TENPIN
Real Name: Alvin Healey
Identity/Class: Human
Occupation: Juggler, criminal
Group Membership: Death-Throws (Bombshell, Knickknack, Oddball (Orville Bock), Ringleader, Throwdown)
Affiliations: AIM, Batroc the Leaper, Bobcat, Brothers Grimm, Bullet Biker, Mad Dog, RAID, Ramrod, Razor-Fist (Douglas Scott), Steinmetz, Sumo
Enemies: Captain America (Steve Rogers),
Falcon (Sam Wilson), Diamondback (Rachel Leighton), Hawkeye (Clint Barton), Loki, Mockingbird (Bobbi Morse),
Sabra, Shang-Chi, Trick Shot, Union Jack (Joey Chapman);
formerly Crossfire (Wiliam Cross), Oddball (Elton Healey)
Known Relatives: Elton Healey (Oddball, deceased brother)
Aliases: None
Base of Operations: Unrevealed
First Appearance: Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#3 (February, 1986)
Powers/Abilities: An expert juggler who specializes in juggling objects of dissimilar sizes and weights, Tenpin is accustomed to handling weighted bowling pins, burning bottles, and other deadly objects, and hurling them with expert precision.
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 240 lbs.
Hair: Green
Eyes: Brown
History:
(Captain America I#317 (fb) - BTS) - A team of evil jugglers decided to form, seeking profit through criminal acts. Oddball continued wielding his arsenal of deadly balls; Bombshell focused on juggling lit bombs and explosive devices; Knickknack took to juggling blades, chainsaws, and bricks; Tenpin, Oddball's brother, juggled burning bowling pins; and Ringleader, the leader of the group, juggled razor sharp rings. Calling themselves the Death-Throws, the deadly jugglers started taking contracts out for various kills and assignments. Oddball heard from Crossfire that he would pay the team handsomely if they rescued him from the police before the trial.
(Captain America I#317) - The Death-Throws waited for Crossfire, who was being escorted into the courthouse by the police. They threw gas bombs at the crowd and hit the cops with tossed weapons, Knickknack wielding a pipe. As the crowd choked, the jugglers donned gas masks and gave one to Crossfire, easily escaping with him and blowing up a cop car on their way out. When they arrived back at their warehouse headquarters, the Death-Throws realized that Crossfire couldn't pay them Furious, they made Crossfire stand in the middle of them as they juggled and tossed deadly devices at each other, which would have killed him if he moved. They decided to use him as bait for Hawkeye, who they figured they could auction off to the Avengers. The Death-Throws set traps at an abandoned railroad station and sent a message to Hawkeye through Captain America's hotline. Hawkeye soon entered with Captain America's shield and they nearly trapped him under a steel mesh net, but Captain America entered and fired flare arrows, lighting the room up and giving Hawkeye time to escape. The Death-Throws attacked, throwing their various weapons. Bombshell was taken down by an arrow from Hawkeye while Captain America charged Tenpin, knocking him out. The entire team was soon delivered to the police.
(Avengers Spotlight#25 (fb) - BTS) - Crossfire hired several villains, including Bobcat, the Brothers Grimm, the Bullet Biker, Mad Dog, Razor-Fist, and the Death-Throws, offering a bounty if they brought him the severed arm of Hawkeye.
(Avengers Spotlight#23) - Hawkeye, wounded and running from other opponents, was attacked by the Death-Throws, who surrounded him, each juggling their deadly arsenal. Oddball hit Hawkeye in the ribs with a ball just before the hero climbed quickly up a telephone pole to escape. He shot an arrow at one of Bombshell's bombs and escaped in the subsequent explosion.
(Avengers Spotlight#24) - The Death-Throws soon joined Crossfire and the others in surrounding Hawkeye in the sewer.
(Avengers Spotlight#25) - Crossfire ordered Hawkeye's arm severed. As the villains moved in, Mockingbird and Trickshot joined Hawkeye, and they fought the villains off, disarming the Death-Throws with their arrows and staves while Hawkeye kept dodging their tossed weapons. In minutes, all the villains were defeated.
(Captain America I#411) - Tenpin traveled to the AIM Weapons Expo on Boca Caliente. Later, he watched, alongside dozens of other criminals, a bout between "Crossbones" and Mad Dog, Ramrod and Sumo.
(Captain America I#412-414) - The fight continued against Razor-Fist (Douglas Scott) and Batroc the Leaper before Captain America was exposed. The villains rushed to attack, but were fought off by Captain America and his allies, Falcon, Shang-Chi, and Diamondback (Rachel Leighton).
(Union Jack II#1) - RAID hired the Death-Throws (Bombshell, Knickknack, a new Oddball, Ringleader, Tenpin), who were now being led by Crossfire, to engage in terrorist attacks on London.
(Union Jack II#2) - While attacking the Tower Bridge, the Death-Throws were hit by Sabra, who quickly nailed Tenpin. The team was swiftly defeated.
(Dark Reign Files) - Quasimodo researched the Death-Throws including Tenpin for Norman Osborn.
(Loki: Agent of Asgard#8) - Tenpin joined the Death-Throws, led by Ringleader, in a heist at the Big Top Casino in Las Vegas. They were thwarted by Loki when he hit a knockout gas ball tossed by Oddball back at them, leaving the Death-Throws behind unconscious for the authorities to pick up.
SECRET WARS III HAPPENED
(Devil's Reign: Moon Knight#1) - The Death-Throws, including Tenpin, were imprisoned at the Myrmidon private prison. They stayed together, but had no interest to let 8-Ball join them at their table.
(Avengers Inc.#3) - Tenpin was present when the Death-Throws learned of Oddball's death and listened to the suggestions of Ringleader and Bombshell to investigate the murder.
Comments: Created by Mark Gruenwald, Paul Neary, and Dennis Janke.
Tenpin received an entry with the Death-Throws in Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Deluxe Edition#3.
Profile by Chadman.
CLARIFICATIONS:
Tenpin
has no known connections to
images: (without ads)
Official Handbook of the Marvel
Universe Deluxe Edition#3, p45, pan4
Captain America I#317, p11, pan6 (head shot)
Appearances:
Captain America I#317 (May, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer),
Paul Neary (penciler), Dennis Janke (inker), Mike Carlin (editor)
Avengers Spotlight#23-24 (October-November, 1989) - Howard
Mackie (writer), Al Milgrom (penciler), Don Heck (inker), Mark Gruenwald
(editor)
Avengers Spotlight#25 (December, 1989) - Howard Mackie
(writer), Allen Milgrom (penciler), Tom Morgan (inker), Mark Gruenwald (editor)
Captain America I#411-413 (January-March, 1993) - Mark
Gruenwald (writer), Rik Levins (penciler), Danny Bulanadi (inker), Mike Rockwitz
(editor)
Captain America I#414 (April, 1993) - Mark Gruenwald (writer),
Rik Levins, MC Wyman (penciler), Danny Bulanadi (inker), Mike Rockwitz (editor)
Union Jack II#1-2 (November-December, 2006) - Christos N. Gage
(writer), Mike Perkins (penciler), Andrew Hennessy (inker), Andy Schmidt
(editor)
Dark Reign Files (February, 2009) - Michael Hoskin & various others (writer), Jeff Youngquist (editor)
Loki: Agent of Asgard#8 (January, 2015) - Al Ewing (writer), Lee Garbett (artist), Wil Moss (editor)
Devil's Reign: Moon Knight#1 (May, 2022) - Jed MacKay (writer), Federico Sabbatini (artist), Martin Biro (editor)
Avengers Inc.#3 (January, 2024) - Al Ewing (writer), Leonard Kirk (pencils/inks), Belardino Brabo (inks), Tom Brevoort (editor)
First Posted: 05/27/2008
Last updated: 03/02/2024
Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.
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