SKULL

Real Name: Unrevealed

Class: Human mutant / mutate?

Occupation: Mercenary

Group Affiliation: None

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Tynanda, Africa

First Appearance: Hitman #29 (August, 1998)

Powers: Skull possessed superhuman strength, durability, and the power of flight.

History: (Hitman #29, 30) - President Kijaro was a fierce dictator and the ruler of the African nation of Tynanda.  Rebels threatened his rule and Tynanda was in a constant state of civil war. He employed superhuman mercenaries Skull and Scarlet Rose as his bodyguards and contacted Mr. Martindale, who worked for Third World Concern, a private security agency. Third World Concern assembled a group of NCOs to whip Kijaro’s Tyandan army into shape. Gotham hitmen Hitman Tommy Monaghan, Natt the Hat, Ringo Chen and Hacken signed up. Martindale pitched Kijaro and his army force as the good guys and the rebels as opium and heroin dealers destroying the country, but Hitman and Natt weren’t sure they were fighting for the right side after meeting Kijaro. Hitman, Natt, Ringo and Hacken met at camp and thought the soldiers they were training showed little promise. Ringo learned from his men that half the military, including most of the veterans, had defected to the rebels. Bob Mitchell disliked the Walker M33As they’d been provided, noting they were in rough shape and a bad fir for new recruits. Mr. Martindale and Captain Gerheim overheard them and warned them to know their place and not discourage the troops. After a rebel attack on a nearby village Gerheim ordered Hitman and Mitchell’s troops to get moving. Hitman and Mitchell made a plan to flank the village, but Gerheim demanded a frontal assault, saying they wanted to make a show of strength. After they subdued the rebels Gerheim accused the villagers of being rebel sympathizers and told Skull and Scarlet rose to make an example of them. Skull took a newborn baby and killed him and Rose was ready to massacre the village. Hitman couldn’t believe what he was seeing and opened fire on Skull, although his superhuman durability meant he was only scratched. Gerheim called Hitman a traitor and ordered the Tyandan troops to shoot him. Mitchell was on Hitman’s side, and after shooting Gerheim in the arm he helped Hitman flee. Scarlet rose finished off the villagers by impaling them on rose tendrils. Gerheim told Ringo, Hacken and Natt that their friends had been killed by rebels. He assigned NCO Sgt. Karkov, a Russian soldier, to track Hitman and Mitchell in the desert and kill them before their friends found out they were alive, fearing they’d talk about how Gerheim and the Third World Council found war crimes acceptable business.