Tony Masters: Taskmaster Appreciation 2020

[The Cool Thatguy]

Ever practical, that Taskmaster.

I liked and disliked that about Taskmaster, honestly.

Of Marvel's combat powerhouses, he's not a sadistic sociopath. He's only in it for money and will cut and run if things get too hot.

But that habit means he fights less, so...

[Michael Watkins]

I liked and disliked that about Taskmaster, honestly.

Of Marvel's combat powerhouses, he's not a sadistic sociopath. He's only in it for money and will cut and run if things get too hot.

But that habit means he fights less, so...

the less he fights, the less fights he loses. because, if he fights a hero or someone more popular than himself (see: doom), he will have to lose the fight.

[Digifiend]

[your_name_here]

Both costumes are ace

[The Cool Thatguy]

Both costumes are ace

His best costume, IMO. Streamlined for merc work

[Frontier]

I'm a sucker for the classic look, but I liked his Simone/Agent X look too.

It's definitely more preferable to that over-edgy Spider-Men II look.

[Crossfist]

How is the material in this new trade? I've never read anything with Taskmaster before.

AVENGERS (1963) #195-196 and #223, MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) #103 and #146, THING (1983) #26, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #308, IRON MAN (1968) #254, DAREDEVIL (1964) #292-293, DEADPOOL (1997) #2, HAWKEYE: EARTH'S MIGHTIEST MARKSMAN, AVENGERS (1998) #26, CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998) #44 and material from CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL #11.
https://www.instocktrades.com/TP/Mar...N-DO/NOV190984

[Hypestyle]

when was it changed that he was not a mutant anymore? and why?

[MichaelC]

He was originally not a mutant. He was very briefly retconned into a mutant when the X-Men were at the height of their popularity, and Marvel was trying to retcon everyone they plausibly could into being mutants. The retcon was re-retconned out the moment Marvel abandoned that policy.

[K7P5V]

How is the material in this new trade? I've never read anything with Taskmaster before.

AVENGERS (1963) #195-196 and #223, MARVEL TEAM-UP (1972) #103 and #146, THING (1983) #26, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (1963) #308, IRON MAN (1968) #254, DAREDEVIL (1964) #292-293, DEADPOOL (1997) #2, HAWKEYE: EARTH'S MIGHTIEST MARKSMAN, AVENGERS (1998) #26, CAPTAIN AMERICA (1998) #44 and material from CAPTAIN AMERICA ANNUAL #11.
https://www.instocktrades.com/TP/Mar...N-DO/NOV190984

Excellent selections, IMHO.

Understandably, they left out Captain America #334 (however brief it may have been, this will always be my favorite classic Taskmaster appearance).

[The Cool Thatguy]

when was it changed that he was not a mutant anymore? and why?

He was always a mutant, in that he was born with his abilities, no origin required IIRC. But he doesn't have the X-gene, and didn't have it in House of M.

All things considered, his 'power' is probably one of the few plausible ones to come from comics

[Digifiend]

Interview about the upcoming mini:
https://www.newsarama.com/49638-task...-its-core.html

[Hypestyle]

how old is Taskmaster supposed to be-- especially since part of his gimmick is that he has these henchmen training academies, which supposedly have been operating for "years". what connections would he have to have to the global criminal underworld?

[Digifiend]

He's probably in his 40s - Finesse is supposed to be his daughter, so he can't be younger than mid 30s. And as you say, he's been around for a long time - probably before most of the superheroes appeared.