Fictional character biography
Taskmaster is a mysterious figure believed to have been born in the Bronx, New York City. He is able to mimic the physical movements of anyone he witnesses; writers differ on whether this counts as a "super power".[6] He claims to have had this ability since childhood.
Designing a costume with a white cowl and skull mask, Masters takes the name "Taskmaster" and begins training thugs at criminal academies across the United States. His existence is eventually revealed when Pernell Solomon uses the school's resources to clone himself when the administrator required an organ donation, as he possesses a rare blood type. Learning of his intended death, the clone contacts the Avengers for help. Taskmaster captures Yellowjacket, Wasp, and Ant-Man when the Avengers invade the school trying to rescue the clone,[7] but the other Avengers follow, exposing his operations.[6]
Taskmaster is captured by a group of U.S. Secret Service agents and taken into custody.[8] Douglas Rockwell, head of the Commission on Superhuman Activities, arranges for Taskmaster's sentence to be shortened in return for him training John Walker.
Taskmaster is hired by the Triune Understanding — a religious group secretly masterminding a smear campaign to paint the Avengers as being religiously and racially intolerant — to stage an attack on a Triune facility. Posing as Captain America, he contacts Warbird, Ant-Man, Silverclaw, and Captain Marvel, claiming that he needs their help to destroy a Triune building containing a mind-control machine. The building is destroyed in the ensuing battle and Taskmaster escapes, leaving the heroes lacking any evidence of his activities.[9]
When the "Civil War" breaks out, Taskmaster is hired to join the Thunderbolts and given temporary amnesty to take down the Secret Avengers.[10] After being stopped by the Invisible Woman, Taskmaster is sent to Negative Zone Prison Alpha. He is freed by Deadpool and pardoned for testing the security of the Helicarrier, which he is able to break into.[11][12]
Taskmaster replaces Gauntlet as Camp Hammond's drill instructor and is tasked with training registered superheroes for the Fifty State Initiative. Taskmaster is also involved in Michael Van Patrick's cloning process, imprinting Van Patrick's skills onto his clones.[13]
During the "Dark Reign" storyline, Taskmaster is chosen to lead the Shadow Initiative after the Skrull invasion. Norman Osborn appoints Taskmaster to train criminals for the new Initiative, to behave like heroes. His first task is to retrain Penance.[14] When Emma Frost and Namor resign from the Cabal, Taskmaster is offered membership, but declines.[15] After Osborn's defeat, Taskmaster and Constrictor return to mercenary work.[16]
Avengers Academy student Finesse seeks out Taskmaster, believing him to be her long-lost father. When she finds Taskmaster, Finesse ends up sparring with him. After much sparring, Taskmaster relents to tell Finesse that he likely is her father, but that his abilities have affected his memories. Knowing he likely will not remember the conversation in a couple days, Taskmaster tells Finesse that he wanted to fight her so he might remember her.[17]
During the "Secret Empire" storyline, Taskmaster appears as a member of Hydra's Avengers.[18] During the battle in Washington DC, Taskmaster and Black Ant witness their teammate Odinson having enough of working for Hydra and striking them down. The two of them defect from Hydra and free the captive Champions. When Taskmaster and Black Ant asks for them to put in a good word for them, Spider-Man webs them up anyway.[19]
In the "Hunted" storyline, Taskmaster and Black Ant work with Kraven the Hunter and Arcade in capturing animal-themed individuals for Kraven's hunt. After Spider-Man thwarts the hunt, Taskmaster and Black Ant escape.[20]
During the "King in Black" storyline, Taskmaster is among the villains recruited by Mayor Wilson Fisk to lead his Thunderbolts during Knull's invasion.[21]
In the "Carnage Reigns" storyline, Taskmaster joins Julia Gao's Cape-Killers.[22] After the failure of the Cape-Killers, Taskmaster joins Deadpool's assassin business, Deadpool and Daughters.[23]
