that activated a dormant volcano beneath the facility, destroying everything.

Comments: Created by Roy Thomas, John Buscema and George Roussos.

Colonel Ling's first name was revealed in Red Guardian (Shostakov)'s profile in Avengers Assemble#1.

Profile by Prime Eternal

CLARIFICATIONS:
Colonel Ling should not be confused with:

• Mr. Ling, small-time arms dealer, fought Punisher, @ Marvel Comics Presents #59
• Kathy Ling, of Earth-New Universe, member of Psi-Force, telekinetic, @ Psi-Force #1

Non-Marvel Copyright info
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