Taskmaster (character)


Taskmaster is a fictional character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer David Michelinie and artist George Pérez, the character made his debut in The Avengers #195. Possessing photographic reflexes that allow him to mimic any fighting style at the cost of his long and short-term memory, he has served as an adversary of Marvel Universe superheroes such as Captain America, Ant-Man, and Spider-Man. He is usually depicted as a mercenary hired by criminal organizations to act as a training instructor. He is the biological father of Finesse.
The character has been adapted from the comics into various forms of media, including several animated television series and video games. A female version of Taskmaster named Antonia Dreykov appears in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Black Widow and Thunderbolts*, portrayed by Olga Kurylenko.

Publication history

The Taskmaster first appeared briefly in The Avengers #195, created by writer David Michelinie and artist George Pérez. making his full debut in Avengers #196.
The Taskmaster appeared in his own limited series Taskmaster #1–4, which was followed by a supporting role in Agent X #1–15. The character went on to feature prominently in Avengers: The Initiative as a supporting character in #8–19 and Avengers: The Initiative Annual #1 then later as a central character in #20–35 during the Dark Reign and Siege storylines. Age of Heroes #3 provided the prologue for the Taskmaster's second limited series Taskmaster vol. 2 #1–4. In 2011, Taskmaster received a solo graphic novel collecting a four-issue story—Taskmaster: Unthinkable.
In Marvel's 2012–2015 rebranding, Marvel NOW!, Taskmaster joins a new incarnation of the Secret Avengers.

Fictional character biography

Taskmaster is a mysterious figure believed to have been born in the Bronx, New York City. He is able to mimic the physical movements of anyone he witnesses; writers differ on whether this counts as a "super power". He claims to have had this ability since childhood.
Designing a costume with a white cowl and skull mask, Masters takes the name "Taskmaster" and begins training thugs at criminal academies across the United States. His existence is eventually revealed when Pernell Solomon uses the school's resources to clone himself when the administrator required an organ donation, as he possesses a rare blood type. Learning of his intended death, the clone contacts the Avengers for help. Taskmaster captures Yellowjacket, Wasp, and Ant-Man when the Avengers invade the school trying to rescue the clone, but the other Avengers follow, exposing his operations.
Taskmaster is captured by a group of U.S. Secret Service agents and taken into custody. Douglas Rockwell, head of the Commission on Superhuman Activities, arranges for Taskmaster's sentence to be shortened in return for him training John Walker.
Taskmaster is hired by the Triune Understanding — a religious group secretly masterminding a smear campaign to paint the Avengers as being religiously and racially intolerant — to stage an attack on a Triune facility. Posing as Captain America, he contacts Warbird, Ant-Man, Silverclaw, and Captain Marvel, claiming that he needs their help to destroy a Triune building containing a mind-control machine. The building is destroyed in the ensuing battle and Taskmaster escapes, leaving the heroes lacking any evidence of his activities.
When the "Civil War" breaks out, Taskmaster is hired to join the Thunderbolts and given temporary amnesty to take down the Secret Avengers. After being stopped by the Invisible Woman, Taskmaster is sent to Negative Zone Prison Alpha. He is freed by Deadpool and pardoned for testing the security of the Helicarrier, which he is able to break into.
Taskmaster replaces Gauntlet as Camp Hammond's drill instructor and is tasked with training registered superheroes for the Fifty State Initiative. Taskmaster is also involved in Michael Van Patrick's cloning process, imprinting Van Patrick's skills onto his clones.
During the "Dark Reign" storyline, Taskmaster is chosen to lead the Shadow Initiative after the Skrull invasion. Norman Osborn appoints Taskmaster to train criminals for the new Initiative, to behave like heroes. His first task is to retrain Penance. When Emma Frost and Namor resign from the Cabal, Taskmaster is offered membership, but declines. After Osborn's defeat, Taskmaster and Constrictor return to mercenary work.
Avengers Academy student Finesse seeks out Taskmaster, believing him to be her long-lost father. When she finds Taskmaster, Finesse ends up sparring with him. After much sparring, Taskmaster relents to tell Finesse that he likely is her father, but that his abilities have affected his memories. Knowing he likely will not remember the conversation in a couple days, Taskmaster tells Finesse that he wanted to fight her so he might remember her.
During the "Secret Empire" storyline, Taskmaster appears as a member of Hydra's Avengers. During the battle in Washington DC, Taskmaster and Black Ant witness their teammate Odinson having enough of working for Hydra and striking them down. The two of them defect from Hydra and free the captive Champions. When Taskmaster and Black Ant asks for them to put in a good word for them, Spider-Man webs them up anyway.
In the "Hunted" storyline, Taskmaster and Black Ant work with Kraven the Hunter and Arcade in capturing animal-themed individuals for Kraven's hunt. After Spider-Man thwarts the hunt, Taskmaster and Black Ant escape.
During the "King in Black" storyline, Taskmaster is among the villains recruited by Mayor Wilson Fisk to lead his Thunderbolts during Knull's invasion.
In the "Carnage Reigns" storyline, Taskmaster joins Julia Gao's Cape-Killers. After the failure of the Cape-Killers, Taskmaster joins Deadpool's assassin business, Deadpool and Daughters.

Powers and abilities

Taskmaster injected himself with SS-Hauptsturmführer Horst Gorscht's primer, an elaborate modification of the adrenal steroid cortisol designed to unlock the mind's procedural memory potential. This increased Taskmaster's natural ability to absorb knowledge. This ability is linked to his muscle memory, allowing Taskmaster to instantly replicate the physical movement of peak-level humans. Taskmaster cannot duplicate a physical feat that requires superhuman effort, like lifting a car. These "photographic reflexes" have made Taskmaster highly skilled in various forms of combat: martial arts, swordfighting, and marksmanship. A side effect of the primer is severe declarative memory loss. As he gains implicit memories, he loses explicit memories.
By viewing a video in fast-forward, Taskmaster can learn to replicate human movement at near-superhuman speed. However, this puts his body under intense strain and can only be used for short periods of time. He can manipulate his vocal cords to mimic others' voices. The Taskmaster is skilled in meditation techniques that allow him to slow his breathing and heart rate, allowing him to play dead or and survive for extended periods of time without air. Taskmaster was once shown to have aquaphobia, but later overcame his fears.

Weaponry

Taskmaster carries many weapons. He most commonly uses a sword and a replica of Captain America's shield, but also carries a bow and a quiver of arrows, a billy club, a lasso, nunchaku, throwing darts, and various firearms. Taskmaster once used a stolen S.H.I.E.L.D. device that was able to create various forms of weaponry using solid energy.

Other versions

''Age of Ultron''

An alternate universe version of Taskmaster from Earth-61112 appears in Age of Ultron. He works with Black Panther and Red Hulk to battle Ultron's drones, only for Red Hulk to kill Taskmaster after he attempts to take one of the drones for his own use.

''Avataars: Covenant of the Shield''

Deathmaster, a fantasy-themed incarnation of Taskmaster from the artificial planet Eurth, appears in Avataars: Covenant of the Shield.

''Deadpool Max''

A female version of Taskmaster from an unidentified universe appears in the Marvel Max series Deadpool Max. This version became a mother figure and mentor to a young version of Deadpool after kidnapping his Muskrat troop. She is later revealed to be a potential cult leader and child molester.

''House of M''

An alternate universe version of Taskmaster from Earth-58163 appears in House of M. This version is a member of the Brotherhood strike force.

''JLA/Avengers''

Taskmaster appears in JLA/Avengers #4 as a brainwashed minion of Krona.

''Marvel Apes''

An alternate universe version of Taskmaster from Earth-38831 appears in Marvel Apes.

''Marvel Universe Millennial Visions 2001''

An alternate universe version of Taskmaster from Earth-22000 appears in the one-shot Marvel Universe: Millennial Visions. This version was hypnotized by the Ringmaster and forced to reform and become a member of the Thunderbolts.

''Marvel Universe vs. the Punisher''

An alternate universe version of Taskmaster from Earth-11080 appears in Marvel Universe vs. the Punisher #4, where he is killed by a cannibalistic Red Hulk.

Ultimate Marvel

An alternate universe version of Taskmaster from Earth-1610 appears in Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man. This version is African-American and possesses the ability to absorb and redirect energy.

What If

An alternate universe version of Taskmaster from Earth-8909 appears in What If? #3. This version trained Super-Patriot to replace Captain America.

In other media

Television

  • Taskmaster appears in Ultimate Spider-Man, voiced by Clancy Brown. This version is a founding member of the Thunderbolts.
  • Taskmaster appears in Avengers Assemble, voiced again by Clancy Brown.