Black Air
| Black Air | |
|---|---|
Black Air agents | |
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Excalibur #86 (Feb 1995)[1] |
| Created by | Warren Ellis Ken Lashley |
| In-story information | |
| Type of organisation | Intelligence agency |
| Base(s) | The Blackwall (former HQ) Dream Nails (former research facility) Unknown (current) |
| Agent(s) | Michelle Scicluna Pete Wisdom Scratch Threadgold Shrine |
Black Air is a fictional former Governmental Intelligence department appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. It is depicted as founded and operating primarily within the United Kingdom, initially as an adjunct to the Ministry of Defence. It was introduced, along with Pete Wisdom, in Excalibur #86 (Feb. 1995), and was created by Warren Ellis.
Fictional organization history
Black Air, as a covert, secretive Intelligence department, is mandated with the investigation into and research of supernatural and paranormal phenomena, at first alongside, and then replacing another British Intelligence department, the Weird Happenings Organization (W.H.O.). Black Air uses W.H.O's old links to the super-team Excalibur to send them to investigate a civil uprising in Genosha, with particular reference to anti-mutant ammunition. Field agent Pete Wisdom is sent along as Black Air's representative. It transpires that the entire mission is a ruse; Black Air sent the mission simply to cause a commotion, that they might use this to their advantage, accessing whatever technologies or information were revealed by the investigation.[2]
Following that mission, Wisdom takes Excalibur member Kitty Pryde with him to investigate the death of an old friend, ultimately leading him to "Dream Nails", a codenamed Black Air facility which had dealt with xenobiological specimens, such as a race known as the Uncreated. These creatures had been experimented on within the facility to create Blood Eagle, a psychoactive virus that would consume the flesh of the host if they experienced any stressful emotion. Ultimately, Wisdom and Pryde destroy the Dream Nails facility.[2]
Soon after this, several Black Air agents visit County Mayo, Ireland, to investigate the disappearance of Cassidy Keep and encounter Generation X.[3]
In a bid to seize control of the country, Black Air allies with the London Branch of the Hellfire Club to bribe the British Parliament. They also intend to raise an ancient demon from a crypt below London using Douglock as a conduit. Wisdom and Excalibur rescue Douglock, destroy the Blackwall, and stopping the resurrection.[4]
Black Air survive this loss of political and actual power, albeit in a much-reduced manner, operating only through a handful of splinter cells. One of these cells sends Sari St. Hubbins, a contract killer, to kill her former lover Pete Wisdom; simultaneously, they are responsible for the kidnapping and sale to extraterrestrials of Nightcrawler.[5]
Membership
- Michelle Scicluna
- Pete Wisdom
- Scratch
- Threadgold
- Shrine
References
- ^ Marvel Directory
- ^ a b "Pete Wisdom biography page 1". Archived from the original on March 17, 2006. Retrieved June 4, 2006.
- ^ Generation X #8 (October 1995)
- ^ Excalibur #99 - #100 (July - August 1996)
- ^ "Pete Wisdom biography page 2". Archived from the original on March 17, 2006. Retrieved June 4, 2006.