Ajax (comics)

Ajax is the codename belonging to two different characters in Marvel Comics, one the descendant of a demigod, the other a mercenary.

Pantheon character

Ajax

Ajax threatens Atalanta
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Incredible Hulk #379 (March 1991)
Created by Peter David
Dale Keown
In-story information
Team affiliations Pantheon
Abilities Accelerated healing factor
Extended lifespan
Via exoskeleton battle-suit:
Superhuman strength, durability and reflexes

Publication history

Ajax first appeared in Incredible Hulk vol. 2, #379 (March 1991), and was created by Peter David and Dale Keown.

Fictional character biography

Ajax is a member of the Pantheon, and is one of the descendents of the immortal Agamemnon, along with Achilles, Atalanta, Cassiopea, Delphi, Hector, Paris, Perseus, Prometheus, and Ulysses. Ajax was born in Texas. He was named after Ajax, a Greek warrior who fought in the Trojan War.

When the Pantheon first encountered the Hulk, Ajax fought him.[1] Ajax accompanied the Pantheon in bringing the captive Hulk to the Mount, but fought the Hulk again and was this time defeated by him.[2] He attacked the Hulk once more, but as the Hulk had joined the Pantheon, Atalanta helped Ajax reconcile with the Hulk.[3]

He served on many of the Pantheon's missions while the Hulk was part of the team. Ajax fought rioters in New York City alongside Atalanta. He killed some of them because his companion ordered this.[4] Alongside the Hulk and the Pantheon, he battled S.H.I.E.L.D. and the forces of Farnoq Dahn in the Trans-Sabal war,[5] and battled the People's Protectorate.[6] When Atalanta was injured and invalid, Ajax visited her.[7] He battled Dracchiss alongside the Pantheon,[8] and was badly burned in a fight with the U-Foes.[9]

When he discovered Atalanta and Achilles making love, Ajax flew into a jealous rage, even threatening to hurt Atalanta. He tried to kill himself, but was calmed down by the Hulk.[10]

Powers and abilities

Ajax is so massive that he cannot move quickly without a special exoskeleton battle-suit, which grants him superhuman strength, durability and reflexes. His strength increases as his anger builds, much like that of the Hulk. Like other members of the Pantheon, Ajax has a fast healing ability and an extended lifespan. Without support from his battle-suit, Ajax's legs and spine would collapse under his tremendous weight. His body is disproportionate in shape. He also has poor vision.

Mentality

He has the mentality of a young child, making him sometimes difficult to control. Atalanta has always been able to calm him down, as he idolizes her and will do anything she says. Of course, this sometimes leads to other problems. For a time, he did not understand the difference between romantic love and platonic friendship love and this drove him into a rampage, where he even threatened Atalanta herself. The rampage was ended before anyone was seriously hurt (in Pantheon terms) or killed. Ajax took his rage out on an inanimate mountain, not realizing he was endangering himself as well. The Hulk managed to talk him into calming down.

The Hulk has also gotten into trouble when he fails to treat Ajax with the proper mind frame. At first he attacks Ajax again when he mistakes a simple hug for another threat against Atalanta. Then the Hulk let it slip that Bambi's mother had died, distressing Ajax who had been told, by Atalanta, she had run away and come back after the movie had ended.


Deadpool character

Ajax
Publication information
Publisher Marvel Comics
First appearance Deadpool #14 (March 1998)
Created by Joe Kelly
Walter McDaniel
In-story information
Alter ego Francis
Team affiliations Weapon X
Notable aliases The Attending
Abilities Enhanced strength
Intuitive capacity
Via implants:
Superhuman speed and agility
High tolerance to pain

Publication history

Ajax first appeared in Deadpool #14 (March, 1998), and was created by Joe Kelly and Walter McDaniel.

Fictional character biography

The man known only as Francis was the former enforcer at Dr. Killebrew's laboratory, known as the Workshop, part of the Hospice for failed supersoldiers at the Weapon X Project. Francis acted as the strongarm for Killebrew, reigning in the project's "washouts" that were fodder for Killebrew's sadistic experiments whenever they stepped out of line. This included Wade Wilson, who would later be known as the mercenary Deadpool.

Having had his nerves removed by Killebrew for better pain management, he would later have enhanced strength and intuitive capability, as well as receiving subcutaneous implants for super-speed and agility.

After endless taunting from Wilson, Francis was given permission by Killebrew to kill him, who had orchestrated events so that Wilson would mercy kill one of the other inmates, which was against the rules. After removing his heart Wilson's healing factor first manifested itself, regenerating the mercenary a new heart but also costing him his sanity in the process. Taking the codename Deadpool, he hunted down and seemingly killed Francis.

Revealed to have survived, he resurfaced years later, using the codename of Ajax, where he hunted down and killed many of the surviving members from the Weapon X project in order to exact his revenge on Deadpool. After torturing Killebrew at his mountain home in the Alps to obtain Wade's teleporter frequency, Ajax teleported Wade next to a nearby cliff and sucker-punched him, sending Deadpool to his supposed death.

In a near death experience, however, it was revealed that because Wade came back from the dead once to kill Francis, he was now bound by honor and destiny to finish the job he began those many years ago, urged by the ghosts of Francis' victims who had also been Wilson's friends. The battle continued as Deadpool rescued Killebrew and sought shelter at Killebrew's neighbor's house. This was owned by Ilaney Bruckner who was reluctantly dragged into the conflict when Deadpool destroyed the house to slow down Ajax.

Ajax caught up with the trio and proceeded to punch Deadpool repeatedly at super-speed. Before he could kill Deadpool, however, Killebrew doused him with gasoline and lit up a flare, destroying Ajax's head and neck protection. For doing this, Killebrew was shredded at super speed.

Once again catching up with the fleeing Deadpool, Ajax fell victim to a trap laid by his intended victim which resulted in his armor's circuitry being exposed. Taking advantage of this, Deadpool arranged for Ajax to plunge both of them into a lake, short-circuiting his armor and giving Deadpool the opportunity to kill him, which he did by snapping his neck. Ajax "re-appeared" years later in one of Deadpool's nightmares, more specifically on a television set.[11]

Powers and abilities

After being modified by Doctor Killebrew, Francis had enhanced strength and intuitive capacity. After receiving implants, he had superhuman speed and agility. His nerves were also removed to dramatically increase his tolerance for pain.

In other media

Film

References

  1. ↑ Incredible Hulk #379
  2. ↑ Incredible Hulk #381
  3. ↑ Incredible Hulk #382
  4. ↑ Incredible Hulk #385
  5. ↑ Incredible Hulk #391-392; X-Factor #76
  6. ↑ Incredible Hulk #393
  7. ↑ Incredible Hulk #395
  8. ↑ Incredible Hulk Annual #18
  9. ↑ Incredible Hulk #397
  10. ↑ Incredible Hulk #405
  11. ↑ Cable & Deadpool #
  12. ↑ Skrein, Ed (April 7, 2015). "Ed Skrein on Twitter". Retrieved April 8, 2015.

External links