FOOLKILLER

Real Name: Greg Salinger

Identity/Class: Human technology user;
    US citizen with a criminal record;
    identity publicly known

Occupation: Vigilante; former soldier, student

Group Membership: Thunderbolts (Batroc the Leaper/Georges Batroc, Figment, Grizzly/Max Markham, Man-Bull/William Taurens, Mister Fear/Larry Cranston, Mr. Hyde/Calvin Zabo, Star/Ripley Ryan, Taskmaster/Tony Masters);
    formerly the Heroes for Hire/the Mercs for Money (Deadpool/Wade Wilson, Masacre, Slapstick/Steve Harmon, Solo/James Bourne, Stingray/Walter Newell, Terror Inc/Schreck)

Affiliations: Scott Adsit, Avengers Unity Division (Dr. Voodoo/Jericho Drumm, Human Torch/Johnny Storm, Quicksilver/Pietro Maximoff, Rogue/Anna-Marie, Synapse/Emily Guerrero), Betty, Cable (Nathan Summers), Captain America (Steve Rogers), Charlie, Fierce, Gorilla-Man/Ken Hale, Melanie Hawkins, Highwayman (Jefferson Archer), Maria Hill, Jacky, Lady Hooha, "Gloves" Lee, Llama Dr. Andrea Mansoor, Mr. Mantle, Judge Fred Messihi, Old Yodman, Recorder, S.H.I.E.L.D. (Emily Preston, others), Merle Singer, Gary Span/Stanely Swickle, Umbral Dynamics
    formerly Mike Clemson, Foolkiller (Kurt Gerhardt),Amber Grant, Peter Parker, Richard Rory;

Enemies: Armadillo (Antonio Rodriguez), Baylee Ann, Baron (Helmut) Zemo, John Berk, Beyond Corporation, Big Wheel (Jackson Weele), Black Patch, Blockbuster, Brain Drain (Werner Schmidt), Bruiser, Sam Buckley (FBI agent), Bulletface, Lou Caldwell, Celestial Destructor, Charlie Chainsaw, Cobalt Man (Ralph Roberts), Crazy Gang (Executioner, Jester, Knave, Red Queen, Tweedle-Dope), Crime-Master, Cult of Entropy, Death Adder (Theodore Scott), Defenders (Clea, Hellcat, Valkyrie/Brunnhilde), Disembowler, Dr. Bong (Lester Verde), Dr. Rot, Dollar Bill, Doombot, Evil Deadpool, Grain Reaper, Amber Grant, Hammerhead (Joseph), the Hand, Hobgoblin (Roderick Kingsley), Jack O'Lantern, Kingpin (Wilson Fisk), Lamont, Caroline le Fey, Leader (Samuel Sterns), Ledge, Lord Deathstrike, Lunatik (Arisen Tyrk), Harvey MacNamara, Madcap, Mephisto, Dr. Alvin Mears, Mole Man (Harvey Elder), Moloids, Moon Knight (Marc Spector), Negasonic Teenage Warhead (Ellie Phimister), Nuke (Frank Simpson), Orb (Drake Shannon), Norman Osborn, Ozarks Kingpin, Radioactive Man (Chen Lu), Rocksalt, Richard Rory, Sandman (William Baker), Scarecrow (Ebenezer Laughton), Scorpia (Elaine Coll), Secret Empire, #$%& King (Alex), Skrulls, Slayback, Societe Des Sadiques, Spider-Man (Peter Parker), Swarm (Fritz Von Meyer), Symbiotes, Taskmaster (Tony Masters), Tater Pud, Rebecca Taylor, Tiger Shark (Todd Arliss), Titania (Mary MacPherran), Mr. Trottio, Vengeance (Michael Badilino), Wrecking Crew (Bulldozer/Henry Camp, Piledriver/Brian Caluksy, Thunderball/Elliot Franklin, Wrecker/Dirk Garthwaite), Young Red Skull (Rodney), Zapata Brothers (Gus Zapata, Rigo Zapata)

Known Relatives: Unidentified father (deceased), unidentified mother (name unrevealed)

Aliases: Ian Byrd

Base of Operations: Last seen in San Francisco, California;
    presumably returned to Central Indiana State Mental Institution;
    formerly Empire State University, Manhattan;
    formerly mobile

Place of Birth: Noblesville, Indiana

Education: Military training, incomplete undergraduate degree (Empire State University English major)

First Appearance: (In shadows) Omega the Unknown#8 (May, 1977)
                                 (fully seen) Omega the Unknown#9 (July, 1977)

Powers/Abilities:

    Salinger was in excellent physical condition during the prime of his career, though he presumably is unable to maintain that condition while in the mental hospital. He was self-trained in combat and was a fair combatant. He is also an amateur poet but is limited by being criminally insane.

    His primary weapon was his Purifier gun, capable of firing a laser-like beam of white light which could fire a laser-like beam of energy capable of totally incinerating a man within seconds or burning a man-sized hole in a reinforced brick wall in minutes. It was accurate up to thirty yards.

    He employed a limited arsenal of surveillance devices and offensive weapons, stored in a specially equipped armored truck, which he used to locate and track his victims.

Height: 6'
Weight: 197 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Blond

History:
(Foolkiller III#5 (fb) – BTS) – Greg Salinger’s mother left him with his father, who was regularly abusive toward Greg. In time, Greg came to see his father as pathetic, realizing he was a damaged person who frequently used threats and violence to get what he wants. In time, Greg taunted his father about his failures, then he stabbed him to death.

(Spectacular Spider-Man II#58) - Salinger's college career was interrupted by a hitch in the army.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#225 - BTS) - When Salinger was discharged from the army, the doctors said he was very mixed up.

(Foolkiller I#2 (fb)) - Salinger was jailed for disorderly conduct: though he claimed to have only been defending himself.

(Omega the Unknown#9 (fb) - BTS / Amazing Spider-Man I#225 (fb)) - While sharing a Florida prison cell with Richard Rory, Greg Salinger was inspired by Rory's stories of Ross G. Everbest, the Foolkiller. Salinger listened closely as Rory told him where Everbest had died and where he could find his weapons and costume. Salinger also enjoyed hearing about Rory's old girlfriend, Ruth Hart.

(Omega the Unknown#9 (fb) - BTS) - Realizing Everbest had been insane, Salinger vowed to carry out his mission correctly by secularizing it.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#225 (fb)) - Upon his release (or possibly his escape) from prison, Salinger liberated the Foolkiller's equipment and threw himself into a period of intensive training. He then tracked Rory to New York to thank him for his inspiration.

(Omega the Unknown#8) - Foolkiller observed the arrival of Richard Rory in Manhattan via the Port Authority bus terminal, then followed him back to the apartment of Ruth Hart, Amber Grant, and James-Michael Starling where he slipped an envelop containing one his Foolkiller cards (plus a handwritten "and your friends, too!) under the door. Richard, having seen Everbest perish, was mortified to receive the card.

(Omega the Unknown#9) - Salinger incinerated a store owner and an alleged shoplifter (Tommy) who had gotten into a scuffle. Omega the Unknown actually saw Salinger fleeing, but chose not to pursue him.

    As Richard lamented his impending doom, Foolkiller appeared and introduced himself. Rory recognized his voice as Salinger's and was immediately relieved, and Amber joked that the neighborhood needed a Foolkiller, to which he responded: "I know, that's why I'm here). Salinger insisted he WAS the Foolkiller now, punctuating his statement with a burst of his Purifier gun that disintegrated a piece of the floor. He then greeted Amber, almost flirting with her, before departing to complete his mission.

    Soon thereafter, as the criminal Blockbuster prepared to break the neck of his exhausted antagonist, Omega, Foolkiller disintegrated him with a blast from a nearby rooftop, noting that Blockbuster was pathetic, always seeking to prove something and never having a poetic thought, word, or deed. He told Omega that he had performed poetically, but that he hadn't rendered his final verdict; he'd be watching Omega closely.

(Foolkiller I#4 (fb) - BTS) - Salinger slew numerous fools, though most were never connected to him.

(Foolkiller I#4 (fb) - BTS) - Salinger incinerated Merle Singer's boyfriend after he had poured sulfuric acid on her face. At her request, he brought some of the acid back to her in a decorative bottle to keep as a reminder. Merle became close friends with Salinger, treating his injuries and helping him as needed.

(Foolkiller I#2 (fb) - BTS) - Salinger began to go mad from his failure to change anything.

(Defenders I#74 (fb)) - Foolkiller considered purifying a mugger, but instead followed him to a dope dealer, Dunbar, whom he followed back to a loan shark, Mr. Trottio. Deciding Trottio was most worthy of purification, Foolkiller confronted him, but when Trottio admitted his guilt and begged Foolkiller to end his torment, Foolkiller realized that Trottio did indeed have some purity in his heart, so he let him live.

(Defenders I#74 (fb) - BTS) - Foolkiller contemplated how best to re-dedicate his mission, and he eventually learned of Lunatik, whom he thought it would be his destiny to slay.

(Defenders I#75 (fb) - BTS) - Foolkiller saw Dollar Bill's Defenders documentary, and decided that the Defenders ineptitude branded them as fools...and that the documentary itself was presented in a tasteless, insulting manner.

(Defenders I#73) - Seeking to execute Lunatik or Professor Harrison Turk, Foolkiller traveled to his Empire State University apartment where he encountered Dollar Bill and Ledge, telling them that "in the name of purity, balance, and aesthetic perfection, his (Lunatik's) blot must be eradicated."

(Defenders I#74) - Foolkiller wondered if Bill and Ledge were apprentice fools, but soon explained how he had dedicated himself to relaunching his career by taking out the greatest of fools, such as Lunatik. Hoping the Defenders could stop Foolkiller, Dollar Bill suggested Foolkiller accompany him to meet them.

(Defenders I#75 (fb) - BTS) - Foolkiller secretly considered the Defenders to be fools and planned to kill them, so he played along with Dollar Bill so Bill would bring him to them.

(Defenders I#74 - BTS) - Foolkiller had Dollar Bill and Ledge stop and pick up Richard Rory and Amber Grant before taking a train to Long Island.

(Defenders I#74) - Richard and Amber tried to subtly guide Foolkiller away from his mission, to no avail. When the engineer slammed on the breaks upon seeing the Hulk on the train tracks ahead, and Foolkiller was knocked to the ground and came up with his gun drawn, accusing the railroad of being run by fools. Bill calmed him down again, and Foolkiller backed up, realizing that killing the engineer would be an ignoble beginning to his career...too inelegant, too inartistic. The Hulk subsequently tore up the railroad, and it was several hours later before Bill brought Foolkiller and the others to the Richmond Riding Academy and introducing Foolkiller to the Defenders (Clea, Hellcat, and Valkyrie were present). When Valkyrie mentioned that she only used the flat of her blade against foes so as not to slay them, Foolkiller stated that that sounded foolish, called the Defenders fools, and blasted her sword from her hand.

(Defenders I#75) - When Valkyrie threatened Foolkiller, he took Bill hostage, turning aside Richard and Amber's efforts to talk him down, and he forced the Defenders to accompany him into their media room; Valkyrie instructed Clea to stay her hand to avoid risking Bill, and Clea obeyed, though she was confident she could stop him safely. Foolkiller then showed them a video of Dollar Bill's documentary, which he felt condemned the Defenders and Bill as fools. When he got caught up in his own tirade, Valkyrie slammed into him and knocked him down, but he kept hold of his Purifier gun and blasted her; though she wasn't disintegrated, she was stunned. Foolkiller then blasted the ceiling, which collapsed; Valkyrie recovered and saved the others, but some debris knocked out Clea. Hellcat alone pursued Foolkiller, staying just out of reach, but his Purifier gun progressively damaged Richmond's mansion, setting it on fire. Finally, Valkyrie caught up to the pair and swiftly dispatched Foolkiller with a series of blows. Police arrived soon after.

    Nighthawk then arrived, and he was furious that the Defenders had been unable to stop a non-powered guy with ray-gun, allowing the utter destruction of his mansion. Already on edge from his recent legal issues, Nighthawk disbanded the Defenders.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#225 (fb)) - Valkyrie watched as paramedics loaded Foolkiller into an ambulance. During a rainstorm, the ambulance wrecked; though the paramedics thought him mad, Foolkiller saw the caring in their souls as a form of poetry, and he patched up the survivors as best he could before making his escape.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#225 (fb) - BTS) - The authorities accused Foolkiller of causing the wreck. Despairing over the enormity of his quest, Foolkiller realized he needed a better understanding of the poetic nature before he could slay the greatest fools. He began a thorough study of the great poets, but still found fools muddying the waters around him. Finally he concluded that his ability to perceive fools must be improved. He would wait for fools to meddle with his life; by their very nature they would seek him out, so he could end their useless lives.

(Spectacular Spider-Man II#58 (fb) - BTS) - Salinger signed up for a computer course for his minor, but the registrar apparently mixed things up so he ended up in Chemistry 101.

(Spectacular Spider-Man II#58) - His watch stopped, Salinger feared he was late  for class at ESU, and he nearly collided with Peter Parker. As he was teacher of the class, Peter accompanied him there and assured him it wasn't as bad as he feared. Afterwards, Salinger told Peter how much he'd enjoyed the lecture, never having realized Chemistry could be so interesting, especially its classical nature. Parker thought Salinger seemed nice, but recognized that he was extremely intense.

(Spectacular Spider-Man II#59) - Salinger who accosted by FBI agents (John Berk and Sam) as part of an ongoing investigation where one of his old friends was a suspect in a criminal case. Though Salinger denied knowledge of the matter, one of the agents sensed how he tensed up and figured he was hiding something.
    Salinger was irate that the agents were bothering him when he was trying to live his life in peace. Noting that the men couldn't see the truth that was right before their eyes, Salinger decided they were fools.
    Having seen the confrontation, Spider-Man confronted the men, who revealed themselves to be FBI agents.

(Spectacular Spider-Man II#60) - As Salinger sat on a park bench, stressing over his problems, he triggered Peter Parker's spider-sense; but as soon as Peter greeted Greg and asked him about his problems, his sense of danger faded. Greg confided that the registrar had lost the paperwork on his grant-in-aid, and Peter sympathized. As they split up, Greg noted to himself that despite being in science, Parker had the soul of a poet.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#225 (fb) - BTS) - Foolkiller sent one of his cards to FBI agent Sam (presumably the same Sam from Spectacular Spider-Man#59) along with a letter telling him where to meet him. Sam recruited another agent, Lou Caldwell, to try to take down the Foolkiller.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#225 (fb) - BTS) - Foolkiller sent one of his cards to the registrar Harvey MacNamara.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#225) - As Sam and Lou waited to ambush Foolkiller, Salinger incinerated Sam, then blasted Lou's gunhand. As Foolkiller approached, Lou told him that the FBI would find the notes in their apartments, but Foolkiller showed him that he had already been to their apartments to claim their notes, then incinerated Lou and tossed his notes atop his smoldering corpse, where they caught fire, too.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#225 - BTS) - The next day, Salinger was stuck waiting in the admissions office and missed Parker's lecture.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#225) - Greg later met with Parker, apologizing for missing his class and complaining how his grant was still tied up in red tape in the registrar's office. Foolkiller subsequently confronted the registrar Harvey MacNamara and was annoyed to find that MacNamara had not received his card. Before he could execute MacNamara, however, Spider-Man arrived to stop him. Spider-Man dodged Foolkiller's blasts, but then one took down the ceiling, enabling Foolkiller to leap through a window and use his sash as a para-glider to land safely. Spider-Man caught to the Foolkiller as he ran down the Manhattan street minutes later, but Foolkiller, having researched and memorized the subway schedules, blasted a hole in the street, leapt atop a train that was passing underneath.
    Foolkiller returned to his semi-trailer truck base and reflected on his mission, noting that both those who inspired him and those who supplied his computer technology had been fools.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#225 - BTS) - Salinger came to the graduate student teachers' office seeking Peter Parker, and when Deb Whitman couldn't tell him where Parker was, Salinger called her a fool and stormed out.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#225) - A fuming Salinger again set off Parker's spider-sense, but again when Peter began talking to Greg, the danger sense subsided. Greg complained about how an on campus letter he sent had never arrived, and Peter noted that the campus mailroom was nonfunctional and staffed by fools. Thanking Peter for the information, Salinger took off, and Peter's spider-sense again flared, causing him to doubt its reliability; but when Deb told Peter than Greg had called her a fool, Peter began to suspect his true nature.

    Meanwhile, Foolkiller assaulted the mailroom staff, but Spider-Man swiftly arrived to stop him. Foolkiller blasted over a set of heavy shelves, knowing that Spider-Man would stop to save the mailroom staff from being crushed. Foolkiller escaped back to his base and began to call up information on Spider-Man to learn how to stop him, but Spider-Man arrived seconds later and confronted him anew. Blowing up a gas tank with a blast from his purifier gun, Foolkiller took off again, seeking a place to hide. He encountered a homeless person, who told him that anyone who would be gunning for Spider-Man would have to be a fool. Realizing the truth in this, Foolkiller raised his weapon to his own head, but Spider-Man snatched it away and then webbed up Foolkiller's body. Spider-Man was sad when his suspicions of Foolkiller's true identity were confirmed, and he told Greg he would take him to a place where he could rest, away from fools.

(Amazing Spider-Man I#226) - Foolkiller arrived, in a straight-jacket, at Mitchell State mental health care hospital in upstate New York, raving that Spider-Man (whose face he saw in the overhead lighting) was laughing at him for failing to kill the greatest fool of all, himself. He begged the ambulance drivers to kill him.

(Foolkiller I#2 -  (fb) - BTS) - A New York court accepted Salinger's insanity plea, and he was relocated to his native Indiana, to the Central Indiana State Mental Institution.

(Captain America I#319) - Suspecting Salinger or his successor could be the ones killing super-villains (it was actually Scourge), Captain America (Steve Rogers) visited Salinger in the mental hospital. Kept in a padded cell in a straight-jacket, Salinger remained a raving maniac, convincing Captain America that he was truly still in custody and not associated with the recent killings.

(Foolkiller I#1 (fb) - BTS) - Salinger was kept in a padded cell for a full year after his arrival.

(Foolkiller I#1 (fb) - BTS) - When given access to a pencil, Salinger stabbed himself in the neck.

(Foolkiller I#1) - Salinger shared his dream with his psychologist(?), Dr. Mears, voicing his belief that he wanted to be well. He gained permission to write letters to friends as well as newspapers.

(Foolkiller I#1) - Three months later, Salinger was frustrated that he had had no responses or publications, but suspected the return address on the envelops caused readers to think him crazy. He decided to start writing to TV talk shows, and Dr. Mears was encouraged to see him showing interest in computer programs.

(Foolkiller I#1) - Weeks later, Salinger had completed his tirade on the fools of the world and began batch sending them out to talk shows.

(Foolkiller I#1) - Still later, he was frustrated that he had sent out 67 such letters and had no response. Meanwhile, talk show host Runyan Moody came across the 66th letter and was intrigued, sending his secretary to go find the first 65.

(Foolkiller I#1) - One week later, Runyan Moody contacted Greg Salinger about being on his show.

(Foolkiller I#1) - Salinger was present as Drs. Mears and chief of staff Dr. Wiggins attempted to deny the interview with Moody, but Moody then threatened to do a show about denying their patients' rights, and the doctors acquiesced

(Foolkiller I#1) - Moody prepared Salinger for his live TV interview within the institution.

(Foolkiller I#2) - Moody began his interview, and, after detailing his and his predecessor's origins and motivations, Salinger took a number of calls, including one from Kurt Gerhardt, who had developed a similar philosophy after suffering a number of hardships. Gerhardt subsequently wrote to Salinger, detailing his recent woes, and Dr. Mears encouraged Salinger to write back if he felt he could help Gerhardt. Salinger wrote back only, "Tell me more!" and Gerhardt responded with a detailed explanation of his thoughts on what was wrong with the world. Salinger kept this letter from Dr. Mears, telling him he wished to keep Gerhardt's stuff private, and then told Mears that he was going to cut contact with Gerhardt. Days later, Salinger used his one weekly call to contact Salinger and give him the number for a computer bulletin board, telling him to use the alias "Miles Fish" and to call him "Ian Byrd."

(Foolkiller III#3 (fb)) – In the mental institution, interacting with workers like Charlie, Salinger considered himself to be unique like a narwhal, and he sent his equipment on to his successor, Kurt Gerhardt.

(Foolkiller I#2) - When Gerhardt logged on the next day, Salinger gave him instructions on how to pick up his spare costume and purification gun for Merle Singer at Y & L Personal Storage. Using the alias J.D. Pierre, Gerhardt picked up the materials.
    Gerhardt picked up the materials and ended up using the weapon to incinerate a pair of muggers on the way home.

(Foolkiller I#3) - As Gerhardt began a series of executions as the Foolkiller in Manhattan, Dr. Mears questioned Salinger whether he knew anything about this. Salinger denied all knowledge, and Mears eventually believed him because Salinger had neither defended this new Foolkiller nor used the word fool.

(Foolkiller I#4) - Salinger was disappointed when Gerhardt hadn't posted to the message board for two days. Dr. Mears met with him to discuss a book Salinger was allegedly writing. Salinger asked if he would ever be released, but Mears pointed out that Greg didn't even understand the central issue of his therapy.
    The next day, Gerhardt later sent a message noting a beating he had taken and worried he might not be the right man for the job. Salinger responded that he had taken similar such beatings, and that Gerhardt should focus on smaller prey first before working up to the more dangerous types. Salinger also told Mears that he was coming to accept his life in the institution.

(Foolkiller I#5) - Salinger was pleased as Gerhardt took to his mission in earnest. He continued to put off Mears, telling him his computer work was all part of a book he was working on, and refusing to let Mears see it until it was ready. He then walked amongst the other ranting patients, telling them that there was hope.

(Foolkiller I#6) - Salinger was driven to hysterics after reading that Gerhardt had taken money from a drug dealer and given it to a church. When Mears questioned him, he noted that if he'd have thought of doing that, he wouldn't be in a nuthouse today...he'd probably be a member of the Avengers.

(Foolkiller I#8) - Salinger was startled when one of the hospital's administrative assistants approached him while he was leaving a message for "Miles Fish." Figuring she didn't know he wasn't authorized to be accessing the internet, he managed to keep his cool, agreeing to help her learn how to use the modem program.
    After Gerhardt had racked up a large headcount, Salinger complemented him on his work and asked if he was ready to graduate from squirrels to lions, and Gerhardt acknowledged that he was.

(Foolkiller I#9) - Salinger was worried and lonely when he received a communication from Gerhardt that he was going after some big targets and that he might be killed in the process.

(Foolkiller I#10) - When Foolkiller (Gerhardt) executed Runyan Moody on a live broadcast and then spoke to the audience, Salinger burst out laughing. Mears instructed the orderlies to take him up to his room. Salinger tried to fight back and was beaten into submission and agreed to go peacefully. The administrative assistant was disappointed because he had seemed to be doing so well, noting that he was going to teach her to use the modem. Investigating further into this, Mears discovered the connection between Salinger and Gerhardt, despite Salinger's utter refusal to answer any questions on the matter. Salinger noted that while each incarnation was irrelevant, "when the world begets too many fools, nature always provides a Foolkiller."

(Marvel Year In Review 1991) - Greg Salinger was interviewed as to his past as the Foolkiller as well as his aiding and abetting Gerhardt. Salinger explained what he did, supported Gerhardt's actions and choices, and claimed he did not know where Gerhardt was now..."so don't act like a fool, especially in front of strangers."

(Marvel Comics Presents I#172/4 (fb) - BTS) - Mike Clemson arranged for Foolkiller's release from the mental institution, hoping that his incineration style executions could be used to frame Vengeance for murder.

(Marvel Comics Presents I#172/4 (fb) - BTS) - Foolkiller rampaged through San Francisco, California, executing anyone who remotely struck his as foolish in any way. The Paranormal Law Enforcement Team's Uno sent her agents Rebecca Taylor and Michael Badilino.

(Marvel Comics Presents I#172/4) - After Badilino and Taylor arrived, they met with a local officer who speculated that the killer might be Vengeance, who could also incinerate victims. Foolkiller arrived and killed the cop for not seeing the truth, then fired on Badilino and Taylor, who dodged. Foolkiller carjacked a vehicle, noting the driver was foolish to be driving a convertible in this day and age. Vengeance pursued him, and Foolkiller crashed into a trolley car, then fired into the crowd, figuring there were so many fools in the city that he was bound to kill some just shooting at random. As Badilino approached, Foolkiller blasted him, but Badilino turned into Vengeance in time to save himself from incineration. Unphased by Foolkiller's purification blasts, Vengeance grabbed Foolkiller who remarked that they were kindred spirits, killing in the name of righteousness. Stating that he didn't kill, Vengeance knocked out Foolkiller with a rap on the head.

(Deadpool IV#7/4 (fb)) – Foolkiller teamed up with Old Yodman against the Grain Reaper, and Yodman was killed, causing Foolkiller to question his life. Yodman’s wife Betty convinced Fookiller to see a therapist, Dr. Andrea Mansoor, and Foolkiller opened up to her about his life. Inspired by Mansoor, Foolkiller joined a vigilantes support group, where he met others, like Llama Harry. Soon, Foolkiller began volunteering to help old and infirm villains. Mansoor convinced Foolkiller to pursue his dream of becoming a psychologist, though he had to finish high school first. In time, he enrolled in Empire State University, and gained more confidence in his new knowledge.

(Deadpool IV#1 (fb) – BTS) – Famous and considered a beloved hero for a time, Deadpool needed to expand his network, so he formed “Deadpool’s Heroes for Hire”, wanting other operatives to dress like him and complete missions in his name while making money doing so. He hired Terror Inc, Stingray, Foolkiller, Slapstick, and Solo, and required them to dress in costumes like his.

(Deadpool IV#3 (fb) – BTS) – Madcap showed up in a Deadpool costume and put himself on the team refusing to leave when the others asked him to.

(Deadpool IV#1) – After Foolkiller shot civilians (stealing one of their wallets), Terror harvested one of their livers to replace his own, which was weak from drinking. Later, the group met with Deadpool to discuss upcoming missions.

(Deadpool IV#7/3 (fb) – BTS) – Deadpool led the team in taking down pirates working for Black Patch.

(Deadpool IV#2) – Deadpool sent the Heroes for Hire to help evict drug dealers from a home, but they were furious to learn that they wouldn’t be paid. The team met with Deadpool, who admitted he’d been sending them on charity cases to help others while putting his full funding behind the Avengers. After Hawkeye delivered orders to stop using the ‘Heroes for Hire’ name, the team demanded they wear individualized uniforms instead, and Deadpool refused. Taking a paying gig, the team went to empty out a tenement building, not realizing that they were working for a villain to evict his renters. Foolkiller used excessive violence against the renters.

(Deadpool IV#3) – Foolkiller tried buying new guns from Mr. Mantle, but his credit card wouldn’t go through. When he pulled a gun on Mantle, Mantle drove off, telling Foolkiller not to contact him again or he’d be killed.

(Deadpool IV#4 (fb) – BTS) – Deadpool decided to put his teammates in different colored uniforms, assigning Terror in violet, Stingray in orange, Slapstick in yellow, Solo in green, Foolkiller in blue, and Madcap in purple.

(Deadpool IV#4) – Ignoring the complaints of the team about their new uniforms, Deadpool sent them out to find anyone who might be posing as him. Deadpool identified Madcap as their foe, and he assembled his team to go after him in a Fantasticar.

(Deadpool IV#5) – Stingray and the others worked on saving civilians (all driven mad by Deadpool), while Deadpool took on Madcap. In the end, Madcap blew himself up.

(Deadpool IV#7/4 (fb) – BTS) – Foolkiller finished his studies, with the support from the team, and they attended his graduation.

(Deadpool IV#7/4) – Deadpool led his team, who began individualizing their uniforms more, in an attack on Hydra. When Deadpool complained of symptoms, Foolkiller said he was likely in a manic episode with wild mood swings. Later, Deadpool showed up at Foolkiller’s home and confided in him, telling Foolkiller he was now his therapist.

(Deadpool IV#8) – In London, Foolkiller stopped a stalker from going after Lady Hooha. The team met back at the Schaefer Theater with Scott Adsit, who delivered paychecks while Deadpool was off on a personal mission.

(Deadpool and the Mercs for Money I#1) – Deadpool, now calling his team the Mercs for Money, led the mercenaries on a mission to the Beyond Corporation, where they had been hired to secure a package, promising them that all the guards were robots. After they slaughtered the guards, they took the package on their new small airship to the rendezvous point, but they found their employers had been killed, and the Crazy Gang attacked. During the battle before the Mercs escaped, Foolkiller was overwhelmed by white mice crawling all over his mask, ordered by the Red Queen. They regrouped at their secret base and opened the box, discovering a disassembled Recorder robot that spouted off future predictions.

(Deadpool and the Mercs for Money I#2) – Foolkiller and Solo went to a meeting with Caroline le Fey, who was flanked by Titania and Scorpia. As Caroline's butler, Lamont, served them tea, laced with truth serum, they found themselves telling her all about the Recorder. Instead of selling the Recorder, Deadpool decided to hold an auction.

(Deadpool and the Mercs for Money I#3) – The Mercs put on suits and catered to a crowd of criminals at the auction, including members of the Secret Empire, Lord Deathstrike, Skrulls, Jack O’Lantern. Dr. Rot, Tater Pud, Baylee Ann, Mole Man and the Moloids, Mephisto, a Doombot, Death Adder (Theodore Scott), Kingpin, Crime Master, Armadillo, Scarecrow, Baron Zemo, Sandman, Dr. Bong, Norman Osborn, Brain Drain, Hobgoblin, Hammerhead, Caroline le Fey, the Wrecking Crew (Bulldozer, Thunderball, Wrecker, Piledriver), Swarm, Leader, Charlie Chainsaw, Tiger Shark, the Ozarks Kingpin, and Rocksalt. When a fight broke out among the criminals, the Mercs got the Recorder out of there, and agreed to sell it to the Ozarks Kingpin, soon loading the robot into the Highwayman’s truck.

(Deadpool and the Mercs for Money I#4) – From aboard the Highwayman’s rig, the Mercs for Money fought off the Hand, Slayback, Big Wheel, and the Orb (at whom Foolkiller threw a gun, causing him to crash into Big Wheel). At a local truck stop, they were attacked by Taskmaster, the Zapata Brothers, and Bruiser. They fled in the truck.

(Deadpool and the Mercs for Money I#5) – As the Mercs, with the Highwayman, moved to make their delivery to the Ozarks Kingpin, the Crazy Gang and Evil Deadpool attacked and a fight broke out. In the end, Deadpool destroyed the Recorder so no one could have it.

(Spider-Man/Deadpool I#3) – The Mercs joined Deadpool and Spider-Man in battling the Cult of Entropy in Bolivia.

(Deadpool IV#14) – When the Celestial Destructor attacked the city, the Mercs for Money remained on the periphery of the battle, saving civilians as they made plans to launch their own business away from Deadpool. After interacting with Scott Adsit, the Mercs for Money trademarked their group name, then asked Cable for money to finance them, though Cable refused.

(Deadpool IV#15) – The Mercs investigated and discovered that Deadpool had been keeping a lot of money from them. Terror accidentally broke Foolkiller’s foot, so Foolkiller shot him. The Mercs then went to New Jersey to find Deadpool’s secret bank account, but Deadpool confronted them in the bank vault.

(Deadpool IV#16) – Locked in the vault with Deadpool, the Mercs confronted him about the lies he’d been telling, and they learned that he was only famous because of a mission Solo had completed while dressed as Deadpool.
    Deadpool realized that Madcap had been manipulating them for months.

(Deadpool IV#17) – When the vault was finally opened, the Mercs were fighting each other, but they soon rushed out when Deadpool set off a flash grenade. As Stingray and Solo burned their contracts with Deadpool, the fight continued outside until an explosion knocked them all out, and they woke up in restraints, held there by Emily Preston and S.H.I.E.L.D. Later, in court with Judge Fred Messihi, Deadpool claimed the bank fight had happened because of Kang the Conqueror, and he let them go, making them promise to pay for the damages. Deadpool ended his relationship with the Mercs, making them sign a no-compete agreement.

(Deadpool and the Mercs for Money II#1) – The Mercs for Money, still working with Deadpool, were hired by Umbral Dynamics to bring in radioactive-powered beings, including Negasonic Teenage Warhead in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Warhead successfully evaded the team, but Deadpool convinced her to come with them peacefully. The Mercs delivered Warhead to Umbral.

(Deadpool and the Mercs for Money II#2) – Gorilla-Man guided the Mercs to a temple in Viet Nam, where they faced Radioactive Man. Solo, Foolkiller, and Masacre donned radiation suits. The Mercs began to realize that Deadpool didn’t care about them. Radioactive Man created radioactive beings to attack the others until Stingray hit him with a containment material that stopped him.

(Deadpool and the Mercs for Money II#3 (fb)) – Deadpool took the Mercs to New Jersey to apprehend Nuklo, but realized Deadpool had led them to Nuke instead. The Mercs stood back and let Nuke badly beat Deadpool. The next day, they attacked Cobalt Man (Ralph Roberts), and Deadpool unnecessarily put them all at risk from radiation overload during the fight.

(Deadpool and the Mercs for Money II#3) – The Mercs met, deciding they needed to end their relationship once and for all. Masacre chose to remain with Deadpool, who formed a new Mercs team.

(Foolkiller III#1 (fb)) – Foolkiller accepted a hit on a crime boss, but after the guards tossed him through a window, he began to rethink his life choices. Instead he turned himself over to S.H.I.E.L.D., and Agent Gary Span assigned Foolkiller to work with criminals as a psychotherapist, in an attempt to both rehabilitate them and to get intel from them.

(Foolkiller III#1 (fb) – BTS) – Salinger began dating Melanie Hawkins. He started treating various criminals, including “Gloves” Lee, Fierce, and a man who had killed and replaced Shia Lebouf with a malfunctioning clone.

(Foolkiller III#1) –Salinger treated Rodney, who called himself the Young Red Skull, and later called in a report to Span. After wearing his old costume to fool around with Melanie, Salinger treated Rodney again. That night at dinner, Rodney called him, and Salinger found he had killed people. Salinger then killed Rodney and put his Foolkiller clothes back on.

(Foolkiller III#2) – While killing Nazis, Foolkiller daydreamed of comparing kills with Wolverine and the Punisher while dealing with memories of his abusive father. Salinger confessed to Span, who shocked Salinger by telling him that S.H.I.E.L.D. would sanction him killing criminals who couldn’t be rehabilitated. Salinger accompanied Melanie to an event, meeting actors like Satchel and Lucas, after which he did a session with criminal the (expletive) King, who had gotten stench powers from Fin Fang Foom’s poop. After laughing at the man, Foolkiller killed him, deeming him beyond rehabilitation. At home, Salinger found a recording left for him that reported that years earlier, Melanie had been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for killing her stepfather, Howard McAffie; she’d been known as the “Piano-Drop Killer”. Salinger confronted Melanie, who apologized for lying to him. Foolkiller went back and killed “Gloves” Lee, Fierce, and the man who'd killed Shia Lebouf.

(Foolkiller III#3 (fb) – BTS) – Foolkiller also killed the Disembowler and Bulletface.

(Foolkiller III#3) – Salinger was shocked when Span continued to approve of his murders, until Span told him how his wife Mona had been killed by Electro years before. Salinger received his new patient and was shocked to see Kurt Gerhardt, who revealed he’d been the one to leave the intel on Melanie. Gerhardt and Salinger fought until Gerhardt exposed Span as really being Stanley Swickle, a criminal collecting bounties on Salinger’s kills. Span entered just then, and Salinger killed him.

(Foolkiller III#4 (fb) – BTS) – Salinger was taken into custody until Deadpool got him out.

(Foolkiller III#4) – Salinger woke up tied up in his home, with Melanie tied up as well, and Deadpool offering to help him. Salinger accompanied Deadpool to the headquarters of the Avengers Unity Squad, where he saw Quicksilver, Synapse, Human Torch, Dr. Voodoo, and Rogue. He agreed to be Deadpool’s therapist again in exchange for having work tossed his way. Salinger did his best at several therapy sessions with Deadpool but made little progress. Melanie broke up with Salinger, then he dressed as Foolkiller and attacked the home of the Hood, where Gerhardt was hiding out, to end things.

(Foolkiller III#5) – Salinger killed Gerhardt with a shot to the head, then he pointed his gun at the Hood, who helped Foolkiller realize the path he was on would eventually lead to the Punisher coming after him. Hood offered Salinger a job, but he turned himself into Ryker's Island instead. There, he accepted his bipolar diagnosis, and began working with other patients, including Jacky. After some time, he was told he had a visitor, and he assumed it was the Punisher, but he was shocked to see Melanie there to see him.

(Despicable Deadpool I#298) – Captain America and Maria Hill called together some of Deadpool’s former allies, including the former Mercs for Money, to discuss a plan in taking him down.

(Moon Knight I#198 (fb) – BTS) – Salinger got engaged to Melanie, but she was later kidnapped by the Societe Des Sadiques.

(Moon Knight I#198) – The Societe brought Moon Knight in at gunpoint and forced him to have a session with Foolkiller, who diagnosed Moon Knight with Bipolar II and Borderline Personality Disorder.

(Ruins of Ravencroft: Dracula#1) – Foolkiller was among the inmates transferred to the new Ravencroft.

(Ravencroft I#4) – Foolkiller escaped from Ravencroft alongside many other inmates.

(King in Black: Thunderbolts#2) – Foolkiller was in Ravencroft when symbiotes attacked. Mr. Hyde, Foolkiller, Man-Bull, Grizzly, and Figment fled with the new Thunderbolts (Batroc, Mr. Fear, Star, Taskmaster) in a bus, and they went to find the corpse of the Sentry, which contained energy in it that could potentially harm the symbiotes and their leader, Knull.

(King in Black: Thunderbolts#3) – When Fisk tried to betray the team, they had Figment cast a massive illusion that made it seem as though Taskmaster betrayed the Thunderbolts and the rest died while blowing up the bridge to save the city. The Thunderbolts soon returned to confront the Kingpin, still with the corpse of the Sentry, and they blackmailed him for money and made plans to stay together as a team.

Comments: Created by Roger Stern, Lee Elias, and Jim Mooney.

    Greg Salinger's last name wasn't revealed until Spectacular Spider-Man II#58.

    The next issue box in Omega the Unknown#9 promised to reveal "Greg's secret sorrow," but Salinger/Foolkiller was not in Omega the Unknown#10, the last issue of the classic series.

    Re-reading the Salinger stories in Spectacular Spider-Man II#58-60 and Amazing Spider-Man I#225-226, I'm reminded of how Roger Stern was one of the first writers I was exposed to in comics, and one of the ones who got me hooked...along with Jim Shooter, Chris Claremont, John Byrne, etc.

    Despite Foolkiller being one of my favorite characters, I always wince when I see him used in new stories because they so seldom capture the essence of the character. Compare Amazing Spider-Man#225 and Foolkiller I#1-10 to Marvel Comics Presents#172/2 (though I think we can attribute this one to drugs), New Avengers#1-3, and whatever arc Gerhardt's currently being used in. I feel the same way about Hellstorm and Howard the Duck.
    The MAX Foolkiller series of 2008 is quite good, however. I definitely recommend it.

    The original OHotMU said the Foolkiller's gun could incinerate up to several hundred cubic feet of matter, whereas the Deluxe handbook it said he could incinerate a human or a human-sized portion of brick. "Spidermike" Fichera speculates that perhaps the original amount given refers to the total amount it can disintegrate before recharging. So if the average person is like 12 cubic feet, then the gun could maybe be used on 25 people? Sounds reasonable to me!

"J.D.Pierre" is an homage to Pierre Salinger (diplomat) and J.D. Salinger (the father of the Menahem Golan produced Captain America star Matt Salinger and the author of Catcher in the Rye).
--Per Degaton

    Thanks to Brandon Nash for pointing out the full names of Dr. Mears and Sam Buckley from Foolkiller's profile in Defenders: Strange Heroes (2012).

Profile by Snood.
Update by Chadman (2016-2020)
Additional images/cleanup by Markus Raymond.

CLARIFICATIONS:

Ross G. Everbest should be distinguished from:

• FOOLKILLER (Ross G. Everbest) - Salinger's predecessor--Man-Thing I#3
• FOOLKILLER (Kurt Gerhardt) - used gun of Everbest and Salinger, leather costume, similar modus operandi to Salinger, consulted with him--Foolkiller I#1, 3
• FOOLKILLER 2099 - trained by Foolkillers, went on mission to assassinate Lawless--X-Men 2099#32
• Foolkiller of Earth-200111 (Mike Trace) - --Foolkiller II#1
• FOOLKILLERS 2099 (Beaumont (d) ) - captured Lawless, all killed by them @ 2094--X-Men 2099#32
  
  he has no KNOWN connections to:
   

• FOOL - Brethren, aided Sersi and Thane Ector in forming Uni-Mind to defeat the Collector, but was slain in the process @ Avengers I#334

images: (without ads)
Omega the Unknown#9, p8, panel 5 (original costume)
Defenders I#73, last page, last panel (second costume)
Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe#4: Foolkiller (Purification gun)
Foolkiller I#2, p4, panel 4 (Salinger institutionalized)
Amazing Spider-Man I#225, p4, panel 1 (main image)
        p5, panel 7 (Salinger face)
Man-Thing I#3, p11, panel 5 (card)
Defenders: Strange Heroes I#1, p25, pan1 (OHotMU image)
Deadpool IV#1, p12, pan4 (Deadpool costume)
Deadpool IV#4, cover (green Deadpool costume)
Foolkiller III#4, p20 (current appearance)

Appearances:
Omega the Unknown#8 (May, 1977) - Roger Stern (writer), Lee Elias (penciler), Jim Mooney (inker), Archie Goodwin (editor)
Omega the Unknown#9 (July, 1977) - Steve Gerber & Mary Skrenes (writers), Jim Mooney (artist), Archie Goodwin (editor)
Defenders I#73 (July, 1979) - Ed Hannigan (writer), Herb Trimpe (penciler), Mike Esposito (inker), Allen Milgrom & Jim Shooters (editors)
Defenders I#74 (August, 1979) - Ed Hannigan (writer), Herb Trimpe (penciler), S. Mitchell (inker), Allen Milgrom (editors)
Defenders I#75 (September, 1979) - Ed Hannigan (writer), Herb Trimpe (penciler), Mike Esposito (inker), Allen Milgrom & Jim Shooters (editors)
Spectacular Spider-Man II#58 (September, 1981) - Roger Stern (writer), John Byrne (penciler), Vince Colletta (inker), Tom De Falco (editor)
Spectacular Spider-Man II#59 (October, 1981) - Roger Stern (writer), Jim Mooney (penciler), J. Strzltski (inker), Tom De Falco (editor)
Spectacular Spider-Man II#60 (November, 1981) - Roger Stern (writer), Ed Hannigan & Jim Mooney (artist), Tom De Falco (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#225 (February, 1982) - Roger Stern (writer), John Romita Jr. (penciler), Bob Wiacek (inker), Tom De Falco (editor)
Amazing Spider-Man I#226 (March, 1982) - Roger Stern (writer), John Romita Jr. (penciler), Jim Mooney (inker), Tom De Falco (editor)
Captain America I#319 (July, 1996) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Paul Neary (rough penciler), Joe Sinnott (finisher), Mike Carlin (editor)
Foolkiller I#1-3 (October-December, 1990) - Steve Gerber (writer), J.J Birch (penciler), Tony DeZuniga (inker), Craig Anderson (editor)
Foolkiller I#4-5 (January-February, 1991) - Steve Gerber (writer), J.J Birch (penciler), Tony DeZuniga (inker), Craig Anderson (editor)
Foolkiller I#6-7 (March-April, 1991) - Steve Gerber (writer), J.J Birch (penciler), Vincent Giarrano (inker), Craig Anderson (editor)
Foolkiller I#8-10 (June-August, 1991) - Steve Gerber (writer), J.J Birch (penciler), Vincent Giarrano (inker), Craig Anderson (editor)
Marvel Year In Review 1991 - article by Glenn Herdling
Marvel Comics Presents I#172/4 ( Late January, 1995) - Chris Cooper (writer), Reggie Jones (breakdowns), Fred Harper (finishes), Richard Ashford (editor)
Deadpool IV#5 (January-March, 2016) – Gerry Duggan (writer), Mike Hawthorne (penciler), Terry Pallot (inker), Jordan White (editor)
Deadpool IV#7/4 (July, 2016) – Amy Chu (writer), Emilio Laiso (artist), Jordan White (editor)
Deadpool and the Mercs for Money I#1-5 (January-March, 2016) – Cullen Bunn (writer), Salvador Espin (artist), Jordan White (editor)
Deadpool IV#8 (May, 2016) – Gerry Duggan (writer), Matteo Lolli (artist), Jordan White (editor)
Spider-Man/Deadpool I#3 (May, 2016) – Joe Kelly (writer), Ed McGuinness (penciler), Mark Morales (inker), Jordan White (editor)
Deadpool IV#14-17 (August-November, 2016) – Gerry Duggan (writer), Mike Hawthorne (penciler), Terry Pallot (inker), Jordan White (editor)
Deadpool and the Mercs for Money II#1-3 (September-November, 2016) – Cullen Bunn (writer), Iban Coello (artist), Jordan White (editor)
Foolkiller III#1-5 (January, 2017) – Max Bemis (writer), Dalibor Talajic (penciler), Jose Marzan Jr (inker), Jordan White (editor)
Despicable Deadpool I#298 (June, 2018) – Gerry Duggan (writer), Mike Hawthorne (penciler), Terry Pallot (inker), Jordan White (editor)
Moon Knight I#198 (October, 2018) – Max Bemis (writer), Jacen Burrows (penciler), Guillermo Ortego (inker), Jake Thomas (editor)
Ruins of Ravencroft: Dracula#1 (March, 2020) – Frank Tieri (writer), Angel Unzueta, Stefano Landini (artist), Devin Lewis (editor)
Ravencroft#4 (July, 2020) – Frank Tieri (writer), Angel Unzueta (artist), Nick Lowe (editor)
King in Black: Thunderbolts#2-3 (April-May, 2021) – Matthew Rosenberg (writer), Juan Ferreyra (artist), Jake Thomas (editor)