Taskmaster Villain
Real Name: Unrevealed.
Occupation: Martial arts instructor, trainer of criminals.
Identity: Known to the authorities.
Legal Status: Citizen of the United States with a criminal record.
Other Aliases: None known.
Place of Birth: Unrevealed.
Marital Status: Single.
Known Relatives: None.
Group Affiliation: Head of his own training academy for criminals.
Base of Operations: Weehawken, New Jersey; formerly Queens, New York.
First Post-Reboot Appearance: CAPTAIN AMERICA #
History: The full origins of the man known as the Taskmaster is unknown. He claims to have discovered his ability to perfectly replicate the fighting moves of anyone he sees on the first try, which he refers to as "photographic reflexes", while in his youth, which led him to try his hand as a costumed mercenary.
As an adult, Taskmaster fought alongside a number of other criminals and mercenaries against the team known as the Shadowguard on a number of occasions before disappearing from public view. The public and authorities initially believed he had retired, and in a way he had. Instead of taking the full risks himself, Taskmaster opened up a martial arts dojo in Weehawken, New Jersey, across the Hudson River from Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, where he began to train the next generation of criminals and mercenaries. Among those known to be graduates of his "academy" are Crossbones and Diamondback, both of whom have fought Captain America on numerous occasions. He also seems to have a rivalry with Georges Batroc, the reason for which is presently unknown. In addition to his Weehawken dojo, he owns a number of other dojos around the tri-state area which he uses to recruit new talent.
Taskmaster first came into direct conflict with the Captain America when the Captain's young protege, Rikki Buchanan, a former juvenile delinquent, was approached to join one of his "satellite academies" in her native Queens. Bucky was personally tutored for a short time by Taskmaster, but when she was asked to commit a crime to proceed to the next lesson, she rebelled and turned her knowledge of his activities over to the Captain and his SHIELD liaison, Sharon Carter, who moved in to apprehend Taskmaster.
Bucky and Carter soon traced Taskmaster's main operations to his New Jersey dojo. Expecting that they'd run into a number of advanced trainees as well as facing Taskmaster himself, Captain America hired Batroc, Diamondback, and the Swordsman to assist in bringing Taskmaster to justice. Taskmaster fought and held off both Captain America and Batroc at the same time using their own moves against them before being arrested.
While in prison, Taskmaster was approached by SHIELD director Henry Gyrich to assist in training a new special SHIELD agent, whose name was never revealed.
Taskmaster was last seen cleaning up his Weehawken dojo, having apparently been released on bail, presumably with Gyrich's aid. His plans for future activities are unknown.
Age: 44.
Height: 6' 2".
Weight: 220 lbs.
Eyes: Brown.
Hair: Brown.
Uniform: Blue-black bodysuit with brown lower sleeves and collar, white gloves, white boots, white hooded cloak that is brown on the inside, white full-face mask with a skeleton motif, brown belt and bandoleer with a number of pouches.
Strength Level: Taskmaster possesses the normal human strength of a man his age, height, and build who engages in intensive regular exercise.
Known Superhuman Powers: Taskmaster possesses an apparently unique ability known as "photographic reflexes", enabling him to replicate any movement he sees, either in person or from video footage, while in the realm of his physical capability. This latter part means that while he has studied and replicated Spider-Man's acrobatics, he cannot perform them at the same speed.
Other Abilities: Taskmaster is a superb hand to hand combatant and a marksman with all conventional firearms. He has also become a very effective teacher.
Paraphernalia: Taskmaster has been known to use a number of weapons, including but not limited to a steel broadsword, a round circular throwing shield with a similar weight and design as Captain America's (though nowhere near as durable), a pair of batons, and a selection of personal handguns.
Limitations: Taskmaster claims his photographic reflexes have interfered with other parts of his memory; he claims he only remembers his own name by looking at his driver's license on a regular basis, and did not remember teaching Diamondback. He claims the only reason he remembers his rivalry with Batroc is because he remembers Batroc through remembering his moves. Whether there is any truth to these claims is uncertain.
720 points
Attributes: ST 14 [40]; DX 14 [80]; IQ 11 [20]; HT 14 [40].
Secondary Characteristics: Dmg 1d/2d; BL 39 lbs.; HP 14 [0]; Will 12 [5]; Per 12 [5]; FP 14 [0]; Basic Speed 7.00 [0]; Basic Move 7 [0]; Dodge 11 (14).
Languages: English (Native) (Native Language) [0].
Cultural Familiarities: Western (Native) [0].
Advantages: Ambidexterity [5]; Combat Reflexes [15]; Enhanced Block 3 (Accessibility: Only When Using ModAb, -10%) [14]; Enhanced Dodge 3 (Accessibility: Only When Using ModAb, -10%) [41]; Enhanced Parry (All Parries) (Accessibility: Only When Using ModAb, -10%) [27]; Extra Attack 1 (Accessibility: Only When Using ModAb, -10%) [23]; Gunslinger (Accessibility: Only When Using ModAb, -10%; Alternative Ability, ×1/5) [5]; Hard to Kill 3 [6]; Hard to Subdue 1 [2]; Heroic Archer (Accessibility: Only When Using ModAb, -10%; Alternative Ability, ×1/5) [4]; High Pain Threshold [10]; Modular Abilities (Super-Memorization) (3 1-point slots) (Physical Only, +50%; Trait-Limited: Perks Only, -40%; Savant, -10%) [24]; Modular Abilities (Super-Memorization) (4 12-point slots, 2 5-point slots) (Physical Only, +50%; Trait-Limited: Skills (and Techniques) Only, -10%; Savant, -10%) [266]; Perfect Balance [15]; Trained By A Master (Accessibility: Only When Using ModAb, -10%; Alternative Ability, ×1/5) [6]; Very Fit [15]; Weapon Master (Varies) (Accessibility: Only When Using ModAb, -10%) [32].
Perks: Cloaked [1].
Disadvantages: Absent-Mindedness [-15]; Amnesia (Partial) [-10]; Code of Honor (Pirate's) [-5]; Hidebound [-5]; Overconfidence (12) [-5]; Social Stigma (Criminal Record) [-5].
Quirks: Bad With Names [-1]; Closet Fan (The Hunger Games) [-1]; Vague Answers [-1]; Will Train Anyone If Paid [-1].
Skills: Acrobatics (H) DX+2 [8] – 16*; Climbing (A) DX+0 [1] – 14*; Electronics Operation/TL8 (Media) (A) IQ+1 [4] – 12; Electronics Repair/TL8 (Security) (A) IQ+1 [4] – 12; First Aid/TL8 (Human) (E) IQ+1 [2] – 12; Hiking (A) HT-1 [1] – 13; Judo (H) DX+2 [12] – 16; Jumping (E) DX+0 [1] – 14; Karate (H) DX+2 [12] – 16; Lifting (A) HT-1 [1] – 13; Running (A) HT-1 [1] – 13; Swimming (E) HT+0 [1] – 14; Teaching (A) IQ+1 [4] – 12; Throwing (A) DX+1 [4] – 15; Urban Survival (A) Per+1 [4] – 13; Wrestling (A) DX+2 [8] – 16.
Starting Spending Money: $4,000 (20% of Starting Wealth).
* Includes +1 from Perfect Balance.
Role-Playing Notes:
Taskmaster is typically overconfident in his ability to fight anyone using their own moves against them. He also suffers from periodic memory loss, which sometimes manifests itself as him appearing somewhat scatterbrained as a result.