SERPENT SQUAD of EARTH-1610

Membership:  Anaconda, Asp, Black Mamba, Death Adder, Princess Python (all of Earth-1610)

Purpose: Unrevealed; they were attempting to retrieve a Serpent Crown taken from them by Project Pegasus

Affiliations: None

Enemies:  Fantastic Four (Human Torch, Invisible Woman, Mr. Fantastic, Thing), Project Pegasus, S.H.I.E.L.D. (including agent Wendell Vaughn) (all of Earth-1610)

Base of Operations: Unrevealed (Earth-1610)

First Appearance: Ultimate Power#1 (December, 2006)

History:

(Ultimate Power#1) - The Serpent Squad attacked the Project Pegasus facility in Devil's Point, Wyoming, hoping to reclaim what had been stolen from them: the Serpent Crown. The Fantastic Four came to the Project's defense, and quickly defeated the Squad. They were taken into custody, but not before Mamba angrily taunted the Thing as an unlovable freak who would die alone.

Comments: Created by Brian Michael Bendis (writer), Greg Land (penciler), Matt Ryan (inker), Ralph Macchio (editor).

   From left to right in the main image here, the snakes are Death Adder, Black Mamba, Anaconda, Princess Python, and Asp.

   Anaconda (the blonde in the center) was referred to as Ana; it is unclear if this is her real name or a nickname. She possesses gills in her neck, and her torso appears to have a serpentine cast to it.

   Asp (far right, brunette) was never named as such in Ultimate Power #1; her name was given in Ultimate Secrets #1 (2006). Nor did she do anything of note during the fight. She was briefly seen being knocked upside down by someone off panel, either the Thing or Mr. Fantastic. Her powers remain unrevealed.

   The real name (or nickname) of Black Mamba (center left, brunette) is Janis. She told the Thing that she could not be hurt, so he picked her up and threw her as far away as he could (which apparently did leave her unhurt).

   Death Adder (far left) has a forked tongue, green-tinged skin, hair, and eyes, and a barbed tail. She can transform her fingers into actual serpents, complete with heads and fangs; though distinctly larger and longer than human fingers these serpents do apparently remain attached to her hands.

   Princess Python (center right, red hair) has gills on her neck and scales grafted on to her torso. She was able to catch the Human Torch's fireballs and throw them at others; she could leap well into the air (apparently eight feet plus) and her strength was sufficient that she could punch the Thing hard enough to knock him head over heels, even breaking off one of his rock plates.

   In addition to the Serpent Squad, this issues briefly features Project Pegasus (the facility that the Serpents were assaulting), and one of its defenders, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Wendell Vaughn. It name drops the Serpent Crown (which Vaughn cites as "some sort of unlawful energy source"), and Vaughn notes that all Project Pegasus business is classified under the Gruenwald Doctrine. Now, this issue is the first issue of a crossover between the "Ultimates Universe" (Earth-1610) and the J.M. Straczynski-created Squadron Supreme's universe; as the original Squadron Supreme (Earth-712), Serpent Squad, Serpent Crown, Project: PEGASUS, and Wendell Vaughn (Quasar) were all creations particularly affiliated with Mark Gruenwald, clearly this is intended as a tip of the cap to the Gru. The profiler over-cynically wonders if, given that Bendis otherwise appears to less than strongly familiar with continuity, those tips were suggested by the story's editor and former Two-in-One Twin (with the Gru) Ralph Macchio.

   As noted in the previous paragraph, these characters are mostly based on Earth-616 (the "main" Marvel universe) models. While the 616 versions should not be confused with those of Earth-1610, where profiles exist on them they are linked here: Anaconda, Asp, Black Mamba, Death Adder, Serpent Squad, Project: PEGASUS. No profile yet exists for the Fantastic Four or its members, Princess Python, Quasar (Vaughn), the Serpent Crown, or S.H.I.E.L.D.

   This Serpent Squad received a half page entry in Ultimate Secrets (2008), one of Marvel's Official Handbooks.

Profile by SQUEAK

CLARIFICATIONS:
The Serpent Squad of Earth-1610 should not be confused with:

• Serpent Cartel of Earth-712 @ Avengers#147
• The Serpent Society of Earth-616, led by the Sidewinder (Seth Voelker) and later by King Cobra, @ Captain America I#310
• The Serpent Society of Earth-27537, fought the Exiles, @ Exiles #89
• The Serpent Society of the Marvel Adventures Earth, fought the Avengers, @ Marvel Adventures The Avengers I#11
• The Serpent Squad of Earth-616, led by the Viper, @ Captain America I#163
• The Serpent Squad of Earth-616, led by the Viper (Madame Hydra), @ Captain America I#180
• The Serpent Squad of Earth-616, led by the Sidewinder (Seth Voelker), @ Marvel Two-in-One#64
• The "Serpent Squad" of Earth-616, led by Viper (Madame Hydra) to infiltrate the Serpent Society, @ Captain America I#337
• The Serpent Squad of Earth-616, led by Sin to free Crossbones, @ Captain America IV#28
• Soldiers of the Serpent, Earth-MC2 counterparts of the Sons of the Serpent, @ A-Next#4
• Sons of the Serpent of Earth-616, racist group @ Avengers I#32
• or any other serpent or snake groups/characters, nor those with a similar name

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Ultimate Power#1, pg2 , p1 (main image)