Femme Fatales (comics)

The Femme Fatales are a fictional group of female characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. They are often depicted as antagonists to the superhero character Spider-Man and Captain America.

Femme Fatales
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceAmazing Spider-Man #340 (October 1990)
Created byErik Larsen
David Michelinie
In-story information
Member(s)Knockout
Bloodlust
Mindblast
Whiplash

Fictional team history

The Femme Fatales are villains and mutants that serve as mercenaries for hire. Group members Bloodlust and Whiplash have a history of working together prior to joining the Femme Fatales, as members of a previous group called the Band of Baddies.[1] They were hired by fellow villain the Chameleon in the disguise of Dr. Turner to threaten an ambassador. Spider-Man intervened and saved the ambassador, making him an enemy of the Femme Fatales. They then joined forces with other villains the Scorpion and the Tarantula, but all of them were defeated by Spider-Man and his ally the Black Cat. Though the villains got away.[2]

The Femme Fatales later received an invitation to join Superia and her organization of female criminals, the Femizons. They accepted, and battled Captain America and the Paladin in the process.[3]

The group would splinter and disband sometime later: Bloodlust and Whiplash was seen at the A.I.M. Weapons Expo.[4]

Bloodlust later lost her powers after Decimation. Mindblast, who retained her powers, briefly allied herself with Hammerhead during the "Civil War" storyline.[5]

During the "Avengers: Standoff!" storyline, Bloodlust and Mindblast were turned into duplicate Maria Hills through the powers of Kobik in order to keep the Avengers away from Pleasant Hill.[6]

During the "Hunt for Wolverine" storyline, the Femme Fatales are joined by Viper and Sapphire Styx, with Whiplash taking the name Snake Whip. The Fatales ambush Kitty Pryde's group at the King's Impresario Restaurant at Hightown, Madripoor. While Knockout defeated Rogue, Bloodlust fought Domino, Snake Whip fought Jubilee, and Mindblast fought Psylocke until Sapphire Styx used her lifeforce-draining ability on Psylocke. Kitty Pryde got Jubilee and Domino away from the King's Impresario Restaurant as Snake Whip states that they won't get far.[7] As Mindblast and Knockout prepare to have Rogue and Storm delivered to Viper's bosses in Soteira, it was revealed that Sapphire Styx was given to Viper and the Femme Fatales by Soteira as Viper tells Snake Whip to let Sapphire feed. Meanwhile, Bloodlust was seen at the Wheelers and Dealers casino with a mathematician named Stenya Ubacowits who was hired to help in the flight trajectory of a satellite.[8] As Domino fights Bloodlust at the launch site and defeats her, Snake Whip works to restrain Sapphire when she starts to see Wolverine's Patch alias. Kitty Pryde and Jubilee fight Mindblast and Knockout until Kitty destroys the psychic-enhancements on Mindblast's back enough for Magneto to recover and join the fight. By the time, Kitty Pryde, Domino, and Jubilee catch up to Sapphire Styx, they discover that Psylocke is mentally attacking Sapphire.[9] After Sapphire Styx exploded enabling Psylocke to create a new body from Sapphire's soul power, Kitty Pryde goes into the rocket and frees Rogue and Storm. As Rogue steals some of Knockout's strength to defeat her, Psylocke uses her powers to defeat Bloodlust and Snake Whip. Kitty Pryde and Domino persuade Magneto not to take revenge on Mindblast. After Viper gets away with Magneto pursuing her, the Femme Fatales are locked up. In a discussion between Kitty and Rogue, Snake Whip cooperated with Kitty and told her about Soteira looking for Wolverine's body in exchange for a lighter sentence.[10]

Members
MemberFirst appearanceDescription
BloodlustMarvel Comics Presents #49 (May 1990)Beatta Dubiel is a former mutant who possessed superhuman senses, speed, agility, durability, a healing factor and razor sharp claws and fangs. She was one of the many mutants who were depowered after Decimation, though she continues to be a trained assassin without her powers.
KnockoutAmazing Spider-Man #340 (October 1990)Elizabeth Rawson is the original leader of the Femme Fatales, and has superhuman strength and endurance. Cybernetic parts of her costume suggest that her already advanced strength is augmented when needed and also provides body armor.
MindblastAmazing Spider-Man #340 (October 1990)Danielle Forte is a mutant with powerful telekinetic abilities which she usually fashions into "tractor beams". She was one of the very few mutants to retain their powers after Decimation. At some point later, Mindblast gained the use of telepathy strong enough to combat Psylocke of the X-Men.
Sapphire StyxMarvel Comics Presents #1 (September 1988)Sapphire Styx is a mutant who has the ability to absorb the lifeforces from her opponents. She was recruited into the Femme Fatales when Viper became their leader and relocated them to Madripoor. Sapphire exploded when Psylocke and a soul sliver of Wolverine overloaded her.
Snake WhipMarvel Comics Presents #49 (May 1990)Leeann Foreman is a mutant with unrevealed abilities. She previously went by the codename Whiplash, though changed it when Viper took over leadership. She is equipped with three built-in retractable whips that release from each of her wrists.
ViperCaptain America #110 (February 1969)Ophelia Sarkissian is the current leader of the Femme Fatales.

Other versions

The Femme Fatales also exist as a team in the Ultimate Marvel universe. Bloodlust, Knockout, Mindblast and Whiplash briefly encounter the All-New Ultimates.[11]

In other media

In Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, Femme Fatales is a team bonus for any four-person combination of Storm, Elektra, Spider-Woman, Invisible Woman, and Ms. Marvel.

In Marvel: Future Fight, Femme Fatales is a team bonus composed of Elektra, Black Cat, and Black Widow.

See also

References
  1. Marvel Comic Presents Vol.1 #48
  2. Amazing Spider-Man #340, 342-343.
  3. Captain America Vol.1 #389-392
  4. Captain America Vol.1 #411-413
  5. Civil War: War Crimes #1
  6. All-New, All-Different Avengers #8. Marvel Comics.
  7. Hunt for Wolverine: Mystery in Madripoor #1. Marvel Comics.
  8. Hunt for Wolverine: Mystery in Madripoor #2. Marvel Comics.
  9. Hunt for Wolverine: Mystery in Madripoor #3. Marvel Comics.
  10. Hunt for Wolverine: Mystery in Madripoor #4. Marvel Comics.
  11. All-New Ultimates #8
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