Scalphunter (comics)
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Scalphunter (John Greycrow) is a fictional mutant villain character in the Marvel Comics Universe. His first appearance was in Uncanny X-Men #210. This character was created by Chris Claremont, John Romita Jr and Dan Green.
[edit] Character History
Scalphunter, a Native American originally fights in World War II for the United States, but is to be executed for murdering his fellow officers. He gets shot by a firing squad and is believed killed. However, he survives and is found and recruited by enigmatic mastermind Mister Sinister early on. Later, apparently not working under Sinister, he kills the employer of savage mutant Sabretooth and offers him money to join his (Scalphunter's) boss as a mercenary, which Sabretooth accepts.
Years later, he meets the thief Gambit, who would later recruit Scalphunter as a member of the Marauders, a band of assassins operating under his one-time boss Sinister (and reuniting him with one-time ally Sabretooth, who was field leader for the loose team), who sends the Marauders to murder the entire underground mutant community known as the Morlocks. He shoots young Morlock Tommy after using her to lead the group to 'The Alley', the Morlock's home in the tunnels. Gambit apparently follows the Marauders, having learned of their intentions, and manages to save one Morlock, who will grow to be Marrow. In the course of the Mutant Massacre, the Marauders clash with the X-Men and the original X-Factor team, as well as Thor and Power Pack, leaving several Marauders dead.
Subsequently, the X-Men thwart the Marauders' attempt to assassinate Sinister's former pawn, Madelyne Pryor, in San Francisco. Failing, they try once more in New York City during the demonic invasion Inferno event. During this time, it is revealed Sinister has cloned the entire band of Marauders, so any killed members return constantly. However, Scalphunter manages to live throughout his encounters with heroes, but when the Marauders later fight dimensionally-displaced Nate Grey after trying to assassinate Sinister's former servant, Threnody, a clone of Scalphunter's is killed. When Sinister poses as a scientist in the Weapon X facility, Scalphunter is still helping him recruit mutant DNA, as Sinister helps victims of the program escape only to steal their DNA for mutant-enhancing purposes.
Scalphunter is one of the still-powered mutants living in tents on the Xavier Institute lawn after almost all mutants were depowered on M-Day. When immortal mutant Apocalypse comes, Scalphunter leaves and serves him. When Havok warns Scalphunter and fellow Apocalyse recruits Fever Pitch and Skids that they are in over their heads, Scalphunter replies that Apocalypse has explained that he is on the side of mutants in this case, as they are in danger of becoming extinct.
[edit] Powers
He has technomorphing powers, allowing him to construct mechanical devices at a superhuman rate from the numerous components attached to his costume. Scalphunter is an extraordinary master of conventional firearms, and has been known to use a wide variety of weapons including pistols, rifles, shotguns, laser guns, and miniature cannons. He also has superior regenerative abilities, which may slow his aging to a degree.
