Maverick
Bio written by David Downie. Visit his homepage!
Real Name : Sgt. David North
Maverick has the mutant ability to absorb kinetic impact. He has survived a tumble down Niagra Falls and many bullets in his time with the help of his powers and a high-tech armored battle suit. Marvel trading cards state that Maverick has precognitive abilities, allowing him to see into the immediate future of his opponents, thus choosing the proper course of action. However, this has never been documented in his comic appearances. In his last sighting, Maverick revealed that he was the recipient of a healing factor/life prolonging serum based on Logan's DNA template. Unfortunately, his powers are slowly deteriorating due to a fatal infection with Stryfe's Legacy Virus.
Maverick is a deadly hand to hand fighter, marksman and demolition expert. He also has vast experience with computers and communications equipment from his military and C.I.A. background.
Sgt. North's history definitely extends far beyond the action revealed in the pages of the Marvel X-Books. Maverick has been a man who prefers to operate behind the scenes, instead of the public limelight. He has worked for the German, Canadian, and United States governments as a covert operative and has continued to work as a freelance mercenary and bodyguard for hire.
Maverick was first introduced in the X-Men monthly series after Matsu'o resurrected the Russian Soldier Supreme, Arkady Rossovich, A.K.A. Omega Red in X-Men# 4. Initially appearing only as a shadowy figure, we find out through various black and gold flashbacks that thirty years ago, Maverick, Logan and Creed were all members of the Weapon X Program. The trio had been instrumental in stopping Omega Red's rise to power by securing The Carbanadium Synthesizer, the only device which could control Omega Red's vampiric hunger for death. Apparently only Wolverine knew where the C-Synthesizer had been hidden.
Without the C-Synthesizer, Red could not be controlled by the U.S.S.R. government and he was put on ice. In X-Men #4 Matsu'o resurrected Omega Red through the arcane knowledge of The Hand; to control Red however, he needed to have the Carbanadium Synthesizer. So their first target was Wolverine. Maverick was sent to intervene on behalf of "The Major." Maverick successfully rescued Wolverine from the clutches of Matsu'o and Fenris (Andrea and Andreas Von Strucker) - he even rescued the X-Men along the way. Despite his initial defeat, Matsu'o did not give up his quest. He had recruited Dr. Cornelius, one of the original designers of The Weapon X program, to dig through Logan's memories. Although he could not remember, Logan had buried the C-Synthesizer in the grave of Janice Hollenbeck, a double agent/operative that Creed killed in the first mission to ensure she could not talk. Having gained the C-Synthesizer location, Matsu'o and Fenris headed for the cemetery that night. They began to dig up Janice's grave, when suddenly Wolverine popped out of the dirt and Maverick emerged from hiding. The would be grave robbers were diverted and Wolverine turned the C-Synthesizer over to Maverick for safe keeping.The next sighting of Maverick occurs in a backup story spanning X-Men 10 and 11 written by Scott Lobdell and penciled by Mark Texiera. In this brief brush with stardome, Maverick, on behest of the unseen "Major Barrington", is attempting to round up a Dr. Ryking for questioning on "The Xavier File". In this story, we are introduced to a few plot threads that never develop and we see Maverick unmasked. Most importantly, it is at this time that Maverick reveals he has lost his mutant powers and that there is someone named Isabel in his life. Although we still have not met Isabel, it is to be hoped that we do soon. As it is later revealed that Maverick has The Legacy Virus, this story would have to take place after The X-Cutioner's Song in continuity IF it is the reason for his power loss. However, in later appearances, he still has his powers, although in a weakened state.
A little more of Maverick's past is revealed in an exciting arc in Wolverine 61 - 65. Logan, with the help of other former CIA operatives from his past, John Wraith, and Logan's long-lost-love-turned-Hydra soldier, Silver Fox, discovers a list of termination candidates from the Weapon X project. They recognize themselves on the list plus a man named Aldo Ferro, who they know is a big time mafia chief, Il Topo Siciliano. They track Ferro to his secluded island where they discover Maverick guarding him. Maverick soon changes sides when Ferro, a.ka. Psi-Borg, reveals that he was the one who used his psi-powers to speed the false memory implantation of the Weapon X subjects.
From this point on in the Marvelverse, Maverick becomes a tragic character, perhaps following Lobdell's plotting device of having a powerless Maverick. In Wolverine 87, Maverick tracks Wolverine to Lowtown Madripoor where Logan and Gambit are enjoying the night life. Maverick provokes Logan and Gambit to pursue him, but he does not take opportunities to strike. Wolverine realizes he is holding back and begging to be attacked and confronts him with it.
Maverick finally admitted that he is infected with The Legacy Virus, and is terminally ill. He showed Wolverine and Gambit what the virus has done to him and begged Wolverine to end his life and his suffering. He wanted an honorable man like Logan to "deliver him to Valhalla" and go out like a warrior. Logan convinces him that fighting is always better than giving up and Maverick slinks off into the shadows after pitching the same advice back to Logan concerning his recent adamantium loss.
Maverick next crash lands on the Mansion property near the woods where Logan had been residing after his brush with Magneto. He is highly weakened by the Legacy Virus and a recent abduction attempt at his New York Safehouse. Maverick warns Logan that DeadPool was captured by an "unnamed" corporation to test his DNA for a possible Legacy Virus cure, so they can sell it to the highest bidder. Maverick and Logan were next on the abduction list of Weapon X subjects.
Logan cannot let even Deadpool face injustice, so he helps Maverick free him and destroy the secret lab behind Niagra Falls. Although he disappeared as soon as he was safe, Deadpool did the right thing and sent in blood and tissue samples to Beast, but examination showed no cure was possible.
Since then, Maverick has not been sighted in the
comics. He was not seen during the Age of Apocalypse and hasn't
appeared since reality reverted back to the normal time
stream.
RUMORS
Although Hank McCoy has been working feverishly, night and day (taking time out only for the occassional kidnapping) no cure has yet been found for the Legacy Virus. Without a cure, Maverick's fate seems to be sealed. Rumors declare that Maverick will die before the end of the year.
However, recent revalations from Marvel have informed us that a Maverick one-shot comic is due to be written by Larry Hama in the near future. A reliable Marvel source assures me that this will not be his Swan Song as might expected. (Though some of us would never expect Mav to just roll over and die of a virus...). In fact, here is the spoiler from Marvel Vision:
MAVERICK #1 (of 1)
Larry Hama/Wilfred Santiago/TBD
"Wolverine's ex-teammate targets Sabretooth! Once upon a time, the men who would become Maverick, Wolverine, and Sabretooth made up Team X. Now, Maverick (last seen in the pages of WOLVERINE '95) is hired to hunt his former teammate -- the savage Sabretooth! But when he comes face-to-face with death -- in the form of his infection with the Legacy Virus and the assassin known as Omega Red -- will he learn how to truly live? WOLVERINE fans take note, this 48-page, no ad one-shot is written by none other than lethal Larry Hama!"
No further details were given, but we know that the Legacy Virus is terminal, so Sgt. North's days are limited. For now, rub your Rosary beads, face Mecca, do a chant and cast a Voodoo spell for Maverick to make it through the rough times that are assuredly ahead of him.
This web page
was created by Justin Gonyea. Comments, problems, etc. should be sent
to
jgonyea@hotmail.com
Go back to the M charecter listing
Hosted by GeoCities. Get a free home page today.