Sudden Death

SUDDEN DEATH

Real Name: Dwayne Wainright

Class: Human mutant / muate?

Occupation: Professional thug

Group Affiliation: Task Force X Mark II

Known Relatives: None

Aliases: None

Base of Operations: Washington, D.C.

First Appearance: Hawk & Dove III #5 (October, 1989)

Powers: Sudden Death can absorb kinetic energy until he reaches his critical mass and the energy he absorbed is released with explosive force. Sudden Death has little control over directing this energy, and it's explosive force is equal to that of several pounds of dynamite. Sudden Death possesses high but not superhuman levels of strength and endurance. Sudden Death is an uneducated brute who's easily manipulated by others.

History: (Hawk and Dove III #5) - Sudden Death used his powers to become a beach bbodybuilder and ully, and ran afoul of Hank Hall when he grabbed Hank's girlfriend Ren Takamori and punched out Hank. Hank turned into the hero Hawk and followed Death, who tried to drag Ren away for himself. They battled and once Hawk understood that Sudden Death exploded when his energy absorption powers reached critical levels, he overloaded him, tossed him into the sea so he could explode harmlessly, and knocked the weakened Sudden Death out with one punch. Hawk called D.C. Special Crimes so they could cart Sudden Death off to jail.

(Hawk & Dove III #22, 23) - Sudden Death jumped bail and hired himself out to drug dealers in Washington. Sudden Death was drinking in a bar when he noticed a commotion outside. Dove was taking out some drug dealers, and he decided to intervene to settle his old score with Hawk. Hawk joined the fray and Sudden Death gave a spirited fight, but his headstrong nature, and his inability to think one or two moves ahead resulted in his defeat. Crimelord Velvet Tiger witnessed the battle, and thinking that Sudden Death might be an asset, spirited him away and saved him from imprisonment. She made him her bodyguard and he accompanied her in collecting dues from Jimmy Tieng and his gang in Chinatown. When her little brother Hakker came after her she wanted to handle it herself, despite Sudden Death's objections, and she sent him back to her estate.

Comments: Created by Barbara Kesel, Carl Wozniak & Karl Kesel