Swordsman

Alias
Swordsman
Nick Name
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Civilian ID
Swordsman I Jacques Duquesne Swordsman II Philip Jarvet Swordsman III Andreas von Strucker
Occupation
Swordsman I Adventurer Circus Performer Criminal Mercenary Swordsman II Adventurer Swordsman III Adventurer Criminal Mercenary
Legal Status
Swordsman I Deceased citizen of the United States with an international criminal record. Swordsman II Citizen of the United States of an alternate dimension. Swordsman III Citizen of Madripoor.
Nation or Planet of Origin
Swordsman I Sin-Cong Swordsman II United States of an alternate dimension. Swordsman III Unknown
Group Affiliation
Swordsman I Avengers Batroc's Brigade Lethal Legion Swordsman II Avengers Gatherers Swordsman III Fenris
Base of Operations
Swordsman I Mobile Swordsman II Supreme Squadron dimension. Swordsman III Mobile
Height
Swordsman I 6' 4" Swordsman II 6' 4" Swordsman III 5' 9"
Weight
Swordsman I 250 lbs. Swordsman II 250 lbs. Swordsman III 165 lbs.
Eye Color
Swordsman I Blue Swordsman II Blue Swordsman III Blue
Hair Color
Swordsman I Black Swordsman II Black Swordsman III Blonde
Skin Tone
Swordsman I Caucasian Swordsman II Caucasian Swordsman III Caucasian
Known Powers
Swordsman I Normal human with exceptional skills as a swordsman. Swordsman II Normal human with exceptional skills as a swordsman. Swordsman III Genetically enhanced human with an ability to generate powerful beams of energy when in contact with his genetic twin sister. Exceptional hand-to-hand combatant and swordsman.
Accessories
Swordsman I Power Sword: Bladed weapon equipped by the Mandarin with Makluan technology enabling it to emit concussive beams, flame, electricity or sleeping gas. Swordsman II Power Sword: Bladed weapon equipped by the Mandarin with Makluan technology enabling it to emit concussive beams, flame, electricity or sleeping gas. Swordsman III Power Swords: Bladed weapons coated with Adamantium and equipped with electrical charges and a tether cable in the hilt.
Common Enemies
Swordsman I Avengers Defenders Kang the Conqueror Swordsman II Avengers Proctor Swordsman III Baron von Strucker Baron Zemo II HYDRA Purple Man
Regularly Appearing
Swordsman I Avengers Vol. 1 Defenders Vol. 1 Swordsman II Avengers Vol. 1 & 3 Swordsman III Thunderbolts Vol. 2
First Appearance
Swordsman I Avengers Vol. 1 #19 (Aug. 1965) Swordsman II Avengers Vol. 1 #343 (Jan. 1992) Swordsman III Thunderbolts Vol. 2 #1 (Feb. 2005)
Creator
Swordsman I Stan Lee & Don Heck Swordsman II Bob Harras & Steve Epting Swordsman III Fabian Nicieza, Kurt Busiek & Tom Grummett
Origin
A master of bladed weapons Jacques Duquesne was famous as the circus performer called the Swordsman. After incurring massive gambling debts Duquesne resorted to robbing his employer to pay his creditors. Caught with the stolen money by his protégé Clint Barton (Hawkeye I) Duquesne gave pursuit which lead to the apparent death of Barton. Fleeing the circus the Swordsman adopted the costumed identity of a criminal and mercenary in Europe. He eventually returned to the states to apply for membership in the Avengers as part of a plan to commit even more spectacular crimes. His betrayal would eventually be revealed and the Swordsman would eventually become nothing more than hired mussel for an Asian crimelord. While in Asia he encountered the woman he would love known as Mantis. His love for Mantis would lead to him sacrificing his life to save her from Kang the Conqueror. The Swordsman found a strange second chance at life when he was resurrected and became the human host for the intelligent plant life known as the Cotati. Years after the death of the original Swordsman a new adventurer using the name appeared. Hailing from an alternate dimension, Philip Jarvet apparently had a similar history and skills as Duquesne, but never turned to crime. Jarvet was rescued and deceived by Proctor, the man who destroyed Jarvet's world as well as many other alternate Earths in his quest to kill the Avengers member Sersi in all realities. Brainwashing Swordsman, and agents from other realties, Proctor orchestrated several attacks upon the Avengers. Swordsman was captured by the Avengers and in time his mind cleared and he began to cooperate with the team. Proctor attempted to use the Vision of an alternate reality to kill Swordsman but he failed and in the process lost another of his team members Magdelene - who had grown to love the Swordsman. After the Avengers disappeared during a battle with Onslaught both the Swordsman and Magdelene continued their battle against evil. When the Avengers returned they helped them on a few occasions eventually leaving with the Squadron Supreme to their native reality. Some time later a new Swordsman appeared that came into conflict with both the heroic team known as the Thunderbolts and the terrorist organization HYDRA. In reality the new Swordsman is Andreas Strucker the son of the Nazi supremacist Baron Wolfgang von Strucker. As children Andreas and his twin sister Andrea were genetically altered by their father to give them superhuman abilities to generate powerful beams of energy, but their power was dependent upon physical contact with one another. After Baron Zemo, who was in the guise of Citizen V, killed Andrea, Andreas was left powerless. Seeing an opportunity to exploit the now powerless Andreas to strike at his enemies, Baron Zemo recruited Zebidiah Killgrave, the Purple Man, to use his powers to manipulate and train Andreas as the newest Swordsman.