BLACK MAMBA

Real Name: Tanya Sealy

Identity/Class: Human mutate

Occupation: Mercenary;
   former professional criminal, fashion model, call girl

Group Membership: Serpent Society (aka Serpent Solutions) (Anaconda, Asp, Black Racer, Boomslang, Bushmaster/Quincy McIver, Coachwhip, Copperhead/Davis Lawfers, Cottonmouth/Burchell Clemens, Death Adder/Theodore Scott, Eel/Edward Lavell, Fer-de-Lance, King Cobra, Princess Python, Puff Adder, Rattler, Rock Python, Sidewinder/Gregory Bryan, Viper/Jordan Dixon);
   formerly Women Warriors (Asp, Diamondback, Quicksand, Skein); B.A.D. Girls, Inc. (Asp, Diamondback, Impala);
   formerly Captain America's resistance forces (Asp, Captain America (Rogers), Daredevil (Danny Rand), Diamondback (Leighton), Falcon, Firebird, Hawkeye (Bishop), Hercules, Hulkling, Human Torch (Storm), Invisible Woman, Justice, Living Lightning, Machine Man, Patriot, Punisher, Monica Rambeau, Speed, Spider-Man (Parker), Ultragirl, many others), Masters of Evil (Cardinal, Crimson Cowl (Justine Hammer), Cyclone, Gypsy Moth, Hydro-Man, Machinesmith, Man-Killer), Serpent Squad (Anaconda, Death Adder, Sidewinder)

Affiliations: Assassins Guild (Assassin, Bella Donna Bodreaux, Boomerang/Fred Myers, Crossbones/Brock Rumlow, Death Adder/Theodore Scott, K.I.A., Lord Deathstrike, Razor-Fist, Scorpia/Elaine Coll, others), Boomerang (Fred Myers), Bullet (Buck Cashman), Captain America (Steve Rogers), Cynadine Oil Company, Nakh, Paladin (former allies); Constrictor, Sons of the Serpent; Deathlok (Jack Truman), Trump (brief dates);
formerly Death Adder (Burroughs),Diamondback (Rachel Leighton), Sidewinder (Seth Voelker, former boyfriend)

Enemies: Arcade, Avengers (Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff, Ms. Marvel/Carol Danvers, Wasp/Janet Van Dyne), Battleaxe, Black Ant, Black Panther (T'Challa), Luke Cage, Cape Crow, Captain America (Steve Rogers), Captain America/Falcon (Sam Wilson), D-Man (Dennis Dunphy), Daredevil (Matt Murdock), Darkling, Deadpool ("Wade Wilson"), Diamondback (Rachel Leighton), Diamondback LMD, Doctor Strange (Stephen Strange), Elektra, Fantastic Four (Human Torch/Johnny Storm, Invisible Woman/Susan Storm, Mr. Fantastic/Reed Richards, Thing/Ben Grimm), Golddigger, Havok, Hercules, Iron Man (Tony Stark), Jackhammer, Justice (Vance Astrovik), King Cobra, Kraven the Hunter (Sergei Kravinoff), Makeshift clones, Matchmaker, MODAM, MODOK, Nighthawk (Kyle Richmond simulacrum), the Nova Corps, Poundcakes, R.A.I.D. (Radically Advanced Ideas), Rive clones, Rocket Raccoon, Kento Roe, She-Hulk (Jennifer Walters), Star-Lord (Peter Quill), Steel Wind, Stingray, Superia and her Femizons (especially Arclight), Taskmaster, Thor (Odinson), Thunderbolts (Amazon, Blackheath, Cyclone, Harrier, Hawkeye, Skein, Songbird), Thundra, Triton, Trump, Viper (Madame Hydra), Wyatt Wingfoot, X-Force (Archangel/Warren Worthington III, Domino/Neena Thurman, Elixir/Josh Foley, Vanisher, Warpath/James Proudstar, Wolverine/James Howlett, X-23), X-Men Green (Curse, Nature Girl/Lin Lie, Saoirse the dog, Sauron/Karl Lykos);
formerly Anaconda, Coachwhip, Puff Adder, Rock Python,

Known Relatives: Unmarried; relatives unrevealed

Aliases: Tanya Sweet

Base of Operations: Mobile across the USA;
    formerly Hollywood, Paladin's apartment, various Serpent Society headquarters and Serpent Citadels

First Appearance: Marvel Two-in-One#64 (June, 1980)

Powers/Abilities: Black Mamba is an unconscious telepath, with the ability to tap into a person's mind and determine what they love or trust. She also controls Darkforce - she can shape it like a second skin. She traditionally uses it to assume the appearance of someone's loved one, and then to drain their energy via that Darkforce while they're in thrall to it; this can leave her victim untouched, unconscious, or dead, but they die in ecstasy. She can use this in other forms - she once used it to create a disguise for Captain America, making him appear as Superia. At least part of her powers come from a surgical device implanted in her forebrain, though it is unclear if this is the Darkforce powers, the telepathic powers, or both. Due to amphibian gills in her neck, Tanya can breathe underwater, though her human physiology would not allow her to survive underwater indefinitely. She has a small transceiver implanted in her skull which allowed Sidewinder to track her; it is unclear if she or any other Society members are aware of this.

Height: 5'7"
Weight: 115 lbs.
Eyes: Green
Hair: Black

History:

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#2) - Tanya was born in Chicago, Illinois.

(Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#2) - Tanya was selected by Roxxon Oil agents to be a special covert operative. At the Brand Corporation, she had a circuitry implanted in her forebrain which gave her access to new powers, and was also provided with gills on her neck.

(Captain America I#371 - BTS (fb)) - At some point in her past, Tanya went on a date with the Trump, who stuck her with the check.

(Marvel Two-in-One#65 - BTS (fb)) - Roxxon outfitted and trained Sidewinder, Anaconda, Black Mamba, and Death Adder as the Serpent Squad to find the Serpent Crown and bring it to them. To this end, they placed an oil derrick in the Pacific and used it as a base; once they found the Crown they set off underwater explosions to bring it to the surface; this had the unintended side effect of damaging the derrick. When the hero Stingray investigated underwater, Anaconda threw him back onto the derrick.

(Marvel Two-in-One#64) - At that Pacific Roxxon oil derrick, the Serpent Squad revealed themselves to Ben Grimm (the Thing), demanding that he surrender.

(Marvel Two-in-One#65) - After forcing Grimm's surrender and confining him, the Squad returned underwater, where Anaconda found the crown and gave it to Sidewinder. The Thing and Stingray soon escaped and returned with the Inhuman Triton; Black Mamba almost drowned Grimm using her Darkforce to convince him to remove his airmask before a blast from Stingray knocked her out. A depth charge dropped by the fleeing Sidewinder accidentally buried Black Mamba and the other two serpents in an underwater landslide.

(Iron Man I#160 - BTS (fb)) - Anaconda unburied the other two serpents and they escaped together.

(Iron Man I#160) - Anaconda, Black Mamba, and Death Adder broke into the Long Island Zoo, with Black Mamba killing a guard, Harry. Their employer wanted them to steal a Stark microscanner which could be used to power a weapon, but their information on the location of the control room proved wrong. At Mamba's suggestion, they released several zoo animals to create a diversion and cover their search. Finding the control room, Mamba grabbed the scanner and inserted it into the weapon. She tested it on a zoo executive, apparently killing him as well, but Iron Man intervened. Iron Man took down Anaconda and Death Adder, and Black Mamba's Darkforce phantoms of Iron Man's loves slowed him long enough for Mamba to fire the weapon at him. His armor protected him and he put Mamba down and reclaimed the sensor.

(Captain America I#307) - Anaconda, Black Mamba, and Death Adder broke into Sidewinder's apartment. Their target was not home, so they decided to sit and wait for him.

(Captain America I#308) - While rifling through Sidewinder's belongings, Black Mamba found and showed the other two a series of files on them on several other snake themed criminals, including Princess Python, Asp, Cobra, and Constrictor. Sidewinder returned home and interrupted them, he teleported away, donned his costume, and returned. Anaconda demanded the money he owed them from their first job together ($10,000 each), and Sidewinder retrieved it from his safe with about 20% added interest from investments he'd made with the money. He then asked the trio to stay and listen to his proposal for an original criminal operation, which would make the money they just got seem like subway fare.

(Captain America I#310) - At a posh midtown Manhattan hotel, Sidewinder (Seth Voelker) had invited several serpent-themed mercenaries to attend the organizational meeting for the Serpent Society. Those present were Sidewinder, Black Mamba, Death Adder, Princess Python, Cottonmouth, Diamondback, Constrictor, Bushmaster, Cobra (later King Cobra), Asp, Rattler, and Anaconda. Sidewinder's pitch was to mimic the heroes and to band together as a united group. He'd spent the previous nine months laying the groundwork for his new group, and promised a guaranteed pay scale, insurance, medical plans, pensions, greater access to tools and data, and, thanks to Sidewinder's teleportational abilities, no fear of long-term imprisonment. All but one attendee agreed to join; Constrictor refused and left.

(Captain America I#310) - To test their ability to be team players, Sidewinder split the group into three sections, and set each group out in a van to retrieve objects that he thought would be of use to the Society. While Anaconda, Cobra, and Rattler went to retrieve mutagenics equipment from Brand, it is not known what the other groups were not what they retrieved.

(Captain America I#311) - Following the successful completion of all three tasks, the group reconvened in their new headquarters, the Serpent Citadel. Seeking to advertise the group, Sidewinder broke them into teams of two and sent them to contact all the major criminal and subversive organizations in America. Among the potential contactees were the Maggia, Zodiac, Secret Empire, Kingpin, AIM, and Hydra. Asp and Cottonmouth made contact with the Kingpin in Manhattan, while Diamondback and Bushmaster made contact with AIM's inner council (and were hired there to kill MODOK). The make-up of the other groups and who each contacted is unrevealed.

(Captain America I#313) - Black Mamba and the Rattler were investigating an underwater AIM facility when Sidewinder ordered them to New Jersey, where another team had located him. Mamba and Rattler found two freight loaders dead near a local mall where MODOK had taken refuge, and contacted the rest of the Society before proceeding inside. After a "gas leak" announcement (arranged by Captain America) emptied the mall, the team cornered MODOK but Captain America intervened; Cottonmouth ordered Asp, Diamondback, and Black Mamba to take out Cap while the rest attacked MODOK. Black Mamba engulfed Captain America in her phantom "skin" but Asp, unaware that it was part of Mamba, blasted Cap and the skin, knocking Mamba out.

(Captain America I#315 - BTS) - Sidewinder freed from jail those serpents that had been imprisoned.

(Captain America I#315) - Needing MODOK's corpse as proof of their success, Anaconda, Black Mamba, Asp, and Cobra stole the body from the Monmouth County morgue. Black Mamba used her powers to get the team inside unseen, while Asp and Cobra blasted those present in the morgue itself and Anaconda carried the body out; no one was killed in the theft. The foursome delivered the body to AIM and received $100,000 in payment; they returned with the money to the Citadel, where everyone received their share.

(Captain America I#319) - All the Serpents were looking for the missing Death Adder and were present when Sidewinder teleported in with Death Adder's body, having found it in the local morgue. Sidewinder ordered everyone to drop all missions and concentrate on finding the killer. Black Mamba sought information from Death Adder's parents.

(Avengers I#274) - After dropping the tipsy Hercules off at the Avengers' doorstep following what he called an "enjoyable cruise," Tanya phoned Baron Zemo to let him know that Hercules was full of enough drugged booze to put out an elephant. Zemo replied that he had already deposited her fee in her Swiss account.

(Captain America I#341/3 - BTS) - Sidewinder and Black Mamba had begun a romantic (or at least sexual) relationship at some point in their history.

(Captain America I#341/3 - BTS) - Though interested in Captain America, Diamondback apparently made a play for Sidewinder, but was warned off by Black Mamba, who had already staked her claim. Diamondback subsequently warned Fer-de-Lance that Mamba wouldn't tolerate competition when her new teammate expressed interest in the group's leader, but recommended Rattler as an alternative option for a "good time."

(Captain America I#341/3) - Sidewinder introduced four new Serpents to the charter members, and appointed them as probationary members of the team. The foursome quickly betrayed the team to Viper. Fer-de-Lance and Viper proceeded to Black Mamba's room where Viper shot her and donned her costume before using that disguise to take Sidewinder by surprise.

(Captain America I#342) - Bushmaster, Black Mamba, and Asp refused to join Viper, so she injected them with a poison which would leave them dead in an hour. Aided by the Captain, Diamondback succeeded in rescuing them and gave the universal anti-toxin to the trio before leaving them to recover while she went after Viper.

(Uncanny X-Men Annual#13) - Cobra accepted a commission from Ghaur (Deviant leader) and Llyra (Atlantean) to retrieve items of arcane mystic power; he split the Society into squads. Anaconda, Black Mamba, Rock Python, and Coachwhip went to Lima, Ohio, where an American Indian totem was buried. When members of the X-Men investigated the teams fought one-on-one; Havok took out Black Mamba. The X-Men retrieved the item and the serpents returned home.

(Captain America I#365/2) - Black Mamba was present at a Serpent Society meeting when Cobra announced that a mystery man (Loki) had teleported into the Society's Bronx headquarters. He asked the group to keep an ear out for information about the stranger.

(Captain America I#367/2) - Black Mamba was present at a noon meeting of the Society where Cobra announced that he felt that he'd been underperforming as their leader and now intended to correct that and lead them to new heights as King Cobra.

(Captain America I#368) - Mamba lunched with Diamondback and Asp. When a Society page told Asp that the Red Skull's people were offering a $100,000 reward for Magneto's whereabouts, Diamondback volunteered that he'd been hanging with the Hellfire Club and the trio briefly considered investigating.

(Captain America I#371) - When Diamondback went out on a civilian date, Black Mamba, Asp, and Anaconda were determined to make sure the date was trouble-free. The threesome acquired a limousine, and had to intervene three times to keep the date trouble free. Mamba watched as the Asp disabled Gamecock, and when the villainous Trump interrupted the show at the Mostly Magic club (where Diamondback and her date Steve were in attendance), she used her Darkforce powers to hypnotize him and pull him off stage. Later in the evening the couple stumbled across a fight between Jackhammer and Poundcakes, but Anaconda and Asp quickly took care of them, and after Diamondback's date took a cab home the trio left, their goal accomplished. Later that night, Tanya entered Diamondback's apartment and, after Rachel told her that she intended to go straight, counseled her on how difficult it would be. The following morning Rachel phoned Tanya to get information on the boutique owned by Sidewinder's sister, saying that she intended to get a sales clerk job there.

(Captain America I#380) - When the captive Diamondback was to be held trial by the Society for treason, Black Mamba acted as her counsel and was in the minority which voted for her innocence. Asp and Black Mamba went to King Cobra and told him that they'd quit if he followed through with the execution; King Cobra replied that they could leave but that if they interfered they'd be executed as well. With Asp at her side, Tanya decided to make a phone call.

(Captain America I#381 - BTS (fb)) - Tanya called Sidewinder, who came and rescued Diamondback; Black Mamba and Asp began packing to make their own escape.

(Captain America I#381) - Sidewinder stated that he and Black Mamba were now even and that she would not want to be in his debt. King Cobra and Bushmaster confronted Black Mamba and Asp, bringing phone records that showed Mamba had called Sidewinder. The pair attempted to flee, but Cobra gassed them unconscious and trussed them in the gymnasium. Diamondback and Paladin came to their rescue, but were quickly captured themselves.

(Captain America I#382) - Captain America freed Paladin, Asp, Mamba, and Diamondback, and Black Mamba led him to get the antidote for Rachel. King Cobra returned with Black Racer, Coachwhip, and Rattler, and Cap ordered Mamba to retrieve the antidote. Black Mamba did manage to get the antidote into Rachel before Coachwhip attacked them, but Diamondback stopped her. While Captain America saw King Cobra, Coachwhip, Black Racer, Fer-de-Lance, Cottonmouth, and Rattler hauled away by Guardsmen; Diamondback, Black Mamba, and Asp were allowed to remain free.

(Captain America I#385/2) - From Paladin's Trump Plaza apartment, Asp, Black Mamba, and Diamondback watched coverage of the Society's arrests on TV, noting their own "wanted" status. Realizing the other snakes might be hunting them, they decided to band together as the B.A.D. Girls Inc, taking their name from their three codenames. After acquiring new costumes to disguise their identities they returned to Diamondback's apartment; Tanya went to make some food, cooking the only dish she knew how to make: macaroni and cheese. However, they were quickly attacked by Anaconda and Rock Python; the roof collapsed and Tanya was buried.

(Captain America I#386/2) - With Puff Adder piloting their hovercraft, Anaconda and Rock Python loaded the three captured B.A.D. Girls into the ship. They were attacked by MODAM, who threw Python and Adder from the ship.

(Captain America I#387/2) - The four female serpents were offered $100,000 each by MODAM to come on board the cruise ship S.S. Superia. Not knowing what else to do, the three B.A.D. Girls decided to go along.

(Captain America I#388) - While lounging in the pool, the trio met and quickly befriended Impala. Their discussion was interrupted when a fight broke out nearby between Anaconda and Quicksand. Mamba was cheering on Anaconda when Diamondback disappeared from behind them.

(Captain America I#389) - Mamba checked Diamondback's room, but couldn't find her. Impala's advice sent Asp and Mamba to Hospitality to check, and they discovered Diamondback was in the infirmary, having been found overboard nearly drowned. The traumatized Diamondback told them she intended to retire.

(Captain America I#390) - Captain America and Paladin invaded the ship; Mamba and Asp slipped away and informed Diamondback. The trio made it above decks just in time to see the unconscious men hauled away.

(Captain America I#391) - Asp and Mamba listened as Superia told the assembled women that she had a grand plan to bring about a female-dominated society. Black Mamba noted to Asp that Superia had assembled women of all races (and all under 30 and physically fit) and began wondering how serious Superia's plans were. She asked MODAM what happened to the two captured men, and was told that they were undergoing feminization treatment. Mamba and Asp decided to locate Diamondback (being held by Superia), and locate and free Captain America - not that she felt a need to help him or "do good," but rather afraid that Superia intended to kill all men or convert them to women - better to help Cap than live in world without men! They went to Dr. Nightshade to find Diamondback but instead found Captain America and Paladin there; they freed the men and then dressed them in their Serpent costumes while the women donned guards' outfits. Mamba accompanied Cap to find Superia, but when Black Mamba employed he Darkforce against Superia, Superia knocked her out.

(Captain America I#392) - Mamba recovered to find Captain America battling four female villains; she used her Darkforce to take down Arclight. At Captain America's suggestion she used her Darkforce to surround him and disguise him as Superia, allowing him to warn the Avengers. When Captain America began battling Superia and fell from the building, Mamba used her Darkforce to disguise herself as a guard and exited unmolested. She and Cap were joined at the docks by Diamondback, Asp, and Paladin; they were soon rescued by the Vision in an Avengers' Quinjet.

(Captain America I#393) - The quintet returned to Avengers' Mansion where Captain America offered to put in a good word with the police if they wanted to clear up their criminal records, but they declined. Asp, Mamba, and Paladin soon departed (after Mamba got Captain America to agree to provide her with a new costume to replace the one which he'd destroyed). Mamba and Asp said that they'd be staying with Paladin at the Carleton until they found a place of their own.

(Captain America I#394/2) - After retrieving the new costumes that Captain America had made for them, Asp and Black Mamba called on Diamondback, and Mamba, concerned for Rachel, used her powers to pluck what Diamondback most feared from her mind and give it form with her Darkforce: that fear was Snapdragon. Rachel ordered the two off Avengers' property, saying she never wanted to see them again. The pair decided to track down Snapdragon, starting at the local Bar With No Name, which Mamba knew was at 10th and Varick. There they were accosted by Golddigger, Steel Wind, and Battleaxe, who said that Superia would pay ten grand for each, dead or alive.

(Captain America I#395) - Mamba told Battleaxe that they weren't the ones she was looking for; Battleaxe was briefly distracted by Crossbones.

(Captain America I#395/2) - Mamba took on Golddigger while Asp blasted Steel Wind and Battleaxe. Impala was present and, not liking the unfair fight, took down Battleaxe and the three fled the bar together. As they ran, Mamba impulsively asked Impala if she'd like to join their team.

(Captain America I#396/2) - Asp, Black Mamba, and Impala broke into the Serpent Society's old Bronx headquarters. The computers there were all shut down and useless, but there was a Serpent Saucer they could take. However, the Avenger Sersi intervened, and transformed all three into snakes. She restored Black Mamba, and demanded to know who she was.

(Captain America I#397/2) - Mamba told Sersi who they were, and legitimately convinced her to let them go with the Saucer. Impala noted that Superia would know where to find to find Snapdragon, but the three decided to first check Snapdragon's old haunts in Europe.

(Captain America I#411) - Black Mamba, Asp, and Impala attended an A.I.M. weapons expo on the Caribbean island of Boca Caliente. They were briefly confronted by Mother Night (though this was actually a disguised Diamondback, who thought better of revealing herself) before "Night" wordlessly passed them by.

(New Warriors I#33) - Black Mamba was among many Darkforce wielders taken over and held unconscious within the Darkforce dimension.

(New Warriors I#34) - Under control of the Darkforce, Mamba and the others were sent into Earth's dimension to attack those the expanding Darkforce, which was emerging due to the unconscious actions of unstable mutant Henrique Manuel Gallante (Darkling). She used her mental abilities to expose Rage to his worst fears, enabling the Darkforce to take control of him as well.

(New Warriors Annual#3 - BTS) - When Darkling reclaimed all the Darkforce he'd released, Black Mamba and the other Darkforce wielders were released.

(Deathlok II#7) - In Hollywood, Tanya met Lillian Trubane, who introduced her to an agency rep and got Tanya stared in fashion modeling. Needing to attend a "Heal the World" fund-raising banquet to further her career she agreed to accompany a friend of Lillian's, but the friend canceled at the moment and Lillian's brother Jack Truman substituted at the last moment. While Jack was in the restroom, Puff Adder approached her at the table, asking her to return to the Serpent Society. Truman proved to be Deathlok, and Deathlok and Puff Adder were soon brawling. Tanya intervened and stopped the fight, tending to the wounded Puff Adder though she had no interest in returning to the Society (modeling paid much better). She gave Deathlok her business card and asked him to call her.

(Thunderbolts I#64) - Black Mamba joined the Crimson Cowl (Justine Hammer)'s Masters of Evil, beside Hydro-Man, Cyclone, Cardinal, Gypsy Moth, Man-Killer, and Machinesmith.

(Thunderbolts I#67) - Black Mamba was at Justine's Symkarian mansion when Silver Sable, Hawkeye, Songbird, and several traitorous members of the Masters attacked the Cowl.

(Thunderbolts I#69) - Black Mamba used her Darkforce powers to shut down Cyclone, and the other Cowl loyalists defeated the other, though Hawkeye went missing. They were placed in cells, but Songbird used her harmonic powers to knock out Mamba, who was guarding the cell alongside Hydro-Man. Cowl was defeated, and S.H.I.E.L.D. agents took her and the Masters into custody.

(All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe#3 (Diamondback)) - When Diamondback learned that an LMD modeled on her had begun a relationship with Captain America, she contacted Black Mamba and the Asp and the pair recruited the Serpent Society to hunt Diamondback, keeping its LMD nature secret.

(Captain America IV#30) - Black Mamba was present in the Society's underground New York-area headquarters when Captain America and Diamondback (really an LMD) awoke, chained to a pillar, after having been captured by other members of the Serpent Society.

(Captain America IV#31) - Sixteen hours later, King Cobra summoned the rest of the Society when the Captain escaped; Black Mamba was one of many to respond and was knocked out by the Captain. S.H.I.E.L.D. subsequently took Mamba and the rest of the Society into custody.

(Cable/Deadpool#20) - The original B.A.D. Girls (Asp, Black Mamba, Diamondback) were hired to steal a hard drive (known as the Dominus Objective) from the Dominus Corporation in La Jolla, California, but were interrupted when Deadpool tried to steal the same technology. Diamondback and Asp attacked him, while Mamba used her Darkforce to expose his fantasies and disorient him. They disabled Deadpool but discovered that the device had already been stolen by a third party, and quickly fought their way out after locating evidence to lead them to the real thief.

(Cable/Deadpool#21) - Tracking the thief to Rand-Meachum, Asp overrode their security systems only for the trio to discover Deadpool, Cable, Iron Fist, and Luke Cage battling inside. After determining that the hard drive had since been restolen from the original thief, Black Mamba used her Darkforce to knock out all the men present, and the B.A.D. Girls went to Hong Kong after the thief, who they identified as Shen Kuei, the Cat.

(Cable/Deadpool#22) - The team briefly battled Shen Kuei in his home, Mamba discovering the her powers didn't affect him as he was already living his greatest fantasy. When he proved the team's better they agreed to talk, and he revealed that one party had hired virtually everyone involved.

(Cable/Deadpool#23) - Teaming with the Cat, the B.A.D. Girls traveled to India, where they met up with Deadpool and Cable and confronted Commcast, who Cable had arranged to end up with the chip so that he could convince Commcast to work for him. After battling an armada of clones of Makeshift and Rive, the B.A.D. Girls won out, learned that Cable had been behind their hiring, and received their paycheck.

(Captain America: Red White & Blue TPB/9) - Black Mamba aided Captain America inside the mind of a comatose comic book creator who had been displaying communist tendencies in his books. In a 1952 mindscape, Mamba and Cap confronted a communistic image of Captain America's girlfriend Sharon Carter as the "Red Bra," but Black Mamba helped Cap escape from the man's mind and the creator quickly recovered.

(Civil War: Battle Damage Report) - Following the death of Bill Foster during the "Civil War," Tanya and the other two active BAD Girls (Diamondback, Asp) joined Captain America's resistance forces.

(Civil War#5) - Black Mamba interrupted a meeting of Captain America's rogues to note the return of "Sue [Richards] and Johnny [Storm]." Also present were Diamondback (Leighton), Hulkling, Hawkeye (Bishop), Speed, Patriot, Captain America (Rogers), Falcon, Living Lightning, Hercules, Monica Rambeau, Daredevil (Danny Rand), Firebird, Justice, Machine Man, and Ultra-Girl; the Punisher soon arrived carrying a battered Spider-Man (Parker).

(Civil War: Battle Damage Report / Civil War#6 - BTS) - The three BAD Girls brought criminals Goldbug (Gilden) and the Plunderer (actually David Kivlin sent by Parnival Plunder) to join the resistance, but the Punisher killed both men

(Civil War: Battle Damage Report / Civil War#7 - BTS) - All three BAD Girls participated in the final battle of the "war," but none accepted the amnesty offer that came with Captain America's surrender.

(Giant-Size Avengers#1/1) - The three BAD Girls were captured by the Avengers (Black Widow/Romanova, Ms. Marvel/Danvers, Wasp) in a New York City street mall.

(Nova IV#19) - Black Mamba joined members of the Serpent Society in taking hostages at a compound in Danzig, Ohio, caught up in the frenzy of the recent Skrull invasion. Members of the Nova Corps arrived to quickly defeat them and Black Mamba was quickly knocked unconscious by the Centurion Malik Tarcel.

(Amazing Spider-Man#552) - Black Mamba was present at the Bar with No Name alongside the Answer, the Bookie, a Clown, Doctor Bong, Hydro-Man, Lightmaster, Ox (Raymond Bloch), Shockwave, Shriek, Sidekick, Slyde, Speed Demon, Spot, Tomorrow Man, Trapster, and the Wrecking Crew (Bulldozer, Thunderball, Wrecker).

(Wolverine III#73/1) - On a Monday, several Serpent Society members (Anaconda, Black Mamba, Bushmaster, Cottonmouth), fought members of the New Avengers (Captain America/Barnes, Luke Cage, Ronin/Barton, Spider-Woman/Drew, Wolverine) in a semi-tropical locale (palm trees were nearby). Mamba was knocked down by Captain America.

(Avengers: The Initiative#26) - Black Mamba joined up with the Initiative under Norman Osborn's leadership. She was appointed to the Woman Warriors team alongside Skein, Asp, Diamondback, and Quicksand, and they were assigned to protect the state of Delaware. 

(Avengers: The Initiative#29) - Alongside her fellow Women Warriors and Constrictor, Black Mamba helped defeat an attack on Washington International Airport by R.A.I.D. (Radically Advanced Ideas). They were later treated as heroes by the assembled crowd.

(Avengers: The Initiative#31) - Black Mamba enjoyed a night of partying and hard-drinking. She stripped for Taskmaster and Skein. The excitement and debauchery came to an abrupt halt when Taskmaster informed the group that HAMMER director Norman Osborn would be on site the following day for an inspection.

(Siege#1) - Ares called the Initiative, including Skein, to arms for their battle in Asgard.

(Avengers: The Initiative#32) - The Women Warriors were sent by Osborn, alongside other villainous Initiative recruits and the Dark Avengers, to invade Asgard, which hung suspended over Broxton, Oklahoma.

(X-Force: Sex & Violence#2) - While in Miami Black Mamba strangled some guy with her Darkforce. She received a call from the Assassins Guild during the murder. The Guild asked her to go after Domino, who had stolen a large amount of money from the Guild.

   Black Mamba joined up with the other hired assassins in New Orleans and waited at Bella Donna's side for her target.

(X-Force: Sex & Violence#3) - When Wolverine and Domino arrived at the Assassins Guild's HQ and Wolverine refused to hand over the money in exchange for Domino's life Bella Donna sent Razor-Fist, her assassins and the hired help, including Black Mamba, to kill them. X-Force posing as Hand ninjas joined the fight as well and defeated all assassins. During the fight Black Mamba tried to strangulate X-23 with Darkforce, but X-23 stabbed her in the chest with her left foot's Adamantium blade. Elixir healed Black Mamba, saving her life in the process. In the end Bella Donna agreed to leave Domino alone.

(Thunderbolts II#156) - Now incarcerated onboard the Raft maximum security prison, Black Mamba was considered a potential new Thunderbolts recruit by Ghost, Moonstone and Juggernaut.

(Daredevil III#35) - The Sons of the Serpent hired and equipped Constrictor and Black Mamba to guard a house that had been burnt down by the Sons of the Serpent. On their search to find evidence to prove Robert Ogilvy's innocence Daredevil and Elektra fought and defeated them. Unable to get any answers from Constrictor if Robert's father had hired them he bound Constrictor and Black Mamba to a lightpole with Constrictor's coil.

(Elektra III#6 (fb) - BTS) - The Assassins Guild hired the Serpent Society to hunt down Elektra, Matchmaker, Cape Crow and Kento Roe.

(Elektra III#6) - The Serpent Society (Sidewinder, Anaconda, Black Mamba, Death Adder) found their targets in the Himalayas at the Quiet Refuge, a long-forgotten Inhuman memorial, nearby the former location of Attilan. Quickly annoyed by Kento Sidewinder told Black Mamba that this was the reason why they never had children. The Serpents concentrated their attacks on Elektra to lure the others to Cape Crow's hideout where Lady Bullseye was already waiting to slay him. Black Mamba used her powers on Elektra, who bit her in the nose to break Mamba's concentration. Matchmaker then knocked Black Mamba out with one punch. Elektra and Matchmaker followed their allies to Cape Crow's hideout after after all Serpents were defeated.

SECRET WARS III HAPPENED

(Captain America: Sam Wilson#4) - Black Mamba was at a meeting of Serpent Solutions, the rebranded Serpent Society, in a conference room with Captain America (Sam Wilson) as captive. Captain America, who had temporarily been turned into a wolf/human hybrid, had just been captured by Serpent Solutions members Black Racer, Copperhead, Cottonmouth and Diamondback.

(Captain America: Sam Wilson#5 - BTS) - Black Mamba was presumably still present when Viper (Dixon) monologued to Captain America (Wilson) about how Wilson was destroying America and Serpent Solutions' businesses. Viper ended the monologue by shoving Cap, who had been paralyzed by Asp and was bound to a chair, out a window. He was saved from certain death by the new Falcon (Torres), who was then confronted by Serpent Solutions (exluding Black Mamba).

(Deadpool: Assassin#4) - Belladonna of the Assassins Guild hired several killers to hunt down Deadpool, including Black Mamba.

(Deadpool: Assassin#5) - Deadpool and his friends from the Hellhouse attacked the Assassins Guild headquarter. During the battle Bella Donna was aided by her hired assassins Assassin, Black Mamba, Boomerang, Crossbones, Death Adder, K.I.A., Lord Deathstrike and Scorpia. Deadpool electrocuted her, K.I.A. and Scorpia.

(Fantastic Four VI#5/2 (fb) - BTS) - Johnny Storm accidentally hired members of the Serpent Society (Black Mamba, Anaconda, Asp, Fer-de-Lance, Princess Python, Black Racer) as entertainment for the Thing's bachelor party while they were in their private clothes.

(Fantastic Four VI#5/2) - The ladies took the opportunity and popped out of cakes in full costume to defeat the supposedly drunk heroes. They were quickly defeated by Luke Cage, Dennis Dunphy, Justice (Vance Astrovik), Peter Quill, Rocket Raccoon, Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, T'Challa, Thor, Thundra (she had no interest to go with the ladies), Wyatt Wingfoot, and arrested by the authorities.

(Amazing Spider-Man V#16) - Serpent Solutions (Black Mamba, Black Racer, Bushmaster, Cottonmouth, Fer-de-Lance, Puff Adder, Rock Python and others) were gassed in their office and captured by Black Ant and the Taskmaster, then placed in a cage by Kraven the Hunter and Arcade.

(Amazing Spider-Man V#17 (fb) - BTS) - Black Mamba was among the animal-themed villains captured by Taskmaster and the Black Ant on behalf of Arcade and Kraven the Hunter, then placed inside Central Park after being in stasis for a time.

(Amazing Spider-Man V#17) - Hunter-Bots controlled by Arcade's clients at the Plaza Hotel advanced on the villains in Central Park, including Bison.

(Amazing Spider-Man V#20.HU) - Black Mamba, Viper and Cottonmouth ran away from a Hunter-Bot, which was taken down by Vulture.

(Amazing Spider-Man V#19/20.HU) - Black Mamba joined Vulture's group of villain that fought back against the Hunter-Bots.

(Amazing Spider-Man V#20) - Black Mamba and the other villains fought the Hunter-Bots.

(Amazing Spider-Man V#23) - Armadillo and members of the Serpent Society (Anaconda, Asp, Black Mamba, Black Racer, Bushmaster, Cottonmouth, Rattler) were apprehended by the NYPD, Fantastic Four, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Falcon and Iron Man when they tried to escape Central Park.

(X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic#8) - Black Mamba was hired by the Cynadine Oil Company to go after two mutants that interefered with their work in Canada. She found Nature Girl, Curse and their dog Saoirse at the refinery and knocked Nature Girl to the ground with a kick to the head.

(X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic#9) - Black Mamba used the Darkforce against Curse to take her out of the fight and then kept kicking Nature Girl while offering her to just hire her the next time. Curse was woken up by Saoirse from the illusion and got a gun from one of the refinery's guards, which she nearly shot Black Mamba with. She used the Darkforce again against Nature Girl. Curse was not affected by the Darkforce anymore and Nature Girl resisted it long enough as well to escape again. Black Mamba promised to look away while the guards killed the mutants, but then Sauron arrived to get revenge on the oil company for his destroyed lab.

(X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic#10) - Professor X took control over Nature Girl telepathically, which took her out of the fight. Black Mamba was glad because she wasn't wild about fighting children, but Sauron had no intention to stop and Black Mamba had to help the guards against him, but wanted a time out to see what was going on with the girls. She was attacked by the dog and kicked her, punched Nature Girl in the face and was then bitten by Curse in the arm before Wolverine arrived.

(X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic#11) - Sauron went after Black Mamba and they both tried to hyptnotize each other. They got both aroused, but Wolverine attacked them to interrupt their encounter. After Nature Girl set the entire refinery on fire, Black Mamba called her a psycho and ran away.

(Avengers VIII#55) - One day the members of Serpent Solutions (Anaconda, Asp, Black Mamba, Bushmaster, Coachwhip, Copperhead, Cottonmouth, Death Adder, Fer-de-Lance, King Cobra, Princess Python, Puff Adder, Rattler, Rock Python, Slither, Viper) fell under the influence of Mephisto and went from floor to floor in the building their offices were located and murdered everyone. With dozens of sacrifices stacked up Serpent Solutions prayed to Mephisto to open a portal to Hell for them. Nighthawk (a Kyle Richmond simulacrum created by Mephisto) took them all down single-handedly.

Comments: Created by: Mark Gruenwald & Ralph Macchio (writers), George Perez(penciler), Gene Day (inker).

   Tanya has an interesting business card in Deathlok II#7 - it has an "SS" snake logo, her real name (Tanya Sealy) and phone number (?12-555-1553-717 - presumably 717 would be an extension?), and a note which says "since 1805." I have no clue what the last means, but it is intriguing.

The Captain America: Red White & Blue TPB/9 story is problematic. 1952 is given as the date, but for this to make any sense that must just be the date in the mindscape. After escaping from his mind, Cap displays incredibly rabid anti-communist behavior, but you could theorize that he was disoriented after emerging from the man's brain, still possessing some of the attributes of the 1952 persona he had been pulled into while in there. Both arguments make more sense than this being in 1952 in the real world: the 1952 Cap wouldn't know Sharon Carter (or the Serpent Society) and we wouldn't have to wonder about Mamba's apparent non-aging issues. The other possibility is to rule it out of continuity, of course.

   Tanya's costume usually features two serpents. In some issues (Thunderbolts, for example), these are live snakes, though these snakes do not move in most other appearances. The most logical assumption is that she has a costume with artificial snakes, as well as occasionally using real snakes.

   Hey - in Civil War she's now on a first-name basis with two members of the Fantastic Four! She's moving up the super-hero ladder!

   Asp and Black Mamba left the Serpent Society on bad terms, but have been seen with both them and the BAD Girls many times since. It seems clear by this point that somehow they've settled their differences with King Cobra and the Society, and are considered members in good standing. Diamondback, however, has never again worked with the Society.

She was probably one of the many unidentifiable villains seen at the end of Amazing Spider-Man V#16 (April, 2019) trapped in energy cages on a mountainside in South Africa, but we don't know for sure.

Main image scan by MarvellousLuke. Handbook image (third) cleaned up by Ron Fredricks.

Profile by SQUEAK. Updates by Markus Raymond.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Black Mamba has no known connections to

• any of the myriad "Black ???" characters
• or anyone else with a similar name

images: (without ads)
Deadpool: Rank and Foul#1, Black Mamba profile (main image)
Cable & Deadpool #20, pg1 (headshot)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe I#2, pg 11 (original costume)
Captain America I#319, pg 20 p3 (engulfing Cap)
Captain America I#391, pg 8 p1 ("stealth" costume)
Cable & Deadpool #20, pg7 p3 (zippered costume)
X-Force: Sex and Violence#3, p4 (with Assassins Guild)
Daredevil III#35, p11, pan4 (with Sons of the Serpent)
Deathlok II#7, pg 20, p6 (business card)

Appearances:
Marvel Two-in-One I#64-65 (June-July, 1980) - Mark Gruenwald & Ralph Macchio (writer), George Perez (penciler), Gene Day (inker), Jim Salicrup (editor)
Iron Man I#160 (July, 1982) - Denny O'Neil (writer), Steve Ditko (penciler), Dan Green (inker), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Captain America I#307-308, 310-311 (July-August, October-November, 1985) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Paul Neary (penciler), Dennis Janke (inker), Mike Carlin (editor)
Captain America I#313 (January, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Paul Neary (penciler), Al Williamson (inker), Mike Carlin (editor)
Captain America I#315 (March, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Paul Neary (penciler), Dennis Janke (inker), Mike Carlin (editor)
Captain America I#319 (July, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Paul Neary (penciler), Joe Sinnott (inker), Mike Carlin (editor)
Avengers I#274 (December, 1986) - Roger Stern (writer), John Buscema (penciler), Tom Palmer (inker), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Captain America I#341-342 (May-June, 1988) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Kieron Dwyer (penciler), Al Milgrom (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Uncanny X-Men Annual#13 (1989) - Terry Austin (writer), Mike Vosburg (penciler/inker), Bob Harras (editor)
Captain America I#365 (December, 1989) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Mark Bright (penciler), Don Hudson (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Captain America I#367 (February, 1990) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Mark Bagley (penciler), Don Hudson (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Captain America I#368, 371 (March, June 1990) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Ron Lim (penciler), Dan Bulanadi (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Captain America I#371/2 (June, 1990) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Mark Bagley (penciler), Don Hudson (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Captain America I#380-382 (December, 1990-February, 1991) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Ron Lim (penciler), Dan Bulanadi (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Captain America I#385/2 (May, 1991) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Mark Bagley (penciler), Dan Panosian (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Captain America I#386/2 (June, 1991) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Dan Panosian (penciler/inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Captain America I#387 (July, 1991) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Rik Levins (penciler), Dan Bulanadi (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Captain America I#387-392 (July-September, 1991) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Rik Levins (penciler), Dan Bulanadi (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Captain America I#393 (October, 1991) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Larry Alexander (penciler), Bud LaRosa (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Captain America I#394/2 (November, 1991) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Larry Alexander (penciler), Dan Panosian (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Captain America I#395 (December, 1991) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Rik Levins (penciler), Dan Bulanadi (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Captain America I#395/2 (December, 1991) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Larry Alexander (penciler/inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Captain America I#396/2-397/2 (January-Fabruary, 1992) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Larry Alexander (penciler), Dan Panosian (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor)
Captain America I#411 (January, 1993) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Rik Levins (penciler), Dan Bulanadi (inker), Mike Rockwitz (editor)
New Warriors I#33-34 (March-April, 1993) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Darick Robertson (penciler), Larry Mahlstedt (inker), Rob Tokar (editor)
Deathlok II#7 (January, 2000) - Joe Casey (writer), Eric Canete (penciler), Rich Perrotta (inker), Ruben Diaz (editor)
Thunderbolts I#64 (April, 2002) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Patrick Zircher (penciler), Al Vey (inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Thunderbolts I#67 (August, 2002) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Patrick Zircher (penciler), Al Vey (inker), Tom Brevoort & Lis (editors)
Thunderbolts I#69 (October, 2002) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Jean Jacques Dzialowski (penciler), Al Vey (inker), Tom Brevoort & Lis (editors)
Captain America IV#30-31 (October-November, 2004) - Robert Kirkman (writer), Scot Eaton (penciler), Drew Geraci (inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Cable/Deadpool#20-22 (November, 2005) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Patrick Zircher (penciler), M3th (inker), Nicole Wiley (editor)
Cable/Deadpool#23 (February, 2006) - Fabian Nicieza (writer), Patrick Zircher & Dave Ross (penciler), M3th (inker), Nicole Wiley (editor)
All-New Official Handboook of the Marvel Universe#3 (March, 2006) - Jeff Youngquist & Jennifer Grunwald (editor)
Civil War#5 (November, 2006) - Mark Millar (writer), Steve McNiven (penciler), Dexter Vines (inker), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Civil War Battle Damage Report (2007) - Anthony Flamini (head writer), Jeff Youngquist (editor)
Captain America: Red White & Blue TPB/9 (2007) - Yann Lepennetier (writer), Philippe Berthet (artist), Andrew Lis (editor)
Giant-Size Avengers#1/1 (February, 2008) - CB Cebulski (writer), Jim Cheung (artist), John Dell (inker), John Barber (editor)
Nova IV#19 (January, 2009) - Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning (writers), Wellington Alves, Geraldo Borges (pencilers), Scott Hanna, Nelson Pereira (inkers), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Wolverine III#73/1 (July, 2009) - Jason Aaron (writer), Adam Kubert (penciler), Mark Farmer (inker), Alan Fine (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#26 (September-October 2009) - Christos Gage (writer), Rafa Sandoval (penciler), Roger Bonet (inker), Jeannine Schaefer (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#29 (December, 2009) - Christos N. Gage (writer), Jorge Molina (pencils), Victor Olazaba (inks), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#31 (February, 2010) - Christos N. Gage (writer), Rafa Sandoval (pencils), Roger Bonet (inks), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Avengers: The Initiative#32 (March, 2010) - Christos Gage (writer), Mahmud Asrar (pencils), Rebecca Buchman (inks), Bill Rosemann (editor)
Siege#1 (March, 2010) - Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Olivier Coipel (pencils), Mark Morales (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
X-Force: Sex and Violence#2-3 (October-November, 2010) - Craig Kyle & Chris Yost (writers), Gabriele Dell'Otto (artist), Jeanine Schaefer & John Barber (editor)
Thunderbolts II#156 (June, 2011) - Jeff Parker (writer), Kev Walker (pencils), Jason Gorder & Kev Walker (inks), Tom Brennan (editor)
Daredevil II#35 (March, 2014) - Mark Waid (writer), Chris Samnee (artist), Stephen Wacker (editor)
Elektra III#6 (November, 2014) - W. Haden Blackman (writer), Alex Sanchez (artist), Sana Amanat (editor)
Captain America: Sam Wilson#4-5 (February-March, 2016) - Nick Spencer (writer), Paul Renaud (artist), Tom Brevoort, Katie Kubert (editors)
Deadpool: Assassin#4 (September, 2018) - Cullen Bunn (writer), Mark Bagley (pencils), John Dell & Roberto Poggi (inks), Devin Lewis (editor)
Deadpool: Assassin#5 (October, 2018) - Cullen Bunn (writer), Mark Bagley (pencils), John Dell & JP Mayer (inks), Devin Lewis (editor)
Fantastic Four VI#5/2 (February, 2019) - Dan Slott (writer), Adam Hughes (artist), Tom Brevoort (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man V#16 (April, 2019) - Nick Spencer (writer), Ryan Ottley (pencils), Alberto Alburquerque (pencils/inks), Cliff Rathburn (inks), Nick Lowe (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man V#17 (May, 2019) - Nick Spencer (writer), Humberto Ramos (pencils), Victor Olazaba (inks), Nick Lowe (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man V#19 (June, 2019) - Nick Spencer (writer), Gerardo Sandoval (artist), Nick Lowe (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man V#20 (June, 2019) - Nick Spencer (writer), Humberto Ramos (pencils), Victor Olazaba (inks), Nick Lowe (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man V#20.HU (July, 2019) - Nick Spencer (writer), Cory Smith (pencils), Mark Morales (inks), Nick Lowe (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man V#23 (August, 2019) - Nick Spencer (writer), Ryan Ottley (pencils), Cliff Rathburn (inks), Nick Lowe (editor)
X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic#8-11 (October, 2021) - Gerry Duggan (writer), Emilio Laiso (artist), Jordan D. White (editor)
Avengers VIII#55 (June, 2022) - Jason Aaron (writer), Javier Garrón & David Curiel (artists), Tom Brevoort (editor)

First Posted: 02/02/2007
Last updated: 10/25/2023

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

Non-Marvel Copyright info
All other characters mentioned or pictured are ™  and © 1941-2099 Marvel Characters, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If you like this stuff, you should check out the real thing!
Please visit The Marvel Official Site at: http://www.marvel.com

Special Thanks to www.g-mart.com for hosting the Appendix, Master List, etc.!

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