Avengers #196
The Terrible Toll of the Taskmaster
While trying to rescue a clone named Selbe from the Solomon Institute for the Criminally Insane, the Wasp, Yellowjacket, and Ant-Man uncovered a secret henchman training facility. While trying to free Selbe, they were captured by the mastermind behind this training facility, the Taskmaster. As the Taskmaster explains his criminal enterprise he demonstrates how he lives up to his name: Fighting a gang of his trainees, the Taskmaster utilizes the fighting styles of Captain America, Daredevil, and Hawkeye to defeat them all. The Taskmaster then explains that his he has a power he calls “photographic reflexes” which allows him to mimic the natural abilities of anyone just by observing them once. He claims that he has had this power since he was a child and that, as an adult, he decided to use these abilities to learn the fighting skills of various super-heroes. Seeing how lucrative this could be to the criminal underworld, the Taskmaster created his identity and used his skills to train future henchmen that he then hired out to various super-villains.[1]
His plan was going smoothly until Solomon’s scheme to create the idea organ transplant screwed things up. When the Taskmaster prepares to kill Parnell, Solomon suffers a fatal heart attack. The irony of the situation amuses the Taskmaster who decides to use Selbe — Parnell’s clone — to take over running the Solomon Institute.
Outside, the Avengers continue to wait for their moment to strike, wondering what is taking the Wasp and the others so long to get back. They finally realize that there is trouble when ants suddenly cover the front of Iron Man’s helmet.[2] They come crashing through the wall and begin clashing with the Taskmaster’s trained minions. In the ensuing carnage, Selbe manages to knock out one of the goons with a chunk of rock and uses his weapon to free the Wasp, Ant-Man, and Yellowjacket, who then join the battle.
Meanwhile, the Taskmaster clashes with both Captain America and Iron Man and his abilities allow him to hold his own. However, with his henchmen falling, the Taskmaster realizes that he should flee in order to avoid capture. While trying to escape, the Taskmaster is confronted by Jocasta. Although he tries to defend himself, he is no match for the robot’s built in weapons and is quickly defeated. As the Avengers regroup, the Taskmaster uses the opportunity to set off a magnesium flare that temporarily blinds the heroes long enough for him to make good his escape. In the aftermath of the battle, the Avengers have finally come to realize how much of an asset Jocasta is to the team. Captain America admits that the team has been ignoring her since she joined them and promises that is about to change. Finally welcome among Earth’s Mightiest Heroes overjoys the robot who has been trying to find her place for months.[3]
Recurring Characters
Avengers (Captain America, Iron Man, Yellowjacket, Wasp, Vision, Wonder Man, Beast, Ms. Marvel, Jocasta), Ant-Man, Taskmaster, Selbe, Pernell Solomon
Continuity Notes
Taskmaster (vol. 2) #3 reveals that this is all a falsehood. Tony Masters didn’t have his powers at birth. He was actually a SHIELD agent who injected himself with a formula created by a Nazi scientist to give himself these abilities. His new powers came at a cost: Each time he learned someone’s moves, they overwrote memories about his past. Let that be a lesson to everyone that you probably shouldn’t inject yourself with something created by a Nazi scientist.
Iron Man remarks on the odd friendship between Wonder Man and the Beast.
He mentions how Wonder Man had been in suspended animation for years. After getting his powers in Avengers #9, Simon Williams seemed to die as a side effect of his new powers. In reality, he entered a death-like state as his body adjusted to his powers and he returned to life in Avengers #151.
He also recounts how the Beast was mutated into his furry form. A founding member of the X-Men, the Beast was a mutant with enhanced agility, serving on the team from X-Men #1 through 66. After graduating he went to work for the Brand Corporation to try and isolate the chemical that causes mutation. Forced to drink the formula to disguise himself and foil a Secret Empire plot, Hank McCoy was mutated into his hirsute form forever more. See Amazing Adventures (vol. 2) #11.
The Avengers haven’t really paid much mind to Jocasta who was created by Ultron in Avengers #162. She has been present among the Avengers since issue #170-171.
Topical References
Here, Iron Man states that Wonder Man was in suspended animation for a decade. This should be considered a topical reference as it is a measurement of time between the publication of Avengers #9 (published October 1964) and 151 (published September 1976). Per the Sliding Timescale, Simon Williams was actually in suspended animation for about four years.
