RAPIER

Real Name: Dominic Tyrone

Identity/Class: Human technology user

Occupation: Criminal

Group Membership: Scourge victims; formerly the Maggia

Affiliations: Clarissa; formerly Silvermane (Silvio Manfredi)

Enemies: Pecile, Savvarino, Scourge, Silvermane (Silvio Manfredi), Spider-Man (Peter Parker)

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: New York City, New York

First Appearance: Spectacular Spider-Man Annual I#2 (August, 1980)

Powers/Abilities: Rapier was an expert in fencing, and at wielding a rapier. Agile, strong, and athletic, Rapier wielded a long sharp blade in combat, and it was equipped with an electro-stun attachment.

Height: 6' (by approximation)
Weight: 180 lbs. (by approximation)
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Brown with white streak

History:
(Spectacular Spider-Man Annual I#2 (fb) ) - Decades ago, Dominic Tyrone and Silvio Manfredi (the future Silvermane) plotted to take over organized crime in New York City. They worked their way through the rackets, defeated every rival gang, and worked their way to the top of the Maggia, making a pact to be loyal to each other forever. Later, however, Manfredi put a hit out on Tyrone, who was bludgeoned before being dumped in a lake outside the city. A girl near the lake, Clarissa, jumped in and rescued Tyrone after several attempts, then she took him back to her father. They removed the water from his lungs, but discovered the bludgeoning had caused nerve damage resulting in paralysis. Told he would never walk again, Tyrone grew furious and determined to regain the use of his body and get revenge on Silvermane. With Clarissa at his side over the years, he gained full use of his body and began weight-training, and fencing, soon excelling, until he felt the rapier was an extension of himself. After the death of Clarissa's father, he costumed himself as the Rapier and began a plot to get revenge on Silvermane.

(Spectacular Spider-Man Annual I#2 (fb) - BTS) - Rapier developed a reputation as a crime-fighter aiding police in New York City, and his name appeared in the papers. He became known for stopping bank robbers and airport smugglers. He specifically focused on interrupting Maggia plots to provoke Silvermane.

(Spectacular Spider-Man Annual I#2) - On the docks, Rapier rushed past Spider-Man to defeat several armed criminals, using his agility and sword, with its electro-stun attachment. After leaving Spider-Man, who wanted to know more about him, Rapier hired a fencing master to spar with him, and he humiliated the man. Clarissa entered and wondered if Rapier could give up his mad quest, but he saw Silvermane's picture in the paper and said he couldn't stop until Silvermane was dead.

(Spectacular Spider-Man Annual I#2 (fb) - BTS) - Rapier contacted Silvermane remotely and set up a private meeting at Silvermane's home in the Cloisters, agreeing to meet that night in a particular courtyard. Silvermane promised to be alone.

(Spectacular Spider-Man Annual I#2) - Rapier arrived in the Cloisters and knocked out some of Silvermane's men, including Savvarino and Pecile, then he waited for Silvermane, unmasking as he saw his old friend and telling him what had really happened to him. When Silvermane drew a gun, Rapier fired at him with the stun-blaster, then prepared to murder him, but Spider-Man intervened. Rapier sparred with Spider-Man, slicing off his web-blasters and tossing him a spare rapier. After a sparring session, Spider-Man nearly had the upper hand, but Clarissa, who had followed Rapier to the Cloisters, knocked Spider-Man out with a fallen rapier. Furious at his victory being taken from him, Rapier ordered Clarissa to go home and to be gone when he got back. As he left, Rapier began planning to adopt a new costumed identity so he could put another long con in place to take down Silvermane. As he climbed over the wall, however, Rapier was hit by a stray shot from Silvermane, the bullet striking him in the back and knocking him to the ground. Rapier ran away with his wounds.

(Captain America I#319) - At the Bar With No Name, Rapier attended a meeting of super criminals to talk about the threat posed by the villain-killer Scourge, but they were all gunned down by Scourge, who was posing as the bartender. Other victims at the bar included Bird-Man, Cheetah, Commander Kraken, Cyclone, Firebrand, Grappler, Hellrazor, Hijacker, Letha, Mind-Wave, Mirage, Ringer, Shellshock, Steeplejack, Turner D. Century and Vamp.

(Captain America I#320) - Rapier's corpse was seeen.

Comments: Created by Ralph Macchio (writer) & Jim Mooney (artist).

A rapier is "a thin, light sharp-pointed sword used for thrusting." In 2020, this name just doesn't hold up. It's, well, a bit rapey. Many of Rapier's lines in the annual are packed with unintentional innuendo.

While many of Scourge's victims have been resurrected, Rapier has stayed good and dead.

Thanks to Loki for pointing out Rapier's corpse appearing in Captain America I#320.

Profile by Chadman.

CLARIFICATIONS:
Rapier should not be confused with:

Clarissa

(Spectacular Spider-Man Annual I#2 (fb)) - Years ago, Clarissa saw a wounded man, Dominic Tyrone, thrown into a lake outside New York City, and she made multiple dives in to save him. Taking him back to her father, Clarissa saw Tyrone receive the news that he would never walk again, but Tyrone was determined and, over a period of years, conquered his paralysis and became an expert in fencing. Clarissa fell in love with him and they became inseparable. When Clariss’a father died, Tyrone was at her side. A year later, he costumed himself as the Rapier and focused a plot of revenge against his old rival, Silvermane.

(Spectacular Spider-Man Annual I#2 (fb) - BTS) - For weeks, Rapier built up a reputation as a crime-fighter in New York City, and Clarissa worried after her husband.

(Spectacular Spider-Man Annual I#2) - Clarissa asked Dominic if he could give up being Rapier, as she was worried about all the danger he was in, but he said he couldn’t until Silvermane was dead. Clarissa followed Rapier to the Cloisters, where she saw him sparring with Spider-Man. Nervous for Rapier, Clarissa intervened and hit Spider-Man over the head with a fallen rapier, knocking him out. Tyrone was furious and ordered Clarissa to go home and leave him forever.

--Spectacular Spider-Man Annual I#2 (Spectacular Spider-Man Annual I#2 (fb), [Spectacular Spider-Man Annual I#2 (fb)], 2

images: (without ads)
Spectacular Spider-Man Annual I#2, p1, pan4 (main)
Spectacular Spider-Man Annual I#2, p25, pan4 (2nd)
Spectacular Spider-Man Annual I#2, p15, pan5 (fencing)
Spectacular Spider-Man Annual I#2, p25, pan2 (Clarissa)

Appearances:
Spectacular Spider-Man Annual I#2 (August, 1980) - Ralph Macchio (writer), Jim Mooney (artist), Jim Shooter (editor)
Captain America I#319 (July, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Paul Neary (penciler), Joe Sinnott (inker), Michael Carlin (editor)
Captain America I#320 (August, 1986) - Mark Gruenwald (writer), Paul Neary (penciler), Dennis Janke (inker), Mike Carlin (editor)

First Posted: 02/05/2020
Last updated: 02/09/2020

Any Additions/Corrections? please let me know.

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