Today, I spent the day mostly reading comic books. I got me a day off from work and my latest haul from my local comic book shop (Millenium Comics) and got to reading. I also got to thinking (which is generally something I only do once in a while, or at least that’s what folk tell me). I got to thinking about what I’d like to see more of in the spectacular world of Marvel, DC, Vertigo etc or more accurately, who I’d like to see more of and I always came to thinking the same character: Taskmaster.
I know what you’re thinking. Taskmaster has featured pretty heavily in Marvel storylines over the last year or so, ever since the end of the Secret War in fact, when Norman Osbourn took to power and placed all of his people in all of the right places. The Taskmaster was one of these people. Osbourn had him heading up the Avengers: Initiative training facility until he was roped into the Siege on Asgard. So all in all, he’s been a bit player major storylines, but still, I find myself wanting to see more of him and also wanting Marvel to make more of him. I think the way they portray him as just a thug, without any real motivation apart from scoring big bucks annoys me because he could be so much more.
Why do I like him? It’s hard to pinpoint a single reason. However, the one that springs to mind the quickest, is the Taskmaster’s ability or ‘powers’ if. I find the whole concept of ‘Photographic Reflexes’ absolutely fascinating and I believe is one of the better power sets I’ve ever seen.
For those of you who aren’t aware of ‘Photographic Reflexes’, the Taskmaster basically has the ability to photographically mimic and remember fighting styles and skills as he witnesses them. In the past he’s stored the fighting styles and skills of a number of heroes and villains alike, most notably Captain America’s fight style and his skills with his shield and Hawkeye’s skill with a bow and arrow, and has a penchant for escaping most encounters and scrapes he finds himself embroiled in (even in the siege of Asgard).
There’s so much untapped potential there it’s untrue and I’m not the only one who thinks so. There are rumours circulating that the director of the new A-Team, Joe Carnahan, movie wants to take the Taskmaster to the silver screen – mentioned along side the great comic book series Preacher no less! I really hope they get this idea off the ground (and Preacher too for that matter) and make this old geek’s decade.
What do you think? Want to see more of the Taskmaster? Want to see more of another under used character in the comic book world? The let us know!!!!
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