Chance (comics)

Chance is the name of two unrelated fictional characters in the Marvel Universe. The first is a mercenary and enemy of Spider-Man, the second a mutant who originally appeared in Fallen Angels vol. 1 #1.

Chance (Nicholas Powell)

Chance
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Web of Spider-Man #15 (June 1986)
Created by	David Michelinie Mike Harris
In-story information
Alter ego	Nicholas Powell
Species	Human
Abilities	Armored suit grants: Flight Wrist-mounted lasers

Fictional character biography

Wealthy former professional gambler, Nicholas Powell was looking for more thrill in his life. He decides to become a mercenary criminal-for-hire, incorporating his love of gambling into his work. Anyone who hires him would, instead of directly paying, bet his fee against him actually completing the mission. If Powell, calling himself Chance, is successful, he receives his fee; if not, he lost the "bet" and owes that amount to his contractors. The thrill of this risk was the only way in which Chance felt the work was truly interesting.

Chance was first hired by the Foreigner to kill a fence named Andre Boullion. Chance wagered his fee at double or nothing that he could kill Spider-Man, but Spider-Man instead defeated him.^[1] Chance was then hired by a corrupt city official, Robert Phalen, to kill a murder witness. His initial attempt was thwarted by Daredevil, and his contract was terminated when Phelan died.^[2] Chance was hired under pretense by the Life Foundation to steal a secret arms shipment. The Life Foundation captured him instead, and sought to duplicate his wrist blasters. Chance joined forces with Spider-Man to overcome the Life Foundation.^[3] Chance was next hired by Mister Grouper to kill casino owner Raymond Trask, but was thwarted by Spider-Man.^[4] Raymond Trask then hired Chance under the pretense of protecting Trask from an assassination attempt. Instead, Trask unsuccessfully tried to kill him out of revenge.^[5]

Chance has also clashed with Iron Man,^{[volume & issue needed]} and the vigilante anti-hero Cardiac.^{[volume & issue needed]} Chance, alongside the Vulture, was partially responsible for the death of Aunt May's one time fiancée, Nathan.^{[volume & issue needed]}

Powers and abilities

Chance wears wrist-blasters which can fire laser beams, concussive energy, and clear acid-filled darts. He also wears a set of ankle jets which allow him to fly, and he wears a cybernetic helmet which controls the wrist-blasters and ankle jets. The helmet also contains scanning devices enabling him to see in all directions around and above himself. The power back on his back supplies power to his weapons and paraphernalia.

Chance (Fallen Angels)

Chance
Publication information
Publisher	Marvel Comics
First appearance	Fallen Angels vol. 1 #1 (April 1987)
Created by	Jo Duffy Kerry Gammill
In-story information
Alter ego	unrevealed
Species	Human Mutant
Team affiliations	Fallen Angels
Abilities	Ability to enhance or dampen mutant powers

Publication history

Chance first appeared in Fallen Angels vol. 1 #1 (April 1987), and was created by Mary Jo Duffy and Kerry Gammill.

The character subsequently appears in Fallen Angels #2-8 (May–November 1987).

Chance received an entry in the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe Update '89 #2.

Fictional character biography

A 13-year-old South Korean girl, Chance's parents are members of Reverend Yune Kim Park's Glorification Church. Park brought Chance and her parents to the United States from their homeland, promising to make them American citizens. Instead, he treated them as virtual slaves, and Chance herself was forced to work selling calendars on street corners for the church. Finally, tired of her treatment by the church, Chance ran away.

Chance was recruited by the mutant criminal known as the Vanisher to join the group of teenagers who worked for him as thieves and were known as the Fallen Angels. A number of young mutants joined this group.

Chance became the friend and partner of another of the Vanisher's thieves, Ariel, who was actually an extraterrestrial mutant from a planet nicknamed Coconut Grove. For money, Chance agreed to help Ariel in her assignment to bring a number of mutants to her home planet, where an attempt was intended to be made to extract the factor from their bodies that enabled them to mutate.

However, after Ariel transported the Fallen Angels to her home world, Ariel and Chance were made prisoners as well, since they too proved to be mutants with unusual powers. Chance's mutant power had only just begun to manifest itself now that she was going through puberty. The Fallen Angels succeeded in regaining their freedom, however, and returned to Earth, where Chance continues to be a member of the team.

It is currently not known if Chance lost her powers after M-Day.^[6]

Powers and abilities

Chance is a mutant with the superhuman ability to enhance or dampen the mutant superhuman powers of others. Hence, she can cause another mutant's superhuman power to increase or decrease in level or even cause it to cease functioning altogether for as long as she concentrates upon it.

See also

There was also a character named Chance starring in the Image Comics series Leave It to Chance.

References

1. ^ Web of Spider-Man #15
2. ^ Daredevil #246
3. ^ Amazing Spider-Man #298-299
4. ^ Amazing Spider-Man #336
5. ^ Amazing Spider-Man Annual #25
6. ^ New Avengers #18