Taskmaster (character)

For other uses, seeTaskmaster.

Taskmaster
Taskmaster on the cover ofThe Avengers#196 (June 1980). Art byGeorge Pérez.
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	The Avengers#195 (May 1980)
Created by	David Michelinie George Pérez
In-story information
Alter ego	Anthony "Tony" Masters
Species	Human mutate
Team affiliations	A.I.M. Agency X Cabal Cape-Killers Frightful Four Initiative Secret Avengers Shadow Initiative S.H.I.E.L.D. Thunderbolts
Notable aliases	Tasky Contingency T
Abilities	Master assassin and tactician Mastermartial artistand hand-to-hand combatant Expert swordsman, marksman and archer Photographicreflexes

Taskmaster(Anthony"Tony"Masters)is a fictional character appearing inAmerican comic bookspublished byMarvel Comics.Created by writerDavid Michelinieand artistGeorge Pérez,the character made his debut inThe Avengers#195 (May 1980).Possessing photographic reflexes that allow him to mimic any fighting style at the cost of his long and short-term memory, he has served as an adversary ofMarvel Universesuperheroessuch asCaptain America,Ant-Man,andSpider-Man.He is usually depicted as amercenaryhired by criminal organizations to act as a training instructor.He is the biological father ofFinesse.

The character has been adapted from the comics into various forms of media, including several animated television series and video games. A female version of Taskmaster namedAntonia Dreykovappears in theMarvel Cinematic UniversefilmBlack Widow(2021), portrayed byOlga Kurylenko.Kurylenko will reprise the role in the upcoming filmThunderbolts*(2025).

Publication history

The Taskmaster first appeared briefly inThe Avengers#195 (May 1980), created by writerDavid Michelinieand artistGeorge Pérez.making his full debut inAvengers#196 (June 1980).

The Taskmaster appeared in his own limited seriesTaskmaster#1–4 (2002), which was followed by a supporting role inAgent X#1–15 (2002–2003). The character went on to feature prominently inAvengers: The Initiativeas a supporting character in #8–19 (2008–2009) andAvengers: The InitiativeAnnual #1 (2008) then later as a central character in #20–35 (2009–2010) during theDark ReignandSiegestorylines.Age of Heroes#3 (2010) provided the prologue for the Taskmaster's second limited seriesTaskmastervol. 2 #1–4 (2010–2011). In 2011 Taskmaster got his first solo graphic novel collecting a four-issue story—Taskmaster: Unthinkable.

As part of Marvel's 2012–2015 rebranding,Marvel NOW!,Taskmaster joined a new team ofSecret Avengers.

Fictional character biography

Taskmaster is a mysterious figure believed to have been born in theBronx, 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". He claims to have had this ability since childhood. He is a combat instructor and part-time mercenary. Initially portrayed as a villain, he has also trainedU.S. Agentand other neophyte superheroes at the behest of the U.S. government. As a mercenary, he has no ideology except that of his employer. Taskmaster has occasionally been used to impersonate other characters.

Tony Masters first demonstrated unusual abilities during childhood. After watching a cowboy show on television, he found himself able to duplicate sophisticated rope tricks, and later became a star high school quarterback after watching one NFL game. Psychiatrists explained Tony's abilities to be a form ofphotographic memorywhich they called "photographic reflexes". Upon graduation, he briefly considered a career as a crime fighter, but opted for the purportedly more lucrative occupation of professional criminal.

He then began a program of observing the fighting techniques of numerous costumed heroes and villains (using archival television news broadcasts). He initially used his skills to execute several grand larcenies, but he had not properly anticipated the dangers involved. He decided to use his stolen capital to establish centers to turn aspiring criminals into polished professionals. His goal was to become a supplier for criminal organizations around the world.

Designing a costume with a white cowl and skull mask, he took the name "Taskmaster" and began to train many thugs at criminal academies he had located around the United States. His existence was eventually revealed when Pernell Solomon of the Solomon Institute for the Criminally Insane (a front for one of these academies) used the school's resources to create a clone of himself when the administrator required an organ donation, as he possessed an extremely rare blood type. Learning of his intended death, the clone managed to contact theAvengersfor help. Taskmaster capturedYellowjacket,theWasp,andAnt-Manwhen the Avengers invaded the school premises trying to rescue the clone,but the other Avengers followed, exposing his front operation. Taskmaster held his own againstCaptain AmericaandIron Man,but was subsequently forced to flee after a confrontation withJocastasince his lack of experience with Jocasta's abilities made it impossible to predict the robot's next move.Taskmaster later established a new training academy in Manhattan, where he battledSpider-Manand Ant-Man, and then escaped.He later used a traveling carnival as a mobile base, where he battledHawkeyeand Ant-Man, and then escaped again.He next trained henchmen for the Black Abbott. Alongside Black Abbott, he battled Spider-Man andNomad,and escaped yet again.

Deciding to further explore the use of a circus as a front for his academy, Taskmaster took over yet another small outfit, and used it for many months to great success. However, while it was playing a small town in Ohio, theThingandVance Astrovik(who would later take the name Justice) assisted a government agent in foiling Taskmaster's activities. While escaping, Taskmaster was captured by a group of U.S. Secret Service agents and taken into custody.There is reason to believe that theRed Skullwas behind the Taskmaster's capture, since a group of normal men were able to capture him.Through Douglas Rockwell (the head of the President'sCommission on Superhuman Activities), Mr. Smith arranged for Taskmaster to train John Walker to make him appear to be the real Captain America.To conceal the Red Skull's involvement, Rockwell had the Commission work out a deal to have years taken off Taskmaster's sentence in return for training Walker. After Taskmaster successfully trained Walker in Rogers' fighting style and the use of a shield, the Red Skull arranged for him to escape from the Commission's detention center so he could continue training lackeys and Red Skull himself.

Taskmaster's more skilled, successful, and notable students include such characters asCrossbonesandCutthroat(both the Red Skull's henchmen), U.S. Agent,Hauptmann Deutschland,Diamondback(Steve Rogers's one-time girlfriend),Spymaster,Spider-Woman,andAgent X.On the other hand, Taskmaster also trains many of his students to serve as low-rent henchmen and cannon fodder. In his early appearances, Taskmaster mentions putting intellect-reducing drugs in the diet of his students. He also routinely sent groups of his more disappointing students to serve as "sparring partners" for the Red Skull, routinely engaging several of them at a time and killing them all (Hauptmann Deutschland infiltrated the academy and used one such session as an opportunity to kidnap Red Skull). He has also employed other supervillains, such as when he hiredAnacondaas his academy'scalisthenicsinstructor.

On another occasion, Taskmaster was hired by theTriune 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 contactedWarbird,Ant-Man,SilverclawandCaptain Marvel,claiming that he needed their help to destroy a Triune building containing a mind-control machine. Although they saw through his deception and subsequently defeated him — thanks to Captain Marvel transforming intoRick Jonesmere milliseconds away from Taskmaster, thus causing a complete change of attack before Taskmaster could react — the building was destroyed in the ensuing battle and Taskmaster escaped, leaving the heroes lacking any evidence of their story.

Taskmaster continued to train numerous villains and thugs until the Avengers began to search out and shut down some of his academies across the United States. Taskmaster began to spend more time working as a mercenary to make up for the loss of profit. This led him to joinAgency Xat the behest of his love interestSandi Brandenberg,in missions from time to time, while continuing to teach at his academies around the world. More recently, Taskmaster is once again seen as a hired mercenary, contracted by the Committee to killMoon Knight.Taskmaster was misled with information that Moon Knight was broken, friendless and desiring death. During the conflict these factors all proved to be false as Marc's ex-girlfriend and butler came to Spector's defense and found the will to fight back. Despite his superior fighting abilities, Taskmaster was defeated. Moon Knight then carved off part of Taskmaster's facemask, though left him alive.

Taskmaster also worked at training henchmen to copy fighting styles of specific heroes. Taskmaster unleashedDeathshield(trained to fight like Captain America),Jagged Bow(trained to fight like Hawkeye), andBlood Spider(trained to fight like Spider-Man) to face off against Spider-Man and Solo. The three were defeated, while Taskmaster escaped yet again.

When the "Civil War"broke out, Taskmaster was hired by the government and enrolled into a team ofThunderboltsand given temporary amnesty to take down theSecret Avengers.He later battles the Secret Avengers in New York. He attempts to killSusan "Sue" Storm,only forReed Richardsto take the bullet. Enraged, Sue crushes him with an invisible telekinetic field, rendering him unconscious.He was sent to the Negative Zone Prison with the other "Major-League" members of the Thunderbolts army such asLady Deathstrike,but was apparently freed byDeadpool.To regain his own reputation as a mercenary, Deadpool frees Taskmaster from his imprisonment to have a showdown with him while potential merc contractors watched from their captive position in a nearby prison. Taskmaster is again referred to asTaskyby Deadpool, and a fight ensues between him and themanacledmerc. He mentions his professional ethics, but this simply comes down to deciding to simply maim his opponent rather than kill him. In the end, he is defeated by Deadpool who, in spite of the victory, fails to impress his captive audience. After being thanked for letting him win, Taskmaster tells Deadpool that he had not let him win, "The truth is... You're that good. You've always been that good. Which won't get you a cup of coffee until you figure out how to be a professional..."Taskmaster was given a full presidential pardon for his efforts in testing the security of theS.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier,in which he was able to break in and place Deputy DirectorMaria Hillin his sights. Though he was allowed to leave, a threatening message left in Hill's private bathroom revealed that if he ever desired, infiltratingS.H.I.E.L.D.would be no difficult feat.

Taskmaster replacesGauntletasCamp Hammond's drill instructor and is tasked with training registered superheroes for theFifty State Initiative.Taskmaster would also be involved inMVP's cloning process inputting (via technology) the original's move set for theScarlet Spidersas well as the move set of Spider-Man.

Taskmaster is hired by Deadpool to help his old enemy and occasional friend defeat the Thunderbolts. Being disguised as Deadpool, he gets captured and is about to be beheaded when the real Deadpool saves him. Deadpool finally pays him, but he expresses annoyance at being paid from an ATM due to his major villain status.

During the "Dark Reign"storyline, Taskmaster is chosen to lead the Shadow Initiative after theSkrullinvasion,with their first mission to take downHardball'sHYDRAcell inMadripoor.Along withConstrictor,Bengal,Typhoid MaryandKomodo,Taskmaster stealthily leads the group into the country, but they are soon discovered by HYDRA.Norman Osbornappoints Taskmaster to train criminals for the new Initiative, to behave like heroes. His first task is to retrainPenance.Also, whenBlastaartakes control of theNegative Zoneprison 42, Taskmaster is ordered to lead a squad to take the prison back.Later, he givesNight Thrashera severe bullet wound to the head, allowing Osborn to take Night Thrasher prisoner.WhenEmma FrostandNamorresign from the Cabal, Taskmaster is offered membership.Taskmaster was present at a meeting when Osborn discusses about Asgard.He is severely wounded at the meeting as a result of an attack byDoctor Doom.While recovering in a hospital, Taskmaster declined to join the Cabal. Osborn cut the oxygen tank next to Taskmaster's bed, reminding him that it was Osborn who plucked him from obscurity. Taskmaster then agrees to join in thesiegeofAsgard.During the battle, he fights with bothSteve RogersandBucky Barnesas Captain America.As Asgard falls, Taskmaster finds Constrictor and the two beat a hasty retreat, but not before Taskmaster taunts Osborn about how Taskmaster helped Deadpool. After Osborn's ultimate defeat, Taskmaster and Constrictor went back to mercenary work.

A false rumor is spread that Taskmaster is leaking information about the criminal underworld to Rogers's new 'heroic' regime. A bounty of $1,000,000,000 is placed on the Taskmaster's head by the mysterious Org. The hordes of AIM, HYDRA, theSecret Empire,ULTIMATUM,the Cyber Ninjas, the Black Choppers, the Trenchcoat Mafia, the Legions of the Living Lightning, the Militiamen, theSons of the Serpent,and the Inquisition take up the chase to claim the money. Taskmaster, ambushed in a small diner, manages to best his opponents. But the diner's waitress, Mercedes Merced, gets entangled in the saga and is included in the bounty. Taskmaster reveals to Mercedes that his powers cause him to lose his explicit memory, meaning that he cannot remember anything about his personal life, and the only way for the whole ordeal to be over is to re-discover Taskmaster's origins.Taskmaster and Mercedes' quest takes them to Mexico to battle theDon of the Dead,and then to Bolivia to the village where everyone is Hitler. Inside an exact replica of Himmler'sWewelsburgCastle, Taskmaster regains his memories. He remembers being S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Tony Masters that had been sent to Bolivia to terminate Horst Gorscht, the Nazi scientist responsible for a corrupted version of the super-soldier serum. Gorscht had developed a new serum that could unlock the mind's potential to absorb knowledge instantaneously. With Gorscht's serum and test notes destroyed, Masters injected the last of the serum into himself. Having regained these memories, Taskmaster recognizes Mercedes' voice as being the same as 'The Hub', a mysterious voice who works for the Org. Taskmaster shoots Mercedes in the shoulder and threatens to kill her if she doesn't start talking. Mercedes reveals that the Org is a S.H.I.E.L.D. front, and that she is not only an agent, but also Taskmaster's wife. Miles above the Wewelsburg castle in an airship, the Minions' International Liberation Front (a secret group composed of henchmen from all of the major terrorist organizations), led byRedshirtthe Uber-Henchman, reveal their deception and plot to rule the criminal underground by using Taskmaster to lead them straight to the Org.Redshirt leads the Minions' International Liberation Front (or the acronym MILF for short) into battle against the Taskmaster and Mercedes. Mercedes convinces the Taskmaster to trust her and work together to fend off the forces of MILF. During the battle, Taskmaster regains his memories of Mercedes and how he fell in love with her. Before they can reconcile, Taskmaster is attacked from behind by Redshirt who has genetically altered his body and mastered superior fighting skills to those of Taskmaster. Redshirt gains the upper hand as the pair push each other to the limits. Mercedes tries to intervene to protect her husband, but is quickly and effortlessly cast to one side. Enraged, Taskmaster attacks Redshirt and delivers a killing blow using Redshirt's own fighting style (which causes Taskmaster to lose his memories once more). Taskmaster, not recognizing Mercedes or his reasons for being there, flees and leaves Mercedes alone once more.

Avengers AcademystudentFinesselater seeks out Taskmaster, thinking that he may be her long-lost father. When she finds Taskmaster, Finesse ends up sparring with him. After much sparring, Taskmaster finally relents to tell Finesse that he very well might be and most likely is her father, but that the powers to learn so much about others’ movements and techniques have caused him to forget important things in life. 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.

During the 2011 "Fear Itself"storyline, Taskmaster comes to the aid ofAlpha Flightwhen it comes to forming a resistance against the Unity Party that was formed byMaster of the World.

In order for theMasters of Evilto obtain the Crown of Wolves for theShadow Council,Max Fury hired Taskmaster to retrieve it only for Taskmaster to demand more money for the job and he hid in the Hole. The Secret Avengers went to the Hole to get the Crown of Wolves before Fury got his hands on it. This led to a fight between Taskmaster andAgent Venom.However, Taskmaster escaped and returned the crown to Fury, only for Max to apparently kill Taskmaster when he asks for payment. When the crown's effects don't function for Max, Taskmaster takes the crown for himself, which saves his life by making him the Avatar for the Abyss.As the Abyss spreads, the Secret Avengers members Venom andAnt-Manare able to remove the crown and stop the spread, while Taskmaster and the Masters of Evil are left behind when the Avengers leave with Max in their custody.

The criminals of Bagalia imprison Taskmaster and are preparing to offer him up to the highest bidder. S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Secret Avengers come to rescue him and offer him a position. As their inside man, Taskmaster is part of the new High Council ofA.I.M.as the Minister of Defense.Mockingbirdlater goes to A.I.M. Island to assist Taskmaster in helping make contact between theIron PatriotA.I. drones andJames Rhodes.After the mission goes south and Mockingbird is left stranded on AIM Island,Taskmaster works undercover to free her.But when he gets the chance to get her off the island, she doesn't respond to anything he says until both are captured. While being interrogated, Taskmaster is shot and seemingly killed by Mockingbird apparently under the control ofScientist Supreme(Andrew Forson).However,Mentallodiscovered that Mockingbird purposely missed any vitals and Taskmaster survived.

At the time when Captain America was brainwashed into being a Hydra sleeper agent by Red Skull's clone using the powers ofKobik,Taskmaster later move to Bagalia where he became its sheriff.

When Taskmaster and Black Ant (Eric O'Grady's Life Model Decoy counterpart) found out what was done to Captain America to be made into a Hydra sleeper agent, they planned to have a parley with Maria Hill to discuss this with only for the newMadame Hydra(Elisa Sinclair) to get to them first.Impressed with the fighting skills of the two of them, Madame Hydra made them bodyguards.

During the "Secret Empire"storyline, Taskmaster appears as a member of Hydra's Avengers.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 captiveChampions.When Taskmaster and Black Ant asks for them to put in a good word for them,Spider-Manwebs them up anyway.

Taskmaster and Black Ant later attack Empire State University whereDr. Curt Connorswas teaching a class. As the inhibitor chip prevents Connors into turning into Lizard, Peter Parker sneaks off to become Spider-Man. During his fight with Black Ant and Taskmaster, Spider-Man is exposed to the Isotope Genome Accelerator that splits him from his Peter Parker side.

In a prelude to "Hunted",Taskmaster and Black Ant work withKraven the HunterandArcadein capturing some animal-themed characters for his upcoming hunt. After Spider-Man thwarted the hunt, Taskmaster and Black Ant got away.

During the "King in Black"storyline, Taskmaster is among the villains recruited by MayorWilson Fiskto lead hisThunderboltsat the time ofKnull's invasion.

At the conclusion of "The Chameleon Conspiracy" arc,Foreignerhired Taskmaster and Black Ant to help get revenge on Spider-Man.

During the "Sinister War"storyline, Taskmaster was with Foreigner, Black Ant,Chance,Jack O'Lantern,andSlydewhen they are sent byKindredto attack Spider-Man after Kindred had disrupted their armored car robbery.

During the "Devil's Reign"storyline, Taskmaster appears as a member of Mayor Wilson Fisk's latest incarnation of the Thunderbolts at the time when Mayor Fisk passed a law that forbids superhero activity.

During the "Carnage Reigns" storyline, Taskmaster joins Agent Gao'sCape-Killers.

Taskmaster was at the Bar with No Name when Spider-Woman arrived. They went outside to fight as Spider-Woman gets the information on some of the thugs he recently trained.

As Captain America is transporting a specific cargo, his futuristic helicopter getsSpider-Boyas a passenger due to his spider-senses stating that Captain America needs help from Taskmaster. Captain America figures out that one of the soldiers is actually Taskmaster using an Image Inducer as the cargo in question isSuper-Adaptoid.Even though Captain America and Spider-Boy fend off Taskmaster, he makes off with Super-Adaptoid's left hand as he plans to give it to Killionaire.Taskmaster was later seen at Empire Unlimited getting reprimanded by Killionaire for not bringing all of Super-Adaptoid to him so thatShannon Stillwellcan rebuild it into a suit that would give him the powers of the Avengers. When Killionaire threatened to dox Taskmaster and Shannon Stillwell, Killionaire was impressed with the latter reverse-engineering it to make the Toy Soldier that still can copy the abilities of all the Avengers and be remote-controlled by Killionaire. When Taskmaster asks for his cut, Killionaire takes Toy Soldier out for a test drive by having it attack Taskmaster.

During the "Gang War"storyline, Taskmaster was with Agent Gao's Cape-Killers at the time whenSpider-Man (Miles Morales),Misty Knight,andColleen WingdefeatedBumbler's group andFrost Pharaoh's group.

Powers and abilities

Taskmaster injected himself withSS-HauptsturmführerHorst Gorscht's primer, an elaborate modification of the adrenal steroidcortisoldesigned to unlock the mind'sprocedural memorypotential. This increased Taskmaster's natural ability to absorb knowledge. This ability is linked to hismuscle memory,allowing Taskmaster to instantly replicate the physical movement of peak-level humans. Taskmaster cannot duplicate a physical feat that requires superhuman effort, like lifting a car. These "photographic reflexes" have made Taskmaster highly skilled in various forms of combat: martial arts (mimickingElektra,Iron Fist,Shang-Chi), swordfighting (Black Knight,Silver Samurai,Swordsman), marksmanship (Captain Americawith a shield,Hawkeyewith a bow and arrow, thePunisherwith firearms, andBullseyewith various projectiles); he also displays a strenuously honed athletic ability (Black Panther,Daredevil,Spider-Man). Taskmaster can use every fighting style he has watched in any given fight.Once the Taskmaster has mastered an opponent's physical movements, he can predict the next attack. A few people can negate Taskmaster's abilities; among them areDeadpool,whose manic personality makes him nearly impossible to predict;Mister X,who uses his psychic abilities to get the better of Taskmaster in a fight;andSlapstick,whose flexible cartoony body causes Taskmaster to break his own spine upon copying the hero's ability.A side effect of the primer is severedeclarative memoryloss. As he gains implicit memories (i.e., knowledge and abilities), he loses explicit memories (i.e., personal experiences). The Org (Mercedes Merced) has acted as Taskmaster's surrogate memory, his banker, and his handler during his criminal career.

By viewing a video in fast-forward, Taskmaster can learn to replicate human movement at near-superhuman speed. However, this puts his body under intense strain and can only be used for short periods of time. He can manipulate his vocal cords to mimic others' voices. The Taskmaster is skilled in meditation techniques that allow him to slow his breathing and heart rate, allowing him to play dead or and survive for extended periods of time without air. He claims to have learned forensic methods from CIA agents and Mossad operatives.Taskmaster can use chi under exceptional circumstances.Taskmaster was once shown to haveaquaphobia(the fear of water), but later overcame his fears.

Weaponry

Taskmaster carries many weapons. He most commonly uses a sword and a replica of Captain America's shield, but also carries a bow and a quiver of arrows, a billy club, a lasso,nunchaku,throwing darts, and various firearms. Taskmaster once used a stolen S.H.I.E.L.D. device that was able to create various forms of weaponry (such as arrows and shields) using solid energy.

Other versions

Age of Ultron

In theAge of Ultronstory, the Taskmaster is depicted as working with theBlack PantherandRed Hulkin Chicago attempting to captureUltronSentinel technology. Successful in doing so, Red Hulk holds off the Ultron minions to allow Taskmaster and Black Panther to escape.When Taskmaster tries to run away with one of the Ultron Sentinels, Red Hulk tells him he doesn't trust him, and then kills him.

Avataars: Covenant of the Shield

An alternate version of the Taskmaster appears inAvataars: Covenant of the Shield#1 (2000) where the Marvel Universe is re-imagined in a fantasy setting. In this reality, the Taskmaster is an assassin known as theDeathmaster.

Deadpool Max

A female version of Taskmaster appeared in theMarvel MaxseriesDeadpool Max.This version became a mother figure to a young version of Deadpool when she kidnapped his Muskrat troop. She was later revealed to be an operative for United States interest, a potential cult leader and child molester.

House of M

In theHouse of Mreality, the Taskmaster appeared as a member of the strike force known as the Brotherhood. Although not amutant,he used his abilities to pass as one, since humans (even super-powered humans) were treated as second-class citizens.However, after he was beaten byLuke Cagefor the murder ofTigra,he was found to be a human masquerading as a mutant.

JLA/Avengers

InJLA/Avengers#4 (2004), part of the Marvel/DCco-published crossover series, the Taskmaster is among the supervillains to confrontBatman,Black Panther,Black WidowandHuntressin the final battle withKrona.

Marvel Apes

A primate version of the Taskmaster appears in theMarvel ApestitlesMarvel Apes: Evolution Starts Here#1 (2009),Marvel: Apes: Speedball Special#1 (2009) andMarvel Apes: Grunt Line Special#1 (2009).

Marvel Universe Millennial Visions 2001

In theMarvel Universe Millennial Visions 2001(2002) storylineThunderbolts: Give a Guy a Break,Hawkeyetakes it upon himself to force supervillains to seek redemption. The Taskmaster is among the supervillains hypnotized by theRingmasterand forced to become a member of theThunderbolts.

Marvel Universe vs. the Punisher

InMarvel Universe vs. the Punisher#4 (September 2010), where the Marvel Universe is infected by a cannibal plague, the Taskmaster is killed when theRed Hulktears his head off.

Marvel vs. Capcom

The Taskmaster appears inMarvel Vs. Capcom:Fate of Two Worlds#1 (2011) based on his appearance in theMarvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worldsvideo game. He briefly appears in Latveria, having been hired by Dr. Doom to aid in the invasion of the second Earth and grows increasingly impatient due to Albert Wesker's inability to fully link the two worlds.

Ultraverse

The Taskmaster appears in theMalibu Comics(also known as theUltraverse) seriesSiren(1995),Siren#1–3 (1995) andSiren Special#1 (1996) as a supporting character.

Ultimate Marvel

TheUltimate Marvelversion of Taskmaster appears inUltimate Comics: Spider-Man;this iteration is an African-American mercenary. Hired byPhillip Roxxon,he confrontsSpider-Man,Spider-Woman,Cloak & DaggerandBombshell,and displays the ability to absorb and re-channel energy-based superpowers. Taskmaster is eventually defeated by theyoung amateur superheroes.

What If

In aWhat If?storylineWhat if... Steve Rogers had refused to give up being Captain America?(vol. 2) #3 (1989), the Taskmaster trained theSuper-Patriotand the Buckies to replaceCaptain America.

In other media

Television

• Taskmaster appears inUltimate Spider-Man,voiced primarily byClancy Brown,and briefly byStan Lee.This version is a founding member of theThunderbolts,alongsideNorman Osborn.
• Taskmaster appears inAvengers Assemble,voiced again by Clancy Brown.

Film

• Taskmaster makes a cameo appearance inAvengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisheras a member ofLeviathan.
• Taskmaster appears inIron Man and Captain America: Heroes United,voiced again by Clancy Brown.This version intends to take over Hydra and upgrade himself with Iron Man's technology.
• A female incarnation of Taskmaster namedAntonia Dreykovappears in theMarvel Cinematic Universe(MCU) filmBlack Widow(2021), portrayed byOlga Kurylenko.This version is the disfigured daughter of GeneralDreykovwho completes missions for theRed RoombeforeNatasha Romanoffundoes her brainwashing.
• Kurylenko will reprise her role as Antonia Dreykov in the upcoming MCU filmThunderbolts*(2025).

Video games

• Taskmaster appears as a playable character inMarvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two WorldsandUltimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3,voiced bySteve Blum.In his single-player ending, he profits off of exercise videos and self-merchandising after defeatingGalactus.
• Taskmaster appears as a playable character inMarvel Heroes,voiced again by Steve Blum.
• Taskmaster appears as thefinal bossof Captain America's storyline inAvengers Initiative,voiced again by Steve Blum.
• Taskmaster appears as abossand unlockable playable character inMarvel: Avengers Alliance.
• Taskmaster appears as an unlockable playable character inLego Marvel Super Heroes,voiced again by Steve Blum.
• Taskmaster appears as an unlockable playable character inMarvel: Avengers Alliance Tactics.
• Taskmaster appears as a boss inCaptain America: The Winter Soldier - The Official Game,voiced byRoger Craig Smith.
• Taskmaster appears as an unlockable playable character inMarvel Avengers Academy,voiced byAdam Montoya.
• Taskmaster appears as an unlockable playable character inLego Marvel's Avengers.
• Taskmaster appears as a boss inMarvel's Spider-Man,voiced byBrian Bloom.In a side mission, he sets up a series of challenges around Manhattan to testSpider-Man's abilities while observing him from afar. Once all of the challenges are completed, Taskmaster confronts Spider-Man personally. While the former is defeated, he escapes after revealing he had been hired by a mysterious organization to determine if Spider-Man was worth recruiting.
• Taskmaster appears as the first boss ofMarvel's Avengers,voiced by Walter Gray IV.This version is a former S.H.I.E.L.D. agent who runs a private mercenary group and has history withBlack Widow.Additionally, clones of Taskmaster created byA.I.M.appear in side missions.
• Taskmaster appears as a playable character inMarvel: Future Fightas part of theSecret Empireupdate.
• Taskmaster appears as a purchasable outfit inFortnite Battle Royale.

Merchandise

• Taskmaster received a figurine inThe Classic Marvel Figurine Collection.
• Taskmaster received a figurine inFunko's "Marvel Pop!" line.
• Taskmaster received a figure inToy Biz'sMarvel Legendsline.
• Taskmaster received a figure in the MarvelMinimatesline.
• Taskmaster received a figure in theMarvel Super Hero Squadline as part of a two-pack withDeadpool.
• Taskmaster received a figure in theMarvel Universeline's "Marvel's Greatest Battles" sub-line as part of a two-pack with Deadpool.
• Taskmaster received a figure in the Lego Marvel Super Heroes "Hulk Lab Smash" set.
• Taskmaster, based on his second design inUltimate Spider-Man,received a figure inHasbro's Marvel Legends line via the "Mercenaries of Mayhem" sub-line.
• Taskmaster received a figure in the Marvel LegendsAvengers: Infinity WarThanos Build-A-Figure line.
• The MCU incarnation of Taskmaster received a figure in Marvel LegendsBlack Widowline.

Miscellaneous

• Taskmaster appears in theHeroClixCollectible Miniatures game.
• Taskmaster appears in the Marvel Crisis Protocol miniatures game.

Collected editions

Title	Material Collected	Published Date	ISBN
Taskmaster: Anything You Can Do...	Avengers#195-196, 223;Marvel Team-Up#103 and 146;Thing#26;Amazing Spider-Man#308;Iron Man#254;Daredevil#292-293;Deadpool(vol. 2) #2;Hawkeye: Earth's Mightiest Marksman#1;Avengers(vol. 2) #26;Captain America(vol. 2) #44; material fromCaptain America Annual#11	March 3, 2020	978-1302921316
Taskmaster: Unthinkable	Taskmaster(vol. 2) #1-4	May 18, 2011	978-0785152606
Taskmaster: The Right Price	Taskmaster(vol. 1) #1-4,Taskmaster(vol. 2) #1-4, and material fromMarvel Comics Presents(vol. 2) #2,Age of Heroes#3	March 31, 2020	978-1302921323
Taskmaster: The Rubicon Trigger	Taskmaster(vol. 3) #1-5	July 29, 2021	978-1302921712

External links

• Taskmasterat Marvel.com
• Taskmasterat Marvel Wiki