BLINDSIDE

Blindside Real Name: Nick Chernin

Identity/Class: Human technology user

Occupation: Criminal;
   formerly scientist employed by Declun International

Group Membership: None

Affiliations: Boomerang, Commanda, Deke (last name unrevealed), 8-Ball, Hydro-Man, Poundcakes, Powderkeg, Screwball, the Squid (Callahan), Trapster (Petruski), several unidentified super-villains;
   formerly Walter Declun (see comments)

Enemies: Captain Watanabe, Daredevil (Murdock), Jackpot (Jobson), Officer MacAvoy, Spider-Man (Parker), several unidentified police officers

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: "Jerkwad"

Base of Operations: The suburbs, Port Washington, New York, USA

First Appearance: Amazing Spider-Man Annual II#1(35) (December, 2008)

Powers/Abilities: An accomplished scientist, Nick Chernin had an educational background in the field of biochemistry. As Blindside, Chernin wore a suit capable of releasing a neurotoxin which caused temporary blindness while preventing himself from being affected.

 

History: 

(Amazing Spider-Man Annual II#1(35) (fb) - BTS) - Nick Chernin, a lead scientist for a biotech company owned by Walter Declun, invented Oedipus, a synthetic neurotoxin causing temporary blindness in those affected by it. Chernin became the prime suspect when Oedipus was stolen, but avoided being charged for the crime (see comments).

    Creating a suit that could release Oedipus, Chernin began calling himself Blindside, using the suit for criminal means, often finding himself facing opposition from the mysterious superheroine called Jackpot. At some point, Chernin also encountered and began romancing Lady Catherine D'Antan, the technologically empowered jewel thief Commanda.

(Amazing Spider-Man Annual II#1(35)) - Attempting a bank robbery, Blindside encountered Spider-Man and Jackpot (who argued that since Blindside was a member of her rogue's gallery, she should be the one to deal with him). Temporarily blinding Spider-Man, Blindside escaped while Jackpot saw to the webslinger.

   Greeting a visitor at his front door a few nights later, Blindside was stunned to find Spider-Man calling. Rushing to his Oedipus-releasing gauntlets and touching Spider-Man, Blindside learned that Spider-Man had taken an antidote and was immune to the toxin. Reaching for a handgun, Blindside fired at Spider-Man, but was soon disarmed. Stepping back while Commanda emerged to handle Spider-Man, Blindside stood by while Jackpot arrived to help Spider-Man. Touching Jackpot, Blindside was again surprised as Spider-Man gave her the antidote, countering the toxin. Defeated, Blindside and Commanda were webbed up and left hanging from in Chernin's living room.

(Amazing Spider-Man II#600) - Blindside was at the Bar with no Name during an attack on it's clientele by Spider-Man and Daredevil. Attempting to blind Daredevil (not realizing he's already blinded), Blindside was thrown through the front window of the Bar for his efforts.

Comments: Created by Marc Guggenheim (writer) and Mike McKone (pencils)

   It's unrevealed whether the charges against Chernin simply "failed to stick" or if Declun dropped them. If it's the latter, it's possible Declun has an interest in Blindside's criminal activities, thus counting him as an affiliation. As it's currently unrevealed, Declun's counted as a former affiliation.

   It's similarly unrevealed if Blindside and Commanda were arrested following their defeat. As Jackpot fell ill from exposure to the Oedipus neurotoxin (which reacted badly to the other chemicals used to give her powers), it's likely there wasn't time to place a call to the police for their arrest. Having been the cause of Jackpot's death, Blindside's next encounter with Spider-Man is sure to be an interesting one.

   Blindside is introduced in Amazing Spider-Man Annual II#1(35)'s roll call as "Blindside: A new super-baddie created and conceived in the mighty Marvel manner!"

Profile by G Morrow.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Blindside has no known connections to

images: (without ads)
Amazing Spider-Man Annual II#1(35), p5, pan4 (main image)
Amazing Spider-Man Annual II#1(35), p26, pan5 (out of costume)

Appearances:
Amazing Spider-Man Annual II#1(35) (December, 2008) - Marc Guggenheim (writer), Mike McKone (pencils), Andy Lanning (inks), Stephen Wacker (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man II#600 (September, 2009) - Dan Slott, Mark Waid, Bob Gale, Marc Guggenheim, Zeb Wells, Joe Kelly, Jeph Loeb, Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, and Brian Bendis (writers), Stan Lee (story), John Romita Jr., and Mike McKone (pencils), Klaus Janson, and Andy Lanning (inks), Marcos Martin, Colleen Doran, Mario Alberti, Mitch Breitweiser, Derec Donovan, Max Fiumara, and Klaus Janson (art), Stephen Wacker and Tom Brennan (editors)

First Posted: 11/14/2008
Last updated: 09/29/2009

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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