Background
(Marvel Team Up I #8 (Flash-Back)) Katrina Louisa Van Horne had a promising
future as a champion skier before she met another skier named Karl Lubbings, a
violent anti-women's libber. Their argument over male and female superiority
led to a skiing contest pitting his male ego to her female abilities. In order
to defeat her and save face, he played a rough game by cutting her off on the
course and accidentally knocking them both into a ravine. He was killed, but
Katrina was left near death.
Katrina soon learned her injuries would keep her from skiing again, and that
her scars robbed her of her beauty. Scarred psychologically as well, she
developed a severe hatred of all men. Her recovery was financed by a militant
group of feminists who granted her an exo-skeleton that added to her strength
and mobility.
(MTU#8) She debuted two years later as Man Killer in Chicago by assassinating a
anti-women's lib politician. Clashing briefly with the Cat, she was next
sent to take over New York City by knocking out the Harlem Power Plant, but the
Cat enlisted Spiderman's help in defeating her. Man-Killer was, however,
defeated emotionally by being forced to discover her exo-skeleton had been
created by male AIM scientists.
(Daredevil #121- Behind the Scenes, 123) Man-Killer became enlisted in
Silvermane's short-lived HYDRA faction in a base under New York City's Shea
Stadium. Hearing how lawyer Franklin "Foggy" Nelson was being considered for a
role in SHIELD's Directorial Council, Silvermane had him kidnapped in an
attempt to destroy SHIELD from within. When Daredevil and the Black Widow
came
to the rescue, Man-Killer squared off with the Widow, but was defeated when
Ivan Petrovitch forced her exo-skeleton to lock up on her.
(Iron Man I#126, 127)-Justin Hammer sent her (and an army of Super-Villains) to
fight Iron Man. She lost.
(Marvel Team Up I #107) Presumably freed from prison by her militant
supporters, Man-Killer aids them in abducting Hildy Dawes, a leftist
underground revolutionist from California sent to New York City with lawyer
Jennifer Walters to get a fair trial. Believing Dawes's support would bolster
her female cause, Man-Killer clashed once more with Spiderman and with Walters
as the She-Hulk. Blaming herself for the ensuing carnage, Dawes grabbed some
high tension wires during an escape and electrocute herself and Man-Killer.
(Thunderbolts#3)- First appeared as a member of Crimson Cowl's Masters of Evil;
fought the Black Widow and the Thunderbolts, fled using the Cowl's
teleportation technology. Later, the Masters oversaw a transaction with the
Arms Merchant that was disrupted by the Thunderbolts' arrival; fled when Techno
armed himself with the Arms Merchant's weaponry.
(Thunderbolts#18)- With the other Masters of Evil, fought the Thunderbolts
after team-mate Cyclone led them into their trap; defeated MACH-1
(Beetle) in battle;
with Crimson Cowl, offered the Thunderbolts an allegiance with them, with the
threat that if they did not accept, they would inform all their enemies where
to find them.
(Thunderbolts#19)- With Cyclone, Flying Tiger, Klaw and Tiger Shark,
intercepted the Thunderbolts during their battle with Charcoal and the Imperial
Forces, allowing them to escape; mentioned they would picking up newly-minted
coins, and warned the Thunderbolts to stop "playing hero".
(Thunderbolts#20)- With the Masters, attempted theft of the Western Currency
Facility in Fort Worth, attacked by the Thunderbolts; captured the
Thunderbolts, but forced to flee when seeming Dreadknight (Hawkeye in disguise)
appeared to aid the Thunderbolts, and the authorities began to arrive.
(Thunderbolts#23)- With the Masters, observed Hawkeye's statement that the
Thunderbolts would bring them down.
(Thunderbolts#24)- With the Masters, assaulted the National Guard in Robinette,
Nebraska, to bring the Thunderbolts to them and active tremendous weather
storm; returned to Mount Charteris base with other Masters of Evil, now
numbered at 25 men and women.
(Thunderbolts#25)- Base infiltrated by the Thunderbolts, fought them; Man-
Killer fled with Cyclone when she realized their defeat was imminent.
(Thunderbolts#27)- First appeared as bartender "Wilma" in Burton Canyon,
Colorado. Found tending bar at "The Down Slope" by Thunderbolts member Atlas
(in civilian clothes), who was unsure whether to inform his teammates of her
activities.
(Thunderbolts#30)- Bar again visited by Atlas, who noticed her interest in
skiing, another clue that she was Man-Killer.
(Thunderbolts#34)- Saw Atlas on television; suspected he had been visiting her
bar.
(Thunderbolts#35)- Again visited by Atlas, who was mourning the apparent death
of his teammate Jolt.
(Thunderbolts#39)- Realized the Thunderbolts were in trouble when an
electromagnetic disruption field was felt around Burton Canyon; pondered
whether the Thunderbolts would allow her to join their team.
(Thunderbolts#40-41)- Bar visited by Techno and Scourge, both in disguise.
(Thunderbolts#42)- Bar trashed by Wonder Man, who had come to capture Atlas for
Count Nefaria; pleaded to by Atlas to aid him against Wonder Man's assault, but
declared that she hated all men, and abandoned him.
(Thunderbolts#64) Was present at Cardinal's jailbreak, along with the rest of
the new Crimson Cowl's new Masters Of Evil.
(Thunderbolts#65) Man-Killer was one of the bodyguards at Justin Hammer's house
when Hawkeye, Plantman, Songbird and Cyclone broke in. The Masters had no
problem taking care of Hawkeye's group, and Man-Killer even KO'ed Plantman.
Later, was talked into joining Hawkeye's group when he exposed that Hammer had
planted a bomb inside all of his former agents.
(Behind the Scenes) Changed her name to Amazon and gained a new costume.
(Thunderbolts#67) After Hawkeye's team was captured by Silver Sable, Amazon
spent some time getting to know Skein and Cyclone. Later, they raided Justin
Hammer's estate, but were caught by surprise when Justine was revealed to be
the new Crimson Cowl.
(Behind the Scenes) Amazon was captured, along with Cyclone, Songbird, and
Blackheath (Plantman's new alias).
(Thunderbolts#69) After being freed by Songbird, Amazon discussed retreating,
but Songbird didn't like the idea. After Justine Hammer's defeat, is confronted
by SHIELD agents.
(Thunderbolts#71) Punching a hole through the wall, Amazon gave the others in
the group an escape route, save Songbird, who stayed. While Hawkeye wandered
through the woods on his way back, found her hanging from a tree, where Skein
was trying to get her to consider going back to help Songbird. Using Harrier
and Cyclone for bait, was able to surprise a SHIELD agent. Cyclone begged her
to untie him, calling her Man-Killer in the process. She requested he call her
Amazon from now on, and he made a comment about another going to the other
side, which she replied to with "I was born on that side, Frenchie." Finding
Skein and SHIELD agent Silicone in a compromising situation, she KO'ed the poor
guy.
(Thunderbolts#73) Went on the mission to fix the White Hole in V-Battalion HQ
in Symkaria, where she was stuck with the job of anchor.
(Thunderbolts#74) Was there to "greet" the original Thunderbolts, as they made
their way back from Counter-Earth.
(Thunderbolts#75) On a beach outside of Dr. Faustus' old home where the
Thunderbolts had made their temporary home, Amazon considered just swimming
away. After a short conversation with Atlas, swam away, saying that she just
didn't have the guts for it.
COMMENTS:
It is unknown how Man Killer survived her electrocution in MTU #107-- Techno
remarked in Thunderbolts#3 that she was supposed to be dead. That issue by the
way is the historic first meeting of Spider-Man and the She-Hulk. (And what a
nice couple they make !!!)
OK, I've got to make the Austin Powers connection. While MK is a big meanie
and not quite as funny as Austin, she's got that big "woman" symbol thingee,
and her 1972 appearance has his lingo down pat.--Snood.
Clarifications:
Not to be confused with:
Man-Killer, an android destroyed by Captain America, @Captain America I
#111
Amazon of Strike Force One, a "clone" of the She-Hulk, @ Heroes For Hire #2
Amazon of Earth-Age of Apocalypse, Elizabeth Guthrie, counterpart to one of
Cannonball's younger sisters,
@ Factor X#1
Amazon of Earth-Bishop, one of the XSE, @ Uncanny X-Men Annual 1996
Amazon, an Amalgamation of Storm and Wonder Woman created by Dr. Strangefate, @
All Access#4
The Amazons, the race of women from Greek mythology led by Hippolyta, @ Thor
I#127
The Amazons of the Hyborian Era, natives of the Black Coast led by Nzinga, @
Conan the Buccaneer, Savage Sword of Conan#41
Adrenazon, Adria Lynn, @ Marvel Comics Presents#123/2
Amazar, the dimension of the Amazites, @ Scarlet Witch#1
The Amazites, an extra-dimensional race, @ Scarlet Witch#1
Amazo-Maxi-Woman of Counter Earth-Franklin, a member of the Remnants, @ Heroes
Reborn: Remnants#1
Wonder Woman, the actual Amalgam version of Amazon, the combined Storm and
Wonder Woman, @ DC vs Marvel#3
Thanks To:
Some of the above information is extracted from the various
versions of the Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe and the more recent
Marvel Encyclopaedias.
The assistance of the
Marvel Chronology Project is gratefully acknowledged.
This profile was completed with information used with permission from the
Appendix of Marvel Universe
website, mantained by Jeff Christiansen (Snood). If you want to find out about that
odd-ball character you've only seen once, or even about that character you haven't
ever seen, that's the site you're looking for. An impressive amount of obscure
characters await you there! |