Donyell Taylor
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| Night Thrasher | |
 Cover art for New Warriors (vol 4) #10. Art by Nic Klein. |
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| Publication information | |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Marvel Comics |
| First appearance | Night Thrasher (vol. 2) #3 (October 1993) |
| Created by | Fabian Nicieza (writer) Ken Lashley (artist) |
| In story information | |
| Alter ego | Donyell Taylor |
| Species | Human Mutant |
| Team affiliations | New Warriors Taylor Foundation |
| Notable aliases | Night Thrasher, Bandit |
| Abilities | Ability to generate a contact based bioelectric charge, Skilled marksman, martial artist and acrobat |
Donyell Taylor (Night Thrasher) also known as Bandit is a fictional character from Marvel Comics. He first appeared in Night Thrasher (vol. 2) #3 (October 1993), and was created by Fabian Nicieza and Ken Lashley. Donyell is the older half-brother[1] of Dwayne Michael Taylor, the original Night Thrasher.
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[edit] Fictional character biography
Donyell Taylor is the product of a one night stand between his unnamed mother and Daryl Taylor father of Dwayne Taylor. Daryl Taylor was a rich black business man who had turned the inheritance from the deaths of his parents into a hundred times the amount he was given. With it he set up charitable foundations like the Taylor Foundation. Daryl had been married to Dwayne's mother Melody since they were 18 years old. Daryl met Donyell's mother while at the bar in the Fairmont Hotel in Chicago. Daryl paid Donyell's mother a check worth six figures to keep quiet of their affair after she revealed she was pregnant. Donyell resented Dwayne for having the money and the family he never had. Dwayne resented the notion that his life was somehow any better due to the fact that he barely remembered his parents who were murdered by Silhouette's father Andrew Chord.
Donyell took the name Bandit and began targeting Night Thrasher's old foes to prove he was superior to Dwayne. Dwayne would later endure a severe beating at Bandit's hands[2]. Later wanting a rematch; Bandit abducts Silhouette keeping her tied to a chair under blinding lights in order to lure Dwayne into a confrontation, but Dwayne wins the rematch[3]. Donyell begins sleeping with Silhouette soon afterwards. When Night Thrasher, Silhouette and various other members of the New Warriors are sent back in time Donyell joins Hindsight Lad, Sprocket and his father's killer Andrew Chord in creating a new team of New Warriors to save the originals. The team consisted of Bandit, Hindsight Lad, Turbo, Darkhawk, Dagger and Powerpax. Donyell later comes to terms with his half-brother, finding common ground during their battle against the Sphinx when the Warriors were returned to the proper time period.
Donyell and Silhouette quit the New Warriors soon after and moved to Chicago. This was the last time that they were seen for several years[4]. The next time Donyell shows up, he has apparently been seeing Gambit's ex-wife Belladonna for a few months. No one knows what exactly happened between Silhouette and Bandit in Chicago that caused them to separate. It is clear by their conversation at Dwayne's grave site that they are no longer a couple [5].
[edit] The Initiative
After the Stamford accident, Donyell Taylor had taken over the Taylor foundation at the death of his half-brother[6]. It is also revealed that Donyell suffered from a car accident that caused his legs to be amputated. Donyell denies involvement in the latest incarnation of the New Warriors. However, he reveals that a large amount of money was drained from the Taylor Foundation against his wishes and only he and his brother Dwayne had access to those accounts.
Later it is revealed that Donyell Taylor did not, in fact, lose his legs at all. The last panel shows him standing up and staring out of a window, with the image of Night Thrasher behind him, suggesting that he took his brother's alias and costume, and now leads the New Warriors[7]. Apparently, Dwayne and Donyell reconciled at some point, as he is seen expressing regret for the earlier hostility in their relationship at Dwayne's grave.[8]
Donyell considered disbanding the New Warriors after teammate Longstrike was murdered by one of the members of the new Zodiac. The remaining members convince him not to. Donyell lately has had problems with Wondra sowing seeds of dissent among the rest of the group. Donyell frequently disappears during battles and does not divulge his comings and goings with his teammates. He recently downloaded information from Machinesmith who he claimed was creating a techno-organic virus.
It is revealed that Donyell has taken in abused children and teenagers such as Kaz, Aja and Grace to help him by making them members of the New Warriors support staff. They have helped turned one of Arcade's former hideouts into a base for the team. He rescued each of them from abusive environments and has been trying to give them a new life. It is unclear if his motives are entirely altruistic.
[edit] Powers and abilities
- Bandit is a mutant with bioelectrical powers similar to an electric eel that require physical contact and a conductive medium to work. He can channel an electrical charge strong enough to stun, injure, or kill through someone just by touching them, as long as they are not grounded. He augments the range of this power by shooting special wire-tethered quarrels from his wristbow. He has also demonstrated superhuman speed and reflexes on par with Midnight's Fire and Silhouette. Donyell is an accomplished marksman, acrobat, and martial artist.[1]
[edit] Equipment
- Bandit carries a specialized wrist mounted crossbow, that fires wire-tethered quarrels tipped with miniature grappling barbs which would penetrate an opponent's flesh and then open up beneath the skin. He then uses his powers to send a debilitating bio-electric charge along the electrically conductive tether, basically making himself a living taser. He also carries a variety of throwing stars.[2]
[edit] Other versions
[edit] What if?
An alternate version of Donyell was revealed in What If...? vol. 2 #81, living in the Age of Apocalypse. When that world got attacked by Galactus, Bandit was killed in battle. One of the main features of the story was the fact that Donyell and his brother Night Thrasher were more reconciled emotionally than they are in the 616 universe.
