KASHMIR VENNEMA
(Earth-12083)

Real Name: Kashmir Vennema

Identity/Class: Extradimensional/Alternate Reality (Earth-12083) human technology user

Occupation: Interdimensional technology procurer, purchaser, and salesperson

Group Membership: Vennema Multiversal;
    formerly Pretty Apocalypse

Affiliations: AIM (Advanced Idea Mechanics), Batroc's Brigade (Georges Batroc, Machete (unidentified female), Rapido/Roussel Dupont, Maximilian Zaran), MODOK 2.0 (clone of George Tarleton)

Enemies: Captain America (Steve Rogers), Hawkeye (Clint Barton), Iron Man (Tony Stark)

Known Relatives: Unidentified father

Aliases: Operative 12 (identification used by other Vennema Multiversal counterparts; see comments)

Base of Operations: Last seen at the Raft Maximum Security prison, off the coast of New York City, Earth-616;
    formerly an AIM base in Madripoor, Earth-616;
    formerly Vennema Multiversal, Earth-17121;
    formerly Earth-12083

First Appearance: Captain America and Iron Man#633 (August, 2012)

Powers/Abilities: Kashmir does not have actual superhuman powers; however, she is highly intelligent (possibly genius level), charismatic, and fairly calm under pressure, though she was somewhat reckless, failing to heed guidance from others in Vennema Multiversal. She has no compunction about sacrificing an entire Earth for the sake of profit for herself and Vennema Multiversal.

    She preferred to dress in a highly fashionable nature, and she preferred to addressed formally. She typically wore earrings that were symbols of Vennema Multiversal (hers were all solid (gold) colored).

    She had access to advanced technology from Vennema Multiversal and other sources. She was seen to operate: (1) The Harvester Protocol, a combination of software and nanoware that could render useless any technology it contacted while at the same time gathering detailed information and schematics from the very systems it was corrupting; (2) a winged rocket pack; (3) and a replica of Iron Man's repulsor.

Height: Approximately 5'8"
Weight: Approximately 130 lbs.
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Black

History:
(Captain America and Black Widow#636 (fb) - BTS) - Kashmir's father was a counselor for troubled teens. She wanted nothing more than to front an all-girl metal band.
    Her father never approved of her choices and told her she'd end up in prison.

(Captain America and Black Widow#636 (fb) - BTS) - Kashmir eventually formed a band, "Pretty Apocalypse," who played Iron Maiden covers, though they sometimes threw in a Vixen jam for good measure.

(Captain America and Iron Man#635 (fb) - BTS) - At some point, Kashmir Vennema was recruited into Vennema Multiversal, an organization of Kashmir Vennemas across numerous universes, who obtained technology from one reality and sold it to another for profit, heedless of the damage to each reality.

(Captain America and Black Widow#636 (fb) - BTS) - Kashmir received conditioning to help her resist telepathic screening.

(Captain America and Iron Man#635 (fb) - BTS) - Another Kashmir Vennema warned Kashmir-12083 that her recklessness would negatively impact the bottom line at some point.

(Captain America and Iron Man#634 - BTS) - Kashmir contracted with Earth-616's MODOK 2.0 and AIM to steal the Harvester Protocol, a combination of software and nanoware that could render useless any technology it contacted while at the same time gathering detailed information and schematics from the very systems it was corrupting.

(Captain America and Iron Man#633 - BTS / Captain America and Iron Man#633 - BTS) - Kashmir employed Batroc's Brigade (Batroc, Machete, Rapido, Zaran) to assist her in this endeavor, paying them quite well by their standards.

(Captain America and Iron Man#633 (fb) - BTS) - Captain America sought to track down Kashmir Vennema, whom he had recently encountered; Cap was unaware that this Kashmir (from Earth-12069) was one of many Kashmirs.

arranged with Tony Stark to attend a weapons expo in Madripoor, hoping to track down Kash Vennema (Reality-12069) whom he had recently encountered. Stark arranged for Cap to attend incognito as a Mr. Azud.

(Captain America and Iron Man#633 (fb) - BTS) - Stark picked up Kashmir Vennema's name in discussion related to the weapons expo; they were unaware that this was a different Kashmir than the one Cap had previoulsy encountered.

(Captain America and Iron Man#633 - BTS) - Captain America arranged with Tony Stark to attend a weapons expo in Madripoor, hoping to track down Kash Vennema. Stark arranged for Cap to attend incognito as a Mr. Azud.

(Captain America and Iron Man#633) - As "Azud," passed through the expo's security, Kashmir asked him for help in putting back on the necklace she had removed during the security screening. Cap recognized Kashmir's face as soon as she turned toward him, and called her "Kash"; not recognizing him, and surprised because she was usually very good with names and faces, she asked if they knew each other. "Azud" told her they had met briefly while she was with Archstone. She apologized for not recognizing him and asked his name, then told "Mr. Azud" she hoped he enjoyed the rest of the show.
    While Stark (who was watching remotely via his robotic hornet drones) was impressed with Kashmir's beauty and the regal confidence with which she carried herself, Cap realized something wasn't quite right, and that her mannerisms, speech patterns, and the way she moved were all different.
    "Azud" was present in the room with Kash as they watched the introduction and planned auction of the harvester protocol. The auction was interrupted by Batroc's Brigade, who intended to steal the Harvester Protocol, leading to an altercation with Captain America and Iron Man, both of whom revealed their presences. When Kashmir picked up the Harvester Protocol amidst the chaos, Batroc rushed up and apologetically (calling her "belle") told her he was being well paid to collect the device. She revealed she was the one paying him and confirmed this with the mission code "jumpstart-tango-leapfrog-zebulon." She then told him the mission parameters had changed: If he got her out of there safely, he would be paid double. As Batroc assaulted Iron Man, she noted she did not appreciate being called "belle" as she activated the Harvester Protocol, which apparently took control of the hornet drones and took out both Cap's hard light shield (which he had used since he couldn't smuggle his shield through security) and Iron Man's armor.

 

 

 

(Captain America and Iron Man#634) - After Tony reabsorbed his armor and temporarily shut down the "virus" (which had also destroyed Rapido's control over his bionic gun arm), Kashmir deactivated the Harvester, concluding that this had been sufficient test for the Harvester and that she wanted to reserve global release for paying customers. Despite Kashmir's urging, Batroc waited until he felt it was safe to activate their transmitter (so that it wouldn't be disrupted by the Harvester), which apparently summoned a craft or something (see comments) that smashed through the wall, showering Cap with debris. Zaran then brought out rocket pack harnesses, commenting that they had better work, and Kashmir assured him they would; when Zaran corrected her for calling him "Zardoz," she just said, "Whatev--" at which point Cap rushed over and tried to stop her. Batroc swiftly kicked Cap to the ground, and then Kashmir and the Brigade departed via their rocket packs (with Zaran carrying Machete, who Cap had punched out earlier).

(Captain America and Iron Man#634 (fb) - BTS) - Kashmir instructed Batroc's Brigade to keep an eye on Captain America to prevent further interference.

(Captain America and Iron Man#634 - BTS) - Stark prevented his armor from expunging the "virus" completely so he could track its signal back to its source, and they discussed how the data transmitted back to it might allow them to mass produce Iron Man armor. Cap instructed Stark to keep searching for Kashmir while he went out and worked the town.
    When Cap returned to his apartment, Batroc ambushed him, but he was able to retrieve his real shield. When Machete and Zaran joined the fight, Stark arrived and joined the fight wearing armor he had cobbled together from devices at the weapons expo. Stunning the super-villains, Iron Man flew Cap to the warehouse to which the nanobots were traveling.

 

(Captain America and Iron Man#634) - Alongside MODOK, AIM agents, and Batroc's Brigade, Kashmir confronted Cap and Iron Man. Wearing a gauntlet based on Iron Man's, she told them they'd made a grave mistake coming there: "My clients value their privacy. And you know what they say. In MODOK we trust. All others pay...well...you know." (pay cash...get it?)

(Captain America and Iron Man#635) - Kashmir told Cap and Iron Man "It's been fun, gentlemen," and Iron Man, annoyed by being threatened by someone who had stolen his technology, planned to teach them a painful lesson, but he needed Cap to help occupy them for 5 minutes while his armor finished expunging the Harvester "virus." As Kashmir fired a repulsor blast at them, Cap deflected it with his shield. The two heroes soon took out Batroc's Brigade (though it was actually MODOK who took out Machete with lasers through the shoulder and chest while targeting Iron Man), and Kashmir fled, and Batroc followed. Cap pursued, taking out Batroc en route.

 

(Captain America and Iron Man#635 (fb) - BTS) - Kashmir established contact with Vennema Multiversal.

(Captain America and Iron Man#635) - As Kashmir noted, "So...the milk has been spilled...but...really...there are more fish in the money tree," Cap rushed up, calling, "Kash!" She told him she wasn't sure she knew him well enough for him to address her so commonly, "Ms. Vennema, if you please." When Cap disregarded this and told her to come along peacefully, she fired another repulsor blast and re-activated the Harvester, telling Cap there was money to be made by selling this "virus" and by selling the tech I can harvest by setting it free. Cap ordered her to shut it down, but she told him it was too late for that: "This world's nothing but a natural resource waiting to be spoiled!"

(Captain America and Iron Man#635 - BTS) - As the Harvester's effects were felt in the surrounding streets, however, Iron Man (who had fully recovered by now) -- whose armor had developed an anti-virus while rebooting and expunging the "virus" -- released mass quantities of robotic hornets from his Stark-Pym Myriad Engine. The robots swarmed the city, devouring the Harvester while continuing to self-replicate and spreading the anti-virus until the Harvester was completely wiped out (though this would take a few more hours).
    During this time, Captain America bound Kashmir and Batroc's arms behind their backs with industrial strength zip-ties (check the issue if you don't believe me). Kashmir refused to divulge anything further.

(Captain America and Iron Man#635) - Cap told Iron Man that with the proper incentives, he was guessing they could get her to flip on all the slime she'd been supplying with weapons and technology, though, even if not, at least Kashmir was out of business.

(Captain America and Iron Man#635 - BTS) - From within Vennema Multiversal headquarters, two other Kashmirs discussed the failure of "Operative 12" as her own fault, partially for hiring locally rather than going with one of their security details.

(Captain America and Black Widow#636 (fb) - BTS) - Kashmir was transferred to the Raft. Feeling she was not the same woman he had previously encountered (Kashmir-12069), Cap interrogated her dozens of time, had his associates run countless tests -- matching her DNA with whatever samples they had gathered from the previous encounter (Damocles Research Facility, near the White Sands missile range, San Andres mountains, New Mexico) -- and even had his telepathic friends test the limits of her anti-psi conditioning.

(Captain America and Black Widow#636 - BTS) - Black Widow-616 began investigating Kashmir Vennema.

(Captain America and Black Widow#636 - BTS) - Black Widow-616 met with an associate, Lewis, in Central Park. He gave her a file on Kashmir Vennema, which showed that Captain America had apprehended her weeks ago. Louis responded, "That's true...but with a woman like Kash, imprisonment will barely slow her down."

(Captain America and Black Widow#636 (fb) - BTS) - Cap summoned Hawkeye to meet her so he could decide if she was the same person he had met.

(Captain America and Black Widow#636) - Cap brought Hawkeye in to meet Kashmir. While he admitted she looked a little different, he attributed it to her being stripped of her makeup and being garbed in prison clothes. After she told him that color of his uniform was out-of-date when Purple Rain hit the bargain CD bin, he mockingly acknowledged that she was less polite. Kashmir then taunted Captain America about thinking her a decoy for the "real" Kash and further -- mentioning the Red Skull, Dr. Doom, Lord Garrison, and Skrulls -- asked him if he didn't have anything better to do than stop a little free enterprise. He responded by reminding her how she had nearly brought society crashing down without batting an eye, as if she did that sort of thing routinely, and then further asked her who Lord Garrison was.
    Concluding that Lord Garrison was not actually one of their arch-foes, Kashmir realized she had received some bad intelligence, at which point Hawkeye realized they were dealing with an alternate reality situation. When Kashmir further taunted that "the limits of your imagination are staggering," Captain America pushed her to enlighten him. When he asked what he was dealing with, she told him that he was asking the wrong question. When he instead asked what she wanted, she told him that was more like it. "I've grown tired of the game, you know? I want to settle down. I want the white picket fence...and the pardons and new identity and witness protection that goes with it." She elaborated that there were some very bad people who might do her harm if she cooperated with Cap; "But, first things first. You make sure I get what I want, and I'll make sure you're properly introduced."

Comments: Created by Cullen Bunn and Alessandro Vitti.

    While geography and real world history aren't really my strong-suits, you can Google "Kashmir" to see it is an Asian region incorporating different territories ruled by India, Pakistan, and China.

    I'm not sure what the transmitter Batroc used in #634 did. He was holding a little device with a button that I thought was the transmitter, but when he pushed it, the wall blew up behind Captain America. Zaran then brought out the jet pack deals? Did they transmit the jet or rocket packs to their sides after the Harvester was deactivated? Did they transmit the Harvester to AIM? I'm not sure, but I think perhaps he transmitted a signal that summoned a small craft (carrying the jet packs; there's a shadow that kind of looks like a ship as Cap is dodging the debris) that smashed through the wall, and then Zaran got the "jetpacks" out of it? They then flew out of a whole in the wall, so I guess that's what happened...though we don't ever see the craft or whatever blew up the wall.

    Interestingly, while in Captain America and Iron Man#535, two other Kashmirs at Vennema Multiversal referred to this Kashmir as "Operative 12," in Captain America and Black Widow#536, Black Widow-21611 called Kashmir-12116 "Number 12" after killing her. They definitely weren't the same Kashmirs, as Kashmir-12083 appeared again later in that same issue

    These Kashmir Vennema profiles may be a bit heavy in detail and dialogue, but that's because I'm trying to give each counterpart some distinction in terms of behavior, speech patterns, etc.

    What is up with the choice of her name? I think Spider-Woman (Jessica Drew) says it best in Avengers Assemble#21: "What's a cashmere enema?"

Profile by Snood.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Kashmir Vennema-12069 should be distinguished from her various alternate reality counterparts:

--Captain America and Iron Man#635 (November, 2012)

images: (without ads)
Captain America and Iron Man#633, pg. 9, panel 5 (cocktail dress, upper body);
        pg. 10, panel 2 (cocktail dress, rear view);
    #634, pg. 8, panel 6 (rocket pack);
        pg. 20, panel 1 (action suit, w/ MODOK, AIM, and Batroc's Brigade);
            panel 3 (repulsor glove and earrings);
    #635, pg. 1, panel 1 (action suit, full/main);
        pg. 15 (communicating with Vennema Multiversal);
        pg. 20, panel 1 and 2 (two other Kashmirs)
Captain America and Black Widow#636, pg. 10, panel 1 (imprisoned)

Appearances:
Captain America and Iron Man#633 (August, 2012) - Cullen Bunn (writer), Barry Kitson (artist), John Denning & Jake Thomas (assistant editor), Lauren Sankovitch (editor)
Captain America and Iron Man#634 (September, 2012) - Cullen Bunn (writer), Barry Kitson (penciler/breakdowns), Jay Leisten (finishes/inker), John Denning & Jake Thomas (assistant editor), Lauren Sankovitch (editor)
Captain America and Iron Man#635 (October, 2012) - Cullen Bunn (writer), Barry Kitson (artist), John Denning & Jake Thomas (assistant editor), Lauren Sankovitch (editor)
Captain America and Black Widow#636 (November, 2012) - Cullen Bunn (writer), Francesco Francavilla (artist), Jake Thomas (assistant editor), Lauren Sankovitch (editor)

Last updated: 05/21/15

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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