Viper (Marvel Comics)

Viper
File:VIPER.JPG Viper Julie Bell, Art
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Captain America Vol.1 #110 (February, 1969)
Created by	Jim Steranko (writer and artist)
In-story information
Alter ego	unrevealed
Team affiliations	Hydra, the Hand, unrevealed
Notable aliases	Madame Hydra, Merriem Drew
Abilities	no superhuman powers

Viper a fictional character in the Marvel Comics universe who is a foe of the Avengers and the X-Men. The character was created by Jim Steranko and first appeared in Captain America Vol.1 #110 (February1969).

Character biography

It is known that Viper was orphaned as a child in Eastern Europe and that part of her face is scarred. She arrose through the ranks of the elite criminal underworld through sheer ruthlessness, treachery, and the cunning of her black heart.

She first appeared as a leader of HYDRA under the codename "Madame Hydra"and frequently came into conflict with Captain America and the organization known as S.H.I.E.L.D..

She severed ties with HYDRA in Captain America vol. 1 #170 (February, 1974). In Captain America vol. 1 #180 (December, 1974), Madame Hydra helped Jordan Stryke, a supervillain codenamed Viper, escape custody in Virginia. Only to proceed in assassinating him and usurping his codename. The previous Viper was the founder and leader of the supervillain association known as the Serpent Squad. The new female Viper inherited the leadership from her predecessor for a while. The group would evolve to the Serpent Society after her departure from their leadership.

The new Viper is a professional terrorist and has her own organization. She has come into conflict with many superheroes and supervillains over the years. Her nihilism and tendecy to spread death around her has made it hard for other villains to associate with her. Only the Red Skull has found it a charming tendency and persued a relationship with her for a while. The relationship ended when the Skull found out Viper was using his resources to finance massacres with no apparent financial benefit for either of them.

In Spider-Woman vol. 1 #42- #44 (February - June, 1982), Viper was apparently revealed to be Merriem Drew. Drew was the mother of Spider-Woman and was considered deceased since 1931. The issue revealed Merriem had become allied to Chthon and was granded longevity in return. Captain America vol. 1 #281 (May, 1983), revealed that Chthon had actualy granded Viper false memories of mothering Jessica as part of a plan to place both women under his control. Whether Viper actually has extraordinery longevity was left uncertain.

Viper has also had conflict with the X-Men. She first came into contact with them uppon trying to assassinate Mariko Yashida on behalf of her ally and presumed lover Silver Samurai. She once nearly killed the X-Men member, Rogue. She also faced the New Mutants and was considered responsible for the demise of Karma (comics) for a while. (Karma was only wounded and was abducted by the Shadow King for his own reasons).

Later she black-mailed Wolverine into marrying her as a means to secure her criminal empire in Madripoor. Although this was a marriage of convenience, she did request to consumate the arrangement. They have since divorced. Her body was once briefly inhabited by the spirit of Ogun.

She is a member of the latest incarnation of the Hellfire Club.

Powers and abilities

Viper has no superhuman abilities but her reflexes and agility are of the order of an olympic athlete. She is a great swordsman and even greater marksman with most long range weapons. She utilizes experimental weaponry. A brilliant strategist and tactician, Viper is highly skilled in the management of criminal organizations and very well connected in the international criminal underworld. She is also a master of stealth and espionage. Perhaps her greatest strengths are her influence and the finnancial resources at her disposal due to her stature in organized crime.