Copperhead (Marvel Comics)
Encyclopedia
Copperhead is the name of a number of fictional characters in the Marvel Universe
. The first two are similar characters that mimicked old pulp magazine heroes, wearing a suit of copper armor and shooting paralyzing or lethal darts, while the third is a member of the Serpent Society
.
#124-125 (August-September 1975), and was created by Len Wein
, Marv Wolfman
, and Gene Colan
.
The character subsequently appears in Human Fly #9 (May 1978), Daredevil #1/2 (1998), and Daredevil/Spider-Man #1-4 (January-April 2001).
Copperhead received an entry in the All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #3 (2006).
. As he fought Daredevil, Copperhead was struck by lightning and was killed by electrocution.
After death, Copperhead became the agent of a demon
. He was sent back to Earth to retrieve Spider-Man
’s soul, but failed after battling Spider-Man and Daredevil.
and Frank Robbins
.
and the Human Fly.
. He was a member of the Serpent Society
. Very little has been revealed about Copperhead's past and his origins.
. He was a civil servant before becoming an agent of the Viper
and professional criminal. Copperhead was the leader of the fourth Serpent Squad
, consisting also of Fer-de-lance
, Black Racer, and Puff Adder
. The quartet robbed a Las Vegas casino and battled Captain America
, Falcon
, Nomad
, and D-Man
in order to attract the attention of Sidewinder
, then the leader of the Serpent Society. The Serpent Squad was freed from jail by the Sidewinder, and were inducted into the Serpent Society. In truth, they were sent by the Viper so she could infiltrate the organization and take over as its new leader. After the coup was staged, Copperhead was assigned by the Viper, along with the Cobra
and Boomslang
to put a mutagenic agent into the water supply of Washington D.C. During that mission, he and Cobra had personality conflicts and did not get along, and battled Captain America and Diamondback
. After the Viper's plot was foiled, the Society re-organized with Cobra was the new leader. Copperhead did not stay long and quietly disappeared from the ranks of the Society.
, Lawfers rejoined the Society. The Society held a number of civilians hostage in a compound in the American Midwest claiming they were protecting themselves from the Skrull
s. However, they were easily defeated by Nova
and his new Nova Corps.
He wears finger-shooters on his gauntlets which project electrical discharges ("poison-blasts"); a spring-loaded, telescoping, rapid-retracting, wrist-mounted, titanium steel alloy grapping hook ("shooting fang"), with 30 feet (9.1 m) cable line; exploding magnesium flare-bombs stored in his snake-head helmet compartment ("copper-bursts"); micro-suction cups in gloves and boots, enabling adhesion to walls and ceilings. His equipment was designed by technicians hired by the Viper
. His gauntlets need to be recharged regularly using the spare poison-blast cartridges in his belt.
For protection, Copperhead wears a copper suit of scale mail, which functions as light body armor made of micro-mesh chain-mail covered with reinforced synthetic chain-mail tunic.
Marvel Universe
The Marvel Universe is the shared fictional universe where most comic book titles and other media published by Marvel Entertainment take place, including those featuring Marvel's most familiar characters, such as Spider-Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and the Avengers.The Marvel Universe is further...
. The first two are similar characters that mimicked old pulp magazine heroes, wearing a suit of copper armor and shooting paralyzing or lethal darts, while the third is a member of the Serpent Society
Serpent Society
The Serpent Society is a fictional organization of snake-themed supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. The group was initially formed from the membership of a previous supervillain team, the Serpent Squad. The group, like its predecessor, has been made up of longtime antagonists of Captain...
.
Lawrence Chesney
Publication history
Copperhead first appeared in DaredevilDaredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
#124-125 (August-September 1975), and was created by Len Wein
Len Wein
Len Wein is an American comic book writer and editor best known for co-creating DC Comics' Swamp Thing and Marvel Comics' Wolverine, and for helping revive the Marvel superhero team the X-Men...
, Marv Wolfman
Marv Wolfman
Marvin A. "Marv" Wolfman is an award-winning American comic book writer. He is best known for lengthy runs on The Tomb of Dracula, creating Blade for Marvel Comics, and The New Teen Titans for DC Comics.-1960s:...
, and Gene Colan
Gene Colan
Eugene Jules "Gene" Colan was an American comic book artist best known for his work for Marvel Comics, where his signature titles include the superhero series, Daredevil, the cult-hit satiric series Howard the Duck, and The Tomb of Dracula, considered one of comics' classic horror series...
.
The character subsequently appears in Human Fly #9 (May 1978), Daredevil #1/2 (1998), and Daredevil/Spider-Man #1-4 (January-April 2001).
Copperhead received an entry in the All-New Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe A-Z #3 (2006).
Fictional character biography
Lawrence Chesney grew up hearing the tales of a pulp fiction hero named Copperhead from his father. As an adult, he became a vigilante, assuming the Copperhead guise, and leaving his calling card of copper pennies on the eyes of his victims as a payment for the “fare across the River Styx”. His murders of New York City’s petty criminals brought him the attention of DaredevilDaredevil (Marvel Comics)
Daredevil is a fictional character, a superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Bill Everett, with an unspecified amount of input from Jack Kirby, and first appeared in Daredevil #1 .Living in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood...
. As he fought Daredevil, Copperhead was struck by lightning and was killed by electrocution.
After death, Copperhead became the agent of a demon
Demons (Marvel Comics)
The Marvel Comics universe hosts a number of demons, many of whom are at times at conflict with gods and angels. All possess varying degrees of mystical power, feed upon souls for self-sustenance, and are inclined towards dark or “black” magic - evil....
. He was sent back to Earth to retrieve Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
’s soul, but failed after battling Spider-Man and Daredevil.
Arthur Reynolds
Publication history
The second Copperhead appeared in Human Fly #8-9 (Apr-May 1978), and was created by Bill MantloBill Mantlo
Bill Mantlo is an American comic-book writer, primarily at Marvel Comics, best known for his work on two licensed toy properties whose adventures occurred in the Marvel Universe: the Eagle Award-winning Micronauts and the long-running Rom. An attorney, he also worked as a public defender...
and Frank Robbins
Frank Robbins
Franklin "Frank" Robbins was a notable American comic book and comic strip artist and writer, as well as a prominent painter whose work appeared in museums including the Whitney Museum of American Art, where one of his paintings was featured in the 1955 Whitney Annual Exhibition of American...
.
Fictional character biography
Arthur Reynolds discovered that his former co-worker at the museum, Lawrence Chesney, had been Copperhead, and had been killed. Reynolds broke in to Chesney’s apartment and stole a spare Copperhead costume, assuming the identity. His plan to rob the museum were defeated by White TigerWhite Tiger (Hector Ayala)
White Tiger is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe, and was created by Bill Mantlo and George Pérez. First appearing in Deadly Hands of Kung Fu #19 , he is the first Puerto Rican superhero in the history of comics, and Marvel's first superhero of Hispanic descent.- Publication history...
and the Human Fly.
Davis Lawfers
Copperhead (Davis Lawfers) is a fictional supervillain from Marvel ComicsMarvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
. He was a member of the Serpent Society
Serpent Society
The Serpent Society is a fictional organization of snake-themed supervillains in the Marvel Comics universe. The group was initially formed from the membership of a previous supervillain team, the Serpent Squad. The group, like its predecessor, has been made up of longtime antagonists of Captain...
. Very little has been revealed about Copperhead's past and his origins.
Fictional character biography
Davis Lawfers was born in Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. He was a civil servant before becoming an agent of the Viper
Viper (Madame Hydra)
Viper, formerly known as Madame Hydra, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe who is a foe of the Avengers and the X-Men...
and professional criminal. Copperhead was the leader of the fourth Serpent Squad
Serpent Squad
The Serpent Squad is a fictional mercenary group composed of snake-themed criminals in Marvel Comics. Most often antagonists of Captain America, the roster has changed through various incarnations...
, consisting also of Fer-de-lance
Fer-de-Lance (comics)
Fer-de-Lance is a super villain in the Marvel Comics Universe who first appeared in Captain America #337 . She was created by Mark Gruenwald and Tom Morgan and is a member of the Serpent Society....
, Black Racer, and Puff Adder
Puff Adder (comics)
Puff Adder is a mutant supervillain in the Marvel Universe, most notably as a member of the Serpent Society.-Fictional character biography:Gordon "Gordo" Fraley was born in Atlanta, Georgia...
. The quartet robbed a Las Vegas casino and battled Captain America
Captain America
Captain America is a fictional character, a superhero that appears in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character first appeared in Captain America Comics #1 , from Marvel Comics' 1940s predecessor, Timely Comics, and was created by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby...
, Falcon
Falcon (comics)
The Falcon is a fictional comic book superhero in comic books published by Marvel Comics.Created by writer-editor Stan Lee and artist Gene Colan, and introduced in Captain America #117 , the character is mainstream comics' first African-American superhero...
, Nomad
Nomad (comics)
Nomad is the name of a number of superhero characters who have appeared in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The Nomad name and costume was created by writer Steve Englehart and artist Sal Buscema as an alternate identity for the original Captain America, Steve Rogers, in Captain America #180...
, and D-Man
Demolition Man (comics)
Demolition Man , also known as D-Man, is a fictional character in the .-Publication history:Dennis Dunphy first appeared in The Thing #28 , written by Mike Carlin and illustrated by Ron Wilson...
in order to attract the attention of Sidewinder
Sidewinder (comics)
Sidewinder is a fictional character, a reformed super villain in the Marvel Comics Universe who first appeared in Marvel Two-in-One #64 and was created by Mark Gruenwald and Ralph Macchio.-Fictional character biography:...
, then the leader of the Serpent Society. The Serpent Squad was freed from jail by the Sidewinder, and were inducted into the Serpent Society. In truth, they were sent by the Viper so she could infiltrate the organization and take over as its new leader. After the coup was staged, Copperhead was assigned by the Viper, along with the Cobra
Cobra (comics)
The Cobra is the alias of two fictional comic-book supervillains that appear in the Marvel Comics universe.-Klaus Voorhees:Klaus Voorhees, the original Cobra, was also known as The Human Cobra and is currently known as the original King Cobra...
and Boomslang
Boomslang (comics)
Boomslang is an Australian supervillain in the Marvel Comics Universe, most notably a member of the Serpent Society.-Publication history:Boomslang was created by Mark Gruenwald and Kieron Dwyer, and first appeared in Captain America #341 in May 1988....
to put a mutagenic agent into the water supply of Washington D.C. During that mission, he and Cobra had personality conflicts and did not get along, and battled Captain America and Diamondback
Diamondback (comics)
Diamondback is the name of four fictional characters appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:Diamondback first appeared in Captain America #310 , written by Mark Gruenwald and illustrated by Paul Neary.-Willis Stryker:The first Diamondback was a foe of Luke Cage...
. After the Viper's plot was foiled, the Society re-organized with Cobra was the new leader. Copperhead did not stay long and quietly disappeared from the ranks of the Society.
Secret Invasion
In Secret InvasionSecret Invasion
"Secret Invasion" is a comic book crossover storyline that ran through a self-titled eight issue limited series and several tie-in books published by Marvel Comics from April through December 2008....
, Lawfers rejoined the Society. The Society held a number of civilians hostage in a compound in the American Midwest claiming they were protecting themselves from the Skrull
Skrull
The Skrulls are a fictional race of extraterrestrial shapeshifters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics.-Publication history:The Skrulls first appeared in Fantastic Four #2 and were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby....
s. However, they were easily defeated by Nova
Nova (comics)
Nova is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. Upon becoming a member of the galaxy's Nova Corps , the youth gained enhanced strength, flight, injury resistance, and a specialized uniform with life support.In May 2011, Nova placed 98th on IGN's Top 100 Comic...
and his new Nova Corps.
Powers and abilities
Copperhead has no superhuman powers. He has moderate experience in hand-to-hand combat and street fighting techniques, but mainly relies on his weaponry.He wears finger-shooters on his gauntlets which project electrical discharges ("poison-blasts"); a spring-loaded, telescoping, rapid-retracting, wrist-mounted, titanium steel alloy grapping hook ("shooting fang"), with 30 feet (9.1 m) cable line; exploding magnesium flare-bombs stored in his snake-head helmet compartment ("copper-bursts"); micro-suction cups in gloves and boots, enabling adhesion to walls and ceilings. His equipment was designed by technicians hired by the Viper
Viper (Madame Hydra)
Viper, formerly known as Madame Hydra, is a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe who is a foe of the Avengers and the X-Men...
. His gauntlets need to be recharged regularly using the spare poison-blast cartridges in his belt.
For protection, Copperhead wears a copper suit of scale mail, which functions as light body armor made of micro-mesh chain-mail covered with reinforced synthetic chain-mail tunic.