Bengal (comics)

Superherobox|


caption=Bengal.
Art by Jim Cheung.
comic_color=background:#ff8080
character_name=Bengal
real_name=Duc No Tranh
species=Human
publisher=Marvel Comics
debut="Daredevil" #258 (September 1988)
creators=Fabian Nicieza
Ron Lim
alliance_color=background:#c0c0ff
alliances=
Shadow Initiative
aliases=
powers=Expert martial artist|

Bengal (Duc No Tranh) is a fictional character in the Marvel Universe who first appeared in "Daredevil" #258 in September 1988. He was created by Fabian Nicieza and artist, Ron Lim.

Fictional character biography

Duc No Tranh was a boy growing up in a Vietnamese village during the Vietnam War. During the war, American soldiers, including Red Wolf, Willie Lincoln, and the future Reverend Michael Janes, massacred his village and parents. The boy tries to climb aboard the Americans' helicopter, but was kicked off by Private Janes, despite the pleas of other soldiers on board.

Years later, the boy became the costumed Bengal and travels to America for revenge on the soldiers involved in the destruction of his village. Willie Lincoln sought Daredevil's protection, and the hero defeats Bengal. ["Daredevil" #258]

Bengal later attacked Father Michael Janes, and clashed with Silhouette and the other New Warriors over the fate of Janes. Bengal also fights Night Thrasher for the first time. ["New Warriors" #7] His origin is recounted, ["New Warriors" #8] and his battle with Night Thrasher is ended by the Punisher. Bengal befriends the New Warriors, and Bengal and Janes make peace with each other. ["New Warriors" #9]

Despite this, Bengal still feels the need to avenge atrocities stemming from the Vietnam War. He comes to believe that Gai No Don, an acquaintance of Night Thrasher, was in reality, Li Pan, a Vietnamese general responsible for thousands of innocent deaths. Bengal battles security officers until he reaches Gai. He is confronted by Night Thrasher and Silhouette, whom Gai has hired. He is told Gai is not Li Pan. Bengal leaps out a window and escapes. Bengal later attacks the Poison Memories gang, a long time New Warriors enemy. He believes they have information on Li Pan. Again, Night Thrasher fights him. He is temporarily subdued and urged to move on. ["Night Thrasher: Four Control" #1]

Bengal is hired by Tombstone, an albino American gangster. Along with the man's employees, he confronts a loose collection of superheroes operating out of New York City. Bengal personally confronts Shang-Chi; both acknowledge they have heard of each other in the past. Before the fight can begin, Black Widow subdues Bengal with a 'stinger' blast.

Several of Tombstone's allies were swallowed up by Cloak, one of the heroes, but is not clear whether Bengal was. Victims of Cloak usually face their worst fear before being dumped out, freezing and disoriented.

After his employment by Tombstone, Bengal marries a woman named Tranh and improves his English.

Civil War/The Initiative

The Bengal has been identified as one of the 142 registered superheroes who have registered and being trained as part of the Initiative. ["" #1.] [ [http://www.marvel.com/news/comicstories.947 Avengers: The Initiative #1 Character Map] ] He is seen being bussed into Camp Hammond, the super-human training facility built on the remains of Stamford. One of the many other passengers on the bus is Rage, one of the surviving New Warriors. Other passengers include Thor Girl, Komodo, Slapstick and Cloud 9.

As part of his training, he battles the Thing alongside many others of his class, with little success.

Bengal is the leader of the Initiative's black-ops team created by Henry Peter Gyrich. [Avengers: The Initiative #4] Soon after, the Hulk returns from deep space with an army and battles many of Earth's heroes. Some of the Camp Hammond recruits are captured and kept imprisoned in Madison Square Garden. Bengal, Constrictor, Mutant Zero and other operatives free the Hammond prisoners. ["Avengers: The Initiative #4 & #5]

When the Shadow Initiative was fighting K.I.A., Bengal's friend Constrictor was badly wounded and Bengal ran away with the body, with a last hope to save his friend. ["Avengers: The Initiative" #10]

During the "Secret Invasion", Bengal discovers that the Skrulls have taken over Camp Hammond and summons the rest of the Shadow Initiative to deal with them. They decide to assassinate Queen Veranke, but the attempt fails and they are taken captive. ["Avengers: the Initiative" #17]

Powers, abilities, and equipment

Bengal is a martial arts master and an exceptional athlete. He is an excellent hand-to-hand combatant, trained in various martial arts, and an excellent acrobat, skilled archer and tracker. He typically fights with bow and arrows, or shuriken. His favorite weapons are paired sai-like weapons with blades that collapse or expand at the press of a button. He has an unusually well defined sense of smell and can track people by scent; it has not been revealed if this is actually a superhuman ability.

References

External links

*http://www.marvunapp.com/Appendix4/bengalddnw.htm
*http://en.marveldatabase.com/Duc_No_Tranh_%28Earth-616%29