Dragoness (comics)

Dragoness (Tamara Kurtz) is a fictional mutant villain character in the Marvel Comics Universe, created for their on-going series New Mutants and X-Force. Dragoness was created by Louise Simonson and Rob Liefeld.

Fictional character biography

Tamara Kurtz's parents were exposed to radiation in Hiroshima, resulting in Tamara's genetic mutation. She later became affiliated with the Mutant Liberation Front (MLF) after Stryfe discovered her living in Madripoor when he traveled there with Sumo and Kamikaze. She joined the MLF, going on several strike missions in the name of mutant supremacy. On one such mission serving as Stryfe's assassins, Dragoness, Sumo, and Kamikaze went to Madripoor where they were tasked with poisoning the water supplies of the world's major capitals; they were defeated by Cable and the New Mutants, and Sunfire.^[1] The MLF later separated into strike forces to steal a series of seemingly unrelated art objects, with Dragoness acting as a field leader, although she was defeated by Cable.^[2] Dragoness and the other MLF members unwittingly became embroiled in the event known as the X-Cutioner's Song which, among other things, unleashed the Legacy Virus on the world.^[3] After this event ended, and a brief romance with her teammate Wildside, all members of the MLF were taken into government custody.^[4]

When the villainous Reignfire reformed the terrorist organization, Dragoness was not in his original line-up. However, when he wanted to break into a government facility to steal their information on the manufacture of the Legacy Virus, he conscripted Dragoness to his cause. Little did the MLF know that a government sanctioned program called Operation: Zero Tolerance had hidden sleeper agent Prime Sentinels within the laboratory. Once again, the members of the MLF except Forearm and Danielle Moonstar were taken into SHIELD custody.

M-Day

After the events of M-Day, where the Scarlet Witch removed the mutant genome from over 90% of the world's mutant population, Dragoness was one of the few to retain her powers, as listed in the X-Men: The 198 Files. The government considers her a 'General' national security threat. ^[5]

Utopia

Dragoness is next seen fleeing government-sanctioned H.A.M.M.E.R. agents alongside Trance and Toad. She battles the agents in an attempt to cover her allies' escape, but temporarily exhausts her bioelectric power and is defeated. The three are rescued by Gambit before being apprehended.^[6] After the conflict, Dragoness relocates to Utopia, where she is seen with Toad and Avalanche.^[7] She participates in Toad's scheme to take control of Utopia's water supply, but the rebellion is quickly quelled by Iceman.^[8]

Powers and abilities

Dragoness is a mutant with the power to generate high levels of bioelectric energy in the form of disruptive blasts that can incapacitate or kill others. She can also use her bioelectric energies to induce combustion in the atmosphere around her, creating powerful pyrotechnic flares that she can direct. Her costume possesses a set of bionic wings and a jet pack that allow her to fly at high speeds.

Other versions

Age of Apocalypse

Dragoness was known as Vultura, one of the Reavers, she assisted Donald Pierce's raid of Wundagore Mountain. She went in for a dive attack, prompting Weapon X to order Gateway to teleport the two of them and Carol Danvers to Pierce's aircraft. She would make another attempted attack after they boarded the ship, but was torn to shreds by Weapon X. After Danvers was infected by Pierce, her remnants were grafted to Carol's body.^[9]

Civil War: House of M

Dragoness is seen in Magneto's army.^[10]

In other media

Video games

• Dragoness is featured as a boss in the Facebook game Marvel: Avengers Alliance. She appears in the sixth Spec Ops mission, and also appears in Chapter 1 of Season 2.

References

External links

• Dragoness at the Marvel Universe
• Uncannyxmen.net character profile on Dragoness
• Uncannyxmen.net feature on the MLF