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
The Amazing Spider-Man #340
Publication information
PublisherMarvel Comics
First appearanceThe Amazing Spider-Man #340 (Oct. 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 changing her name to Snake Whip. The Fatales ambush Kitty Pryde, Rogue, Domino, Jubilee and Psylocke at the King's Impresario Restaurant at Hightown, Madripoor.[7] Soon joined by Magneto, himself recently taken captive by the Fatales, the X-Men combat the Femme Fatales; during the encounter Sapphire Styx uses her lifeforce-draining ability on Psylocke, but this later backfires and Sapphire Styx is destroyed, enabling Psylocke to create a new body for herself from Sapphire's soul power. Viper gets away with Magneto pursuing her, and the Femme Fatales are locked up.[8]

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.
KnockoutThe Amazing Spider-Man #340 (Oct. 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.
MindblastThe Amazing Spider-Man #340 (Oct. 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 (Sept. 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 (Feb. 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.[9]

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